The key facts

  • The TPLF called the new Tigray administration a 'Prosperity Party structure' and said its decisions have no legal force
  • The federal government appointed Assefa Abraha Hagos as chief administrator and Shishay Amare as mayor of Mekelle, with a six-month mandate
  • Renewed fighting threatens the 2022 Pretoria agreement and heightens tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea

TPLF Declares New Administration Illegitimate

The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) rejected the interim government of the northern region of Tigray appointed by the federal government, calling it an illegitimate political structure imposed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's ruling Prosperity Party. In a statement on Saturday, the party challenged both the legitimacy of the appointment procedure and the authority of the new leadership. The TPLF characterized the new administration as a 'Prosperity Party structure' and said that decisions made under its auspices 'have no legal force and are not enforceable.' The party also warned institutions against cooperating with the new leadership: those who do so will be considered affiliated with the ruling party and will be held accountable.

Federal Authorities Appoint New Leadership for Six Months

The TPLF's rejection came hours after Abiy's government dissolved the previous interim administration of Tigray and appointed new leadership for six months. Assefa Abraha Hagos became chief administrator; other officials were given responsibility for security, reconstruction and political affairs. Shishay Amare was appointed mayor of Mekelle, the region's capital. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the administration is to restore public services, rebuild infrastructure damaged in the fighting, facilitate the return of displaced residents and prepare the region for elections within six months. 'The people of Tigray must emerge from the agonies of conflict to reclaim their long-lost peace, affirm their right to self-governance and heal the developmental setback suffered over the many years that have passed,' the Prime Minister's Office said on Friday.

Mutual Accusations and the Military Situation

The TPLF, for its part, said the appointees have no mandate to govern the region and challenged the legitimacy of decisions made under federal oversight. The party also accused the federal government of using Tigray's airports for military purposes and warned residents to stay away from these facilities; the TPLF has provided no independently verifiable evidence for these claims. The political confrontation comes amid renewed fighting between government forces and Tigrayan opposition fighters. Federal troops and allied fighters of the Tigray Peace Forces (TPF) have expanded control over northern Tigray, including Mekelle and a number of strategic towns near the border with Eritrea.

Threat to the Peace Agreement and Regional Tensions

The renewed conflict threatens the Pretoria peace agreement of November 2022, which ended the devastating two-year war between Ethiopia's federal government and Tigrayan forces. The fighting has also heightened tensions between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea: the governments have exchanged accusations of military aggression amid growing international calls for de-escalation.