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TPLF says Ethiopia ban threatens Tigray peace deal | TPLF says Ethiopia ban threatens Tigray peace deal |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Delays in implementing the peace deal have sparked fears of fresh violence in Tigray | Delays in implementing the peace deal have sparked fears of fresh violence in Tigray |
Ethiopia's main opposition party has condemned a ban on its activities, saying it posed a "serious threat" to the 2022 peace deal that ended two years of conflict in the northern Tigray region. | |
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has called for the African Union to mediate with the federal government after the electoral agency revoked its legal status as a party. | |
The party, which governs Tigray and dominated the entire country for many years, was on Wednesday banned for failing to hold a general assembly. | The party, which governs Tigray and dominated the entire country for many years, was on Wednesday banned for failing to hold a general assembly. |
The decision follows months of political tensions in Tigray and comes ahead of nationwide elections that are due to take place by June next year at the latest. | The decision follows months of political tensions in Tigray and comes ahead of nationwide elections that are due to take place by June next year at the latest. |
The party led a coalition that overthrew the government in 1991 and ruled Ethiopia until 2018 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took power. | |
He then dissolved that coalition and formed a new party, which was rejected by the TPLF. | |
The dispute culminated in a civil war that saw tens of thousands of people killed and millions forced from their homes in northern Ethiopia before a truce was signed in November 2022. | |
'No-one can handle another war' - Tigrayans fear fresh Ethiopian conflict | 'No-one can handle another war' - Tigrayans fear fresh Ethiopian conflict |
The party runs Tigray's interim administration which was established in 2023 as part of the peace deal, known as the Pretoria peace agreement. | The party runs Tigray's interim administration which was established in 2023 as part of the peace deal, known as the Pretoria peace agreement. |
But the party has been unable to conduct internal elections because of a split, with two factions laying claim to control of the party. | But the party has been unable to conduct internal elections because of a split, with two factions laying claim to control of the party. |
The National Election Board of Ethiopia, which supervises the conduct of political parties, on Wednesday "resolved to formally deregister" the TPLF on the grounds that it had failed to hold a general assembly. | The National Election Board of Ethiopia, which supervises the conduct of political parties, on Wednesday "resolved to formally deregister" the TPLF on the grounds that it had failed to hold a general assembly. |
But the party has protested against the move and called on the African Union to put "pressure" on the federal government to suspend the enforcement of the ban. | But the party has protested against the move and called on the African Union to put "pressure" on the federal government to suspend the enforcement of the ban. |
In a letter to the AU, the party said the ban "denies the TPLF a right it had reclaimed through the Pretoria Agreement and poses a serious threat to the foundation of the peace process". | In a letter to the AU, the party said the ban "denies the TPLF a right it had reclaimed through the Pretoria Agreement and poses a serious threat to the foundation of the peace process". |
It added that the peace deal stipulated that both parties recognise each other's legitimacy and any political issue should be resolved through dialogue. | It added that the peace deal stipulated that both parties recognise each other's legitimacy and any political issue should be resolved through dialogue. |
TPLF deputy chairman Ammanuel Assefa told the BBC that the decision by the electoral board could "damage the Pretoria agreement" which "is going to be dangerous". | TPLF deputy chairman Ammanuel Assefa told the BBC that the decision by the electoral board could "damage the Pretoria agreement" which "is going to be dangerous". |
"This isn't just about TPLF, but also about undermining what people have sacrificed," Ammanuel added. | "This isn't just about TPLF, but also about undermining what people have sacrificed," Ammanuel added. |
Delays in implementing the terms of the agreement, including the return of some one million people displaced by the war, have fuelled fears of fresh violence in Tigray. | Delays in implementing the terms of the agreement, including the return of some one million people displaced by the war, have fuelled fears of fresh violence in Tigray. |
Several countries including the US, UK and the European Union have warned about the escalating tension, saying there must be "no return to violence". | Several countries including the US, UK and the European Union have warned about the escalating tension, saying there must be "no return to violence". |
More on Ethiopia's civil war: | More on Ethiopia's civil war: |
'I lost my leg on the way home from school' | 'I lost my leg on the way home from school' |
How war has hurt Ethiopia's Olympic hopes | How war has hurt Ethiopia's Olympic hopes |
How a massacre in the sacred city of Aksum unfolded | How a massacre in the sacred city of Aksum unfolded |
Why Ethiopia is so alarmed by an Egypt-Somalia alliance | Why Ethiopia is so alarmed by an Egypt-Somalia alliance |
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |