Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
By Gebre Tatios
Tigray Peace Force Emerges Amid Fractures in TDF Leadership
In the volatile political landscape of Tigray, a new faction known as the Tigray Peace Force has positioned itself as the emerging force aimed at rescuing the region from what it describes as the divisive grip of splinter groups affiliated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
This development comes as internal fractures within the Tigray Defence Forces (TDF) deepen. Several high-ranking TDF generals and officials have reportedly fled to Hara Meret in the Afar region, rejecting recent decisions they perceive as a politicized hijacking of their cause by core TPLF-affiliated commanders.
Among the notable figures who have joined the Tigray Peace Force at Hara Meret is the commander of Arm 70, Sudan Nebro, whose defection signals growing dissent within the TDF’s upper ranks. Additionally, Hadush, the head of the Peace and Security Office of northwestern Tigray, has also aligned himself with this emerging faction. Further bolstering the group’s military credibility, Tsigabu, head of the Agulae military training center, reportedly joined the Tigray Peace Force today.
These defections underscore deepening divisions within the TDF’s leadership and illustrate the extent of opposition to the current core TPLF-affiliated command structure. Sources indicate these figures reject what they see as a politicized approach that undermines the original objectives of the TDF and the broader Tigrayan cause.
The Tigray Peace Force presents itself as a counterweight to these splinter factions, claiming to champion reconciliation and renewed focus on protecting the civilian population of Tigray. However, critics warn that the formation of yet another armed group risks further fragmenting an already fractured political and military environment.
The schism highlights the complex and evolving dynamics within Tigray’s resistance movements amid the wider conflict in Ethiopia, raising questions about the future trajectory of peace efforts in the region.
For many young Tigrayans, the rise of the Tigray Peace Force signals the potential end of an era one marked by five decades of TPLF dominance. The new faction is seen by supporters as a liberating force, offering hope for a break from a regime that has long shaped the region’s political landscape.
