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While the atrocities and oppression TPLF caused on Amharas & Oromos are well known, what isn't is the discrimination, marginalization & systemic oppression they have caused on Gurages as well
Gurages have faced the brunt of TPLF (& Derg) mistreatment for over 40 years. (Thread)
Gurages have faced the brunt of TPLF (& Derg) mistreatment for over 40 years. (Thread)
To start off, Gurages are the *only* major ethnic group whose population has undergone a DECLINE since 1994
They & Amharas (who have the lowest pop growth of all regions) are also the only groups whose ethnic composition rate has significantly decreased- according to the census
They & Amharas (who have the lowest pop growth of all regions) are also the only groups whose ethnic composition rate has significantly decreased- according to the census
Gurages, who are well known for their hard work & business acumen, dominated the business and economic sector in Addis Abeba (Merkato in particular) and other Urban areas such as Dire Dawa for decades.
Many were wealthy business owners and owned shops across the capital
Many were wealthy business owners and owned shops across the capital
When TPLF came, they forced out Gurage business owners in Addis Abeba & replaced them with former TPLF soldiers & elites of other non-Gurage groups who were politically alligned with the TPLF. Even today, the demographics of shop owners in Merkato have drastically changed.
They forced Gurage traders in import/exports to pay additional taxes on the same products that Tigrayans (& others) didn't pay, making them turn a disproportionate net profit compared to the latter, & as a result had to sell them at higher prices. This left them unable to compete
TPLF then placed embargos & heavy taxes on specific products that certain districts (where Gurages were concentrated in) specialized & earned high profits from, forcing hundreds out of business
The ones that remained were simply coerced into selling their shops, via intimidation
The ones that remained were simply coerced into selling their shops, via intimidation
They also dissolved the Gurage Road Construction, the Soddo Medareja Mahber, & Alemgena-Butajira Road associations, self-help associations historically formed to give employment to Gurage urban civilians, & forced them to join EPDRF affiliated ethno-politial associations
Things got worse after the 2005 elections. CUD. Gurages especially in Addis & Urban areas had overwhelmingly supported and voted for them. After the massacre and abolishment of "Kinijit", the TPLF cracked down on them even more in retaliation & upped their mistreatment of them
Those who were forced to sell their businesses had an extremely tough time finding new job opportunities as their livelihoods were completely ruined and inflation ran higher than ever. Especially with the ethnically based discrimination in the job/employment sector.
When I went to Ethiopia 6 years ago, you weren't even allowed to hold weddings or celebrate Meskel in the countryside outside half of the time. Police would ticket you thousands of Birr for "disruption"
They would bribe some locals to spy & report on behalf of them.
They would bribe some locals to spy & report on behalf of them.
I visited family the countryside for Meskel, but we couldn't celebrate it like normal. We had to borrow cd radios from our nearest neighbors (who lived 3 km away) in secret just so we could play ye-bahil zefenoch & dance. We couldn't light ችቦs out of fear of being caught
Many simplify TPLF's reign as an oppressive police-state regime, when their acts of oppression were also very systemic & discreet thru forms of economic oppression, ethnic-based population stagnation efforts, conflict instigating proxies & countless other heinous acts
Anuaks, Somalis, Afars etc have likewise felt the brunt of various forms of oppression by the TPLF or their proxies. Even after their fall from power, the TPLF to this day continues to abuse those within its vicinity.
As long as they exist, the Horn will never experience peace
As long as they exist, the Horn will never experience peace
