Ethiopia's electoral board bans TPLF, raising peace deal concerns
- The National Election Board of Ethiopia has banned the TPLF for failing to hold a general assembly.
- This ban poses a serious threat to the peace deal from 2022 that aimed to resolve the civil conflict.
- The TPLF has called for African Union mediation to address the political tensions surrounding this ban.
In Ethiopia, a significant political development occurred when the National Election Board decided to revoke the legal status of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). This decision was announced recently, following months of escalating political tensions in the Tigray region, which came under scrutiny as the country gears up for nationwide elections expected by June 2025. The ban was enacted due to the TPLF's failure to conduct a general assembly, a mandate that had not been fulfilled. The repercussions of this ban are vast, as the TPLF has been governing the interim administration of Tigray since the conclusion of the civil conflict. This conflict, which spanned two years and ended in late 2022 with the signing of the Pretoria peace agreement, resulted in immense loss of life and displacement of millions in the region. Since the establishment of the interim administration in 2023, the TPLF has struggled to hold internal elections amidst factional disputes within the party. The lack of unity and the failure to conduct proper electoral processes has led to heightened uncertainties regarding the future of governance in Tigray. In response to the ban, the TPLF has expressed serious concerns over its implications for the peace deal that was signed with the federal government to end hostilities. Party leaders characterized the ban as a threat to the accord and an undermining of the progress made towards stability. They have called upon the African Union to intervene and facilitate dialogue with the federal government, emphasizing the importance of recognizing each other's political legitimacy as outlined in the peace agreement. Furthermore, voices from the international community, including the United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union, have warned about the deteriorating political environment, stressing the necessity of preventing any resurgence of violence. With the deadline for upcoming elections approaching and lingering tensions from the past conflict, the situation remains precarious and many fear that the obstacle created by this ban could ignite further unrest in the already tumultuous region of Tigray.