The Case for Independence
Independence for Tigray is not a choice but a necessity for survival, security, and dignity following genocide and systematic oppression.
Why Independence is Necessary
Generations of contribution ended in state-led horror. The promise of unity shattered. Safety within Ethiopia is impossible. Facing existential threat, independence is the essential requirement for survival, healing, and a secure future.
Genocidal War
State-led mass killings, sexual and gender-based violence, weaponized starvation, and ethnic cleansing.
Systematic Oppression
Decades of marginalization, economic strangulation, and dehumanization of Tigrayans.
Self-Determination
In the face of existential threat, international law affirms the right to choose one's destiny.
Sovereign Future
An independent state is needed for long-term survival, dignity, rights, and prosperity.
Historical Context & Contributions
Tigray has a rich history spanning thousands of years, with a distinct cultural identity, language, and heritage. As the cradle of Ethiopian civilization, Tigray has made immense contributions to Ethiopia's development, unity, and international standing.
Despite these contributions, Tigrayans have faced increasing marginalization, discrimination, and hostility, culminating in the genocidal war that began in November 2020.
The historical relationship between Tigray and Ethiopia has been marked by periods of integration and autonomy, but the recent atrocities have irreparably damaged the possibility of peaceful coexistence.
The Genocide
The war on Tigray that began on November 3, 2020, has been characterized by widespread atrocities that amount to genocide under international law.
Mass Killings
Documented massacres of civilians in Axum, Mai Kadra, Debre Abay, and numerous other locations. Extrajudicial executions, indiscriminate shelling, and targeted killings of Tigrayan civilians.
Weaponized Starvation
Deliberate blockade of humanitarian aid, destruction of food sources, looting of harvests, and prevention of farming, leading to famine conditions. Documented by UN agencies and human rights organizations.
Ethnic Cleansing
Forced displacement of Tigrayans from Western Tigray and other areas. Destruction of Tigrayan cultural heritage, including historic sites, churches, and mosques. Systematic erasure of Tigrayan identity.
Systematic Oppression & Dehumanization
Beyond the direct violence of the war, Tigrayans have faced systematic oppression and dehumanization throughout Ethiopia:
- Mass arbitrary detention of Tigrayans based solely on ethnicity
- Hate speech and dehumanizing rhetoric from government officials and media
- Economic marginalization and discrimination in employment
- Destruction of Tigrayan businesses and property
- Forced disappearances and torture
This systematic oppression has created an environment where Tigrayans cannot safely exist within Ethiopia, making independence the only viable path forward.
Failure of Unity & Betrayal
Despite decades of commitment to Ethiopian unity and development, Tigrayans have been betrayed by the very state they helped build.
Broken Promises
The Ethiopian constitution promised a federal system that respected the rights and autonomy of all nationalities. This promise has been systematically violated, with increasing centralization of power and erosion of regional autonomy.
Irreparable Damage
The scale and nature of atrocities committed against Tigrayans have created wounds too deep to heal within the current Ethiopian state. Trust has been irreparably broken, and reconciliation within a unified Ethiopia is no longer possible.
The Right to Self-Determination
Tigray's right to independence is firmly grounded in established legal principles of self-determination under both Ethiopian and international law.
Ethiopian Constitution
Article 39 of the Ethiopian Constitution explicitly recognizes "the unconditional right to self-determination, including the right to secession" for every Nation, Nationality, and People in Ethiopia.
This right is further reinforced by the systematic violations of Tigrayans' constitutional rights, which constitute a fundamental breach of the constitutional compact.
International Law
International legal frameworks supporting Tigray's right to self-determination include:
- UN Charter Articles 1(2) and 55, affirming the principle of self-determination
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Article 1
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) Article 1
- Helsinki Final Act, supporting the right of peoples to determine their own destiny
Under the "remedial secession" doctrine, a people facing grave human rights abuses and existential threats may exercise the right to independence as a last resort.
Stand With Tigray
The case for Tigray's independence is clear and compelling. Join us in advocating for the right of the Tigrayan people to determine their own future free from persecution and existential threats.