Ogaden Prison is a prison in the town of Jigjiga where human rights abuses and serious abuses have taken place in Western Somalia. It is an example of abuses committed by the TPLF against many prisoners who have not been prosecuted. There are many survivors of the humiliation at Ogaden Prison who were quickly killed before being brought to the prison. A 130-page report, released by Human Rights Watch in 2008, states that scores of civilians were massacred at Ethiopian military bases in the towns of Wardher, Degahbur, Duhun, Hamaro, and Shilaabo.

Streams of camels are broken! The TPLF’s further ambitions are not overlooked. He quickly crossed the border into Ethiopia. He cut off the backs of those who, directly and indirectly (EPLF / Eritrea and Somalia) were on their side yesterday, when they were seeking independence. So, what is the real purpose of TPLF?

Bad foundation

According to the TPLF manifesto , the principles established by the TPLF in 1975 are based on two factors: territorial expansion and secession or the fact that the Tigrayans make up 6 percent of the total population. Ethiopians gain independence and a republic of Greater Tigrai.

The predictions of many people that the TPLF’s goals would come true were far from possible. It did not seem to many that a small rebellion that began with a coup d’ état could challenge the rule of Mengiste Haile Mariam who was a friend of powerful countries. But the TPLF leaders were determined to achieve their goals by any means possible (force, strategy, right or wrong!).

The TPLF has been repeatedly accused of war crimes and of massacring civilians. For example, according to data published xogsaabka Global Terrorism Database, in October 1984   , two hundred people   , and women and children were included in the brutal TPLF to succeed in Lalibeela Amhara region.

In 1989 the TPLF formed a consortium called the EPRDF (Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front). This umbrella  was formed by the rebels; TPLF (The Tigray People’s Liberation Front), EPDM (Ethiopian Peoples’ Democratic Movement), OPDP (Oromo People’s Democratic Organization) and SEPDM (Southern Ethiopia Peoples Democratic Movement).

Establishing this alliance was a ploy by the TPLF to gain support at home and abroad, following the emergence of an opportunity to seize control of the entire country. Tigray People’s Name changed to Ethiopian Peoples’. while Marxism was replaced by Revolutionary democracy.

In addition, the EPRDF was a force to be reckoned with against two other heavily armed factions: the OLF (The Oromo Liberation Front) and the EPLF  (The Eritrean People’s Liberation Front).

Unlike Somalia, Ethiopia has been spared widespread destruction. On May 27, 1991, US Assistant Secretary of State Herman Cohen met in London with the TPLF, OLF, EPLF and a delegation from Mengiste to avert a catastrophe. The country was easily taken over. Mengistana was granted political asylum in Zimbabwe.

A federal race ( Ethnic Federalism )

On June 2, 1991, an EPDRF-led transitional government was formed in Ethiopia. Immediately, the EPDRF convened a national conference in July 1991 attended by 27 opposition groups and representatives of the international community.   The conference resulted in the formation of a Transitional Period Charter, which later became a Federal Constitution enacted on December 8, 1994, and enacted June 1995. The country was divided into nine regions. named after the largest ethnic group in the state. At the same conference, Eritrea was granted autonomy and an independent referendum.

The Federal Constitution of Ethiopia contains two articles that have created a heated debate   : Article 39 and Article 40.   Article 39 states that every state has the right to self-determination and that it may be an independent state ( The right to secession ).  While Article 40 allows  for private land (the right to Property ). Remember, what is being accomplished is the TPLF’s goals; independence and territorial expansion. In addition, the TPLF used Article 40 of land ownership as a political-economic power to coerce the opposition and feed the Conservatives.

Article 39 of the self-determination was a plan for the TPLF only and no one else was allowed. In order not to seek secession or independence, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) was initially offered a majority of seats in the House of Representatives in addition to the EPDRDF (EPDRDF 32 seats, OLF 12 seats) before the election. In 1992, the TPLF weakened the political and military power of the Oromo People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and disarmed 20,000 Oromo soldiers. As a result, the OLF boycotted the 1992 Ethiopian elections started an armed war against the TPLF.

Similarly, in early 1994 the new parliament of the Somali regional state called for a referendum on the future of the region in accordance with Article 39 of the Federal Constitution. But the issue has been unequivocally opposed by the TPLF. The ONLF led by AUN Hassan Jire Qalinle was replaced by ESDL (Ethiopian Somali Democratic League). Many people were arrested. On February 22, 1994, 81 demonstrators were massacred in Wardher. The ONLF went outside and resumed its struggle for independence.

Meanwhile, Article 40 of Ethiopia’s new constitution has allowed the TPLF to plunder large swathes of territory by abusing the power and resources of the people.

In March 2005 Human Rights Watch released a 64-page report entitled “Anuwaak people are being hunted down.” On December 13, 2003, many Anuak were massacred in the Gambella region of western Ethiopia. They were killed to displace them (FG. They were sheltered in an urban project called “Villagisation or commune program”).

