UMD Media, January 1, 2025
Youth in Mekelle, the capital city of Tigray, have taken to the streets in a peaceful demonstration demanding respect for and full implementation of decisions made by the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA). This comes after months of reported obstruction by a faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) led by Debretsion Gebremichael, which has allegedly rendered TIRA largely ineffective.
One notable issue highlighted by the demonstrators is the absence of a functioning mayor in Mekelle since December 2, 2024. The mayor’s office has been closed due to competing appointments—one made by TIRA and another by the Debretsion-led TPLF faction. The entrenched networks of the TPLF faction have reportedly hindered TIRA’s ability to appoint officials at various administrative levels, including zonal and district administrators.
The situation has been further complicated by claims from the Debretsion faction that the leadership of the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) supports its authority and recognizes it as the sole representative of the TPLF. This comes as the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) issued a February 10, 2025, deadline for the TPLF to hold its general assembly and legally register. The party has been in limbo since its delisting as a terrorist group in March 2023, following its initial ban in the aftermath of the 2020 war.
Protesters are urging the Tigray Defence Forces to stay neutral and avoid involvement in partisan politics.
The protest has drawn attention due to concerns over potential responses from security forces. In the summer of 2023, peaceful demonstrations in Mekelle were met with violent crackdowns. Protest organizers are urging participants to maintain discipline, with one coordinator seen instructing attendees to report anyone acting out of conduct directly to security officers.
As the political impasse continues, the peaceful demonstration in Mekelle underscores growing public frustration with the stagnation and governance challenges facing the Tigray region. How authorities handle the protest will be closely watched, given the region’s volatile history.
