Reinstated Tigray Council Elects Dr. Debretsion as Regional President

The Tigray Regional Council, reinstated following a decision by the TPLF Central Committee, elected Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael as President of the region during its meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The council also elected Ms. Kiros Hagos as Speaker and Ms. Mihret Berhe as Deputy Speaker.

According to a statement issued this afternoon, Dr. Debretsion — who chairs the TPLF, a signatory to the Pretoria Agreement — was elected President of the Tigray Regional State by a majority vote, with one vote against and three abstentions. He previously held the same position after being appointed by this council in 2020.

Dr. Debretsion’s election comes three weeks after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed extended the term of Tigray Interim Administration President Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede — a move the TPLF rejected as a unilateral decision made outside the Pretoria Agreement.

The TPLF conducted today’s presidential vote after reinstating the council elected in 2020, citing what it described as the “Ethiopian government’s violation of the Pretoria Agreement.” The party said the motion to restore the Tigray Regional Council was approved by a majority vote, with two members voting against.

During the meeting, the TPLF Chairman presented a report on the “implementation of the Pretoria Agreement” and the “current circumstances” in the region. The council unanimously approved the report. It then passed a resolution — with one vote against and one abstention — requesting that Dr. Debretsion continue serving in the regional executive (cabinet) until the nex congress, while “making the necessary adjustments.”

Before adjourning, the council announced that it had granted a mandate to Speaker Kiros Hagos to restructure the council’s committees and assign new responsibilities.