The murder of Birikti Tesfamariam, a natural science teacher, in Shire Endasilasse on August 13, 2024, has been denounced by the Tigray Teachers’ Association. Birikti, a teacher at Setit Humera’s Afeworki Primary School, was living in Shire with her family after being uprooted by the Tigrayan conflict.
The unfortunate situation happened while Birikti Tesfamariam’s spouse was out from the house, according to the statement from the association, her children were present when the terrifying event occurred.
The group has demanded that the federal government and local security agencies look into the incident and find the people who are involved, and they have called for swift action. The association emphasized how critical it is to guarantee the protection of displaced people residing in the area. This case arises in post-war Tigray despite growing security challenges.
A recent local media Addis Standard story described the escalating issue, including incidents like the February 2024 kidnapping of Mehari Kebede’s family member and the March 2024 kidnapping and murder of 16-year-old Mahlet Teklay.
Data from 27 civil society organizations in Tigray shows that during the last eleven months, there have been 12 murders, 18 rapes, 10 kidnappings, and 178 attempted murders of women. In response, there have been open protests in Mekelle and other places, where demonstrators have called for increased security and an end to violence against women. The way in which local officials have handled these instances has drawn criticism.
