NEBE Urges Cooperation with New Tigray Party
ETHIOPIA ― The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has called on the Tigray Interim Administration to facilitate the activities of the newly formed political party, "Democratic Alliance of Tigray" -ድሞክራሲያዊ ስምረት ትግራይ (ድስት), led by Getachew Reda & Co. inside Tigray.
The Board is urging the regional administration to allow the party to carry out political campaigns, register members, and participate in upcoming electoral processes in the region.
However, the political landscape in Tigray remains deeply fractured. Many within the region view Getachew Reda’s camp with suspicion, accusing them of acting as proxies for PM Abiy Ahmed’s ruling «Prosperity Party».
Critics argue that the group’s emergence is part of a broader strategy to sideline the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which has dominated Tigray's politics and military for nearly five decades.
There are also reports of a newly established anti-TPLF "armed faction", loosely linked to Getachew Reda's group operating from the Afar region. Though publicly denied by party leaders, this force is widely perceived as an attempt to create a military wing capable of challenging the TPLF's remaining power base.
Observers familiar with the internal dynamics of Tigray politics warn that the growing rift is not just political, but also regional and personal.
The newly empowered faction "reportedly" draws much of its support from Raya, Enderta, Tembien, and Agame areas associated with Getachew Reda & Co.; while traditional TPLF strongholds like Adwa, Aksum, Shire, and Mekelle continue to back the faction led by Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael.
PM Abiy, is believed by some analysts to be capitalizing on this divide. By granting political legitimacy and resources to Getachew Reda’s faction, his administration may be attempting to fracture Tigray’s leadership from within; a strategy that could further destabilize the region.
After two years of internal power struggles, the split within the TPLF has become increasingly pronounced. The eventual flight of Getachew Reda and his allies to Addis Ababa marked a turning point, after which they began forming their own political platform, and allegedly, a paramilitary force.
Given the tension and widespread mistrust in Tigray, the success of Getachew Reda’s new party in establishing itself inside the Tigray region remains unlikely.
For now, the situation remains fluid, and any meaningful political progress may depend less on official directives and more on the shifting sentiments within the Tigrayan society itself.