By Ginbot 7 Research Team
February 16, 2010
Introduction
A few months ago, Ginbot 7’s research team presented an extensive list of the top military commanders of the Woyane regime including their names, their position in the military and their ethnic background. That meticulously researched study showed how the current military of Meles Zenawi’s regime is totally dominated by one ethnic group where by some 95% of the top brass of the military emanate from the Tigrian ethnic group representing about 6% of the population. While this was a shocking revelation to Ethiopians and foreign observers alike, some apologists of the Woyane regime, presented this as a natural development similar to the dominance of the Shewa Amharas during the imperial regime and the broader ethnic Amharas that supposedly dominated the Derg regime. We felt at the time that this argument was problematic for two reasons. First, the nature of ethnic dominance that is observed during the Woyane period seemed to be more purposeful, calculated and certainly more excessive than any of the regimes in the past. Second, even if there was systematic ethnic dominance in the past, it surely does not justify the perpetuation of dominance by a new group, which would only increase ethnic animosity and destabilize the society further.
While the second point is self evident, our first point needed some investigation to present a solid proof for our contention. At the time, we promised to do a detailed study of the military command and personnel of the earlier two regimes for comparison with our study of the Woyane period. The first portion of that study is now complete. We will briefly summarize the main findings below, and present two tables for the reader to go through the detailed observation. A note on the data is also available to make it easier for the reader to follow the information on the tables.
This study has been conducted with the help of a large number of people mainly involving former military officers who know the institution well and the people involved. We have involved a significant number of people to verify the accuracy of our description of the people involved and their role in the military. We are very thankful for their assistance and we hope their cooperation will continue as we do the second phase of the study involving the lower ranking officers at the Birgadier General level. We also thank some family members of these officers who helped us in cross checking the ethnic identities.
Main findings:
Contrary to the long held claim of the Woyane propagandists, this careful study reveals that the top military brass of the Ethiopian state, although not directly proportional, was much more broadly representative of the country’s ethnic configuration than is commonly claimed. When seen along with our earlier study of the top military brass of the Woyane regime, both the Derg and the imperial periods showed a much more representative picture of the country’s ethnic mixture in the military leadership. As can be seen, persons of various ethnic groups successfully made it to the highest positions such as Chief of Staff and Commanders of Armies (Serawit/Hayiel), Command (Eze), Core (Kore), and Division (Kifle Tore).
With one notable exception, we took officers over and above the Major General level for this study because of the significant actual power they hold in the military rank at their time of service. There was a very close correlation between military rank and actual power at the time.
A cursory look at the data shows that broadly speaking the Amharas dominated the imperial army top brass holding 55.5% of the top positions, while the Shewa Amharas, who supposedly were in control of the state represent only 20% of the military leadership during the imperial period. The second largest representation was that of people with mixed heritage with 15.5%, followed by Oromos with 13.3%. Eritreans and Tigreans with 11.1% and Gurages at 4.4%. The Derg period brought a significant improvement from the imperial period not only by including hitherto unrepresented groups to the top brass (Wolayita and Harari) but also by spreading the representation relatively more evenly. Accordingly, the Amhara representation, although still high compared with the size of its population, was decreased to 45%, of which the Shewa Amhara representation decreased further to 17.5%. On the other hand, Oromo representation increased to 25% bringing it closer to its proportional size to the population. Indicative of the increasing inter marriage between ethnic communities, those with mixed heritage account for 17.5% of the top military brass during the Derge period followed by Gurage (5%), Tigray/Eritrea, Wolayita and Harari each with 2.5% representation. We encourage the reader to look at these figures along with the ethnic distribution among the whole population. We also wish to direct the reader to read this numbers with the earlier study of power distribution in the current Woyane military.
We have presented the detailed table below for the reader to check the veracity of this study and reach his/her own conclusion about the nature of ethnocentric distribution of power during the two regimes. We wish to note here that our aim in doing this and the earlier study on the composition of the Woyane military brass, is not to argue that ethnic identity and proportional representation along ethnic lines should be the basis for appointing career military officers. Far from it. We actually would like to see an Ethiopia where the capability of citizens shall be the most important criteria for appointing public officials in so far as the process is fair, equitable and transparent. We also note that before Woyane’s usurpation of power in Ethiopia, previous regimes never openly and officially used ethnicity as the criteria for government appointment. It is Woyane who brought the issue to the fore, claimed to bring ethnic equality in the country and shamelessly made ethnicity the quintessential criteria for defining one’s identity. Woyane insisted on being measured by the criteria of equitable ethnic distribution of power as a justification for its rule.
Our aim is therefore to show the hypocrisy of this ethnocentric mafia group that claims to bring ethnic calculus as the sole criteria for distribution of power in the country while allocating the lion’s share of power to the benefit of its own minority ethnic group. What is amazing about this group is its audacity. A group that represents 6% of the population claims 95% of the top military brass in the country, and blames previous regimes for playing it unfair. It is this same group that purportedly fought for 17 years against the Derg regime in the name of bringing ethnic equality. It is now clear what it really wishes to achieve. To use ethnicity to divide the nation and maintain its hold on power, while using this power to bleed the country dry for the benefit of the small group of bandits that are shamelessly stealing the resources of some 80 million poor souls. This simply cannot, and should not stand.
