The Ministry of Peace has accused unnamed groups of exploiting internally displaced persons (IDPs) as “political pawns” to manipulate public sentiment.

Addressing Parliament, Minister of Peace Mohamed Idris condemned the practice, alleging that displaced civilians are being forcibly prevented from returning home to prolong humanitarian crises for political gain.

The Minister told MPs that returning IDPs to their homes is anything but a straightforward task.

“Returning displaced persons to their home areas is not a simple task, requiring the rebuilding of their destroyed houses or facilitating their transportation,” he said. “There is a political game involved in viewing displaced people as hostages.”

Recalling the peace deal signed between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Mohamed noted that the process of returning IDPs to their homes had been initiated but, ultimately, they were being used as “political leverage”.

“There is a political game at play when displaced people are treated as hostages,” he reiterated, highlighting challenges that go beyond logistics and resources. He argued that those who claim to stand with IDPs are the very ones engaging in political manoeuvring.

He added that although the government remains committed and displaced communities are eager to return, politically motivated obstruction has significantly complicated the process.

“When we observe the efforts from the TPLF’s side to obstruct the return of displaced people in the Raya area, we see a desire to use the issue for political purposes,” he said. “Our government is committed to executing its tasks, as the community has no problem with the plan.”

Cherugeta Genene, State Minister for Ministry of Peace, also voiced his concerns about obstacles preventing the return of IDPs.

He argued that framing the return of IDPs beyond a purely humanitarian lens has become a recurring issue, adding that the situation has taken on political and economic dimensions.

“There are groups that have benefited economically and politically at the expense of IDPs,” he said.

He said the Ministry is working to cut down the number of IDPs in Ethiopia, which reports from international organizations and watchdogs estimate at close to four million—a number that has surged in recent years as a result of conflict, drought, and other natural disasters.

“Although there have been over two million displaced people to date, 380,000 have returned this year alone. Efforts are underway to reduce the number of displaced persons to zero in the coming years,” he said.