Gabre Heard[1] or Gebre Heard, (né Gebregziabher Alemseged Abraha,[2][3] nom de guerre "Butcher of Mogadishu"), is a former Colonel in the Ethiopian National Defense Force, top party official of the Tigray People's Liberation Front, and the supreme commander of Ethiopian military forces in Somalia. He was in charge of military operations during the Ethiopian invasion and occupation of Somalia from 2006–2008, until his recall to Ethiopia following backlash from the Somali population for war crimes committed by forces under his command.[4] He was later accused of being responsible for war crimes in the Somali Region of Ethiopia.[5] During the Tigray War, the Ethiopian government accused Gabre of treason and issued a warrant for his arrest.[6]
General Gabre headed Ethiopian military operations for a significant part of the Ethiopian invasion and occupation of Somalia from 2006–2009. Though he is often referred to as 'General Gabre', he held the ENDF rank as Colonel.[4] He has been criticized for the Ethiopian military's indiscriminate use of heavy weapons in civilian areas, and the use of these weapons in retribution attacks on areas where insurgent forces are suspected to be operating, following attacks on Ethiopian forces. Many of Gabre Heard's critics have given him the nom de guerre "Butcher of Mogadishu." He came to be a powerful figure in Somali politics [5] On 12 August 2008, General Gabre and an unnamed colonel were relieved of command and recalled to Ethiopia, in part for his failure to maintain order in Somalia, but also due to suspected killing and displacement of thousands of Somali civilians by his forces, and rumors of being involved in various financial scandals, which including blackmailing the Somali president, prime minister and various Somali businessmen.[7]
During the tenure of President Farmaajo in 2017, the Somali government formally requested the Ethiopian government remove Gabre from being in charge of Ethiopian affairs of Somalia.[8] In 2018, Gabre was arrested by Ethiopian police to face charges for war crimes in the Somali Region (aka Ogaden). The year he was also dismissed from the IGAD. After complaints from Somali leaders about political interference.[5][9] At the start of the Tigray War during November 2020, the Ethiopian government accused Gabre of treason and issued a warrant for his arrest.[6]
References
edit- ^ General Gabre Heard, Photo[permanent dead link]
- ^ Somaliinfo (2018-11-16). "Col. Gebre arrested for human rights abuse in Somalia". Somali Info. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ "Ethiopia: Col. Gebregziabher Alemseged "Gen. Gebre" arrested as search continues on corruption suspects – The Ethiopian Satellite Television and Radio (ESAT)". ethsat.com. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ a b "Ethiopia: Arrest Warrant Issued For War Criminal General Gebre". Geeska Afrika. 18 Nov 2020. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
- ^ a b c "Ethiopia arrests notorious army colonel over suspicion of war crimes". Hiiraan Online. 16 Nov 2018. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
- ^ a b Zelalem, Zecharias (24 Nov 2020). "Ethiopian army castaways may expand TPLF's fight past Mekelle". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
- ^ "Woyanne’s general recalled - Afor News", Abugida information center website (accessed 25 September 2009)
- ^ Online, Caasimada (2017-06-16). "Gabre oo la ceyriyey iyo qaar kamid ah codsiyadii Farmaajo ee Ethiopia oo la fuliyay". Retrieved 2024-06-27.
- ^ "Col. Gabre dismissed from IGAD". Hiiraan Online. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
