Ethiopian gov’t, TPLF possibly heading to collision course again 

Borkena

Toronto – At the end of last month, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia released a statement calling for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to prepare its general party congress by February 10 2025. 

The Board highlighted that the TPLF was registered as a party under special consideration ( this was after the organization was designated as terrorist in light of the attack on the Northern Command and subsequent invasion in the neighboring regions) and that it needs to undertake its general party congress within six months of its registration. It was registered again in August 2024. 

The Election Board said that it is not aware if the TPLF is preparing a congress as required and that it will have to take measures if the party congress is not taking place. The TPLF is legally required to notify the Board 21 days before the congress as the former has to verify the procedures are legitimate. It did not happen. 

The split within the TPLF has been public knowledge for more than six months now. The faction under Debretsion Gebremichael organized a congress in August 2024 but this did not have a recognition from the Board due to what the board considers to be violations of the law. His group “dismissed” the other faction under Getachew Reda , head of the Interim Tigray Administration, from the party. But again, the Debretsion group does not have legitimacy as the party congress did not have recognition from the Board.  

The Board’s recent call for TPLF seems to be rejected. The Debretsion faction seems to be advancing a  view that the move is intended to disarm former combatants and he is calling for implementation of the Pretoria agreement. According to a Wazema radio report, Debretsion’s faction called the decision by the Electoral Board a “unilateral one,” and not acceptable. Debretsion’s group argues that former combatants will not disarm before what he calls “invaders” leave Tigray region. It seems to be a reference to forces in Wolkait who consider themselves as ethnic Amhara.  

If the board rescinds legal status to the TPLF, the Federal government will have to enforce it thereby creating a conflict situation with the Federal government. On the other hand, there are increasing calls in the Tigray region for peace. The region was ravaged by the two years war between the TPLF and Abiy Ahmed led Federal government. 

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