Lt. Gen. Tadese Werede, Deputy President of the Tigray Regional Interim Administration (TIRA), has dismissed recent claims, addressing concerns that a war is on the verge of breaking out in the Tigray region, with speculation about federal government intervention. He affirmed that there is no basis for conflict with the federal government or any other party.

“There will be no conflict, no war, and no internal strife of any kind,” Lt. Gen. Tadese stated on March 15, 2025. “We should not worry about whether conflict or war will arise from within or be instigated by external pressures—it simply will not happen.”

The General emphasized that the federal government will not resort to force to address the region’s challenges. He underscored that political problems require political solutions, declaring, “We must create the conditions for rapid stabilization.”

General Tadesse stated that internal differences have weakened our leverage in negotiations and emphasized that strengthening the interim administration will be prioritized.

Lt. Gen. Tadese also clarified that recent events in Tigray are unrelated to military action. “This is not about bringing military power into play; such a scenario will never occur,” he stated. He further stressed the importance of preserving the Pretoria Agreement, advocating for peaceful resolutions to political weaknesses. “There is no problem that can be solved through force,” he added.

The General warned against jeopardizing the Pretoria Agreement and highlighted the need for unity. “We are the ones who could cause the situation to spiral out of control,” he said. urging that no one should face threats or questioning over their views. He acknowledged that internal political issues have contributed to the current challenges but expressed confidence that the situation would soon stabilize.

Lt. Gen. Tadese also addressed the plight of displaced citizens, describing their conditions as dire. He noted that unresolved political issues have hindered the region from fully benefiting from the Pretoria Agreement. He called for prioritizing the return of displaced citizens to their villages once the political crisis is resolved.

Despite efforts by various groups, including religious leaders, to mediate disputes among TPLF leaders, Lt. Gen. Tadese admitted that these attempts have not succeeded. He dismissed allegations of Tigray security forces having ties with Eritrea as baseless and reassured, “We will work to prevent the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea from escalating into war. Tigray will not become a battlefield,” he concluded.