May 13, 2025 — Mekelle, Tigray
In a bombshell interview aired yesterday on the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC), Getachew Reda, former President of the Tigray Interim Administration and current Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on East African Affairs, made sweeping and serious allegations against high-ranking figures in the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Military leaders.
Getachew accused several military commanders and political leaders of involvement in illegal gold mining, massive embezzlement, and human trafficking, painting a picture of deep corruption and criminal activity during and after the Tigray war.
Commanders Accused of War-Time Looting and Human Trafficking
Without naming Getachew said:
“A person who was leading the war in Limalimo, Dabat, Debarq area — at the same time, he was digging and selling gold.”
He then directly named three military leaders alleged to be involved in criminal conduct:
Brigadier General HaileSelassie Girmay (Wedi’mbeytey)
Brigadier General Mgbey Haile
Colonel Tewolde Gebretensae (Tewolde Embeb)
According to Getachew, General HaileSelassie, who was tasked with collecting government bank funds during the TDF’s temporary control of Kombolcha, embezzled nearly one billion birr out of an estimated four billion stored in the banks at that time.
He also accused Colonel Tewolde, who served as the Information Directorate Chief, of engaging in human trafficking.
“Tewolde was one of the people who were selling Eritreans like a property,” Getachew stated, referencing disturbing allegations of cross-border trafficking during the war period.
TPLF Leadership Implicated in Financial Crimes
Turning his focus to the political leadership, Getachew accused:
Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, TPLF Chairman and former President of Tigray
Fetlework Gebreegzabiher, senior TPLF figure
He alleged that both leaders were “in full control” of wartime finances and misused both governmental resources and millions of birr raised by the global Tigrayan diaspora, ostensibly meant to support the resistance.
“There has never been any transparency about where this money went,” said Getachew, implying the funds were diverted for personal or undisclosed uses.
Redae Berhe Accused of Cover-Up and Rewarded with Mayoral Position
Getachew also leveled accusations against Redae Berhe (PhD), a former TPLF official captured by federal forces during the conflict and later released under the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA). He accused Redae of using his background as an auditor to conceal financial crimes committed by party leaders.
“He helped justify and hide the theft — and for that, they rewarded him by making him the Mayor of Mekelle,” Getachew claimed.
