The biggest loser in this week’s reshuffle inside the TPLF top leadership is the 72-year-old Sibhat Nega, who was a one-time chairman and most powerful person inside the tribal organization that is currently ruling Ethiopia.
The media that is under the control of Meles reported that Sibhat was not re-elected due to his age, which is far from the truth.
The reshuffle took place at Tigray People Liberation Front’s (TPLF) 10th conference in Mekele this week.
The feud between Sibhat Nega and Azeb Mesfin, the wife of Meles Zenawi, came out in the open about a year ago when she managed to force him out of EFFORT, a conglomerate of 60 corporations, to make a space for herself. That was followed by his ouster from the TPLF politburo. He expressed his displeasure publicly about his forced resignation when he was interviewed by VOA in June 2009 (listen here).
According to sources close to TPLF (Woyanne), Sebhat Nega is bitter about the way he was sent off from the organization by Meles and Azeb. After all, it was Sibhat who groomed Meles for leadership and brought him to power. He was a father figure and mentor to Meles. When Siye Abraha, Gebru Asrat and others were about to remove Meles from power in 2002, it was Sibhat who protected him and helped him remain in power. Now that Meles has secured his position, he returns the favor by throwing out Sibhat like an old rug. When a founding member and long time leader of an organization retires, one would expect at least some fanfare as a show of appreciation.
TPLF rank-and-file members are also unhappy about the promotion of Azeb Mesfin to the TPLF executive committee, which is the de facto supreme governing body of Ethiopia. They had hoped that new faces would come to the top leadership. Instead, the change was simply a consolidation of power by Meles and Azeb, who have now an unchecked power by surrounding themselves with loyalists and yes-men. Some are wondering if the next person to come to the executive committee is Semahal Meles.
28 thoughts on “The unceremonious dismissal of Sibhat Nega”
The next move for little meles and azeb to poison this old fart and claim he had a hart attack. The weyane tegdalayt are the toy for meles. These goons, they don’t have any one that can think far. Back at home we used to call the weyane tegadalite “well fed donkeys” No matter what hard ship as long as some one gives them food and a drum to sing the whole night they carry any thing and they can walk any where the commander wants them. They are no as what they brag to be. Usually when they start the fight. The way they used to line up was in front the kids who are fighting usually they were very scared behind them were the weyane’s trusted force. During the beginning of the war the kids who fight in the front always wants to retreat but the trusted force behind threaten them that they will be shot. That is why in every simple operation weyane had to sacrifice a lot of lives to win.
Thank you Elias. You called it as you see it while most bought the Woyane’s excuse of dismissal, ie. “age related”. What the heck do they mean by ‘age related’? Is there a an age limit to be an official in Ethiopia, to day. Would Meles and company resign when anf IF they reach that age?
Let all of them weyanes go to hell
As you see the TPLF tribal organisation is working hard day and night. We should not be jealous for TPLF they fought to secede from Ethiopia or rule it as long as they can. Their message is very clear from the begining, the message is “we fought the power we have today, we are not ready to give it to others democratically, and we shall hold it till domsday”.
That is the message of TPLF. We Ethiopians we have two choice either to fight to libarate our beloved country Ethiopia now or to be ready to be slaves for the aparthaid regim of TPLF forever.
When elections results were trickling in on the night of May 23, some observers of Ethiopian politics had their eyes on Bonga. Mark May 2010. Before the month, this Southwestern district was known for its spectacular natural scenery, not electoral battles that involved intense behind the scenes political rivalry between two powerful groups in Ethiopia. On the one side was Sebhat Nega, the so-called father of Tigrayan Peoples’ Liberation Front(TPLF) and a man who was largely credited for saving Meles Zenawi during the TPLF split in 2001. On the other side was Ethiopia’s increasingly dominant first lady, Azeb Mesfin. Security officials, military leaders, businessmen and veteran politicians were involved in the battle, supporting either of the groups. Bonga was the convenient place for proxy warfare.
