The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has reconstituted its pre-war regional council, which was dissolved under the 2022 Pretoria Agreement that ended the two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia. Tigray TV reported that the council elected TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael as regional president.
The Pretoria Agreement, signed in November 2022 between the Ethiopian federal government and the TPLF, called for the disarmament of Tigrayan forces and the restoration of federal authority, including the dissolution of the regional council. The reconstitution marks a significant step in the region's political normalization.
Debretsion Gebremichael, who has led the TPLF since 2017, previously served as president of the Tigray region from 2018 until the conflict erupted in 2020. His election as president was confirmed by Tigray TV on May 6, 2026.
The move comes amid ongoing efforts to implement the peace deal, including the return of internally displaced persons and the reopening of basic services. However, challenges remain, such as the withdrawal of Eritrean troops and the disarmament of Tigrayan combatants.
