Abiy Invites Tigrayans to Nominate Interim Leaders Amid Political Turmoil
AX – Addis Ababa – In a move to inject some semblance of order amidst the swirling political storm, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reached out to the people of Tigray with an unusual request on a routine Wednesday morning. Imagine opening your inbox to pretty mundane emails, and there it is: a call from the Prime Minister to nominate leaders via email. Yes, you read that correctly. The digital age just took a more participatory turn, with residents being asked to submit their suggestions for candidates to occupy the position of interim regional president.
This action follows closely on the turbulent winds stirred by the abrupt deposition of Getachew Reda. His removal, orchestrated by a rebellious faction within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), is the latest twist in Ethiopia’s vibrant political drama. The Prime Minister’s electronic gesture came shortly after he took the podium in Parliament, reaffirming a commitment to maintain interim governance in Tigray until national elections can safely unfurl their democratic processions across the land.
For those tracking political tremors, Abiy’s call begs answers to an array of questions. Will this email nomination process forge pathways toward stability? Might it legitimize institutional leadership, especially as the TPLF party faces its internal cataclysm? From where does the necessity for political evolution arise, if not from such fractures?
The figure at the center of this politico-maelstrom, Getachew Reda, has found himself in Addis Ababa, estranged from the very office he was appointed to under a peace accord. This agreement had mercifully concluded a devastating two-year conflict between federal forces and Tigrayan troops. But here we are, speculating on Getachew’s present standing, as neither the federal mouths nor governmental documents have confirmed his displacement or the lack thereof.
Flashback to the summer of 2024, and we find Mekelle hosting a TPLF congress, conspicuously missing one star: Getachew himself. Observers pointed to this absence as the catalyst for pronounced division. It provided a stage for two dueling factions — one loyal to Getachew, the other hoisting banners for the seasoned party stalwart, Debretsion Gebremichael.
To fuel the burgeoning chaos, recent reports suggest Debretsion’s loyalists have strategically occupied towns in Tigray, wielding political dominance as both a shield and sword. This not only initiated Getachew’s removal but also planted seeds for a new crisis blossoming with national resonance. What do you do, when power is the only harvest on which to feast?
Amidst these political maneuvers, accusations flew thick and fast. Most notably, Getachew’s appeal to the federal government to intercede, coupled with claims of Eritrean support for his adversaries — allegations met with vehement denials by Debretsion’s supporters. For the onlookers, it paints a picture of a region teetering on the brink, its stability threatened by potential fragmentation within the security forces themselves.
Amidst such tension, Abiy’s call for emails, in its own way, offers a peculiar balm — an overture for peace through inclusivity. Still, whispers in the corridors of power cast aspersions on the transparency of this approach. Is it realistic, equitable even, in resolving a crisis tethered so intricately to leadership legitimacy?
While the federal mouthpieces remain silent on the timeline for appointing a new interim president, word from the inner sanctums suggests that Abiy lobbies for a consensus candidate. A leader, above all the flailing arms and divided factions, standing as a beacon. One can only wonder, in a realm where power seems illusory and conflict ubiquitous, can such neutrality truly bind the disparate threads of Tigray’s fate?
Axadle – Addis Ababa
Edited By Ali Musa, Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
