Amid a political registration dispute, Getachew Reda, a prominent figure in the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and a current advisor to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the Horn of Africa, is reportedly taking steps to form his own political party. This move comes as the TPLF faces the possibility of deregistration by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).
Reda’s faction, which split from the TPLF, is pushing for the creation of a new party in the belief that it will better represent Tigray’s peaceful and democratic future. The group has criticized the TPLF leadership under Debretsion Gebremichael for its alleged monopolization of critical Tigray resources, including control over the mining sector and the Tigray Development Association. Reda’s faction has called for legal action against these moves and urged the interim administration to stop supporting Debretsion’s group’s control over these key institutions.
Currently in the process of registration, the new political party is expected to be called the “Tigray Liberal Democratic Party.” One former TPLF official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that this is the tentative name, though it could be subject to change following the party’s upcoming assembly.
The move comes at a time of heightened tension between the TPLF and the NEBE, which has given the TPLF until May 13 to re-register. Failure to comply would result in the loss of the party’s legal status. If the TPLF’s registration is not renewed, the party could face significant political challenges moving forward.
Just days before the announcement, the TPLF reiterated its refusal to re-register. In a statement on April 24, 2025, the TPLF warned that not restoring its legal recognition could jeopardize the Pretoria Agreement, the peace deal aimed at resolving the Tigray conflict. The TPLF stated that the matter had been escalated to the African Union (AU) Panel, which has suggested that the party’s legal status might be reinstated without re-registration. A final decision is expected in the AU’s upcoming meeting.
The legal wrangling over re-registration stems from the NEBE’s standard procedures for parties that have undergone significant internal changes or conflict. These regulations ensure that political parties comply with the country’s legal framework. While the TPLF contests the re-registration requirement, claiming the Pretoria Agreement guarantees its continued recognition, the NEBE’s decision could set a precedent for the future of Ethiopian political parties.
