The Tigray Defence Force (TDF), estimated to be 30% female, saw women face sexual abuse and coercion by their own commanders after joining to escape wartime violence. Officers often demanded sex for safer assignments or punished refusals, creating a "hostile environment" within the force. Despite reports of these crimes, the high command largely ignored them to avoid undermining the war effort, prioritising unity over justice.

This failure to address abuse has severely impacted women's meaningful participation in the sector. Weak internal oversight mechanisms, such as the gender focal person system, often left investigators vulnerable to retribution, while leadership maintained a "protective stupidity" that discouraged reporting. Although one abusive colonel was successfully prosecuted, the broader culture of silence and fear signaled to female recruits that their safety was secondary to military objectives, reinforcing barriers to their full engagement.

Following the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, the unresolved legacy of internal sexual violence continues to hinder women's reintegration and participation in post-conflict reconstruction. With the threat of renewed conflict and the peace plan only partially implemented, the immediate crises of insecurity and unemployment have pushed gender rights issues to the background. True transitional justice requires addressing these specific harms committed by officers, as the lack of accountability continues to compromise the meaningful participation of women in Tigrayan security and society.

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