Finally, It is also our aim to show the slippery nature of ethnic based politics and the danger it poses to our collective survival as a free and stable multi ethnic society. Surely we should all be sensitive to issues of equity and social justice. We should always be ready to lift those that have been left behind because of the trajectories of our history. We should commit ourselves to justice and the equality of all citizens of our country. But, we should also know that it is only when we are united as citizens of a free country whose rights are respected and who are ruled by people of our own choosing that we have a chance to achieve these lofty objectives. We should have little room for those who appeal to our basest instincts for the purpose of dividing us and subjecting us to live under the yoke of intolerable tyranny.
1. Brief Notes on the study.
a. The vexing problem in undertaking this study has been to put a firm handle on who has what ethnic background. It seems as if the two eras—The Emperor’s and that of the Derg—were mostly, if not totally blind, as to who has what kind of ethnic background.
There are several instances where we were given the ethnic background of the generals to be from this or that ethnic group. But in several instances, it ends up being overturned by another person involved in the checking and counterchecking process.
Despite the involvement of several officers starting from the rank of general down to majors from all departments of the armed forces, the challenge of certainty when it comes to ethnic background has increased as the number increased when we go down the ladder in the military hierarchy.
One method we used in this study to minimize committing gross errors is to give the names to several officers from all forces to provide their tally. We have taken what the majority have agreed the case to be. There may well be a 5% margin of error in ethnic identification but not more in this study, where we take the rank of major general and above with the top military posts in the country. That may increase in the study that we will issue in the near future where we are sifting through the background of over 200 Birgadier Generals from both the Emperor and Derg era.
b. The study has solicited the help and input of several former officers – from generals to other officers –from Air force, Ground Force, and Navy. It has also solicited a learned review from knowledgeable civilians who had intimate knowledge of both periods (including close relatives) to verify the final version.
2. Keys to symbols:
a. **** shows those non-Derg members but loyal to Col Mengistu. Gebre Kirstos Bulli, the only Big General in the list is included because he was among a handful of officers the Derg promoted to a rank of General for the first time. He was also the most influenatial milliary officer directly reporting to the Chairman of the Derg, and having parallel positions with the Defense Minsistry’s Military Operations Main Department. He was presumed killed in the early 1980s after attempting to escape via Djibouti and having fallen out of grace with Col Mengistu as a result of a fist fight with then Chief of Staff Merid Negussie.
b. *** Means those who were members of the Derg but got to their position following the professional track and stayed in the military unlike their colleagues who were transferred from civilian life to military at a later period.
c. **. Derg members who were promoted to the rank of General and Admiral after more than a decade of life as civilian officials , Derg and WPE reps, and ministers with their initial ranks as majors, colonels, Lt, Commanders etc when they became Derg members in 1974. Almost all of them were transferred and promoted to the military after the aborted coup of 1989.
d. *. Those who were not Derg members but were deemed loyal and also capable enough to fill the vacuum created after the coup of 1989.
f. All those without any asterisk marks are carrier professionals who made it to the military hierarchy step by step based on their merit, time of service, education and training, and military exploits in the east, south, and northern fronts. Their training and education was not only in country at Holeta , Harar Academy, etc. but training in the best military schools in US, Europe, Israel etc.
The most senior officers of the armed forces and police of the Imperial regime – up to 1974
|
Full Name
|
Rank
|
Highest known
Position Held During The Derg regime |
Ethnicity & Region
|
Remarks
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Kebede Gebre
|
Lt. General (Army)
|
Minister of Defense
|
Amhara from Showa
|
|
|
2
|
Merid Mengesha
|
Lt. General
|
Minister of Defense
|
Amhara from Gojam & Showa
|
|
|
3
|
Eyasu Mengesha
|
Lt. General
(Army) |
Chief of Staff of Imperial
Armed forces |
Tigray & Eritrea
|
|
|
4
|
Abieye Abebe
|
Lt. General
(Army) |
Minister of Defense
|
Amhara from Showa
|
|
|
5
|
Esayas Gebre Selassie
|
Lt. General
(Army) |
Commander in Chief of Ground Forces
|
Eritrea
|
|
|
6
|
Haile Baykedagen
|
Lt. General
(Army) |
Chief Staff of the Imperial
Armed forces, Division Commander |
Tigray (Adwa) & Amhara from Gojam (Mixed)
|
|
|
7
|
Abebe Gemeda
|
Lt. General
(Army) |
Commander of Imperial
Bodyguard |
Oromo from Showa
|
|
|
8
|
Assefa Ayane
|
Lt. General
(Army, Air force) |
Chief of Staff of Imperial Armed Forces, Commander of the Air Force.
|
Amhara from Gonder (wolkait)
|
|
|
9
|
Wolde Selassie Bereka
|
Lt. General
(Army) |
Chief of Staff of the Imperial Armed forces, Commander in Chief of Ground forces
|
Gurage
|
|
|
10
|
Deressie
Dubale |
Lt. General
(Army) |
Commander in Chief
of Ground Forces |
Gurage &
Amhara (Mixed) |
|
|
11
|
Mulugeta Bulli
|
Maj. General**
(Army) |
Chief of Staff of the Imperial Armed forces, later made civilian, a minister of Social affairs
|
Oromo from Wolega
|
Leading role in organizing the Armed forces after Fascist invasion
|
|
12
|
Assefa Demisse
|
Lt . General
|
Head of Protocol to the Emperor
|
Amhara & Oromo
(Mixed) |
|
|
13
|
Yilma Shibeshi
|
Lt. General
(Police) |
Commander of Imperial Police Forces
|
Gurage & Amhara
(mixed) |
|
|
14
|
Belete Abebe
|
Lt. General
|
Chief of Staff , Territorial Army
|
Amhara from Shewa
|
|
|
15
|
Teshome Ergetu
|
Lt. General
(Army) |
Division Commander
|
Gurage & Oromo
(Mixed) |
Killed by rebels in Eritrea before the revolution 1974
|
|
16
|
Jagama Kello
|
Lt. General
(Army) |
Division Commander
|
Oromo from Showa
|
A patriot who led 3000 patriots and fought during the Fascist Italy’s invasion.
