![Debretsion Gebremichael, lead of TPLF, attends funeral ceremony of Ethiopia's Army Chief of Staff Seare Mekonnen in Mekele, Tigray Region, Ethiopia on June 26, 2019. [Photo by Tiksa Negeri/ REUTERS]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/55757779_401.jpg?ssl=1)
Last month, the head of the TPLF, Debretsion Gebremichael said his group will not compromise self-termination in any agreement that leads to talks for a ceasefire deal with the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa, while Addis Ababa has ruled out any talk with the group which is considered a terrorist by the parliament.
Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, a TPLF diplomat said on condition of anonymity that representatives of the rebel group in the US, including himself, met a number of Western diplomats who said they are not convinced by the demand which they see as a lack of will for ending the war with Addis Ababa.
“I was among a number of diplomats of the Tigray government who met a number of Western diplomats in recent days and we have heard from them that they are not convinced with the fact that Abiy Ahmed has killed our people and our people deserve the right to nationhood,” the diplomat said.
“They see our demand as a way to stay away from reaching peace deal with the government but our position is clear. We haven’t requested that we become an independent country, but we need to make sure that we have that right in case we need to have one in the future,” the he added.
![South Sudan First Vice President and SPLM-IO chairman Dr. Riek Machar Teny speaking during the 6th SPLM/SPLA (IO) National Conference in Juba last week [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/130450649_1339232143083147_1474291214779927284_n.jpg?resize=120%2C86&ssl=1)
![Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed [Photo via SEE]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/news_abiy-ahmed-ali_688_0.jpg?resize=120%2C86&ssl=1)
And how exactly would an independent Tigrai support itself economically ? In 30 years the TPLF Junta did an awful lot for themselves in terms of their bank accounts but precious little in the way of economic development for the ordinary rural folk in Tigrai. This is why even before the traitors launched their attack in 2020, Tigrai people were dependent on food aid.
What exactly would this new landlocked country inside a huge landlocked Ethiopia and next to its enemy Eritrea, be ABLE to export to pay its way ? Dust ?
Nobody is holding them back; they can use the Constitution they drafted to suit them and depart. I think virtually all Ethiopians would want them to exercise that right because they believe they added/add any value to the nation but rather are the primary causes for poverty and backwardness.