Forced Conscription of Youth by TPLF Extremists Inhumane: PM Advisor

Addis Ababa, July 7, 2026 —The forced conscription of youth from schools, religious places, and streets by the extremist and destructive TPLF leaders is an inhumane and malevolent act, Getachew Reda, East African Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister, said today.

The Center for Responsible and Peaceful Politics (CRPP), in collaboration with Tigray Broadcasting Service (TBS), hosted a panel discussion titled "Peace, Democracy, and Development in Tigray: The Role of the Mass Media and Activists."

The forum was attended by Deputy Director-General of the Media Authority, Yonatan Tesfaye, alongside other senior officials, journalists, and influencers.

During the event, the Advisor underscored that this is the time that requires an unwavering commitment to making the peace and stability of Tigray an absolute priority.

The vibrant developmental activities sweeping across other parts of the country must be replicated in Tigray, he stressed.

The Advisor noted that the resilient and industrious people of Tigray should not remain sidelined from actively participating in socio-economic development because of a handful of extremist TPLF leaders.

Getachew warned that these extremist leaders and destructive elements are actively plotting to plunge the people into another cycle of ruin and agony, calling upon the entire community to stand united to reverse this perilous trajectory.

The youth, who saved the leadership itself from peril and firmly believe that peace must prevail, are being rounded up from schools, monasteries, churches, and mosques, he disclosed.

On his part, Ethiopian Media Authority Deputy Director-General, Yonatan Tesfaye, emphasized that contemporary information dissemination—particularly reporting that amplifies the voices of citizens across various localities—must strictly align with the realities.

The Deputy Director-General stated that what the nation genuinely aspires for is peace, democracy, and development; hence, media content must remain mindful of these goals while taking the concrete national and regional geopolitical contexts into account.

The General Manager of Center for Responsible and Peaceful Politics, Samuel Abate, extended a call to all media practitioners and community activists to utilize their respective platforms with a profound sense of institutional responsibility.

He underlined that any narrative or rhetoric that pushes the youth back into a vicious cycle of suffering must be fiercely resisted.

The General Manager concluded by calling on all stakeholders to contribute their holistic share toward reconciliation, truth, democratic engagement, and citizen-centered development.