Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
Reform-Oriente Simret Party has Officially Established
Addis Ababa — October 24, 2025
A new political organization, the Tigray Democratic Solidarity (TDS) Party, also known as “Simret,” held its founding congress today in Addis Ababa, marking a new chapter in Tigray’s evolving political landscape.
According to sources familiar with the development, the party was established by former senior members and reformist figures previously affiliated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The founders cited the need to “renew Tigray’s political culture” and create an alternative platform that better represents the aspirations of the younger generation and reform-minded citizens.
The formation of the TDS Party follows years of internal division within the TPLF over issues of leadership, reform, and governance. Political observers view the emergence of the TDS as part of a broader trend toward political diversification in Tigray’s post-war period, as the region continues to rebuild its political and institutional structures.
While the TDS has yet to release an official manifesto, statements from its founding members emphasize commitments to democratic governance, peacebuilding, and greater public participation in shaping Tigray’s future.
Messages of congratulations and solidarity have poured in from several Tigrayan diaspora organizations and media institutions following the successful conclusion of the founding conference.
In a letter dated October 23, 2025, the Tigrai Global Advocacy Group (TGAG) hailed the establishment of the TDS as a “remarkable milestone,” urging Tigrayan political actors to embrace unity and dialogue in addressing the region’s complex political and economic challenges. TGAG commended the party’s vision of renewing Tigray’s political culture and acknowledged “the generations of Tigrayans who struggled against decades of authoritarianism.”
Similarly, the I Can’t Be Silent About Tigray (ICBSAT) movement, in a statement issued on October 22, 2025, welcomed the TDS’s commitment to peaceful dialogue, full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement (COHA), separation of party and government, and the establishment of an independent judiciary. The movement described the conference as “a sign of integrity, justice, and the genuine aspiration for a democratic Tigray.”
The Tigray Liberty Media (TLM), in its message dated October 23, 2025, also congratulated the TDS for “offering a new vision rooted in democracy, liberty, and good governance,” encouraging young Tegaru to take an active role in rebuilding Tigray’s institutions and economy.
Both TLMand Horn News Hub, along with several diaspora community organizations, described the founding of the TDS as “a historic moment for Tigray to redefine its political future through inclusivity, accountability, and shared purpose.”
Analysts note that the formation of the TDS and similar movements could play a pivotal role in shaping a more pluralistic and representative political order in post-war Tigray, provided they maintain focus on public interest and constructive engagement.
