The pros and cons of an alliance
By Abebe Gelaw May 23, 2006
An alliance is formed by various parties to advance their common goals and co-ordinate their endeavours. Forming an alliance is not a new phenomenon in Ethiopia. During the Era of the Princes (1755-1850), where Ethiopia was divided among local warlords, alliances were formed and dissolved by the various factions for the purpose of defeating their common enemies.
Though there are no military widespread conflicts in present day Ethiopia that are as bad as the Zemene Mesafint, the nation is politically fractured even worse than the era of the warlords that can pave the way for another cycle of internecine ethnic conflict. The major actors do not trust each other and their alliances have never been fruitful. Since the formation of the ineffective Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia, led by
It is true to say that Beyene Petros, so many meetings have been convened in Europe and America and many political alliances have come and gone without any results except fundraising. the ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, employs its divisive ploys whenever it sees danger. Meles Zenawi himself is a master of division and discord. Backed up by his agents, he has broken up so many parties and alliances that oppose his misrule including a dissident alliance within his own party led by Seye Abreha.
Though one should not be overjoyed with the formation of the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy by the Oromo Liberation Front, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), the Sidama Liberation Front, the Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF) and the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), though it has not endorsed the alliance yet, it seems a step forward to forge a common front against the oppressive regime.
One of the most significant political developments is that the OLF and ONLF, which have long refused to co-operate with other pro-unity Ethiopian forces, appear to have changed their isolationist policies. In an interview with Les nouvelles d'Addis last month, the leader of the OLF, Ato Dawud Ibsa, had raised so many interesting points. He said that there had been enough conflicts and wars in Ethiopia and it was time to leave that part of our history behind. There is no doubt that destructive conflicts and wars are part of our shameful history of self-destruction. Ethiopia is one of the few countries in the world which has a long history of destructive internal conflicts that have put it at the top of the poverty scale and the bottom rung of economic development. Even during the heights of 1984 famine that reduced hundreds of millions people into tears on a global scale, our current and past rulers proved to the world Ethiopia’s savage realities by engaging in a purposeless destructive war that brought no bread and liberty to the hungry people of Ethiopia.
Apparently the initiative for the new alliance came from the OLF. It is indeed encouraging to see the OLF trying to engage with other Ethiopian political actors that it used to avoid. Co-operation rather than enmity can greatly facilitate the desired change in Ethiopia.
Despite all that the OLF and ONLF still retain their secessionist agenda. The CUDP, as the name indicates aspires to establish a united Ethiopia where individual and group rights are fully respected. Though it is quite understandable to sense the urgency to form a strategic alliance, given the level of repressions and crackdowns throughout Ethiopia, members of the alliance need to have well-defined common goals.
According to the first AFD press release circulated to the media, its ultimate aim is to “establish a just, representative, and genuine democratic process through the convening of an all-inclusive conference where the country’s problems will be discussed and resolved.” That is indeed a great aspiration that needs to get the support of all political actors in Ethiopia. Provided all the parties are sincerely committed to the stated objectives, AFD is destined to create great political opportunities to resolve Ethiopia’s complicated problems.
For the alliance to achieve its desired objective though, some issues need to be thrashed out. Chief amongst them is whether the OLF and ONLF are ready to abandon their secessionist agenda and work towards the liberation of all Ethiopians, who have never tasted the sweetness of liberty throughout their long and tragic history. If some parties within the alliance work towards unity and others oppose it, the alliance will only become another marriage of convenience that will not be much different from its predecessors.
The connection of some parties with the Eritrean tyrant is another issue that may further complicate things as it seems a great folly to expect Isayas Afeworki to support peace, stability and democracy in Ethiopia. Despite all that, the effort to form a strong alliance against tyranny in Ethiopia is commendable and a step forward in the right direction to set up a formidable front against the oppressive regime that will bring about a peaceful resolution to the nations poisonous political problems.
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Abebe Gelaw is the founding editor of the newly launched Ethiopian website, www.addisvoice.com. He cab be reached at editor@addisvoice.com.
