Ethiopia’s national election board has suspended the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) from political activities for three months, citing violations of internal governance laws.
The TPLF, which administers the war-scarred Tigray region, failed to convene a general assembly, elect officials, or approve its bylaws, the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) stated.
The party has been unable to hold internal elections due to a deepening split, with rival factions each claiming leadership over the organization.
The election board, responsible for overseeing political parties and conducting elections, warned that TPLF’s governance failures constituted serious breaches of regulations.
The suspension raises concerns about the stability of Tigray’s interim administration, which was formed in 2023 as part of a fragile peace deal ending the two-year war with the federal government.
The conflict, which lasted from 2020 to 2022, killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, leaving Ethiopia’s northern region in ruins.
While the peace agreement was meant to bring stability, tensions over its implementation have fractured the TPLF, fueling fears of renewed violence.
Analysts warn that political divisions in Tigray could worsen Ethiopia’s already volatile situation, as conflicts continue in the Amhara and Oromiya regions.
“The party has failed to abide by the above-mentioned laws and directives, which are serious violations,” the election board declared in its statement.
“Due to this, the board has decided to suspend the party from taking part in any political activities for three months,” it added.
Representatives of both TPLF factions declined to comment on the suspension, leaving questions about the party’s future unanswered.