Another defining moment in the history of Ethiopia and its people seems to be unfolding. Those dramatic changes that are taking place in Ethiopia now are heralding both anxiety and opportunity. All Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia have their own anxieties and uncertainties. More than any, the Afar Killil (Rakaakay in Afar-af) must have more anxiety and worry than the rest because of obvious reasons. The TPLF Leadership’s coveting for all strategic roads that lead to ports.
In all the Regions administrated by the so called “sister” (ehet”) organizations in EPRDF or led by the “supporter” (Aggar) in the so called backward Regions, TPLF’s wishes were always law. This is very true in the Afar Region than in any Region. This is not only true because the region is ruled for the last 27 by “Manjus” (former child-soldiers of the TPLF), nor because it is directly controlled from Mekele, or not because of the ambitious designs of the Greater Tigray or Republic of Greater Tigray in accordance to the TPLF Political Manifesto of 1976, but above all it is because TPLF wants to secure the control of all strategic roads that lead to Sea ports. So, for all the abovementioned reasons, they are coupling the destiny of the Afar Region with that of Tigray Region. All the strategic roads to and from Tigray pass through this Region. Because of the recent uprising in the Mersa and Woldia the Addis-Dessie- Alemata-Mekele road was impassable and blocked, they had to take the new road through Samara and Abaala of the Afar region. If TPLF wants to secure the Sea outlet to Red Sea which they denied 100 million strong Ethiopian nation open to Tigray. So, TPLF leaders not only consider Afar Region as their backyard but their High Priest Sibhat Negga even dared to say, “if Tigray secedes, Afar Region will follow suite in 2009 VOA”. Indeed, Afars can be victims of their Geo-strategic positions but, will never be an accomplice to TPLF leadership’s sinister designs and conspiracies against the unity of Ethiopia.
Ethiopians were used to speak about our country being on the brink of a civil war, on cross roads but this statement seems to be more true than any time in the last 27 years. Ethiopians who used to talk about the upper hand of Tigrian elite represented by TPLF are now talking about National Dialogue, National Consensus and even of All-inclusive Government of National Unity but, the intransigent and uncompromising leaders of TPLF are still thinking of old-fashioned tricks and even sinister designs, such as their talk of “Plan B” to prolong their supremacy. The Ethiopian people would never allow that a minority group commands the destiny of Ethiopian people. That is why they are in the process of changing the balance of force in their favours. That recent developments are leading us to the final decisive point. But, in spite of all those developments, those processes will not be free from fears and anxieties. The divisive politics of the last 27 years has left not only mistrust among Ethiopians but also divided them along ethnic lines. Transfiguring those fears into an opportunity in order to strengthen internal unity is a must. Coordinating the scattered upheavals and upraising under one leadership is the forth coming step that the Ethiopians look forward to. It is not time to be doubtful about the future of Ethiopia but it is also time to be guarded and vigilant. Learning lessons from our failed experiences is a must too.
We in Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF) are more than ready to contribute our share in this demanding, challenging arduous process of coalition buildings and undergoing compromises ahead of the Ethiopian people in general and the Ethiopian oppositions in particular.
Victory to Ethiopian People!
Victory to the freedom fighter of ARDUF
Military Command Centre (MCC)
Information Desk of ARDUF
Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF)