The two election frontrunners in the district were Ashebir Woldegiorgis, the gritty dentist who was once the president of Ethiopian Football Federation, and Brehanu Adelo, Cabinet Affairs Minister. Brehanu Adelo was running as an EPRDF candidate and Ashebir as a pro-EPRDF independent candidate. The rivalry between these two former buddies started in 2007. Abinet Gebremeskel, the top advisor of Ethiopia’s number one businessman, Mohammed Al-Amoudi, orchestrated an ouster against Ashebir Woldegiorgis. The plot was supported by Abinet’s friends, including Azeb Mesfin, Al-Amoudi and Ethiopia’s spy chief, Getachew Assefa. Ashebir managed to stay in power for a few more months with the help of Football’s international governing body FIFA and more importantly, Sebhat Nega who is the Godfather of Ashebir’s son and Arkebe Ekubay, a top TPLF official.
In public, the controversy appeared to be just a matter of governance of football in Ethiopia. However, behind the scenes it turned into a power struggle between two groups of TPLF and their business associates. The battle reached its climax in 2008 when Sebhat Nega lost his presidency of EFFORT, TPLF’s business conglomerate and Azeb became its vice president and de facto leader. A wounded Sebhat stood with Ashebir against the first lady and Al-Amoudi’s group, but lost again when Ashebir was driven out of the Ethiopian Football Federation. The man who was responsible for Ashebir’s defeat was Brehanu Adelo.
Working under the instruction of the first lady, Brehanu used the power of the Prime Minister’s office to force the Ministry of Youth and Sports to support the cause of the plotters and convince FIFA that Ashebir was a loner in the fight. With FIFA switching sides, Sebhat’s group had no option but to abandon the fight. “Football wasn’t the issue. It was a political football and Azeb had the upper hand,” said a TPLF insider who talked to Addis Neger on the condition of anonymity.
In the mean time, Ashebir, supported by Sebhat Nega, entered a by-election contest in Addis Ababa and lost heavily to an EPRDF candidate, signaling a total loss by Sebhat’s group. But they were just bidding their time. In September 2009, Sebhat told a close confidant that Ashebir would run against Brehanu Adelo in Bonga. This was the start of the preparation for a nasty election fight by both groups. For Ashebir beating Brehanu was going to be an immediate revenge. For Sebhat, this was a time to show that he wasn’t a spent force within the TPLF.
According to TPLF insiders, Meles Zenawi played his card very carefully, not openly siding with any of the groups. “He wanted equilibrium. That would fit him very well. A battle within the ruling party that is intense enough to make the top dogs not focus on him, but not deep enough to affect the party’s strength is a good formula to maintain his power,” the insider suggested. During the whole warfare, he met and talked to both groups and each of them came out from the meetings thinking that he was on their side.
Ashebir’s win in May is a comeback for the Sebhat group and signals that the battle will continue. “Unlike in 2001, the division has nothing to do with ideology or political objectives. It is a division based on personal rivalry and economic interest. Meles will make decisive intervention if he thinks that it threatens the party’s power. For now the groups are preparing for more battles,” said the insider.
Who care? May he burn in hell!!! TPLF is all the same whether Sibhat is in or out, it is a collection of scum, a ruthless gang
Daniele- What r u talking about? You seem to have nightmare about Aiga! I bet u will lose it all!
The Transformation of Weyane:
All Tigray(beginning)-> Adwa-SHire-Axum(ASHA, West Tigray)-> Adwa awraja -> Adwa wereda -> Adwa family -> Meles family -> MELES
death of Meles = Death of Weyane
This is bullshit and wishful thinking that there is a feud and rivalry between TPLF high ranking members. This is indeed a clever move to transfer power to a more ardent, dedicated and young Weyane leaders. This way WEYANE will remain forever YOUNG and achieve the main goal of the organization- whatever it is !
