Field Marshal Birhanu Jula: "Tigray Can Constitutionally Secede" A Message Interpreted as a Threat by Many Addis Ababa | In a controversial statement that is sparking renewed debate about Ethiopia’s federal structure and the future of Tigray, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National... Defense Forces, declared that "if the people of Tigray want to separate from Ethiopia, they can do so through constitutional means." The remark, made during a recent public address, echoes earlier comments by Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abebe during the height of the war in Tigray, who also suggested on national television that secession is a constitutional right. While these statements may appear to affirm the federal constitution's Article 39, which provides nations and nationalities the right to self-determination, many Tigrians see them as veiled threats rather than genuine acknowledgments of legal rights. Critics argue that such comments are not extended with goodwill but used as tools of coercion. "The message is loud and clear," said one observer. "If you dare invoke your constitutional rights, the government will treat you as an enemy. You’re expected to live not as free citizens but according to directives handed down from the center." This rhetoric, combined with the devastating toll of the Tigray war — widely recognized by international observers as involving war crimes, including ethnic cleansing and acts of genocide — has fueled mistrust and disillusionment. While many hoped for a path of justice, accountability, and reconciliation after the war, the official tone remains defiant and, to many, dismissive of the trauma experienced by the Tigrian people. Rather than addressing the underlying grievances in Tigray or meaningfully engaging in peacebuilding, critics say Ethiopian federal authorities have resorted to intimidation and nationalist rhetoric. This, they warn, may further entrench divisions and drive the region toward renewed instability. Calls are growing from both inside and outside Tigray for international mediation, justice for war crimes, and an honest national dialogue about Ethiopia’s future — one rooted in consent, rights, and respect for all peoples, not threats disguised as legal clarity.show more

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