Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced plans to appoint a new leader for the troubled Tigray region, following a power struggle within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The move aims to ease rising tensions and prevent a return to civil war, which claimed an estimated 500,000 lives between 2020 and 2022.
Getachew Reda, Tigray’s interim president, fled to the capital, Addis Ababa, earlier this month after a faction led by Debretsion Gebremichael took control of the Tigray administration.
Prime Minister Abiy has invited Tigrayans to suggest candidates for the new leader via email, in a bid to stabilize the region.
The TPLF has been plagued by infighting, with two factions vying for control.
The power struggle has sparked fears of another war, with several countries, including the US, UK, and European Union, warning against a return to violence.
Law expert Teklit Gebremeskel believes Prime Minister Abiy’s decision could help stabilize the situation, saying, “The situation has been deteriorating, but there was an opportunity to pause, reflect, and find a solution”.
However, Hailu Kebede, a member of Tigray’s opposition, has criticized the move, saying it puts self-governance and the Pretoria Agreement in danger.
