AMN Plus-July 20, 2026
Former President of the Tigray Regional State and Executive Committee Member of the Arena for Sovereignty and Democracy Party, Gebru Asrat, has accused the illegal TPLF group of deepening the suffering of the people of Tigray by abandoning the Pretoria Peace Agreement and collaborating with what he described as hostile domestic and foreign actors.
In an interview with Pulse of Africa, Gebru alleged that the TPLF’s political and military leadership has rejected the Pretoria Peace Agreement, dismantled the Interim Regional Administration established under the accord, and forcibly taken control of the regional government.
He further claimed that, in its pursuit of power, the group has aligned itself with what he described as the historical enemies of the people of Tigray, Shabia, as well as other domestic and foreign groups, while preparing for another round of conflict.
According to Gebru, Shabia’s objective has long been the destruction of the people of Tigray, pointing to the widespread killings and destruction witnessed during the conflict as evidence. He argued that the Pretoria Peace Agreement prevented that objective from being realized, adding that Shaebia publicly expressed frustration after the agreement was signed.
Gebru also alleged that the illegal TPLF group continues to cooperate with various unlawful forces in an attempt to turn Tigray into a center of renewed conflict, further exposing civilians to suffering.
Referring to Ethiopia’s Constitution, he noted that the authority to conduct foreign relations rests exclusively with the federal government. He therefore argued that the TPLF’s reported contacts with Eritrea, Sudan, and other countries have neither legal basis nor constitutional legitimacy.
He further claimed that the group has failed to learn from its past mistakes and continues to cooperate with Shabia—described by him as a long-standing adversary of both the people of Tigray and Ethiopia—in activities he characterized as destructive.
Gebru also argued that the group has undergone no meaningful political or ideological reform and continues to pursue outdated policies that, in his view, serve neither the interests of Tigray nor its people.
He alleged that decrees issued by the illegal group have subjected the people of Tigray to severe hardship and injustice, forcing many young people to leave the region in search of safety and better opportunities abroad.
According to Gebru, the group has shown no remorse for what he described as its history of repression and authoritarian rule. Instead, he accused it of establishing an administration marked by corruption and looting that has driven the region into a deeper crisis.
He also alleged that the group suppresses young people and raises revenue by trafficking armed fighters to Sudan, describing these actions as further evidence of its destructive agenda.
Calling on the people of Tigray to continue their peaceful struggle, Gebru stressed that the only viable path to resolving the region’s crisis is the full implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement. However, he said he has little confidence that the group will genuinely embrace peace, arguing that its record of alleged abuses and unlawful activities makes such a shift unlikely.
Concluding his remarks, Gebru asserted that the group’s repeated actions could ultimately expose its leaders to broad legal accountability in the future.
