Fears of rebel infighting as top TPLF officials hint at ousting Debretsion

ADDIS ABABA – Fears are reported in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray after some senior members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) hinted at ousting the rebel group’s leader Gebremichael Debretsion after asking him to resign from his position or ‘face the might’ of the Tigray people.

According to official who spoke to Sudans Post on condition of anonymity, deputy TPLF leader Fetlework Gebregziabher reported mobilized some senior members of the group and said they would oust Debretsion if he does not resign from his position as chair of the TPLF.

“There are fears everywhere,” the official said. “The deputy president of Tigray region and deputy chairperson of the TPLF has warned that Debretsion resign peacefully before he could be forced to face the might of the Tigray people and we don’t want this to happen.”

The official who requested not to be named said rebel disputes over some fundamental issues within the party and the preconditions for negotiating with the government of Ethiopia has weakened to the group to the point that it can no longer wage armed resistance against Addis Ababa.

“The people of Tigray have a story of being powerful people. The government could never defeat us but these disagreements and the desire by Debretsion to not listen to the party voices is hampering the advancement of the TPLF agenda and that is why we are now not as powerful as we were at the start of the conflict,” he said.

“The TPLF can never wage a meaningful war of resistance against the forces of Abiy Ahmed unless the president listen and give change to other managers who are also well educated and have a clear political life, someone who will be accepted by all Ethiopians and Tigray,” he added.

Source: Sudans Post