Ethiopia has extended the mandate of the interim administrator of the northern Tigray region by one year, a move that casts fresh uncertainty over planned elections in the conflict-hit area.
The extension, announced on Wednesday, affects General Tadesse Werede, who was appointed to lead the interim administration in April last year following internal political changes within the region.
The decision was confirmed by the head of Ethiopia’s executive on X, stating that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has renewed Tadesse’s mandate effective April 9, 2026.
Tigray has been governed under an interim arrangement since a 2022 peace deal ended a devastating two-year war that claimed an estimated 600,000 lives and involved Tigrayan forces, Ethiopian federal troops, allied militias, and Eritrean forces.
The war disrupted regional elections originally scheduled for 2021, leading to the establishment of the transitional administration.
The latest extension raises doubts over elections planned for June 1, in which Tigray was expected to elect members of its regional parliament, government officials, and representatives to Ethiopia’s federal parliament.
No elections have been held in the region since 2021, leaving Tigrayan representation in the federal parliament vacant.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has argued that meaningful elections cannot take place until the return of roughly one million displaced residents is guaranteed, out of an estimated population of six million.
Tensions remain high in the region, with reports of troop movements along the Tigray border and renewed concerns about possible conflict escalation.
Federal authorities have also accused elements within the TPLF of strengthening ties with neighbouring Eritrea, allegations the group has denied.
