Reposted by Rafael MitchellHuman Rights Watch @hrw.org · 30/09/2026Since August, there's been an escalation in airstrikes in Tigray. The resumption of hostilities in northern Ethiopia heightens concerns about unlawful attacks and the grave threat posed to civilians. HRW's Laetitia Bader spoke to BBC News' Focus on Africa: 0198
Reposted by Rafael MitchellZecharias Zelalem @zekuzelalem.bsky.social · 26/09/2026As I pointed out yesterday, communications have been severed across much of Tigray. The UN and HRW were for now, able to contact sources and obtain data for their reports, but things will become much more difficult going forward. There is great reason to be afraid for civilians. 13119
Reposted by Rafael MitchellZecharias Zelalem @zekuzelalem.bsky.social · 26/09/2026RE: AIRSTRIKES Two reports highlighting aerial crimes vis a vis the new conflict in Ethiopia were published today. First, @hrw.org looked at visual evidence into the Aug 20th Ethiopian airstrike that injured a dozen civilians in the city of Mekele and found no valid military targets.hrw.orgEthiopia: Indiscriminate Airstrike in TigrayAn apparent Ethiopian government airstrike on a residential compound in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region on August 20, 2026, should be investigated as a possible war crime, Human Rights Watch said to... 12621
Reposted by Rafael MitchellYonas Nigussie @yonigussie.bsky.social · 25/09/2026‘Probe Ethiopia’s Tigray Airstrike as War Crime,’ HRW An apparent #Ethiopian airstrike on a residential compound in #Tigray on Aug 20, should be investigated as a possible war crime, Human Rights Watch said today. The attack wounded 13 civilians, inc seven children. 🖇️ www.hrw.org/news/2026/09... 001
Reposted by Rafael MitchellNetBlocks @netblocks.org · 24/09/2026⚠️ Confirmed: Network data indicate a subnational internet disruption in northern #Ethiopia corresponding to reports of a telecoms blackout in #Tigray. The incident comes amid escalating conflict between Tigrayan forces and the national army 📉 01613
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Right now 7 million civilians in Tigray need ceasefire and positive peace Not yet covered by UK news outlets @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social @theguardian.com, but a report here: www.lemonde.fr/en/internati... 000
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Today, power & internet down across Tigray, and there is a return to fighting between federal and regional forces. Estimated 600,000 died in the 2020-2022 civil war, and pubic services, welfare and industry never recovered. 100
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Electricity has been turned off in Tigray 026
Reposted by Rafael MitchellYonas Nigussie @yonigussie.bsky.social · 22/09/2026UN Voices Concern Over Rising Insecurity, Drone Strikes In Ethiopia Stéphane Dujarric: “We’re deeply concerned by the worsening security situation and recent developments in #Ethiopia, including the formation of a new coalition of armed groups and reports of continued insecurity and drone strikes.” 002
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Congratulations, and many thanks for getting this back! 010
Reposted by Rafael MitchellDigital Scholarship @ British Library @bldigischol.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Here you are! www.bl.uk/stories/news...bl.ukEThOS records restoredWe are pleased to share that EThOS (E-Theses Online Service) is now available again following restoration work after the cyber-attack. 111
Reposted by Rafael MitchellRafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 02/07/2026There is limited international awareness of the crisis affecting over 6 mill people in #Tigray, Ethiopia. The Civil War led to economic collapse, mass displacement and widespread trauma and hardship across the region. The impact on education has been catastrophic. www.ukfiet.org/2026/restori...ukfiet.orgRestoring the right to education: Research for post-war reconstruction in Tigray, EthiopiaThere is very limited international awareness of the crisis affecting over 6 million people in Tigray, Ethiopia. The Civil War (2020-2022) has led to economic collapse… 153
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Urgent action is needed to ensure that children in Tigray are able to access education, and improve the livelihood of teachers who are living in poverty due to unpaid salaries. 010
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 02/07/2026In 2023, schools started reopening after 3½ years of closures due to the pandemic, war and blockades. However, political tensions have continued. As of June 2026, an estimated 2.4 million children are unable to access their right to education, Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 162
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 02/07/2026There is limited international awareness of the crisis affecting over 6 mill people in #Tigray, Ethiopia. The Civil War led to economic collapse, mass displacement and widespread trauma and hardship across the region. The impact on education has been catastrophic. www.ukfiet.org/2026/restori...ukfiet.orgRestoring the right to education: Research for post-war reconstruction in Tigray, EthiopiaThere is very limited international awareness of the crisis affecting over 6 million people in Tigray, Ethiopia. The Civil War (2020-2022) has led to economic collapse… 153
