Tigray’s TPLF faction rejects Ethiopian premier’s call for virtual vote, accuses federal government of breaching peace deal

By Sadik Kedir Abdu

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - A faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) led by Debretsion Gebremichael on Wednesday rejected Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s call for a virtual vote to appoint a new interim president, accusing the federal government of violating the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement.

In a statement, the faction denounced Abiy’s plan as a “unilateral move” that undermines the peace accord and said the federal government has no authority to impose leadership in Tigray without inclusive dialogue.

Tensions have escalated since the recent ouster of interim President Getachew Reda, who was installed under the terms of the Pretoria deal that ended the two-year war between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters.

Getachew was removed by the Debretsion-led faction after it took over key local administrations in parts of Tigray earlier this month.

While Getachew’s allies have called the move a “coup,” the federal government has not recognized his removal, deepening the political standoff.

Currently in Addis Ababa, Getachew has urged the federal government to intervene and accused Eritrea of supporting the rival TPLF faction—an allegation that both Eritrean and Debretsion's groups deny.