UMD Media, March 11, 2025
A power struggle within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has intensified after Getachew Reda, President of the Tigray Interim Administration, issued a temporary suspension on three senior military commanders: M. General Yohannes Woldegiorgis (John Medid), M. General Masho Beyene, and B. General Migbe Haile, associated with Debretsion Gebremichael’s faction. The move has been widely interpreted as an effort to consolidate authority over the region’s security forces.
Rejection from the TPLF Secretariat
However, the decision was met with immediate resistance from the Debretsion’s TPLF secretariat, which rejected Getachew’s directive and referred to him as the “Former President,” challenging the legitimacy of his leadership. The statement further implied that Getachew no longer holds the power to make executive decisions on behalf of the regional government.
Defiance from the Tigray Bureau of Peace and Security
In a further rebuke, the Tigray Bureau of Peace and Security, under the leadership of General Fesseha Kidanu, member of Getachew Reda’s Cabiner, also dismissed the ban. The office declared that Getachew lacks the jurisdiction to dismiss the commanders, as they were not appointed by him. General Kidanu’s department reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing “law enforcement” operations in the region, signaling continued alignment with Debretsion’s faction.
Getachew Reda has now fired General Fisseha Kidanu, escalating tensions even further. Prior to the firing, Getachew Reda’s communication bureau stated that Fisseha Kidanu’s remarks, made on behalf of the Tigray Bureau of Peace and Security, officially reveal that the bureau itself functions not as part of the interim administration but as the military wing of Debretsion’s faction, further worsening the situation. The Debretsion faction comprises several key political figures within the TPLF, each playing a significant role in the party’s leadership and strategic direction. At the helm is Debretsion Gebremichael, the Chair of the TPLF. Fetlework Gebregziabher, as the Head of the Secretariat, holds a crucial position in coordinating internal party affairs. Alem Gebrewahd, the former Head of the Secretariat, also remains an influential figure within the faction. Additionally, Getachew Assefa, the former spy chief of Ethiopia, is a notable member, known for his deep involvement in intelligence and security matters.
The statement alleges Fisseha Kidanu has ignored orders for the arrest of individuals involved in land grabbing, gold and mineral theft, grain theft, destruction of natural resources, human trafficking, arms trafficking, and smuggling. Presenting the dismantling of government structures as law enforcement clearly indicates where the bureau’s top officials stand, said the statement.
Reports of Civilian Shootings and Getachew Reda’s Response
As reports emerge of civilians being shot with live fire in the town of Adi Gudem by army members affiliated with the Debretsion faction under the command of M. General Yohannes Woldegiorgis, Getachew Reda took to social media to condemn the escalating violence. He stated:
“A misguided decision by a cabal of few army officers to take the law into their hands and dismantle state structures throughout Tigray the last few days has plunged the region into an uncharted territory, with civilians protesting these illegal moves being rounded up and shot at at random. Many casualties in Adi Gudem and parts of Mekelle. The rampage is part of a harebrained plan to install an illegal faction of TPLF into the position of power, a move that flies full in the face of the aspirations of the people of Tigray and the Pretoria Agreement. It’s incumbent upon all the stakeholders to the Pretoria agreement to face down such a brazen move before it escalates into another round of devastating war on and against the people of Tigray. There is every reason to believe external forces are trying to take advantage of this crisis to stock up more violence throughout the region and beyond. As if the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people in IDP camps is not worse enough, the very officers who only recently put themselves in harm’s way in their people’s cause. Much as it pains me to break ranks with my erstwhile comrades, it’s altogether fitting and appropriate that we condemn such reckless acts of unmitigated violence in the service of a faction hell bent on grabbing power at all costs.”
A day after being suspended by Getachew Reda, the army under Yohannes Wolgiorgis detained several officials, including Amdom Woldu, the Mayor of Adi Gudem, Awet Tewolde, the Deputy Mayor, Yirga Hiluf, the Public Relations and Mobilization Officer, and Abadi, the Head of Security in Adi Gudem. Their arrest has raised concerns about the army’s actions and its alignment within the ongoing political dynamics.
In addition to these detentions, several individuals were reportedly shot and taken to the hospital. Among them are Alemu Haile G/Hiwet, Mogos Kidanu WolduKetena, Woldu Abadi Tesfay, and Mogos Kahsu Berhe.
Armed Groups Take Control of Adigrat City
Adding to the turmoil, reports have emerged that armed groups aligned with Debretsion’s faction have taken control of Adigrat City. The raid on Adigrat was reportedly carried out by forces under the command of Major General Masho Beyene, one of the three generals suspended by Getachew Reda. Masho Beyene, who was the commander of the Eastern Front, took this measure just a day after his suspension, raising questions about whether his actions were premeditated or a direct response to his dismissal.
