Tigray Orthodox Church is mediating between rival factions of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). On Friday, the Orthodox elders held a press briefing in the presence of leaders of the two TPLF groups.
Aba Sereke Berhan, a prominent Orthodox elder, who is based in Australia, has been active in mediating the intra TPLF political conflict. Two TPLF groups, led by Getachew Reda and Debretsion Gebremichael, are at odds with each other. Debretsion group wants the removal of Getachew Reda who is heading Tigray Interim Administration. Getachew Reda, refusing to step down, has been trying to establish a separate TPLF group.
Both Getachew Reda and Debretsion Gebremichael were seen together today in the presence of Aba Sereke Berhan, Abune Merhakristos, Abune Isaias, Abune Petros and Abune Mekarios. The two leaders looked in good mood. They stood side by side and exchanged greetings.
The Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church elders later held a press briefing. They said that Getachew Reda and Debretsion Gebremichael groups had agreed to solve their issues through dialogue. The two TPLF factions will hold negotiations and resolve the party conflict peacefully.
Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church (TOTC) split with the main Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) after Pretoria Peace Deal. TOTC accused EOTC archbishops of blessing and supporting the war on Tigray which cost millions of lives.
Last week, TOTC established a synod. It has not elected a patriarch yet. EOTC is led by Abune Mathias who is a Tigrayan. EOTC has been trying to reconcile with TOTC but latter refused to join the EOTC.
According to some sources, Tigray Military Generals are mediating between the rival TPLF groups but they do not want to be seen as interfering in politics. Therefore, they chose to shows TOTC elders as mediators.
It seems that Debretsion and Getachew Reda groups will now hold extensive discussions to hammer out their differences. It is due to intra-TPLF conflict that Tigray Interim Administration has almost been paralyzed. People have been urging the politicians to solve political problems through dialogue soon as Tigray has not yet recovered from the r two year long deadly war which ended in November 2022.
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