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
An alliance is formed by various parties to advance their common goals and co-ordinate their endeavours. Forming an alliance is not a new phenomenon in Ethiopia. During the Era of the Princes (1755-1850), where Ethiopia was divided among local warlords, alliances were formed and dissolved by the various factions for the purpose of defeating their common enemies.
Though there are no military widespread conflicts in present day Ethiopia that are as bad as the Zemene Mesafint, the nation is politically fractured even worse than the era of the warlords that can pave the way for another cycle of internecine ethnic conflict. The major actors do not trust each other and their alliances have never been fruitful. Since the formation of the ineffective Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia, led by
It is true to say that Beyene Petros, so many meetings have been convened in Europe and America and many political alliances have come and gone without any results except fundraising. the ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, employs its divisive ploys whenever it sees danger. Meles Zenawi himself is a master of division and discord. Backed up by his agents, he has broken up so many parties and alliances that oppose his misrule including a dissident alliance within his own party led by Seye Abreha.
Though one should not be overjoyed with the formation of the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy by the Oromo Liberation Front, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), the Sidama Liberation Front, the Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF) and the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF), though it has not endorsed the alliance yet, it seems a step forward to forge a common front against the oppressive regime.
One of the most significant political developments is that the OLF and ONLF, which have long refused to co-operate with other pro-unity Ethiopian forces, appear to have changed their isolationist policies. In an interview with Les nouvelles d'Addis last month, the leader of the OLF, Ato Dawud Ibsa, had raised so many interesting points. He said that there had been enough conflicts and wars in Ethiopia and it was time to leave that part of our history behind. There is no doubt that destructive conflicts and wars are part of our shameful history of self-destruction. Ethiopia is one of the few countries in the world which has a long history of destructive internal conflicts that have put it at the top of the poverty scale and the bottom rung of economic development. Even during the heights of 1984 famine that reduced hundreds of millions people into tears on a global scale, our current and past rulers proved to the world Ethiopia’s savage realities by engaging in a purposeless destructive war that brought no bread and liberty to the hungry people of Ethiopia.
Apparently the initiative for the new alliance came from the OLF. It is indeed encouraging to see the OLF trying to engage with other Ethiopian political actors that it used to avoid. Co-operation rather than enmity can greatly facilitate the desired change in Ethiopia. Despite all that the OLF and ONLF still retain their secessionist agenda. The CUDP, as the name indicates aspires to establish a united Ethiopia where individual and group rights are fully respected. Though it is quite understandable to sense the urgency to form a strategic alliance, given the level of repressions and crackdowns throughout Ethiopia, members of the alliance need to have well-defined common goals.
According to the first AFD press release circulated to the media, its ultimate aim is to “establish a just, representative, and genuine democratic process through the convening of an all-inclusive conference where the country’s problems will be discussed and resolved.” That is indeed a great aspiration that needs to get the support of all political actors in Ethiopia. Provided all the parties are sincerely committed to the stated objectives, AFD is destined to create great political opportunities to resolve Ethiopia’s complicated problems.
For the alliance to achieve its desired objective though, some issues need to be thrashed out. Chief amongst them is whether the OLF and ONLF are ready to abandon their secessionist agenda and work towards the liberation of all Ethiopians, who have never tasted the sweetness of liberty throughout their long and tragic history. If some parties within the alliance work towards unity and others oppose it, the alliance will only become another marriage of convenience that will not be much different from its predecessors.
The connection of some parties with the Eritrean tyrant is another issue that may further complicate things as it seems a great folly to expect Isayas Afeworki to support peace, stability and democracy in Ethiopia. Despite all that, the effort to form a strong alliance against tyranny in Ethiopia is commendable and a step forward in the right direction to set up a formidable front against the oppressive regime that will bring about a peaceful resolution to the nations poisonous political problems.
-------------
Abebe Gelaw is the founding editor of the newly launched Ethiopian website, www.addisvoice.com. He cab be reached at editor@addisvoice.com.
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
