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Abay Tsehaye: Minister of Sugar & Salt (A Gellaw)
By Abebe Gellaw
Meles Zenawi’s game of succession is getting more and more bizarre. He
preached about the urgency of giving the mantle of power to the “younger generation” and the accomplished Machiavellian removed almost all the veterans and promoted his own wife as second in command in the TPLF oligarchy. Zenawi has not stopped there. He has been deploying his tired horses in many odd places. Once revered the original founders of the tribal movement, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, Sibehat Nega, Abay Tsehaye, Seyoum Mesfin and the other long serving puppets are now amongst those who have faced the ultimate humiliation of being tossed out of the corridors of power.
According to Zenawi’s trumpet, Walta Information Center, the dictator has “appointed” (though the correct word is demoted) his long-time servant Abay Tsehaye as “minister” of a fictional ministry called Sugar Corporation. As of the beginning of November, Abay’s long official job title has been Director General of Sugar Corporation with the Rank of Minister. To be more respectful to his Excellency, we should rather address him as Honorable Minister of Sugar and Salt. It appears that this one more inclusive as TPLF is already a monopolistic merchant of both commodities.
Abay’s trouble with Meles began during the 2001 botched rebellion within the TPLF leadership. During the power struggle within the TPLF central committee, which was mainly triggered by Zenawi’s dubious leadership of the war with Eritrea and the ensuing Algiers peace agreement, which the dissenters described as treasonous, there were 12 bigwigs that were out to remove Zenawi from power. The ring leader, the then Defence Minister Siye Abraha, and Tigray head of regional affairs, Bitaw Belay, were arrested and faced corruption charges. Former Tigray State President Gebru Asrat and the TPLF deputy chairman, Tewolde Wolde Mariam were sacked. Abay Tsehaye, Hasen Shifa, Awelom Woldu, Alemseged Gebreamlak, Aregash Adane, Solomon Tesfay, Gebremeskel Hailu and Abraha Kahsay were summarily dismissed from their party and government positions.
As it became clear that the dissenters lost the power struggle, Abay Tsehaye and Hassen Shiffa, swiftly rushed back to Zenawi and knelt down before him. They were forced to publicly express their deep remorse and admit their transgressions.
The political somersault Abay and Hassen performed at least saved them from being sent to jail or completely losing their power and privileges, unlike the other dissenters. In fact, as one of the richest TPLF oligarchs who have allegedly stashed millions of dollars under their matters and offshore accounts, Abay and a few others were also very likely to face corruption charges given the fact that Zenawi has a “corruption file” on every official that goes off track. There may still be an omen, a kind of a coded message, when Zenawi appointed Abay as minister of sugar. The announcement was made in the shortest press release the Office of the Prime Minister has ever issued. It was only 28 words long as published by the Ethiopian News Agency.
When Tamirat Layne fell from the pinnacle of power, the dictator frogmarched him to his puppet parliament and scolded poor Tamrat like a child for licking sugar without his permission. What was even worse was the fact that the whole drama was transmitted to the nation on live TV. Despite the fact that the dictator and his wife are now fully in charge of the major sources of sweet sugar and cream, Zenawi has been ruthlessly punishing those who have broken his rules. The majority of those facing the corruption charges are now junior officials.
When Abay tried to seek Zenawi’s embrace after their fallout, it was quite obvious that he would no longer be one of the dictator’s trusted confidants. If fact, the new position may not be too bad for Abay as the sugar industry is rife with corruption, kickbacks and rent-seeking. If Abay will be able to turn his misfortune to his own advantage, is yet to remain to be seen.
The concentration of power in the hands of Meles and his wife is quite sweeping, consolidated further with the appointment of yes-men and sycophants as senior government officials. Dictators are usually good at perfecting what is called negative selection, so is Zenawi. Princeton Professor Stephen Kontain describes negative selection in dictatorships as “a kind of anti-meritocracy. If you’re dumb and incompetent you have a better chance of getting promoted because you won’t be smart enough to take away the job of your boss.”
