Addis Ababa, October 4, 2026 (FMC) — External adversaries are using the illegal TPLF group as a proxy to weaken Ethiopia and prevent the country from building its strength and advancing its national interests, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Nuclear Energy Commission Abraham Belay (PhD) said.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Fana Media Corporation, Abraham said Ethiopia is facing a coordinated effort in which external forces exploit internal differences and use armed groups to keep the country embroiled in conflict, undermine national unity and prevent the consolidation of its capabilities.
He said external actors that cannot pursue their objectives directly rely on proxies capable of creating disorder from within, with the illegal TPLF group positioned to serve such an agenda.
According to the Commissioner, the objective of such forces is not necessarily to defeat Ethiopia outright, but to keep the country weak, divided and unable to concentrate its resources and national energy on development and strategic priorities.
Every conflict that takes the lives of Ethiopian youth, drains national resources, displaces citizens and delays development serves that objective, he said, stressing that prolonged instability itself becomes a strategic gain for those seeking to weaken Ethiopia.
The senior Ethiopian government official said external forces work through political, social, religious and other differences to fragment national thinking and weaken Ethiopia’s cohesion.
The illegal TPLF group became part of this strategy because it could not achieve its objectives independently and therefore required external backing, weapons and direction, he said.
Abraham, who previously served as head of the Tigray interim regional administrator, said the external role became particularly evident during the conflict in northern Ethiopia, when outside forces supported internal actors and participated directly in the fighting.
He specifically pointed to Eritrea, saying its government viewed a strong Tigray region as a threat and sought to keep the region weak by using the illegal TPLF group as a proxy.
Eritrean forces entered Ethiopian territory, participated on various fronts and provided support and weapons to the group, he said.
The former Tigray Interim Administration head said the illegal TPLF group’s reliance on external actors also demonstrated that its political and military agenda was detached from Ethiopia’s national interests.
He said the group’s actions served broader efforts to keep Ethiopia unstable rather than contributing to peace, development and national cohesion.
Abraham said Ethiopia’s security institutions are now far better positioned to confront such threats, citing strengthened discipline, technological capacity, professional readiness and operational preparedness.
He said security forces have thwarted missions designed to destabilize the country and have captured substantial quantities of weapons and personnel in the process.
The Commissioner stressed that those who enter another country, oppose its government and join forces working to destabilize it should expect serious consequences.
He said Ethiopia will not stand idle while external actors interfere in its internal affairs through proxies, emphasizing that the country’s security institutions are determined to defend its sovereignty, national interests and stability.
The senior official said the proxy strategy will ultimately fail because Ethiopia has a long history of resilience and a population determined to defend the country’s sovereignty and future.
He added that Ethiopia’s security institutions have accumulated greater experience and capacity and are increasingly capable of confronting both direct threats and externally orchestrated destabilization efforts.
According to the former Tigray Interim Administration head, attempts to weaken Ethiopia through internal conflict are already losing their effectiveness as the country strengthens its institutions, protects its national interests and advances toward lasting stability and development.