Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review
Strategic Analysis Document
Prepared by Leading Regional and International Political & Security Experts
The Guardian of Criminality: General Tadesse Worede’s Assault on Justice, Unity, and the
Future of Tigray
Subtitle:
Why Peace, Unity, and National Survival Demand Truth, Accountability, and the Full Exposure of the TPLF’s Military Criminal Network
Document Code:
HAGR-TDF-TPLF-CRIME-NETWORK-2025-05
Executive Summary
In one of the most ethically bankrupt and politically regressive episodes in Tigray’s
post-genocide transition, General Tadesse Worede—currently acting as the President of the Tigray Interim Government—issued a public statement not in defense of justice, but in defense of secrecy, impunity, and criminal protectionism.
His response to former Interim President
Getachew Reda’s historic exposure of a deeply embedded criminal network within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and its affiliated military leadership—particularly the “Above the Core” faction of the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF)—was nothing short of a strategic endorsement of organized wrongdoing.
Rather than presenting evidence or accountability, General Worede cloaked the protection of war criminals and economic saboteurs in the language of “unity.” This document rejects such manipulative rhetoric and insists on an unrelenting demand for justice, truth, and transparency.
Tigray stands at a perilous crossroads. The choices made now will determine whether it
survives as a moral, political, and social community—or collapses under the weight of corruption and betrayal.
- The Crisis of Leadership: General Tadesse Worede’s Ethical and Political Collapse
General Tadesse Worede’s rise to political prominence has not been a product of public trust or democratic process but rather a calculated consolidation of power rooted in secrecy, coercion,and alignment with known criminals. Far from being a neutral caretaker of Tigray’s post-war stability, he has become the central figure in a counter-revolutionary campaign to protect the corrupt core of the TPLF’s remaining influence within the military and political spheres.
His deliberate defense of individuals accused of human trafficking, illegal gold mining, political assassination, and sexual violence indicates not just negligence—but direct complicityWorede’s political narrative attempts to redefine “unity” as the silencing of dissent, “leadership” as the shielding of criminals, and “stability” as the suppression of justice.
These are not the values of a liberated Tigray—they are the traits of a state held hostage by criminal networks.
- A Culture of Impunity: The Shielding of High-Profile Criminals
One of the most alarming manifestations of Worede’s leadership is his personal intervention in the protection and promotion of high-profile individuals implicated in severe crimes. Chief among them is Gebreselassie Belay, a former deputy police commissioner with direct links to a series of documented atrocities, including his role in shielding his son from justice after the brutal murder of Zewdu Haftu, a young woman whose family continues to be denied accountability.
Rather than upholding the rule of law, Worede has reversed prior reformist decisions by
Getachew Reda, reinstating known abusers and promoting them into positions of influence.
This sends a dangerous message to victims and survivors: the state no longer protects the
people—it protects the predators.
The case of Tewolde Gebretinsae, an indicted ringleader of a human trafficking network
operating across borders, is another stain on Worede’s record. Instead of leading investigations, Worede has maintained political alliances with such figures—erasing any remaining doubt about his loyalties.
- Unity Cannot Be Built on Lies, Fear, and Concealment
Genuine unity is forged through shared truth, mutual accountability, and collective healing. The type of “unity” promoted by General Worede is a dangerous illusion—a unity of silence, suppression, and subservience to a discredited military-political elite. History offers countless examples: regimes that bury truth in the name of peace inevitably collapse under the weight of unresolved injustice.
Tigray will not heal through cover-ups. It will not rebuild on the foundations of lies. Only by
confronting painful truths and dismantling entrenched criminal power structures can the region forge a durable and inclusive future.
- The Legacy of Courage: Getachew Reda’s Historic Stand for Justice
In one of the boldest political acts in Tigray’s recent history, former Interim President Getachew Reda broke ranks with the entrenched interests of the TPLF elite. His revelations about the extensive criminal enterprise infecting Tigray’s political and military landscape were not only brave—they were necessary.
Reda’s leadership must be recognized for its moral clarity and historical significance. He
represents a new generation of leaders who prioritize people over party, justice over loyalty, andtruth over silence. The future of Tigray must be built on such examples of ethical courage—not on the corrosive legacy of secrecy and corruption.
- Unresolved Crimes: The Deep Wounds of Systemic Violence
Despite public rhetoric about peace and reconciliation, the reality on the ground in Tigray remains grim. Thousands of crimes—ranging from sexual violence, torture, extrajudicial killings, to illegal resource exploitation and mass displacement—remain uninvestigated. In many cases,these acts were not isolated but systematically orchestrated by factions within the military, shielded by figures like General Worede. Getachew Reda’s disclosures represent only the beginning.
The Horn of Africa Geopolitical
Review investigation unit has gathered over four years of classified testimonies, forensic
evidence, and intelligence assessments indicating the presence of an expansive and
well-funded TPLF military criminal enterprise, stretching from regional command centers to
smuggling networks across the Red Sea.
- Strategic Recommendations: Urgent Actions for Accountability and Reform
To prevent Tigray’s descent into irreversible political decay, the following measures are urgently
recommended:
Independent Anti-Corruption and War Crimes Tribunal
Immediately establish a nonpartisan, internationally supervised commission to investigate war crimes, economic corruption, and political assassinations. Comprehensive Suspension of Implicated Officials Immediate administrative and legal suspension of all individuals named in investigations,including those reinstated under Worede’s leadership.
International Prosecutions and Sanctions
Leverage the international justice system to impose travel bans, asset freezes, and Interpol red notices for individuals obstructing peace, justice, and transparency.
Protection of Whistleblowers and Reform Leaders Provide full protection and international asylum guarantees for whistleblowers, investigators, and reform-minded leaders like Getachew Reda.
Transitional Justice Framework
Establish truth commissions, victim support programs, and a formal justice process to heal Tigray’s post-war trauma.
Institutional Reforms within the TDF
Conduct a full structural and leadership audit of the TDF to dismantle “Above the Core”
factionalism and reestablish professional, civilian-aligned command.
- Final Warning: No Peace, No Unity, No Future With out Justice
This document is not simply an exposé—it is a warning. Tigray stands on the edge of a
dangerous precipice. The illusion of stability cannot mask the rot eating away at its core. Unless there is immediate action to dismantle criminal power structures, restore justice, and protect reformers, the region may slide into renewed conflict, internal fragmentation, and moral collapse.
There will be no peace without truth. No unity without justice. No future without accountability.
- Classified Addendum: “Untold Crimes” – The Next Chapter in the Exposure of the TPLF’s Criminal Enterprise
The Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review’s investigative unit is preparing a forthcoming
intelligence series titled: “Untold: Inside the TPLF Criminal Enterprise.”
This series will uncover:
Smuggling routes tied to high-ranking military officers. Foreign bank accounts linked to stolen humanitarian aid.Covert assassinations of political reformers and critics.The use of military resources for private gold extraction and trafficking. Secret communications between TPLF elites and hostile foreign entities.
The Untold series will form the foundation for future prosecutions and global advocacy
campaigns. It will ensure that no crime remains hidden, and no criminal escapes exposure.The public interest, the international legal community, and the future of Tigray demand it.
Prepared By:
Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review
Strategic Intelligence & Investigations Division
Compiled with contributions from veteran regional analysts, international legal experts, and whistleblower testimony
Based on four years of continuous monitoring of General Tadesse criminal political
network and its impact on Tigray’s post-war governance
