Let’s talk about the Irob ethnic group in Tigray.

Having yet recovered from the Ethiopian-Eritrean border war, the Irob are once again being subjugated to violent occupying Eritrean forces during the war on Tigray.

We need to amplify their voices. #IrobMassacre #TigrayGenocide

Irob, also referred to as Irobland or Adi Irob (ዓዲ ኢሮብ/ኢሮብ ዲክ) in Tigrigna/Saho, is located in the northeastern part of Tigray. It borders Eritrea to the north, Ethiopia’s Afar region to the east, and the remainder of Tigray to the southwest.

Although one of the smallest ethnic groups in Tigray, with population estimates between 30,000-40,000, the Irob's rich cultural legacy and history has tremendously influenced Tigray.

Despite sharing a close connection with their southern neighbors, there are specific cultural elements unique to the Irob and linked to their historic and continuous struggle to protect and defend their identity.

The most consistent and popular accounts of Irob oral history indicate Semitic origins. Irob’s main lineage is traced back to Endreas the Great, the son of King Megdir of Rome and Queen Eleni of Israel, one of the 12 people who came to Axum with the Arc of the Covenant.

The Ethio-Eritrean border war that lasted from 1998 to 2000 saw the extremely violent partial occupation of Irob by the Eritrean forces. The violence was almost identical to the war crimes and crimes against humanity occurring in Irob today.

In June 2018, unelected Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration announced that it would implement the 2002 border ruling, splitting Irob between Ethiopia and Eritrea leaving about one-third of Irob land ceded to Eritrea, posing an existential threat to the Irob community.

The Irob are yet again going through the unimaginable in the dark.

Generational trauma and violence continue as many of those who have been killed since November 2020 are the children of men and women killed or abducted by Eritrean forces during the 1998-2000 border war.

The @IrobAdvocacy Association has worked hard on the ground to gather a list of those massacred in Irob. As of early April, 116 have been recorded as murdered in over 20 villages, including Gamma-Daa, Alitena, Fredashum, Gietelo, Magauma, Awo, and Mosi-Gade.

Support the Irob community by:

- Amplifying this post
- Following @IrobAdvocacy
- Following Irob Development Association on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Irobdevelopment.org/
- Joining our Irob campaign, starting on April 10, 2021
- Signing our petitions

More resources below.