The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) Secretariat is proceeding with its controversial Congress on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, despite objections from 14 Central Committee members, including TPLF’s Vice Chairman and current Tigray Interim Administration President Getachew Reda.
A list of 14 central committee members has been in circulation. The list contains names of 14 TPLF central committee members who will boycott the party congress. These members have declared the Congress illegal, warning it could lead to the party’s dissolution. Among those opposing the Congress are:
- Getachew Reda
- Beyene Mekru
- kindeya Gebrehiwet
- Hagos Godefay
- Seble Kahsay
- Berhane Gebreyesus
- Solomun MeAsho
- Shishay Meressa
- Haftu Kiros
- RedaE Halefom
- Nega Assefa
- Gebrehiwot Gebreegziabiher
- Rufael Shifare
- Rusqu Alemaw
General Tadesse Werede, Vice President of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA), announced on Sunday that his government will ban all pro- and anti-Congress rallies until further notice. This development comes a day after the TPLF rejected a registration certificate issued by the National Election Board, stating that they had requested reinstatement rather than a new registration.
Given that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government opposed holding the Congress before the party’s registration, it is unclear how Addis Ababa will react now that the Congress, which has faced repeated delays over the past few months, is finally set to begin on Tuesday.
This is the first Congress in the TPLF’s history, as it approaches its 50th anniversary, to be marked by such significant internal and external crises.
It would be interesting to see if interim President Getachew Reda’s government will allow the TPLF party congress to be held or not. Some experts are speculating that Getachew Reda would seek the support of federal government to stop this Congress. The congress, if held, could expel Getachew Reda and his companions from the party.