Regarding the shooting of Colonel Simon Gebredengel, in the past two weeks, Asmara was totally asphyxiated with rumors and counter rumors. It was really difficult to verify the facts on the ground. In a land where there is a total news blockade, rumors become rampant. Add to this the disinformation disseminated by the regime. If you take this at face value, you become totally disoriented. Anyhow, the sands have settled now, and I can make my assessment of the situation.  It is impossible to understand the story unless you have a clue of the level of nepotism and corruption and the “two blocs,” as they say in the opposition, that are affecting the regime.  The matter will never be investigated fully because this would expose PFDJ's Pandora's Box.

The Beginning

A certain guy by the name of Tesfalem, who is close relative of Brigadier General Abraham (Afan), was imprisoned by [Major General] Philipos [Weldeyohannes.] You have to know that all the commanders like Philipos have their own jail systems. But in addition to being a petty trader, Tesfalem was undercover agent: he was one of the fellows who was pointing many businessmen for detention at the Wenjel mermera for no reason at all and then taking a kickback from them on the pretext of releasing them. He was also one of the people who were listed as intimidating the late Fiqre [the young businessman.]

After the detention of this guy [Tesfalem], all the people who were imprisoned by him were released immediately.  But this also triggered the immediate detention of Fiqre, which initiated the gangland-style fighting.

The Two Blocs

The gangland fighting is between two blocs: the police and the national security.  The police bloc includes [Major General Gerezgheir Andemariam] Wuchu, [Brigadier General Abraham] Affan, Samson [The civil general], Zeregaber Gebrehiwet [a businessman] and their henchmen who are uniformed and plainclothes policemen. The second group is mainly led by [Major General] Philpos [Weldeyohannes] and it has the support of the national security apparatus.

Fiqre was killed because the first group knew well that if he remained alive, their secrets would be disclosed. So he was killed by poisoning. The strange thing is that he was buried with full military honor despite the fact that he was a two-day veteran: that is how long he was at Wia for military service. This is what I mean by nepotism and corruption.

After his burial, Colonel Simon Gebredengel was appointed to investigate the case and, as everybody knows now, an attempt was made on his life.

The Killing of Samson “the civil general”

After the attempt on the life of Simon, things began to go from bad to worse for Wuchu’s group. As a result, Samson hid in a certain monastery near the environs of Mai Mine. He went there because he used to give the priests funds. Apparently, his plan was to stay there and monitor the situation and depending on the circumstances to either flee or come back to Asmara.

When the military arrived at the monastery, the priests tried to stand on his behalf. Of course, they had no idea that he was a Mafioso. The plan was to take him alive than dead. Unfortunately, he and his group were heavily armed and they opened fire.  In the ensuing battle, he died and the rest were captured.

Arrests

So far, the only high-ranking official to be arrested is Colonel Solomon. The other arrestees are middle-rank officers. People in Asmara are saying that Wuchu, Tekle Manjus and Afan, Wedi Gebreweldi (chief of CID) are imprisoned. All this is false. Wuchu is in Barentu so far and probably in a difficult position. He was a close friend of Samson (Civil General) and his driver is in detention.

Colonel Simon was instrumental in the detention of the G15 but was more or less discarded after that. Now that he has gotten “wounded in action”, he may be elevated a little bit.

“Pandora’s Box”

The government will never disclose the case to the public. Because if they go deep into the matter, they will open a “Pandora’s box.” The case is not a corruption case only. As an EPLF veteran, it pains me to say this, but the truth must be told.  

There is a group of generals and colonels, specifically from Karneshim, and more specifically from Adi Nefas, that have become the Dons of Asmara.  The bull that he is, Wuchu was overheard saying, “ni Akelguzay Kindimsisa ina” and worse things, as I mentioned to you in my last article. Not only this, he grabbed the land of many Semenawi Bahri [Northern Red Sea] peasants, who still curse him bitterly. Therefore, even if the basic cause for all of this is the quest for money and power, the association of so many people from a very narrow area, (Weki, Adinefas, Zagher) could never be a coincidence.

The strategy is Power and Money using the Ethnic Card.  Ironically, this started immediately after the arrest of the G-15 albeit in a low scale. The G15 were given the tag of Tihti Hagerawinet [sub-nationalism], but when Wuchu openly roars that he will destroy a certain region, it is not Tihti Hagerawinet because he is a sycophant of The Man [Isaias Afwerki]. The Man is so cunning that he plays the ethnic card smartly. Most of his guards and close confidants like Tesfaldet from the Office of the President are from the South. On the other hand, 70% of all generals are from Karneshim. All other Generals from the south were frozen on various pretexts.

This phenomenon is now known by everyone and many cadres are talking openly-- including those from Hamasien who never wanted such things to happen in Eritrea. I myself talk with trusted friends on such issues.

People are worried that one day or another, things may accidentally flare up and develop into a conflagration. But, as I mentioned in my earlier articles, I never buy this story. There could be people who could exploit a minor skirmish for the sole purpose of stealing or pillaging property, because people want work and food. But no one in Eritrea will ever carry a gun for the purpose of a political aim. Period.  And The Man knows this.

This does not include people’s expectation on some in the opposition. These days, people are also talking that a few armed insurgents (commando type) commanded by Adhanom's [Gebremariam] party have penetrated into Barka and have even fought a battle. They say they are very few in number but very efficient and extremely mobile etc.

The people are nervous, disoriented and confused. The regime is now preoccupied with the Woyane menace and on top of everything, people are afraid that Ethiopia will open a war on the Asseb front to capture Asseb and own it for posterity.