Ethiopia: The army is led by a tribal junta

Source: The Indian Ocean Newsletter

Since the EPRDF came to power in Addis Ababa in 1991, the Ethiopian army has been dominated by more seasoned Tigrayan officers who are members or sympathizers of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (Woyanne, hard core of the governing coalition). This preeminence was further confirmed by the
promotion of 12 higher officers announced on September 2 by the office of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Two of the three major generals promoted to lieutenant general are Tigrayans (Se’are Mekonnen Yimer and Tadesse Worede Tesfaye). The third, Bacha Debele Buta is a leader of the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO, a member of the governing coalition) suffering from a serious illness. The only brigadier general to be promoted to the rank of major general is the Tigrayan Gebrat Ayele.

Five of the eight colonels promoted to brigadier general are Tigrayans (Kinfe Dagnew Gzebre-Silassie, Gebre-Michael Beyene Tedela, Hintsa Wolde-Giorgis Yohannis, Tekle-Birhan Kahsay Birush and Masho Beyene Desta).

Two others are Amhara (Akele Assaye Asfaw and Wondwosen Teka Agegnew) while a third (Getachew Gidina Wolbana) is from southern Ethiopia.