Last week marked a historical juncture that impacted Ethiopia profoundly, if not irreversibly. That extends from the country’s physical make-up and size to its system of government. Over 31 years ago, the TPLF marched into Arat-Kilo Palace almost without resistance, ending years of bitter armed struggle with the Derg. Ginbot 20 is still one of the national public holidays, but it is no longer celebrated with colorful street demos and processions across the country like it was before 2018.- the year TPLF lost its grip on power in the federal government.
A considerable section of Ethiopians remembers Ginbot- 20 as a turning point where Ethiopia’s path in history took a turn from the bad to the worse road. And many analysts agree that the pain the day brought to the nation outweighs its joys and the remedies.
It did not take long before Ethiopians realized the destructive nature of TPLF policies and strategies. The divide and rule system of TPLF’s governance, the lack of transparency and accountability, and the proliferation of grand corruption by senior government officials were soon become the hallmark of TPLF leadership that stayed consistent throughout its 27 years in power.
TPLF has provided early proof for its corruption-riddled nature when it threw into jail the first prime minister of its administration, Tamerat Layne on charges of grand Corruption. Contrary to this fact, the TPLF-controlled media tried to showcase Tamrat’s fall from grace as political capital to build its fake image as a party that has zero-tolerance for corruption.
But actually, Most of the TPLF leaders were involved in grand corruption and looting, and misuse of power, since the early days they came to power 31 years ago. Along with their toxic, colonial, and oppressive system of administration, they also introduced various techniques of grand corruption that were unheard of in the nation. Key positions at top government offices, state own companies’ management boards, and the diplomatic service all were distributed among TPLF members and loyalists with total disregard for their competency. Likewise, the military and the security apparatus were re-established following the disbanding of the former Ethiopian army security service. Leaders of the military wing of TPLF, who have no formal training as cadets were conferred with the senior ranks of general and colonel.
TPLF people who took key civilian and military positions did not waste time taking their corruption crimes into the next phase. It did not take the newly established TPLF -owned businesses long to dominate the Ethiopian economy. Besides, TPLF political and military leaders have individually misappropriated wealth and turned themselves into multi-millionaires and even billionaires overnight.
The individual and institutional grand corruptions carried out by TPLF leaders know no bounds. From minor private business deals up to state-sponsored mega projects, TPLF leaders’ corrupt hands infiltrated every section of the economy. Even Ethiopians’ most valued flagship project, The GERD project, was not spared from falling victim to TPLF leaders’ corruption schemes. Debre-Tsion G/Michael was the Board Chairman of Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, the owner of The GERD project. Had it not been to the former METEC, GERD could have been completed by now. Currently, METEC’s Chief, a senior TPLF military officer, Major-General Kinfe Dagnew, is now in jail and indicted for grand corruption.
TPLF leaders and their affiliates have invested the money they embezzled to build commercial buildings, residential villas, luxury hotels, and reactional centers in and around Addis Ababa, in particular which is the epicenter of economic activity of the nation, in addition to being the political capital city.
TPLF intentionally destroy, shelled, and ransacked every town in Amhara and Afar regions it invaded during its offensive last year. Some political commentators jokingly remark that it won’t do the same if it gets the second chance to march into Addis Ababa as it did 31 years ago. The reason is simple, the commentators say, the TPLFites has so many properties in Addis, how could their mortars aim their villas and multi-story buildings?
The war in northern Ethiopia was sparked by the concerted military assault carried out in different camps of Ethiopian defense forces. The attacks happened almost all at the same time and were the culmination of a long-time plot masterminded by a few treasonous members of the Ethiopian defense who broke their oath of loyalty by taking sides with the terrorist TPLF.
Almost all of these criminals who are now leading the military and political arms of the TPLF are filthy rich. In a recent interview, Brigadier General Berhe G/ Medhin, a senior executive officer at the Ministry of Defense who is originally from the Tigray region said “ These guys [the TPLF leadrs] are very rich and own big businesses. From the beginning, they were given land in Addis for free and built high-rise buildings. In addition, they are widely involved in commercial businesses. It is also a well-known fact that they have owned huge commercial farms. When the wind of reform change came in 2018, they panicked and fled to Tigray and barricaded there, leaving behind their investments and properties here in Addis.”
A recent investigative report revealed that Lieutenant-General Tsadkan G /Tensaye , one of the top military leaders of the TPLF rebels has four one-storey villas in Addis that are rented to expatriates working for foreign organizations like the UN. Another TPLF loyalist general, Fiseha Manjus, who is currently one of the top leaders of the section of TPLF armed forces active in Sudan, was reported to have a villa in Addis rented for 6000 US dollars per month to foreigners. Col Tsahye Kidane, another TPLF commander, has a multi-storey building in Addis, which fetches a monthly revenue of 21,500 US dollars in rent. Abbay Tsehaye, a former TPLF Chief killed during the conflict last year, had a real estate in Lemi Kura sub-city, Addis Ababa, which lies on 16,000 square meters. The list appears to be endless.
Reclaiming all these properties is an additional motive for TPLF leaders’ dangerous decision last year to march to Addis as they did 31 years ago. It was a decision that brought about a loss of life to hundreds of thousands of Tigrayan youth lives. As if the war destruction of last year was not enough, TPLF is still preparing for another attempt to assault the Ethiopian allied forces.
The corrupted TPLF top leaders appear to have nothing to lose if they reignite the war. For them, reigniting the war could partially mean an attempt to reclaim the properties they left behind in Addis. They will always be safe hundreds of kilometers away from the deafening roar of the mortars, flying bullets, or air-borne fire. Their wives and children are even safer enjoying the high luxurious western life overseas. Both General Tsadkan, and his comrade Siye Abreha, who is still an active supporter of TPLF, have been celebrating the graduation of their children residing in the US. While TPLF bigshots provide their children with the finest education and the best life, they force children of the Tigrayan poor to go to the front as sacrificial lambs for their futile pursuit of impossible goals.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY SOLOMON WASSIHUN
The Ethiopian Herald 3 June 2022
