The president of Tigray’s Interim Administration (TIA), Tadesse Werede (Lt. Gen), has committed to maintaining a working relationship with the federal government despite “the slow implementation of the Pretoria peace agreement”.
In an interview with regional media on September 11, 2025 on the occasion of the Ethiopian New Year, the Interim President reflected about the region’s relationship with the federal government.
Acknowledging the strained relationship between, Tadesse emphasized that ties should not be severed.
“Our relationship with the federal government may be good or bad, but it should not be severed,” he said, highlighting the region’s commitment to peace through dialogue while also signalling its readiness for potential challenges.
Tadesse emphasized that the goal in the new year is to prioritize dialogue and negotiation with all stakeholders, including the government, in an effort to relieve the pressures on the people of Tigray.
The general says his administration is working diligently to minimize the risks challenging the war-affected population, stating his belief that new political stability and change will come to the region.
“We have faced difficult challenges in the past five years. However, you cannot say why it happened,” he said, stressing that the challenges should not be compared. “When we have time, we can discuss how and why it happened. We took a lesson from it and we are working towards better days to solve internal problems and to ensure justice prevails in the region.”
Amid ongoing delays in implementing key provisions of the Pretoria peace agreement—delays which have reportedly increased distrust between Mekelle and Addis Ababa—Tadesse says his administration is prioritizing the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and territorial integrity.
He noted that the lack of proper implementation is a responsibility shared by both signatories: the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Furthermore, Tadesse said both signatories bear equal responsibility for implementing the agreement. However, he questioned whether the revocation of the TPLF status as a legally recognized party by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) might create an obstacle in the implementation process.
Nonetheless, according to him, there is room for better adjustment and progress.
“Both parties are working together for the better and proper implementation of the agreement,” he said. He also highlighted that the region’s internal affairs are compromising its negotiatory power. “We have to work for the unity of the region and the people of Tigray.”
