Former supporters turn on TPLF as Tigray offensive falters, AFP reports
Residents of Ethiopia's Tigray region told AFP they have lost faith in the Tigray People's Liberation Front. The party was pushed out of major towns after its offensive in late September, and federal authorities took control of the region in October.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) once ruled Ethiopia. Now it is losing support among former backers in northern Tigray, according to AFP interviews published by The Standard. The shift follows a failed offensive against federal forces. In late September, the TPLF joined other armed groups in an offensive to "overthrow" Ethiopia's federal leaders. Pro-government forces quickly repelled it with drones. The party was forced out of major towns and retreated to the region's hills. From there, it occasionally attacks federal troops. In October, federal authorities formally took control of Tigray. They set up a six-month interim administration and promised to organise elections. Eritrea also played a role. It fought alongside Ethiopia against the TPLF in the 2020-2022 war, then fell out with its neighbour. In October, Eritrea deployed thousands of troops in Tigray to support the party. Drone strikes by the Ethiopian army forced them to retreat. For many Tigrayans, the alliance with Eritrea revived memories of abuses by Eritrean forces in the last war. Tsegay Girmay, 32, from Adigrat, joined the TPLF in 2020. He told AFP he does not believe the party has "the slightest chance" of returning to power. Genet Hailu, a…
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