|
Destroying the Empire to Preserve Ethiopia
Fessahaye Mebrahtu 07-27-21
The brutal civil war in Ethiopia which started on November 24, 2020, targeting the government and people of Tigray has diverted the course of Ethiopia was taking on road to democracy and economic development. The momentum of war has shifted in favor of Tigray Defense Forces (TDF). However, with the expansion of the conflict area, the jury is still out. Only time will tell who the final victor will be. Yet at the speed things are developing, it won’t be too long to find out. In any civil war there is no winner or loser. Everybody loses. When the dust settles, political leaders should assess on what they have learned in order to avoid future bloody conflicts. Civil war is not unique to Ethiopia. Yet Ethiopian history is full of conflicts and civil wars going centuries back; power struggles, religious wars, defending outside aggressors, etc. Why is Ethiopian history full of civil wars and power struggles? First, we have to analyze what is Ethiopia and who is Ethiopian. Second, what was the process that Ethiopia undergone to be a nation state?
Ethiopians love to narrative about their 3,000 plus uninterrupted history and past glory. This is reinforced by the claims of its kings and emperors to be of “Queen Sheba and Solomonic Dynasty.” The Church and state relationship blessed and legitimized such legends and apocrypha to be true and divine ordered punctuated by “Ethiopia will stretch out its hands to God.” This verse is taken out of context to fit the narrative of the Ethiopia empire. There are two things to pay attention here; first, Ethiopia is meant for the entire of Africa or black people, for example Revised English Bible translated Nubia instead of Ethiopia and the Hebrew original uses Kush. Second, the full verse of the bible is “From Egypt nobles will come, Ethiopia will stretch its hands to God. Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God…” Though the verse was appropriated by the Ethiopian Empire, it was not particularly written to it. To the contrary, it affirms God kingship over every nation and people. Therefore, claiming Ethiopia as a God chosen empire is chauvinistic and dangerous, which we have witnessed Ethiopian clergy supporting the civil war against Tigray misquoting “Ethiopia will stretch its hands to God” justifying it as a holy war. Such justification has resulted in expelling hundreds of Tigrayan monks and hermits from the historic Monastery of Waldba in the current Amhara regional state.
The civil war against the people of Tigray has unraveled Ethiopia myth as ancient kingdom that could not live up to its legends and myths. It revealed that it is a stitched together empire, undoing itself. Emperor Haile-Selassie and Mengistu’s wars to keep Eritrea into the fold gave a veneer of united Ethiopia. The reality on the ground was different. It was a feudal system with caste system, the majority treated as 2nd class citizens. The serf and feudal relationship underdeveloped the country. The 1974 revolution, which was hijacked by the Dergue, the Marxist military government was a student and agrarian revolution against a feudal system. Even the Marxist regime of Mengistu had nominal effect on the entrenched chauvinist culture that sees Ethiopia from an Amara hegemony.
Like Emperor Haile-Selassie, Mengistu Hailemariam was toppled by military force and cycle continues heading to the similar outcome with PM Abiy Ahmed. EPRDF with the TPLF leadership helped the tattered stitches to hold together for 30 years. In the words of Arnold Joseph Toynbee, “Civilization die of suicide, not by murder.” The current civil in Ethiopia is both genocidal and suicidal. At the end of the day, it is killing the Ethiopian myth as ancient and civilized culture. It has just revealed this ancient empire that lived in the minds of few delusional elites, who managed to manipulate the rest of the masses. This self-destructive civil war should offer an opportunity to rethink the essence of Ethiopia and Ethiopianism. If Ethiopia is to resurrect as a nation state, it has to come with new outlook of its identity and destiny unlike the false narrative of Tigray-Amhara political hegemony, claiming to be more Ethiopian than the rest.
