Abyotawit Seded
Abyotawit Seded ('Revolutionary Flame') formed in 1976 by a group of Derg officers who had attended political trainings in the Soviet Union from 1975 and onwards. Mengistu Haile Mariam was the titular chairman of Seded. The key organizer of the group was, however, Legasse Asfew (a former sergeant). Seded was the key instrument of Derg to gain control over POMOA. The admission of Seded into POMOA divided the coalition. Meison and Ichat saw the entry of Seded as a threat to their own control over the structure. Malerid and Waz League, on the other hand, supported the entry of Seded as a counterweight to Meison and Ichat.[1]
Seded held 4 of 15 seats in the POMOA Politburo in 1976.[2]
Derg was suspisous of Meison's influence in different sectors (such as education). Seded sought to displace Meison as the chief political adviser to Derg. Officers linked to Seded were sent to Soviet Union, East Germany and Cuba for political training.[3]
Regarding the national question Seded recognized the right to national self-determination in principle, but saw practical constraints for its implementation.[4]
By 1977 1,000s of Ethiopian military personel had passed through training courses in the Soviet Union, East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. The graduates of these courses formed the backbone of the Seded group.[5]
After the split between Meison and Derg in August 1977 a series of Meison leaders were assassinated. Seded members were suspected of being behind these killings. Seded cadres were placed in the leadership of the Yekatit '66 Political School, which had been under the control of Meison.[1]
After the split with Meison, a Seded cadre Lt. Desta Tadesse was placed as general secretary of POMOA.[6]
Imaledih was founded on February 26, 1977, by five organizations: All-Ethiopian Socialist Movement (Meison), Ethopian Oppressed People's Revolutionary Struggle (Ichat), Ethiopian Marxist-Leninist Revolutionary Organization (Malerid), Waz League and Revolutionary Flame (Seded).[7][8][9] These were the same organizations that had formed the Provisional Office for Mass Organizational Affairs (POMOA).[10][11]
In the views of the Derg, the Imaledih project was a failure. The Derg began seeking other ways to form a vanguard party.[10] However, even as of September 1978 President Mengistu still maintained the position that the new party would emerge out of Imaledih. In his Revolution Day speech he argued that 'the foremost slogan of the day is "Let the Common Front of Ethiopian Marxist-Leninist Organizations evolve into merger!"' Mengistu's position on Imaledih changed soon thereafter, as claims were made that Waz League had infiltrated Seded and come to occupy leading posts in Seded.[11]
The member organizations of Imaledih were crushed by the Derg.[12] Meison was banned. The smaller civilian factions (Malerid, Ichat and Waz League) were suppressed. Even Seded, Mengistu's own group, was disbanded.[12]
- ^ a b clap, 67
- ^ paradox, 137
- ^ Keller, Edmond J. Revolutionary Ethiopia: From Empire to People's Republic. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1988. p. 199
- ^ clap, pp. 198-199
- ^ clap, 224
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
clap68was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Harjinder Singh. Agricultural Problems in Ethiopia. Delhi, India: Gian Pub. House, 1987. p. 187
- ^ Uhlig, Siegbert. Encyclopaedia Aethiopica 3 He - N. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2007. 668
- ^ Eide, Øyvind M. Revolution and Religion in Ethiopia: A Study of Church and Politics with Special Reference to the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus 1974-1985. Uppsala: [Svenska institutet för missionsforskning], Univ, 1996. p. 180
- ^ a b Haile-Selassie, Teferra. The Ethiopian Revolution, 1974-1991: From a Monarchical Autocracy to a Military Oligarchy. London [u.a.]: Kegan Paul Internat, 1997. pp. 230-231
- ^ a b Clapham Christopher. Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. pp. 68-69
- ^ a b Milkias, Paulos. Haile Selassie, Western Education, and Political Revolution in Ethiopia. Youngstown, N.Y.: Cambria Press, 2006. p. 266