I agree with Gobeze above. In my previous comment I mentioned that the goon has the state department, the Clintons, the election (99.6%), Harakat Al-Shabaab in his pockets. What I forgot to mention was the shining fact that he has 99.6% of the people in his nationality in his pocket, rather as his vassals. Do you all remember how those so-called Meles opponents from his nation there and here in our midst started crying foul when CUD seemed to be on the verge of taking power through legal ballots claiming a danger of ethnic genocide about to happen then? So-called philosophers, advanced intellectuals, playwrights and self-acclaimed veteran revolutionists all of a sudden started writing about the emergence blind anti-Tigrean sentiment and propaganda being propagated all around. I lost any respect I had for some of those well-educated men since then. Therefore all this fake reshuffling of personalities is just that. Diplomatic machination on steroids. As long as the goon has well-glazed jackasses gathered around Bahir Dar and Adama, for now there is nothing you can do about it. Nothing!!!!!
I hope one of these days, one of disgruntled woyane looter seek revenge and take it out on his Woyane looter friends.
The ousting of Sibhat Nega (The man responsible for the disappearance of countless of Tigrians through out the TPLF struggle and post Derg Era) as well as the man responsible for imprisoment of countless of Tigrians mainly from Enderta, Tembien and Agame (these 3 awrajas are the back bone of true Tigrianism) and for many centuries, the elite feudal lords of Tigray came from Enderta and Tembien mainly and were the main supporters of greater Ethiopia as championed by Yohannes and Minilik. Sibhat and his inferior Adwa mafia-clique with in TPLF hated any one who came either from Enderta or Tembien. Sibhat made sure no Enderta or Tembien gained major position in TPLF and many perished as a result b/c they objected fearcly the independece of Eritrea, and made it clear they wouldn’t fight on behalf of Eritrean libration fronts to dismantle Ethiopians (b/c they came from the part of Tigray that believed in greater Ethiopia and the continuation of this ancient nation). Sibhat as recent as 2008 kept imprisoning many young men from this part of Tigray and remains the most wanted man in Tigray (he has minimum 10 body guards when ever he leaves his residence). I think his ousting from TPLF central committe (CC) is a great news for those people who have suffered on the hands of this inferior and savage creature. I bet he will not last that long and he knows that. Azeb in this case is the real winner and most people know that and he is more vulnerable now than any time in his life. On April 2010 just before the election Meles had come to Mekele and had a heated argument with Sibhat nega during a half day meeting involving key gov’t officials and TPLF security chiefs where Sibhat was heared saying that, “I know who you are Meles and it will not be long before you cease sliping like soap– meaning, Melese’s hoodwinking masterful skill and Sibhat implying that Melse’s invincible status will not last long, in which Meles went on with out responding on Sibhat’s provocation. Now we know, this crack b/n the two savages has finaly given in to Sibhat being kicked out from TPLF under the cover of aging. TPLF’s invinciblity is a long gone metaphore and now it is becoming more and more of a family owned entity which is the end of its begining more than ever. Sibhat’s extended powerful people with in TPLF are pushed aside by a new business savy breed of TPLF savages led by Azeb and Seyoum and this new development is slowly making the Adwa-clique a powerless group as they have come to be seen unbearable by many Tigrians with in TPLF.
God works in mysterious ways — Hooray! Turmoil with in Woyane gangs!
Who cares? I do not care woyanes are woyane for me. Whether Sibhat or Meles comes to power both of them are people’s # 1 enemy. What we need is to abolish them from the suface of this world.Gulecha Bikeyayaer wet Ayatafitim Yiluhal yehew New. Happy New Ethiopian Year for all children of ETHIOPIA ! !
13# Inqutatash,
Endless turmoil or no turmoil within the TPLF I assure you that NO amount of the great GOD’S Great mysterious HANDS may voluntarily and graciously donate freedom and liberation for the 80 million Ethiopians.
Painful as it may sound we will be forced by all means sooner or later to give up our traditional dependency on all kinds of external forces whether human and or supernatural but fight not only just like the TPLF but even double for getting back our stolen freedom.
