Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London
Tigray Leaders Discuss New Water and Energy Research Institute Amid Reports of TDF Pressure on Regional Presidency
A high-level meeting on the establishment of the proposed Tigray Water and Energy Research Institute was held in Mekelle earlier this week, bringing together senior regional officials, including President General Tadesse Werede. The discussion centered on adopting the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus approach as a guiding framework to support Tigray’s long-term development and resilience.
According to officials involved in the meeting, the talks underscored irrigation as a key pillar in strengthening the region’s food systems. Participants highlighted the need to map irrigation potential, conduct spatial assessments of water availability, and evaluate renewable energy resources to inform evidence-based planning.
However, the developments occurred amid growing uncertainty surrounding the status of President Tadesse Werede. Local sources say the president has not appeared in public for four days following what they describe as a siege on the Interim Regional Administration (IRA) headquarters in Mekelle by forces identifying themselves as the Tigray Defense Force (TDF).
The contrasting developments institutional planning on one hand and heightened political tension on the other reflect the complex environment in which Tigray’s post-conflict reconstruction and governance efforts continue to unfold.
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