If anyone takes a closer look at Zenawi’s “new cabinet” the lack of merit is loud and conspicuous. The majority of the new ministers are not only inexperienced and undereducated dummies but also known for their naked opportunism more than anything else. Take, for instance, the man appointed foreign minister, Hailemariam Desalegn. Before he joined TPLF’s Southern Ethiopia branch, only to end up Zenawi’s lackey, he was a teacher at Arab Minch Water Technology Institute (renamed Arab Minch University).
Hailemariam has neither the background nor experience of the complex world of foreign policy, international relations and the art of diplomacy. As a matter of fact, that is the very reason why Zenawi put a label of foreign minister on the novice. Moreover, he is also deputy leader of the ruling party, and leader of the Southern wing of the TPLF. This is a classic case of negative selection, the dumb guy pleasing a smart looking dictator. Interestingly enough, Hailemariam is also deputy prime minister which requires him to work under the direct supervision of Meles. So by extension, it is actually the dictator himself who is the real foreign minister. Hailemariam will only play a role of a messenger parroting whatever his boss says. The absolute concentration of power in the hands of Meles makes the rest of the cabinet nothing but a band of parrots that repeat whatever phrases the dictator utters. Hailemariam has already been well versed in attacking “neo-liberals” despite the fact that he does not seem to know who these evil guys are that are out to tarnish the image of a daredevil tyrant.
The tyrant never stops playing with people. Everyone on his chessboard is a pawn that will be moved around in his strategy games. He is the jockey with too many horses. It is sad that those horses like Sebehat, Abay, Addis Legesse, Tefera Walwa are sidelined as the new horses like Hailemariam will be jockeyed around until they are tossed out unceremoniously.
One must admit, however, that the fate of Abay as the minister of sugar and salt is much better than multimillionaire Sebhat Nega, who is said to be on the verge of drinking himself to death. During the last TPLF central committee meeting held in Mekele, all knives were out against him and those who reportedly “resigned”. Sebhat was reportedly humiliated and reduced to tears as Zenawi’s new buddies in the TPLF took turns to attack him for being “corrupt”. It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
The despot brutalizing Ethiopia will never stop playing a jockey riding roughshod over the nation. For him, nobody is off target. Ethiopia has now too many “ambassadors” and “ministers”, doing nothing except sucking the blood of the poor people of Ethiopia. Some of them are “advisers”, God knows what they advise an omniscient dictator. There are also these TPLF’s minister d’états, not to mention his ambassadors stationed in embassies across the world.
For now, Abay Tsehaye is the new minister of sugar [and salt], a position which may open the door for more ministers in charge of every known commodity. We should not be taken aback if Zenawi will soon appoint ministers of cement, sand, beer, tej, tela or enjera….The drama will continue!
We shouldn’t mock the apointees, we should rather be sad and embarassed for being so humiliated by few tribalists for over 20 years. The world is looking us in bewilderment, perhaps asking what has happened to the over 75 million people who is sitting dumb and watching such kind of game being played over its shoulder.
Thank you so much for your insight to us who lived in diaspora.
I disagree with the assessment that Abaye Tsehay and Sebhat are being side lined. I refuse to take seriously what the weyane mouth piece walta said about the appointment Abay.you never know what is in store.The last thing to do is pick up what walta said and give it substance.
Every dictator by necessity will use all means to inhance its survival strategy and this is no new to legese. Anyway, are we prepared to do anything about the problem at hand? I believe we can hasten the demise of weyane instead of watching it from far.
Abebe
It looks that some of your ideas are not in speaking terms one another more importantly irreconcilable even at times they seem as if they were at each others throat. Excuse me, you are playing dead politics. How dare you oppose the upcoming new youngsters politician, like Hailmariam and the likes… indeed this is a process in the beginning of passing the torch. You might have every reasons to hate EPRDF, BUT let’s learn to give credit where it is due.
