Dear readers, thank you for your comments. A brief response.
Much has happened since, also in the media reporting on this conflict. Indeed, as Vincent suggests, in the Western media there is a narrative trying to 'equate' the TPLF story - as being 'the underdog' and 'unfairly targeted' vs. PM Abiy's approach (This was also said in the remarkable Op-ed by former Ethiopian PM Hailemariam Dessalegn in the journal 'Foreign Policy' of 24 Nov. 2020). This topic would basically merit a separate study. It seems Western media do not like war and if any war breaks out - even if it is a relatively 'just war' (there is a whole academic discussion on this see e.g. the work by Michael Walzer) they do not (want to) understand it and reject it. There is also a persistent tendency in Western and other world media to somehow expect nothing but trouble and misery from Africa. Neither do media in this specific case really know the history of the past 2,5 years of tension and conflict (see my blog) or follow local Ethiopian news website (which admittedly is a very time-consuming and difficult job). This also goes for correspondents of mainstream outlets like NOS, BBC, AFP, etc. Finally, there is a lack of attention to the statement and speeches by the Ethiopian government, notably by PM Abiy, e.g. in his reporting to Parliament. No, these statements are not 'propaganda'; they are revealing and mostly matter-of fact reports; it is, I think, simply not appropriate to deny them value. In recent days, however, several media reports are getting more nuanced, as more facts become clear.
As to the fighting, the various accusations often made towards the Ethiopian federal army have hardly been substantiated. But the massacre in Mai Kadra hás - it's an appalling story of killing and cruelty by TPLF - affiliated forces carried out just before the federal army entered the town. More and more will come out that will probably vindicate PM Abiy's approach.
On the question of Tigray Region's economic position: the region itself is not an economic power house, although it has agrarian and some mineral resources and a hard-working peasantry and trading class. There is a lot of money in Meqelle, of course, notably among the TPLF ruling and top-business elite, having built up (trans)national business networks. But it is surprising to see how little of the resources that they had at their disposal were used to really advance and develop the ordinary people in Tigray, notably in the rural areas. Well before the current shouts of the UN agencies etc. about the 'impending humanitarian disaster' and the lack of food, etc. the Tigray Region was already suffering from lack of proper food supply and other resource distribution - a problem not solved by the TPLF leadership. Obviously among the reasons for which the TPLF refused cooperation with the federal government and revolted is the deep fear of loss of privileges and judicial indictment for past misdeeds. The structure of privilege is now being uncovered by investigations of the federal government in recent weeks (and it must be said that among members of the other former constituent parties of the then ruling EPRDF there are also abuses uncovered). We cannot but admit that the reform programme and leadership of PM Abiy Ahmed is (still) an incredible break with the past and a great new opportunity for Ethiopia. We hope that Tigray Region will get back to a state of normality and that peace, reconciliation and prosperity will come; the people of Tigray, as elsewhere in the country, deserve it.
Jan Abbink
Dear readers, thank you for your comments. A brief response.
Much has happened since, also in the media reporting on this conflict. Indeed, as Vincent suggests, in the Western media there is a narrative trying to 'equate' the TPLF story - as being 'the underdog' and 'unfairly targeted' vs. PM Abiy's approach (This was also said in the remarkable Op-ed by former Ethiopian PM Hailemariam Dessalegn in the journal 'Foreign Policy' of 24 Nov. 2020). This topic would basically merit a separate study. It seems Western media do not like war and if any war breaks out - even if it is a relatively 'just war' (there is a whole academic discussion on this see e.g. the work by Michael Walzer) they do not (want to) understand it and reject it. There is also a persistent tendency in Western and other world media to somehow expect nothing but trouble and misery from Africa. Neither do media in this specific case really know the history of the past 2,5 years of tension and conflict (see my blog) or follow local Ethiopian news website (which admittedly is a very time-consuming and difficult job). This also goes for correspondents of mainstream outlets like NOS, BBC, AFP, etc. Finally, there is a lack of attention to the statement and speeches by the Ethiopian government, notably by PM Abiy, e.g. in his reporting to Parliament. No, these statements are not 'propaganda'; they are revealing and mostly matter-of fact reports; it is, I think, simply not appropriate to deny them value. In recent days, however, several media reports are getting more nuanced, as more facts become clear.
As to the fighting, the various accusations often made towards the Ethiopian federal army have hardly been substantiated. But the massacre in Mai Kadra hás - it's an appalling story of killing and cruelty by TPLF - affiliated forces carried out just before the federal army entered the town. More and more will come out that will probably vindicate PM Abiy's approach.
On the question of Tigray Region's economic position: the region itself is not an economic power house, although it has agrarian and some mineral resources and a hard-working peasantry and trading class. There is a lot of money in Meqelle, of course, notably among the TPLF ruling and top-business elite, having built up (trans)national business networks. But it is surprising to see how little of the resources that they had at their disposal were used to really advance and develop the ordinary people in Tigray, notably in the rural areas. Well before the current shouts of the UN agencies etc. about the 'impending humanitarian disaster' and the lack of food, etc. the Tigray Region was already suffering from lack of proper food supply and other resource distribution - a problem not solved by the TPLF leadership. Obviously among the reasons for which the TPLF refused cooperation with the federal government and revolted is the deep fear of loss of privileges and judicial indictment for past misdeeds. The structure of privilege is now being uncovered by investigations of the federal government in recent weeks (and it must be said that among members of the other former constituent parties of the then ruling EPRDF there are also abuses uncovered). We cannot but admit that the reform programme and leadership of PM Abiy Ahmed is (still) an incredible break with the past and a great new opportunity for Ethiopia. We hope that Tigray Region will get back to a state of normality and that peace, reconciliation and prosperity will come; the people of Tigray, as elsewhere in the country, deserve it.
Jan Abbink