Mekelle፡ October 1,2024 (Tigray Herald)
Historical Timelines of TPLF’s Hostility Toward Dissenting Political Opinions and Internal Opponents: A Legacy of Intolerance
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) was founded on February 18, 1975, in Dedebit, Tigray, in response to the Ethiopian imperial rule and the lack of political representation for Tigrayans. Though initially envisioned as a liberation movement rooted in Marxist-Leninist ideology, it soon became apparent that the TPLF developed a rigid, uncompromising political doctrine, hostile to any form of dissent, both from within the party and from external sources. This intolerance would mark the beginning of a long history of internal purges, repression of differing political opinions, and betrayal of the very principles it claimed to uphold.
1. Early Hostilities and the First Internal Purges (1978):
In the early years of the TPLF’s existence, it quickly demonstrated an intolerance towards any members or factions within the party who expressed divergent views or creative solutions to political challenges. This first phase of hostility emerged in 1978, just three years after the TPLF was formed. As the group grew in size and influence, disagreements about strategy and ideology arose.
Imprisonment, expulsion, and execution of party members who disagreed with the party line were common. This period saw the party founders themselves being questioned, defamed, and blackmailed if they dared present alternative ideas. The early purges were justified under the pretext of maintaining ideological purity, but in reality, they marked the beginning of an authoritarian trend that would plague the TPLF for decades.
Conspiracy and defamation tactics became key strategies for silencing internal dissent. Party members who expressed doubts about the leadership’s direction were not only removed but publicly humiliated to prevent others from challenging the party’s authority.
2. The 1984 Purge: A Repeat of Authoritarianism
As the TPLF grew in strength during its guerrilla warfare against the Derg regime in the 1980s, internal dissent once again began to surface. By 1984, the TPLF leadership faced mounting pressure from within as factions questioned the party’s direction and decisions. The response was swift and brutal.
Imprisonment, killing, and expulsion once again became tools to neutralize internal opposition. Some of the party’s founding members, who had grown critical of the leadership’s growing authoritarianism, were either imprisoned or forced into exile.
This period marked the consolidation of power by the central leadership, as dissenting voices were labeled as traitors or spies. The purges were justified under the rhetoric of safeguarding the revolution, but in reality, they entrenched a rigid political culture that discouraged creative problem-solving or open dialogue within the party.
3. Post-1991: TPLF in Federal Power and Continued Repression (1994)
Following the overthrow of the Derg regime in 1991, the TPLF became the dominant force in Ethiopia’s new ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). With federal power came new opportunities for reform, inclusion, and political development, but instead, the TPLF leadership continued its pattern of intolerance toward dissent, even within the ruling coalition.
In 1994, tensions within the TPLF and the EPRDF reached new heights, as dissenting members of the party raised concerns about the increasingly authoritarian direction the TPLF was taking. The leadership’s response was, once again, to imprison, expel, and defame those with differing political opinions.
The 1994 crackdown solidified the party’s image as being intolerant toward any form of internal criticism. This phase of purging dissenters within the TPLF ensured that political creativity, reformist ideas, or alternative strategies were crushed before they could gain traction.
4. Post-Ethio-Eritrea War Crisis and the 2000 Betrayal
The Ethio-Eritrea War (1998-2000) marked a pivotal moment in TPLF’s history, as divisions within the party deepened over how the war was handled. By 2000, following the end of the war, these internal tensions exploded into a major political crisis.
Over half of the Politburo members and Central Committee (CC) members who had been critical of the leadership’s war strategy were imprisoned, expelled, or killed. The fallout from this internal purge further weakened the party’s collective leadership and marked the beginning of the end of the TPLF as a collective decision-making body.
This period marked a shift from collective leadership to an authoritarian, centralized leadership model. The repression of internal dissent paved the way for the rise of individual leaders who held unchecked power, such as Debretsion Gebremichael. This shift from collective to authoritarian leadership contributed to the TPLF’s eventual downfall and the beginning of its long decline in power.
5. The Fall of the TPLF and Pathway to Genocidal War (2020)
The seeds of the TPLF’s downfall were sown through decades of internal repression and the inability to tolerate political reform or inclusive dialogue. By the time the Tigray Genocide began in 2020, the TPLF had already alienated many within its own ranks and among the broader Tigrayan population. The leadership’s failure to adapt to changing political circumstances and its rigid adherence to outdated ideologies led to the catastrophe that followed.
The betrayal within the party ranks was seen once again in the aftermath of the Ethio-Eritrea peace process. Despite the devastating consequences of the war and the TPLF’s failures, the leadership continued its long-standing practice of defaming and blackmailing internal opponents, including those advocating for peace and reform.
6. The Post-Genocide Betrayal and Debretsion’s Splinter Group (2023-2024)
In the post-genocide period, the Debretsion Gebremichael splinter group within the TPLF continued the party’s legacy of hostility toward dissenting opinions. Opponents of the Pretoria Peace Agreement and the Tigray Interim Government faced the same defamation, blackmail, and exclusion tactics that had characterized TPLF leadership for decades.
Despite the suffering of the Tigrayan people, the Debretsion splinter group resisted any attempts at political reform or transformation. They maintained a rigid, backward political mindset that was resistant to inclusive politics, reconciliation, or meaningful negotiations.
The people of Tigray, devastated by genocide and war, were shocked by the splinter group’s unwillingness to learn from its failures. Rather than embracing peace and reform, the group treated every dissenting voice as an enemy, perpetuating the party’s long-standing intolerance toward political creativity and open dialogue.
Conclusion: The Roots of the Current Political Crisis in Tigray
The systematic failure of the Debretsion Gebremichael TPLF splinter group is a direct result of the TPLF’s decades-long culture of hostility toward dissent and internal criticism. The rigid and uncompromising political ideology that has defined the TPLF since its founding in 1975 has led to a party that is unable to adapt to changing political realities, embrace reform, or tolerate differing viewpoints.
This pattern of intolerance, betrayal, and authoritarianism within the TPLF has created a political crisis in Tigray, where the people demand change, but the leadership continues to resist. The current crisis is rooted in a failure to embrace political inclusivity, transparency, and democratic governance. The Debretsion Gebremichael splinter group represents the continuation of a failed system that must be replaced if Tigray is to recover from its tragic history and build a brighter future.
Moving Forward: A Call for Change
The new generation of Tigrayans must rise to challenge the old guard, rejecting the rigid, corrupt, and unethical practices that have defined the TPLF for nearly 50 years. The future of Tigray depends on political inclusivity, tolerance, and reconciliation—values that the current leadership has consistently failed to uphold. The people of Tigray must unite to say, “Enough is enough,” and push for a new political order that prioritizes peace, justice, and genuine political reform.
Only by breaking away from the past can Tigray move forward and reclaim its place in the Horn of Africa as a beacon of resilience, strength, and hope.
