Asaminew Tsige
{{Short description|Ethiopian general (1958/1959 – 2019)}}
{{Hatnote|This is an Ethiopian name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Asaminew.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Asaminew Tsige
| native_name = አሳምነው ጽጌ
| native_name_lang = Amharic
| image = Asaminew Tsige.jpg
| image_size =
| office1 = Chief of the Amhara Region security
| term_start1 = 2018
| term_end1 = 2019
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| nationality = Ethiopian
| birth_date = 1958/1959
| birth_place = Bugna, Wollo Province, Ethiopian Empire
| death_date = 24 June 2019
| death_cause = Gunshot wounds to the head
| party = Amhara Democratic Party
| otherparty = Ginbot 7
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| battles = Eritrean–Ethiopian War
| branch = {{army|Ethiopia}}
| allegiance = {{flagu|Ethiopia}}
}}
Brigadier General Asaminew Tsige ({{langx|Gez|አሳምነው ጽጌ}}; 1958/1959 – 24 June 2019) was an Ethiopian military officer who served as chief of the regional security forces in the Amhara Region during part of 2019. He had previously been serving a life sentence in relation to an alleged coup attempt staged by Ginbot 7. During his imprisonment, he was allegedly tortured and lost sight in one eye.{{cite news |last=Shay |first=Caitlin |title=Ethiopian Court Sentences 33 Opposition Members to Life Sentences and Five Leaders to Death |url=http://hrbrief.org/2010/01/ethiopian-court-sentences-33-opposition-members-to-life-sentences-and-five-leaders-to-death-2/ |access-date=23 June 2019 |work=Human Rights Brief |date=20 January 2010 |publisher=American University, Washington College of Law}} He was released in 2018 and restored to his prior rank and pension.{{cite news |title=Ethiopia: Army and Intelligence Chiefs Replaced |url=https://www.tesfanews.net/ethiopia-army-intelligence-chiefs-replaced/ |access-date=23 June 2019 |work=Tesfa News |date=8 June 2018}}
Biography
Asaminew was part of the Amhara ethnic group, which is Ethiopia's second largest ethnic group. He had been known for his hardline ethnic nationalism and was particularly popular among a segment of the Amhara youth.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48743081|title=Ethiopia 'coup ringleader killed'|date=2019-06-25|access-date=2019-07-02|language=en-GB}} After his release from prison and appointment to a government post, he advocated for more autonomy for Amhara and called members of his ethnic group to arm themselves and join local militias.{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/africa_analysts-unsure-why-general-killed-amhara-region-president/6170584.html|title=Analysts Unsure Why General Killed Amhara Region President|last=Solomon|first=Salem|date=25 June 2019|website=Voice of America|language=en|access-date=2019-07-02}} The International Crisis Group said his activities helped the rise of the National Movement of Amhara (NaMA), which emerged as a challenger to the Amhara Democratic Party (ADP). NaMA was established before the coming of Gen. Asaminew to the government power.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chronicle.co.zw/ethiopia-on-edge-in-ethnic-heartland-of-coup-leader/|title=Ethiopia on edge in ethnic heartland of 'coup leader'|last=AFP|date=30 June 2019|website=The Chronicle|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-02}}
Asaminew was accused of being behind an alleged attempted coup in the Amhara Region in 2019. The President of Amhara region Ambachew Mekonnen was killed during the alleged attempt. In a related event, the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force, Gen. Se'are Mekonnen, and his aide, Maj. Gen. Gizae Aberra, were assassinated by a bodyguard, the office of Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed said.{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/ethiopia-army-chief-staff-shot-regional-coup-attempt-190623051059851.html |title=Ethiopia's Amhara state chief killed amid regional coup attempt |date=23 June 2019 |work=Al Jazeera News |access-date=24 June 2019 |publisher=Al Jazeera Media Network}} Se'are and Ambachew were close allies of the prime minister. Following the alleged attempted coup, he was on the run, with his whereabouts unknown,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-48743081 |title=Ethiopia Amhara 'coup ringleader on the run' |work=BBC News Online |access-date=24 June 2019 |date=24 June 2019 |publisher=BBC Online |agency=BBC}} until he was shot dead by police on 24 June, after 36 hours at large, Ethiopian state television announced.{{Cite web|url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/africa/1561381510-ethiopian-coup-mastermind-shot-dead-after-36-hour-manhunt|title=Alleged Ethiopian coup mastermind shot dead after 36-hour manhunt|website=i24 News|access-date=24 June 2019}}