Systemic Marginalization: Ethiopia’s Federal Government Accused of “Economic Warfare” Against Tigray’s Education
A wave of mass protests has erupted across the Tigray region, with senior officials, educators, and students condemning what they describe as a “calculated and deliberate” campaign by Ethiopia’s Federal Government to dismantle the region’s social and educational fabric. By unilaterally suspending budgetary allocations and civil servant salaries since October 2025, the administration in Addis Ababa is being accused of weaponizing economic policy to achieve what military conflict could not: the total erosion of the Tigrayan identity.
The Salary Suspension: An Administrative Siege
The federal government’s decision to halt funding has left thousands of teachers without pay for up to 16 months, a move that regional authorities argue is a flagrant violation of both the Ethiopian Constitution and the Pretoria Peace Agreement. Amanuel Assefa, Vice President of the Tigray Interim Administration, told throngs of protesters in Mekelle that this is not a mere budgetary shortfall but a “systemic marginalization” designed to weaken and disperse the people. While other conflict-affected regions continue to receive federal support, Tigray remains pointedly excluded—a selective austerity that many see as a continuation of the 2020–2022 genocide by other means.
• An Education System on the Brink of Collapse
The consequences of the federal government’s funding freeze are catastrophic. Over 1.2 million children remain out of school, their futures held hostage by a government that refuses to release constitutionally mandated subsidies. Dr. Kiros Gu’esh, head of the Tigray Education Bureau, characterized the withholding of salaries as a “project aimed at erasing Tigray,” warning that the region’s schools are facing permanent closure. This deprivation extends beyond the classroom; by denying access to fuel, medicine, and basic administrative budgets, the federal government is effectively paralyzing the humanitarian recovery of the region.
• The Human Toll of Federal Neglect
The human cost of Addis Ababa’s policies is becoming increasingly visible. Nigsti Gared, president of the Tigray Teachers’ Association, reported that educators are dying from poverty-related causes or are being forced into migration simply to survive. The Tigray Parents’ Association warned that the federal government’s refusal to honor its financial obligations risks “losing an entire generation” of students. Despite an urgent appeal sent to the FDRE Ministry of Education on March 9, the federal government has maintained a deafening silence, further fueling allegations that it is intentionally sabotaging the fragile peace process.
• A Pattern of Fragile Commitments
This latest crisis follows years of unprecedented devastation during the war, where Tigray’s infrastructure was specifically targeted. Although international partners and the diaspora have made strides in rebuilding, these gains are now being systematically reversed by federal policy. Critics argue that the government in Addis Ababa is using the budgetary freeze as a leverage tool, disregarding global commitments like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and children’s fundamental rights. As protests grow louder and calls for international intervention intensify, the “economic siege” of Tigray stands as a stark indictment of the federal government’s commitment to genuine national reconciliation.
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