Overtures to the TPLF

Some Amhara nationalists, in the wake of a perceived rise in the power of Oromo nationalism, are making overtures to the TPLF or 'Tigray' for a possible alliance to combat Oromo nationalism. I'm sorry, but this is the height of silliness! It simply repeats our decades long practice of negative-sum politics, as disastrous in the long-term as it is appealing in the short.

First, those who support citizenship federalism should not need the TPLF or anyone else to combat ethnic nationalism. The very fact that some think they need the help illustrates the fundamental problem - the lack of a large and powerful citizenship politics organization. If we had a coherent movement concomitant to our grassroots support, then we would have easily come to a favourable agreement with ethnic nationalists. But our lack of tangible political power makes us flail around looking for help anywhere we can get it, thereby repeatedly building our political house on sand. Inevitably our temporary alliances and escapes end and we're back at throats of former allies.

Second, the TPLF and, dare I say, a significant portion of the Tigrean elite is in the midst of an identity crisis imposed upon them by unfortunate historical circumstances. The advent of Communism, the 1974 revolution, the Dergue's terrible misgovernance, etc., led to the birth of a TPLF with an outlook that stood firmly against the long term interests of Tigreans. Tigray, being a small, industrious, region, stands to benefit from a citizenship based federalism, a multicultural and decentralized federalism but one in which the citizen is primary. Ethnic federalism is completely against the interests of Tigray, because that would result, more or less, in Tigreans not being able to freely live and work outside their region. Yet the TPLF and most Tigrean intellectuals still support ethnic federalism! This is the problem that the rest of us Ethiopians, Ethiopian nationalists and even Amhara nationalists have to tackle, through persuasion and discussion, of course. This will be a long process. However, we should not abort this process by allying with the TPLF in an artificial power play.