|
|
17
|
Nega Haile Selassie
|
Lt. General
(Army) |
Emperor’s Special Cabinet
|
Amhara from Showa
|
|
|
18
|
Debebe Haile Mariam
|
Lt. General
(Army) |
Commander of Imperial
Body guard |
Amhara from Showa
|
|
|
19
|
Aman Mickael Andom
|
Lt. General (Army)
|
Division Commander
|
Eritrea
|
During the Derg Minister of Defense. Then, Head of State
|
|
20
|
Abebe Wolde Meskel
|
Maj. General
|
Commander of Police force
|
Amhara
|
|
|
21
|
Degneh Gusgsa
|
Maj. General
(Army) |
Division Commander
|
Oromo from Welega
|
|
|
22
|
Shiferaw Tesema
|
Maj. General
|
Senior staff of Ground forces
|
Amhara
|
|
|
23
|
Yakob Gebre Leul
|
Maj. General
|
Senior Staff, Ground Forces
|
Eritrea
|
|
|
24
|
Tadesse Melke
|
Maj. General
(Army) |
Commander of Genet Millitary Training Center
|
Amhara from Gonder
|
|
|
25
|
Abera Wolde Mariam
|
Maj General
(Air force) |
Commander of the Air Force
|
Oromo & Amhara
(Mixed) |
|
|
26
|
Tafesse Lemma
|
Maj General
|
Division Commander and Palace protocol
|
Amhara & Gurage
(mixed) |
|
|
27
|
Kebede Worku
|
Maj. General
|
Division commander
|
Amhara from Showa
|
|
|
28
|
Wolde Tsadik Gebere Meskel
|
Maj. General
|
Deputy Commander
Imperial Bodyguard |
Gurage
|
|
|
29
|
Tsige Gezmu
|
Maj. General
|
Budget and Finance Head
Ministry of Defense |
Amhara from Showa
|
|
|
30
|
Gashaw Kebede
|
Maj. General
|
Police commander of Eritrea
|
Amhara
|
|
|
31
|
Abebe Wolde Mariam
|
Maj. General
(Army) |
Senior staff in Ground forces
|
Amhara
|
|
|
32
|
Bereket G. Medhin
|
Maj. General
|
Police Commander in Kaffa
|
Tigray and Eritrea
|
|
|
33
|
Kelebesa Beka
|
Maj. General
|
Commander of police in Sidamo
|
Oromo from Wolega
|
|
|
34
|
Girma Mulat
|
Maj. General
|
Police Commander
|
Amhara
|
|
|
35
|
Kebede Wogaye
|
Maj. General
|
Deputy Commander Imperial Bodyguard
|
Amhara from Gojam
|
|
|
36
|
Abebe Wolde Selassie
|
Maj. General
|
Police commander in Wollo
|
Amhara from Showa
|
|
|
37
|
Siyuom Gedle Giorgis
|
Maj. General
(Army) |
Deputy Commander of
Ground ForcesDivision Commander |
Amhara from Harar
|
|
|
38
|
Moges Beyene
|
Maj. General
|
Commander of Police in Gamo Goffa
|
Amhara from Showa
|
|
|
39
|
Gizaw Belayneh
|
Maj. General
(Army) |
Division Commander,
|
Amhara from Harar
|
Chief of staff early Derg.
|
|
40
|
Merid Gizaw
|
Maj. General
(Army) |
Senior staff Ministry of Defense , Divisional Commander
|
Amhara from Showa
|
|
|
41
|
Tadesse Gebre
|
Maj. General
|
Police Commander
|
Amhara
|
|
|
42
|
Wakjira Sarda
|
Maj. General
|
Senior Staff , Minister of Defense, Division Commander
|
Oromo from Wollega
|
|
|
43
|
Nega Tegene
|
Maj. General
(Army) |
Division Commander
|
Amhara from Gonder
|
|
|
44
|
Tedla Mekonnen
|
Maj. General
|
Deputy Commander Ground Forces
|
Amhara from Showa
|
|
|
45
|
Bekele Wolde Giorgis
|
Maj. General
|
Crown Prince Palace Chief
|
Amhara
|
|
The Socialist Military Derg Regime, later PDRE
The Highest Ranking Army, Air force, Navy and Police Officers (Part I)
|
Full Name
|
Rank
|
Highest known Position Held
During The Derg regime |
Ethnicity & Region
|
Remarks
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Tesfaye Gebre Kidan
|
Lt. General (Army)
|
Minister of Defense
|
Oromo from (parents from Selalie Showa, grew up in Harar)
|
Derg Standing committee & WPE Politburo member, one of the most powerful persons in the system, Vice President after 1986.
