Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London,April 8፡2025 (Tigray Herald)
The Final Betrayal Exposing the TPLF’s Legacy of Corruption, Nepotism, and Treason in Post-Genocide Tigray
Subtitle:
How President Getachew Reda’s Reform Agenda Challenges 33 Years of Injustice and Unmasks Internal Coups, Assassination Plots, and Secret Alliances with Enemies of Tigray
Executive Summary
For more than three decades, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) built an exclusive and repressive political system that prioritized narrow self-interest over collective progress. Through a deeply entrenched network of nepotism, political gatekeeping, and militarized repression, it marginalized large segments of the Tigrayan population—especially reform-minded youth, professionals, and rural voices.
Following the genocidal war on Tigray, hopes for justice and recovery remain overshadowed by the persistence of this old guard. Even today, TPLF’s entrenched militarized elites, corrupt commanders, and political saboteurs continue to resist change. At the forefront of this resistance stands President Getachew Reda—a reformist leader whose bold stance for transparency, equality, and justice has made him the target of both political and physical attacks.
This document exposes the structural injustices of the TPLF era, details a recent assassination attempt against President Getachew, and presents verified intelligence pointing to internal treason and collusion with hostile forces. It concludes with strategic recommendations to safeguard reform and secure a future of inclusive governance in Tigray.
Section I: 33 Years of TPLF Rule—A System Built on Exclusion and Fear
- Institutionalized Nepotism and Regional Favoritism
Under the TPLF’s three-decade rule, Tigray’s political and military structures were monopolized by individuals from select regions, creating a de facto aristocracy within the state. This included:
Disproportionate appointments of generals, commissioners, and high-level officials from a specific geographic nucleus.
Suppression of alternative political ideas and reformist voices.
Allocation of state resources based on political loyalty rather than equitable needs.
- A Culture of Surveillance, Repression, and Ideological Intolerance
The TPLF cultivated a rigid political culture where dissent was equated with treason. Through tightly controlled militias and intelligence operatives, the party:
Criminalized opposition and dissent.
Monitored community leaders, youth activists, and intellectuals.
Enforced conformity through fear, manipulation, and propaganda.
Section II: Post-Genocide Tigray—Continuity of the Militarized TPLF Elite
Despite the devastation of the genocidal war, the same power brokers remain deeply embedded within Tigray’s military and administrative infrastructure. This group—often referred to as the “Horsemen of Political Chaos”—includes:
Senior figures such as Generals Tadesse Worede and Fisseha Kidanu.
Smugglers and business elites exploiting Tigray’s natural resources.
Militias operating under the guise of local security but serving political interests.
These actors actively undermine peace, incite division, and resist the Pretoria Agreement’s implementation in coordination with external enemies.
Section III: President Getachew Reda—The Face of Reform and the Target of Betrayal
- A New Era of Leadership
President Getachew Reda represents a fundamental departure from TPLF’s legacy. He is spearheading efforts to:
Establish inclusive and transparent governance.
Promote institutional reform rooted in accountability and justice.
Restore dignity to a population shattered by war, corruption, and betrayal.
- Assassination Plot—Exposing the Enemy Within
On a recent trip to the airport for official duties, President Getachew was followed by Commander Awetahegn Welearegay, head of Corps 3 of Army 22, accompanied by his son. Verified intelligence reveals their intent to arrest—and potentially assassinate—the President.
This attempted coup reflects:
The desperation of corrupt factions to halt reform.
A broader pattern of armed resistance within the TPLF security structure.
The critical need to purge state institutions of traitorous elements.
Section IV: TPLF Militias—From Political Instruments to Domestic Terrorists
- Criminal Networks and Paramilitary Violence
TPLF-aligned militias remain active in Tigray, engaging in:
Intimidation campaigns targeting reformist officials and civilians.
Smuggling operations—especially of gold and minerals—funding illicit power bases.
Misinformation and psychological warfare to sow distrust and instability.
- Secret Collusion with Eritrean and Amhara Forces
Independent international intelligence confirms:
Covert communication between ex-TPLF military leaders and Eritrean security operatives.
Secret deals with Amhara militias aimed at undermining the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
Financial and military coordination that poses a direct threat to the peace and sovereignty of both Tigray and Ethiopia.
These actions constitute high treason and align TPLF’s militant faction with international terrorist organizations—undermining not just Tigray’s future but regional stability.
Section V: The Crossroads—Tigray’s Choice for Transformation or Entrapment
The people of Tigray now face a historic decision: to continue under the shadows of a failed and corrupt legacy, or to support the hard road toward democratic, accountable governance.
President Getachew Reda has laid the foundation for this transformation. His survival—and the success of his reform agenda—depends on the courage of the people and the resolve of the leadership to confront the forces of sabotage.
This is not a struggle for personal power; it is a battle for the soul and future of Tigray.
Strategic Recommendations
- Arrest and Independent Investigation
Immediately detain Commander Awetahegn Welearegay and all collaborators involved in the assassination attempt.
Establish an independent and internationally supported investigative commission to probe TPLF militia crimes and internal treason.
- Dismantle the TPLF’s Political-Military Cartel
Remove and prosecute generals, youth league officials, and political actors complicit in criminal activities.
Disarm unauthorized militias and enforce civilian control over local security structures.
- Reform the Defense and Intelligence Institutions
Establish a neutral, professional Tigray Defense Force under transparent civilian oversight.
Train security personnel based on international human rights and counterterrorism standards.
- Diplomatic Action and International Exposure
Alert the African Union, United Nations, and Ethiopia’s diplomatic community to the internal subversion of peace in Tigray.
Classify TPLF-aligned militias as domestic terrorist groups engaged in foreign collusion and regional destabilization.
- Empower Local Democracy and Youth Reform Networks
Provide safe spaces and protections for civic activists, whistleblowers, and independent journalists.
Promote inclusive, representative governance that includes marginalized communities, women, and youth in decision-making processes.
Conclusion:
The End of Fear, The Beginning of Truth
The crocodile tears of those calling for Getachew Reda’s arrest betray their fear—not for justice, but for the collapse of their entrenched privileges. The truth can no longer be hidden behind slogans or guns.
The people of Tigray must rise—above fear, above propaganda, and above division—to reclaim their future. A future where Tigray belongs to all Tigrayans, not to an exclusive and self-serving political elite.
This is the final betrayal. But it can also be the beginning of a new dawn.
The crocodile tears of those calling for Getachew’s arrest reveal not concern for justice, but panic at the collapse of their corrupt empires. The people of Tigray must rise above fear, reject false narratives, and embrace a new dawn—a dawn where the region belongs not to the few, but to all Tigrayans.
