Federal Government Warned Against Repeating Political Failures in Tigray

An analysis emphasizes that if the Ethiopian federal government regains decisive influence in the Tigray region, it must avoid repeating its past political failures. Reflecting on the post-2020 military victory and the subsequent Pretoria Agreement, the piece highlights that military control should never be confused with political legitimacy. The author argues that previous attempts to establish interim administrations without broad regional acceptance led to deep grievances and instability. The Pretoria Agreement successfully halted major hostilities, but key aspects like disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) alongside territorial dispute resolutions remained incomplete. Moving forward, the federal government is advised to prioritize civilian protection, prevent collective punishment, and allow Tigrayans to form a genuinely inclusive interim arrangement. Ultimately, the focus should be on fully reintegrating Tigray into the nation's political life and respecting regional self-government rather than forcing political subordination.