March 14, 2025
Borkena
Toronto – Abiy Ahmed led federal government has been silent about the escalating crisis in the Tigray region as TPLF factions under Debretsion Gebremichael dismantle the Interim Administration in a manner resembling a “coup.”
Now it is speaking. Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedion Timotheos, a day after returning from a working trip to Israel where he met with his Israeli counterpart, briefed members of the diplomatic community in Addis Ababa alongside the Tigray Region Interim Administration. He indicated that the federal government has been closely monitoring the developments in the region.
Gedion Timotheos alleged that one faction of the TPLF is collaborating with foreign powers. However, the Minister did not specify which group and foreign entities are involved. It is presumed he was referring to the faction led by Debretsion Gebremichael, which has been accused of engaging in clandestine relations with Eritrea and Egypt.
Getachew Reda, President of the Interim Administration, has also accused “some military and political leaders” of making contact with the Eritrean government.
Eritrea has denied any collaboration with the TPLF faction, and the Debretsion-led group has similarly refuted claims of working with Eritrea or other foreign powers. This week, three opposition parties in the Tigray region released a statement echoing allegations that the TPLF is cooperating with foreign actors.
According to a BBC Amharic report, Gedion’s briefing to the diplomatic community focused on the situation in Tigray. He accused the Debretsion faction of “attempting to trigger conflict” and called for international support to resolve the crisis.
“We will use all the capacity we have to ensure that the Pretoria Agreement is implemented, the ceasefire continues, and peace prevails in northern Ethiopia,” Gedion stated. The ongoing devastating conflict in the Amhara region appears to have been entirely overlooked in his remarks.
Gedion further alleged that the faction is “dismantling the Interim Administration by force.” This week, a military group loyal to Debretsion forcibly removed the mayor of Adigrat city and took control of several key facilities in Mekelle, including a radio station and the airport. At the time of writing, the group has neither confirmed nor denied these allegations.
Efforts to return Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), disarm and demobilize combatants, and reintegrate forces in the region have stalled. Gedion attributed this to the activities of “one faction of the TPLF.” There has been claims that the group has no interest in implementing the Pretoria Agreement. The faction reportedly views disarming combatants as a move that would leave the Tigray region and the TPLF organization vulnerable.
Additionally, the group has rejected the rules and regulations of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), risking deregistration as a legally recognized political party. The TPLF remains the only registered political party in Ethiopia with its own armed forces.
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