Tigray party says ban threatens Ethiopia peace deal

Ethiopia's main opposition party has condemned a ban on its activities. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) calls this a "serious threat" to the 2022 peace deal. This deal ended two years of conflict in the northern Tigray region.

The electoral agency revoked the TPLF's legal status as a party. The TPLF has asked the African Union to mediate with the federal government. The ban was imposed because the party failed to hold a general assembly.

This decision follows months of political tensions in Tigray. It comes ahead of nationwide elections due by June next year. The TPLF led a coalition that overthrew the government in 1991 and ruled Ethiopia until 2018.

In 2018, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took power and dissolved that coalition. He formed a new party, which the TPLF rejected. This dispute led to a civil war, resulting in tens of thousands killed and millions displaced.

A truce was signed in November 2022, ending the conflict. The TPLF now runs Tigray's interim administration, established in 2023 under the Pretoria peace agreement. However, internal elections have not occurred due to factional splits within the party.

On Wednesday, the National Election Board of Ethiopia decided to deregister the TPLF for not holding an assembly. The party protested this move and urged the African Union to pressure the federal government.

In their letter to the AU, they stated that this ban denies rights reclaimed through the Pretoria Agreement. They argued it threatens the foundation of peace and emphasized dialogue for resolving political issues.

TPLF deputy chairman Ammanuel Assefa told BBC that this decision could damage the Pretoria agreement. He warned it could lead to dangerous consequences for those who sacrificed during conflicts.

Delays in implementing agreement terms have raised fears of renewed violence in Tigray. Several countries, including the US, UK, and EU, have warned about escalating tensions and stressed there must be "no return to violence."