A young woman who fled the Tigray conflict in northern Ethiopia and found sanctuary in Belgium came in second place in the Miss Black Belgium 2023 beauty pageant.
Rahwa Kinfe said that she was honoured to bring Tigrayan culture and traditions to the international stage.
“I was very happy to participate when I learned that it is a great forum where I can speak out about the sexual violence against our mothers and sisters in Tigray,” she explained.
Ms Rahwa stated that whereas most competitors represented their country in the competition, she did not. She claims she was allowed to represent Tigray instead after informing the organizers that it has its flag, culture, and history.
As a result of the two-year civil conflict, many young Tigrayans, especially Ms Rahwa, have developed a strong sense of Tigrayan identity.
“Many people don’t know what happened in Tigray,” she added, adding that she was glad she could speak out about the injustices committed against women in Tigray during the brutal battle that began in November 2020.
Both parties have been accused of atrocities such as ethnic cleansing and sexual assault.
The war, which concluded in November last year when the federal government and Tigrayan officials signed a peace agreement, killed an estimated half a million civilians in the region.
Human rights groups reported numerous cases of rape and sexual assault against women and girls during the conflict.
Rahwa was born and raised in the historic city of Aksum, Tigray, and moved to Belgium in March of last year.
She had been a flight attendant for the national airline for five years. She claims that after the civil war began, she and many other Tigrayans living in Addis Ababa and other places were detained “because of our identity.”
“Many of my friends had been arrested, and there was no way out.” “I came to Belgium to save my life after I was released,” she said.
She claims that the competition has provided her with new opportunities.
She claims she was offered a “Golden Ticket” to compete in the Miss Belgium contest directly.
