5,500 Tigray former combatants begin reintegration in Mekelle
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Fanamc
Around 5,500 former combatants from the Tigray Region laid down their arms and began reintegration training at a centre in Mekelle, according to the Ethiopian National Rehabilitation Commission. The institution says it has already reintegrated more than 92,000 former combatants into civilian life across the country.
Around 5,500 former combatants from Ethiopia’s Tigray Region laid down their arms and began training at a rehabilitation centre in Mekele, the Ethiopian National Rehabilitation Commission (ENRC) announced on 5 November. The ceremony was attended by commission officials, diplomats and representatives of international partner organisations.
ENRC Commissioner Temesgen Tilahun said the institution had already supported more than 92,000 former combatants in returning to civilian life in several regions of Ethiopia. He added that growing numbers of former Tigray combatants were joining rehabilitation centres under the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programme.
The ENRC is coordinating the process with the federal government and other stakeholders. Created under the Pretoria peace agreement, it also runs programmes in the Amhara, Oromia and Afar regions. The announcement came after Ethiopia’s call on 7 October for Tigray combatants to lay down their arms and reintegrate, followed by the recapture of Mekelle airport announced on 5 October.
