ADDIS ABABA – Former President of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA), Getachew Reda has accused senior Tigray military leaders of involvement in illegal mining, looting, and human trafficking.
Getachew accused three senior TDF leaders of engaging in illegal gold mining, embezzlement, and human trafficking.
In an interview with FBC, Getachew Reda named Brigadier General Mgbey Haile, Brigadier General HaileSelassie Girmay, and Colonel Tewolde Gebretensae as being implicated in the alleged criminal activities.
He accused General Mgbey, one of the senior TDF commanders, of being complicit in illegal mining activities in Tigray.
Getachew said many believe the illicit gold mining in Tigray began after the Pretoria agreement. However, he alleged that it started during the height of the Tigray war.
“A person who was leading the war in Limalimo, Dabat, Debarq area, at the same time he was digging and selling gold,” Getachew said.
He also accused General HaileSelassie and Colonel Tewolde of embezzlement and human trafficking. Getachew said General Haile Selassie, who he claimed was one of the individuals tasked with collecting money from government banks when TDF took control of Kombolcha, embezzled nearly one billion Birr.
Getachew also accused TDF’s Information Directorate Chief, Colonel TewoldeGebretensae, of involvement in human trafficking. He said Tewolde was one of the people who were “selling Eritreans like a property.”
The accused officials have yet to respond to the allegations.
BY STAFF REPORTER
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 15 MAY 2025
