Ethiopia’s government has appointed former Tigrayan leader Getachew Reda as a ministerial advisor, a controversial decision that analysts warn could deepen divisions in the already fragile Tigray region.
The northern region is still grappling with the aftermath of a devastating two-year civil war that ended with the signing of the Pretoria peace agreement in 2022. The conflict, one of the deadliest in recent history, claimed an estimated 600,000 lives and saw Tigrayan forces battling federal troops supported by local militias and the Eritrean army.
Getachew, who had led the region’s interim administration following the peace deal, was removed from his position earlier this month after an internal political reshuffle. He was replaced by Debretsion Gebremichael, the leader of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), in a move seen by many as indicative of mounting internal strife within the region’s ruling elite.
Despite his ousting, Getachew was named on Friday as “advisor on East African affairs to the Prime Minister with the rank of minister”, according to a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) by government officials in Addis Ababa.
Getachew, 50, previously served as Ethiopia’s communications minister before being sidelined when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018.
Experts fear that his re-entry into federal politics, particularly amid ongoing tension within the TPLF, could spark further polarisation in Tigray. Mehdi Labzae, an Ethiopia analyst at France’s National Centre for Scientific Research, described the appointment as “the ultimate betrayal”, warning that it may alienate both the region’s political elites and its wider population.
“Getachew Reda still enjoys strong support in Tigray; this decision may only fuel suspicion and deepen divides,” Labzae told AFP.
Kjetil Tronvoll, a Horn of Africa expert, echoed the concern, predicting that the move would intensify existing political rifts. “He will be accused of revealing his true loyalties by siding with the federal government,” Tronvoll said.
Although the Pretoria deal largely ended active hostilities, its partial implementation has left lingering tensions. The power struggle within the TPLF has flared in recent weeks, with armed loyalists of Debretsion reportedly taking control of several towns and removing officials appointed by the previous interim administration.
Eritrea’s alleged support for Debretsion’s faction has further strained its already fraught relationship with Ethiopia, raising concerns of renewed unrest in the region.
