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Transitional Government of Tigray

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Transitional Government of Tigray
ትግራይ ክልል የሽግግር መንግሥት
Overview
Established7 November 2020
Dissolved23 March 2023[citation needed]
PolityTigray Region
LeaderChief Executive Officer[1][2]
Appointed byAbiy Ahmed
Responsible toHouse of Federation of Ethiopia

The Transitional Government of Tigray was a caretaker administration that was formally declared by the House of Federation of Ethiopia on 7 November 2020, in the context of a conflict between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), in power in the Tigray Regional State and the federal government of Ethiopia.[3] In late November 2020, the administration, headed by Mulu Nega, planned public consultation and participation in choosing new leaders at the regional and zonal level and preservation of woreda and kebele administrations.[4] The Transitional Government left Tigray in late June 2021 during Operation Alula.[5]

Background

[edit]
Main article: Tigray War

In March 2018 Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, resigned in favour of reforms that intended to lead to sustainable peace and democracy, ceding power to a government led by Abiy Ahmed.[6][7] Abiy tried to unite all the regional political parties in a single centralized political party. The TPLF, the dominant party in the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), refused,[8] and the Prosperity Party was created as a merger of three other EPRDF member parties.[9] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Election Board of Ethiopia postponed a federal election planned for later in 2020. The TPLF established its own regional Electoral Board for holding a Tigrayan region election,[10] which the House of Federation (HoF) objected to. The Tigray regional election was held on 9 September 2020 with the TPLF winning all of the seats contested[11][12] and 98.2% of the vote.[13]

On 5 October 2020, the Tigray Region authorities urged federal government officials to resign and join the Tigrayan government. Most of the TPLF House of Peoples' Representatives members resigned.[14] On 7 October 2020 the HoF decided to stop any relationship the federal government has with the Tigray regional state assembly and the region's highest executive body. The HoF cut budget subsidies to the state, banned all federal institutions from sending letters and information to Tigray's higher executive bodies or providing support to their institutions and prohibited the region from participating in national level forums. The Tigray government described this as a declaration of war against the region.[15][16][17]

During November 2020, the conflict between the federal and Tigrayan authorities became a military conflict, with federal forces claiming to have occupied the regional capital Mekelle by late November 2020.[18]

Constitutional context

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Article 62, 9 grants HoF the right to "order Federal [government] intervention if any State [government], in violation of [the] Constitution, endangers the constitutional order."[19][3]

Creation of the transitional government

[edit]

Abiy Ahmed stated to the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation on 4 November 2020 that the Ethiopian National Defense Force, which was camped in the area of Mekelle, was attacked by the Tigray Special Forces. The TPLF stated that the attack was pre-emptive.[20] Following this, the Ethiopian federal government started an operation to take action that it described as aiming to restore the rule of law and declared a six-month state of emergency in Tigray. The HoF then allowed the federal government to intervene into Tigray and formed the Tigray Transitional Government.[21][3]

Leadership and structure

[edit]

From around 13 November 2020 to 6 May 2021, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tigray Transitional Government was Mulu Nega.[22][1] According to EEPA, Mulu Nega handed in a resignation letter in late January 2021, stating that the transitional administration had no power to respond to "the plight of the people of Tigray who are starving to death and sexually harassed by foreign forces".[23] On 11 February, Mulu held talks with Ahunna Eziakonwa of the United Nations Development Program on cooperation in reconstructing Tigray Region and briefed the media, continuing in his position as head of the transitional government.[24] On 6 May 2021, Mulu's replacement by Abraham Belay as the new head of the Transitional Government was announced by the federal authorities.[1]

As of 28 November 2020, the creation of the government was coordinated by "five people".[4] The Ethiopian news service Borkena stated in late November that "ethnic Tigreans" would lead the Transitional Government.[18]

Mulu Nega stated that the transitional government structure would be defined by a charter to be completed in December 2020 and approved by the Federal Attorney General. As of 28 November, the plan was for regional level and zonal level leadership to be changed, while "maintaining woreda and kebele administrations intact". Public consultations and public participation in "the selection of officials appointed to lead institutions" were planned.[4]

