TPLF sounds alarm over economic squeeze on Tigray

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on Thursday accused Ethiopia’s federal government of imposing economic measures that it said threaten to “undermine the Pretoria peace agreement” and could trigger “humanitarian consequences” in the northern region.

In a statement, the TPLF said the suspension of federal budget transfers to Tigray’s interim administration has halted salary payments for civil servants and disrupted essential public services, including health care, education, water, and sanitation. It also alleged that bank accounts belonging to companies affiliated with the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT) had been frozen, forcing operations to shut down and leaving tens of thousands of employees without pay.

The TPLF further claimed that restrictions on fuel supplies for nearly ten months have crippled transportation, economic activity, and emergency services, deepening what it described as “acute economic distress” for families and communities across Tigray.

“These measures risk eroding confidence in the peace process, reversing gains achieved since the signing of the Pretoria Agreement, and increasing the likelihood of renewed instability,” the statement said.

The accusations come amid reports that the president of Tigray’s interim administration, Tadesse Worede, recently arrived in Addis Ababa for official talks with federal authorities. His visit follows months of rising tensions in Tigray, where sporadic violence has intensified, raising fears that renewed fighting could escalate into a broader regional confrontation in northern Ethiopia.

This comes at a time when the country is grappling with multiple insurgencies and a worsening security situation.

One of the most pressing challenges remains the role of the Fano militia. Once an ally of the federal government during the war in Tigray, Fano has since turned against the state, engaging in fierce clashes with federal forces in the Amhara region. The group has long been accused of committing atrocities in western Tigray, often allegedly in coordination with elements of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces.

In an effort to ease tensions, the government recently announced a controversial peace deal with certain Fano factions. The agreement, signed under the oversight of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union, has drawn criticism over a lack of transparency and unclear terms.

At the same time, fears of renewed hostilities with Eritrea have intensified. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government has accused Eritrea of working with the TPLF to reignite conflict in the region, claims that Eritrea has repeatedly denied.

The latest statement adds to a series of declarations issued by the TPLF over the past few months, frequently accusing the federal government of carrying out what it describes as a “silent genocide.” Combined with the fragile peace process and volatile regional dynamics, the accusations have heightened concerns that northern Ethiopia could again slide into a devastating conflict.