Ethiopia: Shabait tries to revise the history on how the Tigray Conflict started…

Sometimes it must be really boring to work for dictators and warlords, as one part of your job and detail is to make fiction into history lessons. That’s what is happening in the case of today’s published article or pieces of information from the Ministry of Information or the Shabait. That Eritrea wishes to this isn’t shocking or surprising. They just want to whitewash and ensure people believes their story. Alas, that doesn’t make it true or believable. As there are records out there proving another case. Which I published and the Addis Standard published in January of 2021. So a year and about half later. The Shabait hopes people are forgetful and can sprinkle some distorted lies over the matter.

No one should be shocked by this. That’s why it’s has to be proven and showed how it’s wrong. Yes, the tripartite alliance of Asmara, Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar wants to blame the leadership of Mekelle. That’s necessary as they need to perceived as vicious and calculated, in such a manner that the “Operation Law Enforcement” was needed to bring down the leadership of the TPLF. Therefore, texts like Shabait is to imprint that story. However, the more you repeat it doesn’t make true either.

Here is what was important in the Shabait story published today:

o The origins of the war, the TPLF’s sole culpability, as well as, the grave danger to regional peace and security that it posed were never ambiguous by any stretch of imagination.

o The fact is the TPLF launched pre-meditated, massive and coordinated attacks on all the positions of Ethiopia’s Northern Command on the night of November 3, 2020. TPLF wrongly believed that it could neutralize the Northern Command, and seize all its heavy weaponry which constituted 80% of Ethiopia’s total arsenal in its ‘blitzkrieg’.

o In launching its war of choice, the TPLF’s twin objectives were to seize power in Ethiopia and to pursue its hostile agenda “of territorial expansion” against Eritrea” (Shabait, 27.05.2022).

First off, the portrayal of the conflict triggered by the TPLF’s War of Insurrection was, and continues to be, distorted by crafting a new, fallacious narrative. To this day, the war continues to be described in neutral terms, and at times as if it was launched by the Ethiopian Federal Government, in virtually all main stream media outlets and in executive/legislative branches of most western governments. Indeed, the unanimity and “tunnel-vision” of western media outlets belie an over-arching US strategy that has evidently used all its networks and alliances to impose the “Revisionist Narrative”” (Shabait, 27.05.2022).

When you read this you start to wonder… could this be true? Is this the real story? Have I heard something else? Yes, you have and the stories of the ones involved ahead of the invasion of Tigray and the “Operation Law Enforcement” was well prepared. That was very clear and the planned forces was across the border to sooner or later invade.

That story I have told before… here is what I wrote back then and the sources I had, which is credible ones. Just read this part.

The Prime Minister Ahmed Ali Abiy and the whole Federal Government have blamed the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) for attacking and initiating the war. Alas, moving troops to the borders and deploying soldiers across the borders of Tigray. Shows, that the preparations happened way before time. Like some has speculated that the Prime Minister Abiy and President Afwerki had this planned already on the 12th October 2020.

This meeting has said to have done this: “President Isaias visited Ethiopia, during which he visited a number of projects, including a hydro-electric dam and coffee plantations. He also went to the Bishoftu air-base – home to the Ethiopian air force. Both leaders took time to see each other’s key military assets ahead of the current conflict.” (Martin Plaut – ‘Timeline: How the President Isaias – Prime Minister Abiy relationship developed’ 09.11.2020).

With the knowledge of that. The revelation of Adamu says a lot today.

Commissioner Abere Adamu said:

Because it is history let me tell you what happened during this time. At the time, Amhara region police and Temesgen [Tiruneh] who was the president of the Amhara Region, already knew that this thing was going to happen, especially TPLF’s preparation, as they were next door to us. Therefore we have already done our homework, and accordingly deployment of forces had taken place in our borders from east to west. The war started that night after we have already completed our preparations” (Addis Standard, 04.01.2021)” (Minbane – ‘Ethiopia: Tigray – The Army all prepared before the attack on the Northern Command’ 05.01.2021).