It is amazing to hear the Amhara region claiming to regain ancestral boundaries. The Ethiopian empire shrank and expanded with the weakness and power of its kings. The Amhara claim amounts of its ancestral territory is like Mussolini claiming the boundaries of ancient Roman Empire. Besides, if Ethiopians claim to be one nation, why would a regional state fight over boundaries and piece of land. If the Amhara elites are people focused, they should advocate to safeguard the rights of Amharic speaking within the boundaries they are claiming to be theirs. The behavior of Amara State on its claim of territories with Tigray State is classic expansionist empire approach. This is a relic of the Middle Ages Europe; however, Putin annexation of Crimea is another empire expansion approach of our time.
The Federal system created under EPRDF might be considered an extreme measure, creating ethnic identities as political entities, which led to the current crisis. Short of Amharizing, what would be the solution to the other Ethiopian ethnic groups to be considered as true and full citizens? For decades if not centuries, these ethnic groups were relegated to 2nd class citizens. On the other hand, they are cajoled and praised as patriots to be canon fodders when internal and external conflicts arise. Ethiopian ethnic groups’ warrior culture has been exploited as a tool the end political elites’ ambition with no peace dividend to those who fought on the battlefronts. This typical empire culture needs to be destroyed once for all if democratic Ethiopia as a nation state is to be preserved.
In conversation with friends, I have raised the issue that Ethiopia without Tigray cannot and should not bear the name. Many have claimed that taking Tigray out of Ethiopia is like taking the heart or a brain of a person and expect the person will survive. That claim could be a bit extreme and borderline-chauvinism. Yet the preservation of Ethiopia’s unity will again require EPRDF II. I have shared with my friends for Tigray to remain within Ethiopia, Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) should create alliance with TDF. The current trend seems to be shaping into that. For example, the Afar Liberation Army (ALA) joining TDF is another military and political realignment. If the Qemant militants have the opportunity and access to join hands with TDF, the Beni-Shangul and Gambella militants will find it beneficial to align with TDF as well.
The situation is still fluid on how the political fortune of Ethiopia will end but the current direction is that Tigray will come again ascend as kingmaker of Ethiopia. For Ethiopia to rise from the ashes, the empire instinct of the Amhara elites, the Oromo opportunist politicians, who propelled PM Abiy Ahmed to power need to be accountable for their blunders. The elephant in the room is Dictator Isaias Aferworki of Eritrea. Even if Ethiopia has to resolve its internal issues after this mess, Isaias’ insatiable imperial ego will not leave Ethiopia live in peace. Within Eritrea, the sacrifice of the Gedli (Armed Struggle) heroes should be celebrated and honored but the effort to make Eritrean live the Gedli era and lifestyle has to be destroyed as well. The goal of arduous life of struggle and countless lives sacrificed was not an end unto itself rather, it was to create democratic, peaceful and prosperous nascent nation, where the next generation won’t fight wars. Isaias found convenient friendship for evil purpose using the empire ambition of Amhara against a made-up enemy, the people of Tigray. Such unholy alliance has committed crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, genocide, etc. These acts are not normal in any era, let alone in our era. Yet such instincts can be harbored, nursed and acted upon by person with the mindset of expansionist empire.
In conclusion, the empire mentality of Ethiopians needs to be dealt with in order to look forward and envision a prosperous and peaceful Ethiopia, governed by the rule of law. If Tigray comes out victorious king maker, has to seriously correct its past mistakes, and power excesses. Yes, federalism is the only guarantee to keep Ethiopians together, treating each other as equals. Ethnic based or ethnic origin identity cards are targets on someone’s forehead when things go wrong, seeking scapegoat on others. It is sad to hear that Tigrayans are being target using their IDs of their ethnic origin. If Ethiopia is unable to learn from this catastrophe, it does not deserve to remain as a country with its current boundaries. In that case the disintegration of this ancient empire would be more beneficial to region. Yet the choice is in the hand of Ethiopians, who should led the empire die first for a nation state with democratic institutions to resurrect, embracing its diversity with a vision of common destiny.
|