The Ashenda festival, a lively celebration honoring women and the Virgin Mary, won't take place in Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region, due to rising fears of drone attacks. The festival, which was set for Saturday, usually draws thousands of young women in colorful attire, marking a major cultural event in northern Ethiopia.
Rising tensions have fueled worries after a series of drone strikes blamed on federal forces. The most recent strike hit Thursday, injuring 13 civilians and damaging many homes, according to Tigray's communications affairs bureau. This has sparked outrage among regional officials, who are demanding international condemnation and intervention.
Dori Asgedom, head of Tigray's culture and tourism bureau, announced the cancellation, citing the “ongoing drone strikes and the threat of war.” He denounced the attacks on civilians, stating, “The drone attack on innocent citizens in Mekelle city is an act that history will not forgive and should be condemned.”
The Ashenda festival runs three days and coincides with Orthodox Christians' commemoration of the Virgin Mary. Its name means “the tall green grass” in Tigrinya, symbolizing renewal and celebration. The event gives young women a rare chance to express themselves through dance and social interaction in a culture where such freedoms are often restricted.
Besides the Thursday strike, two drone attacks were reported near Dandera, about 15 kilometers from Mekelle, on August 18, resulting in one death and injuries. Earlier this month, another strike in the Raya-Alamata district killed three people. These incidents have raised alarms about a potential resurgence of conflict in a region still recovering from a brutal civil war that officially ended in late 2022.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the federal government signed a peace agreement in November 2022, ending two years of fighting that claimed an estimated hundreds of thousands of lives. But political tensions have resurfaced this year, especially after the TPLF dismantled the interim administration set up under the peace deal and reinstated its pre-war governing council.
Both the TPLF and the federal government have accused each other of not honoring the peace agreement, complicating the fragile situation. The regional administration has appealed to the international community to take a stand against the violence and help prevent further escalation.
Canceling the Ashenda festival is a significant loss for the community, especially for the young women who look forward to this celebration each year. The festival is not only a cultural highlight but also a platform for empowerment and expression in a region where such opportunities are scarce.
As fears of renewed conflict grow, the situation in Tigray remains unstable. The international community's response could play a crucial role in shaping the region's future and ensuring the safety of its citizens.
