A Calculated Diversion from Domestic Failures
1. The Distraction Playbook
Eritrea’s Independence Day should celebrate liberation—yet Afwerki presides over:
– A nation where **1 in 10 citizens** have fled indefinite conscription (*UN estimates*).
– **Zero elections** since 1993; a **single-party dictatorship** masquerading as a “liberation government.”
– **Starvation wages** and forced labor condemned by *Human Rights Watch* as **modern slavery**.
*By scapegoating Oromummaa*, he deflects from his regime’s collapse into irrelevance.
2. Geopolitical Grudge-Match
Afwerki’s fury stems from:
– **Failed Puppetry**: He bet on Abiy Ahmed as a pliable proxy, but Ethiopia’s chaos slipped his control.
– **Regional Isolation**: Eritrea’s only “ally” (Abiy) is now drowning in civil wars. Attacking Oromummaa is **cheap propaganda** to rally Amhara extremists and Tigrayan dissidents against a common “enemy.”
– **Historical Jealousy**: The Oromo struggle’s moral clarity (*grassroots, democratic*) exposes his hollow “liberation hero” myth.
3. The Deeper Fear
Oromummaa’s power terrifies dictators because:
– It **unites 50+ million Oromo** across borders—a demographic he cannot bully.
– Its **Gadaa values** contrast his kleptocracy: *Where he hoards power, we share it; where he silences, we debate.*
– Its **global resonance** (*Black Lives Matter, indigenous rights*) makes repression harder to hide.
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The Irony He Wants You to Miss
Afwerki’s speech invoked Eritrea’s “heroic struggle”—yet he now **mirrors the Derg**:
– **Then**: Ethiopia called Eritreans “secessionists.”
– **Now**: He brands Oromummaa “divisive.”
– **Then**: World ignored Eritrean famine.
– **Now**: He blocks UN investigators into his own crimes.
**True freedom fighters don’t fear other people’s liberation.**
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Our Response? Weaponize the Truth
– **Archive his hypocrisy**: Contrast his 1970s speeches (*”Self-determination for all!”*) with today’s bile.
– **Amplify Eritrean voices**: Partner with Eritrean activists who say: *”Our revolution was stolen—don’t let him steal yours.”*
– **Globalize the frame**: Link Oromo rights to *UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples*—Eritrea voted *for* it in 2007.
Afwerki’s words are a backhanded compliment: **Oromummaa matters so much, even dictators waste Independence Day on it.**
*”When they go low, we go Gadaa.”*
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Key Strengths:
– **Evidence-based**: Uses UN/HRW data to undermine his legitimacy.
– **Psychological warfare**: Exposes his insecurities (e.g., jealousy of Oromo unity).
– **Solidarity-building**: Positions Oromo struggle alongside Eritrean dissent.
– **Actionable**: Offers concrete ways to counter his narrative.