The Silent Plunder: How Tigray’s Gold Becomes a Curse for a War-Torn Land

In the shadows of Tigray's devastating war, a quiet tragedy unfolds. Beneath the scarred earth, rich veins of gold promise prosperity but deliver despair. This is a story of plunder, collusion, and betrayal—a story of how the pain of genocide is compounded by exploitation, leaving communities to mourn not just their dead but their stolen future.

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A Land Bleeding Twice

Tigray is a region already battered by the horrors of war. Villages lie in ashes, families torn apart, and the echoes of loss reverberate through the highlands. But as survivors struggle to rebuild their lives, another tragedy is underway. The very land that should provide hope is being looted, its gold extracted not for the people of Tigray but for the gain of elites, companies, and war profiteers.

The extraction of gold in Tigray is not a tale of development or opportunity; it is a grim extension of the violence that has ravaged this land. The same forces that orchestrated the suffering of its people now turn to the earth beneath their feet, exploiting its riches with ruthless efficiency.

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The Actors in the Shadows

The plunder of Tigray’s gold is a complex web of actors, each playing their part in this sorrowful saga.

Federal Elites

From the halls of Ethiopia’s federal government, powerful individuals allegedly pull the strings, granting mining licenses to favored companies and ensuring that the wealth of Tigray flows outward. These elites, often distant from the region’s suffering, see only profit in its devastation.

Regional Interim Administration

The interim administrators, installed in the aftermath of the war, were supposed to guide Tigray toward stability. Instead, they are accused of facilitating deals with mining companies, acting as intermediaries for federal interests, and enabling the exploitation of their own people.

Ex-Combatants and Military Leaders

Former fighters, who once defended their homeland, now stand accused of militarizing gold extraction. Backed by military leaders, they oversee mining operations with an iron fist, often enforcing compliance through fear. These combatants, escorted by soldiers and supported by local officials, have become enforcers of a new kind of violence—economic violence.

Local Administration

From kebele to woreda to zonal levels, local officials allegedly play a crucial role. They issue permits, approve operations, and smooth the path for exploitation. For many of these officials, survival in a post-war economy means aligning with those in power, even if it means betraying their communities.

The Companies

National and international companies are central to this tragedy. They come with promises of development and investment but leave behind empty promises and a scarred land. These companies, shielded by political connections, extract gold at a pace that leaves little room for accountability or local benefit.

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The Mechanics of Exploitation

The gold extraction operations are not just a matter of business—they are a militarized and highly organized endeavor. Ex-combatants, flanked by soldiers, secure mining sites and transport routes. Local administrators ensure that permits are issued, often bypassing environmental or ethical concerns. Brokers and intermediaries grease the wheels, ensuring that companies can operate without interference.

The extracted gold rarely benefits the people of Tigray. Instead, it is smuggled across borders, with Eritrea and Dubai as key destinations. In this way, Tigray’s riches flow outward, enriching those far removed from the region’s pain.

The Human Cost

The cost of this exploitation is measured not only in lost wealth but in human suffering. The communities where gold is extracted see no benefit—only displacement, environmental destruction, and the deepening of their poverty.

One farmer from central Tigray described how his family was forced off their land to make way for a mining operation:

“They told us it was for development. But we have seen nothing—no compensation, no jobs, no hope. Only the sound of machines tearing apart our land.”

For the families who survived the genocidal warfare, the gold extraction feels like a second wave of violence. The promises of development ring hollow in a land where children go hungry, schools lie in ruins, and clean water is a distant dream.

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The Betrayal of Trust

Perhaps the most painful aspect of this tragedy is the betrayal by those who should protect Tigray’s people. The interim administration, local officials, and even ex-combatants—all individuals who should be rebuilding the region—are accused of aligning with those who exploit it.

This betrayal is felt deeply by Tigrayans, who see their suffering compounded by the actions of their own leaders. One elder lamented:

 “We have already lost so much—our homes, our loved ones. Now, even the land beneath our feet is being stolen.”

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A Call for Justice

This tragedy cannot be ignored. The exploitation of Tigray’s gold must be met with accountability and action. International organizations, human rights groups, and the Ethiopian government itself must prioritize the following:

1. Independent Oversight: Establish impartial monitoring of mining operations and resource management.

2. Community Benefits: Ensure that the wealth from Tigray’s resources is reinvested into its communities, with a focus on rebuilding infrastructure and providing basic services.

3. Demilitarization: Remove military forces from mining sites and ensure that operations are civilian-led and transparent.

4. Transparency and Accountability: Publicize all mining agreements and hold those complicit in exploitation to account.

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Conclusion

Tigray’s gold should be a blessing—a resource that helps heal a wounded land and rebuild shattered lives. Instead, it has become a curse, fueling exploitation and deepening despair. The people of Tigray deserve better. They deserve to see their resources used for their benefit, to see justice for the crimes committed against them, and to reclaim the hope that has been stolen from them.

This is not just a story of gold. It is a story of a people whose suffering continues, whose voices must be heard, and whose rights must be restored. The world cannot stand by as Tigray bleeds once more.