International partners supporting the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process, together with representatives of the African Union Monitoring, Verification and Compliance Mechanism (AU MVCM) and the Tigray Interim Administration, undertook a joint visit to the Mekele demobilization center to observe the ongoing implementation of DDR activities on the ground.

This visit comes in the context of renewed momentum in the DDR process. Since the resumption of operations in Tigray on April 10, 2025, approximately 5,000 ex-combatants have been demobilized from two sites, raising the total number demobilized in the region to 13,000. Cumulatively, across Tigray, Afar, Amhara, and Oromia, more than 25,000 ex-combatants have transitioned through the formal demobilization phase to date.

The delegation’s visit served to assess the operational status of demobilization centers and to engage with implementing stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities inherent in such a complex process. Particular attention was given to coordination mechanisms, verification procedures, and the initial steps toward reintegration.

While the demobilization phase marks a critical milestone, partners acknowledged that reintegration, both social and economic, will require sustained support and long-term planning. The importance of an integrated approach that aligns DDR with broader peacebuilding, recovery, and stabilization efforts was underscored in stakeholder discussions.

The DDR program is situated within the broader transitional framework following the cessation of hostilities in northern Ethiopia and is supported by a range of bilateral and multilateral partners.