The people and government of Tigray have always had a clear stance on the peaceful resolution of the current conflict. We have from the get-go made it clear to friends and foes alike that all political problems should be resolved through peaceful means. This is not just because we believe peace to be a matter of survival but also because we have made every effort to bring it about. In short, the people and government of Tigray have always expressed their willingness and readiness to resolve the situation facing us peacefully; over the past four years, we have repeatedly convoyed this message to all relevant stakeholders.
17 months ago, we were forced to enter into a war to ensure our very survival because all peaceful avenues for the resolution of political problems were closed off, and because a vicious military campaign has been initiated to exterminate the people of Tigray. In general, peace, not war, has always been our choice. Even at the moment, wars is not our choice. While our people should have received humanitarian assistance provided by the international community without any obstruction, virtually no aid has been allowed into Tigray on account of the blockade of Tigray.
The restoration of telecommunication and banking services, among other things, very simple steps for the Abiy government to undertake, would have saved countless lives.