What Path Lies Ahead for the Tigray Political Landscape?

[TLM Editorial Viewpoint]

As in the past, what is lacking today is the ability to reflect on the mistakes made and learn from them, as well as understand how to earn the people of Tigray’s trust and confidence. Without this capacity, Tigray’s spirit and the opportunities available to its children continue to diminish for all. Events seem to be gradually moving in this direction, especially as we enter a new decade that is anticipated to be more difficult due to the uncertainty surrounding the global political landscape, rising discontent, the potential for conflicts, and internal and external political and security challenges. These changes have a direct impact and harmful effects on Tigray.

The Tigray elites need to instil trust and confidence in their people. The trust and confidence are woven for what the party provides to its people. Visionary, coherent, and ethical leaders commit to fairness, justice, and respect for their people’s human rights; work to improve living standards; and maintain peace and security for their people as their primary objectives. Such comprehension enables them to lead their country positively and avoid repeating mistakes that compromise the wellbeing of the people they lead. This approach paves the way for a brighter future that every citizen rightfully deserves. Power allows leaders to make choices in the national interest.

By contrast, the TPLF leadership lacks foresight and coherent vision, but it seems to maintain total control over the people of Tigray and resources using its repressive rule. The TPLF has been at work in changing Tigray’s culture, history and values by indoctrinating the people of Tigray cohesively to adopt a belief in the TPLF’s political and cultural identity as “our party” (ውድብና). For those individuals who firmly rejected “our party” (ውድብና) political and cultural identity has been prosecuted with political obstinacy, slander, brutal force, or human rights abuses. The Shaebia-like repressive and sinister administration does not seem to maintain the people of Tigray’s loyalty or endorsement for the TPLF that had failed miserably to implement the Pretoria peace agreement. As a result, the TPLF is now on the verge of a complete disintegration, and it has lost its political legitimacy with the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and support from the hearts and minds of the people of Tigray.

The actions and expressions of the TPLF supporters in the diaspora reveal their political objectives. The phrase, “Either you are with us or against us,” famously used by former President Bush during the Gulf War, implies that the quiet majority of Tigrayans are labelled as banda (ባንዳ) or enemies (ፀላእቲ). These outspoken groups in the diaspora operate on the fringes of society. Nevertheless, some TPLF factions exploit them to intimidate other Tigrayans by infringing on their right to assemble in their host countries, where essential constitutional rights are upheld. Employing undemocratic tactics against fellow Tigrayans, including disruptions, slander, insult, and conflict further represents an effort to promote the failing TPLF Marxist ideology.

We view the election as a step toward democracy. Although Tigray has yet to experience genuine democracy, we thank the Tigray Democratic Solidarity (Simret) party for its leadership role on this hopeful path. Tigray is transforming, aligning with the Western Counties’ vision and political ideology i.e., liberal democracy. Seeing the emergence of new political life in Tigray is encouraging. In a democratic system, policies typically take center stage in electoral debates.

However, while the opposition parties are committed to promoting a shared vision to address pressing issues facing Tigray, (i.e., the establisment of effective all-inclusive council, unity, poverty, unemployment, corruption, freedom, liberty, independence, IDPs, and Tigray’s territorial integrity), some TPLF supporters must distance themselves from prejudice, close-mindedness, and a tone of unnationalistic rhetoric that is harming the people of Tigray.

The online media pundits, propagandists, and opportunists in Tigray and abroad are now fully active, expressing their support for the alliance (ፅምዶ) with the genocidaire Shaebia (ህግደፍ) and outrage over the Simret Party and the National Election Board of Ethiopia. Their credibility and principles are questionable, and their empty rhetoric aimed at discrediting the process has been harmful and misguided. For the people of Tigray, the TPLF alliance (ፅምዶ) with the genocidaire Shaebia (ህግደፍ) is the last nail in the coffin and the unforgivable worst betrayal. Yet again, the TPLF is imposing its authoritarian rule and engaging in its human rights abuses.

Rational individuals who use common sense will recognize that progress and truth prevail over the extremist and falsehood ideas. The TPLF and their diaspora supporters have found little satisfaction in this euphoria. What could have turned into a meaningful democratic movement following the genocidal war has devolved instead into a spectacle of opportunistic power grabs by any means necessary. Fortunately, the TPLF has now detached itself from the people, and its political life is hanging on a thin thread, waiting to be disposed of. The people of Tigray will then breathe freedom and realise the long-awaited peace, democracy, and good governance.

We recognized that the opposition parties campaign, often marked by limited financial and security concerns, to effectively engage people to support them. The previous interim administration led by Getachew Reda, to its credit, shattered the walls of fear and silence that once dominated Tigray. Opposition parties and the people were allowed to express their views freely.

The people of Tigray’s desire for democracy faces significant challenges when acts of violence by the TPLF and a few generals and militias threaten Tigray governmental legitimacy, resulting in the loss of innocent lives and human rights abuses. Under the Ethiopian Constitution, any party that advocates for the overthrow of a democratic government is considered criminal. The use of violence to instil fear and undermine the peace and security of the Tigrayan people must be addressed decisively. Dealing with criminality is essential to maintain law and order.

The current Tigray Interim Administration under General Werede must ease tensions and offer incentives for reconciling political differences. General Tadese Werede must uphold the democratic principles of good governance and the rule of law and address the human rights violations perpetrated by the TPLF and a few generals who engage in human rights abuses and confiscations of stamps (seals) using brutal force. Measures must be implemented to maintain law and order at this critical and fragile situation for people to exercise their democratic rights. Setting aside differences and seeking solutions to promote peace and political stability is crucial for the unity of Tigray.

TLM supports free and transparent elections, indicating a gradual shift toward greater freedom, democracy, and good governance. Such gradual progress represents the most logical path forward for Tigray. The divided persona of the TPLF leadership, evident in their chauvinistic rhetoric and conflicting messages, makes their discourse more susceptible. Nevertheless, Tigray can cultivate viable and legitimate political parties that prioritise the interests of all Tigrayans rather than those of a few cult-like TPLF leaders and generals from one Aweraja.

What troubles TLM editors most is how far the love of power drives individuals to distort reality to maintain their personal interests. Does truth come and go through a revolving door at will? It’s not. Surprisingly, many TPLF supporters are drawn into yet another misguided political adventure, assuming that the entire people of Tigray uniformly back the TPLF. While the TPLF has the right to assert its narrative, what about the integrity the public has longed to witness throughout these years?

Finally, while we wish for all Tigrayans more wisdom, humility, and unity, TLM editors hope that, for the sake of the Tigrayan people, we ask TPLF supporters to cease the rhetoric: let there be no Tigray that I do not lead (ኣነ ዘይመርሓ ትግራይ ኣይተሃሉ ዝብል ፍከራ ይትረፍ). The TPLF may perceive the people of Tigray’s patience as weakness, but their hidden reserves are a deceptive façade of calmness.