The Labour League (Amharic: የወዛደር ሊግ), generally known by its Amharic name Waz (Amharic: ወዝ) or the hybrid name Waz League (Amharic: ወዝ ሊግ), was a Marxist organization in Ethiopia active between 1975 and 1979, allied with the Derg military junta.[1][2][3] Waz League was founded by Dr. Sennai Likkay, a veteran leader of the student movement (graduate in chemical engineering in the United States and former president of the Ethiopian Students Union of North America).[1][4]
The Waz League claimed a working-class base and shared the populist tendencies of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party.[5] The programme of the Waz League was published in April 1976.[4] Regarding the national question, Waz argued in favour of a regional autonomy formula.[6]
However, relations between the Derg and the Waz League went sour. Mengistu began to allege that individuals of the Waz League were working against the revolution. In the second half of 1978 suspicions were raised that the Waz League had infiltrated Seded and come to occupy leading posts in Seded. It was, however, unlikely that the Waz League would have been able to penetrate the inner circle of military leaders of Seded.[7]
Following the break between the Derg and the Waz League, the Waz League was purged.[11] During the purge, the Waz League was denounced as 'Maoist' by the Derg.[12] On July 10, 1978, Berhane Meskel (captured in Mehaberete) and other Waz League leaders were executed.[13] However whilst some Waz League leaders were killed, others were promoted for supposedly having helped uncover the infiltration plot.[7]
Several former members of the Waz League later became prominent Workers Party of Ethiopia leaders.[1] Shimelis Mazengia, Mengistu's speech writer and credited with invention many Amharic versions of Marxist terminology, was a former Waz League activist.[14] The Workers Party of Ethiopia politburo had three former Waz League members; Shimelis Mazengia, Shewandagne Belete (a former POMOA member) and Fasika Sidelil. Two other prominent ex-Waz League figures were Maj Girma Neway (a senior police officer) and Roberto Gigano.[15]
Referencesedit
^ abcdClapham Christopher. Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 54
^Clapham Christopher. Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. xvi
^Feyissa, Dereje. Playing Different Games: The Paradox of Anywaa and Nuer Identification Strategies in the Gambella Region, Ethiopia. New York: Berghahn Books, 2011. p. 140
^ abNortheast African Studies, Volume 13. 1991. p. 155
^Keller, Edmond J. Revolutionary Ethiopia: From Empire to People's Republic. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1991. p. 199
^Fessha, Yonatan Tesfaye. Ethnic Diversity and Federalism Constitution Making in South Africa and Ethiopia. Farnham: Ashgate, 2010. p. 170
^ abcdClapham Christopher. Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 66-69
^Harjinder Singh. Agricultural Problems in Ethiopia. Delhi, India: Gian Pub. House, 1987. p. 187
^Uhlig, Siegbert. Encyclopaedia Aethiopica 3 He - N. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2007. 668
^Eide, Øyvind M. Revolution and Religion in Ethiopia: A Study of Church and Politics with Special Reference to the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus 1974-1985. Uppsala: [Svenska institutet för missionsforskning], Univ, 1996. p. 180
^Clapham Christopher. Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 78
^Tadesse, Kiflu. Ethiopia Transformation and Conflict. Silver Spring, Md: K & S Distributors [u.a.], 1998. p. 244
^Clapham Christopher. Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 72
^Africa Contemporary Record: Annual Survey and Documents, 1984-1985. New York: Africana Pub, 1986. p. B-232
April 11, 2024
