Horn News Hub — The president of Tigray’s Interim Regional Administration, Tadesse Werede, has reportedly been placed under house arrest by officials linked to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), according to sources who spoke to the BBC Tigrinya on condition of anonymity.
The sources said Werede’s movement has been restricted and that he was prevented from meeting United States Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Masinga during the ambassador’s visit to Mekelle on Wednesday, despite a previously scheduled meeting.
One source said the situation had raised concerns over the interim president’s freedom of movement, describing the latest developments as a sign that restrictions on him may have intensified. The source claimed that Tadese Werede had rarely left his residence over the past two months.
Ambassador Masinga travelled to Mekelle on 15 July 2026 and held discussions with TPLF official and another civic society leaders and realigios leaders amid rising tensions between Ethiopia’s federal government and the TPLF. After the meetings, the ambassador said discussions focused on reducing tensions and supporting peaceful dialogue.
Tadese Werede’s position has been at the centre of a political dispute since the TPLF announced the dissolution of the interim administration created under the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement and moved to restore the previous regional government structure earlier this year.
President Tadese was appointed president of the interim administration by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed following the departure of former Tigray leader Getachew Reda. The federal government later extended his mandate for another year, a decision rejected by the TPLF.
The TPLF argued that the prime minister did not have the authority to unilaterally extend the administration’s mandate and said the move conflicted with the Pretoria Agreement, which ended the devastating 2020–2022 Tigray war.
Sources said Tadese Werede has not returned to the presidential office or maintained direct contact with TPLF officials since the dispute over his position began. They claimed he has instead received visitors at his residence and occasionally at Mekelle’s Planet Hotel under security arrangements.
