Ethiopia’s main opposition group, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), has condemned the recent ban on its political activities, warning that the move poses a “serious threat” to the 2022 peace agreement that ended two years of brutal conflict in the northern Tigray region.
The party, which governs Tigray and once dominated Ethiopia’s political landscape for decades, called on the African Union (AU) to intervene and mediate with the federal government following the decision by the National Election Board of Ethiopia to revoke its legal status.
The electoral body cited the TPLF’s failure to hold a general assembly as grounds for the ban, a decision announced on Wednesday amid rising political tensions ahead of nationwide elections slated for June 2026 at the latest.
Once the ruling coalition that overthrew Ethiopia’s military regime in 1991, the TPLF governed the country until 2019, when it was dissolved after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assumed power and established a new ruling party—a move rejected by the TPLF.
This political rift escalated into a devastating civil war, which claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions across northern Ethiopia, until a ceasefire was brokered in November 2022 under the Pretoria peace agreement.
As part of the peace deal, the TPLF administers Tigray’s interim government, but internal divisions within the party have prevented it from holding internal elections, resulting in two factions competing for control.
In a strongly worded letter to the African Union, the TPLF denounced the ban as a violation of the peace agreement’s provisions, which recognize the legitimacy of both parties and mandate that political disputes be resolved through dialogue.
Deputy Chairman of the TPLF, Ammanuel Assefa, told the BBC the electoral board’s decision risks undermining the Pretoria agreement and warned it could trigger renewed conflict.
“This isn’t just about the TPLF—it’s about respecting the sacrifices made by countless people for peace,” Ammanuel said.
Concerns are growing over delays in implementing key aspects of the peace deal, including the safe return of approximately one million displaced persons, raising fears of a return to violence in Tigray.
International actors, including the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, have voiced deep concern over the rising tensions, emphasizing the urgent need to avoid a relapse into conflict.
