Confederates and Ultra-Right Wing Ethiopians

August 21, 2020 Professor Abdi Khalil English 0

IHMS COMMENTARY

Confederates and Ultra-Right Wing Ethiopians

What do they have in Common?

Written by Dr. Abdulfetah Khalil Abougn

Recently, there were many bi-polar Ethiopian demonstrations in many cities in Europe, the US, Canada and Australia. Observing these bi-polar demonstrations made me wonder why neutralized or hyphenated Ethiopians, who live in Western world, and their descendants split into 2 groups in the rallies. One group mainly comprised of ethnic Amhara Ethiopians, while the other group was amalgamation of 80+ ethnic Ethiopians. Witnessing such demonstrations made me curious, ask some close friends and fellow Ethiopians, why only ethnic Amhara Ethiopians isolated themselves from the spectrum of 80+ ethnic Ethiopians? Why carry diametrically opposing slogans in the rallies if both were demonstrating for the same cause, assassination of Haachalu?

Why bi-polar demonstrations in the name of Singer-Song Writer Haachaalu, who wrote and sang songs against repressive regimes and anti-democratic elements. He gallantly voiced the liberation of minorities and freedom of Oromos from Ultra-Right politics and tyrannical systems of governance. Though Haachaalu’s songs often echo and magnify the demands of the majority of the population in Ethiopia, there must be some hidden agenda, ulterior-motives and ultra-sentiments of the Ultra-Right Amhara Ethiopians to come to such rallies; though their political ideology is against and contrary to Haachaalu’s struggle for democratic Ethiopia.

In the wake of humanity and Black Lives Matter Movements, which was mainly against White Supremacy and Confederate Ideologies, I was also interested in exploring historical facts of both Ultra-Right White Americans and Ultra-Right Amhara Ethiopians. What are the legacies of these two extreme groups? What do historical records and documents reveal about their common characteristics, even though they are world apart and in different continents?

The ways these extreme groups understand and interpret their collective, cultural and political histories profoundly affect their sense of identities. The interpretations are hence against the identities of the majority diverse Americans or diverse ethnic Ethiopians. Recent world politics also show the resurgence of Confederates, the rise of Right-Wing politics, White Supremacy, Amhara Supremacy (or Neftegna); with hate speeches and effectively advocating the politics of ethnic and religious cleansing in Ethiopia as were done in Bosnia, Serbia, Myanmar and China. Examples are abound to show various hate and bigotry messages from Ultra-Right, Orthodox and State media.

Looking at the political patterns in the US and Ethiopia, it is not hard to find some common characteristics of Confederates and Ultra-Right-Wing Ethiopians (locally known as Neftegnas), which drive them against the majority of the population, human rights and equities in their respective country. From their own archives, here are some shared political history, common characteristics, views, entities and agendas of these extreme political groups globally.

