Tadesse Worede Appointed to Lead Tigray's Interim Administration Amidst Internal Divisions

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed Tadesse Worede as the new head of the interim administration in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region. This decision comes at a time when internal divisions within the Tigray People's Liberation Front have raised concerns about potential renewed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Tadesse Worede previously served as the deputy president of Tigray's interim administration and was a senior commander in the TPLF during the 2020-2022 conflict with Ethiopia's federal government. He succeeds Getachew Reda, whose term has concluded. The previous conflict resulted in significant casualties and the displacement of millions.

The appointment occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions. Eritrea, which supported Ethiopia's federal army during the earlier conflict, was reportedly dissatisfied with its exclusion from the November 2022 peace agreement that allowed the TPLF to govern Tigray. This exclusion has strained relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The TPLF has experienced internal fragmentation, with a faction led by Debretsion Gebremichael accusing the interim administration under Getachew Reda of compromising Tigrayan interests. This faction recently took control of Adigrat, further complicating the region's stability. Debretsion's group has denied allegations of collaborating with Eritrea.