Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Friday (October 16, 2026) the establishment of an interim administration in the northern Tigray region, which has been controlled by rebels who have clashed with federal forces in recent weeks.
Addis Ababa also announced the appointment of five officials, including the mayor of Mekelle. The TPLF, which previously ruled Ethiopia before being locked out of power in 2018 when Abiy became Prime Minister, was banned as a political entity last year.
In a comment to AFP , TPLF vice president Amanuel Assefa said the region “cannot be ruled by puppets of the genocidal regime” in Addis Ababa.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) launched a major offensive against government forces on September 23, before being pushed back and losing control of its strongholds, including the regional capital Mekelle.
The federal government caretaker administration, which aims to create “a stable political situation so that free and transparent elections can be held”, will administer Tigray for the next six months, Abiy’s office said on social media following a cabinet decision. The TPLF leadership “did not desire peace”, it said, instead initiating the latest “devastating war”. Tigrayans “must break free from the cycle of conflict”, the statement said, in order to “ensure their right to self-governance, and to enjoy the benefits of development”.
