In an unusual press briefing held in Addis Ababa on March 13, 2025, Getachew Reda, President of the Tigray Interim Administration, confessed that TPLF officials were ‘exploiting the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as a political bargaining chip’.
“Frankly,” he admitted, “we, the TPLF officials, are responsible for the stalled IDP repatriation.”
The return of IDPs has long been a central tenet of the TPLF’s demands to the international community, among others.
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Getachew attributed these setbacks mostly to actions by a faction within the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), led by Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD).
The President emphasized that the faction’s activities were not only undermining the peace process but also jeopardizing regional security.
He accused them of exploiting the plight of IDPs and manipulating the situation for political gain, which has further complicated resettlement efforts.
TPLF faction led by Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD) on the other hand accused Getachew of pursuing personal political ambitions that threaten the core values of the TPLF, which has historically championed the rights of Tigrayans and sought greater regional autonomy.
