Salsay Weyane Tigray, a prominent nationalist party in Tigray wielding social democracy as its ideology, has consistently called for an end to the ongoing silent genocide against the people of Tigray. The party, advocating for an independent Tigray, has been vocal about various issues, including ongoing ethnic cleansing in occupied territories, forced displacement, famine, coerced identity changes by Eritrean and Amhara forces, youth exodus, lack of basic services, and access to education.
It has also highlighted the international community’s silence on these matters, the lack of inclusive governance, and the presence of weak, corrupt, and factional leadership in Tigray. The social democrats have been demanding the federal government of Ethiopia to stop its genocidal state policy towards the people of Tigray, issuing weekly press releases each showing pieces of evidence that demonstrate the continuity of the genocide after the ceasefire agreement in November 2022.
In its recent press releases, the party highlighted renewed attacks and ethnic profiling by occupying forces, which threaten the safety and well-being of Tigrayans. They urged the international community to pressure occupying forces to abide by the Pretoria CoHA agreement, leave the territories to their right owners and facilitate the return of displaced Tigrayans.
Salsay Weyane Tigray also addressed the ongoing exodus of Tigrayans fleeing the devastation caused by the war. Leaders of the political party called for sustainable measures to address this crisis, including financial assistance for reintegration and the establishment of essential social services. Notably, the party raised concerns about the plight of Tigrayan youth fleeing Ethiopia and facing perilous journeys abroad. It called on the international community to take immediate action to address the root causes of displacement and provide support for safe repatriation, or else make political and legal decisions to understand their rightful requests for asylum and refugee status.
The party emphasized the need for an inclusive interim council in Tigray to address the leadership void and ensure legitimate representation for the people. It criticized the existing interim administration for disregarding proposals for a transparently chosen council and urged, at several occasions, all stakeholders to work towards its formation.
In addition to political challenges, the party highlighted the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Tigray, including famine, lack of access to education, and inadequate support for wounded fighters. They called for urgent international intervention to address these issues and ensure the well-being of the Tigrayan population.
Salsay Weyane Tigray’s weekly press releases underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts to address the multifaceted challenges facing Tigrayans and pave the way for a peaceful and better future for the region.
Salsay Weyane Tigray, a political party based in Tigray, was founded in April 2019 and granted provisional registration. However, its efforts to obtain full legal recognition were thwarted by the outbreak of the devastating Tigray War. Despite this setback, the party played a crucial role in exposing the genocidal atrocities against Tigrayans and advocating for alternative political solutions to end the brutal conflict. With the signing of the Pretoria CoHA in November 2022 and the subsequent cessation of hostilities, Salsay Weyane Tigray resumed its process to obtain legal recognition and was finally granted its license on February 24, 2024.
Salsay Weyane Tigray now stands as a Tigrayan nationalist party, with social democracy as its ideological foundation and a strategic aim of achieving independent statehood for Tigray. Social democracy as an ideology is chosen for its alignment with various aspects of Tigrayan identity, history, and values. Specifically, it resonates with Tigray’s collective identity, historical claims for autonomy and self-administration, and aspirations for individual freedom and rights. Social democracy aligns with Tigrayan values such as solidarity and promotes cooperation without regard to class and other differences. Furthermore, the party’s political programs include social justice and balanced economic growth through demand-based state intervention, which involves fostering pure economic competition with the private sector under a transparent legal framework, reflecting the governance principles upheld by social democrats.
The party has outlined several principles defining its political program to realize its objectives. Key among these are the struggle for the democratic independence of Tigray, the defense of Tigray’s safety and territorial integrity, and the fostering of strong fraternity and solidarity between Tigray and Eritrea. The party asserts that independent statehood for Tigray is the best framework to promote the vital interests of the Tigrayan people and establish sustainable peace with neighbouring countries. Salsay Weyane Tigray emphasizes the historical, linguistic, and cultural kinship between Tigray and Eritrea, advocating for friendly relations that serve both peoples’ economic, political, cultural, and security interests.
The party expressed it has made significant progress in garnering support for its goals among the people of Tigray. According to the party’s statements, despite operating in a repressive political environment, it has engaged with the public through various means, including public assemblies and alternative media channels. Weekly press releases serve as a platform for addressing its constituency, focusing on the ongoing genocide against the people of Tigray and advocating for urgent international intervention to address the challenges threatening Tigray’s existence.
Following the grant of legal recognition on February 24, Salsay Weyane Tigray published its political program, inviting public criticism and scrutiny. In a recent televised press release, the party elaborated on its main objectives and provided detailed insights into its political program and ideology.
The party’s political program is attached for your reference (in Tigrigna).