TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael states that the Tsemdo coalition is structured and irreversible, while regional tensions mount following federal drone strikes and the emergence of an armed splinter faction
Borkena Desk
TORONTO, Canada — Debretsion Gebremichael, Chairman of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), stated on Thursday that the Tsemdo coalition formed with other political forces is irreversible.
In an interview with Weyne Media, the TPLF leader stated that the coalition was formed at a time when tensions between the federal government and Tigray are escalating.
He added that the coalition is no longer informal, noting that it has transcended previous stages and is now operating under established structures. “It has its own leaders, plans, and signed agreements,” he said.
More armed groups are expected to join the alliance, according to Debretsion. Detailed information is expected to be disclosed to the public, though he did not specify a timeline.
The Tsemdo coalition was initially composed of Eritrean and TPLF forces. More recently, Fano forces and armed groups—notably armed rebels in the Afar region—have reportedly joined the alliance.
The TPLF currently controls power in the Tigray region after removing the Tadesse Worede-led interim administration at the end of April, on the grounds that the administration’s term had ended and that the federal government could not unilaterally extend it. The Federal government claimed the extension was in accordance with the Pretoria Agreement.
Regional security dynamics have further complicated the landscape. Over the past few months, the federal government has carried out several drone strikes in multiple areas of the Tigray region. Additionally, an armed splinter group that broke away from the TPLF operates along the Afar region. Calling itself the Tigray Peace Force (TPF), the group accuses the TPLF of triggering another war in a region where peace is desperately needed. The TPF commands a significant number of fighters and is widely believed to receive support from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration.
Despite Debretsion’s assertion that the Tsemdo coalition is irreversible, the TPLF released a statement last week reiterating its commitment to peaceful dialogue with the federal government. The sole condition outlined in the statement was that former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who mediated the Pretoria Agreement, is no longer acceptable as a mediator. The TPLF stated that he lacked the necessary neutrality for the role and received direct orders from the federal government, a claim Obasanjo has denied.
Meanwhile, Fano forces have not yet commented on the statements made by the TPLF leader regarding the progress of the Tsemdo armed coalition.
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