Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
Saving Tigray from the Brink: Upholding the Pretoria Agreement as the Path to Survival and Sovereignty
By Tekie Hagos
Tigray stands at a defining crossroads, one where every step forward must be deliberate, people-centered, and anchored in the hard-won Pretoria Agreement. With the TPLF now officially de-registered by the National Election Board of Ethiopia and increasingly alienated from the needs and aspirations of the Tigrayan people, a new chapter must begin, one shaped by the voices, sacrifices, and dreams of the people, not by power consolidation or elite preservation.
The TPLF’s recent actions, choosing internal dominance over inclusive leadership, and clinging to old hierarchies rather than addressing the critical priorities of peace, return of displaced citizens, and territorial restoration have only deepened the people’s disillusionment. This self-destructive path has left a vacuum that must now be filled by a united and accountable leadership rooted in the spirit and goals of the Pretoria Agreement.
The Pretoria Agreement is not just a piece of paper. It is the lifeline for Tigray’s survival and a negotiated commitment to end war, to return internally displaced Tigrayans to their homes, to restore territorial integrity, and to enable political dialogue rather than destruction. And the Tigrayan people have spoken clearly and repeatedly: they do not want another war. They have already endured the unimaginable genocide, starvation, mass displacement, and the erosion of their homeland. Another war would not be a reckoning, but it would be extinction.
The continuation and full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement must now be led by the Interim Government of Tigray under General Tadesse Worede, a figure who carries the credibility of resistance and the trust of many. But no single leader or institution can shoulder this burden alone. It is imperative that the mechanisms of governance and accountability envisioned during Getachew Reda’s presidency; the Council of Civil Society Organizations, Political Parties, Scholars, Women’s and Youth Associations, be strengthened and institutionalized.
This Transitional Monitoring Council, originally established to hold the Interim Government accountable, must be expanded to include representatives from all zones of Tigray, as well as a new political movement that may emerge under Getachew Reda and other influential, principled Tigrayan leaders. This new political force, grounded in lessons of the past and fueled by the vision of a united, sovereign Tigray, must not be another faction, but rather a facilitator of inclusive governance, peacebuilding, and national healing.
The Council must work transparently with international actors, especially the AU, UN, and foreign diplomats, to oversee Pretoria’s implementation, ensuring the safe return of IDPs, withdrawal of foreign and regional occupying forces, reestablishment of services, and a roadmap toward democratic elections. The Federal Government of Ethiopia must also recommit to its obligations, understanding that a stable Tigray is indispensable for a stable Ethiopia.
Time is not on our side. The forces of misinformation, extremism, and foreign meddling are working tirelessly to plunge Tigray back into darkness. The people of Tigray, both at home and in the diaspora, must rise above partisan loyalties and demand a unified front focused solely on peace, justice, and survival.
This is not about politics as usual. This is about whether Tigray will continue to exist.
Let this be our rallying cry: We Choose Life, We Choose Peace, We Choose Pretoria. Not as a favor to the world, but as a duty to our martyrs, a promise to our children, and a declaration of our enduring will to survive, rebuild, and thrive.
The eleventh hour is upon us. Let us act boldly, wisely, and together.