If you want more of this and a deeper insight to the statements. You can check the references directly. Some might be repetitive, but it will be deeper and more quotes from the likes of Abere Adamu who really told the story of it.

That the Shabait tries to rewrite the story shouldn’t be acceptable. However, everyone should have an ear to the ground and open eyes. As the ones who have waged this war and participated in the genocide. Wants the victims to be the problem and the reason for their own deaths. They don’t want to take responsibility of their part of the war and the start of it.

We should expect to see more of this. Don’t be shocked, but prove their wrong and rebuttal. Because, they trying to forge a narrative and make the victims of this conflict the villains. Which I have stated before, the TPLF has the ills of the past and had in their hay-day responsibility for dictatorship, violence and injustices, which they should answer for. However, this recent war… the tripartite alliance has more to answer for. They are the ENDF-EDF-FANO invasion of Tigray, which is blocked to this day. A war that is still adding pressure and pain, endless suffering and a famine. That is something the Shabait will not take the accountability for… Remember that. Peace.

Reference:

Addis Standard – ‘NEWS ANALYSIS: AMHARA REGION POLICE CHIEF REVEALS HOW REGION’S POLICE FORCE GUIDED FEDERAL STEEL-CLAD MECHANIZED FORCES TO JOIN “WAR” IN TIGRAY’ 04.01.2021 link: https://addisstandard.com/news-analysis-amhara-region-police-chief-reveals-how-regions-police-force-guided-federal-steel-clad-mechanized-forces-to-join-war-in-tigray/

Minbane – ‘Ethiopia: Tigray – The Army all prepared before the attack on the Northern Command’ 05.01.2021, link: https://minbane.wordpress.com/2021/01/05/https-wp-me-p1xtjg-fz0/

Shabait – ‘TPLF’s War of Insurrection: Fundamentals of the Conflict and Chronology of Events’ 27.05.2022, link: https://shabait.com/2022/05/27/tplfs-war-of-insurrection-fundamentals-of-the-conflict-and-chronology-of-events/

Ethiopia: Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals (GSTS) – On Africa Day- GSTS Calls All Africans to Say No to Genocide on Tigray (25.05.2022)

Opinion: Abiy needs to learn how to face the music…

In a letter to the magazine Mr Abiy’s office said they are ”dismayed” with the way he has been represented as well as the portrayal over who started the country’s civil war. It describes his depiction as a ”character assassination” and accuses it of echoing the narrative of the TPLF – the regional party that has been fighting federal troops in the north. It has requested the magazine give an explanation. There has been no immediate comment from publication” (Ameyu Etana – ‘Ethiopia unhappy over Abiy’s portrayal in Time 100 list’ 24.05.2022, BBC Afaan Oromoo).

We the ruler of Addis Ababa prefers to be seen in a favourable light. He prefers that people praises his every move and decision. That is how Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali wants it. The man is not used to scrutiny or real questioning of his office.

The wartime and warlord is used to get away with murder. The man of all seasons can burn every region of the Republic. While he goes to parties and rallies, if not having publicity stunts growing trees or green fields of magnificent crops. While the people are starving of lack of food, either by the humanitarian blocked in the North or drought in the South.

We know that Abiy wants to be the statesman and seen as a visionary. His supposed to be a reformist and a man of peace. That’s why he has opened the Ministry of Peace and signed a secretive agreement with Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki. Therefore, he wants to be seen as a man of change and someone of the future. Though he in reality bringing the vicious and sinister past to the now.

That the Time Magazine speaks it’s peace is all natural. Abiy haven’t delivered what he wanted or how he wants to be perceived. He wants to be seen as great and only in positive connotation. However, the reality is far from that.

The warfare in Tigray has exposed his means to an end of consolidating all power. Abiy wants to be the supreme leader and the ones who doesn’t follow him. They are possible targets, enemies or people who needs to be silenced. That’s why he has targeted and aimed at Tigray. The same has also happened in Ogaden and Oromia as well. There is no similar acts in Amhara too. So, nowhere there is peace or possibility for unity. As anyone can fall out of favour or suddenly have the tides turned against them.

