Tefera Mamo Explained

Honorific Prefix:Brigadier General
Tefera Mamo
Native Name:ተፈራ ማሞ
Native Name Lang:am
Birth Place:Lalibela, North Wollo, Ethiopia
Allegiance: ENDF
Branch:Ethiopian Ground Forces
Serviceyears:1980s–present
Unit:Amhara Regional Special Force
Battles:Ethiopian Civil War
Tigray War
War in Amhara

Brigadier General Tefera Mamo (Amharic: ተፈራ ማሞ) is an Ethiopian military officer who was subjected to multiple imprisonments during the EPRDF and then the Prosperity Party regime.

Tefera has served the Ethiopian army from the Ethiopian Civil War, and became vocal supporter of Amhara people rights due to their prejudice in the Ethiopian politics. After prime minister Abiy Ahmed came to power, Tefera was appointed as the commander of the Amhara Regional Special Force by the then Amhara Region president Agegnehu Teshager in July 2021. Tefera vowed to join Fano militia after the war in Amhara broke out in 2023.

Life and career

Brigadier General Tefera Mamo was born in Lalibela in Wollo Province.[1] During the Ethiopian Civil War, Tefera joined the TPLF army to combat the Derg regime and subsequently served in the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) during EPRDF government. While there, Tefera has been subjected to arrest by TPLF officials for alleged coup against prime minister Meles Zenawi. He was vocal critic of Amhara persecution in Ethiopia during TPLF rule. During Abiy Ahmed premiership, Tefera's charge was pardoned in 2018 as a result of Abiy's political reforms.[2]

In July 2021, the then Amhara Region president Agegnehu Teshager named Tefera as the commander of the Amhara Regional Special Force.[3] [4] [5] Tefera was disappeared from the public sight that was speculated due to leg injuries from gunshot wound and sought medical treatment abroad. On 18 May 2022, he was arrested by security force in Addis Ababa, possibly said to have been abducted, during interview with Feteh amidst crackdowns against Amhara people.[6] [7]

In June 2022, the Amhara Supreme Court released him from prison.[8] Amidst in the War in Amhara, on 1 July 2024, Tefera made speech in a video footage declaring his allegiance to Fano and called Amhara and its supporters to mobilize with the group.[9] [10]

References

  1. Web site: 2024-11-16 . ETHIOPIA : Tefera Mamo - 02/05/2009 - The Indian Ocean Newsletter . 2024-11-16 . Africa Intelligence . en.
  2. Web site: 2024-07-03 . Menen Haile Arrested by Abiy Ahmed's Government: A Closer Look at the Controversial Crackdown . 2024-11-16 . en-US.
  3. Web site: Admin . 2021-07-21 . General Tefera Mamo named commander of Amhara special forces . 2024-11-16 . Borkena Ethiopian News . en-US.
  4. Web site: Account . 2024-07-02 . General Tefera Mamo Joins Fano Forces: A New Chapter in the Struggle for Amhara Freedom . 2024-11-16 . Borkena Ethiopian News . en-US.
  5. Web site: Government prohibits former national defense army . 16 November 2024.
  6. Web site: Writer . Staff . 2024-07-02 . Breaking News: Former Amhara Special Forces and Ethiopian Defense Force Commander General Tefera Mamo Confirmed to Join Fano Resistance . 2024-11-16 . East African Review . en-US.
  7. Web site: Account . 2022-05-18 . Ethiopian General reportedly abducted in the capital Addis Ababa . 2024-11-16 . Borkena Ethiopian News . en-US.
  8. Web site: Account . 2022-06-12 . Tefera Mamo, abducted Ethiopian General, released . 2024-11-16 . Borkena Ethiopian News . en-US.
  9. Web site: Account . 2024-07-10 . General Tefera Mamo speaks from the wilderness . 2024-11-16 . Borkena Ethiopian News . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2024-07-01 . Breaking News: General Tefera Mamo Joins the Fano Movement . 2024-11-16 . en-US.