ADDIS ABABA (AEA) – Political tensions in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region escalated on Friday as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) successfully reclaimed the State Council, a move that prompted a sharp warning from the Interim Regional Administration.
The political maneuvering saw the Debretsion Gebremichael-led faction of the TPLF hold its first cabinet meeting after a controversial “reclamation” of the council. Getachew Reda,
the President of the Tigray Interim Administration, warned that such actions follow a “dangerous course” that could undermine the stability achieved under the Pretoria Peace Agreement. The rift highlights a growing power struggle within the Tigrayan political elite that threatens the delicate post-war recovery.
While the north grappled with political volatility, the Oromia region and the capital faced a deepening energy crisis.
Despite government claims that diesel supplies had been restored, AEA observed days-long queues at filling stations across major cities in Oromia on Friday.
The persistent fuel shortage has paralyzed local transportation and sparked concerns over agricultural productivity in the country’s breadbasket.
“We are told the supply is back, but the pumps are dry,” said one truck driver in Bishoftu, who had been waiting for 48 hours.
In the diplomatic sphere, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the ongoing tensions regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Officials reiterated that the fourth and final filling of the reservoir is proceeding as planned, despite renewed diplomatic pressure from Egypt and Sudan.
The government also announced a new initiative to modernize the mining sector, aiming to formalize artisanal gold mining which accounts for a significant portion of Ethiopia’s foreign exchange earnings.
The plan involves setting up regional buying centers to curb smuggling across the borders with Sudan and South Sudan.
