The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) Central Committee has formally announced its opposition to the federal government's decision to extend the mandate of the Tigray Interim Administration, currently led by Lieutenant General Tadesse Worede. Following a regular meeting held in the historic city of Axum on April 7 and 8, 2018 (Ethiopian Calendar), the party issued a statement challenging the current administrative structure and calling for a return to previous legislative bodies.
In its official communique, the TPLF—which remains in a complex legal status following its previous de-registration by the National Election Board of Ethiopia—declared that it does not recognize the unilateral extension of Lt. Gen. Tadesse Worede’s leadership. The party argued that the federal government’s move was made without their consultation and constitutes a violation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement. According to the TPLF, the federal government is relying on outdated laws to maintain the current interim structure rather than adhering to the spirit of the peace deal.
A central demand from the Axum meeting is the reinstatement of the Tigray Regional Council that was formed following the 2020 regional elections. Those elections, held during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and without the authorization of the federal government, were a major flashpoint that preceded the devastating two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia. The TPLF now asserts that this council represents the "voice of 2.8 million people" and remains the legitimate expression of sovereign power in the region. Furthermore, the party called for the regional executive cabinet to be restructured to be more "inclusive and all-encompassing."
Lieutenant General Tadesse Worede has responded to these challenges with a firm stance. In a press briefing held shortly before the TPLF announcement, the General acknowledged the party's right to disagree with the extension of his term. However, he clarified that while the TPLF can choose not to accept the decision for themselves, they cannot dictate whether he accepts the mandate granted to him by the federal government to maintain regional stability.
Amidst this political friction, rumors began circulating on social media and through TPLF-aligned diaspora media outlets claiming that Lt. Gen. Tadesse Worede had abandoned his post in Mekelle and fled to Addis Ababa. However, local reports have debunked these claims. The General was observed in Mekelle on Sunday, April 11, 2018 (EC), engaging in discussions with regional athletes and artists. Sources on the ground confirmed that the President of the Interim Administration is continuing his regular duties in the regional capital, despite the escalating political rhetoric from the TPLF leadership.
Source: Telegram / tikvahethiopia