TPLF faces growing dissent in Tigray

The Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF), once a dominant political force in Ethiopia, is now facing growing dissent from former supporters in the northern region of the country. Many residents, including those who once backed the group, now view it as a force on the decline.

Tigrayan resident rejects TPLF's future

Tsegay Girmay, who joined the TPLF in 2020, revolted by the "atrocities committed" by Eritrean and Ethiopian federal forces during their joint offensive against the TPLF during the Tigray war. Six years later, this 32-year-old man, like several other residents interviewed, is happy to see the movement "on the verge of disappearance."

TPLF's recent offensive fails

At the end of September, the TPLF allied with other armed groups in an offensive aimed at "overthrowing" the Ethiopian federal leaders. However, government forces, supported by drones, quickly repelled the attackers. Driven out of the region's main cities, the TPLF has retreated into the mountainous areas of Tigray, where it occasionally attacks federal troops.

Federal authorities reclaim Tigray

In October, the federal authorities officially reclaimed control of the territory, establishing an interim administration for six months and announcing plans for upcoming elections. This move signals a shift in power and a potential end to the TPLF's influence in the region.

Eritrea's role in TPLF's decline

The controversial role of Eritrea, after having fought alongside Ethiopia against the TPLF during the 2020-2022 war, gradually broke with its former ally. In October, Asmara deployed thousands of soldiers to Tigray to support the TPLF. However, the drone strikes by the Ethiopian federal army forced them to retreat.

Tigrayan residents recall past atrocities

For many residents of Tigray, this recent rapprochement between the TPLF and Eritrea revives painful memories of the atrocities committed by Eritrean forces during the previous conflict. Genet Hailu, a resident of Mekele, the regional capital, considers this cooperation an "error."

TPLF loses support among locals

Genet Hailu denounces the TPLF for having "distanced itself from its people." She also denounces the forced recruitment carried out by the movement, practices documented by several media outlets, including AFP, as well as by the organization Human Rights Watch. She accuses the TPLF of "committing abuses against those who supported it and forcing children to join the army."

TPLF defends its actions

The party's vice president, Amanuel Assefa, rejects these allegations. "How can one blame a party that sacrifices itself for its people?" he replied to AFP. The TPLF long enjoyed widespread popularity in Tigray, having led the rebellion that overthrew the Marxist regime of the Derg in 1991.

TPLF banned after 2018

The party then governed Ethiopia until 2018, even though Tigrayans represented only about 6 percent of the national population. It was banned in 2025, several years after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power. This ban marked a turning point in the group's political influence.

Former supporters criticize TPLF

Natnael Gebregziabher, 35, who was once close to the movement, says he long believed in its leaders. However, he now believes that their "mistakes placed the population in a serious danger." "The TPLF has become a burden for the residents of Tigray," he declares.

Some still support TPLF

However, not all residents share this rejection. Some continue to support the party despite their opposition to its rapprochement with Eritrea. Gebremichael Abebe, 52, a resident of the city of Axum, says he fears that "the current federal government seeks to destroy us." "I believe the TPLF will eventually win and regain power," he says.

Expert assesses TPLF's future

For Kjetil Tronvoll, an expert on the Horn of Africa at the Oslo New University College, the future of the movement depends on several factors, including its ability to recognize and learn from its mistakes, as well as the attitude the federal authorities adopt toward Tigray. The expert believes that "it is still too early to announce the disappearance of the TPLF."