On 15 December 2020, Mulu announced that members of Tigrayan opposition parties, including Arena Tigray, Tigray Democratic Party (TDP) and Assimba Democratic Party (ADP), would be appointed to "leadership positions in the regional cabinet and various high level positions at the regional administration".[25]

Abraha Desta, Chairperson of Arena Tigray, became Head of the Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs.[26] In February 2021, he described his membership of the transitional government as contingent and motivated by humanitarian reasons. He stated that he did not support the federal government nor oppose the TPLF. He promised to resign, to publicly oppose the federal government, and to "fight" to get land back if any "square metres of land [are] taken from Tigray".[27]

On 16 December 2020, Assefa Bekele, was nominated as the Head of the Roads and Transport Bureau by the region's Transitional government.[26] Alula Habteab was head of the Construction, Roads and Transport Bureau in late February 2021.[28]

Dismissals

[edit]

Alula Habteab was dismissed from his Construction, Roads and Transport Bureau position in mid-March 2021.[29] EEPA stated the likely reason for the dismissal as Alula's public statement in February 2021[30] that the EDF, ENDF and Amhara Region forces had "completely destroyed 30 years" of infrastructure development in Tigray Region.[28]

Amdom Gebreselassie, vice head of the Public Relations Bureau, was also dismissed from his position in mid-March 2021.[29] EEPA stated the likely reason for the dismissal as Amdom's earlier statements calling for an independent investigation into the war crimes in the Tigray War and his statement that Amhara forces and the EDF were involved in the war crimes.[28]

Amdom stated that the two dismissals were decisions by the federal Ethiopian government. He attributed his own dismissal as being a result of his call for legal action against the perpetrators of sexual violence in the Tigray War and a public statement made by Arena Tigray, of which he heads public relations. Amdom described the dismissals as "undemocratic" and limiting Transitional Government officials' freedom of action. Amdom claimed that the Transitional Government leadership internally agreed on fundamental issues, but disagreed on whether to state their opinions publicly or keep them private.[29]

Powers

[edit]

Mulu Nega stated that the four main powers of the transition administration would be:

The administration would also be empowered to "actively [implement] tasks assigned to it by the federal government".[31]

Excluded powers

[edit]

As of 28 November 2020, the resolution of land claim disputes, expected for historical reasons in the "Raya, Telemt and Wolkait areas", were excluded from the planned powers of the transitional administration.[4]

Territorial control

[edit]
See also: List of zones of Ethiopia § Tigray Region

On 3 February 2021, Mark Lowcock, the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stated that federal Ethiopian authorities controlled about 60% to 80% of the Tigray Region and that forces allied with the ENDF were "pursuing their own goals".[32] On 7 February 2021, Alex de Waal said that "much" of Tigray Region was controlled by the EDF according to United Nations and United States sources, while Ethiopian and Eritrean authorities denied that the EDF had any territorial control in the Tigray Region.[33]

Mekelle

[edit]

On 15 December 2020, the appointment of a mayor for Mekelle was announced by Mulu.[25] The mayor was later named as Ataklti Haile Selassie.[34] According to Addis Standard, Ataklti resigned from the mayorship on 30 March 2021.[35]

Amhara Region

[edit]

Amhara Region authorities took over administrative control of parts of Tigray Region. As of 1 March 2021, several geographical places had been renamed by the new authorities and many residents of Tigrayan ethnicity had been deported by the new authorities to Central Zone.[36]

Mi'irabawi Zone (west)

[edit]

As of 23 November 2020, the conquered Tigrayan town of Humera in Mi'irabawi Zone (Western Tigray) was administered by officials and security forces from Amhara Region.[37] According to a refugee from Humera, Gush Tela, the Fano vigilante youth group took control of a judicial court in Humera.[38]

By 10 January 2021, according to Europe External Programme with Africa (EEPA), the zone as a whole was divided by its Amharan administration into Telemt (Tselemti), with May Tebri (May Tsebri) as its capital and Humera–Welqayt–Tegede zone, with Humera as capital.[39]

