Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) -- Ethnic Conflict In Ethiopia, Episode four

Episode four

 

The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) led a successful battle against all political groups during Ethiopia's civil war. But today the party's victories are being undone as old rivals gain ground in Ethiopia. In episode four of our series on ethnic conflict in Ethiopia, we discuss the allegations against the party and whether the claims hold any weight.  

 

People in this episode:

 

Dr. Weldu Weldeyesus

• Language instructor at the Community College of Denver
• Ethnicity: Tigrayan  

Tewodrose Tirfe 

• Co-founder of the Amhara Association of America

Deacon Yoseph Tafari  

• Ordained deacon serving under the Archdiocese of the exiled Ethiopian Orthodox Holy Synod
• Chariman of the Ethiopian American Civic Council

Dr. Edmond Keller

• Professor at University of California, Los Angeles
• Long-time commentator and observer of Ethiopian history and politics

Dr. Paulos Milkias

• Political Science Instructor at Concordia University
• Ethinicity: Oromo

Besrat Amare

• Former TPLF member 
• Headed the party's intelligence department during the Ethiopian Civil War 

Yonas Deressa

Paul Henze

• Former consultant for think tank Rand Corp.
• Former CIA station chief in Ethi­o­pia during the 1960s and ’70s

Goshu Wolde 

• Foreign Minister of Ethiopia from 1983-1986 under the Derg
• Former leader of the Ethiopian Medhin Democratic Party

Mesfin Wolde-Mariam

• One of the major leaders representing the Coalition for Unity and Democracy party during the 2005 elections  

Mohamed Olad 

• Somali region native 

Dr. Yohannes Gedamu

• Lecturer of Political Science at Georgia Gwinnett College
• Born in Gonder in the Amhara region

Dr. Ezekiel Gebissa

• Professor of History and African Studies at Kettering University
• Ethnicity: Oromo

Chester A. Crocker

• Former assistant secretary of department of state of African affairs

Gerald B. H. Solomon

• Former U.S. Rep. 

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith

 

Credits:

 

Human Rights Watch video on the Irreecha Festival, Sept. 19, 2017 

CSPAN video library 

• Civil War and Famine in Ethiopia, June 18, 1991
• Paul Henze's testimony, Famine and Civil War in the Horn of Africa, May 30, 1991
• Ethiopian Famine, April 21, 1988