MIPT TERRORISM KNOWLEDGE BASE
Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)
Tigrai Peoples Liberation Front : Aliases- EPRDF
Base of Operation: Ethiopia
Founding Philosophy: The Tigray movement, also known as Weyane, began in the mid 1970’s as opposition to the Mengistu dictatorship in Addis Ababa. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) was formed in early 1975 by members of a previous organization, the Tigray Liberation Organization that came under the influence of the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF). The TPLF’s goals included the overthrow of the Dergue regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam and the establishment of a more democratic, inclusive government for Ethiopia. Their ideology was communist, following an Albanian model. Although the group was based out of Tigray and was comprised of almost all Tigrayan peoples, they fought in the name of all groups that opposed Menigstu. Their largest offensive against Ethiopian forces was in February 1988, and by May 1989 the Ethiopian Army had completely pulled out of Tigray.
Despite the EPLF’s goal of Eritrean independence, contrasted with the TPLF’s goal of political change within Ethiopia, the two groups had close contacts throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, helped by EPLF raids on Derg bases within Tigray. Differences regarding the territorial boundaries of Tigray and Eritrea, however, eventually led to a split between the two groups.
Current Goals: In 1989 the TPLF formed an alliance with the Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement (EPDM) and formed the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which claimed to fight for the rights of all oppressed nationalities, civil rights, and a genuine people’s government. In 1991, the EPRDF succeeded in overthrowing the Menigstu regime, and took control of the Ethiopian government.
A split developed within the TPLF in the early 1990’s, based on debates between “moderate” and “hard-line” members of the group. Party leader and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was a moderate and favored the adoption of market-based economic principles and privatization. Opposition from hard-line communists in the group led to an attempted, yet unsuccessful coup in March 2001. The TPLF-dominated EPRDF continues to hold power in Ethiopia.
Recorded Terrorism Incidences Of TPLF (EPRDF) Before Coming To Power (Ethiopia)
1. Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked NGO target (Feb. 17, 1988, Ethiopia)
Incident Date:
Feb. 17, 1988
Terrorist
Organization(s):
Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)
Coordinated:
No
Description:
ETHIOPIA. Members of the Tigray People's Liberation Front abducted six European
aid workers in Asmara. The victims were three Irish nuns, two Belgian doctors
and a Dutch nurse. All were released a week later.
Information
Source:
Chronology Data 1968-1997
Publication
Date:
04/03/2001
Incident-data
Provider:
RAND Corporation
2. Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked NGO target (Oct. 1, 1987, Ethiopia)
Incident Date:
Oct. 1, 1987
Terrorist
Organization(s):
Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)
Description:
ETHIOPIA. A French nurse, Sophie Bedon, was kidnapped by Tigrean rebels,
possibly Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF). The woman was taken hostage
after an attack on an Ethiopian garrison in Rama. In the Sudanese capital,
Khartoum, she was handed over to the French embassy after being held for over
three weeks.
Information
Source:
Chronology Data 1968-1997
Publication
Date:
04/03/2001
Incident-data
Provider:
RAND Corporation
3. Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked NGO target (Mar. 8, 1986, Ethiopia)
Incident Date:
Mar. 8, 1986
Terrorist
Organization(s):
Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)
Description:
ETHIOPIA. Two employees of the American relief agency World Vision were shot to
death in the dining room of their residence compound in the northern town of
Alamata. The victims were both Ethiopian nationals. According to western
diplomatic sources, the attack marked the beginning of a new guerrilla offensive
by the Tigre People's Liberation Front, a well-armed, highly disciplined rebel
army that has been fighting for more than a decade in northern Ethiopia against
the Addis Ababa government.
Information
Source:
Chronology Data 1968-1997
Publication
Date:
04/03/2001
Incident-data
Provider:
RAND Corporation
4. Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked Airports & Airlines target (Mar. 2, 1985, Ethiopia)
Incident
Date:
Mar. 2, 1985
Terrorist
Organization(s):
Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)
Description:
ETHIOPIA. Rebels seized a French disaster-relief aircraft, its five crew
members and four medical staff members in the northern town of Lalibela. The
plane had been flying supplies for Ethiopian villagers as part of the
international effort to relieve the disastrous drought and famine. The Tigre
People's Liberation Front, a regional autonomy group active against the
central government, was suspected. The hostages were freed a few days later.
Information Source:
Chronology Data 1968-1997
Publication Date:
04/03/2001
Incident-data Provider:
RAND Corporation
5. Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked Other target (Oct. 17, 1984, Ethiopia)
Incident
Date:
Oct. 17, 1984
Terrorist
Organization(s):
Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)
Coordinated:
No
Description:
ETHIOPIA. Ten foreigners, including two American tourists, were seized by
secessionist Ethiopian guerrillas when they overran Lalibela. The foreigners
do not appear in any immediate danger from the Tigre People's Liberation
Front, however, there is concern that the Ethiopian military will attempt to
recapture the town, thus jeopardizing the hostages. The captured include two
Britons, an Australian, a Finn, three West German medics and a Swiss
International Red Cross representative. An American tourist couple, a
British national and a Swiss citizen were freed on October 30.
Information Source:
Chronology Data 1968-1997
Publication Date:
04/03/2001
Incident-data Provider:
RAND Corporation
6. Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked NGO target (Apr. 22, 1983, Ethiopia)
Incident Date:
Apr. 22, 1983
Terrorist
Organization(s):
Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)
Coordinated:
No
Description:
ETHIOPIA. Ethiopian guerrillas have kidnapped 10 foreign relief workers,
including an American, apparently to win publicity for drought victims,
diplomats in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, disclosed. They said the
foreigners, seven of them women, were taken in a raid last Thursday by the Tigre
People's Liberation Front at Korem. The hostages included four Britons, an
Indian, two Irish nurses, an American priest and nuns from Italy and Ethiopia.
On June 9 the ten foreign relief workers were set free in Khartoum, the Sudan.
The guerrillas said the relief workers were not "captives" but "guests invited
to view conditions of their province."
Information
Source:
Chronology Data 1968-1997
Publication
Date:
04/03/2001
Incident-data
Provider:
RAND Corporation
7. Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked Private Citizens & Property target (May 1, 1976, Ethiopia)
Incident Date:
May 1, 1976
Terrorist
Organization(s):
Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)
Description:
ETHIOPIA. A British veterinarian, Dr. Lindsey Tyler, his wife and two children
were kidnapped in Ethiopia's Tigre Province by the Tigre People's Liberation
Front. They were released on 5 January 1977 in Port Sudan, Sudan.
Information
Source:
Chronology Data 1968-1997
Publication
Date:
04/03/2001
Incident-data
Provider:
RAND Corporation
8. Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked NGO target (Aug. 3, 1983, Ethiopia)
Incident
Date:
Aug. 3, 1983
Terrorist
Organization(s):
Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)
Description:
ETHIOPIA. Ten Swiss citizens working for an aid organization were kidnapped
by guerrillas. Four women and six men were seized near Jari where the aid
group Terre des Hommes (Land of Man) operates a village for orphans. The
only demand by the Tigre People's Liberation Front was to have someone from
the organization pick up the 10 captives. He said the motive apparently was
publicity for the liberation movement.
Information Source:
Chronology Data 1968-1997
Publication Date:
04/03/2001
Incident-data Provider:
RAND Corporation
9. Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked Journalists & Media target (June 1, 1976, Ethiopia)
Incident Date: June 1, 1976