In the wake of a devastating conflict and the peace settlement inked in Pretoria, South Africa, many Tigray politicians are vocalizing the urgent need for robust leadership during this critical transition and reconstruction period. A central question now emerges: who possesses the capability to spearhead this pivotal phase?

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), standing as the strongest among the emerging and newly-formed political parties, naturally emerges as a prime candidate. However, recent revelations highlighting deep-seated corruption and mismanagement within the TPLF cast doubt on its suitability to lead this crucial transition.

In its latest communications, the TPLF has acknowledged the imperative for internal reforms and expressed a commitment to critically assess the performance of its political leaders and appointees. This move reflects an understanding that past reform efforts have fallen short of winning back the trust of the people of Tigray. The failure of these reforms can potentially be attributed to the methods employed by the party for self-evaluation.

Throughout its history, the TPLF has navigated through a series of challenges, undergoing significant transformations and introspections. Yet, the persistent scourge of corruption and cronyism continues to plague the party. Despite numerous reforms and attempts at self-correction, these issues remain deeply entrenched within the institution.

The underlying reasons for these failures are multifaceted, but a predominant factor is the absence of an effective institutional framework capable of managing and preventing corruption and cronyism. Drawing from Morgan Housel’s insights in his book “Same as Ever,” the behavioral patterns of TPLF’s leaders, akin to the timeless human tendencies towards greed and tribalism, have contributed to their downfall. Prior to the 2020 conflict with Abiy Ahmed and the Prosperity Party, a sense of entitlement and complacency stemming from past successes led to TPLF’s ousting from EPDRF and a diminished role in the country’s governance.

Addressing these issues requires more than superficial changes; it demands a fundamental transformation of the institution itself. The crux of the problem lies in the party’s overreliance on individuals rather than robust systems and checks. Without systemic change, the same issues will likely resurface, even with a complete overhaul of the current leadership.

To forge a path forward, the TPLF must focus on strengthening its institutional framework and minimizing the impact of individual leaders’ behavior. This can be achieved through several strategic interventions:

1. Term Limits: Implement term limits for key leaders, capping tenure at a maximum of four years to prevent the entrenchment of power.

2. Succession Planning: Develop a comprehensive succession plan that includes mentoring and grooming junior leaders, ensuring a steady and prepared pipeline of leadership.

3. Culture of Accountability: Foster a strong culture of accountability and responsibility, complete with realistic and enforceable penalties for corruption.

4. Independent Oversight: Establish an independent mechanism for oversight to proactively identify and address potential breaches of conduct.

5. Additional Measures: Explore other relevant measures to strengthen institutional integrity and efficacy.

In conclusion, the TPLF’s focus should pivot from solely scrutinizing individual behaviors or performance to a holistic overhaul of its internal mechanisms. By prioritizing institutional reform, the party can better identify, address, and ultimately control the systemic issues that have hindered its effectiveness and credibility.