Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – May 15, 2025
Debretsion Gebremichael, Chairman of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), has called on the African Union (AU) to urgently address the Ethiopian National Election Board’s (NEBE) decision to revoke the TPLF’s legal party status. In a letter sent today to AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, Debretsion warned that the move threatens the fragile peace secured under the 2022 Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.
The NEBE’s cancellation of the TPLF’s status, announced earlier this year, has sparked controversy, with critics arguing it undermines the Pretoria agreement’s mutual recognition clause between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF. Debretsion accused the federal government of sidestepping political dialogue by framing the TPLF’s status as a legal and administrative issue, a move he claims violates the spirit of the peace deal.
In his appeal, Debretsion urged the AU to:
Convene an urgent meeting of the High-Level Panel on the Ethiopian Peace Process.
Refer the issue to the AU Peace and Security Council.
Ensure compliance with the Pretoria agreement.
Evaluate the NEBE’s decision for compatibility with the agreement.
Press the Ethiopian government to reverse the NEBE’s ruling.
NEBE’s Cancellation of TPLF Status
The NEBE’s decision to strip the TPLF of its legal status stems from a controversial ruling that the party failed to meet registration requirements, a claim the TPLF disputes as politically motivated. The move has heightened tensions in Ethiopia’s volatile political landscape, raising fears of renewed conflict in Tigray following the devastating 2020-2022 war. The Pretoria agreement, brokered by the AU, ended hostilities and included provisions for political dialogue and the TPLF’s participation in national processes, making the NEBE’s action a potential breach of the accord.
The TPLF’s appeal underscores growing concerns over the stability of Ethiopia’s peace process. With the AU’s response now in focus, stakeholders await action to safeguard the Pretoria agreement and prevent further escalation in the region.
