The return of the Tigray Regional Council and the formal resumption of governmental functions have raised expectations among residents for political stability, humanitarian relief, and institutional recovery in the war-affected region.

According to reports aired by Tigray Television, Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael officially began duties at the regional government office and chaired the first cabinet meeting since the council resumed operations. Discussions reportedly focused on restructuring government institutions and addressing what officials described as the “fundamental questions” of the people of Tigray.

The development comes amid continuing concern over the humanitarian and political situation in Western Tigray. A civic organisation identified as the Western Tigray Tsil Community Association urged relevant authorities to provide urgent solutions for displaced residents and refugees, warning that the population in the area faces worsening conditions.

Representatives of the association alleged that many Tigrayans displaced during the conflict remain unable to return to their homes despite the signing of the Pretoria peace agreement more than three years ago. They further claimed that residents in Western Tigray continue to face restrictions, intimidation, and severe socio-economic hardship.

The organisation also highlighted the deteriorating condition of refugees in Sudan, saying aid reductions and insecurity have left many vulnerable to hunger, disease, and renewed displacement. According to the group, young people in particular are increasingly leaving camps and communities in search of safety and economic opportunities elsewhere.

The association accused the Ethiopian federal government of failing to ensure adequate humanitarian access and claimed international media organisations and human rights groups have limited access to the region. The group argued that a lasting solution would require the safe and immediate return of displaced residents before the onset of the rainy season.

Meanwhile, residents interviewed in Mekelle welcomed the restoration of the regional council, saying it could help address pressing shortages of fuel, transport, medicine, and budgetary support that have affected public services across Tigray since the war.

Several residents argued that the prolonged absence of a functioning and fully accountable regional administration had deepened economic hardship and weakened institutional governance. They expressed hope that the reactivated council would restore legal and administrative order, improve service delivery, and create mechanisms for accountability.

Women’s representatives and civil servants also called on the new administration to prioritise the return of displaced communities, territorial unity, justice, and youth employment. Some interviewees said many young people had been driven into migration because of unemployment and the collapse of infrastructure and economic opportunities in the aftermath of the conflict.

Government employees in Mekelle additionally stressed that the council’s return should not be interpreted as a call for renewed confrontation, but rather as an attempt to create a structured political framework capable of resolving disputes through peaceful dialogue and negotiations with the federal government.

In a separate development, members of the Tigrayan diaspora in Stockholm staged a peaceful protest outside the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Stockholm, calling for clemency for Ethiopian nationals reportedly sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia. Protesters appealed to international organisations and the global community to intervene and support efforts aimed at securing the prisoners’ release.