New Details on the Shadow Network in Eritrea: Isaias, Ethiopian Authorities, and the CIA

 

The Shadow Network in Eritrea: Isaias, Ethiopian Authorities, and the CIA

Newly revealed details from Radio Democracy Eritrea broadcast from Germany on 14 Nov. 1999, shed light on a little-known chapter in Eritrean history, based on extensive ELF interviews with Tesfamichael Giorjo — the man who served as Isaias Afwerki’s conduit to both Ethiopian authorities in Eritrea and the CIA station in Asmara.

According to Giorjo, the conspiracy traces back to October 19, 1969, when Ethiopian officials in Asmara convened a conference under the pretext of “solving the Eritrean problem.” Eritrean dignitaries, religious leaders, and government officials attended. The gathering ended with the creation of a so-called ‘Peace Committee’, tasked with ending the war between Ethiopian forces and the rebels by initiating talks.

The committee — led by Degiat Gebreyohannes Tesfamariam and including High Court judge Gebrekidan Tessema, Lt. Colonel Gebrezghi Meharena (Deputy Police Commissioner in Eritrea), and Tesfamichael Giorjo (then Dekemhare District Administrator) — soon reached out to a splinter group of ELF fighters stationed in Ala, Dekemhare District.

Letters of invitation were sent, and the fighters, among them Isaias Afwerki, Solomon Woldemariam, Habtesellasie Gebremedhin, Woldenchael Haile, Berkhi Negusse, and others, agreed to meet. Two rounds of discussions took place on December 7 and December 14, 1969. Not all in the Ala group welcomed the talks — Abraham Tewolde, one of the fighters, firmly opposed any contact with Ethiopian officials.

According to information from some fighters related to Abraham and those in the surrounding area, Abraham stated that the ELF did not authorize them to talk to the Ethiopians. If any contacts were to be made, it had to be done with the concerned authorities in the ELF.

Download the English Version:

https://www.mediafire.com/file/dqgvdgbhgy7x7cg/Wedi+Girjo+New+Revelations+English.pdf/file

Tigrinya Audio version: New Details on The Shadow Network: Isaias, Ethiopian Authorities, and the CIA 1969 ርክባት እስያስ