Pearce's article and reporting in general is obviously
hostile to the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The point here is
neither to vindicate the ruling Abiy government or to defend or demonise the
Tigray leadership. What's salient is the fact that the leaked Zoom video
demonstrates a point that I and others have been trying to make – that despite
official proclamations of support for Abiy in the past, or neutrality in the
present conflict, the West and the US specifically support Tigray goals and
their restoration to power in Addis Ababa.
Abiy Ahmed was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts
to secure the peace with Eritrea and for the hopes of creating a more inclusive
government within Ethiopia. However, he's friendly to China and while he hasn't
shut down US military operations – Washington has used Ethiopia as a base of
operations and sometimes as a proxy, he's not as warm in his regard for the
American Empire. Abiy has also created instability with neighbours Sudan and
Egypt and this grants other players such as China, Russia, or even France the
opportunity to gain a foothold and thwart or sidetrack US plans.
It was always clear to me that Washington wanted him gone and
would prefer the minority Tigray Establishment to regain control of the
country. They dominated Ethiopian politics since the collapse of the Derg and
in Washington's eyes they are reliable – something viewed as critical given
present geopolitics.
Additionally if Washington is planning for 'trouble' in other
parts of the world – East Asia or Eastern Europe, they don't want new fronts
opened up in Africa. They want stability and while the present civil war is certainly
destabilising, the US hopes the TPLF can score a quick victory. After that,
money, weapons, and diplomatic support will do the rest to pacify and stabilise
the overall situation.
And it needs to be understood this transcends America's own
partisan politics. The Biden administration has not significantly changed the
trajectory set by Trump – not on this issue at least. There is support within
the larger Establishment for the TPLF – even if it's not going to be officially
acknowledged. The Zoom video is interesting because it reveals how unofficial (but
certainly connected) diplomats are still at work and still in contact with the
Pentagon and other centres of power – and therefore it's clear these centres of
power are utilising them. These Mandarins may not hold an official position at
the moment but they're still connected to the bureaucracy and working at its
behest.
See also:
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-context-for-tigray-revolt.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-empire-in-east-africa.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-context-for-americas-war-on-somalia.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-october-2021-coup-in-sudan.html
https://pilgrimunderground.blogspot.com/2020/07/trouble-on-nile.html
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