Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed Lieutenant General Tadesse Worede as president of the Tigray Region Interim Administration.
Tadese was serving as vice president of the interim administration for two years following the Pretoria Peace Accord.
On a social media post Tuesday, Prime Minister Abiy announced the extension of the term to the interim government in the region.
"Over the past month, extensive discussions have taken place, putting into consideration the Ethiopian Constitution, the Pretoria Agreement, and the perspectives of the diplomatic community. Following the conclusion that a transitional government should continue—tasked with key responsibilities remaining after the end of Getachew Reda’s term, in accordance with the law—deliberations have been held on who is best suited to lead this next phase and achieve its objectives," Abiy wrote.
Describing the official transfer of power from Getachew Reda, former president, to the new one, Abiy said, "Today, we have officially and peacefully implemented a program to facilitate the transfer of power, ushering in a new political culture. Lieutenant General Tadese Worede, who served as Getachew’s deputy for the past two years, has been entrusted with this leadership role."
Abiy believed that the general has a clear understanding of both the strengths and shortcomings of the previous administration, and he is well-positioned to guide Tigray through this critical transition.
"It is my hope that he will seize this historic opportunity to help the people of Tigray realize their aspirations for peace and development—just like their fellow citizens across the country—and in doing so, contribute meaningfully to Ethiopia and Africa as a whole," he said.