Otherwise, TPLF will grab 99.99% even in the next election, in spite of the so called infighting.
The in fight is for the purpose of self cleaning and self rejuvenation. These are qualities even in nature, say for example, the snake population were they already endowed with the power of yearly shading their aging skin as a whole in order to grow fresh and new young skin. Self renewal and self rejuvenation certainly helps the TPLF to tighten its iron grips on power even much more than before and as such cannot be of any advantage to the opposition. Araat nexxib.
In conclusion, mind you that I wrote “araat nexxib” instead of the usual “full stop” because four dots are much more powerful than a single dot.
So is unity within diversity to proactively organize and challenge the one man dictatorship with genuine democracy. :)
Ethiopia has been liberated for the past 20 years so what’s the purpose of the Tigray Liberation Front (TPLF)? Why is this organization still existing? Oh, I forgot, the TPLF is not finished with its ultimate goal which is to create Abay Tigray.
They are all the same. Alsheshum zor alu. However if Sebhat wants to be against Meles, we will accept Sebhat and let us see what information he can provide. I doubt Sebhat is thrown out because Weyane wants to make sure their members are paid and well off that way they don’t whistle the blow on them. Don’t even listen to those Tigrayans who we think are anti Weyane. I don’t believe there is bad blood between Sebhat and Meles.
Justice for Ethiopians,
Thanks for the info. We will see what will happen. Meles is not stupid. Anything that could threaten his power, he will have anyone indirectly kill Sebhat by making it look like it is accident. Well this means one evil is gone and the most evil Meles still survives. Who knows now if Sebhat is really bitter he will turn against Ethiopia all together and work for Shabia by revealing the inside of TPLF. After all it was Sebhat who said TPLF will fight till death to make Eritrea indpendent. Well this story is plus because there is now rift in TPLF. Will Sebhat now turn to the disgruntled TPLF such as Seye Abraha, remains to be seen.
Now is the time to increase our momentum, to be active anything against Anti Ethiopia
Happy new year and Melkam Id Alfitir for our peopel.It is really sad that Murderes are leading ethiopia for so long.For me i dont give a shit what is happening with in (TPLF)they all are deavels and one ting they wish to see before they die is fragmented or disintegreated Ethiopia This is what i know and will never doubt it.Therfore we have to tell them that they are invaiders where ever we have a chance.By that i mean in evrey chance we got i for my self the list i can do for my mather land is contribiuting money for G7/Esat etc. and solidarity and wherever i am (IN birthday party;church;weeding or any occasion we get we have to say ethiopia is invaided. If there is any body who is offended by that he or she is a memmber of TPLF and the hell with them.LONG live Ethiopia (Birtukan)Death for TPLF and any body who hurt my mather land ETHIPOPIA:god bless ethiopia for ever.
Dimbilaal,
Thanks for your reply, well said, and I agree with you. I know better to know that– God helps, those who help themselves, and we shouldn’t sit and wait for God’s miracle to take care of the evil man that is terrorizing 78 million Ethiopians. Sometimes though, I have seen it happened that, the evilness and bad deeds of people get exposed in the end. In our Ethiopian crisis, all 78 million of us have to work together to get rid of the cancer of our country that is destroying our mother land., Give or take, it is only about 2 million uninformed greedy woyanes that supports tyrant Meles. Araat nettib.
By the way, why use “X” instead of “T” ~ Araat nexxib. I am open to learn, new things–please explain.
May 2003 be the end of cold-blooded killers and looters of Ethiopia.
indet 1 wend teffa??? kalachinkof yalew sewu yelem? when will someone blow away Legesse zarqawii’s or bereket’s head??
As a 72 years old he is one of the first ones to be out of power. He’s not sent to house arrest or prison. By African or any other standard for that matter – I don’t see anything “unceremoneous” or the point of the topic at all.
