Ethiopia’s Tigray region requests federal intervention after a faction seized Adigrat, raising fears of renewed conflict. Getachew Reda accused Debretsion Gebremichael’s faction of taking control and dismissed senior army leaders. He urged the federal government to act against violations of the 2022 Pretoria Agreement to avoid further destruction.
Ethiopia’s Tigray region authorities requested federal assistance after a faction of the ruling party seized the northern town of Adigrat, exacerbating concerns of renewed conflict. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) governs Tigray’s interim administration, established following a peace agreement in 2023 that ended the two-year war between Tigrayan forces and the federal government. The conflict, which concluded with a truce in November 2022, resulted in significant loss of life and displacement.
Since the war’s end, the TPLF has become divided into two factions, each asserting leadership claims. Recently, Getachew Reda, leader of one faction and head of the interim administration, accused rival Debretsion Gebremichael of forcibly taking control of Adigrat. This assertion was corroborated by Debretsion’s faction on their official social media.
In a significant political maneuver, Getachew Reda dismissed three senior army commanders for allegedly instigating internal conflict. He urged the federal government to recognize that forces acting in their name do not represent the people or the interim administration, but are instead part of a destructive cohort. He emphasized that the federal government must act to prevent further violations of the Pretoria Agreement signed in South Africa in 2022, which established peace protocols for the region.
In summary, the Tigray region is witnessing escalating tensions following the takeover of Adigrat by a faction of the ruling party, prompting calls for federal intervention. The divided TPLF and the recent dismissal of military leaders underscore the fragility of the peace established post-conflict. Authorities warn that any inaction could lead to further instability and conflict in the region.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
