The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP) has released a sharply critical statement aimed at the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), labelling it as an “oppressor” of the Tigrayan community and calling for equitable representation and political participation in Tigray.
The statement on January 22, 2024, comes amid worsening political tensions and humanitarian crises in Tigray, which has yet to recover from the two-year northern war.
Titled ‘The Suffering of Tigray’s People Must End’, the statement underscores the party’s concerns about the political and social marginalization of Tigrayans under the TPLF’s governance.
Citing its grievances, the EPRP stated that the TPLF has failed to represent the interests and aspirations of the Tigrayan community, arguing that the people are forced to enter into enmity with neighbouring regions such as Amhara and Afar.
“Due to the schemes of certain ruling party officials, the people of Tigray face disputes with neighbouring regional states and Eritrea,” reads the statement. “The party has enforced a cycle of oppression against the will of its people, exacerbating the suffering of its own people.”
The party also urged the TPLF leadership to foster a relationship that genuinely supports the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to a proper and stable life.
The statement highlights the ongoing political rift between the party factions, and decries the lack of peace within and outside the region.
“We affirm that the suffering inflicted by TPLF leaders thus far is more than enough, and the warmongering must come to an end,” the statement reads, while calling for the Tigrayan community to continue their struggle against “suppression.”
EPRP also called on the two factions to resolve their differences through political dialogue. It emphasized the importance of unity among Ethiopians and demanded parliamentary representation for Tigrayans.
“Despite being entitled to 38 seats in the Ethiopian parliament, the people of Tigray have been unrepresented since the conflict began,” it reads. “The decisions made over the past four years have neglected Tigrayan interests.”
EPRP’s statement also urged for an immediate election.
“The people of Tigray have the constitutional right to work and prosper in all parts of Ethiopia,” it reads.
Reports indicate that over a million people remain stranded in IDP centers across Tigray, while the political rift among TPLF leadership has heightened concerns about the potential for further instability in the region.
