TPLF challenges Abiy with pre-war council revival

On Sunday, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) Central Committee announced the reinstatement of the pre-war Tigray Regional Council, declaring the federal government’s extension of the interim administration “a unilateral decision, in violation of the Pretoria Agreement.” The TPLF previously called the decision “unacceptable.” The decision effectively sidelines the federally appointed interim authorities and signals a political shift within the region. It is widely interpreted as a direct challenge to the federal government in Addis Ababa and a rejection of the current post-war governance arrangement.

In explaining its decision, the TPLF accused the Ethiopian government of systematically violating the terms of the Pretoria peace agreement and undermining Tigrayan self-rule.

Getachew Reda, an adviser to the prime minister and a former Tigray interim president, as well as a former high-ranking official of the TPLF, said the TPLF Central Committee had taken a “deeply alarming” step by opposing the federal government’s extension of Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede’s tenure as head of the region’s interim administration.

He added that the group had gone further by declaring its intention to reinstate the regional council, a move he described as effectively voiding the Pretoria Agreement that ended two years of fighting. “Regardless of the TPLF’s stated rationale, this decision constitutes a clear repudiation of the fragile post-conflict arrangement,” Getachew said.

He warned that the latest move risked dismantling those arrangements and could trigger renewed confrontation between regional actors and the federal government. “The people of Tigray cannot afford another descent into violence,” he said.

Why the TPLF made this move? The Government of Ethiopia in last week extended the mandate of Lieutenant General Tadesse Worede, a former senior military commander currently serving as head of the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA). Tasked with stabilizing the region in the aftermath of the conflict, Tadesse has been leading the administration following the ouster of Getachew Reda from the position.

The extension was formally approved by the Ethiopian Council of Ministers and subsequently endorsed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The renewed mandate took effect on April 9, 2026, and will remain in place for one year. The move had been widely anticipated, as Abiy Ahmed had previously indicated that the interim administration’s original mandate had expired and required both legal adjustment and performance review. Notably, Tadesse Worede had traveled to Addis Ababa shortly before the announcement to present his report.

The TPLF has rejected Abiy Ahmed’s decision to extend the mandate of General Tadesse as interim president of Tigray. In its official response, the party described the move as “unacceptable,” accusing the federal government of acting unilaterally without adequate consultation with Tigrayan stakeholders. Furthermore, the TPLF contends that the extension constitutes a violation of the Pretoria Agreement. According to the party, extending the interim administration by federal decree undermines both the spirit and the letter of the agreement. TPLF leaders also argue that the decision delegitimizes the interim authority.

The latest move to reinstate the 2020 regional council is indicative of growing tensions between the TPLF and the Abiy government. Addis Ababa has reportedly been deploying troops to Tigray and has, on several occasions, accused the TPLF of working with the Eritrean government. The deepening rift between the two sides is fueling fears of renewed conflict in the region.