๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ by Teshome Beyene
๐
๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ชโ๐จ ๐ฝ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ
Tadele Mengistuโa Cabinet member representing the Baitona and a favorite among young Tigrayansโwas briefly jailed by a Tigray court after failing to implement order to recover an Ethiopian Road Authority vehicle seized and operated by the TPLF office in Mekele.
When the party heavyweight Fetlework Gebreegziabher delayed returning the car, the court held Tadele in contempt. Only after Fetlework surrendered the vehicle to police and the court was notified did Tadele walk free.
Whatever one thinks of the legal merits, this episode reveals a willingness by the judiciary to stand up to influential political figures. It offers a glimmer of hope for genuine independence in a system long criticized for deference to power.
_______________________________________________________________________
๐๐ฃ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐๐ช๐ก๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ช๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ฉ
This case also casts light on a larger injustice: during the recent conflict, roughly 750 pieces of heavy construction machineryโbulldozers, excavators, cranesโowned by Tigrayans were removed from sites across Tigray and neighboring Amhara. I discovered this while serving briefly on EFFORTโs Trustee Board. EFFORT and other Tigrayan businesses have countless similar stories, yet the regional government has been largely silent on asset recovery.
Pursuing court cases to reclaim these machines could be a first stepโespecially since the Pretoria Agreementโs political track was supposed to address property disputes. Unfortunately, that track now seems stalled, making legal action all the more expedient for now.
______________________________________________________________________
๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐๐: ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฅ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐จ. ๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ข
In March 2025, four generals were dismissed by Getachew Reda for leading an internal power shift in favor of Debretsion Gebremichael. Last week, General Tadesse quietly reinstated them with formal letters, offering no public justification and provoking scant reaction.
This reversal underscores Tadesseโs preference for pragmatic stability over principled accountability.
Even generously granting him the benefit of the doubtโthat he personally had no hand in the attempted coupโhis choice signals that keeping the peace with powerful factions outweighs confronting past betrayals. What precedent does this set for future cases of political misconduct?
_____________________________________________________________________
๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐จ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ
On Brakeh Show, veteran TPLF leader Tsegay Berhe (Haleka Tsegay), who served as Tigrayโs president from 2001 to 2010, delivered an unprecedented denunciation of the current party leadership. Known until now as a staunch defender of the status quo, Tsegay called Fetlework Gebreegziabher โauthoritarian, self-important, and shallow.โ
He accused Fetlework, Debretsion, and others of orchestrating a swift takeover of the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT)โa conglomerate founded in 1995 to rebuild the regionโs economy and reduce unemployment. Tsegay said they convened a hastily arranged assembly under the guise of small local associations to reassert party control. A lawsuitโfiled by unnamed partiesโis already challenging that assemblyโs legality in a court and Tsegay warned of serious consequences as a Federal court is unlikely to be sympathetic to the TPLF.
His deeper concern is the ongoing infighting that, he argues, has crippled Tigrayโs negotiating strength over the past two years. While he expressed sympathy for Getachew Redaโs move to Addis Ababa, he questioned the wisdom of accepting a federal role, warning it risks further diluting Tigrayโs bargaining power and unity.
______________________________________________________________________
๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ค ๐๐ค๐ง๐ช๐ขโ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฝ๐ง๐ค๐๐๐๐๐จ๐ฉ
In one of the harshest public critiques yet, online channel Ethio Forum branded the current TPLF leadership โthe lowest pointโ in the partyโs history. It blamed the leadership for catastrophic mismanagement during the 2000โ2002 warโfaulting them with โgross incompetence, political blindness, and hollow arroganceโ that contributed to an estimated million deaths.
Ethio Forum went further, alleging senior figures embezzled resistance-era funds and accused them of clinging to power not merely out of ambition, but to hide misdeeds. Invoking the TPLF anthem โแแตแแญ แฅแฉ แแญแแโ (โOur ideology is our strengthโ), the channel argued todayโs leaders have abandoned the very ideals that once inspired martyrs.
In a dramatic flourish, Ethio Forum speculated Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stoked a rift between Debretsion and Getachew Reda.
The TPLF fired back with a lengthy rebuttal, accusing Ethio Forum of anti-party bias and of serving โthose recently pushed out of Tigray.โ
The party reaffirmed its narrative that, without TPLF mobilization, the people of Tigray would have been wiped out, and that the TPLF is ever strong and on track.
The takeaway from this is that, indeed, Ethio-Forum has taken a scathing position against the TPLF. What prompted it so at this time?
______________________________________________________________________
๐พ๐๐ก๐ก๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฃ๐๐จ๐จ & ๐ผ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฎ
๐๐ข๐ช๐ญ๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ดโ๐ด ๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต:
Federal security forces detained TPLF veteran Haile Libanos upon his return from Europe, igniting a debate on social media. I believe he deserves a fair trialโan opportunity too seldom granted in Addis to those with political ties, past and present.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ข๐จ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ช๐ด๐ตโ๐ด ๐๐ช๐ด๐ช๐ต:
Awel Seid, EPLFโs lead propagandist, recently traveled to Zalambassa in Tigray and met with a pro-TPLF activist. Many insist that, until he publicly renounces his past divisive actions, any future appearances by EPLF apologists should be met with open criticism. And the key question remainsโdid Debretsion and his colleagues authorize or endorse this meeting? That is the million-dollar question Regardless.
I, for one, oppose the condoning of genociders, quietly or openly. in the strongest terms.
____________________________________________________________________
ย
๐๐ฏ ๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ช๐ข๐ฎ
We mourn the passing of artist Solomon Tekalign, whose outspoken opposition to genocide in Tigray gave voice to the marginalized. His legacy reminds us that art and advocacy remain vital instruments in the struggle for justice. May his soul rest in peace.
Next week I will talk on re-ignited public demands and protest in some parts of Tigray.