As of 10 January 2021, the new head of Humera–Welqayt–Tegede zone was Yeabsira Eshete, and the administration was composed of ethnic Amharans, according to EEPA. EEPA stated that ethnic Tigrayan civilians were deported from western Tigray to central Tigray by bus and their houses immediately occupied by Amharans.[39] In early February, the transitional government confirmed that the western zone was run by the Amhara Region administration.[40] According to VOA-Tigrigna, on 17 March 2021, Etenesh Nigusse, head of Communications in the Transitional Government stated that more than 700,000 Tigrayans had been forcibly removed by Amhara Special Forces from Western Zone.[41] According to Wazema Radio on the following day, the Federal Emergency Proclamation task force had not confirmed the number of people forcibly removed and the Regional Government of Amhara denied the claim of forcible removals.[42][better source needed]

Debubawi Zone (south)

[edit]

On 16 December 2020, Mulu appointed Million Aberah as the Chief executive officer of Debubawi Zone.[26] In early February, the transitional government confirmed that the southern zone was run by Amhara Region.[40]

Eritrean Defence Forces

[edit]

Semien Mi'irabawi Zone (northwest)

[edit]

On 2 December 2020, Mulu claimed that residents of the kebeles in Shire Inda Selassie, a woreda in Semien Mi'irabawi Zone (North West Tigray), each elected about 20 representatives, who together elected 25 members forming a new Woreda Council. The Council elected five of its members as its Cabinet. Mulu stated that a mayor of the woreda was elected.[43] In early February 2021, the transitional government stated that the presence of the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) in the northwest zone "added to the challenge" of administering the zone.[40]

Misraqawi Zone (east)

[edit]

In early February 2021, the transitional government stated that the presence of the EDF in the eastern zone "added to the challenge" of administering the zone.[40]

Other

[edit]

As of 14 February 2021, administrative control of Debub Misraqawi Zone (southeast) and of the part of Maekelay Zone south of the Shire–Adigrat road was unclear.

Departure from Tigray

[edit]

The Transitional Government left Tigray in late June 2021 during Operation Alula, in which the Tigray Defense Forces took control of Mekelle.[5]

On 23 March 2023, as part of the November 2022 Ethiopia–Tigray peace agreement, a new transitional government, the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray, to be headed by Getachew Reda, was declared by the Prime Minister's Office.[44]

