Horn of Africa Leftists Horn of Africa Leftists

The Horn of Africa Leftists podcast has been on a hiatus for the past two years, but the social media pages have remained active. The host explains that he stopped recording due to the challenges and attacks he faced for providing a leftist analysis of events in the Horn of Africa. He also reflects on the intention behind using the pronoun 'we' in the podcast and the importance of maintaining independence and avoiding opportunism. The host discusses the background and purpose of the podcast, which aims to provide a left alternative perspective and agitate for a return to socialist traditions in the Horn of Africa diaspora. He also highlights the decline of the No More Social Media campaign and the rise of Amhara nationalism as a challenge to Abyssinian fundamentalism. The conversation covers various topics related to the Horn of Africa, including the right of regions to defend themselves, the historical grievances of the Amhara region, the legacy of Yohannes and Menelik, the role of the TPLF, the need for a left alternative analysis, and the criticism of certain media outlets and individuals. The speaker emphasizes the importance of a progressive and inclusive approach, the need to address historical grievances, and the ongoing struggle for unity and resolution in the region.

Keywords

Takeaways

The Horn of Africa Leftists podcast has been on a hiatus for the past two years, but the social media pages have remained active.
The host faced challenges and attacks for providing a leftist analysis of events in the Horn of Africa.
The podcast aims to provide a left alternative perspective and agitate for a return to socialist traditions in the Horn of Africa diaspora.
The No More Social Media campaign has declined, and Amhara nationalism has emerged as a challenge to Abyssinian fundamentalism. Regions in the Horn of Africa have the right to defend themselves and resist oppression.
The Amhara region has historical grievances and has been under subjugation by the TPLF.
The TPLF aims to continue the legacy of Yohannes and Menelik under the banner of Tigrinya language.
There is a need for a left alternative analysis and persuasion in the Horn of Africa.
Certain media outlets and individuals need to be more critical and inclusive in their coverage of the region.
The focus should be on resolving historical grievances and moving towards unity and progressive change.
Titles

Maintaining Independence and Avoiding Opportunism
A Left Alternative Perspective for the Horn of Africa Diaspora The Role of the TPLF
The Legacy of Yohannes and Menelik
Sound Bites


Chapters

00:00

The Hiatus and Challenges

03:15

Reflecting and Reviewing

07:22

Transparency and Criticism

13:51

Agitating for Change

28:34

The Decline of the No More Movement

33:23

The Rise of Amhara Nationalism

38:09

The Right of Regions to Defend Themselves

39:06

Historical Grievances of the Amhara Region

40:31

The Legacy of Yohannes and Menelik

41:55

The Role of the TPLF

46:45

The Need for a Left Alternative Analysis

51:25

Criticism of Media Outlets and Individuals

01:05:06

Moving Towards Unity and Progressive Change



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Uprising: forces, structures, and possibilities 

Mahder is currently a PHD student in Political Science
Research on the 2019/2020 uprising plus local resistance committee and tea seller unions by engaging Sudanese scholar and activists

Historical points and questions.
On February 12, 1952, Egypt and Britain

How do you view the issue of Nubians and their struggle in both states? Where do the Nubians fit into the narrative of Pan-Africanism and the National Question? Are they an oppressed nation within nation-states?

What was the position of the Sudanese Communist Party in regards to South Sudanese grievances during the early years? 


It seems Sudan still has active labor unions that impacted and shaped the protest in Sudan. Why do you think the western press ignores that or mis-characterizes the class dynamic of the Sudanese protest and anti-neoliberal narrative? Or have you noticed that?

What is the communist view on Pan-Africanism and Pan-Arabism? What is your view on Sudan being viewed as an Arab state and anti-African racism?


 Jaafar Nimeiry 1969-1985--was supported a socialist branch Sudanese Socialist Union
falling out with the Communist party---first person who installed the Sharia law


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Somali freelance journalist Mohamed joins this episode for a critical focus on Somalia

http://halganmedia.net/
https://twitter.com/Free_Somaliweyn

Can you explain your take on the anti-colonial history of Somalis against various colonial power and how that shaped Somali nationalism from then to now?

How do you feel about the influence of Saudi Arabia and sponsorship of the Whabbist/Salafist line in Somalia as a counter against Somalia nationalists aligned with egalitarian or socialist Islam tendencies?

