The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) pushed back on reports that its leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, abruptly left a Central Committee meeting after taking issue with comments made during the session.
TPLF spokesperson Michael Asegedom dismissed the account as “false,” insisting the gathering — held from November 17 to 22 — was devoted to reviewing policy programmes rather than scrutinising individual leaders. He said the agenda focused on assessing the organisation’s performance over the past year, not on internal power struggles.
The TPLF downplayed reports of internal divisions, saying the rift involved only members who left under the leadership of former Tigray administration president Getachew Reda. The party has accused Getachew’s faction of “treason,” with spokesperson Michael saying the TPLF is now focused on “repairing the damage” caused by former leaders who, he claimed, undermined the unity of the people. Getachew now serves as an adviser on East African affairs to the Ethiopian prime minister. Getachew, Lt. Gen. Tsedkan Gebretnisae and other former TPLF members have established Tigrai Democratic Solidarity (Simret), a political party that describes itself as committed to promoting fundamental, peaceful, and civil change in Tigrai. The TPLF spokesperson said that none of the members from Getachew’s faction who left the party have reintegrated.
The TPLF has dismissed what it called “unfounded allegations” from Ethiopia’s government that it is preparing for war in alliance with Eritrea. Michael said that, while there are echoes of such claims, no formal contacts have taken place at either the party or government level.
In an Oct. 2 letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Gedion Timothewos, alleged that the TPLF and the Eritrean government have formed an alliance known as Tsimido to plan attacks against the Ethiopian government. In his response, Debretsion said the foreign minister’s letter contained “fabricated stories and smear campaigns” intended to divert attention from the federal government’s failure to honour the Pretoria peace agreement.
In the letter, Gedion Timothewos alleged that Eritrea and a hardline faction of the TPLF were “funding, mobilizing and directing armed groups” in the Amhara region, where Fano militias have been battling the federal government. He further claimed that these groups had taken part in the attempted capture of the town of Woldia.
The TPLF claims that the Ethiopian federal government is attempting to sideline it illegally ahead of upcoming elections. Spokesperson Michael Asgedom stated that the TPLF is a principal signatory to the Pretoria peace deal—whether one likes it or not—and a party recognized internationally. He added that the TPLF was unlawfully stripped of its legal status by Abiy Ahmed’s administration through the election board, which he said is neither right nor lawful. He questioned what kind of election could be organized without the TPLF, alleging that the government’s real aim is to favor Simret. Asgedom argued that reinstating the party’s legality is the only option, and anything short of that would be unacceptable.
Tplf is Ethiopia’s problem child. Tplf leaders could never learn from past mistakes and keep repeating them. This is a serious case of addiction to power, money, lies, and blood-letting. In the case above, both sides are lying to take advantage of the other’s weakness. Let us not waste talking about such a nasty group; nasty as in not caring about the welfare of the long-suffering populations while living in absolute luxury (sipping black-label whiskey in the evenings, flying to Saudi for medical treatment, to Dubbai banks to stash away stolen money, and so on).
We are still talking about the Tigray war, even though over the past three years the conflict has shifted to the Amhara region. In the recent the so called head-to-head debate on Al Jazeera with Getachew Reda, the discussion focused exclusively on the Tigray region, not on what the Amhara people are currently being subjected to. Addis Standard’s Tsedale Lemma, the star invitée to the program, showed her passion and partisanship to the Tigray cause, not saying a thing about what is happening in the amhara region. It is kindbof crazy but all victims don’t deserve same sympathy and consideration.