Party rejects federal extension of interim administration as “unilateral,” cites mandate of 2.8 million voters

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has announced that it will reinstate the Tigray Regional Council elected six years ago, saying the body’s mandate—granted by nearly 2.8 million voters—remains valid. The party also said it will form an “all‑inclusive” and “comprehensive” executive branch for the regional government.

The decision followed a two‑day meeting of the TPLF Central Committee, which convened on April 17, 2026. In a statement issued on April 19, the party said the meeting reviewed “the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement” and assessed “current circumstances in depth and extensively.”

The announcement came oneweek after the federal government extended the mandate of the Tigray Interim Administration. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed renewed the term of Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede—who has led the interim administration for the past year—citing regulations issued by the Council of Ministers in 2023 and other legal provisions.

In its statement, the TPLF accused the federal government of “unilaterally extending the term of the Tigray Interim Administration, citing a law issued before the Pretoria Agreement,” and doing so without the party’s “recognition and participation.” The Central Committee said it had therefore resolved to restore the functions of the elected Tigray Regional Council, which it noted had been suspended “for the sake of peace.”

The party described the council as a symbol of the region’s sovereign authority and emphasized that it had been chosen by “nearly 2.8 million people.” It added that the people of Tigray have “fought for a long time” for “the right to be governed by a government of their choice,” have “paid a heavy price,” and have “proved their sovereign authority.”

The statement concluded that the party has decided to establish a fully fledged and inclusive executive branch of the Tigray regional government.