Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
Unholy Alliance: Eritrea’s Gambit to Divide & Conquer Tigray
By Gebre Tatios
The reported alliance between Isaias Afwerki’s EPLF and the Debretsion-led TPLF faction is not a genuine partnership—it’s a strategic trap designed to weaken Tigrayan resistance, fracture internal unity, and consolidate Eritrea’s dominance in the region.
- Silencing Berged Nihamedu & the New Tigrayan Resistance
The Berged Nihamedu movement represents a growing, decentralized resistance against both the TPLF’s old guard and Eritrean interference. By co-opting Debretsion’s faction, Isaias neutralizes this threat, ensuring no strong Tigrayan opposition emerges to challenge his regime.
Result:A weakened Tigrayan political landscape, where dissent is crushed before it gains momentum.
- Exploiting TPLF Divisions to Destroy Tegaru Unity
- The TPLF is already fractured—between Getachew Reda’s federal-aligned faction and Debretsion’s Eritrea-leaning group.
- Isaias fuels this division, knowing that a disunited Tigray cannot effectively resist Eritrean influence or Ethiopian encroachment.
- Historical Parallel:Just as Eritrea used Ethiopia to crush Tigray in 2020-22, it now uses one TPLF faction to suppress the rest.
- The Long Game: Eritrea’s Regional Domination
- Isaias does not want a strong Tigray—whether under TPLF or new leadership. His goal is a pliable, fragmented Tigray that cannot challenge Asmara.
By propping up Debretsion’s faction, Eritrea ensures: - ✅No unified Tigrayan resistance to Eritrean occupation (e.g., remaining forces in border areas).
- ✅ No strong Tigrayan voice opposing Ethiopia’s Red Sea ambitions (which Eritrea also fears).
- ✅ Continued leverage over Ethiopia by controlling Tigrayan factions.
The Danger Ahead: A Weakened Tigray Plays Into Eritrea’s Hands
If this unholy alliance succeeds, the consequences will be dire:
- Tigray’s political future will be dictated by Eritrea, not by its own people.
- Resistance movements (like Berged Nihamedu) will be crushed before they grow.
- Ethiopia’s expansionist ambitions could go unchecked, with Tigray too divided to resist.
The Only Way Out: Grassroots Resistance & Unified Opposition
- Tegaru must reject factional infighting and prioritize united, people-driven leadership.
- The diaspora and international allies must expose Eritrea’s manipulation and support independent Tigrayan voices. Ethiopian opposition groups must recognize that a weak Tigray benefits Isaias, not Ethiopia.
Final Warning:
This is not just about TPLF vs. EPLF—it’s about Eritrea’s plan to keep Tigray weak, divided, and under its thumb. If Tigrayans fall into this trap, the consequences will echo for generations.
