Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
Getachew Reda Elected President of Newly Formed Tigray Democratic Solidarity Party
The reformist movement “Simret” concludes its founding congress in Addis Ababa, pledging to foster political pluralism and democratic renewal in Tigray’s post-war landscape.
Addis Ababa — October 25, 2025
By Horn News Hub Staff |
The newly formed Tigray Democratic Solidarity (TDS) Party, also known as “Simret,” has concluded its founding congress in Addis Ababa, electing Getachew Reda as the party’s first president. The development marks a significant step in the growing trend of political diversification in Tigray following years of internal turmoil and post-war reconstruction.
According to sources close to the organizing committee, delegates at the founding congress voted to establish the party’s central leadership structures, including a 31-member Council, a seven-member Political Bureau, and a five-member Audit and Inspection Committee.
Teame Aradom, one of the elected members of the Central Council, told reporters after the congress that the TDS is firmly committed to advancing political pluralism, democratic governance, and accountability in Tigray’s political landscape. He said the creation of the party reflects “a collective desire to build new and inclusive political alternatives” that can unite Tigrayans across social, generational, and ideological divides.
“The establishment of TDS represents an important step toward opening up Tigray’s political system and restoring public confidence in political leadership,” said a political analyst based in Mekelle. “For decades, Tigray’s politics have been dominated by one party this signals the beginning of a new phase.”
Tigray has been facing a deep political and institutional crisis in the aftermath of the two-year war that devastated the region. Observers say years of one-party dominance under the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have left limited space for independent political expression and civic participation.
While the TPLF, led by Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, remains the most influential political organization in the region, new reformist movements including the Tigray Democratic Unity Front (TDUF) and the newly established TDS Party are beginning to challenge its political monopoly.
The TDS’s leadership has pledged to prioritize peacebuilding, institutional reform, and national reconciliation. Party representatives say their long-term goal is to “build a democratic culture rooted in integrity, accountability, and the rule of law.”
Analysts note that the emergence of new political entities such as TDS could help foster a more competitive and representative political environment in Tigray, provided these movements remain unified and focused on the region’s broader recovery.
As Tigray seeks to rebuild its governance institutions and restore public trust, the rise of the TDS Party is being viewed by many as both a test and an opportunity for Ethiopia’s northern region to redefine its political future.
