Immediate Intervention Required to Prevent the Coup Against the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA)

Tigray Herald፡November 6,2024 (Mekele)

Open Letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State

Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
United States Department of State
RE: Immediate Intervention Required to Prevent the Coup Against the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA)
Your Excellency Secretary Blinken,
We, the Progressive Tigrayan Solidarity (PTS), write with grave concern over the unfolding crisis
in Tigray, a situation that now demands immediate and resolute international attention. Our
apprehensions, previously shared in earlier communications, have manifested into an alarming
reality: an insidious alliance of military actors and the remnants of TPLF’s entrenched power
structure threatens the very stability of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA). This
coalition mirrors the machinations of China’s infamous “Gang of Four,” wielding power through
coercion, subterfuge, and the deliberate subversion of democratic norms.
Recent reports underscore a concerted effort by this coalition to usurp local government authority
through coercive takeovers of zonal and district offices, employing force to seize government
documentation and stamps for their own kleptocratic ends. Their tactics, steeped in oligarchic
ambition and militaristic opportunism, constitute a direct assault on the legitimacy of TIRA and
jeopardize the fragile peace that the Pretoria Agreement seeks to uphold.
We believe this is political calculus of the TPLF Old Guards, spoilers of the CoHA, setting
organized criminals on a trajectory that would lead them to assume political influence & wealth.
Restoring the rule of law in Tigray is a critical step in rebuilding a functional & just society.
Without a functioning legal system that applies equally to all, there is no framework to resolve
disputes and/or hold individuals accountable for their actions. Lawlessness & anarchy are a
vacuum of authority. The failure of ensuring the safety & security of local authority officials &
civilians can lead to disenchantment on the part of the local population, which could lead them to
seek other less – constructive avenues for addressing their problems. Thus, it is imperative to “call
the spade a spade”.
Central to this destabilizing force are key figures from the old-guard illegal TPLF faction:
Getachew Assefa, Alem Gebrewahid, and Fetlework Gebreziabher, who are colluding with
renegade generals. Together, they form a faction determined to maintain control through
subversion and intimidation, blatantly violating the Pretoria Agreement, Ethiopia’s national laws, and established international norms.

The consequences of this orchestrated subversion are profound, threatening not only the
governance of Tigray but also the wider stability of the Horn of Africa. The international
community cannot remain silent while such actions erode democratic principles and incite
regional unrest.
In light of these developments, we implore the U.S. State Department to take immediate and
decisive action:

1. Issue a strong and unequivocal condemnation of these subversive efforts.
2. Coordinate with international allies to implement targeted sanctions against those
   orchestrating and supporting these destabilizing maneuvers.
3. Affirm unwavering support for TIRA’s legitimate mandate as defined by the Pretoria
   Agreement.
   Time is of the essence. Decisive action is needed to prevent the collapse of TIRA and protect the
   peace, security, and democratic aspirations of the people of Tigray.
   We commend your steadfast commitment to promoting stability and justice in the region and trust
   in your prompt response to this urgent call.
   With respect and urgency,
   Progrseeive Tigrayan Solidarity (P