The history of Ethiopia is full of warfare and conflicts, deaths and destruction according to scholars of Ethiopian history. They say only at certain intervals has the country experienced spells of total tranquility and peace which by the way is also something that has been happening in other parts of the world. The dictum that says ‘if you want peace be prepared for war’ seems to apply everywhere. It is said that some governments do not want their communities to enjoy too much peace for long because they want to keep their subjects busy with stories of wars and conflicts and that their people must always be alert and could not possibly ask for their rights. This makes the governments relevant and useful to the people and the reign continues almost undisturbed.
Referring to the history of Ethiopia, these scholars say Ethiopians have enjoyed peace only for intervals because of various reasons. These could be internal as well as external factors. At times, internal forces are seen conflicting in internal rivalry for power, for land and other resources. This could lead to disputes and then degenerate to conflicts. There have always been faction leaders, land lords and rebel forces who try to overthrow the law and order of the entity in question, the political establishment. Regional leaders at times need to be subdued by force and this has frequently led to fierce conflicts. In a way, it had become a way of life for certain regional communities. The other major factor is the invasion that could come from abroad trying to colonize or dominate the country. This has often been a source of national unity that has brought together all forces even in rivalry to defeat the alien forces.
Several attempts have been made by various alien groups and invaders to defeat and invade our country. These alien forces usually resorted to trying to capitalize on the internal rivalries or differences among the Ethiopian population and by luring those who are disenchanted with the central power they try to use them as informers and collaborators in exchange for gifts and benefits. This has been a constant of Ethiopian history according to historical studies. The forces now battling our country have tried to push this one step further. They have invented certain narratives that antagonize a certain ethnic group is the enemy of another one etc.
In repeated episodes Ethiopians have buried their internal differences or disagreements when a foreign foe steps into their territory and uniting their forces and resources, they have foiled or crushed the enemy.
Today Ethiopia is living another crucial episode and the actors that are trying to dismember and colonize Ethiopians are relying on internal collaborators and external assistance. They try to exacerbate disparities. The enemy knows very well the society and using both fake narratives, and repeated persistent propaganda by international media tries to record fake victories against Ethiopia.
Today Ethiopia is facing not only the forces actual in play, fighting on the fronts, but also the hostile collaboration of these internal forces and bitter external enemies who give them not only advice and psychological or moral support but also a wide range of propaganda campaign. We have seen this incident in repeated instances ever since the TPLF forces brutally and treacherously attacked the northern command.
The TPLF leadership knew that these forces in the command were there to keep them safe. They were actively taking part in various development and social endeavours such as helping build residences, schools, hospitals or engage in campaigns against natural disasters. This relation has lasted since the end of the Ethio-Eritrean conflict of 1998-2000. Hence for more than twenty years this Command was there helping the locals. But once the TPLF leadership felt it was not in a position to dominate the political landscape in Ethiopia, they decided that they must go to war. They took the initiative by trying to destroy the North Command.
The November 3 attack against the Northern Command was well planned and coordinated and probably had the advise if not collaboration of certain foreign enemy forces.. The federal government probably did not expect such a bold, irresponsible and highly dangerous and treacherous attack. It was a stab in the back. Although the dispute between the federal government led by Dr Abiy Ahmed and the TPLF regional leaders had began to be more and more open and vicious, no one could have imagined such a move!
Deep and protracted studies need to be conducted to find out exactly how TPLF reached this stage, especially if we consider what sort of support it had from abroad.
It is clear that the TPLF leadership felt marginalized from the Ethiopian political landscape by the newly emerging leaders in Ethiopia. A new party had completely substituted the old one and this must have enraged them. When the federal government invited it not to destroy all the bridges with the central government and sit to discuss the matter, their response was one of arrogance. TPLF would not bow to any force because it had through sacrifice earned its independence they said. But the government tried to call them to their senses telling them that there was no force that could defeat Ethiopia.
Abiy Ahmed’s government continued to propose various solutions to the crisis. When the premier explained the scenario that was present in the pre-Nov 3 attack and subsequent response of the Ethiopian national defense forces, he underlined that he had explored all avenues of peaceful negotiations so that the rift between the two forces could not widen. But the response was a mockery stating that they had decided to launch an attack confident of eventual success.
