Ethiopia Removes Tigray People's Liberation Front from Terrorism List

The Ethiopian parliament removed the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the dominant political party in the Tigray region, from the list of terrorist organizations in a key step towards forming a transitional local government after a two-year civil war. The TPLF, which led the northern region into conflict with the federal government in late 2020, was designated as a terrorist organization in May 2021. The conflict ended with a ceasefire signed in Pretoria last November, resulting in tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. The Ethiopian parliament stated that the majority of lawmakers approved the removal of the TPLF from the list. This removal is a prerequisite for the TPLF's participation in a transitional government. Last week, the TPLF nominated its spokesperson, Getachew Reda, to lead this government. Getachew did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.