[TLM Editorial Viewpoint]
Credit: Orya Media
The current situation in Tigray is not favourable for a peaceful political dialogue among the warring political parties. This stems primarily from the fact that the TPLF leaders are dictators who seized power using force and refuse to give it up, even in the face of public demand. The TPLF leadership is adamant that without it, Tigray should not exist. Dictators do not give room to opposing political parties.
The people of Tigray are increasingly turning to opposition parties in the hopes of change and relief from their suffering. Dictators have every reason to view their rival political parties as “enemies”. They also struggle to recognise the populace as the “higher authority” and their true rulers. The dynamics have flipped: the TPLF leaders now see themselves as masters while the people are treated as servants. The TPLF leaders are also well aware that they have lost the trust and have no social contract with the people of Tigray. Since the public did not elect them, the TPLF leaders feel that they owe them nothing. What they are doing is escaping accountability for the crimes they have been committing upon their own people under the pretence that they have liberated the people from the oppressive regime of the Derg, which they have turned into oppressors themselves.
The TPLF leaders are proud of their 17 years of armed struggles and accomplishments and passionately believe their sacrifice brought them to power. They feel indebted only to the military wing and their followers who brought them to power. These sentiments are manifesting in all actions and every policy they crafted. Without independent institutions to oversee the election processes, elections are bound to be rigged and deliver a repressive regime, which is true, and the Tigray people are familiar with predetermined election results. The TPLF’s repressive rule discourages fair and free elections in Tigray.
However, any election could bring a unique opportunity to introduce new culture and traditions, exposing the people to new concepts, ideas and practices. Repeated election practices may change and prepare people to adopt the principles of democracy and a democratic system of government. In Tigray, the TPLF is not likely to leave the election process to other people and out of its control.
Getachew Reda, who encountered considerable difficulties during his time in office as the President of Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA), pointed out that the TPLF leadership has become a hindrance to the implementation of the Pretoria peace agreement and hampers Tigray’s journey towards democracy, good governance, and recovery from the genocidal war. What Getachew Reda achieved was – he made it possible for people to exercise their rights and openly participate in political debate, demanding democracy, peace, security and good governance.
Following Getachew Reda’s removal from power through a coup d’état, President Tadesse Werede is also confronted with similar challenges. Tigray’s stability remains fragile, as the TPLF continues to exert its repressive and authoritarian rule on the region’s social, economic, and political landscapes. At this crucial juncture, pragmatic, resilient, and democratic leadership is vital for Tigray’s endurance in such defiance. Without TIRA’s independence from the TPLF, it would be impossible to promote inclusive governance, and the TPLF’s ongoing consolidation of power would only intensify the difficulties facing the people of Tigray.
During Getachew Reda’s presidency, President Tadesse weakened, sabotaged, and paralysed the TIRA, hindering its operations and stirring public discontent against Getachew. He worked with the TPLF splinter group led by Debretsion Gebremichael to remove Getachew Reda from office, which enabled him to take the TIRA presidency through clandestine negotiations with TPLF leadership.
President Tadesse has been working with the TPLF to strengthen and consolidate its authority. He consistently pushed his agenda to become the TIRA president, prioritising his personal interest over the Tigrayan people’s unity, peace, and security. The growing rifts between the TPLF and TIRA’s President Tadesse are leading to significant insecurity and instability for the people of Tigray, especially as Eritrea and Ethiopia continue their silent genocide in western, northwestern, and eastern Tigray. The TIRA President’s efforts to foster unity and dialogue to address the political crisis in Tigray are increasingly challenging, and his efforts are becoming fruitless. Consequently, the suffering of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) will persist without relief.
Today, the protesters in Mekele breached the office of the TIRA. The TPLF continues to undermine the TIRA and the rule of law to consolidate its power by any means necessary. President Tadesse is encountering the TPLF’s political interference and unforeseen challenges to his presidency, like his predecessor. The generals supporting the TPLF (i.e., General Hintsa Weldegeorgis, General Yohannes Weldegeorgis, General Megebey Haile, General Masho Beyene, General Haileselassie Girmay, General Feseha Kidanu, and General Abraha Tesfay) are committing human rights abuses against civilians who demand democracy, peace and security. They are now publicly preaching war rhetoric, posing a significant threat to the Pretoria peace agreement. The political turmoil driven by the TPLF is creating a significant impediment for the people of Tigray, preventing them from rebuilding their devastated livelihoods and worrying them of another war.
How can Tigray overcome ongoing political instability and the risk of further conflict? One potential path forward for Tigray lies in fostering grassroots initiatives that promote unity and political dialogue to iron out Tigray’s national interests and move away from the TPLF’s divisive politics and inciting conflicts. Engaging in dialogue and reconciliation makes it possible to mend the political rifts caused by the TPLF, work together to restore Tigray’s territorial integrity, and ensure the safe return of IDPs to their homes.
Rebuilding Tigray will require a commitment to economic recovery and a strong emphasis on social cohesion and mutual understanding among the people. By engaging in collaborative projects and inclusive discussions, Tigrayans can cultivate a shared purpose that transcends past grievances and fosters an equitable Tigray for all.
Therefore, the TPLF leaders are acting recklessly, obstructing the TIRA function and thwarting the people’s voting rights; it may trigger civil unrest or another war that may be detrimental to Tigray’s existence.