That’s why so many people have been arrested, detained, tortured and killed by the authorities in the span of time his been in office. As well, as his latest election “victory” was hallow. That was a predetermined affair and why he “won” the majority. So, when he doesn’t want dissent or anything like that. It’s because he has no pushback in any office or in the chambers of power. They are all pre-selected people who he has vouched for and knows will work for his cause.

Abiy cannot mange critics or activists speaking ill of him. Neither can he manage journalists speaking the truth about his reign. He wants to be a king with a palace and a prosperous reign. While he has wrecked the economy and issued a war he cannot stop. The warfare will be prolonged and cause more havoc in the Republic. The deaths of the North will be the destruction of him. Either by the bullets or the man-made-famine. That’s who he is now and the imprint of his time in office.

Prime Minister Abiy might see himself as a hero, but to everyone seeing how his authorities and state is acting. However, he is a villain and has to address the bloodshed his caused. The deaths and unceremonial hurt he has caused. For generations the term “Medemer Terror” should be as significant as the “Red Terror” because that’s what he has brought to the world. Abiy might see himself as a saviour, but that is only to his soul, but not to the whole Republic. Far from it… Peace.

Opinion: The Ethiopian Herald Editorial continues with it’s vilification of Tigray

The Ethiopian Herald published today on the 22nd May 2022 an Editorial called “For half a century harping on the same string war”. It is about the humanitarian blockade and the reasons to keep it like that. This is a piece on how the regime of Addis Ababa defends it war in Tigray and the blockade, which it has had since November 2020.

This has been the best month of humanitarian assistance and the convoys have become more rapidly. The recent amount have been around 300 trucks in the recent, which is still a backdrop of the needs of the Tigray region. As the estimation earlier has been around a 100 trucks a day with humanitarian assistance to cover the needs and stop a famine. However, the state has ensured the utilities, electricity, telephone-lines, internet-blockage and everything else has been blocked. Just like the Federal Government had stopped sending over financial support to the Regional Government a year ahead of the conflict. So, it’s not like the Tigray had a head start, but the regime had already planned all of this.

The piece today starts as humble as this: “Nonstop beating the drum of war, prophesying a fake freedom garnished with all-rounded democracy, promising an Eldorado that evolves out of drought-ravaged, recurrent-drought-hit and conflict-torn Tigray, Terrorist TPLF was cannon foddering specially Tigrayan youths, the cream of the cake, in an unjust war” (Ethiopian Herald, 22.05.2022).

The unjust war is true, as the Tripartite Alliance had prepared for it in November 2020. They were awaiting orders and had prepared across the borders of Tigray. The allies could attack from Eritrea, Afar and Amhara region. The Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar and Asmara was all ready to attack the region. The mechanical divisions was there. Troops had been deployed across the border points and nothing was left to chance. Therefore, the writer in his assessment is blaming the victim of the recent war. Saying they are beating the drums of war. When the government and regime he defends are doing similar actions in Oromia and has done it Ogaden too. Therefore, it is grim when you vilify an enemy to this extent.

An unjust war… his right… and it’s not over either. As the stalemate are here and the FDRE seems to be preparing for another “offensive” as it has continued that in Oromia of late. When that ceases and the ENDF has new re-enforcement. We should anticipate another attack on the Tigray region.

The editorial continues: “TPLF tries to hypnotize Tigraian mothers sweet talking them about valorous sons they bless off to earthly hell. It has been doing this from its inception. Those in the top brass of the filth-besmirched party has pressed ahead with this heinous deed of optimizing self-interest using the feeble and the elderly as twigs in the hearths the latter warm their bodies with. What do they care?, for it is not they themselves that bear the brunt of the invited war. Like a rabid dog barking at and biting every neighbor as well as saber rattling TPLF leaders make the Tigraian people shunned neighbors in all directions. Sowing the seed of discord is craftiness they are adept at” (Ethiopian Herald, 22.05.2022).

