Mekelle፡Addis Abab,Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
General Tsadikan Launches Multi-Party Movement to End TPLF Rule, Calls for Civil Disobedience Across Tigray
By Staff Writer
In a dramatic escalation of political dissent within Tigray, a coalition of opposition parties and former military leaders has announced the formation of a new political platform aimed at dismantling the long-standing dominance of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The new alliance, Movement of Tigrayans for Change (MTC), was officially unveiled this week with retired General Tsadikan Gebretensae as its chairperson and former TDF Commander General Teklay Ashebir among its leading figures.
The movement brings together four opposition parties: Arena for Sovereignty and Democracy, Tigray Independence Party (TIP), Baytona for Greater Tigray, and the newly launched SIMRET the latter founded by former TIRA president and ex-TPLF politburo member Getachew Reda, who currently serves as a senior advisor to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
In an exclusive interview with Tigray Broadcasting Services (TBS), General Tsadikan did not mince words, launching a scathing attack on the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) and particularly its current president, Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede. Tsadikan accused Tadesse of orchestrating the collapse of TIRA from within, allegedly to reinstate TPLF’s political hegemony in the region.
“Lt. Gen. Tadesse systematically undermined the TIRA,” Tsadikan stated. “He consolidated control over key sectors land, investment, security and presided over a lion’s share of the TDF’s 13 billion birr regional budget. Despite commanding between 8 to 9 billion birr, the conditions of our armed forces deteriorated under his watch.”
According to Tsadikan, Tadesse’s real motive was to exploit internal discontent among soldiers and regional institutions in order to stage a TPLF comeback. The general painted a picture of a hijacked interim government, warning that unless the people of Tigray act decisively, the post-war promise of reform and self-determination risks being squandered.
Movement for Reform and Resistance
The Movement of Tigrayans for Change is positioning itself as an inclusive, multi-party alternative to the TPLF’s legacy, aiming to lead Tigray toward democratic pluralism, institutional accountability, and civic empowerment. At its core, the movement is calling for nonviolent civil disobedience across the region as a means of pressuring the current administration to yield power and make way for a transitional authority grounded in popular legitimacy.
“We are not here to fight with guns,” Tsadikan declared. “We are here to restore the dignity of our people through peaceful resistance. Our weapon is truth, our mission is freedom, and our goal is democratic transformation.”
Observers say this development marks the most serious internal political challenge to TPLF rule since the end of the two-year Tigray War, which officially concluded in November 2022 with the Pretoria peace agreement. Yet divisions over governance, military accountability, and resource mismanagement have festered in the post-war era, eroding public trust in both TIRA and TPLF.
SIMRET’s Controversial Role
The inclusion of SIMRET a party founded by Getachew Reda has sparked debate. While some view it as a sign of political maturity and ideological evolution, critics see Getachew’s involvement as an opportunistic pivot designed to cleanse his TPLF past and curry favor with federal authorities in Addis Ababa. His current advisory role to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has further fueled suspicions of political realignment at the expense of Tigrayan autonomy.
Still, the MTC insists it welcomes all actors who have broken from TPLF orthodoxy and are committed to genuine reform.
What Comes Next
The coming weeks are expected to be politically volatile in Tigray as the Movement of Tigrayans for Change ramps up its campaign of civil mobilization. Whether Tadesse Werede and the TPLF leadership will respond with negotiation, crackdown, or silence remains uncertain.
However, what is clear is that the post-war political landscape of Tigray is entering a new and unpredictable chapter one where former generals, sidelined parties, and disillusioned citizens are converging around a singular demand: change.
For continued updates on the Movement of Tigrayans for Change and regional developments, follow Tigray Herald.
