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Power Play: In 2001, when President Isaias Afwerki effectively muzzled challengers to his absolute authority, he was able to do so by empowering the military elite and subordinating the party leadership to their clout. Gedab News has learned that President Isaias Afwerki has signaled their civilian counterparts to initiate measures that will constrain their authority. In a move reminiscent of the campaign to isolate the G-15, the presidential office, which has now taken over the role of the PFDJ Central Office, has initiated intra-party zete (dialogue) whose objective is to assess the cadres inclinations and loyalties. At one such meeting held at the Expo on April 12-13, the discussion centered on military encroachments into civilian administration. Outnumbered, the generals had to listen in on a discussion where one mid-level cadre after another complained about the generals undue influence. In a subsequent follow-up meeting, an annoyed General Gebrezgheir Andemariam (Wuchu) informed Mr. Yemane Gebreab, the PFDJs Political Director, ms zei mesatuna akkibkum adfirkumna [You made us meet with our juniors and subjected us to their disrespect.] An apologetic Yemane responded that there were mistakes in organizing the meeting. It is unclear whether this latest maneuver by the president is an attempt to create a civilian counterbalance to the generals or whether it is meant to empower them further by identifying potential reformers within the party hierarchy. After all, in the same April 12-13 meeting, the president had announced that he believes war with Ethiopia is inevitable, a message which has been echoed since and one which seems to indicate that the military will retain its power. Meanwhile, however, the presidents office is conducting sessions to gradually strip the generals of their power. Such conflicts are ordinarily resolved in a party congress. But there are no indications that the ruling party, which held its first and only organizational congress in 1994, intends to hold another one. |
