Tigray Party Moves to Reinstate Pre-War Government, Raising Fears of Renewed Conflict in Ethiopia

A major political development in northern Ethiopia has sparked fresh concerns over the fragile peace in the Tigray region, after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) announced plans to restore its pre-war administration.

The TPLF said it would re-establish the region’s former governing structures, effectively dismantling the interim administration created under the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement that ended a devastating two-year civil war.

In a statement, the party accused Ethiopia’s federal government of violating the peace deal by withholding funds meant for civil servants, provoking internal conflict, and extending the mandate of the interim regional leadership without consultation.

The Pretoria Agreement, brokered by the African Union, had been designed to halt hostilities and pave the way for a transitional administration until elections could be held. However, the TPLF’s latest move is widely seen as a rejection of that framework, raising fears that the region could slide back into violence.

Getachew Reda, a former TPLF spokesman and ex-head of the interim administration, criticized the decision, calling it a “clear repudiation” of the peace arrangement and warning that it could trigger a catastrophic conflict if not addressed.

The situation in Tigray has remained tense despite the cessation of large-scale fighting in 2022. Sporadic clashes have continued in recent months between Tigrayan forces and federal troops, highlighting the fragility of the post-war settlement.

The original conflict, which erupted in 2020, was one of the deadliest in recent history, killing hundreds of thousands through fighting, famine, and the collapse of healthcare systems.

The TPLF, once the dominant political force in Ethiopia for nearly three decades, fell out with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, leading to the war. While the Pretoria deal brought a halt to major combat, deep political divisions and mistrust have persisted.

In its latest statement, the TPLF also signaled plans to strengthen regional alliances, a move analysts say could further complicate an already volatile situation.

Ethiopian federal officials have not yet publicly responded to the announcement, and some of the TPLF’s claims remain unverified.

The development has heightened international concern, with observers warning that any collapse of the peace deal could reignite a conflict in a region still recovering from the humanitarian and economic toll of war.