In a significant political move, the Ethiopian parliament passed legislation on Tuesday allowing the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)—which had been previously banned for its role in armed conflict against the federal government—to re-register with the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).
The bill, officially known as the “Electoral, Political Parties Registration, and Electoral Ethics Proclamation,” was approved by a majority of the 547-member House of Peoples’ Representatives. Two members opposed the bill, and one abstained.
The amendment introduces provisions that permit political parties accused of “violently and illegally operating” to register under “special conditions.”
During the session, government representative Tesfaye Belejge emphasized that the amendment would “allow groups that once pursued power through armed struggle to now seek it through legal and peaceful means.” He described the reform as a critical step toward sustaining peace in Ethiopia.
Getachew Reda, interim president of the Tigray regional state, praised the federal government following the Council of Ministers’ endorsement of the amended bill, which was then sent to the legislature for approval. “The Council of Ministers’ decision represents a positive step toward consolidating peace,” Reda noted on X.
The new legal framework outlines the criteria political parties must fulfill to gain legal recognition and defines the role of the Election Board in this process.
Previously, the NEBE had revoked the TPLF’s registration and legal status after it was labeled a terrorist organization during the northern conflict in 2021. However, following the Pretoria agreement and the conflict’s resolution in late 2022, the terrorist designation was rescinded.
Earlier in 2023, former NEBE head Birtukan Mideksa had denied the TPLF’s request to re-register as a political party, citing the absence of legal provisions for the re-licensing of banned parties.
