Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
The New TPLF Cabinet under General Tadese: A Scramble for Power and Resources
Written by Communist.
Introduction
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has recently undergone a significant internal shift. After a period of internal conflict, the faction led by Dr. Debretsion emerged victorious over the interim government led by Getachew Reda. This outcome was heavily influenced by senior figures in the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF), including the current TPLF-affiliated regional president, General Tadese Worede.
This development marks a continuation of the political-military establishment that has dominated Tigrayan politics since the departure of a prominent TPLF leader in 1993 E.C. Now, General Tadese has formed a new cabinet, in which nearly 80% of members are drawn from the old guard of the TPLF—a group that staged the internal coup in part due to their loss of control over key institutions, access to resources, and fear of being held accountable for past actions. These legacy leaders have reclaimed major government bureaus that control billions in assets and development programs.
- Bureau of Land Resources Development and Management
TPLF assigned a person, a prominent member of the party’s legacy leadership and close to the inner circle of the old guard, as head of the Bureau of Land Development and Management.
This bureau oversees land allocation in rural and urban areas and includes authority over mining operations. Historically, this bureau has been a major economic engine for the party, allegedly supporting it through both legal and illicit means, particularly by benefiting military personnel and loyal traders connected to the TPLF elite.
- Bureau of Mining
The party was assigned purposely as she has no power to control the mining exploitation. She was underperforming for many years when she was in the tourism bureau, and was excluded from leading any bureaus.
TPLF assured that, and she was almost idle for many years. Recent evidence suggests continued exploitation of mineral resources, especially gold and other precious metals, by TPLF insiders and some TDF officers. The appointment of Brikiti is seen by many as a move to continue land grabbing and to conceal past corrupt practices tied to land deals and mining activities across towns and rural zones.
- Bureau of Water Resources and Development
The party also assigned a loyalist and former TPLF party head in Addis Ababa, who has been appointed as head of the Bureau of Water Resource Development, one of the most heavily funded sectors in the region. This bureau has managed numerous construction projects, particularly micro-dams. However, most of these projects have failed, with only those built during the “SART” period still operational.
The sector has long been plagued by corruption, with contracts frequently awarded to party-affiliated contractors. Despite recurring audit reports and leadership shuffles, no officials were held accountable due to their political loyalty.
The person assigned to this bureau his prior experience that includes a brief and largely ineffective stint as head of the Central Zone, where he was criticized for weak leadership and reliance on outdated methods. His current appointment is widely viewed as a reward for loyalty rather than merit, and he is expected to use his position to channel resources and contracts to party loyalists, bypassing legal and institutional checks.
General Overview
General Tadese’s cabinet appointments were unsurprising given his own allegiance to the old-guard TPLF faction. Most key positions are now in the hands of long-standing party elites who orchestrated the recent internal power shift. This consolidation of power excludes other voices and perspectives, ignoring public dissatisfaction, sidelining opposition parties, and undermining the inclusive transitional governance many had hoped for in Tigray’s post-war recovery.
Despite calls for reform, the political landscape in Tigray remains dominated by a single party, a single ideology, and a tightly interwoven political-military structure that has persisted for nearly five decades. The opportunity for inclusive governance and democratic transition has once again been pushed aside.
Conclusion
The continuation of a party-aligned military administration in Tigray has deepened the region’s crisis. The Tigrayan people continue to suffer from the consequences of war, political repression, and internal betrayal. Meanwhile, the federal government has allowed this regression, possibly viewing it as a strategic win, avoiding direct confrontation while watching Tigray’s internal divisions weaken its resistance. Now more than ever, the Tigrayan people must demand freedom, democracy, and justice.
Unity and a clear, shared vision are essential to moving beyond this cycle of power struggles and ensuring a future where leadership serves the people, not personal or party interests.
