News: Draft Tigray proclamation mandates compulsory mobilization, penalizes anti-recruitment speech and media
- Addis Standard
- 7 minutes ago
- 4 min read
June 9th 2026
Addis Abeba – A draft proclamation reportedly prepared by the Legal Standing Committee of the region’s pre-war council, which has recently been reinstated by the TPLF, is drawing scrutiny over provisions that would make military mobilization a legal obligation while imposing harsh penalties on individuals and media organizations accused of discouraging recruitment, criticizing mobilization efforts, or disseminating information deemed harmful to security interests.
The proposed legislation, which seeks to establish a legal framework for national mobilization and wartime administration, contains a series of provisions granting authorities extensive powers over civilian, institutional, and media activities during periods of mobilization.
At the center of the draft is a requirement that citizens called upon for national mobilization must comply with recruitment orders. The law outlines penalties for individuals who evade service, fail to report when summoned, assist others in avoiding mobilization, or otherwise obstruct recruitment efforts.
One provision states that individuals who “discourage, intimidate, or actively mislead” members of the armed forces or mobilization structures, or who encourage them to abandon service or surrender weapons, may face prison sentences ranging from several years to as much as 25 years in severe cases.
The draft further expands liability beyond individuals to media organizations. It stipulates that where such acts are committed through newspapers, radio stations, television broadcasters, online platforms, social media channels, or other communication outlets, media institutions themselves may face financial penalties and the suspension or revocation of operating licenses.
Another article criminalizes the publication or dissemination of information authorities deem false or misleading regarding military operations, casualties, security threats, or wartime developments. Critics say the language is broad and could potentially expose journalists and media organizations to prosecution for reporting on controversial issues related to recruitment, battlefield developments, or public grievances.
Particularly contentious is a provision targeting what the draft describes as “hostile propaganda, media campaigns, or public relations activities” that support the objectives of an enemy. The offense carries some of the harshest penalties in the proposed law, including lengthy prison terms, life imprisonment, and, in the most serious circumstances, the death penalty.
The draft also penalizes actions considered harmful to national defense, including the disclosure of military or state secrets, collaboration with hostile forces, sabotage of public infrastructure, and activities deemed to weaken constitutional authority or public order during periods of mobilization. Other provisions impose penalties for desertion, insubordination, espionage, corruption related to mobilization resources, and obstruction of government directives issued under the law.
In addition, the proclamation requires public institutions, private organizations, businesses, community structures, and media outlets to cooperate with mobilization efforts and comply with directives issued by authorities. The draft also includes provisions restricting bail for certain offenses and allowing special procedures for the prosecution of individuals accused of serious crimes under the legislation.
The proposed law comes as reports of forced military recruitment continue to emerge from various parts of Tigray.
In recent months, residents from multiple zones have told Addis Standard that young people have been rounded up, detained, or pressured into joining military structures. Opposition political parties have similarly accused authorities of conducting coercive recruitment campaigns, while rights organizations have warned that such practices risk violating fundamental rights and deepening public frustration.
A recent report by Human Rights First Ethiopia (HRFE) documented allegations of forced military recruitment across several parts of the region. The organization said individuals, including students and young people, had reportedly been subjected to pressure, detention, and other coercive measures aimed at compelling participation in military activities. HRFE called for adherence to human rights standards and urged authorities to ensure that recruitment practices remain voluntary and lawful.
Against that backdrop, media observers and legal analysts say the draft law could significantly affect public discussion of recruitment practices. They warn that provisions criminalizing speech that “discourages” military service, along with restrictions on reporting deemed harmful to mobilization efforts, may create uncertainty for journalists covering allegations of forced conscription or public opposition to recruitment campaigns.
Supporters of the draft, however, argue that Tigray faces extraordinary security challenges that require a comprehensive legal framework capable of organizing society for collective defense and preventing actions that could undermine security and stability.
The draft proclamation has not yet been formally enacted, but its provisions are already generating debate among journalists, legal experts, political actors, and rights advocates concerned about the balance between security imperatives and fundamental freedoms.
The proposed law emerges amid heightened political and security tensions in Tigray, more than three years after the signing of the Pretoria Agreement. While the peace deal largely ended active hostilities between federal forces and the TPLF, divisions within Tigray’s political leadership have deepened, accompanied by growing concerns over security, governance, and the future of the region’s armed structures.
In recent months, reports of forced military recruitment have surfaced from multiple areas of Tigray.
Residents, opposition parties, and rights groups have alleged that young people have been compelled to join military formations, prompting calls for independent investigations and greater transparency regarding recruitment practices.
The debate over the draft proclamation, therefore, comes at a particularly sensitive moment, with questions surrounding military mobilization, civil liberties, and freedom of expression increasingly at the center of public discussion.
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