Abiy takes significant step after military victory in Tigray

Addis Ababa (Caasimada Online) – The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, announced on Friday the establishment of a new interim administration appointed for the Tigray region in the north of the country, which is tasked with stabilizing the region and preparing for elections to be held within six months.

This decision came after the Ethiopian federal government forces and allied militias achieved significant victories in the renewed fighting in Tigray, taking control of large parts of the region, including the city of Mekelle, which is the capital of Tigray.

The fighting reignited in September when the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) led attacks against the Abiy Ahmed government, reviving the bloody conflict that occurred in the region between 2020 and 2022.

The Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia stated that the new administration will operate for six months, and its main responsibility will be to create a stable political environment that can facilitate the holding of free and fair elections.

Abiy Ahmed stated in a post he shared on his X platform that the people of Tigray must overcome the recurring conflicts to achieve peace, their right to self-governance, and developmental opportunities.

“To attain the long-awaited peace, ensure their right to self-governance, and benefit from the fruits of development that they have been deprived of for many years, the people of Tigray must break free from this cycle of conflict,” said Abiy Ahmed.

The Prime Minister added that the new administration will also rebuild the economic infrastructure and social services that were destroyed by the conflicts, and will assist in the return of people displaced by the violence.

On the other hand, the TPLF, which had significant power in Ethiopian politics for over a decade before Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018, has not yet commented on the appointment of the new administration. A spokesperson for the group did not immediately respond to a media request regarding this matter.

The Tigray region is still grappling with the effects of the previous war, which caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, while many face hunger, displacement, and widespread destruction of essential services.

According to the United Nations agency responsible for refugees, nearly 750,000 Tigrayans are still displaced within the country as of February, while the region is also facing droughts linked to the climatic phenomenon of El Niño.

The new conflict has also worsened relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which have once again reached a very low point. The Addis Ababa government has accused Eritrea of supporting rebel forces, but the Asmara government has denied these allegations.

Additionally, Ethiopia has accused Egypt and Sudan of providing support to the armed coalition fighting the federal government, but both countries have also denied the accusations made against them.

These tensions have raised concerns that the Tigray conflict could spread to neighboring countries, as the Horn of Africa faces increasing political and security challenges, with regional powers divided on several issues.

The appointment of the new administration thus comes at a time when the Abiy Ahmed government is trying to restore stability in Tigray, although there are still concerns about the future of the peace agreement that ended the previous conflict in 2022 and the possibility of new conflicts erupting in the region.