
“In early 1991, the EPRDF, a Tigrean-led coalition of rebel organizations under the leadership of Meles Zenawi, began to achieve real successes and defeated the Ethiopian army, forcing military dictator Haile Mariam Mengistu to flee the country. On May 28, 1991, in the midst of cease-fire talks, EPRDF tanks entered Addis Ababa virtually unopposed. Soon after, a transition government was formed, with Meles Zenawi as its president. In July, a new democratic constitution was drafted, and Eritrean independence was acknowledged without incident” (History.com – ‘Ethiopian capital falls to rebels, ending 17 years of Marxist rule’ 26.05.2020).
On the 28th May 1991 was the end of the Red Terror and the new government was ushered in with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Who ended a war and ended 17 years of the Derg regime in Addis Ababa. Usually, through the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF) who made a new constitution and a settlement for the government.
This is why we should be worried about the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and the current day leadership. Who has made the previous leadership and one of the leading parties in the liberation from one dictator. Has created another dictator and warlord. Who is now ushering in his ‘Medemer Terror’.
The Prosperity Party and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali is using the same constitution and powers given to them by the former liberators to usher in the same terror it was supposed to free the public. The same group of people and region is under fire, the Tigray is the target and the party who was leading the rebellious coalition is back to guerrilla warfare. That’s the tragedy here.
The republic have stagnated and gone back to civil war mode. The state has gone to target it’s own citizens like under the Derg times. Now it is ‘Medemer Terror’. It is the era of the Mad King and “progressive” dictator. Abiy is the warlord and he will not generate peace in the near for-see-able future. Because, he has open up a can of worms and now he cannot put them back in the can.
All of the policies, use of armed personnel on unarmed civilians, using the scorched earth tactic and starvation as a method. Using arbitrary arrests, political detentions and extra judicial killings. There is so much ill in society and there is no signs of positive steps. This a terror and a horrific time in Ethiopia.
The Derg was its own ill and horrific past, but this generation is now living through their own. The EPRDF and TPLF did their oppressive actions. The EPRDF have their crimes and violations on the citizens during their reign. However, Abiy has been able to kill, destroy and deplete society to another level. He has overseen so many massacres, usage of arrests and politically prosecute his enemies. Therefore, the EPDRF constitution and it’s laws are now used not only on the TPLF who co-founded it, but everyone else who has lived through this era.
The current PP and AAA have no trouble unleashing the dragons, the mother of guns and usage of force, which only cause harm and scorn people for decades to come. When people will remember this time and recollect it, it won’t be with fondness or admiration, but more with heartache and sorrow. As everyone will know about the massacres, the rapes, the starvation and the use of military forces towards civilians. That’s in the Tigray region, but also elsewhere.
As this regime is using military might across the republic. The state is using the police and the authorities to keep the general public in shackles. Keep the opposition and dissidents behind bars. They are keeping or getting rid of anyone who opposes it. This sort of arrangement can only be associated with terror. It is no hope and no direct golden future. Only more devastation and destruction.
The Medemer Terror and its culprits will go down in history. Just like the men who was in-charge of the Red Terror. Abiy might have to flee to Yayah Jammeh and get shelter in Equatorial Guinea. If not ask for help in Harare like Hailemariam Mengistu.
Today isn’t a day to celebrate. It isn’t a day to bash in glory of the past. No, history is repeating itself and the damage is happening now. The state and it’s allies are killing, arresting and hurting civilians as we speak. There is no hope for safe-haven or security. Freedom, justice and liberty is only fancy words. Just like the drop-lets of sovereignty, rule of law, free and fair elections. We all know that will not happen with this regime in-charge.
This Prime Minister wouldn’t care about or even try to have open and credible elections. He just want to ensure by any means, that his Prosperity Party and his “Yes-Men” will be (s)elected in the up-coming election. This party and these “honourable” individuals rather see their enemies suffer, tortured and even die. As long as they are in power and rules supreme. They will throw the book at you. Use all lies and deceptions. They will ensure their “right” even when everyone knows they are wrong.
We are seeing the ‘Medemer Terror’ and we have to hope that it will end. We got to hope someone can make it stop. That someone has the ability and the character to make it end. As there is guerrilla war, state of emergency and command post activities across the Republic. There is all sort of ill behaviour and there is no end in sight. There’s now sort of finalization or possible ending chapter. The lives are taken and we are supposed to move on. People are killed, people are arrested and people are violated by state officers. Still, they promise that the republic will prevail, but to what end? Who is it prevailing for?
It is not prevailing for the Ogaden, Afar, Oromia or Tigray. Maybe it’s prevailing for Amhara and Finfinne. Though that is margin of error and God knows, if they will find enemies there too. The ‘Medemer Terror’ will haunt us and generations will be shocked that we let it happen. Peace.













