UMD Media, April 27, 2025
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) faction under Getachew Reda unveiled a significant political shift today, declaring its transformation into a fully inclusive political party. The move, framed as a step toward securing Tigray’s “peaceful and democratic future,” emphasizes broad-based participation and signals a potential departure from its previous governance model.
In a public statement, the faction positioned the transition as a response to Tigray’s evolving political landscape, stating its commitment to fostering multiparty engagement and institutionalizing democratic processes. Critics, however, remain skeptical, questioning whether the rebranding reflects genuine reform or tactical repositioning amid ongoing regional tensions.
The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of TPLF’s legacy and its role in Tigray’s future, with observers awaiting concrete steps to translate rhetoric into tangible structural change.
According to a statement released by the group, this move emphasizes the active involvement of Tigray’s youth, intellectuals, and civil society in launching a peaceful political dialogue. The initiative seeks to consolidate a new democratic order by fostering a participatory and consultative process rather than continuing the old command-driven political culture.
The statement further revealed that Getachew’s faction within the TPLF has formally decided to transition itself into a political party focused on inclusive, democratic values. According to the group, this restructuring is being carried out with careful planning and will serve as a bridge toward building a broader democratic political framework in the region.
In a recent interview with UMD Media, Getachew Reda stated that continuing under the TPLF banner has become “impossible,” signaling a political reorganization, potentially paving the way for a new movement or party structure.
In addition, the group called for unity and cooperation among all Tigrayan political organizations — including those traditionally seen as rivals — to sustain and strengthen the path of peaceful political dialogue. They urged the entire population of Tigray, as well as supporters of the people’s quest for freedom, to rally around this new effort to ensure that Tigray’s future is built on democratic foundations.
This development signals a significant shift in the political landscape of Tigray, opening the door for greater pluralism and potential reconciliation after years of conflict and authoritarian rule.
The scathing statement accused a rival group led by Debretsion Gebremichael of systematically dismantling Tigray’s institutions, looting public assets, and fueling divisions among the people. The statement described Debretsion’s faction as composed of corrupt bureaucrats and illegitimate actors operating outside any legal framework, engaged in actions that endanger Tigray’s unity and prosperity.
According to the statement, Debretsion’s group has unlawfully seized control of major institutions that are vital to Tigray’s governance and economic stability. Among those targeted are the Tigray Development Association (TDA), mining bureaus, land administration offices, urban development agencies, water and infrastructure departments, and key financial institutions. These actions, it warned, have inflicted serious damage on Tigray’s economy and social fabric. The statement further alleged that the illegal takeovers are now being facilitated by the Interim Administration of Tigray, led by Let. Gen. Tadesse Werede, who replaced Getachew Reda as the region’s president. This collaboration, it said, has sparked widespread outrage among the people of Tigray, who see it as a betrayal of their long and painful struggle for self-determination.
In response to these developments, the statement highlighted the role of Tigrayan youth, scholars, and members of the diaspora, who have been at the forefront of peaceful resistance. They have called for an immediate end to the looting of public resources, demanded protection of Tigray’s institutions and natural wealth, and urged a transition toward genuine democratic governance. The statement stressed that Tigray’s future must be determined by its people, not by corrupt cliques desperate to cling to power.
Calling for urgent action, Getachew’s faction urged civil society organizations to pursue legal challenges against the illegal seizures and demanded that the Interim Administration cease its support for what it called a predatory network undermining Tigray’s sovereignty. It also called on the international community to hold Debretsion and his associates accountable for their role in sabotaging Tigray’s economy and obstructing democratic progress.
The statement concluded with a sharp warning, declaring that Debretsion and his enablers are enemies of peace, development, and the Tigrayan people, and that history would judge them harshly for their actions.
Issued by Getachew Reda’s faction of the TPLF on April 27, 2025, the statement aligns with growing resistance narratives within Tigray that frame Debretsion’s group as a destabilizing force and rally support for institutional protection, democratic transition, and a people-led future for the region.
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