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DECEPTION AND DESERTION: Ethiopia’s current
state of Military Affairs |
Reprinted:
There once was a time when Ethiopia’s
military prided itself as the most well
equipped army in the horn of Africa.
Currently though, the military is a mere
semblance of its past. Among its ranks, are
many poorly trained, lowly paid (if they are
ever paid), and demoralized non-Tigrian
personnel. Ever since the current TPLF (Tigrian
People’s Liberation Front) came to power in
1991, a policy of mistreatment of non-Tigrian
army officers and conscripts has been put in
place. Also constituted was a plan to send
forcefully conscripts to high-maintenance
regions such as Ogaden where a successful
and indigenous rebellion had taken foothold.
It is not unheard of military personnel or
garrisons that have not been paid their
monthly salaries for the last two years.
Furthermore, there are daily desertions of
military personnel mostly to Kenya and
Somalia.
Recently, the desertions have intensified.
Ogaden online reporter in north east Somalia
has informed us that many military personnel
have been in contact and in negotiation with
ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front) to
facilitate a safe passage out of Ogaden and
into Somalia. Our reporter informed us that
ONLF has opened a safe passage for those
army officers and cadets who have not
committed crimes against the Ogaden
populace. Some of the deserters have reached
Bosaso and our reporter had a chance to
interview them for Ogaden online.
One of the questions that our reporter put
to the deserters was: "What forced you leave
your country where some of you were high
ranking army officers and make a journey
riddled with uncertainties?" The
interviewees responded that there were many
things that ordinary people be they from
Ogaden or Somalia do not know about the
Ethiopian military personnel. They said they
preferred to make the journey rather than
being subjected to harassment, detention,
and execution of orders to kill and maim
unarmed civilians in and around their
garrisons. Some of the deserters were very
vocal about the lack of receiving their
salary for the last three years that they
had been in constant combat. An amazing high
number of the deserters that our reporter
met in Bosaso have said that this is the
third time they tried and succeeded in
deserting the army.
Some of the
pictures and accompanying ID cards were the
things that the deserters have volunteered
to give to our reporter with the knowledge
that they will be printed and posted on
Ogaden.com. Ogaden Online has
delayed the posting of the pictures and this
story while the deserters left Somalia to
destinations such as Kenya, Yemen and
Europe.
editorial@ogaden.com
Ogaden Online Editorial
Oct 17, 2004 |
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