By HAN News Desk
MEKELLE — The spokesperson of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has accused the Ethiopian government of unlawfully banning the party, despite its official registration as a political organisation in the country. He alleged that authorities are preparing to hold regional elections in Tigray without the participation of the TPLF.
In a statement, TPLF spokesperson Michael Asgedom said there was “an emerging concern” that the party had been “suspended illegally” ahead of what he described as an “unlawful election” being planned in the Tigray region.
He called the move “baseless and without legal grounds.”
The TPLF, which lost its legal status as a political party, recently held an internal meeting and called for another session of its central committee to address the growing tensions.
According to the spokesperson, there is a “sense that an illegal election is being organised” in Tigray, which he claimed was intended to “target the TPLF and its supporters.”
A previous general council meeting of the party reportedly exposed deep divisions among senior members and leadership figures.
Following the meeting, Ethiopia’s former Minister of Communication, Tulu, publicly stated that he opposed the Pretoria Agreement, which ended the two-year conflict between federal forces and Tigray fighters.
Although the TPLF was removed from Ethiopia’s terrorism list after signing the Pretoria peace deal, the party has since been stripped again of its status as a legal political organisation.
Meanwhile, a splinter group of radical fighters from the Tigray forces, calling themselves “Hara Ziraat”—meaning “Free Land”—has been accused of attacking TPLF military units. The group claims to have reorganised in the Afar region with the aim of ousting the faction led by Dr Debretsion Gebremichael and senior TPLF commanders.
The TPLF says these militants, who are reportedly operating in border areas of Tigray, are receiving “support from the federal government.”
In recent months, fears have been growing that conflict may once again erupt in the Tigray region.
Amid the widening internal rift, social media posts circulated alleging that party chairman Debretsion Gebremichael had resigned. The TPLF spokesperson dismissed the reports as “false,” denying that the leader had stepped down.
The party says it is currently working to “heal the wounds inflicted by extremist elements.”
“Despite attempts to undermine the unity of our people through backward political thinking, discussions around strengthening unity are continuing,” the spokesperson added.
