Tigray Interim President Warns TPLF Move to Restore Regional Council Could Trigger Conflict
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — April 21, 2026 | Horn News Hub
Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede has warned that a plan by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front to reinstate Tigray’s pre war regional council risks undermining the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement and could trigger renewed tensions with Ethiopia’s federal government.
Speaking at a press briefing in Mekelle, Tadesse said the decision aims to restore an executive authority derived from the pre war regional council and replace the current interim administration established after the peace deal.
While acknowledging that the TPLF is a signatory to the Pretoria agreement, the interim president cautioned that the move could deepen political uncertainty and destabilize the fragile peace in Tigray.
He noted that although decisions by signatory parties should be respected, restoring the pre war council could become a source of tension and potentially lead to renewed conflict with the federal government.
The remarks come days after the TPLF announced that its central committee had decided to reinstate the regional council formed following the 2020 Tigray election. That council was suspended after the signing of the Pretoria agreement, which called for the dismantling of the wartime regional administration and the establishment of an interim authority.
The proposed reinstatement has already drawn criticism from opposition parties and political actors within Tigray, who have raised concerns about its legitimacy and its potential impact on the fragile post war recovery.
Tadesse warned that the decision could carry serious consequences, stating that those who made the move should be prepared for outcomes whether positive or negative.
During the briefing, the interim president also delivered several key messages regarding the current political situation and his administration’s position.
He said he would continue his work responsibly and without interruption, emphasizing that challenges facing the region cannot be solved through public cheering or prolonged meetings.
Tadesse also criticized what he described as contradictions within the political process, noting that individuals who previously described the situation as a strategic failure were now advocating for a return to the regional council.
He further stated that members of the interim administration would remain active and continue their duties.
The interim president also issued a firm warning, saying that any attempt to remove him by force would be met on the ground, signaling a hardening stance amid growing political tensions.
The developments highlight increasing divisions within Tigray’s political leadership as the region continues to navigate post conflict recovery, governance challenges, and the implementation of the Pretoria peace agreement.
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