This analysis represents a personal perspective from a technical professional born and raised in Addis Ababa, who later began his career in Tigray in the mid-1990s and spent significant time living and working there. Nowadays, in an era dominated by social media, where individuals from all walks of life actively share their reflections—some even shaping public opinion as social activists—it…

Introduction Almost three years have passed since the signing of the Pretoria Agreement between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). While the guns have largely fallen silent, the promise of peace and restoration for Tigray remains tragically unfulfilled. Tigray entered the Pretoria Agreement with cautious hope—hope that the silence of guns would…

Tigray’s Communication Failure and Abiy’s Strategy of Incremental Control Four years ago, Abiy declared that he would “solve the TPLF problem in days, not weeks or months.” And in the first month of the war, he played the role of a victorious commander—marching into peaceful and unarmed Mekelle, boasting that no military had achieved such a feat. He assured Ethiopians…

In response to Abiy Ahmed’s deceptive calls for peace in Tigray Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s approach towards Tigray reflects a pattern of overconfidence rooted in a calculated yet fundamentally flawed strategy. While his administration may perceive its grip on power as unassailable, history has proven time and again that the Tigrayan struggle transcends brute force—it is an existential question of…

Certain academic elites and factions aligned with Getachew Reda have criticized the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) following the TDF commanders’ declaration of recognizing one TPLF after its 14th congress. These critics accuse the TDF of militarizing politics and failing to grasp the realities of Tigray’s dire circumstances and the existential threats it faces—particularly from Abiy Ahmed’s regime. This critique reflects…

Faced with persistent conflicts in Amhara and Oromia, Abiy Ahmed finds himself increasingly cornered. Meanwhile, the TPLF’s strategic evolution signals a growing challenge to his authority. To maintain control and distract from internal instability, he is now seeking to ignite further unrest in the region, seeing an opportunity to reshape the political landscape to his advantage. Abiy Ahmed’s recent political…

As we delve deeper into the quagmire of Tigray’s political impasse, the reality on the ground indicates a troubling intensification of divisions rather than a progression towards resolution. The people of Tigray, burdened by years of war, displacement, and uncertainty, deserve more than political stagnation. In light of this, I propose an immediate restructuring of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration…

Social media has become a powerful tool for shaping political narratives and advocating for causes, but its impact is far from universally positive. In many developing regions, the unchecked rise of social media activism has often exacerbated divisions, spread misinformation, and created a false sense of authority among those with access to digital platforms. The case of Tigray exemplifies these…

At this critical juncture, the well-structured and thoroughly deliberated declaration by TDF commanders, a decision that took days of careful discussion and concluded yesterday, signals an unprecedented move to break the political deadlock within Tigray’s leadership. The statement, issued amid escalating tensions between the TPLF splinter group led by  Getachew Reda and TPLF, underscores the military’s dissatisfaction with the Tigray…

Tigrayans have long been admired for their principled stance, resilience, and determination in the face of adversity. These traits have been central to the region’s survival and its people’s identity. Yet, in the wake of the genocidal war (2021-2022) and its devastating consequences, the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) leadership appears mired in indecision, unable to present a unified front or…

The current political crisis in Tigray has reached a critical juncture, threatening to derail the progress made under the Pretoria Agreement and destabilize the region further. I sincerely believe that Abiy Ahmed neither has the desire nor the will to restore the status quo ante nor to bring lasting peace to Tigray and the northern parts of the region. Tigray…

The United States and its Western allies have consistently shown a strategic interest in Ethiopia, particularly in Tigray’s politics. Recent actions suggest a concerted effort to weaken or eliminate the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) as a political force. This approach, often framed as a necessary step to stabilize Ethiopia and align it with neoliberal economic models, is fundamentally flawed.…