EXCLUSIVE | Disagreements emerge among top TPLF leaders over peace with Ethiopian government

ADDIS ABABA (SUDANS POST) – Sharp disagreements have reportedly emerged between senior leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and its leader Debretsion Gebremichael, as to whether preconditions should be given regarding talks for end to the deadly conflict with the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Earlier this month, Debretsion told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that his rebel movement was in an indirect talk with the federal government to possibility arrangement formal talks between the two belligerents to reach a ceasefire that could lead to full-scale peace negotiations to end the over one-year-old conflict.

But Debretsion said certain preconditions must first be accepted by the Ethiopian government and the rebel group to go for talks. They include the withdrawal of foreign troops and the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Tigray territories. Debretsion also said the Ethiopian government must also recognize the right of the Tigray people for self-determination.

Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, a TPLF diplomat in the United States of America said there have been disagreements over the last few days among the top rebel leadership with some, including former trade minister and deputy chairperson of the TPLF Fetlework Gebregziabher, opposing demands such as the recognition of the right to self-determination for the Tigrayans as a precondition for talks.

“There has been issues in the last few days since the President of Tigray Regional State Debretsion Gebremichael demanded that the Ethiopian government accept the right for self-determination for the people of Tigray as a precondition for accepting talks with the government because some within the highest leadership opposed this,” the diplomat who requested not to be named, said.

“This is because the international community will see this as a mean of derailing ways to reach peace with Abiy’s government in Addis Ababa. This is in the sense that the government will not accept it and the international community will see the TPLF as intransigent and thus will sever ties with the party,” the diplomat who said he has direct contact with the leaders on the ground, added.

The TPLF diplomat further said “some voices have emerged within the leadership with some being eager to see transformation of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front leadership because they see it outdated and thus has lost popularity among the Ethiopian people’s modern understanding of the politics in the country.”