The Conflicting Identities and Roles of General Taddesse Werede

UMD Media, January 5, 2025

General Taddesse Werede, Vice President of TIRA, finds himself at the center of conflicting roles and decisions, creating uncertainty about his true intentions.

On one hand, he has aligned with Debretsion’s TPLF faction to position himself as the faction’s candidate as a potential replacement for TIRA’s current President, Getachew Reda, should Abiy Ahmed agree to such a move. This alignment directly conflicts with the recent joint decisions made by the TIRA cabinet, army front commanders, zonal administrators, and the police commissioners of Tigray.

Further complicating the situation, UMD Media sources have reported that General Taddesse Werede and General Migbey Haile were the only ones at odds with the rest of the Tigray Defense Forces’ leadership regarding their stance on the relationship between the army and TIRA.

While that key question whether Taddesse views Getachew Reda as his boss or as his rival remains, as Vice President, Taddesse Werede is expected to work under President Getachew Reda and to implement the joint decisions of TIRA’s leadership.

In his capacity as army commander, he seems to have has taken a more contradictory position—both appearing to agree with and not approving these decisions. This duality was evident in his recent media briefing, raising further doubts about his consistency and intentions.

These contradictions have fueled speculation that Taddesse may be waiting for the right moment to assert control over TIRA. Despite repeated decisions and resolutions by the TIRA cabinet and extensive consultations with the military, uncertainty clouds TIRA’s leadership and stability. With General Taddesse Werede dissenting from a reportedly broader consensus within TDF leaders, his future direction and his relationship with the TDF and TIRA remains critical.