TPLF anticipated to “suspend” some central committee members ; Azeb Mesfin walked out during meeting

Is there real split within TPLF?

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Ethiopian News
borkena
November 15,2017

Toronto – TPLF (Tigray People’s Liberation Front) is trying to steer its direction as many Ethiopians are questioning if it has effective control of the political wheel in the country,unlike before.

It was public that decision makers in the party, members of central committee, have been meeting since last month but little is known regarding details of the agenda.

Since unregulated and absolute TPLF power is being challenged by some parties in the ruling coalition,EPRDF, (as manifested in the response to mounting popular protest against TPLF – at least in Oromo and Amhara regions- among other things), there has been speculation that TPLF discussed ways of saving itself from impending danger that could potentially make the party history- and in an ugly way.

Some went to the extend of extrapolating that the party is discussing secession from Ethiopia since it will no longer have unregulated power which helped the party to create wealth for its base in Tigray and for the party.

But what exactly is TPLF discussing?

Only TPLF affiliated media outlets seem to know details but they did not tell it all. Horn Affairs, a blog considered by many as TPLF mouthpiece with connection to the power elites, reported that the party was discussing a 59 page document that was harsh on TPLF leadership on matters related to “inter-party democracy”, good governance, and GTP (Growth and Transformation Plan)

Content of the document and discussion on it did not please all members of the central committee to get full endorsement. Azeb Mesfin, widow of the late Meles Zenawi who was chairman of the party and who managed to steer the party together through manipulating the larger membership during the schism in the year 2000, walked out of the meeting -according to Horn Affairs, cited “inner sources.”

Three of the eight central committee members – including Azeb- voted against the document and one member, Tedros Adhanom, is absent as he is preoccupied with saving himself as Director General of World Health Organization in the face of increasing pressure following his nomination of Zimbabwe’s president as good will ambassador for non-communicable disease.

Once the performance evaluation in the central committee is completed, there is anticipated suspension and demotion of some members of the central committee, hinted Horn Affairs

Another pro-TPLF website, Aiga Forum, reported that things are not good within TPLF :

“The latest news coming from TPLF conference though encouraging is very troubling! We are told almost all have realized things are not okay! However when it comes to the details what we are hearing is troubling.”

But it was not precise enough when it comes to pointing out what issues led to the finger pointing within in central committee members

Is TPLF divided?

There is a claim in the opposition quarter and some opposition media , and this was the case for a long time now, that TPLF is divided into two factions and each is trying to consolidate support base within the military.

But no concrete evidence is available as yet if that is the case. What many question in that regard is that TPLF is well aware that internal split will rather leave the party in an even weaker position and it will not, goes the reasoning, let that happen.

Even in the current crisis like situation in Ethiopia and mounting resentment to the party, it wields a considerable power as it has control over security apparatus and the military despite some alleged “discontent and defections” in the army. True that monopoly over security apparatus is slipping away from its control in areas like Oromo region of Ethiopia. As things stand now, it is clear that the party has still considerable control and it has in fact passed decree, via “National Security Council”, to ban any protests in an effort to buy time to consolidate itself.

If it does not get the time it needs and if the finger pointing, as reported by pro TPLF website, gets serious, something serious can happen.
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