DeepSummary
The podcast episode features an interview with Fifi from Tigrayan Advocacy Canada, discussing the ongoing genocidal war being waged by the Ethiopian government against the Tigrayan people in the northern region of Tigray. Fifi provides historical context about the Tigrayan people and their rich cultural heritage, as well as the escalating tensions between the Tigrayan regional government and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's administration, which culminated in a declaration of war on Tigray on November 4, 2020.
The interview delves into the brutal tactics employed by the Ethiopian government and its allies, including the use of famine as a weapon, gender-based violence, massacres, and concentration camps, with the aim of eliminating the Tigrayan identity. Fifi also highlights the involvement of regional actors like Eritrea and the complicity of Western powers, particularly Canada, whose mining companies view the conflict as an opportunity to access Tigray's gold reserves.
Fifi emphasizes the urgent need for international intervention and pressure on the Canadian government to use its leverage as a major partner of Ethiopia to demand a ceasefire and ensure unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray. The episode underscores the lack of media coverage and global indifference towards the plight of the Tigrayan people, while calling for solidarity and advocacy efforts to bring an end to this ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Ethiopian government, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has been waging a genocidal war against the Tigrayan people in the northern region of Tigray since November 2020.
- The conflict has involved brutal tactics such as the use of famine as a weapon, gender-based violence, massacres, and the establishment of concentration camps, with the aim of eliminating the Tigrayan identity.
- Regional actors like Eritrea and foreign powers like the United Arab Emirates and Turkey have been complicit in supporting the Ethiopian government's campaign against Tigray.
- Canada has remained largely silent on the atrocities due to its economic interests in the region, as Canadian mining companies view the conflict as an opportunity to access Tigray's gold reserves.
- There is an urgent need for international intervention and pressure on the Canadian government to use its leverage as a major partner of Ethiopia to demand a ceasefire and ensure unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray.
- The lack of media coverage and global indifference towards the plight of the Tigrayan people has exacerbated the crisis, highlighting the need for solidarity and advocacy efforts to bring an end to this ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
- The conflict has deep historical roots in the tensions between the Tigrayan regional government and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's administration, which sought to consolidate power and undermine the autonomy of the Tigrayan people.
- The Tigrayan people have a rich cultural heritage and historical significance, making the erasure of their identity through genocide even more tragic and unacceptable.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “So Tigray is a small region in the northernmost part of Ethiopia, which is a state in eastern Africa. It's home to an estimated six to 7 million people, which represents about 6% of the total ethiopian population.“ by Fifi
- “We saw this active campaign not only against the tigrayan leadership, which had been part of the coalition that ruled Ethiops since 1991, not the sole party, but a part of a four party coalition. So we saw these attacks against the tigrayan leadership, blaming them for all of the country's ills or giving them none of the credits for all of the good things that had been achieved.“ by Fifi
- “And so the fear here. Right. And the concern. And again, the picture that is emerging is that canadian silence around what the ethiopian government has done may have been motivated, in part, at least, by, a, the lobbying efforts, or b, the financial considerations of the canadian government itself.“ by Fifi
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Episode Information
The Red Review
Socialist Action
11/29/21
All the people who work on The Red Review live and work on stolen Indigenous lands across Turtle Island. There can be no reconciliation without restitution, which includes Land Back and seizing the assets of the major resource corporations and returning them to the commons.
In this bonus episode of The Red Review, brought to you by Socialist Action, Daniel interviews Fifi, a lead organizer with Tigrayan Advocacy Canada. Fifi is a graduate student in the field of international political economy. Her research focuses on the political economy of development and urbanization in the African context
For over a year, the Ethiopian State, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, wages a genocidal campaign against the Tigrayan people. While the Ethiopian State weaponizes famine, gender- and sexual-based violence, massacres, and concentration camps to eliminate Tigrayan people, the Canadian State remains silent on the conduct of its diplomatic and economic partner. Worse, Canadian mining companies are treating the current war as an opportunity — a 'bonanza' — to secure access to gold deposits in Tigray.
You can reach Tigrayan Advocacy Canada at tigrayadvocacy[at]gmail.com
Links:
Article: "Canada and the war on Tigray"
Article: "Message to Trudeau: Stop Canada’s support for the war on Tigray"
Twitter: Tigrayan Advocacy Canada
Website: Omna Tigray
Website: Stand With Tigray
Website: Mining Watch Canada
Website: Canadian Foreign Policy Institute