Ethiopia's Tigray region appoints new interim leader

Ethiopia appointed on Tuesday a new leader of the interim administration in the northern Tigray region following months of tensions between rival factions that threatened a fragile peace agreement.

The area still suffers from the aftermath of a brutal two-year conflict, ended by a 2022 peace deal that established the interim administration.

The war was one of the deadliest in recent decades, claiming roughly 600,000 lives and pitting Tigrayan rebels against federal forces, supported by local militias and the Eritrean army.

In recent weeks, an internal power struggle emerged between Getachew Reda, the former head, and the leader of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) Debretsion Gebremichael.

The interim administration announced the appointment of Getachew's deputy Tadesse Werede, who pledged to carry out his "responsibilities diligently", according to an internal document signed by him and seen by AFP.

It said he would pursue policies that include disarmament, tackling displacement and preparing the region for elections.

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Writing on X, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said they had "officially and peacefully implemented a program to facilitate the transfer of power".

Tadesse has a "clear understanding of both the strengths and shortcomings of the previous administration, and many believe he is well-positioned to guide Tigray through this critical transition", Abiy wrote.

While peace has mostly returned to the region, a failure to fully implement the terms of the Pretoria peace agreement has fuelled divisions within the Tigrayan political elite.

In the past weeks, armed supporters of Debretsion took over Adigrat town, the region's second largest, ousting the mayor appointed by Getachew.

Analysts have suggested that Getachew's faction had slowly lost control, with the renewal of the interim administration's mandate presenting an opportune moment to let him go.

The African Union, headquartered in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, has expressed "deep concern" over renewed tensions in the region.