Tigray Peace Force
Rebel splinter group and political movement in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia
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The Tigray Peace Force (TPF) (Tigrinya: ሓይሊ ሰላም ትግራይ, Ḥayli Selam Təgray) is a rebel group and political organization in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. The TPF emerged as a rebel splinter group formed by disgruntled former members of the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), after the deep internal division and schism formed following the Pretoria Agreement that ended the Tigray War in 2022. The TPF defines itself by a core ideology of reform, resistance to the status quo, and the push for separation of party and state in post-war Tigray.[2]
Tigray Defense Forces
| Tigray Peace Force | |
|---|---|
| ሓይሊ ሰላም ትግራይ | |
| Dates of operation | 2025–present |
| Split from | Tigray Defense Forces |
| Headquarters | Afar Region, Ethiopia |
| Allies | |
| Opponents | |
| Battles and wars |
|
The TPF is explicitly positioned in ideological conflict with the long-established political and military leadership of the TDF and the ruling faction of the TPLF.[2][2]
Background and formation
The emergence of the TPF is a direct consequence of the escalating political fragmentation within Tigray after the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) was signed in Pretoria in November 2022. This period witnessed a significant internal power struggle between two main TPLF factions:
- The Reform Faction: Associated with the former president of the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray (IRAT), Getachew Reda, who advocated for democratic reforms, engagement with the Federal Government, and the separation of party and state.[3][4]
- The Old Guard: Associated with TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael and senior military commanders, who sought to maintain the TPLF's traditional dominance and authority.[2]
The TPF is widely viewed as the vanguard of the reform movement and arose in resistance to the military leadership's alleged implicit support for the faction defending the status quo.[2] It gained visibility when it resisted efforts to restore entrenched TPLF dominance after the reform-leaning administration began advocating for change.[2] A key reported leader of the TPF is former TDF officer, Brigadier General Gebreegzabher Beyene, who claims to have organized four military divisions from the Afar region, stating his aim is to create a force independent from Tigrayan parties.[5]
Ideological stance and conflict
The TPF functions primarily as an ideological resistance movement challenging the political monopoly of the pre-war elite, rather than a conventional replacement for the TDF.[2]
Distinction from TDF
Analysts characterize the tension between the TDF leadership and the TPF as a clash of two fundamentally different worldviews: the TDF representing the defense of the status quo, and the TPF demanding fundamental political renewal.[2] Reports indicate that TDF members who disagree with the commanders' decision to support the TPLF establishment have been defecting to join the TPF.[6]
| Feature | TDF Leadership | TPF Movement |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Alignment | The Debretsion Gebremichael-led TPLF Old Guard.[4] | The Getachew Reda reform faction.[2] |
| Core Goal | Defending the existing power structure and TPLF authority.[2] | Pushing for democratic reform and state–party separation.[2] |
| External Perception | Accused of aligning with Eritrean interests (Shaebia).[2][7] | Accused of being backed by the Federal Government of Ethiopia.[8] |
| Nature | The established military command structure.[2] | An ideological resistance movement and political deterrent.[2] |
Military and political clashes
The rivalry has led to intermittent armed clashes, particularly in Southern Tigray near the border with the Afar Region, where the TPF is reported to organize.[8][5]
- Violent Engagements: Since July 2025, the TDF and TPF have engaged in fighting in areas such as Alasa in the Wajra zone.[8] The TDF has reportedly used heavy weaponry, including mortars and machine guns, to attack TPF fighters entering Tigray from Afar.[8]
- Accusations of Incursion: TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael asserted in a November 2025 letter to the international community that TPF fighters had launched incursions into Southern Tigray, allegedly coinciding with a visit by the IRA president.[1] The TPLF has also accused the Federal Government of supporting this armed group and conducting drone strikes against Tigrayan targets.[8]
- Political Response: In response to the growing tensions, leaders like Mulugeta Gebrehiwet (Chaltu) have urgently called on the commanders of both the TDF and TPF to pledge never to engage in conflict, warning against a disastrous internal war.[9]
In December 2025, reporting by The Africa Report described the Tigray Peace Force (TPF) as a rebel group formed by former members of the Tigray Defense Forces and mid-level TPLF commanders dissatisfied with the post-Pretoria political settlement. According to the report, the group has operated along the Tigray–Afar borderlands, conducting armed operations that contributed to renewed insecurity in Afar and southern Tigray. Analysts cited by the publication warned that clashes involving the TPF risk undermining Ethiopia’s fragile post-war peace and transforming Afar into a proxy battleground for internal Tigrayan political rivalries.[10]