What is your view on the history of Ogaden and the Somali region in Ethiopia?

How do you view Turkish/NATO presence in Somalia?

How do you view the question of Somaliland and the current efforts to instigate tension by London/Washington via Taiwan vs China?

Can you explain the events that led to rise of the ICU to crush warlords in Somalia prior 2007?

Why do you feel Eritrean and Somalis are closer when recognizing the danger of Abyssinia Fundamentalism?

How do you feel about federalism vs centralized state in Somalia and the role of Melez Zenawi to create that 4-1 clan system of model?
Your view of the TPLF role in the 90s era in prolonging anarchy and war lors

Do you feel Somalia is ignored by the left in media spaces in comparison to Ethiopia? Both Somalia and Eritrea were sanctioned the last 18 years but we didnt see that focus but now Ethiopia is the focus.


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"If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out and criticized because we serve the people. Anyone, no matter who may point out our shortcomings. If he is right, we will correct them. If what he proposes will benefit the people, we will act upon it."-Mao


FEEDBACK

 These western leftists absolutely need to just keep it at imperialism and stay away from the internal politics of Ethiopia. Just being in pfdj promotes you to address the primary contradiction which is imperialism. But the lack of 
acknowledgement of secondary contradictions by pfdj leads to a lack of understanding of an analysis on how the ruling class exploits these secondary contradictions to further their agenda. These secondary contradictions are weaponized to exasperate the primary contradiction. How tplf is using the plight of the oppressed nationalities to mask their elitist ideology. Ppl like Simon dismiss the oppressed as just tribalists. And it stops there for them, offering no validity to the oppressed masses who instead fall for tplf rhetoric that appears to be more in line with the oppressed. This alienates them like you said, and that’s a legitimate critique of the no more movement. This adds a lot of issues. 
This also gives legitimacy to Abiy, who on top of being even having more neoliberal policies than tplf, has denied historical grievances of folks in Ethiopia and even in America, and like you said you can oppose and fight against imperialism without totally endorsing the other side. It shouldn’t stop at just primary contradiction.

While EPRP*(Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party) was actively resisting derg, they still aligned with dergs decisions to oust western puppet entities from Ethiopia. 
An example of being principled and aligning on the right side w/o endorsing the other side


CRITICISM
You repeatedly state that Abiy started this war with TPLF, 
contrary to TPLF's own words in which they state they launched a "pre-emptive strike" against multiple northern command bases on Nov 4th.

Just simply "having positions" doesn't really mean anything if it doesn't translate to material action. In my opinion, many on the left, save a few organizations, are failing to capture the moment of what is essentially a pan-African movement against neo-colonial designs.

https://blackallianceforpeace.com/principles-of-unity

 What end is having a critique of the GOE while under attack by US backed forces supposed to contribute to the global movement? 
Should the left not unite with the #NoMore movement against imperialism or should it?

Listening to this I hear a lot of strawmen. Nowhere in any of the breakthrough or black agenda report coverage of the war have I seen anyone praise Abiy as some kind of socialist anti-imperialist hero.Seems unfair to suggest that's their position when it isn't.

Also like...what? "Take away the TPLF?" This isn't materialist at all, seeing as the TPLF is a heavily armed belligerent and player in the current conflict. 
This is an appeal to idealism in the middle of a war in which there will eventually be a victor and a vanquished.

Just wondering exactly what the endgame is here? 
So people shouldn't be mobilizing against US supported regime change in Ethiopia because Abiy is a capitalist? 
Should we take a "neither x or y" approach while a fascist proxy group continues its onslaught across the country?


POSITION

Examine why PFDJ or Eritrea are in alliance with Amhara region?is it right? The primacy of the class struggle over the national question is an issue

All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement(MEISON) vs EPRP*(Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party)
However, there were some sticky political problems for both the TPLF and EPRP regarding Eritrea. While they recognized the struggle for the Eritrean independence as genuine, they had differences as to whether the case was a ‘colonial issue’ or not. Without conducting the necessary study or having appropriate discussions, the TPLF h

Important episode to consider what does principled anti-imperialist solidarity suppose to look like for the Horn of Africa with critical three points