You said, ‘Hailemariam has neither the background nor experience of the complex world of foreign policy, international relations and the art of diplomacy ‘
What is that complex diplomaticy you were referring at , the old ‘guard Veteran’ Seyoum does it but Hailmariam Desalegn doesn’t, who used to be a university lecture and had paramount experience working at different level of delegation in the government authorities.
Don’t you think this is one of issues that we were crazy about for long?
Why do we undermine the political and academical caliber of these youngsters? This is absolutely unverified account you need to clear out for yourself . Such type of accusation tells nothing but the height of this type of ignorance and rumor centered politics you have been abused by.
I was too emotional and I am sorry if I went beyond the line with improper words.
What is this ‘a crocodile tear’ for the going old veterans of TPLF , from …’Aboye Sebihate to Giberu and……. Hassen shifa’ You are regrettably wrong, and stand on the horn of dilemma who to support and who against.
Double standard and hypocrisy is the two phrases that can explain your article. What a difference, indeed Ethiopians have a choice ….. but such schizophrenic political mandate
Ato Teshome,
I differ with your opinion and assessment of this brilliant and young man’s article. I would say you rushed to use the offensive word “ignorance” as if ignorance is very far from your armpit. Are you telling us that Seyoum Mesifen hasn’t made a diplomatic blunder in his 20 years long period of diplomacy? Let me ask you one question and I leave the rest for your silliness. How do you think Seyoum Mesifen handled the border problem with Eritrea in the Hague court? He has been the dimmest foreign minister Ethiopia has ever produced. He was not only dry in fluency of language, but also substance, but still he could be better than the new teddy bear after 20 years of learning
What is preposterous about your opinion is you think that anybody who could be a university teacher could fit and be ready to represent 80 million people in a complex world of diplomacy.
I am only happy that the new foreign minister is from minority ethnic group, would be better still if he were a person with a diplomatic caliber and of course not the Tedy Bear/ Toy/ of the prime minister
Ato Tesema
To begin with, I did ask my apology for using improper terms..’ ignorance’ I believe that there shouldn’t be any reason what so ever to cause offence at anybody. If it is not your inconvenience, I wish if you had same attitude not to treat some one on personal basis. Having said that, your assertion for some one to be a foreign minister needs to have a complex world of diplomacy knowledge, is fundamentally wrong and inherently flawed. I don’t think you can back up your claim and the connection you are trying to make is foolish at its best. It is astonishingly uneducated to think, secretarial of state, Hillary Clinton knows the complex diplomacy of United States of America, in fact you do not expect as long as it is a political appointment and the huge task is left for the experts. For your surprise this is indisputable fact of the matter.
The efforts made to explain Hailmariam Desalegn is incompetent to be foreign minister is an absurd argument that turns logic on its head and some one with this assertion, would be hard pressed to believe that he would be talking with his free will – but as usual political tactic that we have been fade off. So no syllogism, no therefore
As to the point you raised about the former foreign minister, Seyoum , What merits could one have in hiding himself in what happened ten years ago? Mind you we are in 2010. So a nation is not packed with fools that you tell same story for years and years or not like kids that you tell fairy tales to get them asleep.
Come on guys, you did miss the radar and I perceived that, the political agenda you are at hand is painfully thin, that is why you inherently opposing everything, even a favorable out come to your side. You are desperately desperate.
Teshome,
Are you telling us that we should aplaud the current reshuffling of Ministers? Are you telling us that this is a step forward in Ethiopian politics? Come on, you can be smarter than this.
Hailemariam might have worked in different positions in the past few years. That in no way makes him a good foreign minister. Don’t try to muddle the issue by bringing the common place technocrat Vs political apointee argument. Every leader needs some well-informed technocrats around him for counselling. But, technocrats do not make decisions or set courses of actions. Still a higher weight is given to the political apointee.
