19/05/2025
Opinion from Mack Ard
History
The Letter Kerubino Penned To Mengistiu Haile Mariam, And Which Led To His Arrest And Detention
Top Secret
1987
Comrade Mengistiu Haile Mariam
Chairman of the Provisional Military & Administrative Council
Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army of Ethiopia & Secretary General of the Workers Party of Ethiopia.
Subject: Memo on SPLM/SPLA current problems
At the very inception of the Movement, we unanimously agreed that Comrade Col. Dr. John Garang be the Chairman of the SPLM and Commander-in-Chief of SPLA. We all vowed to follow the socialist path of development (see the SPLM Manifesto). We also agreed to exercise the concept of collective leadership. As trusted friends and Comrades, I have to painstakingly tell you that these days I am in serious conflict with comrade Col. Dr. John Garang of how the affairs of the Movement are being single handedly run by him.
Comrade Col. Dr. John has seriously deviated from the most basic and important principles which we initially agreed upon at the formation SPLM/SPLA. Our points of conflict are hereby summarized below as follows:
a. Absence of collective leadership;
b. Absence of structures;
c. Lack of ideological and revolutionary direction.
Explanations
1. Lack of Ideology and Revolutionary Direction
From the daily practices of our Chairman it is apparently clear that there is serious deviation in the chosen socialist path of development. This is reflected by the pe*******on of the SPLM by imperialist intelligence agents, opportunism in the diplomatic field, promoting reactionary tendency with SPLM/SPLA in command structure and appointments, selling of secrets to foreign agencies, disregard of the manifesto, hostility to scientific ideology, etc.
2. Decision-making
Collective decision making of the members of High Command is our basic principle. But unfortunately Comrade Col. Dr. John has thrown these in the waste basket. He is single handedly doing almost everything in the Movement e.g. selection of cadres for political, military and other technical courses, foreign affairs, promotions, formation of committees, etc.
3. Internal Rules and Regulations
I have been consistently requesting our Chairman of the establishment of internal rules and regulations to regulate the functions, responsibilities and accountability of the members of High Command. This was and is purposely suppressed by the Chairman to give himself free hand to do things as he likes without accountability.
4. Quarterly Meetings of the Members of High Command
Since the formation of the SPLM/SPLA the five members of the High Command rarely meet. They only meet when it pleases the Chairman. As a revolutionary Movement there is no need of self-regression of the Movement. Our Chairman, knowing that he had deviated, does not want to meet the five members of the High Command, leave alone alternate members. Worst of all, he always practices the policy of pitting one member of the High Command against the other in.e. the policy of divide and rule.
5. Appointment to High Command
Chairman alone appoints the members of High Command without consultation or agreement of the rest of the members of High Command. Central issue is that he is building a personality cult, by appointing people who can support him to push through his own ideas/interests, a fact rejected by the principles of socialism.
6. Committees
There are no committees with prescribed powers and functions, and if any, they were only formed by the Chairman. Definitely, such committees will only serve the interests of the person who formed them. Good example is the Trade and Economic Commission which his relative Lt. Col. Elijah Malok, who was bitterly opposed to the uprising of this very revolution which fruits he is enjoying at this early stage. In a revolutionary movement like ours, we are supposed to have committees like financial to cater for our finances, security committee, foreign affairs committee, education committee, technical committee for the selection of cadres to various courses, etc.
7. Distribution of Military Equipment/Development
It has been the practice of the Chairman to distribute ammos, shells and other military equipment to his interest. Also the recent one-man no system organization creating axis of command has reflected perfectly the intentions of our Chairman. His Axis has been most favored in terms of military equipment, armament and deployment of forces. Other Axises despite of the sizes and the prevalent dangers, were poorly equipped and with limited forces. The intention is to reflect that other members of the High Command have failed to achieve successes and his were his were the only successful ones. This selfishness does not serve the purpose of this Revolutionary was founded for.
8. Equally
Despite the fact that we are fighting to establish a democratic system in the Sudan whereby equality and justice are the right of every individual, it is absurd that comrade Chairman still displays the act of favoritism, nepotism and tribalism. Most of the people whom he chooses to go for courses are hand-picked, based either on blood relation or association. Another example is that recently one of his close relatives, Lt. Col. Elijah Malok Aleng, committed a crime and disobeyed my orders. Consequently I ordered his arrest. Without the same, the Chairman intervened and turned down my order. This is a stranger to a revolutionary spirit. A revolutionary is supposed to fight against all evils of favoritism, nepotism and tribalism.
9. Finance
It is only comrade Chairman who knows the funds of the Movement. He is the only signatory to the accounts of SPLM/SPLA. He disposes these funds and no financial reports for the consumption of the five members of the High Command at least, and nobody is held accountable for the misuse of funds. He is not even disclosing the sources of the funds to five members of the High Command.
10. Relationship with the Socialist Ethiopia
Without any doubt all the SPLM members have great allegiance to the people of Ethiopia. Our policy towards our Ethiopian friends is not to interfere in their internal affairs and vice versa and our adherence to the policy of mutual respect. The Ethiopian people have done so much for us and we should therefore be grateful rather than making malicious policies geared to destroy their system and the revolutionary spirit they had exerted to make the SPLM a success.
End!
