Institutions are to be independent of political control in a healthy, just and inclusive society; however, in Ethiopia, one can see that one ethnic group, affiliated with one ethnic-based political party, dominates key positions in government and its institutions. Judge for yourself. The majority of the examples given below provide information of ethnic background and political affiliation for key leaders within key institutions in Ethiopia. This is a sampling of some of the most critical institutions under the control of the Government of Ethiopia. Civic organizations should act as watchdogs, but a similar sampling of such organizations would show a similar ethnic makeup and party affiliation following the passing of the Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSO law). It should be noted that the TPLF has often placed persons from other ethnicities in a top role, but in most cases, those second in command are the hidden power-holders to fool Ethiopians, donor countries and other outsiders into believing this is an inclusive government when it is not. This kind of domination should be admitted and openly discussed, for tensions related to it have become a source of potential backlash that could evolve into ethnic-based violence and instability. We should all try to avoid this outcome; yet, it will require honesty, integrity and a willingness to put humanity before ethnicity or any other distinctions. Until then, none of us will be free!
Some of the current leaders heading key institutions in Ethiopia:
| Institution | Head | Ethnicity | Political Affiliation |
Desalegn is said to be a figurehead, without any real
power, who was appointed to bring the appearance of
ethnic diversity to the TPLF/ERPDF. He led the team that
drafted the draconian Charities and Societies Proclamation
law (CSO law) that when adopted in 2009, virtually eliminated
civil society. There are currently four deputy prime ministers
(DPM) rather than only one, as done in the past. Each DPM is
from a different party within the EPRDF, each representing
one of the four ethnic-based parties that make up the EPRDF;
however, the de facto prime ministers are said to be
Abaye Tsehaye and Seyoum Mesfin.
to be the “hidden prime minister.” He is the founder
of the Marxist-Leninist League of Tigray; member of the
TPLF Central Committee; allegedly, he helped
mastermind the massacre of Anuak leaders in Gambella
in 2003, as well as other human rights crimes in the
country. Abaye is a fervent disciple of Marxist-Leninist
repression of all religious groups, seeing them as a
primary potential threat to the ruling party.
Reportedly, he believes that religious groups, above all other members
of civil society, can more rapidly and effectively mobilize
to bring about an uprising that could result in the downfall
of the Government. Additionally, Abaye, along with
Seyoum Mesfin, a retired member of the TPLF Central
Committee and the current Ambassador to China,
are alleged to be the real power-holders in the regime.
|
Hailemariam Desalegn
Abaye
Tsehaye
|
Wolayta
Tigrayan
|
EPRDF
TPLF
|
From the very top positions of theNISS to the
kebele (local) level, most every key position is held by
Tigrayans, or their proxies, who are also affiliated with the TPLF.
According to Human Rights Watch’s report (p 29), the NISS
together with the Federal police, form the anti-terrorism
task force responsible for the arrests and detentions
of numerous journalists, politicians, opposition leaders,
and others. Currently, it is believed Getachew Assefa and
Debretsion Gebremikael, another Tigrayan and the head of
the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
(MCIT), work closely together andwere responsible for the
arrest and detention of Ethiopians like the Zone9 bloggers and
the Oromo students, and the kidnapping and extradition of
Ethiopians holding foreign passports from other countries like
Okello Akway Ochalla, the former governor of Gambella, a
Norwegian citizen, who was taken from South Sudan and
Andargachew Tgige, a British citizen, who was taken from
Yemen. It is also rumored that they acted independently of
the prime minister, the military and other government officials.
HRW indicates that the NISS shares little information with others,
including the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (EDF). (p 30)
has allegedlybeen the purposeful creation of division—ethnic,
religious, political and other. Polarizing society has been a
well-used strategy of the TPLF as a means to maintain minority
rule when they make-up only 6% of the population of Ethiopia.
Mikael Abraha is responsible to ensure religious groups
do not pose a threat to the ruling party, using puppet leaders,
division, repression, and other strategies, particularly by
advancing regime-friendly leaders to positions of responsibility.
This is particularly obvious within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
and Muslim leadership; this has led to the division of the EOC
and to continuing protests by Muslims, including arrests of
leaders, due to government interference in religious affairs.
