The United States Africa Command has issued the following brief statement denying Ethiopian Review’s report that it is pressuring the ruling TPLF junta in Ethiopia to appoint Dessaelgn Hailemariam as a replacement to the disappeared dictator Meles Zenawi:
STUTTGART, Germany, Aug 20, 2012 — Allegations that General Carter F. Ham, Commander of United States Africa Command, influenced Ethiopian politics in any way are false. The mission of U.S. Africa Command is to work with African nations to strengthen their defense capabilities in order to deter and defeat transnational threats and to provide a security environment conducive to good governance and development. Command leaders and staff members do not meddle in the domestic affairs of African nations.
– U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs
Ethiopian Review stands by its report. The truth will come out sooner or later and we will see who is making false claims. The fact that Africom is training the TPLF regime’s special forces itself is meddling in Ethiopian politics, knowing full-well that the army in Ethiopia is under complete control of the ruling minority junta. Also, instead of issuing a brief statement, Gen. Ham is well-advised to present himself to the independent Ethiopian media and answer questions regarding Africom’s involvement in Ethiopia, and particularly its military assistance to Meles Zenawi’s genocidal regime. By supporting the corrupt, brutal dictatorship in Ethiopia, the Pentagon and Africom are doing a disservice to the long-term interest of both the United States and Ethiopia.
CAPTION: A U.S. officer mentors Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) TPLF officers in Tolay, Ethiopia, July 2009. The program is part of a 12-week course coordinated by soldiers with CJTF-HOA to assist Ethiopian TPLF NCOs in becoming sergeants major. Sergeants Major from U.S. Army Africa and U.S. Africa Command also participated as mentors in this program.