Che -Guevara to be honest, what we are seeing the long decline of the colonial empire that Menelik created. A nation with no common historical narrative. The Amhara neftegna nationalists and afro-centrist have long presented a historical narrative that Ethiopia was "never colonised". They often potrayed Ethiopia as a isolated nation and note "Ethiopia" or Ityopia was name taken by Haile Seleassie to tone down the the ethnic meaning of the true name of Ethiopia essentially Abyssinia. Oromo professor like Mohammed Hassen, and even Western ones uncovered documents during the Berlin conferance that Russia with its orthodox church strong warned western nations not to interfere with with Abyssinia (Amhara region). Indeed Russia had an ambassador and vice verse. Another point is that the concept of the colonialism explained by Fanon. was a way of civilising black savages. The christian church in western nations and the European nations that strong economical intrests had to have strong rational reasons to colonise the world. In a nutshell the word colonising was "peace making efforts, civiling, missionary" etc. These the ket concepts according to the Ethiopianist professors Mohammed Hassan and Plem saved Ethiopia. Nobody has intrested in the mountainous regions of the Amhara and Menelik who did not even controll the muslim sultanates pf Massawa gave them away to the italians as they were "savages". When the europeans power divided Africa they essentially made so that they controlled key sea routes. Somalia was key strategic countrey. Professor Mohammed Hassan continues that the Russian Emperor sent 2 million moden wellington rifles to Ethipia and sent 200 technicians to Ethiopia. The Amhara unlike the Somalis do not have clans but they do have social stratification system. The Amhara iron welders learned how to make the bullets and etc etc. While the Italian army campaign t Adwa was led by Italian officers and italian soldiers the bulk of the army were black colonised eritreans and some somalis called "Askaris". The italians were equipped with older versions then the wellingtin rifles. Menelik launched war against other Amhara warlords and once they were destroyed He reestablished Abyssinia but he did so by brutally invading Caruusha Oromo muslim sultanates, Harar, Afar. While the muslim world was in decile and the Ottomans were defending the gates of Istanbul in the galipolis in the 1918 poor muslim low landers had no one to ask. According to the Professor Muhammed Hassan Meneleik gave a decree to cut of the breast of of ever one of 1 oromo women as punishment. So why the long the history lesson? Mengistu who according to me was true communist unlike our Siyaad, demolished the feudal Ethiopian society and made Ethiopia secular. By severing the orthodox chuch with state. He had un-intentionally deleted the glew that attached oromo orthodox christians that were forced to convert to orthodox coptic christianity. Mengistu fully understood that as an Amhara if he discussed the marxist concept of nation and nationalities minioritythe countrey would be dis-integration. In VOA interview made Mengistu said that the TPLF have balcanised Ethiopia. Like him or not the short baria Amxaaro Mengisu was shrewd and fully understood what was coming. The Second blow was the TPLF. By making yuguslavia ethnic federation they were essentialy preparing to rule Ethiopia as a by using the discord between the Amxaaro and Oromo. During their 30 years one of the main things that I think they did un-intentionally was strengthening the oromo nationalism. An oromo during Haile Selassie time would not say he was oromo. Times have changed. One other aspect is that Amxaaro that used to deny that Axmaaro as distinct ethnic group existed changed their views. They fully accepted the Amxaaro ethnic group. Mustafa cagjar might be more articulate then the electrician henchman Cabdi iley but both down are direct puppets selected by Addis Abeba. What Mustafa could do is strengthen Somali nationalism and create legitimate somali parties and hold elections. As soon as the honeymoon between Abey-Amxaaro and Amxaara region and the Oromo parties are over the war will come closer to Addis Abeba. The countrey is already in a fully fledged civil war. According to a friend of mine the TPLF is now direing weapons to oromo civilians and their satelilite channels have have become hutu-channel towards amxaaro. Their propogands is an having an affect. over 150 amxaaro coloniser settler neftegna were killed by an ofshoot to OLF. The vice prime minister called on Amxaaros arm themselves.!!!