Addis Ababa, December 7, 2024 (FMC) – Representatives from the African Union (AU) have announced that the rehabilitation trainings being given to ex-combatants in Tigray region is well underway.
Delegates from the African Union, the National Rehabilitation Commission, and the Interim Administration of the Tigray Region have conducted visits to the rehabilitation training programs for ex-combatants at the Mekelle and Edaga Hamus centers.
Brigadier General Tshepo Mabuza of the African Union – Monitoring, Verification, and Compliance Mechanism Team stated that during our visit to Edaga Hamus and the Meles Zenawi campus of Mekelle University, we noted that the rehabilitation training being provided to former combatants is progressing well.
Through effective preliminary preparations, the ex-combatants will be able to reunite with their families by actively engaging in their training. This has been evident in our supervision and monitoring efforts, he added.
“I did visit both Idaga Hamus and Meles campuses in terms of the DDR process and the processe are going very well. I have been monitoring the process of the DDR since its inception and the fruits of the preparations are being realized. The ex-combatants are also very willing to go and reintegrate with their families and they are all happy. The process is going very well.”
He pledged African Union’s continued support to the National Rehabilitation Commission, as ENA reported.
Ernest Nya Dolo, Regional Desk Officer and member of the technical support team at the African Union Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department, recalled that he had observed the preparation work of the Mekele University Meles Zenawi campus center before receiving the ex-combatants.
He said that we have seen that a number of facilities are being provided including food, registration, bank account opening and other important services in the centers and they are treating ex-combatants in a proper way.
“From the visit today I have observed a lot of improvements. The ex-combatants are very lively which the sign of hope is.”