According to local media reports, thousands of people uprooted by the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region took to the streets on Tuesday, demanding the opportunity to return to their homes and calling for the withdrawal of what they referred to as “invading forces.”

Protests were held in various cities, including Mekele, the regional capital, where demonstrators raised their voices against the ongoing genocide and held signs urging authorities to allow their return before the farming season commences.

The exact number of civilian casualties during the two-year war remains uncertain, but one expert estimates the toll to be over half a million, many of whom perished due to starvation.

While the conflict concluded with an unexpected truce in November of the previous year, and humanitarian assistance is gradually being reinstated in the region, numerous challenges persist in establishing lasting peace.

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During the Tigray conflict, Eritrea’s military and forces from the neighboring Amhara region played a significant role in supporting Ethiopian government troops.

Presently, Amhara forces maintain control over western Tigray, an area disputed by both Amharas and Tigrayans, while Eritrean troops are believed to have a presence in border regions.

Approximately 90% of Tigray’s six million inhabitants, who were largely cut off from the outside world throughout the conflict, rely on humanitarian aid.

Protesters expressed their desire to return home before the onset of the rainy season, enabling them to cultivate crops and secure enough food for their families.