Ethiopia has named Getachew Reda, the recently ousted leader of Tigray’s interim administration and former rebel, as a government minister.
This move on Friday has ignited fears among analysts of deepening divisions within the war-scarred northern region.
Tigray is still grappling with the brutal aftermath of a two-year conflict that ended with a 2022 peace accord.
Getachew was replaced earlier this month by Debretsion Gebremichael, head of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), following an internal power struggle.
Now, Addis Ababa has appointed Getachew as an “advisor on East African affairs to the Prime Minister with the rank of minister,” according to an X post.
He previously served as communications minister before Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s rise in 2018.
Experts warn this appointment could exacerbate existing tensions in the region. Mehdi Labzae, an Ethiopia specialist, called it a “betrayal” risking increased polarization for both elites and the general population.
Kjetil Tronvoll, a Horn of Africa specialist, echoed this, stating the move would “accentuate divisions” in the devastated region, potentially leading to accusations of collaboration with perceived enemies.
While a fragile peace prevails, the incomplete implementation of the Pretoria peace deal has fueled internal strife within the Tigrayan political landscape.
Divisions within the TPLF have reignited fears of renewed conflict, with forces loyal to Debretsion reportedly seizing towns.
Strained relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, accused of backing Debretsion’s faction, further complicate the delicate situation.