Hailemariam is the most inconspicuous, incompetent, spineless politician. Everyone knows how much his poor leadership as the president of SNNPR costed EPRDF. Being a universtiy teacher, politician, leader are different engagements and require very different skill and capacity. Abebe has put it excellently, this is a perfect case of ‘negative selection’. Everyone knows what kind of people Meles has gathered around him in the past 20 years (leaving aside the TPLF combatants). Even the relatively better individual that could have brought positive outcomes at least politically such as Girma Biru and Arkebe, are sidelined (they are given some concillatory appointments to ease their disappointment). That is the most damaging effect of dictatorship and tyranny. The best minds and personalities the society can offer are removed with ‘negative selection’. That is how civlizations have perished throughout human history. It is against the natural law.
We know that it is part of Meles’ new package for the next five years – succession of leadership within EPRDF and Transformation plan. You even dared to tell us the political agenda have become very thin. Forgive me but you appear to be a chronically deluded Cadre. The oppression in Ethiopia has passed the limit, there is a silent Genocide going on in Ethiopia (without a gun or sword people are being disenfranchized and annihilated). Meles and his entourage know what they are doing and I believe they are anticipating possible scenarios and preparing alternative plan in case things wouldn’t work out,, according to their plan. I don’t know to which group you belong.
Ato Teshome
you are telling us to praise the appointment of Hailemariam Desalegn which completely is incapable to be foreignminister ,they took him as a loyal to take orders from berhane with no
hesitation onlly his being loyal to these gangster group and be part of a deception ,as for us “Ethiopians” we are only concerned where our beloved nation going not because hailemariam
wolayeta and mellese tegre ,and dont comment emotionally Ethiopia is a great country not bannana republic or company that you appointed someone only for licking boots and loyal to your evil.
I just can not believe how some opposition people accuse the government for putting on the key posts the same personalities in the past; and accuse it again for changing them? It is easy to sit and blame but hard to come up with a single shred of evidence that the new appointees don’t have the necessary qualification or experience to do the job properly. One has to be decent enough to admire the government’s effort to replace the old ministers with the new once. I am confused about what the opposition in the Diasporas wants from the Ethiopian government? Are you people of the opinion that, we should bring all the Ethiopian Dr.s and professors from the west and make them ministers? It looks to me those are the kind of people who are trying their best to picture Ethiopia as Hell all over the world. Your assertions that the new Foreign minister hasn’t got the skills to deal with the problem is shallow and “TERA YEMENDER WEREA”.
Molla
Sir, you had a sort of confusion and I do not understand why your prefer to be ‘ nutty as a fruitcake’ I gave you the case of ‘ Hellary Clinton’ – Secretarial of State to serve for clearing out matters but you half-heartedly read my comment and dare to deny that fact when it comes to Hailmariam Desalegn.
You said ‘Even the relatively better individuals that could have brought positive outcomes at least politically such as Girma Biru and Arkebe, are sidelined (they are given some concillatory appointments to ease their disappointment) ‘
That is wonderfully unwise. What on earth happened to you to make such bold and uneducated comment on a matter which you do not have enough information. For Comparative analysis, look the alarming progression and ladder of hierarchal political achievement of Hailmariam Desalegn the last Seven years from SNNPR president to advisory of the prime minister and currently vice prime minister and foreign minister. Doesn’t this tell you something about the caliber of this man? And look How Girma and your Arkeb were stagnant on this regard.
Unless your are stacked with your middy politics, the case of Hailmariam is a ‘positive selection’- ‘If you don’t have the courage, you’II never find Mrs. Right’ ….. This what Hailmariam thought us in a very short span of his political en devours.
You said ‘Are you telling us that we should aplaud the current reshuffling of Ministers?’
Sir My answer is a big ‘yes’ … This was one of the issues we were crazy about for long,- accusing that each and every political power is monopolized by old TPLF veterans.
Please don’t loss another day sleep to accept this reality. This a sensible measure that people like you and those who have opposition party ties have no legitimate reason to resist.
