Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
How TPLF Began Its Legacy of Brutality by Killing the TLF Leadership
Nearly half a century after it occurred, the killing of leaders of the Tigray Liberation Front (TLF) during a failed reconciliation meeting remains one of the most contested and consequential episodes in the political history of Tigray. The incident, which unfolded on Hidar 4, 1968 EC (November 14, 1975), did more than eliminate a rival faction. It helped define a political culture that would influence governance, party behavior, and internal power struggles across generations.
A Meeting Intended for Unity Ends in Violence
Historical accounts agree that the 1975 encounter between the TLF and the then-emerging Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) was initially arranged as a step toward unifying armed movements resisting the Derg regime. The objective, according to surviving documents and testimonies, was to forge a single Tigrayan liberation force capable of coordinating military, political, and grassroots mobilization efforts.
Instead, the meeting ended with the killing of key TLF leaders. While interpretations differ sharply depending on political affiliation, many independent researchers describe the incident as an ambush that took place while members of the TLF delegation were resting in what they believed was a secure encampment. The lack of a public inquiry or formal historical reckoning has left the motivations and command decisions surrounding the event largely speculative, contributing to its continued political sensitivity.
A Critical Turning Point in Liberation-Era Politics
For analysts studying liberation movements in the Horn of Africa, the episode represents more than an internal dispute. It marked the emergence of a pattern that would later shape how the TPLF consolidated power during the armed struggle and, later, as a dominant force in Ethiopian politics.
Several long-term characteristics are commonly associated with this early period:
Zero-tolerance toward competing political centers
Prioritization of organizational unity over ideological pluralism
A security-driven approach to internal discipline
A tendency to elevate secrecy over transparent decision-making
These traits, scholars argue, reflected a broader regional trend among guerrilla movements of the era, but they also became deeply embedded in TPLF’s institutional identity.
A Legacy Felt in Contemporary Tigrayan Politics
The legacy of the 1975 incident continues to reverberate today, particularly as Tigray grapples with post-genocide recovery, contested political transitions, and renewed factional tensions. Critics of the party’s old guard often point to this historical turn as the origin of an insular political culture wary of dissenting ideas or independent organizations.
Recent confrontations—ranging from disputes within the regional administration to the obstruction of media outlets and ongoing disagreements within military-political networks—are frequently interpreted through this historical lens. Observers note that Ethiopia’s broader political fragmentation, combined with weakened institutional oversight in the region, has made unresolved ideological rifts more visible.
The Persistence of Unresolved Historical Questions
The absence of a formal, authoritative historical account has left space for competing narratives. Former combatants, historians, and political analysts repeatedly call for comprehensive documentation of the liberation era, arguing that a clearer understanding of events such as the TLF–TPLF split is essential for long-term political reconciliation within Tigray.
Whether regarded as a strategic wartime decision or a preventable act of internal violence, the 1975 incident shaped the trajectory of Tigrayan political culture. It influenced the rise of a centralized party structure, informed attitudes toward political competition, and contributed to a pattern of internal mistrust that continues to complicate governance in the aftermath of the recent war.
Conclusion
The killings of TLF leaders in 1975 were more than a historical rupture. They became a formative moment whose political and institutional consequences still surface in Tigray’s contemporary crises. As the region navigates reconstruction and debates its political future, the legacy of early liberation-era decisions underscores the need for transparency, open political dialogue, and historical clarity—elements long overshadowed by decades of secrecy and internal conflict.
Prepared by Tigray Media Watch – Digital Intelligence Monitoring Group (TMW), 2025
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