Opposition Leader urges formation of inclusive Tigray Interim Administration
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has called for Tigrayans to nominate candidates for the interim presidency of the Tigray region, a move the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has rejected, stating it violates the terms of the Pretoria peace agreement.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders are demanding an inclusive transitional administration for the war affected region.
In the middle of this week, the Office of the Prime Minister announced the call for nominations on its official social media account, stating that the process aims to form a transitional administration in Tigray.
The Office asserts that the constitution and parliamentary legislation grant it the authority to establish an interim administration in the region.
The announcement follows Abiy’s address to Parliament last week, in which he stated that the term of Tigray’s interim administration had ended, making a transition to new leadership necessary.
In his address to lawmakers, the PM said that “the interim administration, led by Getachew Reda, had completed its mandate, and a new process was required to establish a successor administration”.
However, the TPLF issued a statement asserting that the decision was “unilateral” and “inconsistent” with the November 2022 agreement which ended the two-year conflict between the federal government and Tigrayan forces.
Describing the PM’s decision as “unacceptable”, the party emphasized that “unilateral decisions and actions that infringe upon the CoHA must cease,” adding that such moves undermine the peace process.
“The Ethiopian government has persistently sought to unilaterally impose new terms on the CoHA [cessation of hostilities agreement], engaging in acts of sabotage that undermine peace and progress,” reads the TPLF statement.
The party further stated that the region should have had an elected government by now and accused the federal government of hindering the implementation of the peace deal by manufacturing political crises in Tigray.
“The Ethiopian government is escalating its activities in direct contravention of the CoHA. Article 3 of the CoHA obliges all parties to refrain from any direct or indirect hostile actions targeting the other party,” reads the statement.
The TPLF has accused the federal government of engaging in “provocative, hostile, and destabilizing activities”in Tigray, “gambling with the lives of the people of Tigray”, and providing unnamed proxies with resources to “annihilate” the region
The party argues that the interim administration is a product of the peace agreement and not a unilateral decision by the federal government.
It also claims the federal government is undermining peace and stability in Tigray by levying fabricated accusations against members and leaders of the Tigray Armed Forces.
On March 21, 2025, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) publicly accused Tigrayan Brigadier General Migbe Haile of actively collaborating with the Fano militia in the Amhara region, alleging he is supporting their “Unity” campaign and destabilizing the region by launching attacks to reclaim Western Tigray, thus undermining the Pretoria Agreement.
This development follows the departure of Tigray’s interim president, Getachew Reda, earlier this month.
Before his departure, Getachew had expressed concerns over what he described as “systematic exclusion” of Tigrayan interests in post-war negotiations.
The TPLF, which dominated Tigray’s politics before the war, has faced internal divisions since the signing of the CoHA. Some factions within the party have criticized the leadership for concessions made during negotiations, while others have called for greater cooperation with the federal government.
TPLFs statement urges the federal government to prioritize actions and decisions that foster sustainable peace and mutual interests, rather than engaging in destabilizing activities that harm the people.
While the federal government has not yet responded to the TPLF’s latest statement, an opposition party leader operating in Tigray has called for the establishment of an all-inclusive interim administration in the region.
In an interview with The Reporter last week, Amdom Gebreselassie, chairperson of the Arena Party, emphasized the need for inclusivity in forming the regional administration, ensuring the participation of all relevant stakeholders.
“To bring lasting peace to the region, there should be a proper implementation of the Pretoria Agreement,” he told The Reporter. “We believe that if the agreement is fully and correctly enforced, it will bring the expected peace and stability. Additionally, the Tigray Interim Administration must be inclusive in rebuilding the region and restoring constitutional order.”