Yemane Niguse

Niguse was born in Hewane, a small town in the Tigray Region in Ethiopia.^[1] He became a teacher before becoming politically active.^[2]

Niguse was known for being critical of the TPLF government and especially argued against the integrity of the regional election held in 2020. His most notable political contribution was popularizing the Fenkil Tigray Movement by using social media. His method of spreading awareness of Fenkil was especially successful amongst youths. Fenkil's political objective was to, "free Tigray's people from the pressure of TPLF ... spreading across many towns in the Tigray region."^[3]

In July 2020, four months prior to the start of the Tigray War, as leader of the Fenkil Movement, Yemane criticised the TPLF for what he said was the recruitment of Tigrayan youths into military training on false pretences. According to Yemane, the youths were given promises of land that were not fulfilled, and the TPLF claimed that the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) were planning to attack Tigray Region. The TPLF claimed that the Fenkil Movement was supported by the government of Eritrea.^[4]

Niguse was assassinated on 20 February 2021^[2] in his hometown at Hewane. He was found dead alongside two members of his security detail. According to Borkena Media, "The Ethiopian government confirmed that the activist is killed, and linked the assassination to what it called remnants [of] Tigray People's Liberation Front."^[1]