Ethiopia Moves Toward New Interim Administration in Tigray as Abraham Belay Accuses Eritrea of Direct Involvement

Ethiopia’s federal government is preparing a new political and administrative structure for Tigray following the latest military developments in the northern region.

Abraham Belay, former head of Tigray’s interim administration, said the federal government intends to establish a new transitional authority aimed at restoring local administration and paving the way for regional elections within a matter of months.

According to Belay, new administrative structures would be organised from the local level upward with direct community participation. He said federal forces were continuing operations against armed groups the government considers illegal. 

Belay Accuses Eritrean Forces of Joining the Fighting

Belay also directed fresh accusations at neighbouring Eritrea.

He claimed Eritrean forces had participated directly in the conflict alongside the TPLF and other armed groups. Addis Ababa has repeatedly accused Asmara of supporting forces fighting the federal government, while Eritrea has denied involvement. 

Belay also warned that Ethiopia’s security institutions would respond more forcefully if what he described as Eritrean interference continued, adding to increasingly confrontational rhetoric between the two neighbours.

US Pushes for De-escalation

At the same time, Washington has urged both Ethiopia and Eritrea to exercise maximum restraint, warning that the Horn of Africa cannot sustain another military confrontation and calling for a return to dialogue under the 2018 peace framework.

The combination of plans for a new Tigray administration, renewed military operations and escalating accusations involving Eritrea is adding a wider regional dimension to Ethiopia’s renewed northern conflict.