Dawi
i wonder who would dare face Meles from amongst of them now :) ha ha.. if the vetran sibihat is treated this way… i guess this is his way of sending out signal to all the other cronies.. “watch out.. i am coming to get ya”..! so i guess no hope of them killing eachother.. for now!..the greed will get to them eventually though! it always does! Greed is the worst enemy of humans.. let alone for these sub-human woyanes!!!
Justice for Ethiopians at #12, thank you for your insight, i have always wanted to single out people in Tigray who fought for ethiopia and not add them up with woyane, but i didn’t have enough information, as i am not familiar with the detail history, i wish more people will tell us about this, so that we can stop antagonizng our brothers and sisters from that region who feel like Woyane is the cancer it is.. bleeding our nation; so that we can all come together.. I believe, in working on common ground and attacking the right enemy without generalizing people.. in that way.. woyane won’t have a place to hide… won’t have the power to devide us! as they are doing now!!!
Justice for Ethiopians (#12),
There is some truth to what you say, that there are some Tigray people who believe in Ethiopia. But, that is not the point. Meles and cronies have played well with the sentiment of Tigray ethnicism which obviously seems to bear much weight in your heart than Ethiopianess. That is a fact. The invincibility of TPLF has never existed, it amounts as much as the weakeness of the Ethiopian people who fall for the divide and rule tactic of Woyane. The military achievement is ascribed more to the decaying and collapse of the Derg as a government on its own. This would have happened even if there was not woyane, communist governments have collapsed all over the world at that time. Some of the success in war also is the result of EPLF’s support and the discipline they taught you during your cooperation. In the past 20 years the Ethiopian people have seen you very well for what realy you are. TPLF is just a collection of scum, looters, thief, liars, stupid and arrogant, narrow minded. They can’t even lead a village let alone a big country like Ethiopia. It is only the decency, patience, and maturity of the proud Ethiopian people and its wish to stay together against all odds that kept TPLF alive in power. The game of trickery is about to end now. Woyane will be kicked out and will never come back to the political scene. Meles and co. know this very well, though I don’t know about the rest of the Tigray people.
This break up between the two comrades doesn’t strike me in any way.After all this has been a standard behavioral code regularly made use of by the ruthless front.Tplf is now officially evolved in to a private club run by melese family and relatives.This in turn,will mean unlimitted access for melese and family to the country’s resourcess that will allow them to stash the loot overseas through their front men.
As to the departure of sibhat,I shed no tear for the notorious crooked who is down ,and on his way out.Any way his lotin life is much better than the hard working ordinary Ethiopians who are marginalized by the racist junta.By no means,Aboy is hurt.In one instance alone,reportedly,he received 150 million bribery from the atheist state-China.The rest of his asset acquired by loot and not reported yet,,it need to be revealed urgently.
Is this wholesome consolidation of power and wealth in the hands of one family reassuring?Does it speak of strength?Perhaps,it is premature to speculate,it is yet to be seen.In the mean time the,the man who came out as winner at the Mekele private meeting behooved him not to be intosticated with this notion of -personal omnipotence.He may have every reason to believe that he is a prince out of adwa,elsewhere, in the country need not forget that he is surounded by sea of multitude of enemies.The hundered ofr so high rancking officiers may not be indefinitly counted trustworthy as his bastion.In such a moment ase this had there been a force to challenge the despised pariah,we could have expected,even,more fissure to come out of the boiling kettle of Weyane.
#21. Inqutatash!
“By the way, why use “X” instead of “T” ~ Araat nexxib. I am open to learn, new things–please explain.” you requested.
Thank you for you beautiful question.
The reason why I LOVE to use “X” instead of “T” is because I find it much more POWERFUL and SUPERNATURAL when we have both the “X” and “T” separately and in strong alliance as to form unity in within diversity in tackling persistent intractable new problems in a new way with a brand new combination of the great “X” and great “T” What a great new invention to prevent the great invasion!
LONG LIVE THE GREAT “X” AND THE GREAT “T” THUMBS UP!