A study published in August 2011 by DFID (Department for International Development, UK) stated that EFFORT (The Endowment Fund for the Rehabilation of Tigray) played a major role in the looting of large tracts of land by TPLF leaders. The looted land is concentrated in Benishangul-Gumuz,  Wollo and Gondor areas. EFFORT  was   run by Azeb Mesfin   , the wife of former  Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea

The border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea was preceded by economic tensions between the two countries.  In November 1997 Eritrea announced the creation of its own currency – the soul. The move was a move by Eritrea to avoid Ethiopian currency and  monetary policy in Addis Ababa. As a result, the TPLF imposed sanctions on Eritrea’s exports.

The TPLF’s covert strategic plans included seizing control of one of the ports of Assab and Massawa in Eritrea. In the early 1990s, the TPLF launched a Border Rectification Project . Tigrean militias have been mobilized along the border between the two countries to displace Eritrean farmers and pastoralists in Badme and Tahiti Adibo. Badme is the epicenter of the conflict between the two countries.

On May 06, 1998, heavy fighting broke out in and around Badme between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Fighting also broke out in the towns of Burre and Zalambessa (Burre in front of  Assab port , Zalambessa in front of  Massawa port ). The fighting lasted for two years. As many as 100,000 people were killed on both sides. The fighting also caused destruction and displacement.

On April 13, 2002, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission ruled Badme over Eritrea. But Badme regained control of Eritrea after in 2018 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accepted the   2000 Algiers Agreement and the EEBC rule. This has led to the resumption of relations between the two countries. In resolving the Badme issue, Abiy Ahmed won the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Mogadishu Massacre

In a nutshell, former Royal African Society Director Richard Dowden said “a weak, divided Somalia is in Ethiopia’s interest”. Men who get married are inseparable. The question is not why the TPLF is harassing Somalia, but why are so many Somalis willing to    accept the TPLF as a scapegoat? There are many reasons for this but one thing is for sure that many people are not aware that the TPLF has undermined tribal federalism in Somalia.

Divide and judge! When the TPLF succeeded in implementing ethnic federalism in Ethiopia, they showed that tribal federalism could easily be implemented in Somalia. The TPLF has held a number of reconciliation conferences for political parties fighting in Somalia (Addis Conference on National Reconciliation (1993) and the National Salvation Council (Sodere) (1996). never have a stable government (The federal formula – The 4.5 formula).

While the TPLF plotted, there have always been efforts to restore Somali dignity and sovereignty. Unfortunately, every opportunity to stabilize the country was thwarted by the TPLF. The Somali National Peace Conference (SNPC) held in Arta, Djibouti in 2000, was supported by all Somalis as part of the Somali community. It resulted in a transitional national government (TNG) based on a unitary structure, although power-sharing was based on clans and the 4.5 formula!

As the Federal Plan failed at the Arta Conference, the TPLF opposed the ‘Arta Declaration’. It organized an opposition group and held conferences in Elberde and Awasa (Ethiopia) in early 2001. On March 23, 2001, a Coalition of Warlords was announced in Addis Ababa. Reconciliation and Reconstruction of Somalia (SRRC) The   SRRC was instrumental in dismantling the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Arta. was the beginning of the implementation of the Federal system in which Somalia now governs.

The TPLF violently opposed the ICU Uprising in 2006. Like the Arta Government, Somalis welcomed the Islamic Courts Union movement. The UIC forcibly  ousted  warlords from Mogadishu. They have restored security   and order. They reactivated  Mogadishu airport and port .

Between March and April 2007, the TPLF massacred thousands of civilians in Mogadishu. “Human Rights Watch has documented cases of Ethiopian forces deliberately shooting and killing civilians.”

One of the questions that needs to be answered is whether the  man who ordered the Mogadishu Massacre (Col. Gebre Egziabher Alemseged, also known as General Gabre), should be involved in the internal and external political, cultural and social activities of Somalia! According to Africa Intelligence, Gabre, with the help of former Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus (now the head of the WHO), has been working for ten years to mobilize Somali factions loyal to the TPLF in Somalia.

Crops grown

After a series of violent protests, 2018 was finally overthrown by the TPLF for nearly 30 years. Instead of accepting the leadership of Abiy Ahmed and others, the TPLF preferred war and self-determination in Tigray. That is why the fighting in the Tigray region began in November 2020 and is still ongoing between the federal government and the TPLF.

47 of the top 167 TPLF leaders have been killed or captured alive. TPLF leaders killed in the fighting include Seyoum Mesfin – former Ethiopian foreign minister.

Endless suffering is inherited from the TPLF regime.  Somalia has not yet recovered from TPLF intervention. In late November 2020, the TPLF fired rockets at Casmara, Eritrea, accusing Eritrea of ​​supporting the federal government. Ethiopia is in the throes of a civil war that threatens regional stability and beyond. On Tuesday, November 2, 2021, the Ethiopian Cabinet declared a  nationwide state of emergency.

By: Hassan Yusuf Waal