A new political movement is taking shape in Ethiopia’s Tigray region as former interim regional president Getachew Reda prepares to lead the formation of the Tigray Liberal Democratic Party (TLDP), marking a decisive departure from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the region’s long-dominant political force.
The TLDP, rooted in liberal democratic values, is currently undergoing the registration process with the National Election Board of Ethiopia, sources close to the initiative confirmed. Though the party has yet to hold its founding congress, internal documents including bylaws and policy outlines have reportedly been finalized.
The creation of the TLDP follows months of escalating internal rifts within the TPLF. Tensions came to a head in August 2024 when Getachew, then Vice Chairperson of the TPLF and leader of the Tigray Interim Administration, publicly boycotted the party’s 14th Congress. In a strongly worded letter, he criticized the congress as undemocratic and accused the leadership of abandoning the principles that once guided the party.
A rival conference convened shortly after, led by Getachew and titled “Salvation of the People and the Party,” declared the TPLF congress illegitimate. By October, the party’s central leadership retaliated by dismissing Getachew and several allies—including prominent figures like Beyene Mekru and Professor Kindeya Gebrehiwot—from their roles in the interim administration. The TPLF accused them of misconduct and political insubordination.
In response, the interim government under Getachew accused the TPLF of orchestrating a power grab and destabilizing the region by aligning with elements in the military without regional consensus.
Following his ouster, Getachew exited the region and was later appointed as Special Advisor on East African Affairs to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Despite this federal role, Getachew appears to be pressing forward with the establishment of a new political party aimed at offering Tigrayans an alternative vision.
While the name “Tigray Liberal Democratic Party” is still tentative, sources say the party will prioritize pluralism, institutional reform, and post-conflict recovery. Supporters are currently gathering the necessary signatures to finalize registration, with preliminary approval expected as early as May.
If successful, the TLDP would represent a significant ideological departure from the TPLF’s Marxist-Leninist roots, potentially reshaping Tigray’s political dynamics in the post-war era. Analysts say the move could appeal to younger voters and those seeking reform after years of war and authoritarian leadership.
The party’s emergence comes at a sensitive time, as the TPLF faces legal uncertainty over its registration status with Ethiopia’s election board. In recent weeks, the party warned that failure to restore its legal standing could jeopardize the Pretoria peace deal—an agreement aimed at ending the two-year war in northern Ethiopia.
As Tigray navigates a new political chapter, the emergence of the TLDP signals both division and renewal in a region long defined by one-party dominance.