Tigray Students Uprooted by War Say They Fled Forced Conscription

Students from Ethiopia's Tigray region who were displaced by the recent conflict have come forward to say they fled their homes in part to escape forced recruitment into fighting forces, according to testimony featured in a France 24 video report.

The accounts shed light on a lesser-documented dimension of the two-year war between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan fighters — the pressure placed on young people, including those still in school, to take up arms.

The students are among the millions of Tigrayans who were uprooted during the fighting, which began in November 2020 and formally ended with a peace agreement signed in Pretoria in November 2022. Many displaced families remain unable to return home or rebuild their lives.

According to the testimony, the students said they left their studies behind not only because of the general dangers of the conflict but because of a specific fear: being forced into military service against their will.

Forced conscription has been a recurring concern in Ethiopia's conflict-affected regions. Both federal-aligned forces and Tigrayan authorities have been accused by human rights organizations of coercing young men — and in some cases children — into service during the war.

International human rights monitors have documented widespread abuses during the conflict, including extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and the forced displacement of civilians. The recruitment of child soldiers is prohibited under international law, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which classifies conscripting children under 15 as a war crime.

The students' accounts align with a broader pattern described by humanitarian groups: displacement driven not only by direct combat but by the fear of being swept into it. For students in particular, the choice between continuing their education and avoiding recruitment often meant leaving their communities entirely.

The disruption to education in Tigray has been severe. Schools across the region were damaged, destroyed, or repurposed during the fighting. Even after the cessation of hostilities, many institutions have struggled to reopen because of infrastructure damage, a shortage of teachers, and the lingering displacement of families.

For those who fled, the path forward remains uncertain. Displaced students often find themselves in temporary shelters or host communities with limited access to schooling, documentation, or psychological support. Reintegrating into formal education can take years.

The peace deal reached in 2022 was hailed internationally as a crucial step toward ending one of the deadliest conflicts of recent years. Estimates of the death toll vary widely, with some studies suggesting hundreds of thousands may have died from combat, starvation, and the collapse of health services.

Yet implementation of the agreement has been uneven. Disputes over territorial control, the withdrawal of forces, and the return of displaced populations have slowed recovery. In several areas, armed groups continue to operate, and civilians report ongoing insecurity.

Humanitarian access to Tigray has improved since the ceasefire, but aid agencies say needs remain enormous. Millions of people depend on food assistance, and the region's economy — heavily reliant on agriculture and small trade — has been shattered.

The students' decision to speak out reflects a growing willingness among survivors to document what happened during the war. Their testimony could contribute to accountability efforts, including investigations by international bodies that have been examining atrocities committed by all sides.

Ethiopia's government has consistently rejected allegations of systematic abuses, while Tigrayan authorities have also faced scrutiny. The competing narratives have made independent verification difficult, though human rights groups have gathered extensive evidence over the past several years.

For the students themselves, the immediate concern is survival and the chance to resume their education. Many say they hope to return to Tigray once conditions allow, but they remain wary of the risks that drove them away.

Their story is one of many emerging from a conflict whose full human cost is still being counted. As the region works toward recovery, the experiences of young people who fled conscription serve as a reminder of how war reshapes lives long after the guns fall silent.

The France 24 report offers a window into those experiences, placing the voices of displaced students at the center of a story that is often told through casualty figures and diplomatic negotiations. Behind each account is a decision no young person should have to make: between an education and the fear of being forced to fight.