Alleged Eritrean Involvement
Further compounding tensions, the other two military fronts bordering Eritrea, the Central and Western Fronts, has been under the command of generals affiliated with Debretsion’s faction, including Brigadier General Migbe Haile. These commanders have allegedly been working in coordination with the Eritrean regime. Analysts suggest that this alignment with Asmara could be a strategic maneuver by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to solidify his position and preempt any Ethiopian military retaliation. Given the strategic importance of Adigrat and its proximity to Asmara, there are growing concerns that Eritrean involvement may escalate tensions, further destabilizing the Horn of Africa. The control of these fronts by commanders linked to Debretsion’s faction raises fears that any renewed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea could result in a direct military confrontation across the border, potentially pulling Tigray deeper into regional instability.
Calls for Violence in Pro-Debretsion Meeting
The situation took a more alarming turn following a pro-Debretsion faction meeting held in Shire town this week, led by Vice President of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) and Commander of the Army, General Tadesse Worede. During the meeting, a participant was heard complaining about the inability to kill Getachew Reda and his second vice president, General Tsadkan Gebretensae. The meeting was broadcasted by pro-faction media outlets, raising concerns over its implications.
Media Concerns Over Genocidal Rhetoric
Desta Gebremedhin, a former BBC journalist, criticized the broadcast, stating that Dedebit Media aired a program reminiscent of the infamous Rwandan RTLM radio station, which incited genocide. He condemned the broadcast for spreading dangerous rhetoric, including incitements to kill political opponents, and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
Journalist and media expert Woldegiorgis G. Teklay voiced his concerns, drawing parallels between the genocidal rhetoric in Tigray’s political discourse and the 2016 messaging from ESAT in Ethiopia, which called for 95 million Ethiopians to rise against 5 million Tigrayans. He pointed out that media outlets aligned with certain political factions in Tigray are now amplifying calls for violence against their rivals. Woldegiorgis warned that such inflammatory rhetoric could escalate tensions and potentially lead to mass atrocities.
Many Tigrayans on social media were seen reporting Dedebit Media to YouTube, urging its removal from the platform after it aired the call for assassination and divisive messages that they claimed incite violence and turn parts of the population against each other.
Assassination Plot and Arrests
According to a UMD Media report from January, the call for killing Getachew Reda and Tsadkan Gebretensae was not limited to speeches at a meeting. Investigations revealed that a businessman was arrested in Addis Ababa, along with a VIP guard in Mekelle, on suspicion of involvement in crimes targeting Getachew Reda, Tsadkan Gebretensae and Assefa Abraha, Getachew Reda’s advisor, and efforts to dissolve the Tigray Interim Regional Administration. The arrests, made on January 5, were carried out based on a court order issued by the Tigray Police. The first suspect were transferred to Mekelle on January 6 and appeared in court on January 8 for jurisdictional proceedings. The court later granted them bail on January 14, but one of the released suspects was re-arrested by federal police upon arrival in Addis Ababa. Meanwhile, the unnamed VIP bodyguard was also re-arrested in Mekelle and later transferred to Addis Ababa. Sources indicate that both individuals remain in federal police custody under investigation for conspiracy to assassinate government officials. While the initial arrests followed a legal court order, the circumstances surrounding their subsequent detainment remain unclear.
Attempted Power Grab in Mekelle?
One source told UMD Media that the Debretsion faction is planning to replicate in Mekelle what they did in Adigrat. If successful, they intend to use their control of major cities as leverage to negotiate with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for a political deal, potentially positioning themselves for a leadership role. This development comes as the National Election Board of Ethiopia has suspended the TPLF from conducting political activities for three months, further complicating the region’s political landscape. The faction resolved in its August 2024 Congress to remove Getachew Reda and four other cabinet members of TIRA.
Internal and External Challenges to Getachew Reda’s Administration
The Debretsion faction and affiliated generals accuse Getachew Reda of working for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, an allegation that has further deepened divisions within the region’s leadership. As the Tigray Interim Administration approaches its second anniversary this month, it faces mounting challenges from both internal dissension and external pressures. The actions of General Fesseha Kidanu, a cabinet member in Getachew Reda’s administration, demonstrate that the administration is being challenged from within as well as from outside forces, raising concerns about its stability moving forward.
Critics also fault Getachew Reda for not doing enough to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and to restore Tigray’s pre-November 2020 war territories. However, Getachew Reda has been quick to shift the blame to the faction for obstructing the process.
His supporters praise him for upholding press freedom, including permitting state media, under his administration, to freely broadcast the faction’s meetings and rallies, which harshly criticize him and call for his removal. They argue that such openness was unimaginable under TPLF-led Tigray since 1991.
Observers warn that the deepening divide within the security forces in Tigray could further destabilize the fragile peace process in Tigray. With factions vying for influence and military control, the region faces an uncertain future as political rivalries threaten to plunge it back into unrest.
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