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 01/07/2026As of June 2026, an estimated 2.4 million children in #Tigray are unable to access their right to education under Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. www.ukfiet.org/2026/restori...ukfiet.orgRestoring the right to education: Research for post-war reconstruction in Tigray, EthiopiaThere is very limited international awareness of the crisis affecting over 6 million people in Tigray, Ethiopia. The Civil War (2020-2022) has led to economic collapse… 020
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 01/07/2026The impact on education has been catastrophic. In 2023, schools started reopening after 3½ years of closures due to the pandemic, war and blockades. However, political tensions have continued, and in February 2026, schools began to close again after the Federal government suspended the budget. 100
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 01/07/2026There is very limited international awareness of the crisis affecting over 6 million people in #Tigray, Ethiopia. The Civil War (2020-2022) has led to economic collapse, mass displacement and widespread trauma and hardship across the region. www.ukfiet.org/2026/restori...ukfiet.orgRestoring the right to education: Research for post-war reconstruction in Tigray, EthiopiaThere is very limited international awareness of the crisis affecting over 6 million people in Tigray, Ethiopia. The Civil War (2020-2022) has led to economic collapse… 111
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Hi there, it's "mid- to late-June 2026", is there an update on when ethos is going live? The loss of this resource has had a devastating and incalculable effect on schoalrship & researcher development, particularly in the UK 110
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 19/06/2026#Tigray Teachers' Association says unpaid salaries pushing teachers into severe hardship, urges national body to intervene addisstandard.com/tigray-teach...addisstandard.com 010
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 10/06/2026"Any future political project in Tigray will ultimately depend not only on institutions and borders but also on whether water continues to flow, soils remain productive, electricity functions, and landscapes sustain human life." Jan Nyssen in Addis Standard addisstandard.com/between-resi...addisstandard.com 010
Reposted by Rafael MitchellAdam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 10/06/2026What are the Government, police and security services doing about the people who are quite clearly in the pay of a hostile foreign state, and using their platforms to whip up actual pogroms on our streets? This is a major national security issue and absolutely nothing seems to be happening about it 15633951118
Reposted by Rafael MitchellRafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 01/06/2026New Open Access article by colleagues at Mekelle University reveals the devastation of the school system in #Tigray, Ethiopia caused by the Civil War, and the role of local researchers in post-war recovery. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....tandfonline.comPolicy–research partnerships for post-war reconstruction of education in Tigray, Ethiopia: the role of local university-based researchersThis article draws on the experiences of university-based researchers involved in the post-war reconstruction of education in Tigray, Ethiopia. Based on experiences following the 2020–2022 civil wa... 022
Reposted by Rafael MitchellMillion Haileselassie @millionh.bsky.social · 01/06/2026As Ethiopia is heading to the polls, the #Tigray region won't be participating in the vote for the second time, with tensions simmering on. www.dw.com/en/ethiopia-...dw.comEthiopia election 2026: Tigray excluded and on edgeAs Ethiopia is heading to the polls, the Tigray region won't be participating in the vote for the second time, with tensions simmering on. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party meanwhile ... 021
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 01/06/2026New Open Access article by colleagues at Mekelle University reveals the devastation of the school system in #Tigray, Ethiopia caused by the Civil War, and the role of local researchers in post-war recovery. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....tandfonline.comPolicy–research partnerships for post-war reconstruction of education in Tigray, Ethiopia: the role of local university-based researchersThis article draws on the experiences of university-based researchers involved in the post-war reconstruction of education in Tigray, Ethiopia. Based on experiences following the 2020–2022 civil wa... 022
Reposted by Rafael MitchellYonas Nigussie @yonigussie.bsky.social · 31/05/2026Ethiopia Heads to the Polls, But Not Everyone Can Vote Ethiopia’s general election takes place on Monday as conflict rages in parts of the country, meaning many people will not be able to vote. In fact, the whole northern region of #Tigray, has been totally excluded from the poll.bbc.comEthiopia election: The country heads to the polls, but not everyone can votePrime Minister Abiy Ahmed's party is expected to dominate the election as conflicts overshadow the vote. 001
