Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
The TPLF’s Critical Failures: Why It Can No Longer Lead Tigray
In the wake of war, displacement, and collective trauma, Tigray stands at a historical crossroads. The question of leadership who can truly represent and rebuild the region has never been more urgent. Despite its long-standing role in Tigray’s political history, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has demonstrated a series of critical failures that render it unfit to continue leading the region.
This article outlines five major shortcomings that disqualify the TPLF from serving as a legitimate representative of the Tigrayan people.
- Leadership Failure That Contributed to the Tigray Genocide
The TPLF bears responsibility for political missteps and strategic miscalculations that contributed to the onset of the war that led to the Tigray Genocide. Rather than exercising caution or engaging in preventive diplomacy, the party opted for confrontation without adequate preparation or a contingency plan. This failure of leadership helped set the stage for mass atrocities and humanitarian catastrophe. Had there been sound crisis management and a unified vision, much of the suffering might have been avoided or lessened.
- Inability to Unite Tigray in the Aftermath of War
After the genocide, the Tigrayan people needed unity, healing, and direction. The TPLF, however, failed to rise to the occasion. Instead of fostering reconciliation and solidarity, it remained fragmented and inward-looking. Its leadership has often appeared disconnected from the daily struggles of ordinary citizens, failing to rally the people around a shared vision of recovery. At a time when inclusive, grassroots leadership was most needed, the TPLF remained entrenched in old political habits and internal power struggles.
- Absence of a Vision for Tigray’s Future
In post-conflict Tigray, visionary leadership is essential to move beyond survival toward sustainable recovery. Yet the TPLF has been unable to present a coherent or inspiring roadmap for Tigray’s future. The absence of clear economic, political, and social strategies reveals a party stuck in the past—unable to adapt to new realities or engage with the evolving aspirations of the younger generation. In a time that demands bold and inclusive ideas, the TPLF offers little more than rhetoric.
- Continued Protection of Corrupt Power Structures
Despite the war’s toll and calls for reform, the TPLF has not taken meaningful steps to root out corruption within its ranks. Many of the same elites who failed Tigray before and during the war remain insulated from accountability. Favoritism, nepotism, and the preservation of old hierarchies continue to erode public trust. Instead of rebuilding a just and equitable system, the party has protected the very power structures that contributed to instability and division.
- Betrayal of Tigray’s Core Interests
Perhaps the most disqualifying failure of all is the TPLF’s betrayal of Tigray’s core interests. While hundreds of thousands continue to suffer in displacement camps and towns lie in ruins, the party has prioritized its own political survival. Most troublingly, it has engaged in tactical alliances with forces accused of committing atrocities during the Tigray Genocide—namely Eritrean Shaebiya and Amhara Fano militias. These moves have further alienated the party from the people, who continue to mourn, resist, and rebuild in the absence of meaningful leadership.
Conclusion
Tigray’s future demands leaders who are transparent, visionary, and accountable to the people they serve. The TPLF, through a pattern of failure, disconnection, and betrayal, has demonstrated it is no longer capable of fulfilling this role. For Tigray to truly recover and rise, it must chart a new political course—one rooted in justice, unity, and a bold, people-centered vision for the future.