President for one week. |
|
2
|
Haile Giorgis Habte Mariam
|
Maj. General
(Imp. Bodyguard, 2nd course) |
Minister of Defense
|
Amhara from Showa
|
Chief of Staff Under Lt. Gen. Tesfaye , took over as Minster of Defense
|
|
3
|
Merid Negussie
|
Maj. General
(Imp. Bodyguard, 3rd course) |
Chief of Staff
|
Oromo from Showa
|
Chief of Staff, committed suicide during the 1981 aborted coup
|
|
4
|
Gebre Kirstos Bulli
|
Brig General
(Army, Holeta) |
Chief/head of Derg’s National Military Campaign Department
|
Oromo from Wolega
|
Subsumed and oversaw functions of Defense Ministry operations Department, parallel but more powerful structure under the Chairman of the Derg himself until 1984.
|
|
5
|
Hailu Gebere Michael
|
Maj. General
(Army, Holeta) |
Commander of the Ground Forces
|
Oromo & Gurage
(mixed) |
Executed after the aborted coup of 1989.
|
|
6
|
Tesfaye Birhanu
|
R. Admiral
(Navy, 1st course) |
Commander of the Navy
|
Wolayita
|
Imprisoned after the 1989 aborted coup.
|
|
7
|
Fanata Belay
|
Maj. General
(Airforce) |
Commander of the Air Force
|
Amhara from Gonder
|
Killed after the 1989 coup while in prison.
|
|
8
|
Demissie Bulto
|
Maj. General
(Imp. Bodyguard, 3rd course, Airborne) |
Commander of the 2nd Revolutionary Army, Eritrea
|
Oromo from Showa
|
Killed during the aborted coup of 1989
|
|
9
|
Amaha Desta
|
Maj. General
(Air force) |
Commander of the Air Force
|
Amhara from Showa
|
Committed suicide during the aborted coup of 1989.
|
|
10
|
Zeleke Beyene
|
Maj. General
(Army, Holeta) |
Commander of the 4th Revolutionary Army, (Central)
|
Amhara from Wollo
|
Member of the Derg Central Committee, promoted from Col to Maj. General after serving many years as a civilian. Served until 1991.
|
|
11
|
Asrat Biru |
Maj. General
(Imp. Bodyguard, 3rd course) |
Commander of the 3rd Army (Tigray)
|
Oromo from Showa
|
Held various high level positions
|
|
12
|
Haddis Tedla |
Lt. General
(Air force) |
Chief of Staff
|
Amhara from Showa
|
Dergue’s Standing Committee & WPE politburo member, promoted after the coup from a rank of a major and long time life as civilian top official. Served until 1991
|
|
13
|
Mesfin Gebre Kal
|
Maj. General
(Army, Harar Academy, Sandhurst) |
Deputy Chief of Staff
for Operations |
Eritrea
|
Son of a patriot who fought the Italians during the fascist invasion, previously held high level positions in the minister of Defense, promoted after the coup -1991
|
|
14
|
Yewalashet Girma
|
R. Admiral
(Navy) |
Commander of the Navy
|
Amhara & Gurage from Showa
|
Derg & WPE CC member, promoted after the 1981 coup from a long life as a civilian minster and a Lt. Commander to R. Admiral, held until 1991
|
|
15
|
Sioum Mekonnen
|
Maj. General (Army, Holeta)
|
Deputy Chief of Staff
for Intel. |
Amhara from Showa
|
Promoted as Deputy Chief of Staff after the coup of 1989. Held the position until 1991.
|
|
16
|
Abebe Wolde Mariam |
Maj., General
(Air Force) |
Deputy Minister of Defense for logistics
|
Gurage and Amhara
(mixed) from Shewa |
From early years to 1983
|
|
17
|
Alemayheu Agonafer |
Maj. General
(Air force) |
Commander of the Air Force
|
Amhara from Shewa
|
Promoted after the coup of 1989 and held until 1991.
|
|
18
|
Embibel Ayele
|
Maj. General
(Army, Harar Academy 1st course) |
Commander of the Ground Forces
|
Amhara from Harar
|
Promoted after 1989 and held the position until 1991
|
|
19
|
Berhanu Jembere
|
Maj. General
(Army, Holeta) |
Commander of the 1st Revolutionary Army
|
Amhara from Gojam
|
Promoted from a Major and a civilian official. Died of plane crash before 1991.
|
|
20
|
Wubshet Dessie
|
Maj. General
(Army, Harar Academy) |
Commander of the 2nd Revolutionary Army
(Eritrea) |
Oromo from Arsi
|
Derg Standing Committee member, a major who was a long time civilian, promoted after the 1989 coup.
|
|
21
|
Kefelgen Yibza
|
Maj. General
(Army, Holeta) |
Commander of Central Command, Commander of ground forces
|
Sodo Gurage
|
Held various high level positions in the military until 1991.
|
|
22
|
Tilahun Argaw |
Maj. General
(Army, Holeta) |
Core commander, Commander of Special Command, Assab
|
Gurage & Amhara
|
Until 1991.
|
|
23
|
Regassa JImma |
Maj. General
(Imp. Body Guard, 3rd course) |
Commander of the 2nd Revolutionary Army
|
Oromo from Illubabur
|
Held various high positions in the military as a commander and commandant of the Holeta Military Academy, until 1991
|
|
24
|
Getachew Gedamu
|
Maj. General
(Army, Holeta) |
Deputy Commander of
1st Revolutinary Army (Harar) |
Amhara from Gojam
|
Held various high level positions until 1991
|
|
25
|
Kinfe Gebrel Dinku
|
Maj. General
(Imp. Bodyguard, 3rd course) |
Head of Mil. Operations
Ministry of Defense |
Gurage
|
Held various high positions until 1991
|
|
26
|
Hussien Ahmed |
Maj. General
(Army, Harar Academy 1st course) |
Deputy Commander of 2st Revolutionary Army
(Eritrea) |
Amhara from Wollo
|
Held the position before and after 1989 coup until he fled to Saudi Araba with other top generals in Eritrea in 1991.
