Tigray Independence Party

Tigray Independence Party
AbbreviationTIP
FoundedJune 2020
IdeologySeparatism
Tigrayan nationalism
Anti-imperialism
National affiliationSAWET
Baytona

The Tigray Independence Party (TIP) is a Tigrayan nationalist political party in Ethiopia. Founded in 2020, the party seeks the independence of the Tigray Region.[1][2]

Creation

In September 2020, BBC News described Tigray Independence Party as "a new opposition party".[2] The party had been founded a few months earlier in Mekelle, on 17 June 2020.[citation needed]

Policies

In September 2020, prior to the 2020 Tigray regional election held that month, TIP's main aim was for Tigray to secede from Ethiopia, becoming independent. It described Ethiopia as an "empire".[2][3]

September 2020 election

TIP won 18,479 votes out of the 2,633,848 votes cast, winning no seats in the September 2020 election.[4] The Tigray Regional Council resulting from the election established a mechanism for minority parties to propose agendas and bills, present motions, propose policy and nominate appointees. TIP was allotted five seats.[1]

Tigray War

On 2 February 2021, TIP, together with National Congress of Great Tigray and Salsay Weyane Tigray, estimated there to have been 52,000 civilian casualties of the Tigray War.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Debretsion faces rough road ahead as Tigray State President". Addis Fortune. 24 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Gebremedhin, Desta (5 September 2020). "Why there are fears that Ethiopia could break up". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Ethiopia: Further polarisation as Tigray holds 'illegal' election". Africa Practice. 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  4. ^ "የትግረይ ምርጫ፡ በትግራይ ክልላዊ ምርጫ ህወሓት ማሸነፉ ተገለፀ". BBC News (in Amharic). 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. ^ "A Joint Press Release by Tigray Independence Party (TIP), Salsay Weyane Tigray (SAWET), and National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona) on the Current Situation in Tigray". Eritrea Hub. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.