These sorts of things we have heard and read before. In the way and manner of which the party of Tigray is swaying the mothers to send their sons to battle to die. You can see the hatred and vilification is extreme. When they are continuing to say it like this and spell out it. The rhetoric is disgusting and just shows how they are speaking of all Tigrayan. That’s why they are targeting the mothers… and says the TPLF is sending their sons to hell. As if they are hell-bound, but the endless conflict right now is all in the hands of the Federal Government and their allies. Because, that is still having control and have annexed Western Tigray. Therefore, the blame isn’t solely on Tigray, but on Asmara, Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa too.

The Editorial continues: “It channels the food-aid it garners towards its war machinery so as to lock Tigrayan people in never ending war. It quaffs in the bud democratic forces that labor to introduce a meaningful democracy there and guns down those swimming in the tide of the reform believed to turn the country around including Tigray. Above all it adores serving a Trojan Horse to quarters with a hidden motive of using Ethiopia a pushover. This shows it doesn’t have an iota of care to the people it claims it supports. Against this backdrop, terrorist TPLF heads are still dreaming waging war against neighboring Amhara and Afar States. They as well plan to lock horns with Eretria unmindful of the fact that it is madness with a human wave composed of toddlers, feeble and elderly and not well-trained youths to fight a mechanized army. This could be nothing than a military suicide. If this war flares up it will be catastrophic to people of Tigray that has been victims of terrorist TPLF’s follies” (Ethiopian Herald, 22.05.2022).

What is striking here… is that’s the editor and government friendly paper claims it’s the Tigrayan people fault that they need food-aid. That’s despicable, because this problem is caused by the humanitarian blockade. The lack of seedlings and peace-time to actually cultivate the fields of the region for whatever sort of produce or cereal it can. That’s why it’s really despicable of the regime to write this and say that the food-aid is giving life to war. When the aid is barely enough to stop the starvation of millions and end a man-made famine.

We know the Tigray Defence Force (TDF) attacked Afar region and also Amhara region, as they are bordering the region. Alas, the blockade gave them no choice and at one point. The TDF was getting close to Debre Berhan. So, yes that have attacked both areas, but the Federal Government together with their allies went in to destroy, rape, massacre and total takeover a region. Therefore, they opened up a can of worms and no one would know how this would end. Which is very clear that it isn’t and the ENDF is only buying time before it returns again it seems. While professing that if the TDF was to return… they would all be dead. Just like the earlier prophecies that North Wollo would be a death-trap as well. So, the ones that has been listening have heard the same before from the government friendly entities. Therefore, if the TDF was to retaliate after a new offensive. They might be able to take territories again. Just like they did last year.

The editorial ends with: “As the international community has been clamoring there has to be immediate help to famished people of Tigray,it as much has to cry foul that terrorist TPLF is plotting the carnage of the same blowing the bugles of war. Terrorist TPLF should be told in clear terms that it is all out to see to the annihilation of Tigrian people forced to jump into a fire like a wasp. Condoning this crime is nothing less than committing it. Philanthropist and honest journalists have to challenge the sadist TPLF leaders where have the trucks we dispatched to Mekle with food aid gone? Have you made yourself Lords of poverty out of the much-needed aid? Are you going to make us ill-famed by negative association with you? Academicians, who hail from the Tigrian ethnic group, are shedding light on the fact that TPLF is romanticizing the war. Also international, independent political researchers, in the true sense of the word, that put things separating the seed from the chaff are dragging to light the true picture of terrorist TPLF. A drastic change from war mongering, an entrenched culture of TPLF, is called for. Harping on war is outmoded and unprofitable business hence it has to be forestalled by all means” (Ethiopian Herald, 22.05.2022).

It is really weird that the ones who has been blocking humanitarian assistance, stopped government programs and ensured the impossibility to grow crops are blaming the TPLF. While also saying the International Community shouldn’t be concerned about the plights of the people of Tigray. Just like the IC is concerned with the drought in the Ogaden and the war-torn parts of Amhara and Afar region. Therefore, the ones who is writing this has no concern or care for the starving civilians. As they are implying that if they suddenly eat. They will have energy to wage war again. Like what sort of methodology is that and what sort of ideals doest the state have?

