The chief of staff of Ethiopia’s army, the president of Amhara region and two other senior officials, another retired general have been shot dead over two separate attacks in what the prime minister’s office branded as “an orchestrated coup attempt.” Questions linger on why the government insists on calling it a ‘coup’ while the circumstances show that is not the case.
The government has to be commended for containing the situation and ensuring the security of Bahir Dar area. The number of casualties could have been so much higher had the situation degenerated into chaos. Based on the information that is coming out, there have been disagreements between the Amhara region’s security chief General Asaminew Tsige and the administration over issues of safeguarding the region’s stability. The regional and federal government have clearly stated the attack has been carried out by the General. Yet to understand the nature and reasons behind the attack requires knowing many details. And questions must be asked.
If he were to succeed in his aim, how he could he get it into his head that he could keep the federal government at bay?
It is not at all clear what the government’s purpose has been in hastily reaching the conclusion that the whole thing has been a “coup.” To say that someone who has a vast experience in the military such as General Asaminew would think of seizing power by murdering regional leaders is highly dubious. Is the g
The fact that the incident has been dubbed as coup d’état rather than simply assassinations of officials has helped the case to garner wider international attention. However, that also means damaging repercussions for the country. A military coup would harm the country’s international image, making investment and tourists more difficult to attract. A responsible government should have refrained from resorting to such use of expression even if it managed to secure an incontrovertible proof that a coup has indeed been attempted since this could damage the image of the country.
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The link between the attack in Bahir Dar and the Chief of Staff Seare and ex-officers’ assassination in Addis Ababa is not clearly established. General Asaminew is experienced enough to understand as to who is in charge of the army and claiming that he would order the shooting of Seare does not hold much water. It is also hard to buy the argument that someone who is associated with the prisoner-turned-security head of a regional state would be hired to be a guard to the Chief of Staff. The narrative that the late General Seare was spending time with a retired friend at his place while leading a counter-coup operation that was happening Bahir Dar is also questionable. Maybe the argument that the killing was orchestrated by hostile groups that used the advantage to exterminate him could be more palatable. If the government continues connecting it with General Asaminew, it has a mountain to climb in order to convince us.
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Very constructive observation
Sir, with all due respect please do not speak on my people and heritage’s struggles which you have only been given one sided information on. Since the days of Menelik 1, Ethiopia and Amharas have fought and continuously won at defending our people from invasions and outside interference from other privileged countries. I implore you to get actual facts and evidence before speaking with disrespect on my people’s account. I have cold hard evidence from my family in Addis Ababa that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been hoodwinking the rest of the world while committing atrocities against his own people ever since he’s come to power. The so called “coup” by General Tsige was an attempt to right those wrongs and was used as an excuse for an assassination by the Ahmed Regime. I am not a “rebel” or “revolutionary” by any means, but as a dual citizen of two great countries( Ethiopia & America) I feel it necessary to speak up about the truths and enlighten all those who don’t have a first person POV of what is really going on in Ethiopia. I welcome all responses to my post and feel like just starting this conversation will make a major difference in alot of people’s lives back in a country who’s freedom of speech and freedom of expression have been trampled on by the elite and privileged. Look forward to hear from any and all people with an opinion so we can shed some light on the situation on a global platform.
This whole thing is a fabrication there was no coup this was the removal of people that would pose a threat to what is being done now which is another ethnic dictatorship I.e team lema
The coup is totally fabricated and falsely designed by PM Abye, he is the leader of the this mission in Bahire Dare 755kg away from his office where thee people got killed by himself wearing mask resemblance to the security chief of Amehara regional state.
the army officer of the region mange to escape from PM calculated and organised assassinations , at the end got killed six hours latter by wrongly informed police office after the PM come back to his office the capital Addis Ababa.
PM Aby committed super crime against the regional government management using his power inhumanly. We urge the independent international community to investigate calculated against the innocent. There was no any coup in the country at all. Abye Ahimed is criminal!!!
Above called Yonas’s note about the situation is baseless, wrong & unacceptable propaganda may one of the PM spy.
The concern that the government is using the high-profile assassination both in Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa to crackdown on its opponents, especially the Amhara people is legitimate. This should be condemned, should be highlighted, brought to limelight for the greater public to know. Attacks, arrests against journalists and political members should be reported in a detailed way possible. However, engaging in conspiracy theory, spreading all sorts of rumours as any means to denigrate the government could only harm the cause. By now it is all clear that General Asaminew cold-bloodedly assassinated the region’s officials. If you keep defending him, if you keep on denying the reality, you could only lose credibility. Much of the comments that are coming on social media are partisan, ill-informed and often inaccurate. Some are engaged in exaggerating at best, inventing at worst. A typical example is the widely circulated allegation that PM Abiy was in Bahir Dar at the time of killings while the Amara Mass Media journalists came on record to say they recoded him in his office in Addis Ababa.
Yonas, ‘someone close,’ and Barude,
Nice try. What makes you think people are less smart than you? You sound disgruntled members of the old regime.
The elephant in the room is Egypt and Eritrea with their ultimate aim and dream of seeing the disintegration of Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s only weapon against Egypt is the successful completion of Hidase (the Renaissance Dam). That will take out Egyptian meddling in Ethiopian affairs. If there are any self-respecting leaders in Ethiopia, they should mobilise the country and complete the Renaissance Dam pronto. All the pipe dream of democracy and election in 2020 is a misguided aspiration at present. The unity and territorial integrity should come first. As for Eritrea it is close to a failed state now or will soon be after the demise of dictator Isayas. Egypt is a bigger problem than Isayas. Once Ethiopia has the upper hand on the flow of Abay then there is no incentive for Egypt to meddle in Ethiopia.
Dear Semahagn Gashu Abebe,
You certainly are puzzled like everybody else about events that transpired.
The attacks seem coordinated. Here are questions I would ask. Who would most likely want the violent removal of the regional chief and the army chief of staff? (Let us for argument’s sake assume the retired general and two other dead were not primary targets.) What did the regional chief and the chief of staff represent in current politics? Which group is most likely to undertake such a coordinated attack? Why did this attack come on the anniversary of attempt on PM Abiy Ahmed life?
These are very relevant questions. Let us remember the public has little knowledge about the attack. Let us also remember that the most recent Internet blackout may have had to do with the present ‘coup.’ The speed with which the crisis was arrested suggests that there was already an awareness of a developing situation.
The government has the duty to be clear and consistent in informing the general public. Not doing so would allow those involved in the ‘coup’ and those who have much to lose from changes underway to engage in massive disinformation.