Ethiopia appoints Tigray interim government and promises elections within six months

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Friday the establishment of an interim government in the northern state of Tigray, as reported by Al Jazeera, France 24, and the Irish Times. Al Jazeera and France 24 reported that the new administration will manage the region for six months, after which Abiy promised that free elections will take place. [1][2][3]

The decision follows recent military clashes between federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front. According to Al Jazeera and France 24, federal troops pushed back a major uprising launched by the group last month. The Irish Times reported that the party previously led an offensive against Abiy's government after resuming control of the region in April. [1][2][3]

The renewed hostilities have also caused diplomatic strain between neighbouring nations. According to the Irish Times, Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea of backing the Tigray rebels, a charge that Asmara denies. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Ethiopian federal troops entered the strategic Tigray town of Adwa earlier this month after rebel fighters withdrew. [3][11]

The Tigray People's Liberation Front served as the dominant political party in Ethiopia for decades until Abiy took office in 2018, according to the Irish Times. The Irish Times added that the region is still recovering from a two-year war fought between 2020 and 2022 that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. [3]