After the law enforcement campaign was launched and ended in the capture of Mekelle, the premier explained to parliament how the government tried to create a new local administrative arrangement with Tigray Prosperity. But the move was not accepted and rather created strong opposition and resistance and a new hostile movement was launched in the regional state while at the same time there was condemnation by the international community against such moves. Pressure mounted against the government to cease every hostility while the government was hunting down those who treacherously attacked the Northern Command. After a few months of concerted efforts it was time to open a window of opportunity for the residents there not only to see what is actually going on and have moments of reflection so that they can have the time to make certain critical choices. But the response was totally negative. TPLF and its cohort did not accept the cease fire and rather took the opportunity as a means of intensifying attacks to neighbouring regions. They pledged to take revenge against those regions. Their advances resulted in the massacring of innocent farmers but the international community did not utter a word against such brutalities.
All those who were regularly and harshly accusing the Ethiopian government over atrocities in Tigray and echoed the TPLF propaganda never said a word when it came to blatant violations of humanitarian laws. TPLF felt emboldened by the support of these international actors including the media and some governments, and it proceeded with their attacks deep in the country. They boasted occupying key areas in Ethiopia and tried to convince the residents that they wanted the leaders of the country and not the common people while they proceeded with their arbitrary executions.
But when things seemed to go out of hand, the Ethiopian government decided to field its troops and other security forces to thwart their advance. Today we know that thousands have been displaced by these terrorists and the Ethiopian forces are forcing them to retreat in multiple fronts. Thousands of casualties have been reported and given the kind of strategy the TPLF terrorists use that is fielding even unarmed and a mass of citizens to show that they have the support of everyone, the casualties have been ominous. However the leadership of the terrorist group has no regards for human life as long as it can guarantee them power! That is why they did not feel any sympathy for the lives of thousands. The Ethiopian defense forces were reluctant to shoot at children and women forced to such sacrifices by the vicious leaders, but later on when the situation became overwhelming there was no choice.
What is clearly visible in this war is the role of international actors who intervened in it on the side of the terrorists. They probably hope to have a stake in an eventual TPLF controlled government. The double standard they have been applying in this conflict has been repeatedly demonstrated by how they reacted to what the TPLF terrorists do and what the legitimate and elected Ethiopian government has been doing. The declarations they make have almost always been one sided and partisan. They have shamelessly taken the two sides as equivalents disregarding that one is a terrorist group while the other one is a democratically elected government.
These forces have been denounced even by their own citizens because they failed to distinguish between terrorists and a legal government. They failed to recognize the terrorist attacks they inflicted on innocent civilians and the sort of horrendous crimes they committed, not only at the beginning of the war but also after the withdrawal of the Ethiopian forces from Tigray and their continuous advances to Ethiopian central areas.
The recent revelations made by a joint human rights group including the UN Office of the Human Rights have shown that the claims of TPLF and their cohorts were unfounded and baseless. The finding stated there was no evidence of usage of famine as a weapon of war ( the Ethiopian government did allow humanitarian aid in). There was no evidence of genocide committed by ENDF in Tigray. The report confirmed Ethiopia’s claims that the war was initiated by the TPLF. It was not Ethiopia who first broke the peaceful situation.
Besides, the report also confirmed that there was ethnic based massacre committed against innocent people living and working in Mai Kadra. The report admitted that it could not be comprehensive in its operations due to constraints of time, space and other factors. But the major findings have revealed the various unfounded accusations that were made against Ethiopia and the unnecessary pressure put on it by the international community, including the UN. The smear campaign carried out by TPLF and its cohorts has been dismissed as baseless. The glaring facts were uncovered and attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation based on false claims have been refrained. The report did accuse all parties in the conflict including Eritrean forces of various degrees of atrocities committed on citizens and that they needed to be made accountable.
The Ethiopian government has thanked those who took part in the investigation and accepted its responsibilities. It said it was already prosecuting those involved in crimes not acceptable by military codes. However, the reaction of those who support TPLF has not been that favourable accusing the investigative body of bias.
Ethiopians now know that there is some kind of design in the back of such TPLF bold attacks and propaganda campaign and it would not be distant that a new neo-colonial ambition might be there lurking. It needs to watch out and repel it with one voice. Loud and angry voices have been heard in Ethiopia that the threats of economic sanctions would not intimidate a united population behind its government. That is also what the government has been telling its people: to rally behind it and fight for the survival of the nation.
Accordingly it has declared a state of emergency so that it can better address the urgent issues using extra focus and extra resources, besides extra legal coverage. The need for a fast and efficient response to every kind of attack on the country is now more than ever before imperative.
BY FITSUM GETACHEW
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD NOVEMBER 11/2021