But individuals who are full-throated opponents of this productive plan of EPRDF, have a sub text insanity, which we don’t dare to see it in home politics any more. Because after all this irrational assertion will not only be rose that we would see in Ethiopian politics but also thorns much dangerous than the roses. …. The choice is about us
It seems that there two Mollas’ with absolutely opposite views and My response is referring to the first Molla
Teshome,
You are insufferably desperate to get hold on to something to showcase a reform in the TPLF regime. You are so miserably hopeless that you want to base your argument on the ascension of Hailemariam along the tiers of government positions in the past few years, as if there is meritocracy in political appointment. There is no any ladder to climb in the Ethiopian ‘government’ structure. It is simply Meles moving his pawns along the chessboard.
If you want to know more about how the so called apointees were faring in the past, ask your friends around about how the ex-woyane ‘Bitew’ was treating the ex-SNNPR-president Abate Kisho, or how other Woyane’ites overseers have been treating Aba Dula, or Negaso in the past few years. I just spoke of in relative terms,,to point out that Meles could have done a little bit better in hoaxing the world, as he could have also done better by making the election win 80% rather than 99%. There is no any succession to talk about my friend in the real sense of the world. It is ‘an old wine in a new bottle’ in general.
Molla
It seems to me that your arguments are set after your conclusions more over rather than having a plausible argument, you prefer calling names after names and it is difficult to make a descent exchange of ideas with you. You expose yourself how you are enjoying as ‘a lap of luxury’ -this rumor centered politics for years and years. You see how your baseless evidences shape your perspective. What a choice Ethiopians in deed have better than the face book politicians.
As always, I like the reporting from Abebe. Great. but I have two things to add.
One is that Abbai Tsehaye is not what seems to be. He has been a real ideologue with Tewolde, Bitew and the others who were expelled. But from his inclination (as he is also Eritrean blood affiant) to have an alliance with Eritrean wing of TPLF led by Meles, he was playing a smart job for Meles during the 2001 TPLF purge. The Siye side was dominated by people who were not in Addis Ababa (Siye, Bitew, Gebru, Adanech…) who, sitting in Tigray, innocently believed they could dismantle Meles who is surrounded by local and international power brokers. So Abbai’s role was to push the Siye side into crystallizing as a group/entity and then putting them into a trap and finally coming back to his home with Meles after vanquishing the Siye group. If Siye was honest enough to reveal secrets, this is one of the tricks Meles played using Abbai to widen the rift and to separate them like a mix of water and oil.
The second thing is I disagree with “demotion” sense of Abbai’s appointment. Abbai is one of the richest person in Ethiopia. he is being assigned to a lucrative and pervasive section of the consumer economy “sugar.” Can you imagine that next to teff and cereals, sugar is the most widely consumed item. Imagine the money that is transacting there. Sugar is an area that could not be incorporated into EFFORT and putting Abbai is a means of channeling the riches to Meles and Azeb.
The only sense of demotion is in the sense that is apparent for the outsiders. of course no one has power in TPLF except Meles, and that began not in 2010, but in 2001, when TPLF and EPRDF died as an organization that had life – in the sense of generating to change for better or worse – now it has no such life as it is a private property of ONE MAN – Meles and Azeb.
What mentionable depromatic result have Seum showed us in 20 yares? The Algers agreement was a failure!! He told us in TV the Hague court decided in favour of Ethiopia and Badme is for Ethiopia? Was it actually. He didn’t solve the problem!! He did nothing substantial.
Let us see how Hailemariam will performe and only then we can judge him. Otherwise comparing the two is like choosing which monkey is beautiful. Both are usless as far as Meles in there!!! Aleast Hailemariam is a new face from debub and he is not as arogant as Mesfen. Hailemariam has good personalities but he shouldn’t have been a weyane poletician. I personally know he don’t like the TPLFs. But as far as u r in their cage u have to play according to their will. That is what he is doing. Every decent non-tegrian enter the cage willingly hoping he will change things but once he stay in the cage he will find out that he can’t change and hecan’t escape.
abebe with all respect i don’t agree with your analyss, because this ethnocenteric regim knows how to control power in in Ethiopia i agree with the G7 analyses.