No security incident reported as law enforcement forces were deployed in Mekelle
Borkena
Toronto – Hundreds of Youths in Mekelle on Wednesday protested near the office of the city’s mayor.
They were not allowed to march in the streets. They rather gathered at the Mayor’s office to demand that the newly appointed mayor – Berhan Gebreeyesus – start office.
According to local sources, the protesters were adamant they will not leave the scene before they see the new mayor start his work.
Additionally, they expressed support for the Interim Administration under Getachew Reda. Protesters reportedly chanted slogans condemning the move against Unity. They also opposed a move to prepare for another war and called for peace. The TPLF is said to have plans to go to war against the Federal government or the Amhara region.
The security forces handled the situation peacefully and there was no security incident in connection with the protest.
The context for the protest is that one of the factions within the TPLF under Debretsion’s leadership has been blocking the new mayor from taking office. The Mayor’s office was reportedly sealed in an apparent move to block the Interim Administration appointed mayor from taking office.
The Debretsion’s group has been accusing the Getachew Reda faction of mobilizing youth against his group. It has also been accusing the group of “treason against Tigray” highlighting the interim administration’s support to the Federal government. In a broader context, the conflict is reported to be rooted on the Pretoria Agreement – which ended the devastating two years war. His faction is also opposition “Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration” (DDR) of former fighters which was one of the key provisions of the agreement.
Debrestion’s group has moved troops (There are still more than 200,000 troops that are yet to disarm) close to Mekelle city in an apparent effort to block the officials appointed by the Interim administration, including the mayor, from taking their offices. It was a tense situation, according to reports.
Gold mining and alleged loot of gold was one of the controversial issues between the two factions. Earlier this week, Getachew Reda’s Interim Administration passed a decision for the Debretsion’s group to halt gold mining. There have been recent accusations that the gold was being smuggled through Eritrea – an allegation that Eritrea denied.
The two factions have been trading accusations and condemnations both claiming to be legitimate powers representing the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). In August 2024, Debretsion’s group organized what it calls the 14th party congress. He was himself re-elected as party chairman. However, the congress did not have the recognition from the electoral board.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Board of Ethiopia today has announced that TPLF has to prepare itself for party congress in the next three months. Failure to comply may lead to dismissal as a legitimate political party.
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A few years before TPLF got destroyed by the brave Ethiopian defense forces, Weyzero Debre Tsion gave a press conference saying Tigray is the most peaceful region in Ethiopia. He said this to make the central government look weaker. As most of us know almost all social turmoil, killings and etc across Ethiopia were sponsored and led by the Evil TPLF and its affiliates. Fast forward it looks like God has spoken clearly against this Ignorant group, but too bad they are taking their own society down for them to hang on the broken power. Death to TPLF, peace and freedom to those Tigray people who remained optimistic and loyal to their country Mama Ethiopia.