#AbiyMustGo#Ethiopia

“I WILL GO TO THE US EMBASSY AND BURN THEIR FLAG” — Andargachew Tsige 

Andargachew Tsige is a close associate of Abiy Ahmed and Isayas Afeworki of Eritrea. He spent a few years around 2007-2014 representing Amhara Armed Struggle operating from Eritrea and supported by Isayas Afeworki against the former regime of Ethiopia- a political goal that currently unites Isayas, Abiy and Tsige [and his likes]

Now, as the US and Europe tightens their diplomatic clouts against Abiy because of the allegations of the war crime and crimes against Humanity in Tigray and Oromia, Tsige and his comrades are openly and in public are pledging to burn US flags in front of US embassy as a warning to what he calls is “America the thief.” 

While I am a big fan of freedom of expression globally, but, I also accept the view that such freedom shall not be used to threaten foreign nationals or their diplomatic premises and consular officers. This is a no go zone simply because of the global public order and security.

Tsige’s statement shouldn’t be simply seen as falling within the legitimate boundary of freedom of expression as we know it under the first amendment doctrine. 

Also, you just don’t need Tinker or Hazelwood or Morse’s legal framework to understand that Tsige’s statement is serious and consequential. You can easily tell that violence is expressly implicated in his call for flag burning.

First Amendment’s free speech is not seen as a carte blanch either. To begin with, Tsige doesn’t have the privilege to invoke US’s First Amendment whatsoever as the constitution doesn’t afford him any guarantee extra-territorially. I don’t think he is an American naturalized immigrant who returned to his county of origins. But he is British tho. 

Today, as Tsige utters an irresponsible speech with a serious implication of violence against the US Embassy in Ethiopia, one wonders nothing but the mentorship and fatherly role Isayas Afeworki of Eritrea is effectively displaying for Tsige and Abiy Ahmed. 

Afeworki’s vendetta and animosity with the US is now rubbing off to Ethiopian government. You just can’t be receiving USD 854 million in aid from US and then pledging to violently burn US flags in front of the US embassy in Addis. 

no no!

Video cred: SM