This practice is also carried out among Protestant groups at
the local level, affecting top leadership. The TPLF/EPRDF
Strategic Plan for Hegemony and Perpetual Rule gives some
further details on this practice on how the TPLF/ERPDF has
controlled religious groups and other parts of civil society as
part of a master plan.
agents enforce the will of those in charge from the top federal
level to the district level. This includes havingprimary
responsibilityfor all federal, regional and district
investigations; including, directing others in that role at the
local levels. The various departments of the federal police are
led by individuals of the same ethnicity and party affiliation;
for example, the head of the police, the head of investigations,
the head of forensics, and the head of the prison system are all
controlled by Tigrayans who are committed to enforcing
TPLF policy, regularly trumping the rule of law. The federal
police work closely with the NISS and are often the first called
to suppress protests. They are believed to be responsible for
recently killing student protestors in the Oromo region.
a non-Tigrayan from the South; but again, it is a TPLF effort
meant to deceive outsiders while maintaining control for the
interests of the TPLF. The real power of the military is clearly
seen in the nearly total domination of Tigrayans in the
roles of the top leadership within the military. Out of 55 top
officers, only 2 were of an ethnicity other than Tigrayan. Please
refer to the list below.
the leadership of the military is almost all made up of people
of Tigrayan ethnicity and affiliated with the TPLF, making it
an ethnic-based, namely Tigrayan defense force rather than
an Ethiopian National Defense Force. Please see below for
a detailed list of the ethnic composition of ENDF leadership
or the link.
interests of the regime, all key foreign relations positions
are held by Tigrayans or others who are regime loyalists;
one notable case is Seyoum Mesfin, previously a member
of the TPLF Central Committee, a founder of the TPLF,
the head of EFFORT—the Tigrayan business conglomerate
that enjoys favorable treatment by the TPLF/EPRDF in
regards to business dealings—and an ambassador to China.
Sources indicate he was given the ambassador position in
case the US backs out of the long-standing supportive
partnership with the TPLF/ERPDF. Seyoum also is highly
influential in all matters of the TPLF.
| Getachew Assefa
Isayas Woldegworgis
Mikael Abraha
Aregash Beyene
(Head of Federal Police)
Girmay ?
(Commander of Investigations
Meucha ?
(Commander of Forensics)
Siraj Fegesa Sherefa
General Samora Yunis
Tedros Adhanom
| Tigrayan
Tigrayan
Tigrayan
Tigrayan
Tigrayan
Tigrayan
Silte
Tigrayan
Tigrayan
| TPLF
TPLF
TPLF
TPLF
TPLF
TPLF
EPRDF
TPLF
TPLF
|
Technology (MCIT): This ministry monitors and controls
technology and information systems; this includes radio,
television, websites, telecommunications, networks and
the development of technology services within the country,
where Ethiopia is lagging far behind most other countries
on the continent. This ministry is responsible for the control
and surveillance of the Internet, Voice Over IP, mobile phones,
messaging, video conferencing, and jamming various
programming. Debretsion Gebremikael is said to work closely with
Getachew Assefa and the NISSand are thought to be responsible for
information leading to the arrest of journalists, opposition
figures and activists under the politically-motivated and
repressive anti-terrorism law. When facing charges,
records of phone calls and emails are misused as evidence
of false terrorism charges, often manufactured.
| Debretsion Gebremikael
(also holds position of Deputy Prime Minister, one of four with same title and role)
| Tigrayan | TPLF |
is the sole provider of telecommunications in Ethiopia.
Debretsion Gebremikael, who is also the Minister of
Communications and Technology, is the board chairperson.
In an unusual display of open criticism by parliamentarians,
he has been confronted for the poor performance of Ethio
Telecom; accusations of placing security over service and
development. Ethio Telecom operates under the auspices
of MCIT and the government.
| Debretsion Gebremichael | Tigrayan | TPLF |
This ministry is in control of financial institutions, loans,
investments, banking and is very powerful. It has been
criticized for its practice of giving preferential treatment
to Tigrayans, EFFORT businesses and TPLF approved
individuals and businesses. EFFORT has never been
audited. Seyoum Mesfin was the head of EFFORT until
Azeb Mesfin, the wifeof deceased former prime minister,
Meles Zenawi, took it over.She has now been replaced
by another Tigrayan.
ministry again is a Tigray and TPLF member. Many of the
banks are government owned, but operated as extensions
of the TPLF.
key ministry which has been used to control individuals and
businesses to ensure regime compliance through assessing
revenues/taxes or by giving favored treatment.
Most customs agents are Tigrayans, many of whom are former
TPLF guerilla fighters. This includes women soldiers
who were given these jobs in lieu of other appointments.
Agents are said to regularly give preferential treatment
on custom tariff rates to fellow Tigrayans; sometimes
eliminating fees altogether, while exorbitant fees are
charged to non-Tigrayans. This practice has curbed
development and opportunity in non-Tigrayan regions;
for example, import taxes on electronic equipment are
prohibitively expensive and deter persons from bringing
them into the country.
| Soufian Ahmed Beker
Mikael Abraha
Kaidaki Gezahegn
(Deputy Director)
| Oromo
Tigrayan
Tigrayan
| EPRDF
TPLF
TPLF
|
institutions, the Ministry of Justice is one of the most
crucial to the TPLF if they are to maintain their minority
rule. The current head is said to hold little power, but
instead is thought to be used by the TPLF to show ethnic
diversity when there is little to none. The following
positions are key:
This mancontrols the Court to ensure the interests of the
TPLF are primary, from the highest courts of the land to
the local level. Both he and the Deputy President of the
Federal Supreme Court were rebel fighters in the bush
With Meles Zenawi.
