The president of the Tigray Regional Interim Administration, Getachew Reda, has issued a stark warning to the international community about a "non-peaceful movement" unfolding in the Tigray region. His statement came during a briefing to diplomats based in Addis Ababa, where he detailed the current situation and the challenges facing the region's fragile peace.
Getachew informed the diplomatic corps that the interim administration, established under the Pretoria Peace Agreement, is facing a serious threat from a TPLF group that has lost legal recognition. He accused this faction of collaborating with certain armed leaders in an attempt to forcibly seize power in various parts of the region.
During the briefing, which was also attended by the Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Gedion Timotheos, Getachew elaborated on the difficulties in implementing key aspects of the Pretoria agreement. He specifically highlighted the stalled progress in the disarmament of combatants and the return of displaced persons to their homes.
"We have repeatedly criticized the federal government for its implementation in the past," Getachew Reda stated, "but the main reason is the undue equation created by the TPLF leaders." He alleged that this group is actively hindering the peace process and using certain armed individuals to further their aims.
Getachew emphasized that this TPLF group lacks the support of the wider Tigrayan population and therefore urged the international community to pay close attention to the unfolding situation. He stressed the importance of upholding the Pretoria agreement and cautioned against illegal actions that could further destabilize the region. He specifically noted that efforts to facilitate the return of displaced individuals and reintegrate combatants, as mandated by the peace accord, have been obstructed by this particular group.
Echoing these concerns, Foreign Minister Dr. Gedion Timothewos assured the diplomats that the federal government is closely monitoring the situation in Tigray. Similarly, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the African Union Commission's Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, conveyed the AU's concern and confirmed that the continental body is also closely following developments in the region.
Getachew’s urgent appeal underscores the precarious state of affairs in Tigray and the interim administration's efforts to maintain stability in the face of emerging challenges to the peace process.
