TPLF and Shaebia Unholy Alliance with No Purpose and a Short-lived Phenomenon

[TLM Editorial Viewpoint]

This commentary intends to warn both the Tigray and Eritrean parties in conflict that superficial solutions are inadequate this time. It is crucial to tackle the root causes that could spark future wars. Scholars and commentators consistently emphasize that lasting peace and stability are essential for economic progress. Ethiopia and Eritrea have been in conflict and turmoil, which significantly contributes to their economic destruction. Although appropriate policies and dedicated, visionary leadership are limited in Africa, political stability and peace are essential for economic development. Economic prosperity can only be realized by addressing the root causes of conflict.

Ethiopia and Eritrea are unfortunately locked in a pointless war that will not produce a clear victor or vanquished. Although Ethiopia might ultimately come out on top, it may face considerable serious challenges and losses to achieve its objectives – one of them having access to the Red Sea. With millions spent on military resources that can be quickly destroyed. The young and capable individuals are losing their lives; any economic advancements achieved are likely to vanish rapidly. Additionally, tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia could have implications for the wider Eastern Africa region, fuelled by longstanding animosity from outside forces.

As with all wars, we hope the conflict between Tigray and Eritrea will conclude sooner rather than later. Tigray and Eritrea are not fated to remain eternal enemies. They can work harmoniously by respecting one another’s rights without necessitating a close relationship. Eritrea has more to gain from peaceful relations with Tigray than from hostility; their turbulent collaboration over the past fifty years should guide the terms of their future engagements. Yet, TPLF leadership sometimes seems clueless about international history or relations and has difficulty understanding the effect of geopolitics or articulating complex ideas and devising strategies.

It is deeply troubling for anyone with a conscience to witness images of impoverished, displaced Tegrawot suffering from various forms of torture, humiliation, degradation, and even death at the hands of their numerous adversaries. The horrific genocide against the people of Tigray and the indiscriminate killing of civilians reinforce the saying, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

The TPLF leadership must bear the responsibility for the polarized relationship that exists at this time in Tigray solely due to the uncompromising pursuit of the power-hungry TPLF leadership and a few supporters of the diaspora’s incestuously narrow conservative agenda. After the genocide war on terror, the Pretoria Peace Agreement, despite the enormous waste of money, has failed in its mission to bring about peace and stability to Tigray. Nothing illustrates better the evil of unsupervised power than the unfolding heinous atrocities committed against the people of Tigray by Ethiopian, Eritrean and Amhara forces.

The evidence is out for the world to see: the torture, humiliation, and murder committed against Tegrawot have severely violated numerous well-established international law principles contained in the Geneva Conventions, the Genocide Convention, and Customary International Humanitarian Law. That is why we need laws and regulations, accountability, checks and balances, disclosure of the activities of government officials, etc., in any government. It is no great disclosure to recognize that every human has a dual capacity to be kind or brutal. Our capacity to live up to some ethical principles elevates us from being creatures of violence and brutality and further defines us as caring and responsible human beings.

It would have been very encouraging to see President Isaias Afewerki apologize for committing genocide against the people of Tigray accordingly. Some sceptics argue that the generals should not apologize because they deliberately strategize as part of a genocidal war plan. While that may be true, we acknowledge the glimpse of human conscience in that public apology, as humanity has constructed civil societies over time. Isaias Afewerki and his officials could have openly recognized their mistakes and apologized, similar to many governments that seek sincere peace, but still, our citizens are enduring torture, killings, disappearances, and abuses. This should not be taken lightly; it underscores the current unholy alliance with the defiant TPLF leadership and a few paid propagandists.

However, feelings of remorse following the extensive suffering inflicted on Tegrawot may offer solace to Shabia. Yet, it does not erase the duty to repair relationships, rectify errors, and most importantly, face consequences. We hold accountable all the anguish endured by Eritrean forces, particularly regarding the torture, humiliation, and degradation experienced in the occupied regions. The Eritrean forces must promptly conclude their occupation of Tigrai and withdraw their troops.

In conclusion, we want to reflect on a subject that may not be part of this essay’s theme but is never far from our minds. The question of the fate of Tigrai is always with us; thus, we cannot help wondering how wonderful it must be to be able to change a government every four years without bloodshed, except for the inevitable bruised egos.

Tigray has been burdened with ill-informed, incapable leaders one after another for the last 34 years. These groups of mainly high school dropouts, who were growing up in little villages and towns only yesterday, are now being driven around in limousines and world-class cars, baptizing each other with all kinds of titles and wealth while fellow Tegrawot are eating dirt and living in utter poverty in safety net handouts of food aid.

Such a state of affairs should make anyone with a scintilla of consciousness vomit with disgust. We suffer this ignominy because the TPLF leaders are essentially cowards because they want to survive on the sacrifice of others.

They want others to do the fighting, and by some God-given right, they feel they have the right to be leaders since they claim to have earned a PhD and have read a few dozen books. They are spineless and want to use others with spines to bridge power and wealth. Those of us who studied in the West and lived for an extended period in democratic countries have no excuse for acting out as thugs and dictators.