  1. CONFEDERATES
  2. What are Confederates? Confederates are persons who work with, especially in something secret or illegal. Or, persons who are accomplices in illegal political and social activities.
  3. What is Confederate flag? Confederate flag is a common white supremacist symbol. It is also known as the “rebel flag“, which is highly divisive and polarizing symbol in the United States. It is a hate symbol against non-white majority or diverse population in the US.
  4. What are Confederate States of America? These were 7 Confederate States or commonly known as ‘Confederacy’ that was not recognized breakaway states that fought against the United States Central Government during the American Civil War. The actual Confederate States of America was a group of states devoted to white supremacy.
  5. What were some characteristics of Confederates and their objectives in politics?
  6. The Confederates built an explicitly white-supremacist, pro-slavery, and anti-democratic nation-state, dedicated to the principle that all men are notcreated equal.
  7. The Confederacy advocate centralized policy, devoted to securing a society in which enslavement to white people was the permanent and inherited condition of all people of African descent.
  8. The Confederacy had Xenophobic and Islamophobic policies of systematic discriminations and eliminations of non-white identities
  9. The Confederacy upheld melting-pot policy, which was one flag, one language, one culture, one religion, one color and one race society
  10. The Confederacy believed the Whites were pure and chosen race, while any other races are impure and secondary
  11. The Confederates were responsible for many disappearances, lynching, rapes, kidnappings and deaths of Natives and Black people. They are squarely responsible for all inhumane political activities in the history of USA.
  • NEFTEGNAS (or ULTRA-RIGHT WING ETHIOPIANS)
  • What are Ultra-Right Wing Ethiopians? Or, who are Neftegnas? Ultra-Right Wing Ethiopians (or locally known as Neftegnas) are persons who emulate and desire to resurrect the characteristics of Ethiopia’s imperial regimes and advocate legacies of feudal regimes. The Neftegnas ran centralized Ethiopianimperial affairs using guns and rifles in controlling conquered periphery of the 80+ ethnic kingdoms. They imposed forcefully and systematically Amhara domination in creating one empire, one language, one culture and one religion; an ideology known as Amharazation of the 80+ ethnics in Ethiopia.
  • Who are Amharas? Amharas are an Ethiosemitic-speaking ethnic group traditionally inhabiting parts of the northwest Highlands of Ethiopia, particularly in the Amhara Region. But, scattered all over Ethiopia since the advent of Emperor Menelik II in 1880s. Today, many ethnic Amahras view Emperor Menelik as a symbol of triumph and defiance of European colonialism, as well as, a hero who conquered the 80+ ethnic Ethiopians and partially achieved Amharazation in establishing the 19th century Imperial Ethiopia. While many other ethnic Ethiopians including the Oromos consider Menelik the root cause of their social and cultural subjugations, deprivation, as well as, religious inequities.

·       Which flag represents the Ethiopian peoples? According to Ethiopian Federal Constitution, “the national flag symbolizes the honour and beauty of the Ethiopian nation: green represents the fertility of the country, yellow the religious freedom found there, and red the lives sacrificed in the protection of national integrity.  The emblem at the center has a radiant STAR with equidistant rays to show the equality of all ethnic groups, as well as, creed and gender equity.  The shining rays from the star testify to a bright future for Ethiopia, and surrounding the emblem is a blue background denoting peace and democracy in Ethiopia”.

 

However, in defiance and against representation of 80+ ethnic Ethiopians, the Neftegnas adore or opt for the plain flag, ‘green, yellow and red’ with no emblem, which symbolizes one culture, one language, one religion and unitary constitution monarch. No wonder the bi-polar demonstration in the cities; and Amharas being by themselves on the other side of attempting to revive the old politics of assimilation rather than out crying for Haachaalu’s assassination.

 

