Broken Bond with Addis Ababa: TPLF Pushes Council Reinstatement

A spokesman for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) told the BBC that it would be a “mistake” if the president of the Tigray Interim Administration, Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede, failed to carry out a “peaceful and democratic handover.”

TPLF spokesman Michele Asgedom said the “cord of communication” with the federal government had been “broken” as the interim administration was “collapsing.”

In a brief interview, Michele confirmed that “discussions” are underway with various parties regarding the decision taken by the TPLF Central Committee about two weeks ago. On April 21, 2026, the committee announced it had resolved to “return to work the elected Tigray Regional State Council” chosen in regional elections six years earlier.

The Prime Minister’s Office, in a Facebook post announcing a one‑year extension of Tadesse’s term, cited the regulation that established the interim administration months after the outbreak of the Tigray war.

Michele argued that “the Pretoria Agreement has been dissolved and the interim administration has also been dissolved since the appointment was made under the proclamation issued five years ago.” He added: “It is the federal government that dissolved the agreement. It is the federal government that unilaterally appointed Lieutenant General Tadesse. The TPLF has made it clear: we will not accept this. There is no ambiguity.”

On the question of future relations, Michele said: “We will see how the relationship with the federal government develops. But at present, we believe the interim government is collapsing and the bond has been broken.” Asked about claims that the Pretoria Agreement rejected the election that established the council, he responded that the election was not “void” but “suspended.”

“The regional government formed at the time was not dissolved; the interim administration was created through negotiations,” he explained. “We suspended the elected council for the sake of peace. The election was not canceled; the council was not dissolved. We kept it on hold.”

Legal questions have also arisen over reinstating a council elected five years ago. Michele insisted the move is legitimate: “The first government was overthrown through violence and war. It never came to power. Now, when we think of returning to that, we cannot hold elections. Forty percent or more of Tigray’s land and people are scattered.”

He added: “In this situation, we cannot form a new elected government. We will see what happens after we transfer the council elected in 2020 and establish a legitimate government.” According to him, once the council is “returned to work” under the Central Committee’s decision, a “new executive cabinet” will be formed, and the council will elect a president.