It is not the controversial election the Tigray regional state conducted on September 9, 2020 which the federal government declared null and void. He and other senior TPLF leaders enjoyed impunity for years while they presided over extrajudicial killings, torture, illegal imprisonment, enforced disappearances, and corruption. Other panicked TPLF leaders bolted to Tigray to avoid arrest on corruption or human rights charges. Abiy sent federal police to Tigray to apprehend Getachew, but they were arrested at Mekelle airport by the Tigray regional government according to TPLF Ambassador Berhane Gebrekiristos. The establishment of the Prosperity Party and the voided regional election thus only worsened an already-fraught relationship between the federal and Tigray regional governments.

Source: Ethiopian News December 20, 2021 11:53 UTC