  • What are some characteristics of Neftegnas, objectives and contributions in Ethiopian politics?
    • The Founder of Neftegna regime– Emperor Menelik was the founder of Neftegna regime in Ethiopia. In late 19th century, roughly at the same time as the scramble for Africa, Emperor Menelik forcibly incorporated independent ethnic minority kingdoms and Oromo territories into his “nascent empire.” He was conqueror and occupier, who annexed various minority and Oromo territories in 19th century, using rifles (hence the name Neftegna) forcing peasants to work for elite Amhara masters. Referring to Professor Mohammed Hassan’s book, the Neftegna system was profoundly pro-slavery and used mostly Oromos as ‘Black’ or ‘Red’ Oromo slaves working in Amhara elite farms and households, respectively.
    • Aanolee and Chelenko massacres – In the process of confiscating lands and incorporation of various ethnic kingdoms into the Ethiopian empire, Menelik and his Neftegna entourage massacred12,000 Arsi Oromos, and over 10, 000 Hararis, Somalis, Afar and Hararghe Oromos at Chelenko battle. Similar massacre in Welega, Jimma, Wollo and Southern territories. The right hands and right breasts of men and women were mutilated, which created unforgettable ethnic and historical trauma for these ethnic Ethiopians.
  • Destructions of mosques and venerated Islamic cites – All Islamic religious activities and the rights to practice were declared illegal across imperial Ethiopia. Islamic structures, monuments, libraries and traditional cites were either destroyed or converted to Orthodox Churches. To mention few, converted the Grand Bazikh (or Al-Kawthar) Mosque to Orthodox Medhane Alem Church, Aaw Jebjeb Maey Sheik religious shrines to Trinity Orthodox Church, Sheik Jeebril Shrine and education Centre to Orthodox Kulubi Gabriel Church and many more across the country. 
  • Methodical destruction of Islamic Schools and Educational Collections – Archives belonging to Islamic Communities of Harar, Arsi, Bale, Wollo, Jimma, Silte, Gurage, and many more records spanning 800 years were destroyed. Islamic manuscripts were deliberately collected from households and religious shrines, and were completely burned! Islamic schools at all levels were converted to secular schools. Islamic scholars were incarcerated and massacred. Refer to a book entitled ‘Sostu Atzee’woch[1] and Ethiopian Muslims’ for complete information how the three Emperors executed Ethiopian Muslims and destroyed Muslim entities in the last 150 years.
  • State religion – Ethiopian Orthodox church was inextricably linked to imperial regimes. Ethiopian Orthodox church was state religion until the fall of Haile Selassie in 1974. The regimes ignored the majority Ethiopian Muslim population. Unitary Neftegna monarchy forcibly emerged as Ethiopian national identity from 1884 to 1974. The current Ultra-Right Ethiopians could not get over such imperial nostalgia and hangovers, and therefore diametrically opposing the current Federal system of governance that upholds the rights of diverse and multi-religious peoples of Ethiopia.  

In addition, both Confederate and Neftegna systems of governance have left various statues, and monuments in remembrance of their so-called patriots, though they mercilessly rioted the rights of majority, indigenous and ethnic minorities. In fact, most statues and monuments are symbols of repression, cultural holocaust and genocide. They were erected without the consent and any input of the surrounding people! Do you know that over 1500 Confederate symbols still stand in the US including statue of Columbus, the first invader of the Natives? Do you also know that Menelik and Haile Selassie were the two Emperors who terrorized and assimilated most ethnic minorities and the Oromos in Ethiopia, and over 100 symbols are still found across the country including new ones in the national palace? Obviously, for the repressed majority, these monuments symbolize injustices, indignity, agony and no respect for diversity. 

Also, similar to world events, it is time to dismantle, topple, remove and replace some memorials of tyrants so that true reconciliation will start to co-exist as diverse Ethiopia.  In fact, as lessons from Jew Holocaust memorials around the globe, we need to erect memorials as tributes to Oromo, Somali, Afar, Harari, Sidama, Silte, and many more Martyrs in the cities of Regional States of Ethiopia. The symbols will sustain indigenous peoples’ thinking, their cultures, and establish unity with diversity.

LAST WORDS BUT NOT LEAST: With the current deep concerns of the rights of humankind and identity consciousness around the globe, there is no turning back to Confederate and Neftegna systems of governance in both countries. Notably, immigrants, minorities and indigenous peoples have for so long endured profound social disruptions including forced relocations, cultural holocaust, and genocide. Such repressive systems of governance have left deep emotional scars on survivors and their generations. They have created enduring obstacles to political reconciliations and human rights among several ethnic groups. The historical traumas are already paramount, thus there is no turning back to recreate and restore acrimonious systems!

The only way forward is to get rid of the seeds of assimilation, marginalization and systemic discrimination. With the advent of globalization and the current high level of humanity mind-sets, the majority have decided to be more vigilant and resilient to cultural genocide and political viruses. All repressed groups have decided to overcome such political and social challenges. Fighting injustices have become a norm to achieve sense of well-being and restoration of dignity and identity. No more experiences of cumulative stress, racism, cultural bereavements and genocide. No more generalized, internalized and institutionalized systematic discriminations! We, the diverse peoples of the world including Ethiopia, our aspirations for equity, and to live in unity must be kept alive at all times!

Aselam Aleykum

[1] The three emperors