Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
TPLF Rogue Elements Threaten New Conflict in Tigray, Diaspora Group Warns PM Abiy Ahmed
Pro-democracy movement urges urgent federal intervention to avert war and protect civilians
A coalition of pro-democracy Tigrayan organizations in the diaspora has issued a stark warning to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, urging immediate and decisive action against what it calls a “coup plot” orchestrated by hardline elements within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The group, I Can’t Be Silent About Tigray, warns that Ethiopia is on the brink of another devastating conflict unless rogue commanders and extremist TPLF figures are urgently neutralized.
In a letter dated July 22 and addressed to the Prime Minister, the coalition accuses the faction led by Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael of hijacking the Tigray regional government in a de facto coup on March 13, 2025. The takeover, it says, was backed by “rogue generals” who have since launched a campaign of repression, forcing opposition leaders and members of the legitimate interim administration into hiding.
“These renegade commanders, in concert with the extremist TPLF faction, have systematically sabotaged every effort toward peace, stability, and accountable governance,” the letter states. “They have willfully obstructed the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement and the Nairobi Executive Declaration most egregiously by derailing the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons (IDPs).”
The group alleges that the faction is involved in illicit gold mining operations using internationally banned toxic chemicals and is complicit in organized human trafficking. It also warns of an emerging axis between the renegade commanders and the Eritrean government, posing a “clear and imminent danger” to Ethiopia’s national security and regional peace.
A “Departing Train” for Peace
The coalition outlines a three-point plan and calls on the federal government to act swiftly. First, it urges implementation of what it terms the “Departing Train” strategy moving the peace process forward without the TPLF spoilers.
Second, it calls for the reinstatement of the inclusive Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA), which it says was dismantled illegally, and demands the reengagement of newly formed democratic entities such as the Tigray Council and the Tigray Democratic Solidarity Party.
Third, the movement urges the government to work with international partners to investigate and prosecute those behind the illegal power grab and alleged collusion with hostile foreign actors.
“The root cause of this crisis is not abstract it is identifiable and actionable. True peace cannot be built on the appeasement of spoilers,” the letter states.
Dire Warning for Ethiopia and the Horn
The letter comes at a time of growing concern among analysts and humanitarian agencies over renewed instability in Tigray, where millions remain displaced, and services have yet to resume fully.
The authors of the letter, self-described as “partners in peace,” caution that federal inaction would embolden war profiteers and deepen public disillusionment. “The people of Tigray especially its younger generation seek dignity, peace, and progress,” the group notes. “But the so-called ‘Gang of Four’ and their cohorts remain anchored in outdated, authoritarian politics.”
The appeal was copied to several high-level actors including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, the UNHCR representative in Sudan, and former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, underscoring the urgency of international involvement.
As of Tuesday, the Office of the Prime Minister had not issued a public response.
A Battle Between Peace and Regression
While Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government has remained diplomatically cautious in addressing internal Tigray affairs post-Pretoria Agreement, critics argue that the resurgence of armed control by former TPLF combatants demands a more forceful response.
The current situation, the diaspora movement warns, is not just a political impasse but “a ticking bomb” that could reignite full-scale war unless bold and principled action is taken.
“Now is the time to stand with the people and uphold the promise of lasting peace,” the coalition writes. “The window for intervention is rapidly closing.”
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