Ethiopia’s Tigray Government Seeks Federal Help Amid Rising Factional Conflict
Ethiopia’s Tigray government seeks federal intervention due to a TPLF faction’s seizure of towns, raising fears of renewed conflict. The TPLF’s internal divisions and the ramifications of the Pretoria Peace Agreement are pivotal in this critical situation.
The interim government of the Tigray region in Ethiopia has made a formal appeal for intervention from the Ethiopian federal government after a faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) seized control of two significant towns. This seizure has resulted in multiple injuries and heightened fears of a renewed civil conflict. On Tuesday, the TPLF faction took over Adigrat, Tigray’s second-largest town, and overthrew the existing administrator, installing a new official in their place.
Further developments occurred on Wednesday night when the TPLF faction captured Adi-Gudem, a town close to the regional capital, Mekele. During this event, various individuals were reported injured as forces attempted to seize a government building. The TPLF previously engaged in a devastating two-year conflict against federal troops, which concluded in November 2022 with a peace agreement, leading to the establishment of a TPLF-led interim government. Tragically, the conflict resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, displacing millions and leaving many in dire need of food security.
Since the end of the war, internal divisions have emerged within the TPLF. In a significant move in October, TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael expelled interim government head Getachew Reda and four cabinet members from the party. In response, Reda temporarily suspended four senior military commanders whom he felt were aligned with Gebremichael’s faction. A statement from the Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau warned that the region is on the brink of another crisis.
Reda characterized the recent actions of the TPLF as a “potential coup attempt” and called upon the international community—crucial guarantors of the Pretoria Peace Agreement—to closely observe the escalating tensions in the region. He stated, “The parties to the Pretoria Agreement should really take into account the deteriorating situation in Tigray and the far-reaching ramifications of the unraveling of the Pretoria agreements.”
On the other hand, TPLF deputy chairman Amanuel Assefa asserted that the ongoing crises are distinct from the Pretoria agreement, attributing them mainly to law enforcement issues. He emphasized that the TPLF and Tigray forces remain the legitimate custodians of the Pretoria Agreement, arguing that there is no justification for any actions that might contravene it.
The Tigray regional government in Ethiopia has urgently requested federal intervention following the seizure of key towns by a faction of the TPLF, raising significant concerns about another civil conflict. The internal factional struggles within the TPLF, combined with the region’s history of devastating conflicts, highlight the fragile stability post-peace agreement. The international community’s role in monitoring and addressing the unrest remains crucial for preventing further escalation.
Original Source: www.newsday.com
