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| TPLF Leaders discussing with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed regarding progress in the region in February 2024/Photo: Office of the Prime Minister |
After two years of relative peace, Ethiopia’s Tigray region is on the verge of entering a new crisis. The leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), who once fought the Addis Ababa government together in the Tigray war, are now divided.
A faction led by the party’s chairman, Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD), has begun taking control of woreda and city administration offices in recent days. Meanwhile, another group, aligned with Getachew Reda, is pushing back against these moves.
Power Struggle Over Administrative Control
Getachew Reda has accused his rival faction of "taking away the seal" of woreda, kebele, and city mayors. He warned that this power grab could escalate, saying, "The force that is now taking away the seal of city mayors will soon come to Prime Minister Abiy saying, 'I am ready to negotiate.'" He has labeled the crisis a "coup d'état."
On the other hand, the Debre Tsitsin faction released a statement asserting that “enforcing law and order in Tigray will further strengthen the implementation of the peace agreement.”
Background: The Fragile Peace Agreement
The Pretoria Agreement, which ended the two-year Tigray war, was signed in November 2023 after ten days of negotiations between the federal government and the TPLF. The agreement outlined the disarmament of TPLF forces and the formation of an inclusive interim administration until elections could be held.
Following the agreement, Ethiopian Airlines resumed flights to Mekelle, and essential services such as electricity, banking, and telecommunications were restored. Federal police entered the city, declaring that they were “protecting the institutions of the federal government.”
In March 2023, the Council of Ministers established the Interim Administration of Tigray, and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointed Getachew Reda as its head. Shortly after, Getachew formed a 27-member cabinet, controversially removing Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede from his role and appointing Lieutenant General Tsedkan Gebre Tsene in his place.
TPLF’s Legal Status and Internal Conflict
As part of the peace process, the House of People’s Representatives removed the TPLF from the terrorist list. However, this decision was met with resistance from 61 members of the House.
The National Electoral Board later rejected the TPLF’s request to restore its former legal status, instead offering a re-registration process under special conditions. The party refused, escalating tensions. The Election Board then suspended the TPLF from political activity for three months after it failed to hold its general assembly within the required six-month deadline.
At the end of last year, the TPLF held its 14th congress, deepening internal divisions. Several senior leaders, including the president and vice-chairman of the interim administration, boycotted the meeting. Despite this, Debretsion Gebremichael was re-elected as chairman, and it was announced that Getachew Reda and his supporters would not only be removed from leadership but also from party membership.
Rising Tensions and Military Suspensions
Debretsion declared that members of the interim administration who did not participate in the congress would no longer represent the TPLF. In response, his faction pushed for changes in the interim government. Military leaders in Tigray subsequently announced that they would restructure the administration as per the TPLF's decisions.
In reaction, Getachew Reda, who labeled these moves a "coup," took decisive action. Earlier this week, he suspended four senior Tigray military commanders:
- Major General Yohannes W/Giorgise
- Major General Masho Beyene
- Brigadier General Mgbey
- General Fesseha Kidanu
The suspensions were imposed due to what Getachew described as “dangerous activities” that have thrown Tigray’s youth and security forces into chaos.
In an interview with Tigray TV, Getachew revealed that his military commanders were actively obstructed from enforcing government decisions, further intensifying the region’s political turmoil.
What’s Next for Tigray?
As tensions escalate, Tigray faces the risk of renewed instability. The struggle for power within the TPLF, coupled with growing divisions between political and military factions, threatens the fragile peace agreement. With both sides unwilling to back down, the region is at a crossroads—either heading toward reconciliation or another round of conflict.
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