<
http://www.ethiopianreview.net/index/?p=44228> TPLF prepares to conduct
purges in the EPRDF rank to keep the premiership
Elias Kifle | September 9th, 2012
http://www.ethiopianreview.net/index/?p=44228
The Tigrean People Liberation Front (TPLF), the leading party in the ruling
coalition in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front (EPRDF), is
preparing to eliminate potential threats to its continued dominance by
conducting purges in the EPRDF rank, according to the latest information we
have received from Ethiopian Review Intelligence Unit sources in Addis
Ababa.
In a series of meetings over the past few days with members and supporters
inside the country and around the world, the TPLF leadership heard earful
that under no circumstance the premiership should go to Hailemariam Desalegn
or any one who is not a member of the TPLF.
The other members of the ruling coalition, namely OPDO, ANDM and SEPDM, seem
to be equally determined to swear in Hailemariam as the new prime minister
of Ethiopia.
Both sides are being led by powerful personalities. The TPLF side is being
led from behind the scene by 80-year-old Sebhat Nega, while the
ANDM-OPDO-SEPDM side is being led by propaganda chief Bereket Simon. Both
Sebhat and Bereket are known to be masters of political intrigue and
maneuverings.
Balance of power
On Sebhat's TPLF side there are the military, which is led by Generals
Samora Yenus and Saere Mekonen, and the security/intelligence, which is led
by Debretsion Gebrmichael and Getachew Assefa.
On Bereket-Hailemariam's side there are the notorious Federal Police whose
head is Workneh Gebeyehu, the Addis Ababa Police, local militias, and a
large populous that is tired of being dominated by one minority ethnic
group. OPDO is armed to its teeth, and Addis Ababa police is led by Hassan
Shifa of TPLF, but most of its members are from ANDM and OPDO. The officers
could back Bereket-Hailemariam's side. Another big asset for the Bereket
side is local militias that are dispersed through out Amhara, Oromiya and
southern regions. They can be instrumental in blocking any military movement
by the TPLF generals.
The balance of power favors the Bereket-Hailemariam group, but Sebhat's TPLF
seems to be more determined and ready to sacrifice any thing and every thing
to stay in power. They have the mindset of all or nothing, which makes them
dangerous.
Knowing the nature of TPLF, the question now is, who is going to blink
first? Or, more aptly asked, who is going to be breakfast?
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Received on Sun Sep 09 2012 - 06:58:05 EDT