Although Medhen Kiros is second in command, he is the
actual head of the Ministry of Justice. He is a former
TPLF guerilla fighter. Dessalegn Berhe and Medhen Kiros
are responsible for making sure the court serves the agenda
of the Tigrayan/TPLF.
to be the mastermind of the manipulation of the legal
system so to serve the goals and purposes of perpetuating
TPLF control of any challengers. He has the equivalent power
of Isayas Woldegworgis, second in command of the NISS
intelligence ministry and is the right hand of NISS minister,
Getachew Assefa; known for getting things done him at the
Ministry of Justice. He is a true TPLF supporter.
the prosecutor in charge of the cases involving the Swedish
journalists, Reeyot Alem, Eskinder Nega, Andualem Arage
and other political prisoners. Some believe his judgeship is a
cover while acting in the actual role of prosecutor—a serious
judicial conflict of interest to act as both prosecutor and judge.
Federal court justice technocrats (titles reflect job roles):
Investigation Division
the Courts: Commander Reta is close to the head of NISS
mastermind of intelligence, Getachew Assefa. Heis also
in charge of Maekelawi Prison where many of the prisoners
are tortured. He is loyal to the TPLF.
All political prisoners are dealt with by this individual at
the Ministry of Justice. He was the one who prosecuted
the Kinijit leaders in 2005. He was transferred from the
Tigray region where he was involved similarly with Tigrayans.
Leul Kahsay is responsible for overseeing regional judicial
affairs for the entire country at the federal level to make
sure the interests of the regime are pursued in all criminal
investigations and litigations. He is said to be a cold-hearted
perpetrator of torture and other cruel and inhumane methods.
dissemination of politically-correct information in all forms of
the media such as radio, television, and newspapers. This
includes Ethiopian Television Broadcasts (ETV). Most all of the
top people, including producers, reporters, photographers
and anchors are Tigrayan. Please refer below for further
details. This organization is state-run.
| Berhane Hailu Dagne
Dessalegn Berhe
Medhen Kiros
Hashim Tewfik
Berihu Teweldebirhan
Tekle ?
Reta Tesfaye
Mikael Teklu
Leul Kahsay
Tewodros Hagos
| Amhara
Tigrayan
Tigrayan
Harare
Tigrayan
Tigrayan
Oromo
Tigrayan
Tigrayan
Tigrayan
| EPRDF
TPLF
TPLF
EPRDF
TPLF
TPLF
OPDO
TPLF
TPLF
TPLF
|
| Ethnic Preference Seen at ETV | ||
| Name | Ethnicity | Position at ETV |
| Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
Tigray
| News Anchor
Amhara Region News
ETV Special Entertainment Anchor
ETV Producer
News Anchor
News Anchor
ETV Program Producer/News Anchor
ETV-Southern Region of Ethiopia News Anchor
Special correspondent: Office of the Prime Minister
ETV Camera/Film Producer
Southern Region of Ethiopia ETV News Anchor
ETV Sports News Anchor
ETV Correspondent
ETV Correspondent
ETV Photographer
ETV Program Producer
ETV English Program News Anchor
ETV Program Producer
ETV Program Producer
ETV Program Producer
|
This report comes from an insider who alleges that over the past twenty years, different techniques have been used for giving preferential treatment to people of Tigrayan ethnicity. In the broader society, especially in regards to journalists and people in the media, techniques such as firing without just cause, intimidation, imprisonment, torture, and other such methods, have been used to eliminate any who might be critical of the TPLF/EPRDF. Through various tactics, the Ethiopian regime has managed to replace 95% of ETV employees with a single ethnicity, without proper evaluation of their journalistic qualifications or experience. The dominant hiring factor is simply their ethnic origin (TIgray) and their loyalty to the TPLF/ERPDF regime.