|
|
27
|
Alemayehu Ayele |
Maj. General
(Army , Holeta) |
Deputy Commander for Logistics of Ground Forces
|
Amhara
|
Until 1991
|
|
28
|
Bedlu Duki
|
Maj. General
(Army , Holeta) |
Head of Logistics
Ministry of Defense |
Oromo from Showa
|
Until 1991
|
|
29
|
Wegayehu Gashaw
|
Maj. General
(Army, Holeta) |
Deputy Commander 2nd Revolutionary Army
|
Amhara & Oromo
(Mixed) |
Held various positions Until 1991
|
|
30
|
Merdasa Lelisa |
Maj. General
(Army, Holeta) |
Core commander,
Commander of Tewodros Task force 1991 |
Oromo from Showa
|
Until 1991
|
|
31
|
Abera Abebe |
Maj. General
(Army, special force, Holeta) |
Chief/Head of Military Operations Department
Mistery of Defense |
Oromo from Showa
|
Killed after the aborted coup of 1989
|
|
32
|
Abdulahi Umer
|
Maj General
(Army, Harar Academy 1st course) |
Head of Logistics
Minister of Defense |
Aderi
|
Imprisoned after the 1989 coup.
|
|
33
|
Mulatu Negash
|
Maj. General
(Army, Holeta) |
Commander of the third Revo Army,
|
Mixed ethnic background
|
Imprisoned after the army’s’ defeat in Tigray until 1991.
|
|
34
|
Kumleachew Dejene |
Maj. General
(Army, Holeta) |
Deputy Commander of the 2nd Revo Army
(Eritrea) |
Amhara from Gojam
|
Fled to exile after the 1989 coup.
|
|
35
|
Worku Zewdie |
Maj. General
|
Commander of Ethiopian Police Forces
|
Amhara from Harar
|
Executed after the aborted coup of 1989.
|
|
36
|
Zewde Gebreyes
|
Maj. General
|
Core Commander
|
Amhara from South
|
Executed after the aborted coup of 1989
|
|
37
|
Alemayehu Desta
|
Maj. General
|
Deputy Commander of
Ground Forces |
Amhara from Showa
|
Executed after the aborted coup of 1989.
|
|
38
|
Gebreyes Wolde Hana |
Maj. General
|
Head of Political Department of the Revo. Armed Forces
|
Amhara from Showa
|
Derg & WPE CC member, but assigned as head of military cadres from early days. Killed in a plane crash accident before 1991.
|
|
39
|
Negussie Wolde Michael
|
Maj. General
|
Commander of Ethiopian Police Forces pre 1986
|
Amhara from Gojam
|
Later transferred as a civilian Minister in the Council of State.
|
|
40
|
Girma Neway
|
Maj. General
|
Commander of Ethiopian Police Forces after 1989
Aborted coup |
Amhara & Gurage
(Mixed) |
Derg & WPE CC member, promoted from a long life as civilian Major after the 1989 coup.
|
Current Ethiopian Army by Ethnic Tigrean officers
High Ranking Military Officials Principal Defense Departments (Woyane)
|
No
|
Job Division
|
Name & Rank
|
Ethnic Group
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff
|
General Smora Yenus
|
Tigre
|
|
2
|
Armed Forces Head of Training
|
Lt.General Tadesse Worde
|
Tigre
|
|
3
|
Head of Logistics
|
Lt.General Gezae Abera
|
Tigre
|
|
4
|
Head of Intelligence
|
Br. General Gebre Dela
|
Tigre
|
|
5
|
Armed Forces Head of Campaign
|
Major General Gebreegzher
|
Tigre
|
|
6
|
Armed Forces Head of Engineering
|
Lt.General Berhane Negash
|
Tigre
|
|
7
|
Chief of the Air Force
|
Chief of the Air Force
|
Tigre
|
Heads of the Nation’s four Military Commands (Woyane)
|
No
|
Job Division
|
Name & Rank
|
Ethnic Group
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Central Command
|
General Abebaw Tadesse
|
Agew
|
|
2
|
Northern Command
|
Lt.General Saere Mekonene |
Tigre
|
|
3
|
South Eastern Command | Lt.General Abraha Wolde |
Tigre
|
|
4
|
Western Command | Br. General Seyoum Hagos |
Tigre
|
Army Divisional Commanders (Woyane)
Central Command (Woyane)
|
No
|
Job Division
|
Name & Rank
|
Ethnic Group
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
31st Army Division | Colonel Tsegaye Marx |
Tigre
|
|
2
|
33rd Army Division | Colonel Kidane |
Tigre
|
|
3
|
35th Army Division | Colonel Misganaw Alemu |
Tigre
|
|
4
|
24th Army Division | Colonel Work Aynu |
Tigre
|
|
5
|
22nd Army Division | Colonel Dikul |
Tigre
|
|
6
|
8th Mechanized Division | Colonel Jamal Mohammed |
Tigre
|
Northern Command (Woyane)
|
No
|
Job Division
|
Name & Rank
|
Ethnic Group
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
14st Army Division | Colonel Wodi Antiru |
Tigre
|
|
2
|
21st Army Division | Colonel Gueshi Gebre |
Tigre
|
|
3
|
11th Army Division | Colonel Workidu |
Tigre
|
|
4
|
25th Army Division | Colonel Tesfay Sahiel |
Tigre
|
|
5
|
22nd Army Division | Colonel Teklay Klashin |
Tigre
|
|
6
|
4th Mechanized Division | Colonel Hinsaw Giorgis |
Tigre
|
South Eastern Command (Woyane)
|
No
|
Job Division
|
Name & Rank
|
Ethnic Group
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
19st Army Division | Colonel Wodi Guaae |
Tigre
|
|
2
|
44st Army Division | Colonel Zewdu Tefera |
Tigre
|
|
3
|
13th Army Division | Colonel Sherifo |
Tigre
|
|
4
|
12th Army Division | Colonel Mulugeta Berhe |
Tigre
|
|
5
|
32nd Army Division | Colonel Abraha Tselim |
Tigre
|
|
6
|
