Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London,April 8፡2025 (Tigray Herald)
“The Betrayal Within: General Tadesse Worede’s Criminal Empire and the Systematic Destruction of Tigray’s Future”
Published by:
Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR)
In collaboration with a specialized task force of international political analysts, security experts, and digital intelligence investigative operatives.
Executive Summary:
This comprehensive undercover investigation reveals how General Tadesse Worede, once entrusted as the Vice President of the Tigray Interim Government and head of Peace and Security, became the ringleader of one of the most dangerous internal conspiracies ever witnessed in post-genocide Tigray. Far from securing peace, Tadesse orchestrated a coup against President Getachew Reda, actively sabotaged the Pretoria Peace Agreement, and played a central role in crimes ranging from illegal gold mining, land grabbing, and political assassinations to destabilizing efforts that now threaten to plunge Tigray into full-scale civil war.
Part I: The Irony of His Title — “Head of Peace and Security”
Appointed under a transitional arrangement, General Tadesse Worede was given a critical mission: help secure Tigray’s recovery after a genocide. Ironically, and with tragic consequences, he became the single greatest source of insecurity in the region.
Instead of disarming militia groups, he empowered and weaponized them. Instead of promoting political stability, he systematically undermined the Interim Government, culminating in the illegal deposition of President Getachew Reda—an act tantamount to an internal coup.
While the people of Tigray hoped for healing, Tadesse ensured the entrenchment of armed division and violence.
Part II: Criminal Network & Coup Architecture
Key Findings by HAGR Digital Intelligence Operatives:
Tadesse Worede directed the “Above the Core” TPLF army militias, using them as a tool to impose fear, crush dissent, and eliminate reformist leadership. He operated a deeply entrenched illicit gold mining and smuggling ring in key districts of western and central Tigray, using military logistics and local administrators under his influence.
Land grabbing operations were conducted in collaboration with corrupt zone and district administrators, where ancestral lands were forcefully seized and sold to political allies. Tadesse and his inner circle used forged administrative stamps and illegal documents to assert power across Tigray, nullifying the authority of legally appointed government bodies.
Multiple assassination attempts were traced back to Tadesse’s inner circle, specifically targeting President Getachew Reda and youth leaders advocating for reform.This systemic criminal infrastructure, built under the guise of state power, mirrors authoritarian shadow governance—one rooted in violence, theft, and betrayal.
Part III: Political Betrayal of Historic Proportions
Perhaps the greatest betrayal was Tadesse’s secret alignment with forces loyal to the failed TPLF splinter group—those who rejected the transition, opposed peace, and sought to restore a corrupt one-party order.
By coordinating with Abiy Ahmed’s office to have Getachew Reda removed, and shockingly being appointed as the new Interim President of Tigray, Tadesse was not punished for his crimes—he was rewarded.
This appointment sends a dangerous message: impunity triumphs over accountability.
Part IV: Implications for Tigray and Beyond
The internal destabilization led by General Tadesse has catastrophic consequences:
Civil War Risk:
With deepening fractures between reformist youth movements and militarized political elites, Tigray is on the verge of internal war.
Collapse of the Peace Process: His betrayal of the Pretoria Agreement threatens to reignite external conflict and delegitimize the peace framework.Loss of International Trust: The appointment of a coup leader with a criminal history undermines Tigray’s credibility with regional allies and international partners.
Part V: Critical Questions & Moral Reckoning
We must ask the questions that history will ask:
Why has Tadesse Worede not been held accountable?
Why did Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reward a man whose record is drenched in criminality and betrayal? Who benefits from the silencing of reformists and the empowerment of warlords? And most critically—will the people of Tigray accept this betrayal, or rise to reclaim their future?
Conclusion:
General Tadesse Worede is not a leader. He is a symbol of everything that has gone wrong with post-genocide Tigray’s political transformation. His continued presence in power is an insult to the victims of war, a betrayal of democratic aspirations, and a warning sign of an impending catastrophe.
Tigray’s unity is not negotiable. Its peace is not a tool for corrupt ambitions. Its people will not be deceived forever. History is already writing its judgment. And for Tadesse Worede, it will be one of disgrace, dishonor, and exposure.
Recommendations:
- Immediate establishment of an Independent International Inquiry into the crimes committed by General Tadesse Worede and his affiliates.
- Sanctioning of individuals and entities associated with illegal gold mining, land grabbing, and militia violence.
- Public release of digital forensic evidence to ensure transparency and international accountability.
- Protection for reformist leaders and youth movements who are advocating for peace and change.
- Restoration of a legitimate Tigray Interim Government aligned with the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
Upcoming HAGR Special Issue Preview:
“Youth Resistance and the Rise of the New Tigray: How a Generation is Fighting Back Against Warlord Politics”
“Digital Forensics in Africa’s Hidden Conflicts: The Tools Behind Uncovering War Crimes and Political Coups” the comprehensive investigation report titled “The Betrayal Within: General Tadesse Worede’s Criminal Empire and the Systematic Destruction of Tigray’s Future,” now published under Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review. It includes extensive evidence, a professional structure, and powerful narrative framing at an international standard.
