The Passing of a Genocidal Empire

By Mogos Abraham, PhD
Tigrai Online June 5, 2021

Meaning of Genocide

Motivated by a shear racism or madness, genocide is a systematic extermination of a human group, which is endowed with its own identity of race, language, nationality, faith, culture, history, and territorial distinction. It was first recognized as a crime under international law in 1946 by the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/96-I); and codified as an independent crime in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the Genocide Convention). The Convention has been ratified by 149 States (as of January 2018). The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has repeatedly stated that the Convention embodies principles that are part of general customary international law. This means that whether or not States have ratified the Genocide Convention, they are all bound as a matter of law by the principle that genocide is a crime prohibited under international law. The ICJ has also stated that the prohibition of genocide is a peremptory norm of international law; and consequently, no derogation from it is allowed.

In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group: (a) killing members of the group; (b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; and (e) forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

It should be clear that the atrocities being committed by the Coalition of Abiy Ahmed Ali, Isaias Afeworki of Eritrea, and the Amhara-Bantu extremists are far beyond specifications of the global Convention on Genocide. The following is a short factsheet of the barbaric atrocities Tigrayans are being subjected to: (i) massacre of civilians by the thousands; (ii) weaponization of rape and starvation (thousands of girls and women were gang raped; and millions are hangry, most of them starving to death); (iii) destruction and looting places of worship and historical treasure sites (national heritage tourist attractions, most of them registered by UNESCO as global heritage); (iv) more than 70,000 Tigrayans, including children and their mothers, the elderly, and the youth were forced to flee to Sudan to escape the well planned ethnic cleansing massacres; (v) public properties, including schools, universities, hospitals, clinics, highways, and bridges are being destroyed and looted to this day; (vi) private homes are vandalized and looted by the Eritrean army, including their windows, doors, furniture, and all types of kitchenware (e.g., kettles,  knives, plates, coffee pots, cups, etc.); (vii) all factories are now completely destroyed; and most of the machinery and equipment as well as transport vehicles were looted and taken to Eritrea, while the people were watching helplessly, most of them crying; and (viii) Tigray is in a world of total darkness: electricity and telephone lines, Internet connections, news media (all TV, radio, and newspapers), the public and private transportation system, healthcare, financial, schools, etc. etc. are all made out of service, most of them damaged, purposely to force the people of Tigray into submission. This short list of cruelty is clear evidence of barbaric genocidal ethnic cleansing strategy of the Coalition of criminals. Thus, a global military action of mercy is warranted immediately.

Next, genesis of the current Ethiopian tragedy is highlighted. Then, in closing, justifications for the inevitable birth of a free, strong, and modern nation of Tigray are provided.

The 2015-2016 Savagery

The 2015 to 2016 atrocities against Tigrayans that the Amhara elites perpetrated in Bahir-Dar and Gonder were the beginning of the present Ethiopian misery. It was shocking to hear and watch through multiple media outlets Tigrayans, in their own country, being harassed, bitten, and killed in cities of the Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia. From their hideouts in Asmara, Eritrea, the Birhanu Nega and Co. group, a declared terrorist organization, called Ginbot-7, built underground network of flash-mob hooligans and unleashed genocidal rampages during the months of July and August 2016 against Tigrayans, who lived for generations in their own Motherland, Ethiopia’s Amhara Regional State. For the mere fact that they were Tigrayans, hundreds were mobbed and massacred; their properties were ransacked and torched; and about 11,000 of them, including mothers and their children and the elderly, were forced to escape to neighboring North Sudan.

By carrying out these atrocities, Ginbot-7 and its sustainers: Shaébia, Egypt, and some other Arab countries, had wished for tragic civil wars throughout Ethiopia, immersing the poor country into a quagmire of a failed state, like the tragedies of Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Libya, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and, subsequently, to grab political power. That is exactly what they got now after protracted anarchy throughout the country. A failed state characterizes present Ethiopia. A failed state means a disintegrated body politic. Who is benefiting from this nightmare? Yes, that is Isaias Afeworki, the devil guest of the immature and illiterate Abiy Ahmed Ali.

Immeasurable Sacrifices

The Amhara elites (many of them I know) were delighted to see the above mentioned mob-lynching crimes against Tigrayans in their own country, at Bahir-Dar and Gondar (2015-2016). These historical tragedies will be recorded in Tigray’s history books. They are ultimate betrayals of the Tigrayan-patriotic magnanimity. Bearing the burden of leading role responsibilities, the people of Tigray sacrificed nearly hundred thousand of their young daughters and sons, the Tegadelti heroines and heroes, during the 17-year bitter struggle to free all Ethiopia’s nations, nationalities, and peoples from the savagery of the Derg-military junta. Mengistu Hailemariam’s Marxist-Leninist junta not only massacred about a million Ethiopians, it also destroyed Ethiopia’s social, economic, institutional, legal, and political infrastructures. Ethiopia was absolutely ruined. What did Tigray get for bearing the heavy burden of responsibilities to realize the Ethiopian renaissance (1991-2015)? Give your own verdict relative to what happened to Tigrayans in the Amhara State and current status of Ethiopia as a failed state.

In any case, the military and political prowess of Woyane Tigray, which means endogenously rooted unique Tigrayan Revolution, continues to mesmerize and surprise both enemies and friends alike, even today as we speak! The Tigray Defence Forces are on the verge of scoring a tremendously historic victory over military forces of a coalition of five nations: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Amhara, Somalia Republic, and United Arab Emirates. All these enemies colluded and invaded Tigray determined to exterminate us from the face of the Earth. They have miserably lost militarily, diplomatically, and socioeconomically. Tigray will flourish (reach a height of development and influence) soon before their eyes. They will regret their evil deeds as long as they live.

