Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
The Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review, Tigray Media Watch, and Tigray Herald.
Tigray’s Lost 90 Days
A Strategic Monitoring Report on the Failed Interim Leadership of General Tadesse Worede
From False Hope to Deepening Crisis:
How 90 Days of Paralysis Under General Tadesse Worede Betrayed Tigray’s Recovery, Rule ofLaw, and Civilian Sovereignty
Prepared by:Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR)Tigray Media Watch – Digital Intelligence Monitoring Group
Published by: Tigray Herald
Executive Summary
On April 8, 2025, General Tadesse Worede assumed the presidency of Tigray’s interimadministration through a military-backed political takeover that ousted the reformist civilianleader, President Getachew Reda. His ascent engineered by the “Above-the-Core” faction ofthe TPLF military elite was shrouded in promises of stability, justice, and unity.In practice, however, Tadesse’s 90-day rule marked a return to militarized authoritarianism, thedismantling of democratic institutions, and the reversal of critical post-genocide recovery eforts.
This report presents a detailed intelligence-based evaluation of General Tadesse Worede’sleadership collapse, outlining the urgent need for his removal, the reestablishment of civiliangovernance, and international engagement to prevent further destabilization.
Part I: From Coup to Collapse – The Rise of Illegitimacy
Although appointed as deputy president and cabinet secretary for peace and security, GeneralTadesse violated his constitutional mandate by orchestrating a coup against PresidentGetachew Reda with the backing of hardline TPLF military elements.His presidency lacked legitimacy, having been imposed through internal factional coercion notpublic mandate, democratic consensus, or legal succession.Within days, TPLF hardliners returned to power, reactivating oppressive command structuresand sidelining reformist voices.
These actions derailed the Pretoria Peace Agreement, stalled the return of internally displacedpersons (IDPs), and froze judicial and institutional reform processes initiated under PresidentReda.
Part II: Broken Promises – The 90-Day Failure Scorecard
General Tadesse promised a “90-day roadmap” anchored in stability, justice, IDP reintegration,and political healing. In reality, each commitment was systematically abandoned.
Erosion of Public Trust
Local councils, civil servants, and community leaders were either intimidated, replaced, orneutralized.Reformist administrators and peace advocates were subjected to military surveillance,harassment, and unlawful detentions.
Collapse of the Justice System
The brutal murder of Zewdu Haftu, a respected young female jurist known for promoting judicialindependence, exposed the regime’s disregard for rule of law.Her grieving family, particularly her father, was threatened and obstructed from pursuing justiceby Colonel Gebreselassie Belay head of the 22nd army division and father of the accusedkiller.The judiciary in Mekelle has since become an extension of factional revenge politics undermilitary control.
Weaponization of IDP Return
Rather than facilitating IDP reintegration, Tadesse’s administration deliberately blocked returneforts, turning humanitarian sufering into political leverage.Strategic regions were kept under military lockdown to serve the TPLF’s factional objectives.
Institutional Capture
Once-symbolic and independent institutions TDF, TDA, and EFFORT have been hijacked by the TPLF elite, serving personal power networks instead of the people.Tigray’s national institutions have been transformed into mechanisms of political patronage andelite dominance.
Part III: Looming Civil War – The Fracturing of the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF)Tadesse’s illegitimate rule has fractured the TDF into two rival factions:The TPLF Above-the-Core Units, loyal to Tadesse and his militarized inner circle.The Tigray Peace Force (TPF), composed of younger, reformist oficers advocating for peace,constitutional order, and territorial integrity.This division has resulted in escalating tensions and localized clashes, especially in:IDP corridors, where returnees are obstructed by Tadesse-aligned forces.Afar-Tigray border areas, where military standofs are increasing. Tigray now stands on the brink of an internal civil conflict, instigated by the regime’s refusal torelinquish factional control.
Part IV: Treason in Motion – Secret Meetings with Eritrean GeneralsDigital intelligence and credible sources confirm that General Tadesse held covert meetings inAdigrat with top commanders of the Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) the very architects of thegenocidal war on Tigray (2020–2022).These actions constitute:A flagrant violation of Ethiopia’s national sovereignty;A direct breach of the Pretoria Peace Agreement;A betrayal of the Tigrayan people’s sacrifice, memory, and justice.Further intelligence indicates the formation of a secret alliance (ጽምዶ) between:TPLF Above-the-Core loyalists;Key military elements of the PFDJ regime in Eritrea.This alarming development suggests a potential war pact against the Ethiopian federalgovernment and against Tigray’s own civilian reform movement.
Part V: Targeting Peace – Assault on the Tigray Peace Force (TPF)
The Tadesse administration has systematically criminalized and attacked the Tigray PeaceForce (TPF) a faction committed to constitutionalism and peaceful IDP return.The TPF advocates:Respect for the Pretoria Agreement;Nonviolent reintegration of displaced communities;Sovereignty and political resolution through dialogue.Instead, under Tadesse’s command:TPF units have been falsely labeled “anti-government”;IDP corridors they protect are infiltrated and sabotaged;Their oficers are targeted by TPLF-aligned militias with full impunity.
Final Call: General Tadesse Worede Must Step DownThe cumulative evidence is clear: General Tadesse Worede’s presidency has been a strategic,humanitarian, and institutional catastrophe.He must be held accountable for:Judicial interference and sabotage;Authoritarian militarism;Internal political fragmentation;Secret collaboration with Eritrea;Obstruction of the Pretoria Peace Agreement.Immediate Actions Required:
Tadesse Worede Must Be:
Removed from ofice through legal and political measures;Investigated for high treason and human rights violations;Permanently barred from any future leadership role in Tigray.
A Transitional Civilian Council Must:Restore constitutional and legal authority;Reunify and depoliticize the TDF under professional command;Establish an independent inquiry into all crimes committed since April 8, 2025.
Strategic Recommendations
1. To the Ethiopian Federal Government:Oficially declare the Worede-led administration illegitimate;Enforce the Pretoria Agreement without compromise;Facilitate transitional civilian governance in partnership with reformist Tigrayan leaders.
2. To International Actors (UN, AU, US, EU):Deploy neutral observers to monitor human rights and ceasefire violations;Impose targeted sanctions on those undermining peace;Support free media, independent judiciary, and transitional justice eforts in Tigray.
3. To Tigrayan Elites, Intellectuals, and the Diaspora:Reject militarized factionalism and promote a new political vision;Mobilize international platforms for advocacy, peacebuilding, and accountability;Build a coalition for democratic renewal, national healing, and institutional reform.
Conclusion:
Tigray Cannot Aford Another Lost GenerationThe 90-day rule of General Tadesse Worede has undone years of sacrifice, struggle, andpost-genocide hope. His regime has reignited old traumas and introduced new threats. Tigraymust now choose between militarized collapse or civilian rebirth.> “This is not merely a leadership failure it is a betrayal of a nation still recovering from theabyss. Tadesse’s regime is not a transitionit is a trap.
Document Issued by:Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR)Tigray Media Watch Digital Intelligence Monitoring Group In Collaboration with Tigray Herald
Contact: editorial@tigrayherald.org
