By: Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – In a wide-ranging interview with BBC Focus on Africa, outgoing Tigray Interim Administration President Getachew Reda reflected on his tumultuous two-year tenure, marked by post-conflict recovery challenges, internal party rivalries, and leadership transitions. The interview, brought to audiences by BBC Amharic, followed Getachew’s official handover of power to his deputy, Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede, on April 8, 2025. With the future of Tigray’s political leadership in flux, Getachew offered unfiltered insights into the internal power struggles within the TPLF, his regrets about unmet goals—particularly the failure to return displaced people—and his critical view of the military’s outsized influence. While acknowledging his administration’s shortcomings, he emphasized efforts made to prevent further conflict and champion peace. He also raised serious concerns about the political dynamics shaping Tigray’s next chapter, including the controversial appointment of his successor and alleged backchannel dealings involving Eritrea. This interview offers a rare glimpse into the complexities of Tigray’s political landscape through the eyes of one of its key players.
Here is the full interview brought by BBC Amharic:
BBC – Looking back on your two-year term in office, what would you say were your key achievements?
Getachew Reda – I can say that preventing the recurrence of a devastating war that could have erupted again, our commitment to change, and pushing forward the agenda of peace were key achievements. That’s what I can confidently say.
BBC: Are there any regrets from your time in office? Perhaps missed opportunities?
Getachew Reda: Yes. Regret means; there were [issues] that we could have and should have done earlier. For example, the return of displaced people. Unfortunately, the internal power struggles within Tigray for unproductive power have made it difficult for us to accomplish this. My main regret is not only because I am primarily responsible. But I was part of the delay that led us to the situation we are in now.
BBC: What do you think was the main reason for you to step down from power? Was it internal politics? Or rival factions?
Getachew Reda: Look, the political leadership was making every effort to undermine the process and my leadership. But it wasn’t just the political leadership. The military leadership was also part of this to some extent. Even though I wouldn’t consider them the primary culprit, the existence of internal party infighting prevented us from accomplishing things that we should have and needed to achieve within a year. From a legal standpoint, the interim administration’s term ended within two years of its establishment. Any decision to extend its power would have to go through the House of Federation.
Therefore, any issue that arose in this process is a result of the internal party infighting and the full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement not happening. Secondly, if the federal government felt that a leadership change should occur, I think it’s reasonable for them to do so. My departure is a result of many factors; the most significant of which is the internal party infighting that made life difficult for the people of Tigray.
BBC: Did you leave office voluntarily, or did the party come and ask you to step down for the next phase?
Getachew Reda: No, what party? The faction within the TPLF was undermining this process. They were conducting all sorts of backroom deals. They were making this and that offer to the federal government. They were even telling the Prime Minister, who has the authority to appoint the president of the interim administration, “No.”
But now, in connection with the end of the interim administration’s term, the Prime Minister asked me if it would be appropriate for us to consider another option. I am not someone who has a desire to hold onto power, especially since I have accomplished little using that power in areas such as the return of displaced people.
So, for me, the issue was inevitable when the [interim administration’s] term ended. There would have had to be a special procedure for me to continue as president. However, any entities that were fighting for that power have not yet presented a quick way out that can extricate us from the current predicament.
BBC: Tell us about the new president. What does his appointment mean for the Tigray region?
Getachew Reda: I have little I want to say on this matter. What I know is that as my vice president and someone who took responsibility for key issues within my administration, I expect him to continue with the things I left behind.
He was equally responsible with me for many of the failures, unlike other people. So, I expect him to make corrections on the issues that need to be done and that follow on from where I left off. Of course, he has a significant task ahead of him, as he needs to bring a magical solution to the party’s problems.
The party believes it appointed him, while the Prime Minister says he appointed him himself. Unfortunately, one of the challenges I anticipate he will face is the uncontrolled thirst for power that will continue to come from the TPLF faction that still wants to seize all the power.
Whether he will have the capacity and skill to confront this remains to be seen. But as I understand it, he has gained all the necessary experience over the past two years.
Therefore, the interim administration’s failure to keep its promises is also his primary failure. He needs to rectify this.
BBC: The interim administration has found itself in this situation. You say you take some responsibility, but that Lieutenant General Tadesse will bear much of it. So why was it necessary to give him power? If he was part of the problem, why is he leading?
Getachew Reda: This wasn’t my decision. If I were asked to appoint a president, it wouldn’t be right for a departing president to appoint their successor. In our consultation with the Prime Minister, they tried to convince me that he was the best among all the people who had been vying for that power. So, the final decision rests with the Prime Minister.