1. Let's examine the left content creators and journalist position as being too pro Abiy/PP due to the sourcing info from the Abyssinian (Amhara region)/PFDJ alliance that is led to the creation of the new diaspora based #NoMore movement and current development...Why did they do this? Maybe the motivating factor is for social media traction/audience metrics/donations etc
You take away the TPLF you can see why the people and advisors or allies of Abiys are neoliberal and reason why is in alliance with them is they all share common ideology views on neoliberalism and overall Abyssainid views on what is Ethiopia and its future..
Including Berhanu Nega as education minister, in a speech to lawmakers on Wednesday. The others are Belete Molla, who comes in as innovation and technology minister and Kejela Merdassa as the head of the culture docket.
The Ethiopia’s far-right -ultra-unionist PM Dr Abiy Ahmed and his conspirator ally Professor Berhanu Nega’s parties- namely Exclusive Prosperity Party (EPP) and Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (ECSJ) are advocating Western liberal democracy and liberal economy as model capable of saving Ethiopia and its subjects.   
Berhanu Nega wrote policy papers for the World Bank, which were later included in the Kinijit (CUDCoalition for Unity and Democracy) Manifesto
The Kinijit (CUD) Manifesto. Attached snippet calling for the implementation of free market liberal democracy 


“[Mr Abiy] is extremely interested to see a strong private sector that can generate jobs for the millions of youths that are currently unemployed,” said Mr Abebe, 38, who worked at the World Bank before Mr Abiy asked him to join the commission.

“And I think that is consistent with the whole economic reform agenda. For so long economic growth has been fuelled by state investment and now the state should cede space to the private sector and play its natural arbiter role as a regulator,” he said. 

https://www.ft.com/content/38c9e736-7e49-11e9-81d2-f785092ab560

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/apr/15/suspicion-and-fear-linger-as-ethiopia-campus-wars-go-quiet
Wed 15 Apr 2020 07.21 EDT
The government is now looking at alternative funding models, including student loans. “There should be some kind of co-financing from the private sector,” said Tassew Woldehanna, president of Addis Ababa University. “Students need to start paying.”

In January, the Minister of Higher Education suggested that free tuition was partly to blame for conflicts because it made it harder for universities to maintain the quality of education and housing for the roughly 200,000 new students enrolling each year. In 2000, Ethiopia had just two universities; now there are 45. It is one of the fastest expansions in higher education in the world, but without a concomitant rise in standards.


Abiy and Crrypto connection
Cardano is not new to Ethiopia, in 2018 the government signed a deal with Cardano to incorporate blockchain technology to the agritech industry. According to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, since Ethiopia is a latecomer to:

 Jack Dorsey vocalized his support of Project Mano, a group of Ethiopia-based entrepreneurs who want to get the Ethiopian government to consider mining and storing Bitcoin


I would like to thank @IMF & my dear sister @KGeorgieva for IMF’s extraordinary support of Ethiopia’s Home Grown Economic Reform Program amounting to USD 2.9 billion. Building on our past success, we have embarked on a new journey to set Ethiopia on a path to prosperity.
https://twitter.com/AbiyAhmedAli/status/1205152845818945536


"Borrowing from IMF and WB, is like borrowing from [one's] mother"- PM Abiy speaking in a peace conference in Addis Ababa.
.... "Because after they give us a billion birr, they tell us to pay it in 20,

On this episode, we discuss the latest updates on Ethiopia and Sebs research on via "Blockchain Technology & Coercive Surveillance of the Global South" https://solartsunami.medium.com/blockchain-technology-coercive-surveillance-of-the-global-south-bec05246e749

Sebs on Twitter https://twitter.com/RedSeaCactus

Cryptocurrency Is About Data-Mining Not Economic Liberation w Sebs Solomon via Black Power Media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoZIDO5VBZk

Jackson Palmer Tweets
https://twitter.com/ummjackson/status/1415353984617914370

From Eritrea to Bolivia: Who Supported the Washington Backed Coup?
https://hoodcommunist.org/2020/12/24/from-eritrea-to-bolivia-who-supported-the-washington-backed-coup/

The Human Rights Foundation Connection to Bitcoin and Meron Estafnos
Oslo Freedom Forum (@OsloFF and Bitcoin
https://twitter.com/gladstein/status/1405216053215461379
https://hrf.org/speakers/meron-estefanos/
https://twitter.com/AnitaPosch/status/1408047323503075334





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