Tigray Defense Forces
The Tigray Defense Forces (Tigrinya: ሓይልታት ምክልኻል ትግራይ; TDF: ሓምት), colloquially called the Tigray Army (ሰራዊት ትግራይ) is a paramilitary group located in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. It was founded by former generals of the Ethiopian Military in 2020 to combat federal forces enforcing national government mandates in the Tigray region, culminating in 2020 with the outbreak of the Tigray War. The TDF has made use of guerilla tactics and strategies. Human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported that the TDF has committed war crimes against civilians including gang rape and extrajudicial killing during their occupation of both the Afar and Amhara regions. According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice, TDF combatants have been found liable for upwards of 540 civilians casualties. as of 28 December 2021.
| Tigray Defense Forces | |
|---|---|
| ሓይልታት ምክልኻል ትግራይ ሰራዊት ትግራይ | |
| Motto | ዘይንድይቦ ጎቦ
There are no mountains we would not climb |
| Founded | 4 November 2020 |
| Headquarters | Mekelle, Tigray Region |
| Leadership | |
| President | Debretsion Gebremichael |
| Commander-in-chief | Lieutenant Gen Tadesse Werede Tesfay |
| Member of central command | Lieutenant General Tsadkan Gebretensae |
| Spokesperson | Colonel Gebre Gebretsadik |
| Personnel | |
| Active personnel | <10,000–250,000 (est. Nov. 2020) |
| Related articles | |
| History | Tigray War |