The End of the TPLF Power Dynasty

[TLM Editorial Viewpoint]

What can we learn from the historical events surrounding the capture or death of dictators? Several astonishing lessons emerge if we grant ourselves the luxury of reflection and openness in evaluating these past occurrences. Important insights await us if we investigate the deeper reasons for the final humiliating deaths of dictators. Foremost, we learn that dictators are cowards. Within the last half century alone, we can count several brutal dictators who have perished in ignominy and some in utterly humiliating circumstances. Starting with Mussolini (the Fascist dictator who was executed and hung by his feet) and Hitler (the Nazi racist butcher who was killed in an underground bunker), all the way down to our contemporaries such as Mengistu (the brutal dictator who ran away fearful of the wrath of the people of Ethiopia he brutalised, with millions of dollars in bags) and Taylor (the “liberator” of Liberia who turned out to be a violent tyrant), dictators did not seem to fare that well—sooner or later the TPLF leaders’ brutal human rights abuses against their people will catch up with them.

We learn that blind obedience to political leaders is not a substitute for intelligence, knowledge, and learning. Unconditional support without accountability has negatively affected Tigray’s political and economic space. Such loyalty without merit has a chilling effect on open discourse and undermines the democratic process itself, which millions of people have died to preserve. In this regard, let’s consider the case of TPLF’s corruption and its absolute power dynasty. The TPLF’s absolute power dynasty has been breeding corruption, maladministration, and human rights violations in Tigray. The people of Tigray are being affected by the TPLF’s repressive rule, which has become instrumental in bringing about the genocidal war. As a result, about 1 million Tigrayan lives were lost, over 120,000 women and girls were raped, Tigray heritage, education and healthcare were destroyed, and the Tigray economy was ruined. Yet again, the TPLF wants to rule Tigray by force.

The TPLF generals can do almost anything, including gold theft, murder, rape, human trafficking, and selling war metal scraps, yet still present themselves as honourable and free from brutality and violence, indiscriminate killings, and human rights abuses. They are often celebrated as heroes and nearly worshipped by a small group of fanatically devoted, frequently misguided individuals and politicians alike. Heroism is rapidly losing its true meaning in this unfortunate period, following the Tigray genocide, which is a lamentable saga.

We observe that most social media, television broadcasters, and radio stations in Tigray serve as willing propaganda arms for the TPLF and lack objectivity in reporting news or commenting on conflicts involving the TPLF military during expeditions, conflicts, or wars. The people of Tigray in certain areas do not appear to see themselves as separate from the TPLF. Understandably, people from the rest of the world make this mistaken distinction. We learn that despite the dehumanising effects of military engagement and the universal greed of TPLF leaders, there are number of people in every country and across every race who, with courage and righteousness, provide hope to many worldwide.

Among the Tigrayans in the Diaspora, TPLF’s blind supporters mainly those who carry the legacy of years of terror with them, often resorting to gossip, manipulation, and disinformation. This group provides party members and retired ambassadors whose primary objective is to ensure their TPLF’s dominance by any means necessary. Due to this group’s decreasing political significance, stemming from divided loyalties to the TPLF, advanced age, and a lack of self-confidence related to the skeletons in their closets. They often find gratification in assuming the role of the all-knowing authority within their community.

Now, the TPLF leadership children have matured and graduated in the western countries, aided by some opportunistic media owners to dedicate and manipulate and fabricate the truth and find ways to spread these deceptive, imaginary stories on social media. Comfortable in their behind-the-scenes roles, they decline to take the public stage for civic or political duties. They are unwilling to make real sacrifices or abandon their political interference. Any initiative that is not endorsed by the TPLF leaders is seen as a direct threat to their ill-gotten power.

Under the political landscape of the Prosperity Party (PP), the TPLF appears on the brink of its final demise. The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) cancelled the TPLF’s registration as a legitimate political party and outlaws it. The TPLF can no longer operate or participate in Tigray politics as well as in Ethiopia, which is effectively an illegal party.  Instead, the NEBE validates Simret as a legitimate political party in the Tigray Region. The letter sent to the Tigray Interim Regional Administration states, “According to the Ethiopian Electoral, Political Parties Registration and Election Proclamation No. 1162/2019 (2011 ዓ/ም), a temporary certification was granted on May 26, 2025 (ግንቦት 18 ቀን 2017 ዓ/ም), allowing Simret to engage in its political activities with full legal recognition.” The Tigray Democratic Solidarity (Simret) has requested that the Board send a letter of cooperation to the Tigray Regional State Administration, seeking support in mobilizing and recruiting members throughout all zones, districts, cities, and kebeles in the Tigray Region. Therefore, the Board respectfully requests that the Tigray Regional State Administration support the party’s activities through essential cooperation with the founders of the Tigray Democratic Solidarity (Simret) to assist in conducting the necessary actions to register the party.” This evidently shows the end of the TPLF power dynasty.

We urge the opposition parties, intellectuals, and all patriotic Tigrayans to stay the course and never yield to a party that erodes or compromises human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The struggle for freedom must continue until the TPLF resigns or is removed from power and a transitional government and all-inclusive council are established to prepare for a democratic election and draft a new constitution. We must start from scratch to restore Tigray’s unity and territorial integrity to its former Axumite glory, which is crucial to the continuity and survival of Tigrayan race. The momentum for political change is rapidly gaining traction, and justice-and-peace-loving people of Tigray should not permit it to wane.

The security forces in Tigray, as well as the militia, must restrain themselves from murdering, torturing and detaining Tigrayans. They must refuse any order from the TPLF leadership and its generals to kill, torture, imprison, or detain their follow  Tigrayan and engage in such atrocities. In that case, they will not escape accountability and criminal prosecution when democracy, accountability and the rule of law are restored and a new government is in place.

All Tigrayans are forewarned of their responsibilities to protect Tigray. General Taddese’s administration is in a transition phase, which is experiencing the same TPLF political interference as his predecessor Getachew Reda. Tigray and its people are here to stay for generations to come after TPLF repressive rule and its political life end. Beware of the wrath of the repressed Tigrayan people, who are eagerly crying out for democracy, accountability, good governance and the rule of law.