Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called on the Tigray region to nominate a new leader, aiming to ease political tensions and prevent further conflict.
The request comes amid growing discord within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The party remains divided over leadership, with interim President Getachew Reda facing opposition from loyalists of former leader Debretsion Gebremichael. Armed forces aligned with Gebremichael have seized key towns, heightening fears of renewed violence.
Political infighting within the TPLF has intensified since last year, with the party pushing to remove Reda and his cabinet members. Earlier this month, TPLF-aligned soldiers took control of key towns, including Adigrat, forcing Reda to flee to Addis Ababa. He described the events as a “coup.”
William Davison, an analyst on Ethiopia, warned that a leadership change might temporarily calm tensions but will not resolve underlying issues. “Tigray’s new leaders will struggle to regain lost territories, and any failure to do so could lead to further instability,” he said.
Ahmed announced his call for nominations via social media on Wednesday, sparking backlash from the TPLF. Deputy Chair Amanuel Assefa accused the prime minister of violating the cessation of hostilities agreement by bypassing the party’s selection process.
The TPLF has endorsed Lt. Gen. Tadesse Worede, a military strategist and deputy president of the interim government, as their candidate. Assefa questioned how Ahmed intends to ensure nominations come from Tigrayans themselves.
Ahmed recently told lawmakers he expects the interim government’s term to be extended for another year, aligning with Ethiopia’s national elections scheduled for 2026.