SIX PERCENT OF ETHIOPIAN ETHNIC TIGRE / TPLF DOMINATE ARMY TOP POSITIONS
By Nemera Dinsa W | May 31, 2013
Defense Departments
| No | Job Division | Name & Rank | Ethnic Group |
| 1 | Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff | General Samora Yenus | Tigre |
| 2 | Armed Forces Head of Training | Lt.General Tadesse Worde | Tigre |
| 3 | Head of Logistics | Lt.General Gezae Abera | Tigre |
| 4 | Head of Intelligence | Br. General Gebre Dela | Tigre |
| 5 | Armed Forces Head of Campaign | Major General Gebreegzher | Tigre |
| 6 | Armed Forces Head of Engineering | Lt.General Berhane Negash | Tigre |
| 7 | Chief of the Air Force | Chief of the Air Force | Tigre |
Heads of the Ethiopia’s Four Military Commands
| No | Job Division | Name & Rank | Ethnic Group |
| 1 | Central Command | General Abebaw Tadesse | Agew |
| 2 | Northern Command | Lt.General Saere Mekonene | Tigre |
| 3 | South Eastern Command | Lt.General Abraha Wolde | Tigre |
| 4 | Western Command | Br. General Seyoum Hagos | Tigre |
Army Divisional Commanders
Central Command & Northern Command
| No | Job Division | Name & Rank | Ethnic Group |
| 1 | 14st Army Division | Colonel Wodi Antiru | Tigre |
| 2 | 21st Army Division | Colonel Gueshi Gebre | Tigre |
| 3 | 11th Army Division | Colonel Workidu | Tigre |
| 4 | 25th Army Division | Colonel Tesfay Sahiel | Tigre |
| 5 | 22nd Army Division | Colonel Teklay Klashin | Tigre |
| 6 | 4th Mechanized Division | Colonel Hinsaw Giorgis | Tigre |
South Eastern Command
| No | Job Division | Name & Rank | Ethnic Group |
| 1 | 19st Army Division | Colonel Wodi Guaae | Tigre |
| 2 | 44st Army Division | Colonel Zewdu Tefera | Tigre |
| 3 | 13th Army Division | Colonel Sherifo | Tigre |
| 4 | 12th Army Division | Colonel Mulugeta Berhe | Tigre |
| 5 | 32nd Army Division | Colonel Abraha Tselim | Tigre |
| 6 | 6th Mechanized Division | Colonel G/Medhin Fekede | Tigre |
Western Command
| No | Job Division | Name & Rank | Ethnic Group |
| 1 | 23rd Army Division | Colonel Wolde Belalom | Tigre |
| 2 | 43rd Army Division | Colonel Wodi Abate | Tigre |
| 3 | 26th Army Division | Colonel Mebrahtu | Tigre |
| 4 | 7th Mechanized Division | Colonel Gebre Mariam | Tigre |
Commanders in Different Defense Departments
| No | Job Division | Name & Rank | Ethnic Group |
| 1 | Agazi Commando Division | B.General Mohammed Esha | Tigre |
| 2 | Addis Ababa & Surrounding Area Guard | Colonel Zenebe Amare | Tigre |
| 3 | Palace Guard | Colonel Gerensay | Tigre |
| 4 | Banking Guard | Colonel Hawaz Woldu | Tigre |
| 5 | Engineering College | Colonel Halefom Eggigu | Tigre |
| 6 | Military Health Science | B.General Tesfay Gidey | Tigre |
| 7 | Mulugeta Buli Technical College | Colonel Meleya Amare | Tigre |
| 8 | Resource Management College | Colonel Letay | Tigre |
| 9 | Siftana Command College | B.General Moges Haile | Tigre |
| 10 | Blaten Military Training Center | Colonel Salih Berihu | Tigre |
| 11 | Wourso Military Training Center | Colonel Negash Heluf | Tigre |
| 12 | Awash Arba Military Training Center | Colonel Muze | Tigre |
| 13 | Birr Valley Military Training Center | Colonel Negassie Shikortet | Tigre |
| 14 | Defense Administration Department | B.General Mehari Zewde | Tigre |
| 15 | Defense Aviation | B.General Kinfe Dagnew | Tigre |
| 16 | Defense Research and Study | B.General Halefom Chento | Tigre |
| 17 | Defense Justice Department | Colonel Askale | Tigre |
| 18 | Secretary of the Chief-of-Staff | Colonel Tsehaye Manjus | Tigre |
| 19 | Indoctrination Center | B.General Akale Asaye | Amhara |
| 20 | Communications Department | Colonel Sebbhat | Tigre |
| 21 | Foreign Relations Department | Colonel Hassene | Tigre |
| 22 | Special Forces Coordination Department | B.General Fisseha Manjus | Tigre |
| 23 | Operations Department | Colonel Wodi Tewk | Tigre |
| 24 | Planning, Readiness and Programming Department | Colonel Teklay Ashebir | Tigre |
| 25 | Defense Industries Coordination Department | Colonel Wodi Negash | Tigre |
| 26 | Defense Finance Department | Colonel Zewdu | Tigre |
| 27 | Defense Purchasing Department | Colonel Gedey | Tigre |
| 28 | Defense Budget Department | Ato/Mr. Berhane | Tigre |
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