By Dawit Endeshaw
ADDIS ABABA, March 18 (Reuters) - The dominant party in
Ethiopia's northern Tigray region has nominated its spokesman
Getachew Reda to be president of a regional interim
administration called for in a peace deal that ended a two-year
war in the region, party-run media reported on Saturday.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) fought Ethiopian
forces and their allies in a war that killed tens of thousands
of people. A truce was reached last November after federal
forces recorded a series of battlefield victories.
If Getachew's nomination, which was reported by the
TPLF-controlled Tigrai TV, is approved by the federal
government, he would replace TPLF leader Debretsion
Gebremichael, who has led Tigray since 2018.
It is not clear when the federal government might weigh in
on Getachew's nomination or when the interim administration will
be set up.
Ethiopian government spokesperson Legesse Tulu did not
immediately respond to a request for comment.
The lack of an interim government has been hampering the
humanitarian response across Tigray, where millions are in dire
need of assistance, according to aid workers.
Salaries for civil servants and medical personnel have not
been paid, and aid agencies lack a clear interlocutor, they
said.
Getachew's nomination came days after U.S. Secretary of
State Antony Blinken visited Ethiopia and praised authorities
there for progress on implementing the peace pact while
cautioning that more work needed to be done.
During that visit, Blinken discussed with Getachew and
Ethiopian officials the importance of setting up the interim
administration.
(Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw; Writing by Elias Biryabarema;
Editing by Aaron Ross and Hugh Lawson)
1232; Reuters Messaging:
elias.biryabarema.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.