Getachew Reda’s shock return as Abiy’s advisor exposes deep cracks in Tigray politics, fueling fears of civil war 2.0.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has thrown gasoline on a smoldering political fire—appointing ousted Tigrayan rebel leader Getachew Reda as his top advisor on East African affairs, a move analysts call nothing short of a ticking bomb.
The war-scarred region of Tigray, still bleeding from the devastating 2020–2022 conflict that killed over 600,000, now faces fresh political tremors. Just weeks after being purged from power in an internal coup by TPLF chief Debretsion Gebremichael, Getachew has been elevated to ministerial rank by the very government he once fought against.
“This is the ultimate betrayal,” said French researcher Mehdi Labzae. “Getachew still carries real weight among Tigrayans. This move will deepen fractures between the elite and grassroots alike.”
For many in Tigray, this appointment reeks of collaboration with the enemy. Abiy’s camp may see this as a strategic masterstroke—neutralizing a powerful figure—but the optics in Mekelle suggest treason. Already, Debretsion’s faction has seized towns and ousted mayors, with Eritrea quietly backing the maneuvering from the sidelines.
Kjetil Tronvoll, a veteran Horn of Africa analyst, warns that the decision could “accentuate divisions and unravel fragile post-war calm.” The Pretoria peace deal, barely implemented, is now dangling by a thread as the TPLF descends into chaos.
Behind the scenes, fears of a new Tigrayan power struggle—possibly a return to armed confrontation—are growing. With Eritrea lurking and Addis Ababa scheming, Tigray’s battlefield may soon shift from trenches to palaces.
The question now isn’t if Ethiopia’s fragile peace will hold. It’s how long until the knives are drawn again.