Menelik’s Ultimate Betrayal and its Consequences

The current betrayal of the Amhara chauvinist elements is a reminder of the historic treachery of Menelik II, who sabotaged Yohannes IV’s military strategies to fight foreign invaders. Emperor Yohannes demonstrated his patriotism, leadership skills, and military prowess against all Ethiopia’s enemies of his time. For example, the Ethiopian forces, under the command of the renowned African General, Raési Alula Aba-Nega, routed well-equipped Egyptians, led by European and American mercenaries, in the following battlefields: (i) in 1875 at Gundet; (ii) in 1876 at Guraé; (iii) in 1880 at Senhit; and (iv) in 1887 at Aylet. Again, in that year (1887), just after Aylet), Alula Aba-Nega scored a decisive victory over Italian invaders at Dogali. The Italians called their humiliating defeat at this historic battlefield as “The Dogali Massacre”.

While Emperor Yohannes was fighting all these wars, however, Menelik was conspiring with the enemy, the Government of Fascist Italy to have Emperor Yohannes IV killed. Shortly after the Dogali debacle, the Italians agreed in a secret treaty to supply Menelik with 5,000 Remington rifles and money; and to recognize him as a sovereign power in return for his promise to assist Italy’s colonial expansion. Subsequently, between 1885 and 1895, a total of 189,000 weapons were delivered to Menelik. Emperor Yohannes IV died on Mar. 12, 1889 at Metema, in today’s Amhara Killil, while defending his beloved country, Ethiopia, against the Mahdists of Mahdi Mohammed Ahmed of Sudan. How and why Emperor Yohannes IV died remains a mystery. Who fired the fateful bullet and what part of his body was hit remains a mystery? Many writers believe that Menelik’s agents under the auspices the Italians killed Emperor Yohannes, the King of Kings. In any case, Menelik’s treasonous dream to be king of Ethiopia was fulfilled. Ethiopia’s fate since then is what we see now; a land of human misery!

The degree of betrayal and greed of Menelik for political power at any cost (including the sale and dismemberment of Ethiopia) revealed his idiotic mentality and greed for political power at any cost. As if he was to live for eternity, immediately after the death of Yohannes IV, just in less than two months, on May 2, 1889, Menelik signed the Treaty of Wuchale; claimed the Ethiopian Imperial Throne; and sold Ethiopia’s Red Sea frontier, Bahri-Negash (dismembered the Motherland). Then, the buyers, the Italians, named Bahri Negash Eritrea. This was the greatest betrayal in Ethiopia’s history from which the present chauvinist Amhara and Oromo extremists must learn; and beware of the consequences. Betraying own Motherland for political expediency will backfire at them. Ethiopians have learned more than enough lessons of subjugation and poverty from the evil deeds of Menelik, Haile Selassie, and Mengistu Hailemariam.

Self-serving chauvinist elements of the Amhara and Oromo ethnicity (start with the so called Team Lemma), who have become messengers of Ethiopia’s enemies. They have succeeded in destroying Ethiopia. The global current image of Ethiopia is depicted as a land of genocidal war of extreme savagery being carried out by a coalition of five barbaric nations against Tigray. Ethiopia is currently a failed nation governed by goons (foolish-eccentric criminals).

The Birth of a Modern Nation

Tigray, the land of glorious wealth of history, will determine her own destiny very soon this year of 2021. We all Tigrayans will call a spade a spade. That is, we will announce authoritatively and loudly that enough is enough. Tigray will forge its own pathways to security, peace, and prosperity. Democratic Republic of Tigray (my own wish name) will be declared soon. Self-determination is our God given entitlement. This is well articulated in Article 39, Sections (1) to (5) of the Ethiopian Constitution. Tigray will use the Article to throw away the heavy-bloody-burden of responsibilities to nurse a dying bloody-genocidal Empire. Tigrayan blood will never be shed again to nurse the seriously sick and ruined Ethiopia.

It is unfortunate this ancient country is now ruined beyond repair. The Oromo goons in leadership and the Amhara-Hutus have successfully destroyed the ancient nation. A long time ago, someone wrote, “Ethiopia slept for centuries under the leadership of the extremely corrupt Amhara Autocracy forgetful of the world by which she was forgotten.” Thus, Tigray will annihilate the coalition of goons militarily. Then, a free, powerful, and prosperous Tigray will be born. Tigrayans have never lost a war in their history. Victory against the coalition of the barbaric invaders is inevitable. Tigray will be a center of gravity for geopolitical and socioeconomic spheres of influence, linking the two regions of the Horn of Africa and Middle East. Tigray possesses the enabling conditions of: (i) geopolitical strategic location; (ii) infinite wealth of history and culture; (iii) highly patriotic and productive young generation; (iv) wealth of renewable and non-renewable natural resources; (v) huge potential for tourism industry; (vi) densely populated and strongly bonded homogeneous social capital; (vii) fiercely nationalist, united, and highly disciplined human resource; (viii) respected and feared military might; and (ix) an enabling effective political governance system will make Tigray an African Tiger. This final-miraculous victory of the Tigrayan heroes and heroines will seal the coffin of the bloody-genocidal Ethiopian Empire for eternity.

May our martyrs rest in peace in in the arms of the Almighty!