Somalia: The Road to Mogadishu Begins in Kaliti

As the Ethiopian troops roll into Mogadishu, there are a few things we should keep in mind.

The first is that as 2007 comes upon us, Prime Minister Meles and the politburo of the EPRDF, are (or were?), faced with an intense challenge. How do you advance as the party of the future, the party of the developmental state, when you have extremely low legitimacy in the eyes of anyone outside the party's or government's payroll. Since the election debacle of 2005, the EPRDF has pained itself to assume some kind of legitimacy in the eyes of the populace and intelligentsia, but has failed to find any traction in doing so.

And one of the major reasons for that failure are our friends in Kaliti. In the eyes of the public, the imprisoned CUD still holds legitimacy. It is the mayor of Addis Abeba in jail at the Addis Abeba Penitentiary, not an arrogant rebel group, not corrupted businessmen, and definitely not Islamists.

The infamous trial, and the post-traumatic stress that was 2006, has done nothing to change the place of the CUD in the minds of the populace. The Great Ethiopian Run showed us that. For far too many people (as far as the EPRDF is concerned), the CUD is the future, and despite all his high school debate club rhetoric and post flood visits to Dire Dawa, Meles has been incapable to change that. And despite all the concessions made in parliament to make the political body seem like a legitimate forum for countervailing opinion and dissent, the people shrug and keep their eyes on Kaliti.

It is in that context that Meles pulls the trigger on Somalia, and that says everything. Meles has no more tricks up his sleeve. The rule of the EPRDF, with the onset of 2007 and the upcoming millennium, is just a regime: not a program, not a revolution, not reform. They have come full circle confirming what many had claimed a long while ago: the revolutionary democrats are still just Woyane, guerillas is suits clinging onto power and using brute force and now, Derg-worthy militarism, to do so.

It is difficult to see then where else the EPRDF can head other than increased political clampdown, and a continued slouch toward its own bizarre brand of neo-totalitarianism. The Internet cafes have now gone Chinese, with users forced to register before usage. The opposition blogs talk of Christmas day round-ups.

The big question is whether the few non-EPRDF folks who do have money and some leverage will go along with the program. Will they, like a Renault in Vichy France, cast their lot with the clampdown, deciding as the US did that Meles and Co. are indeed the only option for the future. Will the Sheik, in other words, keep standing by his man? (A man who just gloated that he killed at least a thousand Muslims?)

I don't know enough about Sheik Al Amoudi to answer that question. But the fact is that it is in times like these that civil society's either make or break themselves. In 2005, the politicians stepped up to the plate to build a better future for Ethiopia. Will the privileged citizens remaining and observing silently (the businessmen, the intelligentsia, and god yes, we foreigners!) risk following their better natures?

Comments

[RE]

Excellent!

[Netsanet Ashenafi]

What a terrifc observation!

[selam]

It is great to know that there are people out there who have a clear conscience and articulate them to keep hope alive.

[Legesse Gebre (Meles Zenawi)]

I hate to break the bad news hear but what intelligentia is the writer talking about? The so-called "intelligentia" in Ethiopia have become the climber of the ladder prepared by TPLF al et. It is sad to see people like Addis Ababa University's President, Professor Andreas Eshete have become the blind follower of this criminal regime. I wonder which intelligentia the authour of this article is talking about, almost all of them have kept quite if not take part in violating the society they ought to serve thru knowledge and increase awareness. I hate to say this but it must be said, the Ethiopian spirit has somehow dissipated into the thin air. There is no more collectine thinking to better the country. All are only dedicated to theirselves and their families self interest.

How pathetic it sounds but it really is true. An Ethiopian today has become so animal like that he/she is only interested in gaining something at the expense of others, and that practice has become the norm. During the previous Derge regime people used to sympathise to each other and lend a hand whan there is a need, today that compassion does not exist, everyone is looking for a gain at the expense of others. Personally, I don't know where that self-fish culture has reigned over us all. May God save us all from TPLF sword so we can see a whole bunch of tommorows, better ones.

I thank God for this!

[Kinijit's Los Angeles]

Thank you for being the voice of democracy

[Minyaregal]

The Ethiopian people, 25 million or so strong, have spoken loudly and clearly, on May 15, 2005. It is for no joke that this many people came out that one day to speak, to express their displeasure with the Woyane regime. Whateve Meles & Co. try, confusion or invasion, Ethiopians remain unflapped by the tricks of these con men. Yes, the key to legitimacy for Woyane lies not in Mogadishu, but at Kaliti. Maybe the euphoria may carry Woyane for a little longer, and a few confused souls may be swayed somewhat by the Mogadishu venture. But the fact remains that Ethiopians are in no mood to extend any thanks to or appreciation of the actions of Woyane, when their true leaders, their symbolic fathers, brothers, sisters, and children, when their leaders who responded to their heartbeats and refused to join a fake parliament, are languishing in jail by the actions of a tyrant. As Andargachew Tsige, gave us the most memorable phrase, Woyane is a "liberator" that does not know what liberation means: Netsanetin Yemyawik Netsa Awchi. Meles has to cleanse himself from the extremism, arrogance, vanity, dishonesty, and proclivity to commit heinous crimes that he suffers, in order to liberate himslef, before he can claim to be a liberator.

[engi]

that is really conforting analysis.But my point is that shaik thing,is it necessery that identify him with his relegion ? because the person is a buiseness man mostly.I sure that kinijit will be our source of freedom soon. but this shaik has to stay where he is never show a relegios interest.sure we want him like that with all these his streched hands.