6th Mechanized Division | Colonel G/Medhin Fekede |
Tigre
|
Western Command (Woyane)
|
No
|
Job Division
|
Name & Rank
|
Ethnic Group
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
23rd Army Division | Colonel Wolde Belalom |
Tigre
|
|
2
|
43rd Army Division | Colonel Wodi Abate |
Tigre
|
|
3
|
26th Army Division | Colonel Mebrahtu |
Tigre
|
|
4
|
7th Mechanized Division | Colonel Gebre Mariam |
Tigre
|
Commanders in Different Defense Departments (Woyane)
|
No
|
Job Division
|
Name & Rank
|
Ethnic Group
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Agazi Commando Division | B.General Mohammed Esha |
Tigre
|
|
2
|
Addis Ababa & Surrounding Area Guard | Colonel Zenebe Amare |
Tigre
|
|
3
|
Palace Guard | Colonel Gerensay |
Tigre
|
|
4
|
Banking Guard | Colonel Hawaz Woldu |
Tigre
|
|
5
|
Engineering College | Colonel Halefom Eggigu |
Tigre
|
|
6
|
Military Health Science | B.General Tesfay Gidey |
Tigre
|
|
7
|
Mulugeta Buli Technical College | Colonel Meleya Amare |
Tigre
|
|
8
|
Resource Management College | Colonel Letay |
Tigre
|
|
9
|
Siftana Command College | B.General Moges Haile |
Tigre
|
|
10
|
Blaten Military Training Center | Colonel Salih Berihu |
Tigre
|
|
11
|
Wourso Military Training Center | Colonel Negash Heluf |
Tigre
|
|
12
|
Awash Arba Military Training Center | Colonel Muze |
Tigre
|
|
13
|
Birr Valley Military Training Center | Colonel Negassie Shikortet |
Tigre
|
|
14
|
Defense Administration Department | B.General Mehari Zewde |
Tigre
|
|
15
|
Defense Aviation | B.General Kinfe Dagnew |
Tigre
|
|
16
|
Defense Research and Study | B.General Halefom Chento |
Tigre
|
|
17
|
Defense Justice Department | Colonel Askale |
Tigre
|
|
18
|
Secretary of the Chief-of-Staff | Colonel Tsehaye Manjus |
Tigre
|
|
19
|
Indoctrination Center | B.General Akale Asaye |
Amhara
|
|
20
|
Communications Department | Colonel Sebbhat |
Tigre
|
|
21
|
Foreign Relations Department | Colonel Hassene |
Tigre
|
|
22
|
Special Forces Coordination Department | B.General Fisseha Manjus |
Tigre
|
|
23
|
Operations Department | Colonel Wodi Tewk |
Tigre
|
|
24
|
Planning, Readiness and Programming Department | Colonel Teklay Ashebir |
Tigre
|
|
25
|
Defense Industries Coordination Department | Colonel Wodi Negash |
Tigre
|
|
26
|
Defense Finance Department | Colonel Zewdu |
Tigre
|
|
27
|
Defense Purchasing Department | Colonel Gedey |
Tigre
|
|
28
|
Defense Budget Department | Ato/Mr. Berhane |
Tigre
|
Source: Ginbot 7
Incredible!!very nauseating!that #19 is sticking out like a sore thumb.
you can even go further and include king Menelik:
Ras Mokonnen Ptime Minister Amhara
Fitawrari Habte Giorgis Minster of Justice Gurage
Dej Azmach Balcha Minister of Defense Oromo
Woyane cannot even match Aste Menelik
This fact should be presented to the United Nation Human Rights Commission and The US state department. This is considered as crime against humanity. I strongly encourage G7 to submit this report immediately to all international Human Rights organizations.
Although it is a good idea to understand the inequality of appointment in the past regimes, one should also note it is based on the number of ethnic populations. Sometimes, the idea of majority rule may or may not help but for instance the highest ethnic population are Oromos and therefore they should have been more or less the majority in most of institutions. It is also natural that if the governments tend to be more towards pro Amaras then it will make sense they appoint Amaras. Despite the majority are Amaras in the military, other ethnicities such as Oromos some how should have been more or less appointed. Although the past regimes are imperfect, the Weyane regime clearly shows the outrageous and blatant pro ethnic agenda.
First and foremost, any appointment in institutions should be based on MERIT AND EQUALITY. Weyane claimed past regimes were ethno fascists but clearly their Tigre appointment shows 100%. Very Sad.
I dont have comments except this.
This is suicidal. I wish we live together. But this wont allow us to live together.
Thank you for the research and reports.
Abbayoch,
Meles didn´t escape or died.
Why don´t you use his aktuel picture.
His ugly work and face must ne expose.
My God, What a ‘composition’!
where a hell are we living. Let alone this, all the rest positions are occupied by them, There removal is immnent. one day they will be trashed. No worry.
Go G7
i cant belive it
Don’t forget Haile selasie and Mengistu came from Ethnicity or region
in ethiopia representing over 35%.
The only option for Meles to run a dictator government is to play Ethnicity poltics and appoint 100% of its defence force leaders from one group.
That is how they remain in power for almost 20 years.
