The authorities of the Ethiopian region of Tigray, located in the north of the country, already consider the peace pact signed in 2022 in Pretoria (South Africa) with the federal government "collapsed," accusing it of preparing the reactivation of one of the most lethal conflicts in the recent history of the African continent, a war that in just two years would have caused between 100,000 and 800,000 deaths, according to figures provided by Ethiopian official bodies and an assessment by the African Union.
"Although Tigray has done many things to implement the Pretoria Peace Agreement, it has collapsed due to the obstacles and destructive actions created by the regime," lamented the new Tigrayan administration, once again controlled by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the political-military force that confronted the Ethiopian Army and its allies starting in 2020.
After the signing in Pretoria, the region came under the tutelage of a provisional government accepted by the federal authorities, which assumed management temporarily until the return of the TPLF in early May. Since their return, the Tigrayan leadership has repeatedly accused the central government and its prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, of violating the commitments sealed in the South African capital and of keeping Tigray in a situation of isolation and political marginalization.
The Ethiopian government, however, refuses to recognize the administration restored by the TPLF and maintains that the only legitimate authority in the area remains the Tigray Provisional Regional Administration, created under the Pretoria Agreement and now de facto displaced by the return of the Tigray People's Liberation Front.
In a statement released this Saturday, the TPLF holds the federal authorities responsible for fueling the escalation in recent months, first by "spreading hate propaganda against Tigray through its leaders and political and military sponsors" and, subsequently, through "drone attacks, military approaches, and direct confrontations."
"Therefore, it is not only our moral and legal right but also our duty to strengthen our internal capacity and self-sufficiency in all aspects, whether for peaceful dialogue or to fight against the impending disaster," concludes the Tigrayan formation, which thus warns that it is preparing for both an eventual negotiation process and a new war scenario.