Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
Betrayal in 100 Days: How Tadesse Worede’s Presidency Endangered Tigray’s Fragile Peace and Sovereignty
An Investigative Assessment by the Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR) & Tigray Herald Editorial Board
Executive Summary: From Promise to Peril
just 100 days, Lieutenant General Tadesse Worede’s leadership of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration has collapsed into a dramatic betrayal of public trust and national interest. Appointed under the weight of historic responsibility and bound by an eight-pointfederal mandate, Tadesse’s presidency was expected to initiate the long-awaited politicalhealing and institutional reconstruction following Tigray’s genocidal war.Instead, his administration has become the epicenter of a counter-revolutionary scheme replacing peacebuilding with militarized factionalism, governance with secrecy, andpublic service with elite exploitation.
The General’s covert alliance with the remnants of the TPLF’s discredited military leadership known as the “Above the Core” and with rogue networks tied to Eritrean dictatorIsaias Afwerki has resurrected a dangerous shadow pact, known informally as “ጽምዶ.” This pactrepresents a chilling convergence of failed ideologies, warlord interests, and geopoliticalsabotage all at the expense of Tigray’s democratic aspirations and post-genocide survival.
This document is both a comprehensive strategic review and an urgent call to action.
I. A Mandate Subverted: The Collapse of the Eight-Point Agreement
Upon taking ofice, Tadesse Worede committed to a binding agreement with the EthiopianFederal Government. This Eight-Point Interim Governance Mandate outlined coreresponsibilities essential to stabilizing and rebuilding Tigray:
1. Resettle all displaced Tigrayans in their rightful homes with dignity and security.
2. Disarm and reintegrate ex-combatants in accordance with the Pretoria Agreement.
3. Restore the rule of law and dismantle organized criminal and militia networks.
4. Reconstruct essential infrastructure and resume government services.
5. End illegal military and political activity contrary to constitutional and peace accords.
6. Lay the groundwork for democratic elections and respect civic freedoms.
7. Foster inclusive consultations with all sectors of society.
8. Promote national unity through lawful media and public communication.
The Reality: A Systematic Reversal
Each of these responsibilities has not only been neglected but intentionally reversed:
Displacement remains unresolved, with many IDPs denied safe return, manipulated intosymbolic homecomings for propaganda.
Demobilization has failed. Former TDF fighters are selectively absorbed or alienated based onpolitical loyalty to the old military elite.
Criminality thrives. A shadow state led by corrupt generals oversees illicit mining operations,land seizures, and armed extortion.
Development eforts are paralyzed. Clinics, schools, and administrative systems remaindysfunctional or co-opted.
Constitutional violations persist. Armed actors loyal to the old TPLF clique maintain illegaloperations in defiance of the Pretoria Agreement.
Democratic space has shrunk. Civic organizations and dissenting voices face harassment,threats, and exclusion.The public is alienated.
Decision-making is opaque, elite-driven, and divorced from grassrootsneeds.This is not failure by accident it is deliberate sabotage, designed to shield unaccountablepower and abort Tigray’s democratic recovery.
II. ጽምዶ: The Secret Pact Threatening Tigray’s Future
The betrayal of the mandate is rooted in a covert alliance known as ጽምዶ between remnantsof the Debretsion-led TPLF faction and the Eritrean People’s Front for Democracy and Justice(PFDJ). This collusion has birthed a criminal ecosystem with clear goals:Shield Isaias Afwerki from collapse by sowing discord in Tigray and preventing a stable post-warorder.Reintegrate the outlawed military-political networks of TPLF and PFDJ under the guise oftransitional governance.Exploit Tigray’s mineral wealth, particularly gold, for personal enrichment and to fund anti-reformactivities.Sabotage the Pretoria Peace Framework by maintaining armed factions outside the civilianchain of command.At the heart of this plot stands General Tadesse Worede, whose public persona as a transitionalleader masks the emergence of a warlord-led shadow regime.
III. Warning to the People of Tigray and International Stakeholders
We issue a grave and urgent warning:
Tigray is once again on the precipice not from external aggression, but from an internalbetrayal disguised as governance.The rule of law has broken down under the weight of militarized corruption.Public institutions have been hijacked by elite cliques loyal to failed ideological factions.Civil society is under siege, monitored and restricted.Illicit networks operate with impunity, draining the region’s wealth and sabotaging recovery.The threat of civil conflict is real and imminent, exacerbated by political fragmentation andeconomic desperation.
IV. Strategic Recommendations: A Path Toward National Salvation
To prevent irreversible collapse, all stakeholders must act immediately to build a Grand UnitedTigrayan Political Coalition. This coalition must be pluralistic, inclusive, and focused ondemocratic transformation.
1. Declare a National Emergency Political Dialogue
Convene political parties, civil society, religious institutions, youth movements, and diasporaactors.Draft an inclusive transitional roadmap outside of TPLF military dominance.Reject all alliances or actors tied to the ጽምዶ conspiracy.
2. Establish an Independent Investigative Commission
Led by respected lawyers, scholars, and religious leaders.Investigate illegal mining operations, corruption, land theft, and political violence.Prosecute individuals regardless of rank involved in undermining the Pretoria Agreement.
3. Mobilize Civic Resistance and Oversight
Empower local communities to form People’s Democratic Security Forums to monitor abuse and hold oficials accountable.Launch a civic truth campaign to inform the public of the threat posed by ጽምዶ and Above theCore operatives. Support whistleblowers and independent journalists facing threats and censorship.
4. Urge Immediate International Accountability
The UN, AU, EU, and U.S. must suspend all political and financial engagement with the Tigray Interim Administration under Tadesse Worede. Demand full adherence to Pretoria’s terms as a precondition for recognition or support.Facilitate international monitors to track compliance and abuses in Tigray.
5. Accelerate the Formation of a New Political Landscape
Launch inclusive consultations to birth new democratic party formations free from TPLF’s authoritarian legacy.Guarantee space for youth, women, professionals, and diaspora voices to shape Tigray’spost-war future.V. Final Reflection: A Turning Point in Tigray’s History The current moment is not merely a political crisis it is a defining existential crossroads. Tigraycan either descend into factional collapse and internal war or rise from betrayal through unity,truth, and democratic resilience.
V. Final Message: Save Tigray from a Manufactured Collapse
Every Tigrayan must now rise above political cynicism, generational distrust, and themanipulations of military elites. The moment demands unity, moral clarity, and strategic courage.The only viable path forward is through a Grand United Tigrayan Political Coalition ademocratic front that transcends the criminal remnants of TPLF and stands against the toxicshadow of Eritrean collusion. Tigray will not be ruled by warlords.Tigray will not return to darkness.Tigray will rise through collective wisdom, democratic justice, and strategic unity.We call upon every Tigrayan within the homeland and across the diaspora to rise above fear,manipulation, and inherited divisions. The time for neutrality has passed.
Tigray will not be ruled by corrupt generals
Tigray will not return to darkness and military authoritarianism.
Tigray will be reborn through a Grand Coalition of justice, dignity, and democraticsovereignty.
Prepared and Reviewed by:Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR) & Tigray Herald Editorial Board
For inquiries, contributions, or partnership: hornreview@protonmail.com tigrayherald@outlook.com