Every 5 years they elect themselves.
These are crooks.
So what is new? Every one knows it. Woyane fought for 17 years to gain this result.
If someone wants to get more power from Woyane or remove Woyane from power he/she should go to organize, arm and fight them.
Woyane was bleeding 17 years to get here. They keep everything for themselves.
If everyone not fights Woyane with proper ways, please don’t dream to take their fighter place. No one will give it to you for ever.
I went back to Eth for work and I felt deeply sadned by the amount of opportunities the Tigre clan is holding unfairly. The military is the tip of the iceberg. The movers and shakers in almost all government offices are the Tigre clan (of course in most cases the put them as Vice ….)but with full power to tell what to do to the top (hodam). As I was going into various institutions the story is the same. G7 please continue with your investigation. Anyone can tell you who the key person is in any government institutions.
I am sad about my fellow countryman for being so naive, This is the people who fought and got in power by force in names liberation. We are too naive to expect them to give or share power w/other ploetical group who emerged after their control. They know how they got in power which make them feel insecure and have a slight intention to hand power in form of election or other mean. We have to realize that and find a peaceful means to have a party that embrace the entire poletical parties that are siging the same song over and over. By now we should realize what is missing to bring us togater and form a party that put Ethiopia first not their pipe dream that strengthen the existing regim .It is my dream that one day that all the group get togather leaving their differenses, brainstorm their idea and write a constitution that wiil embrace all the need and poletical system that is ours without any foreign ideology or copy. We have to find a solution to our own problem instead of borrrowing or implement others to get their handout.
It is time to leave our differenes on side and unite, ask ourself where we are, if we keep doing the same thing over and over instead learning from our past mistakes, we really are missing something. It is time to ask ourself why we are where we are.
The bottom line they are not going to share power and plan to control the country. Is clear from your finding.
Long live Ethiopia
they were working 24\7 to stay on power, but shame on those ppl from other ethnic who is working with woyane to betray ethiopian people. All this years they were eleminating other ethnic from military officers systematicaly. We were sleeping. I still think that opposition group almost all are sleeping. If they worked together for Ethiopian people sake, they would’ve been defeat woyane, sadly bunch of them hodams who betray their country for money. Some of them narrow minded they don’t care about the other diversity ppl. I wish or pray GOD to give us brave heart to think what’s best for our people to live pecefully together side by side and to through woyane once for all. Some of us living in west spreading hate one race to another when it comes to Ethiopia but we are living and witnessing how democratic west are. Think……………..
Great work. Thank you for the hours you spent on it. One thing I want to ask you to do is to stop referring to Emperor Haileselassie’s government as a ‘regime’. According to the formal definition a regime is a form of government. But what the word has come to mean, especially in common parlance is to denote a government that defines itself as one but lives completely contrary even to its own laws. Both the Derg and now the Woyane clearly fit the bill, although they are the ones that use that word to define others. Emperor Haileselassie’s government was based on traditional succession in strict accordance with the laws of Ethiopia at the time and lived by the three constitutions it promulgated during its existence. So the world Hailesellasie era or Haileselassie government would be more apropos than lumping it with the two others as a regime. Otherwise you have done yeoman work here and something that will benchmark future scholars in challenging them to measure governments by how they manage the military. Truly an eye opener.
hey all woyanes i have a mesage for you! you all animals go back to where you were and wait us there we will distroy you and you will not come back again! we promised that! G7 G7 G7 G7 G7 G7 G7!
GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA AND LONG LIVE THE TURE ETHIOPIANS!!!
you think they are Ethiopians.We dont have to cheat our selfs.With G7 we have to get rid of them as soon as possible.These are anti ethiopians nothing more.Murderer Mengistu killd one generation and gave the power to the most evel organization on earth(T:P:L:F)they are working to Creat indipendent TIGRAy and the vast majority of them who lives in western country with us they support tplf.you can pretend they are with you but every ethiopians knows they are with the deavels.If your opponent dont know what it means (YELUGNTA)you should also forget it ather wise you will loose the game.Long live ethiopia death to tplf.
G7 has done AN excellent job. This is what I suggest, if possible, to do with the resources G7 has. Visit the Other Woyane Department / ministerial levels …Foreign, internal etc. You would be amazed who are the actual bosses and controllers, under or over the ground. Do some investigation journalism as to where the day to day decision is made. People would definably understand Woyanes propaganda with in the administration is uncontested.
Go to the customs office. You find individuals who are not following the law rather they are the law. The same at the ministry of Justice etc ..etc.
Your pictures seems to be biased!
Menetsir
What is the point here? All key positions are held by the ruling party and …?
Where have you been? Many from the begining have called to rise up and challenge the the venomous TPLF.I can innumerate the names of those who suggested this nobel idea,Dr.Lema,DR,Getachew,Yelikal Admasu,Mazash,Adefrese and a host of others.None not one was infavour of this call then. Only one person from the bove commentaters who signed as ABBY acurately acceptes responsiblity-He said we have been sleeping,more than that my friend we have been deceived,we were lead to believe the west will definetely liberate Ethiopia.Some are still suggesting G7 to take this case to humanright orgs.As far back it has been told us the paridigm in Washington is not between Democrat and Republican,liberal and conservative but between the people and the elit.So,we thought the best strategy will be to educate grass root movments that are sweeping the west about the plight of Ethiopians.Once again the push was to go to white house lawn and worship the human gods. when the call to rise made,many were indifferent,because the ralaying cray of the time was democracy.The above individuals when they made this call it is not because they were war mongering or acting on the fring but because of their distrust to TPLF.they have wached this frong very closely and are well acquinted with its inner workings,thanks to the laquacious crowed.
