Ethiopia Appoints Interim Government in Tigray Following Military Gains

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced the establishment of an interim government in the northern Tigray region, following the federal army's recapture of the area. The six-month administration was detailed in a statement released by the Prime Minister's office on Friday, with a promise of free elections to follow.

This development comes after the Ethiopian military successfully repelled an offensive initiated last month by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The TPLF, Tigray's primary political party, had launched the insurrection in April, declaring its intention to retake control of the region and effectively ending a peace agreement with the federal government.

The interim government is tasked with fostering a "stable political situation" in Tigray to facilitate the upcoming free elections. Five officials have been appointed to lead the state, including the mayor of the capital city, Mekelle. These officials will operate under direct directives from the federal government. The TPLF has not yet issued a response to this announcement.

The rebel group had initiated an ambitious campaign in September, collaborating with several other armed groups in an effort to overthrow the Abiy government. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of backing the TPLF, an accusation Eritrea has denied. After initial advances in the Afar region, TPLF fighters were defeated and lost control of Tigray's major cities, with a surrender in Mekelle occurring in early October. Eritrean troops who had entered Tigray subsequently withdrew after significant drone strikes by the Ethiopian armed forces.

The TPLF was the ruling party in Ethiopia for nearly three decades until 2018, when Abiy's party assumed power. In response, Tigray boycotted national elections and rejected the authority of the central government, leading to a severe political rift. The region bears the scars of the 2020-2022 war between federal forces, supported by Eritrea at the time, and the TPLF, which resulted in an estimated 600,000 fatalities. Although a peace deal ended the conflict, crucial aspects, such as the return of displaced persons and the disarmament of the TPLF, remained unfulfilled.

The recent escalation has led to mutual accusations between Ethiopia and Eritrea regarding the incitement of war, sparking concerns about a broader regional conflict. On Wednesday, the United States urged both parties to "de-escalate" during a phone conversation between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.