Ethiopia's prime minister plans to name a new leader for the troubled Tigray region after its interim President, Getachew Reda, ran away to Addis Ababa because of power fights in the Tigray People's Liberation Front. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed asked people from Tigray to email him suggestions about who should lead next. Many worry these internal battles might restart the civil war that killed around half a million people.
Abiy said Wednesday that Tigray's leaders failed to set up elections after the 2020-22 civil war between TPLF and Ethiopia's government. The Pretoria Agreement peace deal stopped the terrible conflict and created a temporary government to run things until voting could happen. Getachew took charge under this agreement, replacing former leader Debretsion Gebremichael.
About two weeks back, Debretsion brought together TPLF members and grabbed control of the Tigray administration. Abiy wrote on social media Wednesday that looking at what's happening made it necessary to pick a new president. He invited Tigray residents to suggest candidates through email and added another year to the temporary government's original two-year term.
Law expert Teklit Gebremeskel told the BBC this might help calm the fight in Tigray. The situation has been going downhill, but there was a chance to stop, think, and find an answer, he said. Things could change to bring all parts of Tigray together and create a new way forward. But Hailu Kebede from Tigray's opposition criticized the announcement, saying it threatens self-rule and the peace agreement.
Though Tigray can pick its leaders, Kebede told the BBC that Abiy sends a message that if the prime minister can appoint a president in Tigray, he can do it anywhere else. The region still faces problems since signing the peace deal, including delays in disbanding TPLF forces and huge humanitarian needs. Several countries like the US, UK, and European Union have warned about recent power struggles, saying violence must not return.
Amid these concerns, Abiy admitted the Ethiopian army has stretched itself thin because of ongoing fights in the Oromia and Amhara regions. My answer is peace, he told Ethiopia's parliament last week. The Tigray conflict killed approximately 500,000 people. All sides - including neighboring Eritrea, which backed the government - faced accusations of terrible abuses such as mass killing of civilians and widespread sexual violence.
Abiy said Wednesday that Tigray's leaders failed to set up elections after the 2020-22 civil war between TPLF and Ethiopia's government. The Pretoria Agreement peace deal stopped the terrible conflict and created a temporary government to run things until voting could happen. Getachew took charge under this agreement, replacing former leader Debretsion Gebremichael.
About two weeks back, Debretsion brought together TPLF members and grabbed control of the Tigray administration. Abiy wrote on social media Wednesday that looking at what's happening made it necessary to pick a new president. He invited Tigray residents to suggest candidates through email and added another year to the temporary government's original two-year term.
Law expert Teklit Gebremeskel told the BBC this might help calm the fight in Tigray. The situation has been going downhill, but there was a chance to stop, think, and find an answer, he said. Things could change to bring all parts of Tigray together and create a new way forward. But Hailu Kebede from Tigray's opposition criticized the announcement, saying it threatens self-rule and the peace agreement.
Though Tigray can pick its leaders, Kebede told the BBC that Abiy sends a message that if the prime minister can appoint a president in Tigray, he can do it anywhere else. The region still faces problems since signing the peace deal, including delays in disbanding TPLF forces and huge humanitarian needs. Several countries like the US, UK, and European Union have warned about recent power struggles, saying violence must not return.
Amid these concerns, Abiy admitted the Ethiopian army has stretched itself thin because of ongoing fights in the Oromia and Amhara regions. My answer is peace, he told Ethiopia's parliament last week. The Tigray conflict killed approximately 500,000 people. All sides - including neighboring Eritrea, which backed the government - faced accusations of terrible abuses such as mass killing of civilians and widespread sexual violence.