Calling Tigray the Lords of Poverty when the same government is misusing all finances and revenues on war and internal conflicts. A government that has mismanaged priorities and it’s helping it’s citizens. Either it’s buying lethal weapons or building up the ego of the Prime Minister. The state who is begging for funds to fund its development and programs. While it is spending more forex than it’s earning on warfare. That’s why the lords of poverty is residing and ruling in Addis Ababa. They are the ones that is creating the crisis and only making things worse.

The state never cared about the trucks in the past. Only now and they didn’t make it possible to return as there was no petrol and vehicles has a hard time to move without petrol. That should make sense to anyone. When the state is blocking it for months and not allowing petrol to get in. This makes it impossible to move or return. Did the Addis Ababa government and propaganda peddlers consider that vehicles needs petrol to move? Or is there is a magical component that the Prosperity Party has, which the rest of the world doesn’t have to make it possible?

The IC isn’t calling for war and the ones who wants peace. Didn’t want the Tripartite Alliance to attack the Tigray region in the first place in November 2020. However it did and the TDF has just retaliated. We knew the piece would never be fair or be correct with the details.

Still, it just remains to await the next step and what move the FDRE will do in the conflict. Alas, sooner or later we should anticipate further escalation at some point. That could easily come from the Tripartite Alliance. We don’t know that will be, but when their other “offensives” are over. They might return to Tigray to finalize their annihilation of the region. Peace.

United Nations – Central Emergency Response Fund (UN – CERF): 18 million people in the Sahel face severe hunger over the next three months (20.05.2022)

Ethiopia: Tigray External Affairs Office – Statement on outrageous and coordinated allegations of forceful mobilization in Tigray (17.05.2022)

Ethiopia: Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals (GSTS) – Urgent Appeal for Fertilizer, Seeds and Chemical Supply to the War-Torn Tigray of Ethiopia (16.05.2022)

Ethiopia: Shabait defends the humanitarian assistance blockade of the Tigray region…

Today, the leaders of Asmara or Eritrea Ministry of Information (Shabait) published an article called “New TPLF Military Maneuver – Why? And for what purpose?” where Eritrea defends their mission and continues the vilification of the Tigray region in the name of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). We know that the TPLF is a villain and a mortal enemy of the rulers of Asmara. They have fought over the Badme triangle and a bloody liberation war. Therefore, it is justified for Eritrea to claim some ills in the way the TPLF leadership did in the past. However, with time and withering of influence, the TPLF isn’t all that in 2022 and now Asmara is the villain instead.

They have been part of the Tripartite Alliance that invaded into the Tigray region to defeat and destroy TPLF, once and for all. The “Operation Law Enforcement” which was planned ahead of time. As the Federal Government had blocked budgets and government programs for Tigray region for some time ahead of invasion. Eritrea and Ethiopia was already in coordination about the warfare and the same was also the Amhara backers. They were all in it. So, it is interesting to reads these paragraphs from the Shabait in 2022.

The war has gone on and the humanitarian blockade in the Tigray region has caused a famine, starvation and existential crisis. The humanitarian blockade has silently taken lives and ensured the next season of crops not to grow on time. The Tigray region will be hurt for a long time and the lack of basic commodities will be detrimental for months. As there been 9 million who needed food aid and other basic services, which haven’t been accessible. Eritrea is now supporting this and instead of thinking of the civilians of Tigray. The Eritrean government would have preferred that they just dies.

Read it here:

In the Horn of Africa, the plan is to suppress the ray of peace and cooperation that emerged in 2018 and return the entire region to the chaos, instability and divisions they cause. The Western powers that are the TPLF’s mercenaries may not fully agree with these TPLF cliff-faced extremist and destructive goals. But since their undoubted desire is that their faithful servant, the tyrant, will continue to survive, it is clear that the TPLF’s plot has their blessing and support. They are rushing to deliver grain, medicine, fuel and other supplies in the name of relief before the war starts. We Eritreans – the people and the government – have never longed for war in our history. However, we have the right, national and human duty guaranteed by international law to defend our existence, freedom, sovereignty and dignity” (Shabait, 17.05.2022).

