Peaceful demonstrations have erupted across Tigray, Ethiopia, protesting recent contentious decisions made by Ethiopia's House of Federation and the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia.

These widespread rallies, including a major one at Baloni Stadium in Mekelle city, reflect a deep regional discontent over federal actions.

Lt. Gen. Tadesse Woreda, President of the Tigray Interim Administration, addressed the Mekelle rally, issuing a grave warning against allowing a fundamentally political issue to escalate into armed conflict.

He stressed that such a development would endanger not only Tigray but the entire nation.

Tadesse spoke that the federal decisions are primarily political, not legal, stating, "This decision is not merely a matter for the House of Federation, the Ethiopian Election Board, or the law. It is political, and its solution must also be political."

He also highlighted how the handling of questions related to displaced people and Tigray's sovereignty has created unnecessary divisions, citing the mismanagement of IDP repatriation in Tselemti, which led to renewed displacement.

Tadesse reaffirmed the administration's commitment to peaceful resolution, asserting that "The only option is to follow the peaceful path" and that forceful measures are not viable.

Other prominent Tigrayan leaders echoed these sentiments. TPLF chairman Debrestion Gebremichael (PhD) warned the public against what he termed a plot designed to permanently disintegrate Tigray, urging unity in defending regional interests.

Mekelle Mayor Redai Berhe stated that the demonstration would strengthen Tigrayan unity, consolidate national interests, and prevent territorial erosion.

Several political parties operating within Tigray attended and condemned the federal decisions, characterizing them as politically motivated threats to Tigray's sovereignty.

The Arena Tigray for Democracy and Sovereignty party argued that the House of Federation exceeded its constitutional mandate, limited by Article 62 to constitutional interpretation and dispute resolution, not administrative restructuring.

The Tigray Generation Party described the decision as a violation of the Pretoria Agreement, warning that credible elections are impossible while large populations remain displaced and that elections without pre-war administrative arrangements would lack legitimacy.

The National Congress for Great Tigray (Baitona), while preparing for upcoming elections, pledged to withdraw its candidates if constituencies are not reinstated under Tigray's recognized regional jurisdiction.

Salsay Weyane Tigray accused the federal government of failing to restore lawful administration in occupied territories despite repeated calls from residents.

Asserting that the decision "removes constitutionally recognized territories from lawful Tigrayan administration" and constitutes "a grave and deliberate escalation," formalizing exclusion under conditions of occupation.

Organized under the theme "Fight for National Existence," these protests are part of a wider series of demonstrations orchestrated by the Tigray Interim Administration across various cities in the region.

Besides Mekelle, significant gatherings took place in Shire, a town with a large number of internally displaced persons, and Alamata, a district excluded from Tigray's oversight by the House of Federation.

Vehicle parades were also held in northwestern towns like Endabaguna and Shire Endaslas.

Protesters carried banners and chanted powerful slogans, including: "The decision of the Ethiopian government is a continuation of the genocide of the people of Tigray" and "the relationship of the people of Amhara and Tigray will shake over genocidal conspiracies."

These protests unfold amidst heightened political tensions, with regional officials, parties, and civil society organizations expressing unified strong opposition to the federal decisions affecting Tigray's electoral constituencies.