league, labour, league, amharic, የወዛደር, ሊግ, generally, known, amharic, name, amharic, ወዝ, hybrid, name, amharic, ወዝ, ሊግ, marxist, organization, ethiopia, active, between, 1975, 1979, allied, with, derg, military, junta, founded, sennai, likkay, veteran, leader. The Labour League Amharic የወዛደር ሊግ generally known by its Amharic name Waz Amharic ወዝ or the hybrid name Waz League Amharic ወዝ ሊግ was a Marxist organization in Ethiopia active between 1975 and 1979 allied with the Derg military junta 1 2 3 Waz League was founded by Dr Sennai Likkay a veteran leader of the student movement graduate in chemical engineering in the United States and former president of the Ethiopian Students Union of North America 1 4 Waz LeagueThe Labour LeagueFounderSennai LikkayFounded1975Dissolved1979IdeologyCommunismMarxist LeninismNational affiliationImaledihPolitics of EthiopiaPolitical partiesElectionsDescription editThe Waz League claimed a working class base and shared the populist tendencies of the Ethiopian People s Revolutionary Party 5 The programme of the Waz League was published in April 1976 4 Regarding the national question Waz argued in favour of a regional autonomy formula 6 Sennai Likkay served as vice chairman of the 15 member Central Committee of the Provisional Office for Mass Organizational Affairs POMOA 7 The Waz League supported the entry of the Seded the new political organization formed by Derg officers into POMOA as means of weakening influence of the All Ethiopia Socialist Movement Meison 7 On February 26 1977 the Waz League and four other organizations Meison Seded Echat and Malerid founded the Union of Ethiopian Marxist Leninist Organizations 8 9 10 Sennai Likkay was killed in a shoot out in the same month Teferi Banti was killed in the same incident 1 However relations between the Derg and the Waz League went sour Mengistu began to allege that individuals of the Waz League were working against the revolution In the second half of 1978 suspicions were raised that the Waz League had infiltrated Seded and come to occupy leading posts in Seded It was however unlikely that the Waz League would have been able to penetrate the inner circle of military leaders of Seded 7 Following the break between the Derg and the Waz League the Waz League was purged 11 During the purge the Waz League was denounced as Maoist by the Derg 12 On July 10 1978 Berhane Meskel captured in Mehaberete and other Waz League leaders were executed 13 However whilst some Waz League leaders were killed others were promoted for supposedly having helped uncover the infiltration plot 7 Several former members of the Waz League later became prominent Workers Party of Ethiopia leaders 1 Shimelis Mazengia Mengistu s speech writer and credited with invention many Amharic versions of Marxist terminology was a former Waz League activist 14 The Workers Party of Ethiopia politburo had three former Waz League members Shimelis Mazengia Shewandagne Belete a former POMOA member and Fasika Sidelil Two other prominent ex Waz League figures were Maj Girma Neway a senior police officer and Roberto Gigano 15 References edit a b c d Clapham Christopher Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1988 p 54 Clapham Christopher Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1988 p xvi Feyissa Dereje Playing Different Games The Paradox of Anywaa and Nuer Identification Strategies in the Gambella Region Ethiopia New York Berghahn Books 2011 p 140 a b Northeast African Studies Volume 13 1991 p 155 Keller Edmond J Revolutionary Ethiopia From Empire to People s Republic Bloomington Indiana University Press 1991 p 199 Fessha Yonatan Tesfaye Ethnic Diversity and Federalism Constitution Making in South Africa and Ethiopia Farnham Ashgate 2010 p 170 a b c d Clapham Christopher Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1988 p 66 69 Harjinder Singh Agricultural Problems in Ethiopia Delhi India Gian Pub House 1987 p 187 Uhlig Siegbert Encyclopaedia Aethiopica 3 He N Wiesbaden Harrassowitz 2007 668 Eide Oyvind M Revolution and Religion in Ethiopia A Study of Church and Politics with Special Reference to the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus 1974 1985 Uppsala Svenska institutet for missionsforskning Univ 1996 p 180 Clapham Christopher Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1988 p 78 African studies review Volume 28 29 1985 p 9 Tadesse Kiflu Ethiopia Transformation and Conflict Silver Spring Md K amp S Distributors u a 1998 p 244 Clapham Christopher Transformation and Continuity in Revolutionary Ethiopia Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1988 p 72 Africa Contemporary Record Annual Survey and Documents 1984 1985 New York Africana Pub 1986 p B 232 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Waz League amp oldid 1194602402, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