The Eritrean government is directly blaming the West and the donor nations for the World Food Programme and other United Nations Organizations to feed the starving, the ones who lack nutrition and who has not had food security for months. The movements of trucks and added convoys of humanitarian trucks is helping. Though it has been in small scales, but everything is better than nothing. While there is millions of people who are in need and in danger of dying. That should concern someone with a heart, but apparently that’s too much to ask from Asmara.

Asmara rather see Mekelle fall and every zone of Tigray left in rubble. Eritrea rather see every single Tigrayan suffer a pitiful death and silently die without food in their belly for months. That is what the Eritrean government wants for the Tigray region. This is really ruthless and heartless, it shows what Asmara is willing to do. They don’t care the innocent, the civilians or the non-combatants of Tigray. Everyone there is an enemy and deserve to suffer the consequences of it’s leadership. That is the message and the ones delivering aid is strengthening the TPLF and it’s war-effort. It is not saving lives and giving basic commodities to a people in need.

Only Eritrea has a right to freedom, sovereignty and dignity, Tigray on the other hand has no such rights. As they are not supposed to get food, shelter or nurture their wounds after months on end with conflict and humanitarian blockade, which has resulted in a destruction of the agricultural sector and destroyed all food security of the region.

Eritrea just shows what it is willing to do. As a way of defending their involvement in the war in Tigray. The ones believing that Eritrea has any sort of goodwill or concern for Tigray. Well, you are lying to yourself. A text like this just proves that and it’s grim. Because, the Eritrean have invaded, taken control of territory and done vicious war-crimes in Tigray. The massacres of Western Tigray and elsewhere is a proof of that.

Now, we know that the Eritrean government also defends a humanitarian blockade of the Tigray region. If that doesn’t send you chills down your spine. I don’t know what does, as a partner in the crimes of this war. They are vital for Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar who has done whatever it could to destroy and annihilate the Tigray region. Peace.

Ethiopia: Reports of Eritrean Forces attacking the Tigray region on two fronts now

The illegal government led by Fascist Abiy Ahmed Ali has opened a war in all directions. We have started a war in all directions to end it in a short time. We urge all peaceful people not to get involved in this war” (Agew Liberation Front, 09.05.2022).

And yet another conflict erupted between Eritrea and Tigray forces, at least on 2 fronts, Badme, and Rama. An exchange of heavy artillery continued for more than 6 hours on Sunday, 8 May” (Radio Erena, 09.05.2022).

The Tigray Media Network has today reported that Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) has entered Rama and fought at the border point of Rama. While the EDF has attacked from a second front at Badme as well. There been reports of 30,000 EDF soldiers around Rama, but already a loss of a 1000 EDF soldiers in Badme.

The Badme Triangle is already heavy contested and we know the Asmara wants their claims on this. That has been fought over for years and this is persistent with that. It has also been seen of late that Ethiopian Prime Minster Abiy been at gatherings and in public with the armed forces. As there been speculations of a return of these into the Tigray region.

There also unverified information that the Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano” has been re-directed and deployed outside the border regions of Amhara. In such a way for the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) to prepare for a new offensive. However, this is yet to be speculation.

While we know the Fano and EDF has continued to violate and continued their operation in Western Tigray, which they never left. In the meantime the Tigray Defence Forces has retreated from the Afar region and Amhara region, as stipulated by the Humanitarian Truce. However, the humanitarian organization and convoys has not come on the regular. There has only been 6 small consignments or convoys, which is barely enough to run the basic needs of the war-torn region. Therefore, everything is up for grabs, as the man-made famine and starvation is a persistent feature of the conflict.

If the EDF gets a foothold and ability to retake grounds. Then the Badme triangle could get annexed again and secondly the route to Adwa could be opened for them. However, that is only speculation. Just like the ENDF targeting the Tigray region from North Wollo and Amhara region. Time will only tell at this point, but this conflict seems to be far from over. As the humanitarian truce was only decreed to have time to rebuild and later destroy. Peace.

South Sudan: United Nations releases US$19 million to help people in South Sudan prepare for severe flooding (07.05.2022)