In Depth TPLF at legal, political crossroads as Election Board piles on pressure
January 4, 2025
As the feud between the leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) continues to escalate, the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has instructed the party to convene for an overdue general assembly before February 10, 2025, to fulfill its obligations under electoral laws.
The Board’s notice, which came on December 26, 2024, mandates political parties to hold general assemblies within six months as part of a special requirement.
The decision is the latest development in a saga that began with Parliament’s designation of TPLF as a terrorist organization in May 2021, a few months after the outbreak of the northern war.
Nearly two years after the war ended with a peace agreement, the NEBE sanctioned the re-registration of TPLF as a political party on August 9, 2024. The registration was granted under ‘special circumstances,’ with the Board acknowledging the party’s commitment to comply with constitutional law and refrain from criminal activities, as stated in a press release at the time.
The decision was made possible by an amendment to the Political Parties Registration and Electoral Ethics Proclamation, which permitted the re-registration of previously banned parties under stringent conditions.
Among these is a provision requiring TPLF to convene a general assembly within six months of its re-registration. The party has yet to do so, and the deadline is set to pass next month.
The Board’s latest notice indicates it notified the heads of TPLF to comply with the terms of the party’s registration and organize an assembly on at least two occasions in August and October.
“Since the party was specially registered on August 9, 2024, it is expected to hold a general assembly by February 10, 2025,” reads the directive. “In order for the Board to be able to follow up on the pre-assembly preparations necessary for this general assembly, the party is expected to notify the board of the date of the assembly 21 days before the assembly is held.”
The Board iterated that it has not received any indications of the party’s intentions to hold an assembly.
“As less than two months remain before the deadline for holding the general assembly, the board has strongly urged the party to focus on this matter and hold the general assembly within the remaining short period,” reads NEBE’s statement.
Despite multiple reminders, the TPLF has not yet complied, prompting NEBE to warn of potential legal consequences.
“If this legal obligation is not fulfilled on time, the Board will make a decision as appropriate based on the law,” according to the directive.
The NEBE’s warning also comes amid reports of a widening rift among TPLF leadership.
Disputes between the federal government and TPLF regarding the conditions of re-registration have persisted, and the party has split into two factions, each conducting separate assemblies. Reports indicate the first of these assemblies played a role in deepening the divide within the party, and the Board has since refused to recognize either of them.
The NEBE has instead called for a unified assembly to ensure compliance with legal and democratic norms, with the new directive further underscoring the importance of adherence to electoral laws for all political entities.
“The Board’s actions aim to maintain the integrity of the democratic process in Ethiopia,” reads the NEBE statement.
As the situation continues to evolve and the TPLF’s response to NEBE’s directive remains uncertain, party leaders and a political analyst suggest that internal divisions within the party have further exacerbated the already challenging conditions in the region.
The Reporter reached out to three political parties operating in the Tigray region—Salsay Weyane Tigray (SAWET), the National Congress of Great Tigray (Baitona), and the Tigray Independence Party (TIP)—to gather their perspectives on the NEBE’s recent directive, the potential impact of internal TPLF factions on the region’s political dynamics, and their views on a lasting resolution to the region’s political challenges.
While the Head of TIP declined to comment on the issue, stating that the matter is between the NEBE and the TPLF and should be resolved by the party itself, the leaders of the other two parties emphasized the need for enduring peace and stability for the people of Tigray and the region.
Alula Hailu, president of SAWET, argued that TPLF is not yet a party despite being granted the opportunity to re-register by the NEBE.