Focus Keyword: TPLF peace process in Tigray

TPLF Peace Process in Tigray Threatened by Armed Faction, Says Professor Kindeya

Addis Ababa, June 13 2026 (ENA) – The fragmented remnants of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) that illegally removed the interim regional administration are now endangering the fragile peace in northern Ethiopia, warned Professor Kindeya Gebrehiwot, Head of the Cabinet Secretariat of the first Tigray Interim Regional Administration (IRA).

A Divided TPLF Is Fueling New Conflict Risks

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Professor Kindeya clarified that the TPLF is no longer a unified movement. “The TPLF has splintered into several groups. One criminal faction staged a coup against the Interim Regional Administration and continues to create conditions for confrontation,” he said.

Key point: The faction opposes the Pretoria Agreement and repeatedly sabotages interim administrations created to guide post‑war recovery, governance reform, and political normalisation in Tigray.

Why the Criminal Group Is a Danger

• Obstruction of peace: The group has blocked both the administration of Getachew Reda (first Interim Chief Administrator) and that of Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede, despite initially supporting the latter’s appointment.
• Pattern of disruption: “Whenever there is an opportunity to advance peace, recovery, and institutional stability, they seek to create obstacles and maintain conditions of confrontation,” Kindeya explained.
• Forced recruitment: Recent reports indicate the faction is compelling young people in Tigray to join military training camps against their will, while voluntary enlistment remains low due to widespread anti‑war sentiment.

External reference: For a broader view on forced recruitment in conflict zones, see the United Nations Report on Child Soldiers (https://www.un.org/children/).

Public Resistance in Tigray Is Growing

Professor Kindeya highlighted an emerging consensus among Tigray’s youth and wider population:

“Many young people are rejecting the prospect of war. There is a growing sentiment throughout Tigray that another round of fighting would be catastrophic for the region.”

He praised the Ethiopian government’s “maximum patience” in safeguarding the ceasefire and noted that Tigray’s economy and social fabric remain too fragile to endure another military clash.

External reference: Economic assessments of post‑conflict Tigray can be found at the World Bank’s country overview (https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/ethiopia).

External Actors and the “Tsimdo Alliance”

The professor warned that external destabilisation attempts are intensifying. He cited the so‑called Tsimdo alliance, describing it as a coalition of anti‑peace actors both inside and outside Ethiopia that seeks to rekindle tensions.

“Any effort to re‑ignite conflict must be unequivocally rejected by all stakeholders committed to regional peace,” he insisted.

International Community Must Act Decisively

Kindeya called on governments, regional organisations, and development partners to:

1. Identify and sanction individuals and groups attempting to derail the peace process.
2. Support the Pretoria Agreement through continued diplomatic and financial assistance.
3. Promote dialogue over militarised solutions for unresolved political, governance, and border disputes.

External reference: The African Union’s peace‑building framework offers guidance on such interventions (https://au.int/en/peace-and-security).

Rebuilding Over Re‑arming: The Path Forward

• Rehabilitation & reconstruction should remain the priority, not renewed combat.
• Sustainable peace depends on respecting constitutional processes and democratic institutions.
• Regional stability is at stake; unchecked escalation could spill over across the Horn of Africa.

“Ethiopia’s future depends on peace. This should be a time for reconstruction, development, and national healing—not another round of conflict,” concluded Professor Kindeya.

Takeaway

The splintered TPLF faction poses a serious threat to the hard‑won peace in Tigray. Continued vigilance, robust international pressure on spoilers, and unwavering commitment to the Pretoria Agreement are essential to prevent a return to the devastating war that ravaged northern Ethiopia just two years ago.

For more updates on the TPLF peace process in Tigray, stay tuned to reputable news sources and follow the latest reports from UN agencies and regional bodies.