Source: Deutsche Welle

Tigray Interim Administration President Getachew Reda said that the differences between the leaders of the TPLF may render the Pretoria agreement “homeless”. Mr. Getachew, who described the difference as “dangerous”, expressed his fear that the forces he described as “enemies” could use it.

The leaders of the TPLF, which are divided into two, are in a meeting this Sunday

The TPLF, which is divided into two and is in dispute, held different meetings this Sunday in two halls located one kilometer apart. Since last Tuesday, Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael’s group has been at the General Assembly of Hawelti Samatat Aderash, and the other group, which includes Ato Getachew Reda, has been holding a meeting called ‘centered on the current situation of the TPLF’ at the Tigray Council’s Aderash.

In the same forum, many members of the party, including members of the TPLF control commission, members of the TPLF central committee who withdrew from the conference, zone and district leaders were present.

The controversial decision of the TPLF conference

The President of the Tigray Regional Government and the TPLF Vice Chairman, Getachew Reda, gave a long speech at the meeting and explained that the difference between the top leadership of the TPLF is not about whether a conference should be held, but how to do it.

While everyone agreed that the issue of TPLF recognition should be resolved through political dialogue with the federal government, some individuals criticized the leaders of the other group of TPLF, saying that they deviated from the agreement by submitting papers to the Ethiopian Election Board.

In addition to this, Ato Getachew Reda, who raised the risk that the Pretoria Peace Agreement would become meaningless due to the misunderstanding and division within the TPLF, said that efforts will be made to reverse this risk.

The fourth day of the TPLF conference and the statement of the opposition

Ato Getachew said, “It is important to understand that this could make the Pretoria Peace Agreement process meaningless. This conference was not accepted by the federal government. The federal government’s rejection has its own meaning. But the main thing is unity and closeness in our party, not working together around ideas, but it is a dangerous platform that causes division and alienation. “It will be taken. This will leave Pretoria without an owner,” he said.

The TPLF General Assembly continued in closed session

In addition to this, the differences created in the TPLF are dangerous and can be exploited by the forces that he described as ‘enemies’, Getachew Reda said. Meanwhile, when he gave an explanation to the media in the region yesterday, the TPLF Vice Chairman Getachew Reda suggested that the TPLF group which is currently holding a conference may have links with an unknown foreign force.

Ato Getachew said, “Putting aside the people’s desire for peace, relying on foreign forces whose identity is not clearly known for the time being and who they claim will be our protectors, an arrangement is being made to put the people of Tigray in danger again for the sake of the narrow interests of certain individuals.”

However, the spokesperson of the 14th General Assembly of the TPLF, Mr. Emanuel Asefa, denied the allegations made by Mr. Getachew, saying, “This expression is not correct.” “The TPLF believes in the people of Tigray, in the Pretoria Peace Agreement institutional system,” said Ato Emanuel, “We believe that all problems will be resolved through peaceful political means.” 

Meanwhile, the TPLF at its 14th Congress announced yesterday that it has suspended the Central Committee and the TPLF Central Control Commission, which has been saying that they should not engage in political activities in the name of the party.