<
http://www.ethiopianreview.net/index/?p=44383> EPRDF becoming a tinderbox
Elias Kifle | September 10th, 2012
http://www.ethiopianreview.net/index/?p=44383
A delegation of the ruling junta in Ethiopia, Tigray People Liberation Front
(TPLF), has secretly met with acting prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn
over the weekend in Addis Ababa to negotiate TPLF's role in the new regime.
It is not known yet what was exactly discussed at the meeting, but observers
speculate that the TPLF is trying to pressure Hailemariam into agreeing with
their demand to keep the current government structure intact, or else stand
down and help pave the way for the new TPLF leader to become prime minister.
Abay Tsehay, Arkebe Ekubay and Debretsion Gebremichael are in the short list
of candidates for the TPLF chairmanship, Ethiopian Review sources reported.
The TPLF leadership decided to start negotiating with Hailemariam to avoid
confrontation with the ANDM, OPDO and SEPDM (member organizations of the
ruling coalition, the EPRDF) before the 180-member EPRDF council meets next
weekend.
Bereket Simon did not accompany Hailemariam during the negotiation with TPLF
leaders. He was busy meeting with ANDM members over the weekend.
Former chairman and co-founder of TPLF Sebhat Nega is taking an extremely
hardline position. It is reported that the 81-year-old Sebhat is prepared to
call for the nuclear option (Article 39) if necessary and declare Tigray an
independent country if TPLF fails to secure the premiership. Sebhat believes
that TPLF will be back to square one - back to where they started - if power
slips from their hands. TPLF members inside the country and abroad are
expressing the same concern.
There will be a major development between now and next Sunday. The
TPLF/EPRDF junta is facing a dangerously explosive situation.
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Received on Mon Sep 10 2012 - 09:46:48 EDT
