On Stability and Continuity III

G. E. Gorfu

Can we compare Col. Mengistu to Atse Tewodros? In reality, apart from their humble beginnings, there is not much to compare. Tewodros started as Hailu of Quara, a total outsider to the nobility. As a young warlord his fame for bravery spread, and he started claiming an ancient legend of “Tewodros”, who would become king to do justice for the poor. To entice and keep him under their control, the nobility had him marry Tewabech, Ras Ali’s daughter, but Hailu of Quara only used it as a stepping-stone to the throne.

Mengistu, however, was an Officer in the Imperial army during the military discontent that gave way to rebellions. When the educated elites joined in it turned into a mass revolution. Shrewd but also lucky, Mengistu exploited events to his own advantage. He outsmarted his friends, had many killed, until he remained the uncontested dictator.

Mengistu’s era was fraught with White Terror, Red Terror, and several campaigns against separatists in the Northern provinces. Lack of legitimacy caused Socialist factions to rise up. They must have thought they were equally as Socialists and just as legitimate as Mengistu. His solution – ruthlessness! and he executed many people even from among his most prominent military generals. But it only worked to hasten his downfall.

The nobility, many of whom were thrown to languish in prisons, after sixty-five of them were executed in a single day, hated him. Common people who had lost properties and lands, or whose family members had been killed or imprisoned, hated him. The clergy too, hated him, because the Orthodox Church had lost vast land holdings and properties. Over two million people had fled to escape terror and repression, ending up as refugees in various parts of the world. The result – Mengistu was the most hated man in the country.

As he saw his end approaching, Mengistu made speeches where he swore he would “fight to the bitter end and to the last bullet, and die fighting...” His henchmen compared him to “The Great Tewodros” and waited for him to save them or die fighting. But when his flight was announced through the media, hatred turned to utter despise. His cowardliness in abandoning his soldiers became the legacy by which he would be known to his death.

Mengistu’s era saw neither stability nor continuity. Socialism, Communism, Marxism, or whatever one may call it, was gone like a bad dream. The Collective Farms were gone. Many nationalized companies were sold in auction back to private ownership. Even lands distributed to peasants were taken away, as all land now belongs to EPRDF government. Farmers now do not own land, but can only lease it for up to ninety-nine years. “Land to the Tiller” a great slogan, has ended up as another pipe dream!

So, what was all the killing of an entire generation for? Why were Red and White Terror necessary? What was achieved by all that ruthlessness? Nothing! Nada! The lesson: Dictators Labor in Vain! They may never achieve stability and continuity. Force may achieve stability for a time, but only legitimacy may give stability and continuity!

To be continued…