Episode 45: Ethiopia at War w/ Hassan
Episode 45: Ethiopia at War w/ Hassan  
Podcast: Turbulence
Published On: Fri Oct 30 2026
Description: Hassan joins us to discuss the making of the modern Ethiopian state, the revolutionary struggles that overthrew the monarchy and the Derg, the rise and fall of TPLF rule, and Abiy Ahmed’s drive toward another war with Eritrea.Works mentioned: American UtopiaAcronym Guide:TPLF — Tigray People’s Liberation Front: Former guerrilla movement that led the coalition governing Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018.EPLF — Eritrean People’s Liberation Front: Movement that led Eritrea’s struggle for independence and took power in 1991.ELF — Eritrean Liberation Front: Earlier Eritrean independence movement, eventually displaced by the EPLF.EPRDF — Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front: TPLF-led ruling coalition that governed Ethiopia from 1991 until its dissolution in 2019.EPRP — Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party: Marxist revolutionary organization that opposed the Derg military regime.AESM (MEISON) — All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement: Marxist organization that initially supported the Derg before being violently suppressed.OLF — Oromo Liberation Front: Oromo nationalist movement advocating self-determination.OPDO — Oromo People’s Democratic Organization: Oromo constituent party of the EPRDF, later renamed the Oromo Democratic Party.OLA — Oromo Liberation Army: Armed Oromo nationalist insurgent organization.ONLF — Ogaden National Liberation Front: Somali nationalist movement seeking self-determination for Ethiopia’s Somali Region.ENDF — Ethiopian National Defense Forces: Ethiopia’s federal military.To support Palestinians in Gaza, consider donating through The Sameer Project.For $5 a month, paid subscribers gain access to weekly news analysis bonus episodes, where we respond to events as they unfold, follow up on previous discussions, and draw connections across the conflicts shaping our world.Most importantly, paid subscriptions make it possible for us to keep doing this work independently, week after week.Subscribe today at turbulencepod.substack.comFollow along on Twitter/X and Instagram @turbulence_podTheme: Eye for an Eye, Haram (2017)Art: Vivek VenkatramanResearcher: KC This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit turbulencepod.substack.com/subscribe