In the middle of a storm of political instability and uncertainty, Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede has stepped in as the new President of the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) — and done so with the calm confidence of a man who’s weathered far worse.
His composed entry came at a time when anxiety was running high. Prominent voices like General Tsadkan were publicly warning that “a war between Ethiopia and Eritrea can erupt at any time.” The region, still reeling from war, needed leadership that wouldn’t amplify panic. Tadesse delivered just that. By stating he sees no security concerns in the region, he didn’t deny the complexity of the moment — he brought stability to it. That’s exactly the tone an interim leader needs to strike when stepping into chaos.
Critics have pointed out, however, that his administration might not be as inclusive as many hoped. These concerns aren’t just coming from federal-government-aligned figures like former TIA President Getachew Reda, who accused the new leadership of forming a “non-inclusive” cabinet dominated by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Multiple Tigray-based opposition parties — including SAWET, Arena, the Tigray Independence Party (TIP), and Baytona — have echoed those concerns. They argue that the new cabinet excludes diverse political stakeholders and risks tightening restrictions rather than opening the door to democratic participation.
When voices across the political spectrum — not just federal-aligned actors — raise similar warnings, the critique becomes harder to dismiss. Whether Tadesse Werede was the most inclusive or ideal choice is still up for debate.
But what’s not in question is how he handled his entrance into a pressure cooker of political tension. While Getachew Reda reacted to internal disagreements by banning generals and engaging in power struggles that only deepened divisions, Tadesse brought something else: control. He extended thanks to his predecessors, even when they declined to accept it. He didn’t strike back. He didn’t lash out. He steadied the machine instead of adding fuel to it.
That kind of calm, strategic posture doesn’t fix everything — but it’s a start. In a region where trust in leadership is fragile and the wounds of war are still fresh, the way Tadesse Werede managed the transition might not silence every critic, but it sets a new tone.
Tigray needs healing, not more infighting. And for now, at least, it has a leader who seems more interested in managing crisis than manufacturing it.
