Governance CornerElection 2026 Opposition Says Fed has “Disowned” Tigray Interim Admin, Warns TPLF Seeking to…
Opposition Says Fed has “Disowned” Tigray Interim Admin, Warns TPLF Seeking to Reassert Control
March 14, 2026
Interim administration mandate set to expire next month
With less than a month to go before its mandate expires, the fate of the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) has become a major concern, with opposition party leaders and political experts warning that a TPLF-led faction is leveraging this looming deadline to seize control of the region’s leadership.
In an interview with The Reporter on March 13, 2026, Dejen Mezgebe (PhD), chairman of the Tigray Independence Party (TIP), accused the TPLF, which was stripped of federal recognition last year, of conspiring to take control of the regional government structure in an attempt to steer Tigray’s politics in a direction it wants. He stated the group is threatening, arresting, and dismissing all forces that oppose its approach.
“They have taken sole control of Tigray’s politics and want to resolve everything by force,” Dejen told The Reporter.
Under the terms of the November 2022 Pretoria Agreement, the TIA was established as a temporary governing body to oversee the region’s transition until elections could occur. However, internal divisions within the TPLF and friction between Mekelle and Addis Ababa have stalled progress on key provisions, including the full disarmament of regional forces and the return of displaced persons.
Now, with the TIA’s legal mandate set to expire early next month ahead of elections, Tigray appears to be heading for a power vacuum that opposition leaders claim TPLF is rushing to fill despite no longer qualifying as a political party.
Opposition leaders in the region say the situation remains unclear, and claim the federal government has ceased all formal contact with regional leadership.
“Currently, we understand that the federal government has disowned the Tigray interim administration,” Dejen said. “My information is that there is no communication, even by phone.”
A political analyst from the Tigray region, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the current status of the Pretoria Agreement as under threat.
The expert noted that the federal government remains distant as the administration’s term nears its end.
“The silence of the federal government can be interpreted in several ways,” said the expert. “It could be a tactical move to see how the TPLF reacts, or it could be a sign of a deeper rift and a lack of a clear strategy.”
The analyst further noted that the lack of communication between the two parties increases regional tension.
“The end of the term of the interim administration is a critical juncture,” the expert added. “Some believe that the TPLF will try to install its own government, while others think that the federal government will intervene.”
Both the political analyst and the TIP chairman state that Tigray is currently experiencing high levels of uncertainty and tension.
The expert cited the recent arrest of Shewit Gebreegziabher, a member of the Salsay Weyane Tigray (SAWET) party and a university professor, as an example of the TPLF-led administration’s efforts to control the region.
In a statement issued Friday, Salsay Weyane Tigray reported that security personnel, acting under orders from the TPLF-led administration and dressed in civilian attire, took Shewit into custody.
The party’s statement alleges that the TPLF has repeatedly threatened summary arrests against critics, opposition members, and journalists for exercising their freedom of expression. The party described these actions as part of a “zero-tolerance” policy toward dissent.
“We condemn this act in the strongest possible terms and demand the immediate release of our member,” reads the statement.
As the less in a month window closes, the federal government has not confirmed whether it seeks to extend the TIA mandate or restore the pre-war government structure. However, Dejen warned that the current trajectory points toward a departure from civilian politics, stating, “It seems they are preparing to restore the government of Tigray that was dismantled under the Pretoria agreement, or to administer the region under martial law.”
The expert added that the “lack of transparency and communication between the two parties is exacerbating the situation”.
“The coming days are a very delicate moment for the region,” he said.