Ethiopia Deregisters Tigray Party, Threatens Peace Deal
Ethiopia’s National Electoral Board has stripped the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of its legal status, triggering fears over the stability of the fragile Pretoria peace deal and reigniting political tensions between the former rebel group and the federal government.
On May 14, 2025, the electoral board canceled TPLF’s registration under Article 1162/2019 of Ethiopia’s electoral law, citing its failure to meet post-conflict political reformation requirements. The move prohibits the TPLF from participating in elections or engaging in political activity, and it freezes the group's assets and organizational functions.
This marks a new low in federal-Tigrayan relations since the end of the two-year civil war that concluded with the 2022 Pretoria agreement, which had restored TPLF’s political recognition after it was labeled a terrorist group in 2021.
Interpretations of Pretoria Accord
TPLF leaders argue that the deregistration violates the Pretoria deal, which they say granted the party full political reinstatement. They reject Addis Ababa’s claim that their re-entry into the political process required re-registration under restrictive terms.
The federal government insists that all post-conflict parties must comply with standard national laws, including holding a general assembly within six months. It accuses the TPLF of resisting legal obligations and seeking special treatment.
Political Stakes and Regional Implications
Observers say the move risks derailing peace in the Tigray region, where disarmament and resettlement efforts remain incomplete. Internal TPLF splits, administrative dysfunction, and weak regional institutions could spark renewed unrest or armed mobilization.
Analysts warn that the TPLF might use the dispute to pressure the government, and there are growing concerns about alleged renewed ties between TPLF figures and Eritrea.