The Ethiopia Observer published on 11 June 2018 an article titled "Irob Protests in Tigray Display Local Obstacles to Implementing Eritrean Peace Deal" by Arefaynie Fantahun.
The author explains that the Irob people who live along the Ethiopia-Eritrea border in the vicinity of Badme and who would be most affected by the transfer of Badme from Ethiopia to Eritrea find the announcement by Ethiopia unwelcome.