State-Building/State-Destroying in Ethiopia – A Backdrop to the Tigray Genocide

Federalist Tigray and unitarian Amhara have been historical rivals in the daunting task of state-building Ethiopia. To neutralize its de facto federalism (1872–89), found a formidable ally Italy, which colluded with Britian to “a place sun.” rewarded Italy half Tigray, was christened “Eritrea,” imposed system country. Worse still, middle 1950s, annexed western southern parts Tigray. Eritrea (which returned Ethiopia 1952) were suffocated by amharanization political centralization, twin pillars system. Military insurgencies brought an end 1991 Tigrayans who assumed reins power introduced jure federalism, chagrin Amhara. The paper offers critical analysis state-destroying Ethiopia, particular attention given return 2018 humanity’s newest genocide