Reposted by Rafael MitchellTG42Birder🇵🇸 @tg42birder.bsky.social · 23/05/2026The BBC goes with “slapped” and “hit” as a sub-headline, choosing to ignore “15 cases of sexual assaults, including rape. Shot with rubber bullets at close range. Tens of people's bones broken." www.bbc.com/news/article...bbc.comGaza flotilla activists allege abuse by Israeli forces while detainedThe detainees say they were slapped, hit, humiliated and even subjected to sexual violence, but Israel's prison service says the allegations are false. 095
Reposted by Rafael MitchellTeklehaymanot G. Weldemichel @tekgw.bsky.social · 14/05/2026We talk about not only the violence inflicted on Tigrayans, but also the politics of visibility, silence, and international response in the face of mass atrocity and genocide. Listen to the full episode here: soundcloud.com/niod_rewind_...soundcloud.comNIOD Rewind Episode 48 - Genocide in Tigray: Assault on the Womb, Starvation and CensorshipWhat is happening in Tigray? In this episode Anne van Mourik speaks with Teklehaymanot (Tekle) Weldemichael (University of Manchester) about the strong evidence that Ethiopia committed genocide in Tig 1124
Reposted by Rafael MitchellEnglish and Media Centre @engmediacentre.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Are we teaching English if students are silent + not allowed to articulate ideas? This blog shares one teacher's experience of a curriculum imposed from above. EMC view: English this ain't! @warwickmansell.bsky.social @natecommunity.bsky.social @englishassociation.bsky.social tinyurl.com/5a9anappenglishandmedia.co.ukHow English pupils are being silenced in lessonsAn English teacher sets out how he is required to teach by his senior leaders - and what it is doing to students 11212
Reposted by Rafael MitchellDr. Genevieve Guenther (she/they) @doctorvive.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Think using a chatbot makes your work better? Think again. 1/3 311467
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 06/05/2026The Addis Standard article above includes a link to a letter from the Head of the Tigray Regional Education Bureau, appealing for help: “educators and their families [are living in] extreme hardship. Many are now unable to feed their families, pay their rent, or afford medicine…” 000
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 06/05/2026It's my understanding that many rural schools in Tigray have now closed because they can't pay their staff. The Ethiopian government suspended the budget to Tigray back in October 2025. addisstandard.com/news-tigray-...addisstandard.com 123
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 23/04/2026Study by health researchers in 2024 found that starvation was the leading cause of death in Tigray, Ethiopia after the 2022 ceasefire link.springer.com/article/10.1...link.springer.comStarvation remains the leading cause of death in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, after the Pretoria deal: a call for expedited action - BMC Public HealthBackground People in war-affected areas are more likely to experience excess mortality with hunger. However, information on the causes of death associated with hunger is often nonexistent. The purpose... 032
Reposted by Rafael MitchellYonas Nigussie @yonigussie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026Why Tigray’s Industrial Heart Has Failed to Restart Three years after the Pretoria Agreement, the expected ‘peace dividend’ has vanished. Trapped between a liquidity crisis and political deadlock, #Tigray’s economy is not just stalling – it is disintegrating.theafricareport.comEthiopia: Why Tigray’s industrial heart has failed to restartThree years after the Pretoria Agreement, the expected ‘peace dividend’ has vanished. Trapped between a liquidity crisis and political deadlock, Tigray’s economy is not just stalling – it is disintegr... 001
Reposted by Rafael MitchellMelissa Chemam @melissaontheroad.bsky.social · 07/03/2026Meanwhile, in the Horn of Africa: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said his country does not want war, even as regional Tigray authorities say federal forces are massing around the northern region, raising fears of renewed conflict. 153
Reposted by Rafael MitchellTeklehaymanot G. Weldemichel @tekgw.bsky.social · 13/02/2026How did Ethiopia get away with the mass murder of close to a million Tigrayans? In my latest piece for @theconversation.com, I examine the tactics the Ethiopian regime and its allies used to conceal the genocide in Tigray, and evade accountability. theconversation.com/how-to-get-a...theconversation.comHow to get away with mass murder: 4 tactics Ethiopia used to hide Tigray atrocities from the worldThe violence in Tigray was structured, targeted and sustained. 122
Reposted by Rafael MitchellGlobal Development Institute @globaldevinst.bsky.social · 13/02/2026The Tigray crisis remains largely invisible to the world. "Factors such as race and the peripherality of the region made the Tigray conflict a blind spot in global geopolitics. But these explanations are not sufficient." In @uk.theconversation.com by @tekgw.bsky.social: bit.ly/4qvJzuxbit.lyHow to get away with mass murder: 4 tactics Ethiopia used to hide Tigray atrocities from the worldThe violence in Tigray was structured, targeted and sustained. 013