What I can say now is that I hope Tadesse, who has been entrusted with the task, will do his job well, navigate the complex journey through the ugly politics of the TPLF’s top leadership, and resolve the pile of security, economic, and political problems that the region has faced. Above all, I hope he will focus on the return of displaced people and the restoration of Tigray’s constitutional territories.
BBC: Did you have the opportunity to speak with Lieutenant General Tadesse? What advice did you give him?
Getachew Reda: I wasn’t asked for [advice]. Nor did I have any desire to offer advice to someone who is already experienced in this matter.
BBC: What issues do you think he should prioritize? Tens of thousands of people have been displaced. You mentioned that your biggest failure was not being able to return the displaced. What urgent steps should the new leadership take?
Getachew Reda: The [new president of the interim administration] has signed an agreement that outlines the issues that should be prioritized now. But for me, the most pressing matter is the full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement.
Disarmament and rehabilitation is also one issue. However, the return of displaced people is perhaps the most crucial of all. This is an issue that has grown extremely difficult for us to control. We will see if the TPLF faction, which is unhappy with this and portrays itself as the sole savior of the Tigray people, will allow him the opportunity to accomplish this.
BBC: Looking back, did you make any mistakes while in power? What could you have done better to ensure the full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement?
Getachew Reda: We should have led the [agreement’s implementation] in a more organized manner. We should have ensured the participation of all stakeholders. Instead of clinging to five TPLF executive committee members who didn’t even know what negotiation was, we should have involved civil society.
We should have involved the youth movement as a whole, whose broad desire was for the peaceful return of the people, not for making the issue of displaced people a plaything for ugly politics. This is what I would cite as the main mistake.
BBC: It seems you feel you haven’t served the people of Tigray as you should have. Is that an accurate statement?
Getachew Reda: I can say that I was part of a leadership that did not serve the people of Tigray properly. But I don’t boast about this. As the Americans say, if it’s true, it’s not boasting.
I have done everything I can to show that our sole focus on power was our mistake. I think I was able to help lead a very active and very organized movement that could challenge the existing situation. I think this is the life-saving issue that allows me to mention my name.
BBC: What does your future look like? What’s next? Will you continue your political involvement?
Getachew Reda: Yes, once we get into this issue and once we start pointing out a new path for the people of Tigray, there are many things that need to be done. I cannot simply get up and leave the movement.
Wherever I am, I will definitely be involved in Tigray politics. My plan is to stay in this situation and contribute to improving the lives of the people of Tigray.
BBC: In your final days and months in office, you accused Eritrea of being a partner of your rival leadership. What evidence do you present for this accusation against Eritrea and the rival leadership?
Getachew Reda: I don’t know if it’s a journalist’s responsibility to ask for evidence like a court of law. But I can tell you this.
BBC: But you must provide an explanation for your statement?
Getachew Reda: I will provide my explanation. I cannot name names for you. But I know this: some people who were in my administration were trying to connect with Eritrea, some legally and some illegally.
However, the final straw that broke the camel’s back [came] from within disgruntled elements of the TPLF; I don’t mean the entire TPLF faction leadership. Whatever their assessment, certain elements within the TPLF began to use this opportunity to collaborate with their common enemy. I cannot give you names, but I have enough evidence to confirm that this is what happened.
BBC: I want to properly understand your disagreement regarding the concerns you raised about Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede’s background. What is the evidence that the new president was part of the problems associated with the previous administration?
Getachew Reda: He was my vice president. He failed to fulfill his own job description. I am not blaming only Tadesse for his inability to fulfill [his responsibilities]. I also did nothing regarding him. My failure was [not being able] to remove or replace him. I have a lot of evidence; he even said so this morning.
He was my deputy and was responsible for security issues; he was responsible for many things. As far as I understand, his job description is full of failures. But his failures are also my failures.
BBC: Didn’t he say he was receiving orders from the president? Some say that the issues you mentioned as a leader fall on your shoulders.
Getachew Reda: Don’t be foolish.
BBC: I’m just quoting a question?
Getachew Reda: No, this kind of order… you know, Tigray politics is difficult. Sorry for the word I used…
BBC: No apology needed, please continue.
Getachew Reda: Tigray politics is very difficult. We are the only region that has an organized army that seems to consider itself an autonomous entity. The Pretoria Agreement was expected to resolve this unusual situation.
But Tadesse, as the army’s commander, believes he can oppose some of my decisions. This is very difficult for people in your part of the world to understand. You know, there wasn’t a situation where the president would make a decision and the deputy would take that decision seriously.
This was part of the problem. Of course, some of my decisions were implemented. But still, just as I take responsibility for the successes, I also take responsibility for the failures.
In our case, what makes the politics even more difficult is that a party that is not in power tries to take over everything, to control government resources. And the army, which should be under the government, considers itself an independent entity. It’s a bit complicated. It’s hard to understand.
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