Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
The Emergence of the Tigray Peace Force (TPF): A Strategic Rebirth for Justice, Accountability,and Post-Genocide Transformation
Prepared by: Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR)Contributors: Regional and International Political, Security, and Human Rights Experts
Date: May 2025
Executive Summary
The formation of the Tigray Peace Force (TPF) marks a historic and necessary rebirth ofpolitical, moral, and institutional leadership in post-genocide Tigray. Born out of deep publicdisillusionment, the TPF is not just a security entity—it is a principled movement for justice, asafeguard against corruption, and a direct response to the collapse of legitimacy within theonce-dominant Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and its military collaborators.
The TPF stands as a bold departure from militarized politics, elite betrayal, and the erosion ofpublic trust. It signals the dawn of a new political and security order built on accountability,civilian oversight, and protection of Tigray’s people and resources.
I. Why the Tigray Peace Force (TPF) Has Emerged
The emergence of the TPF is rooted in undeniable political and moral imperatives. This newforce was born in response to:The moral bankruptcy and ideological decay of the TPLF and its “Above the Core” military faction.The criminal exploitation of Tigray’s resources, particularly through illegal gold mining networks.
The betrayal of the Pretoria Peace Agreement via secret coordination between TPLF generalsand the Eritrean regime (PFDJ).The institutional paralysis caused by pervasive corruption, nepotism, and a politicized judiciary.
The systematic abandonment of TDF war veterans and the dispossession of ordinary citizensthrough elite-driven land grabs.The TPF is a strategic necessity—not a splinter group, but a conscious moral awakening.
II. A Strategic Break from the Past: Reframing the Narrative
To coin a new narrative is to reclaim the truth and reshape collective memory. The TPF mustdefine its mission as a liberation—not from an external occupier, but from internal betrayal anddecay.
The old guard must be identified as:
A politically obsolete elite clinging to failed ideologies.A criminal network that weaponized military power for personal gain.
A threat to Tigray’s sovereignty, with backdoor dealings that undermine peace and dignity.This is not a generational conflict—it is a civil-moral revolution to dismantle entrenched powerstructures.
III. Mission and Core Objectives of the TPF.
Disband the Political-Military Cartel
End the corrupt and illegal alliance between TPLF political operatives and complicit militarygenerals.
- Rebuild Institutional Legitimacy
Restore judicial independence and uphold the rule of law by purging military interference fromcivilian governance.
- Protect the Land and People
Reverse illicit land acquisitions, halt forced displacement, and restore land to rightful civilianowners.
- Safeguard National Resources
Investigate and dismantle illegal gold mining operations run by corrupt networks; establishtransparent resource governance.
- Restore Dignity to War Veterans
Provide medical, psychological, and financial support to wounded TDF veterans abandoned bythe state.
- Reject Proxy Wars
Oppose the PFDJ-TPLF alliance and any foreign-orchestrated conflicts that serve dictators atthe cost of Tigrayan lives.
IV. The Moral and Political Case for the TPF
The TPF stands firm in its opposition to:
Illegitimate Military Alliances:
Secret cooperation between the PFDJ and rogue TPLF generalsis a betrayal of Tigrayan sovereignty and the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
Institutionalized Corruption:
Land, justice, and economic opportunities are monopolized by a fewat the expense of the many.
Youth Exclusion:
The capable, reform-minded younger generation is systematically sidelined infavor of ideological loyalists.
Veteran Neglect:
Those who bore the brunt of war are now voiceless and unsupported.Resource Criminalization: Gold and other resources have become tools of power consolidationby the few, not assets for national recovery.
V. Strategic Messaging Framework
For the TPF to gain and sustain popular legitimacy, it must:
Position itself as the ethical alternative—the people’s force of integrity, peace, and justice.
Define the enemy clearly: the TPLF-military elite alliance is a criminal remnant of a bygone era.Humanize the struggle through stories of dispossessed families, wounded soldiers, andwhistleblowers.
Adopt a unifying campaign such as:”Justice. Integrity. Peace. — The Tigray Peace Force.”
Ensure consistent messaging across platforms, communities, and diaspora networks.
VI. Strategic Policy Recommendations
- Launch a Mass Public Education Campaign
Use media, town halls, and civil society to explain the TPLF’s betrayal and the TPF’s purpose inclear, accessible language.
- Establish a Civilian Oversight Commission
Composed of scholars, youth, religious leaders, women, and elders to oversee land disputes,veterans’ welfare, and anti-corruption reforms.
- Seek Global Legal and Political Partnerships
Engage international watchdogs, human rights bodies, and anti-corruption agencies todocument abuses and strengthen institutional reforms.
- Create a Transparent Veterans Rehabilitation Fund
Run by professionals, not military figures, to ensure direct and dignified care for war heroes.
- Professionalize Tigray’s Security Architecture
Promote educated, ethical, and reform-minded oficers to lead a restructured, depoliticized Tigray Defense Force 2.0.
Conclusion: The Strategic Rebirth of Tigray
The Tigray Peace Force is not an act of rebellion—it is the moral resurrection of a peoplebetrayed by those who once claimed to fight in their name. It is the birth of a new Tigray built noton authoritarian dogma, but on truth, accountability, and the will of its people.
In this defining moment, the TPF must move forward not as a reactionary force, but as a visionary movement of nation-rebuilders. The past was forced. The future must be chosen.
Prepared by:
Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR)With expert contributions from regional political analysts, international security advisors, and respected Tigrayan civic leaders.
