Ethiopia’s forever wars are lesson for Iran - opinion
Ethiopia’s experience of immense tragedy is a warning to those advocating similar ethnic-linguistic federalism for historically cohesive states, including Iran.
Ethiopia's tragic history serves as a stark warning to nations considering ethnic-linguistic federalism, particularly Iran. The Ethiopian experience demonstrates how this approach can lead to internal conflict, national disintegration, and the loss of strategic assets. After recognizing an ancient, unified civilization, the radical Marxist ideology of Ethiopia's Wallelign Mekonnen in the 1960s promoted the idea of "multi-nations" and secession rights, leading to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of an ethnic-linguistic federal system.
This system created rivalries between neighbors, expelled people based on ethnicity, and resulted in the creation of highly armed regional militias, with one group accounting for nearly 6% of the population. This exacerbated tensions and culminated in a devastating civil war that caused over 500,000 deaths between 2020 and 2022.
Furthermore, Ethiopia lost its coastline when Eritrea gained independence in 1993, creating a landlocked nation dependent on neighboring Djibouti for imports. The Somali region, which once enjoyed independence, later suffered under the oppressive rule of the central government, ultimately dissolving its union with southern Somalia and reasserting its sovereignty.
This historical account underscores the dangers of ethnic-linguistic federalism and the importance of unity in maintaining national security and stability.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- A look at how Ethiopia’s wars, sea ambitions and Nile dam fuel fears of wider conflict winnipegfreepress.com