HAGER MASERKEB YLUAL ENDEEH NEWE.
WE SHOULD THANK THOSE TOW GENERALS ONE AMHARA AND ONE AGEW PEOPLE FOR NOT LETING IT GO
TOTALY……. MAN I AM NOT JOKING……NOT THAT I LIKE ETNIC POLITICS BUT THIS IS OUTREGIOUSE.
AND TO BE HONEST I DONT BLAM PEOPLE FOR NOT WANTING TO WORK WITH THIS PEOPLE EITHER.
THE WORLD HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS AND DO WHAT IS BEST FOR ETHIOPIA AND WHAT ETHIOPIA WANTS.
AND THAT IS UNITY AND FREEDOM AND MANY OTHER ISSUE’S WE HAVE WITH THE ETHIOPIAN GOV.
THIS IS ATESTMONY OF WHETHER THEY ARE IN CONTROLE OF THE POWR PURPESLY OR PEOPLE DONT WANT TO WORK WITH THEM….. EITHER WAY IT IS A SAME PROBLEM, THEY CAN’T WIN ON THIS ONE. SORRY.
Tigrean People’s Democratic Movement (TPDM) fighters on Feb. 17 carried out a successful military operation against Woyanne forces in Tigray, northern Ethiopia.
The TPDM fighters attacked Woyanne’s 31st army division that was stationed at Adi Dahero Woreda (district) in western Tigray, killing 43 and wounding 24 enemy troops.
During the fighting that took place from 7 AM – 1 PM, the TPDM fighters captured sniper rifles, AK47s, hand grenades and other types of military hardware. More at TPDM’s web site: demhit.com
Abbay media,
I advise G7 leadership to be interviewed on VOA and / or DW concerning the research findings. Please push them to do so.
We thank you much for this. What would prime Melese say now, when this is known to the public,
after his insult to the US diplomat saying, “idiocy”, this has not been true so.
AND ALSO LETS NOT FORGET BESIDES WE HAVE OUR OWN WRTING LETTERS AND REATEN NUMBERS AND A NATIONAL LANGUJ, THE MODERN EDUCATION IS A VERY RESENT THING IN ETHIOPIA. MODERN EDUCATION
STARTED IN THE LAST DAY’S OF KING MINILICE AND AND REALY HAPPEND AT THE TIME OF HAILE SILASSY.
SO IT IS AMESING TO ME HOW MANY EDUCATED ETHIOPIANS THERE ARE IN THE WORLD. SPECIALY AFTER
ALL OF THAT KILLNG OF STUDENTS AND EDUCATED ETHIOPIAN MAN IN THE DERG RIGIOM.
SO EDUCATION IS NOT SOME THING WE CAN TAKE AGAINST EACH OTHER US LIKE ONLY THIS AND THAT IS EDUCATED AND SO ON……. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN EVERY THING TAKES TIME TO GET USE TO AND TO
SPRED THE WEDOM. AND TO CONVIC EVERY ONE ABOUT WHAT EVER THEY NEED OR NEED TO DO.
WE HAVE PEOPLE IN ETHIOPIA WHO DOESN’T WANT TO TOUCH PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE A LIGHTER SKIN COLOR
THAN THEM OT IF THEY ARE WEARING CLOTHES SO THAT IS WHAT I MENT BY IT TAKES TIME AND EFFORT
TO CEREAT THIS AWEARNESS OF EDUCATION AND SIVILAZATION TO SOME PARTS OF ETHIOPIA.
AND IT IS A NEW THING TO BEIGEN WITH AND LETS NOT FORGET THAT MENGISTU WAS A FOURTH GRADER
WHEN HE TOOK POWER AND THAT TELLS YOU, THE LUCK OF EDUCATION AND EDUCATED POWER IN THE SOCITY AND THE COUNTRY. WHICH WHERE NOT TO MANY AND MOST OF THEM GOT KILLED BY THE DERG RIGIOM. SO WE NEED TO PUSH EDUCATION IN ETHIOPIA IF PEOPLE WANTS TO LIVE PEAC FULLY AND EQUALY
AND INVOLVED WITH EACH OTHER AND THE COUNTRY US LEADRS AND WHAT EVER THEY NEED TO BE EDUCATED AND HMBELD AND FEARLESS AND UNITED AND FREE AND SO ON………..
THANKS!
It is hard to comprehend, how woyanees can get away with this. To create division among us, Meles and Esayas have been misinforming Oromos for years that only Amharas were ruling Ethiopia. Unfortunately, some have been brainwashed by this fabricated story and have created OLF. I hope the opposition parties make this report available to all Ethiopians in every part of Ethiopia.
I heard the Dictator (Meles) preaches about good governance in so many situations.
One of the elements in Good governance is delegation of authority with confidence on the basis of embracing all. Government is supposed to be one of the actors in governance.
All actors other than government and the military are grouped together as part of the “civil society.”
Sadly Woyane has its own definition of good governance.
There was no domination of leadership positions by one race in History of Ethiopia, except for the Woyane. I think when the Italians invaded Ethiopia in the 1930′s they were all Italians. A little extreme but close.
KEMAWRAT MESRAT
T o the so called S E L AM
WHO IS TOLKING FOR THE PAST 19 YEARS AND DONE NOTHING.
THE HARD WORKER…THE GENUN LEADER…THE INTELECTUAL….TOP WARRIERS…
ALL IS BORN ONLY FROM YOU.KI..KI..KI
GURA BECHA……