List of Chief Executive Officers of the Transitional Government of Tigray

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Ethiopia replaces head of interim gov't in war-wracked Tigray". Al Jazeera English. 6 May 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  2. ^ Ethiopia replaces head of war-hit Tigray region, 5 May 2021, retrieved 5 May 2021
  3. ^ a b c Addisstandard (7 November 2020). "News Alert: House of Federation adopts resolution to establish a transitional government in Tigray". Addis Standard. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Abdu, Brook (28 November 2020). "Tigray Interim Gov't fears identity questions could hinder its activities". The Reporter (Ethiopia). Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  5. ^ a b Emmanuel Akinwotu (28 June 2021). "Interim government of Tigray flees as rebels seize capital". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Wikidata Q117360095. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Ethiopia prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigns". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Ethiopia PM Hailemariam Desalegn in surprise resignation". BBC News. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  8. ^ "EPRDF Agrees to Form a United National Party; TPLF Dissents". www.ezega.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed gets a new ruling party". BBC News. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Ethiopia postpones August elections due to coronavirus". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Governing party in Ethiopia's Tigray sweeps regional polls". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Tigray crisis: Why there are fears of civil war in Ethiopia". BBC News. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  13. ^ "የትግረይ ምርጫ፡ በትግራይ ክልላዊ ምርጫ ህወሓት ማሸነፉ ተገለፀ". BBC News (in Amharic). 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  14. ^ "ህወሓት በመንግሥት ሹመት ላይ ያሉ አባላቱ ቦታቸውን እንዲለቁ ማዘዙን ገለጸ". BBC News አማርኛ (in Amharic). Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  15. ^ Insight, Addis (7 October 2020). "Federal Government Cuts ties, Budget Subsidies". Addis Insight. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  16. ^ "የፌደሬሽን ምክር ቤት ውሳኔ "ቅቡልነት የለውም"- የትግራይ ክልል". BBC News አማርኛ (in Amharic). Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  17. ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "ለትግራይ "የፌድራል መንግሥት የበጀት ድጎማ ማድረግ አይችልም" የፌዴሬሽን ምክር ቤት አፈ-ጉባኤ | DW | 10.10.2020". DW.COM (in Amharic). Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Mekelle city liberated from Tigray People's Liberation Front". Borkena. 28 November 2020. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  19. ^ "Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia" (PDF). WIPO. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Ethiopian military operation in Tigray is complete, prime minister says". www.reuters.com. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  21. ^ "Ethiopian PM Abiy accuses TPLF of camp 'attack', vows response". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  22. ^ Abdu, Brook (21 November 2020). "Tigray interim gov't plans regional, zonal overhaul". The Ethiopian Reporter. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  23. ^ "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. [66 – 25] January 2021" (PDF). Europe External Programme with Africa. 25 January 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Gov't Engrossed in Rebuilding Tigray Region, Says Interim Regional Administration CEO". Ethiopia News Agency. 11 February 2021. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  25. ^ a b "News: Tigray interim admin CEO says Mekelle gets new mayor, urges civil servants to resume work and cautions door-to-door search for unlawful firearms begins today". Addis Standard. 15 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  26. ^ a b c "ቃና ዜና ቅምሻ (ታህሳስ 7, 2013) | Kana News - YouTube". www.youtube.com. 16 December 2020. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  27. ^ "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. 85 – 16 February 2021" (PDF). Europe External Programme with Africa. 16 February 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  28. ^ a b c "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. 103 – 15 March 2021" (PDF). Europe External Programme with Africa. 15 March 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  29. ^ a b c Ekubamichael, Medihane (16 March 2021). "News: Tigray Interim Admin Officials say they are dismissed for speaking up against atrocities and destruction". Addis Standard. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Ethiopian army, Eritrea and Amhara forces destroyed Tigray's 30-year development, says interim official". Tghat. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  31. ^ a b c d Abdu, Brook (21 November 2020). "Tigray interim gov't plans regional, zonal overhaul". The Reporter (Ethiopia). Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  32. ^ Anna, Cara; Lederer, Edith M. (4 February 2021). "US urges Ethiopia's PM to allow 'immediate' help to Tigray". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  33. ^ de Waal, Alex (7 February 2020). "Viewpoint: From Ethiopia's Tigray region to Yemen, the dilemma of declaring a famine". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  34. ^ "Tigray Interim Administration, Residents of Mekelle City Conducting Discussion". Ethiopian News Agency. 25 December 2020. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  35. ^ Ekubamichael, Medihane (30 March 2021). "Breaking: Mekelle city interim mayor resigns". Addis Standard. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  36. ^ "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. 95 – 02 March 2021" (PDF). Europe External Programme with Africa. 1 March 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  37. ^ "Inside Humera, a town scarred by Ethiopia's war". Reuters. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  38. ^ Akinwotu, Emmanuel (2 December 2020). "'I saw people dying on the road': Tigray's traumatised war refugees". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  39. ^ a b "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. 51 – 10 January 2021" (PDF). Europe External Programme with Africa. 10 January 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  40. ^ a b c d "Current Situation of Residents in Tigray Region - Brief Monitoring Report". Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. 11 February 2021.
  41. ^ VOA Tigrigna, 17/3/2021 ቢሮ ኮሚኒኼሽን ክልል ትግራይ 700 ሽሕ ነበርቲ ካብ ም/ትግራይ ተመዛቢሎም ይብል መንግስቲ ክልል ኣምሓራ ግን ነዚ ይነጽግ
  42. ^ Wazema Radio (18 March 2021). "ለቸኮለ! ሐሙስ መጋቢት 9/2013 ዓ.ም የዋዜማ ዐበይት ዜናዎች". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  43. ^ "Shire Gets New Leadership after TPLF". Ethiopian News Agency. 2 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  44. ^ የትግራይ ክልል ጊዜያዊ አስተዳደር ስለማቋቋም (PDF) (in Amharic), Prime Minister of Ethiopia, 23 March 2023, Wikidata Q117360193, archived (PDF) from the original on 25 March 2023
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