Date: Sun, 18 May 2014 21:48:07 +0200
Ethiopia PM at odds with TPLF on Oromo protests
By Staff
18/05/2014
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn is once again at odds with the
powerful TPLF branch of EPRDF ruling party, according to sources connected
to his adminstration. This time the dispute is on government response to
Oromo protests in Oromia region, according to a journalist of an English
weekly paper who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.
Hailemariam, an ethnic Welayta native, does not have the military background
and the political power that former Tigrayan Prime Minister Meles zenawi
had. Meles was the executive head of the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front
(TPLF) for over thirty years. Even though various ethnic groups are well
represented inside the Ethiopian military, most of the top executive
positions are held by Tigrayans. Some reports claim that around 70 percent
of the country's top generals and military leaders are still ethnic Tigrayan
today, even though Tigrayans makeup only 6 percent of the Ethiopian
population.
The Govt source said TPLF military chiefs wanted to stop the peaceful Oromo
student protest early before it turned into riots, but there was "lack of
leadership and policy from Arat Kilo," (refering to the Menelik Palace were
the PM resides. )
Despite their small numbers in the country, Hailemariam's ethnic Welaytas
are said to have significant presence in the mid-level positions in the army
and federal force. However, TPLF's military heads complain that Hailemariam
portrays a "soft leader" image and the police has been overstretched with
nonstop demonstrations for months. They say the public is emboldened to take
their angers to the streets since Meles died. Since 2013, millions of Muslim
Ethiopians have been protesting in the cities while the "legal opposition"
groups have also organized various protests, sometimes without permit. But
the recent Oromo protests have irritated the TPLF military authorities the
most, as some OPDO (another EPRDF branch) members have provided covert
support.
The source said Hailemariam's chances of being re-elected to lead EPRDF
ruling party are slim. Hailemariam has also been under American pressure to
deliver a peace deal in South Sudan, though some TPLF army officials are
suspicious of the Sudanese opposition.
TPLF military chiefs claimed South Sudan peace deals signed in Addis Ababa
are symbolic but meaningless on the ground because the rebel leader Riek
Machar does not have full control of opposition fighters.
hailemariam-and-tplf
(image/jpeg attachment: image025.jpg)