Tigray’s peace and security bureau said that it has arrested Brigadier General Guesh Gebre and launched an investigation into allegations that include conspiring with an unspecified enemy and undermining the Tigray army, a day after issuing a statement referring broadly to disciplinary action against unnamed senior officers.
In a statement issued today, the bureau confirmed for the first time that Brigadier General Guesh Gebre was under its arrest and said he is being investigated. The statement attached what it said was a formal letter detailing the charges he is suspected of committing.
According to the letter, the allegations include “working with the enemy, attempting to undermine the army and violating decisions issued by the military leadership.” The statement did not identify the alleged enemy referred to in the charge or provide further details about the accusations, however the attached letter states that formal charges had been filed and that the court had granted a nine-day period for investigation.
The confirmation followed a statement issued on Saturday, January 13, 2025, in which the peace and security bureau said that some members of the army leadership who had “forgotten that everyone is equal before the law” were being held accountable for violating army regulations and engaging in disciplinary and legal violations. That statement did not name any individuals.
The statement issued on Sunday said the bureau would continue to take action against individuals involved in similar activities regardless of their rank, signaling a wider crackdown within the TDF leadership. The bureau also warned that it would not tolerate any attempt to obstruct decisions taken by the army.
Several local medias had earlier reported that Brigadier General Guesh Gebre, a senior TDF commander, was detained in Mekelle after being summoned for a meeting with Major General Masho Beyen, another senior military commander in the army. According to those reports, Guesh’s guards were disarmed upon arrival, his vehicle was seized, and he was held for several hours before being taken to an undisclosed location.
Wegahta could not independently verify the accounts of the arrest.
The detention of Brigadier General Guesh Gebre comes against the backdrop of prolonged internal divisions within Tigray’s political and military leadership following the end of the two-year war on Tigray.Brigadier General Guesh was among senior military commanders sidelined in January 2025 after refusing to endorse a decision by the senior TDF leadership to restructure Tigray’s interim administration, led by Getachew Reda and to endorse one faction of the then TPLF led by Debretsion Gebremichael. After refusing to endorse the decision General Guesh and several others were removed from command and suspended from duty.
Following months of removal from command and suspension from duty, Tigray’s public diplomacy group announced on August 19, 2025, that it had facilitated discussions between the interim administration and several senior military officers, including Guesh. The group said the talks resulted in an agreement “to work together on issues concerning the people of Tigray,” though no details were provided and it remained unclear whether the officers were formally reinstated or what commitments were made by either side.
Despite this announced agreement to work together, the recent detention of Brigadier General Guesh signals lingering divisions within Tigray’s military leadership.
Observers suggest that the arrest of Brig. Gen. Guesh may serve not only to discipline one individual but also to discourage broader dissent and reinforce loyalty to the current leadership. Many say the move can be seen as a warning to other military commanders, government officials, and political figures that opposing the leadership carries real consequences. However, warns that while such actions may temporarily strengthen the authority of the current leadership, they also risk deepening divisions and escalating tensions, potentially complicating efforts to achieve long term political reconciliation in Tigray.