Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed proposed virtual voting for Tigray’s interim president as tensions mount after Getachew Reda was ousted by a rival faction of the TPLF. The political crisis highlights deepening divisions and calls for federal intervention amid accusations of Eritrean support for one faction.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has proposed the use of virtual voting via email for Tigray residents to nominate candidates for a new interim president. This development comes amid escalating tensions in the region following the expulsion of Getachew Reda, a former TPLF leader. Abiy’s proposal follows his recent speech in parliament where he supported the leadership of the current interim administration until the upcoming national election.
Getachew was put into office last year as part of a peace agreement that concluded a two-year conflict between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters. However, he has spent the last two weeks in Addis Ababa after being removed from his position by a rival faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which has claimed control over a critical town and parts of the region, exacerbating factional divisions.
The internal conflict within the TPLF has been evident since last August, when a crucial party congress proceeded without Getachew’s participation. This divide has produced two factions: one led by Getachew and the other by long-standing TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael. Although Debretsion’s supporters successfully ousted Getachew, the federal government has not acknowledged this shift.
Getachew has since requested federal intervention and has accused Eritrea of supporting Debretsion’s faction, although these claims have been refuted by Debretsion’s supporters.
In summary, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister has proposed a virtual voting process for Tigray residents to select a new interim president amid rising tensions following Getachew Reda’s removal from leadership. The internal divisions within the TPLF and the presence of rival factions have complicated the political landscape in Tigray. The situation remains fluid as accusations of external interference further elevate tensions in the region.
Original Source: www.aa.com.tr
