Tigray Opposition Party Warns of Setbacks to Peace Agreement Following Ban

The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) expresses concern that a recent ban on its activities jeopardizes the 2022 peace agreement that concluded two years of conflict in the Tigray region, urging the African Union to intervene.

Ethiopia’s main opposition party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), has issued a grave warning citing that the recent prohibition of its operations threatens the foundational peace agreement signed in 2022, which brought an end to two years of intense conflict in Tigray.

Following an announcement by the National Election Board of Ethiopia that revoked the TPLF's legal recognition as a political entity due to its failure to hold a general assembly, the party has called for intervention from the African Union. Historically, the TPLF governed Tigray and was a dominant force in national politics until 2019, when political shifts under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led to its dissolution.

The timing of the decision raises alarms as it comes amid mounting political tensions in Tigray and just ahead of nationwide elections set for next June. The ongoing power struggle within the party itself, marked by two factions vying for control, has hindered the organization from conducting necessary internal elections, heightening fears of a resurgence of violence.

The TPLF is currently responsible for Tigray's interim governance structure established under the Pretoria peace agreement following a brutal civil war that resulted in widespread casualties and displacement. In their correspondence with the African Union, the party stressed that the ban infringes on rights guaranteed under the peace accord and disrupts political dialogue.

Ammanuel Assefa, the TPLF's deputy chairman, warned that this action could have dire consequences for the Pretoria agreement, adding, "It’s not simply an issue for the TPLF, but it undermines the sacrifices made by the people." Ongoing delays in fulfilling terms of the peace agreement, including the resettlement of nearly one million displaced individuals, have intensified concerns over potential renewed conflict.

Multiple governments, including those of the US, UK, and EU, have voiced their apprehensions regarding escalating tensions, reiterating the critical importance of avoiding a return to violence in the region.