Ethiopian Gov’t Establishes Six-Month Caretaker Administration for Tigray and Names Five Officials Ahead of Planned Elections

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Panoramic view of Mekelle spread across hills under a clear sky, with buildings and roads in the middle distance.

A view of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, photographed in January 2018. The federal government on Friday named a six-month caretaker administration for the region and appointed a new mayor for the city. [file photo: A. Savin / Wikimedia Commons, Free Art License]

Ethiopia’s federal government has established a six-month caretaker administration for the Tigray Region and named five officials to lead it, the Office of the Prime Minister said on Friday, with a mandate that includes restoring security and public services, repairing war-damaged infrastructure, helping displaced people return home and creating conditions for free and transparent elections within six months.

The Ethiopian News Agency reported that the decision followed a House of Federation resolution and a binding Council of Ministers decision to create a provisional administration under a Council of Ministers regulation. The office cited Article 62(9) of the Constitution and Article 14(2)(b) of Proclamation No. 359/1995 as the legal basis, The Reporter Ethiopia and Birr Metrics also wrote. The caretaker body will operate under the direction and oversight of the federal government in Addis Ababa, and its authority is limited to routine governance and election preparations rather than long-term strategic decisions, the statement said.

The five appointees named by the Office of the Prime Minister, as carried by ENA, are Assefa Abreha Hagos, chief executive officer of administration and public services; Dr. Tewodros Aregawe W/Selassie, chief executive officer of economy and reconstruction; Brigadier General Gebre-Egziabher Beyene Hailu, chief executive officer of peace and security; Redae Halefom W/Selassie, chief executive officer of political and public mobilization; and Dr. Shishay Amare, mayor of Mekelle. The announcement did not name a single regional president. Birr Metrics noted that the arrangement effectively replaces the previous interim administration headed by Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede, whose appointment Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had extended for another year in April 2026.

In the Amharic statement posted on X by the Office of the Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed’s regime said repeated efforts to resolve the conflict in Tigray under the Pretoria Agreement had been obstructed by the TPLF leadership, and it described the latest fighting as a fourth destructive war that had ended in the group’s defeat. Birr Metrics wrote that the government’s account of responsibility for the renewed fighting and its characterisation of the military outcome could not be independently verified. Reuters, carried by CNBC Africa, quoted Abiy Ahmed as saying that “to attain the peace that has long eluded them, to secure their right to self-administration, and to finally enjoy the fruits of development, which have been out of reach for many years, the people of Tigray must break free from this cycle of conflict.” A TPLF spokesperson did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

The six-month administration is also tasked with coordinating with federal defence, police and security institutions and with regional security forces to strengthen stability down to the kebele level, facilitating the disarmament and reintegration of armed elements, and restructuring the regional security apparatus, ENA reported. It is to promote social healing, coordinate media activities and organise public forums, and to work for a peaceful and inclusive election. Natna News summarised the same appointments and the election timeline. Reuters noted that around 750,000 Tigrayans were still internally displaced as of February, according to the UN refugee agency, and that the region faces drought linked to El Niño.

The announcement follows Getachew Reda’s return to Mekelle earlier this month, when he said Tigray would be run by a federal command post for six months, a line Zegabi covered on Oct. 11. Friday’s announcement spells out the legal basis, the five executives and the election clock under federal oversight. Fighting that resumed after a TPLF-led alliance opened offensives in late September has seen Ethiopian federal forces and the allied Tigray Peace Force retake Mekelle and other towns, according to Reuters and monitors.

On X, reactions ranged from official amplification to cautious support and open questions. ACLED (@ACLEDINFO) wrote that Ethiopia’s prime minister had established the Federal Government’s Caretaker Administration for Tigray and that it would govern for six months with a mandate including restoring security, returning IDPs and organising elections. Jawar Mohammed (@Jawar_Mohammed), whose bio says he is currently a member of the Oromo Federalist Congress, wrote that “Tigray has paid far too high a price for politics conducted through war, armed power and competing claims to authority,” that he supports giving the new caretaker administration the opportunity to succeed, and that it “should be judged by what it delivers within its six-month mandate.” Eskedar A. Bekele (@EskedarAB), who describes herself as an independent consultant, called the move a “good start” and said lasting peace “depends on accountability,” arguing that TPLF leaders still at large “must face justice through due process.” Dagnachew (@Harmuema), whose bio says he promotes equality, human rights and humanity, asked why General Tadesse Werede and others from the prior interim arrangement were not included and whether “this caretaker [will] be the last.” Hannaa Abdisa (@HannaaLido) posted in Amharic that “የትግራይ ክልል የፌዴራል መንግሥት ባለአደራ አስተዳደር በይፋ ተመሰረተ” (“the Federal Government’s caretaker administration for the Tigray Region has been officially established”). Kuflom Teame (@TeameKuflom) summarised the appointments in Tigrigna, writing “ንትግራይ ዘመሓድር በዓል ሓደራ ምምሕዳር ተጣይሹ” (“a caretaker administration to govern Tigray has been appointed”) and named the six-month tenure. Martin Plaut (@martinplaut) flagged the announcement as a news alert. Zegabi has not verified the claims made in these posts beyond the official statement and wire reports.

Sources