Humera, June 23, 2025 — President of the Amhara Region Arega Kebede convened a high-level dialogue today in Humera city with residents of Wolkayit – Tegede zone, focusing on longstanding border and identity concerns. The meeting brought together senior party and government figures, religious leaders, elders, and members of the Border and Identity Restoration Committee.
Among those present were Yirga Sisay, Manager of the Amhara Region Prosperity Party branch office; Getachew Reda, the Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on East African Affairs; and Colonel Demeke Zewdu, Deputy Administrator of the Wolkayit – Tegede State Humera Zone and Committee Chairman. Ashete Demlew, General Administrator of the Humera Zone, also attended, along with faith leaders and local elders.
Residents recounted years of hardship under the former TPLF administration, recalling the Maikadra massacre as a recent trauma inflicted solely because of their Amhara identity. “We have secured our peace since gaining freedom,” one participant asserted, “but it is not fair that our identity remains unrecognized by law.” Community members warned they would not tolerate any attempts to undermine the freedoms won “by blood and sacrifice.”
President Arega Kebede acknowledged these grievances, emphasizing that “every human being understands this injustice.” He cautioned against trying to resolve the border and identity dispute through “iron and force,” advocating instead for a “lasting peace” achieved through legal recognition and dialogue. “The issue must be addressed from the roots,” he said, “using peaceful alternatives until, God forbid, force becomes the only option.”
Getachew Reda reiterated that the people of Wolkayit – Tegede deserve full recognition under Ethiopian law. “A person’s identity must be acknowledged above all else,” he stated, noting that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s agenda should be considered separately from the legitimate aspirations of Wolkayit – Tegede residents.
Colonel Demeke Zewdu stressed that mismanagement of the identity question could spark further bloodshed. “This is not an individual concern but the voice of a people,” he warned, urging legal and nationally sanctioned solutions. Ashete Demlew echoed this sentiment, urging both sides to pursue peaceful avenues. “No one benefits from war; peace is the only path forward for our country and our people,” she declared.
The meeting concluded with a joint commitment to seek a legal resolution that honors the rights and identity of Wolkayit – Tegede residents, fostering reconciliation and sustainable peace across regional lines.
