Calls For Restraint Sound Out As Tensions Threaten To Erupt In Tigray

Federal government says TPLF faction breached Pretoria agreement

The power struggle within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) appeared to have hit its climax this week as the faction led by Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD) took control of key institutions in Tigray, a move that Tigray Interim Administration President Getachew Reda described as a “silent coup” during a press briefing in Addis Ababa on Thursday.

Getachew also accused Eritrea of working to re-ignite political turmoil in Tigray, and claimed that members of his own party are working with Eritrean entities to destabilize the war-torn region.

Debretsion and his supporters have denied all claims that they are communicating with the Eritrean government, asserting that there have never been any meetings conducted without the knowledge and approval of the federal government.

During his briefing at the Sheraton Addis Hotel on March 13, 2025, Getachew accused the TPLF old guard of deliberately escalating tensions in the region in a bid to provoke another round of conflict and characterized Asmara as a warmonger who is eager to benefit from turmoil in Tigray.

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“I know the Eritrean government is one of them,” he said. “In the case of possible invasion, the Eritrean government wants Tigray to serve as a buffer zone.”

The TIA President also claimed that members of the opposing TPLF faction who “have lost legal acceptance and are connected by interests” are hoping to profit from war and are working to destabilize the region.

He stated that some regional actors who fear accountability have presented themselves as “servants”.

“This is taking Tigray into another phase of turmoil,” cautioned Getachew.

His claims were refuted during a press conference organized in Mekelle, seat of the Tigray regional administration, on the same day.

“As we have repeatedly stated, the people of Tigray want peace with neighboring peoples. Be it with countries like Eritrea and Sudan, or regional states like Amhara and Afar, we only want peaceful relations. There is no other relationship with hidden agendas,” said Amanuel Assefa, TPLF deputy chair.

Amanuel characterized claims that Eritrean officials have entered Tigray as “mere fabrications.”

“We have previously asked the federal government to enforce the withdrawal of the Eritrean army from the territories of Tigray, including the areas from Irob to Omhajer. Based on that, there were activities in accordance with the directions set by the federal government so that we could discuss with the Eritrean government in a peaceful way. Apart from that, there is currently no specific activity leading to conflict,” said Amanuel.

The federal government, which has been silent despite the escalations in Tigray, finally asserted its position. On Friday March 14, 2025, foreign affairs minister Gedion Timothewos (PhD), briefed the international community based in Addis Ababa regarding the situation in Tigray.

Gedion urged the diplomatic community to distinguish between troublemakers and those faithfully working to implement the Pretoria agreement, emphasizing that equating both sides emboldens spoilers of peace.

“The international community should be serious about calling a spade a spade,” Gedion noted, state media Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported on Friday.

Gedion also outlined several “material breaches” of the Pretoria Agreement, accusing a faction of TPLF of attempting to dismantle the interim administration through violence, collaborating with external forces hostile to Ethiopia, and delaying the return of IDPs. “These are not just minor breaches; they are major violations that threaten the very foundation of the Pretoria Agreement,” Gedion stressed.

The foreign minister criticized statements that blame both sides, arguing that such rhetoric emboldens agents of chaos and undermines efforts to implement the agreement.

The escalating tensions in the region led more than a dozen embassies, including the US, UK, Japan, Germany, Ireland, France, Italy, and the EU Delegation, to release a joint statement urging the parties involved to abide by the terms of the Pretoria Agreement by engaging in peaceful discussions.

“There must be no return to violence,” reads the statement.

The African Union (AU) has also expressed “deep concern” about the situation.

“The AU underscores the importance of stability and peace in the region, calling upon all parties involved to exercise restraint and engage in constructive dialogue,” reads a statement released this week.

The federal government has yet to provide a full response to the statements or the developments in Tigray. During his briefing, Getachew said his administration is puzzled by the silence.

“The federal government does not need my request to intervene in the region, ensure security, and protect the interim administration established by the federal government itself,” said the President.

His stance on federal intervention has been met by strong condemnation from the office of Lt. General Tadesse Werede, a senior TDF leader and cabinet secretary for peace and security in Tigray.

In a statement released on Thursday, his office claimed that extensive efforts have been made to resolve the escalating political crisis in Tigray through negotiations and to prevent it from escalating into an even bigger security threat.

“While our problem is internal and is not beyond the capacity and wisdom of Tigrayans to resolve it, calling on the federal government to solve the problem invites a different intervention of force. This will make the problem look deeper and will damage trust and create suspicion with the federal government,” reads the statement.

Nonetheless, Tadesse’s office submits that the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement, peace and security of the people of Tigray, recovery and reconstruction and other activities have ensured deepened ties with the federal government.

Getachew, on the other hand, publicly questioned why the Prime Minister is holding talks with members of the TPLF faction who have been proscribed by the National Election Board. His doubts are cast aside by Amanuel, who claims the TPLF is in charge until the next round of elections.

“When the interim administration forgets its job and engages in political manipulation to remove the TPLF from politics, it has the right to correct TIA with its own people as well as by engaging with the security forces,” he said.

Amanuel asserted that members of the interim administration have been working to ensure that the structure of the regional government is in the hands of Addis Ababa.

“The federal government does not want to interfere with matters related to TIA,” he said. “It shows that the issue is not the Tigray region, but another third party. For matters pertaining to the people of Tigray, neither the security forces nor the elite of Tigray are incapable of resolving the issues. It is not clear why our issue is sought to be in the hands of the Ethiopian government and the international community. It is not appropriate.”

Amanuel also did not rule out the possibility of a visit to Addis Ababa for discussions with the Prime Minister and other federal officials.

“There are matters [in the Pretoria Agreement] we have not yet completed. Therefore, relations with the Ethiopian government will continue today and tomorrow. When will we go? It will be a matter of appointment,” he said.

Amanuel noted that the question of who will fill the position of the presidency will be determined through a bilateral agreement between his party and the federal government.

Sources told The Reporter that Lt. General Tadesse arrived in Addis Ababa on Thursday, while members of the TPLF faction led by Debretsion are expected to arrive over the weekend for talks about the tensions in Tigray.