Federal Ruling on Contested Districts Sparks Protests and Legal Battles in Northern Ethiopia

The "complex territories" claimed by both the Amhara and Tigray regions have returned to the center of national attention this month. The House of Federation and the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) recently ruled that federal elections in five key contested areas—Humera, Adi-Remets, Korem-Ofla, Tselemti, and Raya Alamata—will proceed directly under federal oversight, effectively excluding them from the Tigray Regional State's administration for the upcoming 7th general election.

This decision has sparked immediate pushback. In Tigray, thousands took to the streets in late February and early March, with leaders like Debretsion Gebremichael accusing the federal government of violating the Pretoria Peace Agreement. Meanwhile, in Amhara towns like Kobo, public demonstrations were held in support of the ruling, with residents advocating for the "restoration of Amhara identity" in these zones.

The dispute has now moved to the Federal First Instance Court. A temporary injunction was recently granted to pause the election board's decision, and the case has been adjourned until mid-March 2026 to hear formal objections from Amhara identity committees and political parties. While legal battles continue, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with over one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) still waiting for a safe return to these very districts amidst a heavily militarized environment.