Reposted by Rafael MitchellYonas Nigussie @yonigussie.bsky.social · 10/02/2026UN Rights Chief Calls for Urgent De‑escalation In #Tigray Volker Türk: “The situation remains highly volatile, and we fear it will further deteriorate. There must be concerted and sustained efforts by all parties, with the help of the int’l community, to de-escalate tensions before it is too late.”ohchr.orgEthiopia: Türk urges restraint and steps towards de-escalation amid volatility in TigrayGENEVA – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Tuesday called on all parties to take urgent steps towards de-escalation, amid the precarious situation in the Tigray region.Recent fighti... 001
Reposted by Rafael MitchellYonas Nigussie @yonigussie.bsky.social · 02/02/2026Tigray Calls on AU for Immediate Action to Avert War The #Tigray interim administration, in a letter addressed to the AU, called for “immediate action to avoid an imminent war. The repercussions of a new conflict would be catastrophic and irreversible” and “plunge the region into a wider conflict.”rfi.frÉthiopie: regain de tension au Tigré, les craintes d'une reprise de la guerre dans la région se multiplientAlors que de violents combats ont opposé les forces tigréennes à l'armée fédérale éthiopienne dans l'ouest du Tigré ces derniers jours, la population et l'administration intérimaire locales s'inquiète... 001
Reposted by Rafael MitchellZecharias Zelalem @zekuzelalem.bsky.social · 31/01/2026UPDATE: according to reports from Tigray regional state television, drone strikes targeted trucks in two north-east Tigray towns at 4AM local time. A driver was killed, another is injured. These would be the first civilian casualties of drone strikes in Tigray, since the Tigray war ended in 2022. 14634
Reposted by Rafael MitchellMichael O' 🇮🇪🇺🇲🇨🇦 @socratesxxx.bsky.social · 29/01/2026BBC News - Ethiopian Airlines cancels flights to Tigray as fears mount of renewed conflict - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukEthiopian Airlines cancels flights to Tigray as fears mount of renewed conflictPassengers received a text message about the cancellation of flights, citing 001
Reposted by Rafael MitchellGeorge Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 28/01/2026Please spread this far and wide, as stories don't get much bigger than this. When the government blocks even the intelligence services from telling us we're heading for environmental catastrophe, you know we have a problem. A very big problem. Thank you. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comThe UK government didn't want you to see this report on ecosystem collapse. I'm not surprised | George MonbiotIt took an FOI request to bring this national security assessment to light. For ‘doomsayers’ like us, it is the ultimate vindication, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot 6331432214
Reposted by Rafael MitchellGurpinder Singh Lalli @gurpinderlalli.bsky.social · 17/12/2025Published today! Teaching comparative and international education (CIE) www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... pleasure working with great colleagues Leanne Cameron @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social Martin Preston @bristoluni.bsky.social @wlvuni.bsky.social #BAICE #SEStandfonline.comTeaching comparative and international education (CIE) in UK universities: coverage, omissions and orientationsThis article examines the teaching of comparative and international education (CIE) in undergraduate and master’s programmes in 30 UK universities via bibliometric and content analysis of the handb... 021
Reposted by Rafael MitchellVictor Ray @victorerikray.bsky.social · 13/12/2025@hebagowayed.bsky.social on Trump’s rhetoric and policy of ethnic cleansing.theguardian.comThe ethnic cleansing of the US will destroy it | Heba GowayedTrump’s racist remarks on Ilhan Omar and Somali immigrants reveals his vision for the US as a white Christian nation 17539
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 11/12/2025UK citizen here. On the weekend I was denied an ESTA, I suspect because I've visited Somalia in recent years for work. I only needed ESTA for transit through USA. I guess the intention behind these changes is to deter visitors? Will probably achieve this. 000
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 10/12/2025The focus of this article is the partnership between Mekelle University researchers and the Tigray Region Education Bureau (TREB) around the introduction of an Accelerated Education Programme (AEP) across all schools in the region in 2023. 000
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 10/12/2025Based on experiences following the 2020-2022 civil war, we consider the role of local researchers in supporting educational decision-making in line with democratic, human-rights based principles and international commitments. 110
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 10/12/2025This is an open access *preprint* by Mekelle University researchers, Nigusse Weldemariam Mulugeta Tsegai, Haftu Hindeya, Fesseha Abadi Weldemichael & me The article draws on the experiences of university-based researchers involved in the post-war reconstruction of education in Tigray, Ethiopia. 100
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 10/12/2025www.bristol.ac.uk/media-librar...bristol.ac.uk 100
Rafael Mitchell @rafaelmitchell.bsky.social · 10/12/2025**Post-war reconstruction of education in Tigray, Ethiopia** What was the plan for re-opening schools in Tigray after the devastating 2020-2022 civil war? Who was involved in decision-making, and what evidence did they draw on? What were the results? 121