May 14, 2025 Mekelle, Tigray
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has formally deregistered the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) as a political party effective May 13, 2025, citing the party’s continued failure to meet its legal obligations under the country’s electoral law.
In a statement released today, the Board explained that the original deregistration of the TPLF took place under Proclamation No. 1162/2011, Article 98, due to the party’s involvement in acts of violence. Following the Pretoria Agreement, the TPLF twice requested a reversal of this decision—in April 2023—but the Board rejected both requests on legal grounds, emphasizing that Ethiopian law does not provide a mechanism to reinstate a party deregistered for violent conduct.
Later, in response to Proclamation No. 1332/2016, which introduced provisions for registration under “special circumstances,” the TPLF submitted a fresh application and was granted legal personality on August 9, 2024. This registration was distinct from its earlier status and was explicitly defined as a new legal recognition, not a restoration of its previous entity.
However, the Board now states that the TPLF has failed to comply with the conditions tied to this “special circumstances” registration. Despite repeated written reminders, the party allegedly did not fulfill essential requirements under Directive No. 25/2016 and failed to cooperate with the Board’s registration procedures.
The Board also notes that TPLF leaders publicly denied the legitimacy of their registration certificate—a document they had signed and accepted—and refused to comply with mandatory obligations despite multiple chances to rectify their status.
As a corrective step, the NEBE suspended the TPLF from political activity for three months. However, the party did not take the necessary actions during the suspension. Consequently, on May 13, 2025, the Board convened and formally decided to deregister the party under Proclamation No. 1332/2016 Article 3(11)(c) and Directive No. 25/2016 Article 19(1)(c).
The Board announced that this decision has been communicated to the TPLF, the Ministry of Justice, and the general public, with immediate implementation of Article 99 of Proclamation No. 1162/2011, which outlines the consequences of a party’s dissolution.
