Tigray Interim President labels TPLF cabinet takeover 'illegal,' warns of looming catastrophe
via The Reporter Ethiopia6 min read
The president of the Tigray Interim Administration TIA, Tadesse Werede Lt. Gen., has declared the takeover of government infrastructure by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front TPLF as “illegal.” This statement follows TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael PhD being sworn in as head of a parallel regional administration. The TPLF-controlled regional council held an executive session in Mekelle, under armed protection, after declaring itself “elected.” This action comes after the TPLF rejected the federal government’s decision to extend the TIA’s mandate for one year, a measure intended to ensure regional stability. The TPLF leadership instead reinstated its pre-war regional council, nominating Debretsion as regional president, asserting the legitimacy of the pre-war council based on elections held nearly six years ago. President Tadesse Worede described the TPLF’s entry into the cabinet hall as a “destructive movement and the start of a dangerous chapter for the region,” holding the TPLF responsible for any resulting destruction and danger. He noted that the TPLF ignored prior calls to desist and used armed protection to occupy government infrastructure. This situation creates a dual-administration claim in Mekelle, with observers warning it could undermine the fragile peace that ended the two-year war. In contrast, Sebhat Gebreegziabher, a former member of Tigray’s pre-war regional council, challenged the legality of the federal mandate extension, arguing that any extension o
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