Tigray Peace Process Resumes as Combatants Disarm, Daily Life Returns to Mekelle

Oct 13, 2026 548 Former combatants in northern Ethiopia are handing in their weapons as a vital disarmament and reintegration process resumes in the Tigray region, opening the door for thousands of ex-fighters to transition back to civilian life. The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) initiative, which had previously been suspended, is once again underway. Scores of young fighters who took up arms during the conflict are responding to the call for peace by reporting to a registration center at the Tigray Police Commission in the regional capital, Mekelle. Before arriving in Mekelle to register, many of the young men surrendered their arms to nearby units of the Ethiopian National Defense Force. For fighters who have lived through the harsh conditions of war, officials say the revived program offers a crucial fresh start to help them establish stable socio-economic lives.