Somalia: South West State of Somalia – Humanitarian Situation Update (28.10.2021)

Opinion: Debretsion Gebremichael is preparing for a transition…

The future political path of the country will be decided in deliberative stage in which all concerned will participate. After considering options, we will play our share in implementing the best alternative. We believe the transition will be orderly with a collectively reached agreement. The details will be revealed during deliberations and in process. It is a decision time. Everyone should play their share” – Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael (Video Message, 27.10.2021).

We know that the Tigray region is being besieged. The Tripartite Alliance have targeted and closed the borders into the region. The Ethiopian National Defence Force Air-Force have been delivering air-strikes for days now in both Mekelle and elsewhere too.

The state and it’s allies have created a man-made famine, open starvation and blocked humanitarian aid to get in. The state has stopped the basic necessities and it is endangering civilians. This has been done deliberate for months … and the the areas surrounding the Tigray region is getting similar treatment too now. So, the state is punishing everyone, because one party decided not to become a part of the Prosperity Party and stay as one unit.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) President Debretsion Gebremichael is delivering this statement and message close to the one year mark of the civil-war. The Tigray Defence Force has entered Afar region and the Amhara region. While parts of the Tigray region is still under control of the Tripartite Alliance. They are using their force there. Alas, the warfare is far from over. The wars are happening on the front-lines outside Tigray now.

The ENDF and it’s allies has started another big push and ‘final’ offensive against it in Mid-October. Alas, this doesn’t seem to stop the TDF or their allies. They have been able to keep the front-line and even being able to operate in the nearby areas of where they had entered in the past. Therefore, the ENDF and Tripartite Alliance haven’t won or crushed the TDF, even when they have had this offensive for about 2 weeks with little to no results.

That’s maybe why the TPLF President says these things now. To prove a point and from a point of strength. As his armies and allies are not weakening, but able to achieve results in the midsts of horrific hardships. The state and it’s allies is unforgiving and easily uses the air-force and authorities to get advantages. Nevertheless, the risks are still high.

Debretsion Gebremichael is really thinking ahead here. As the TDF and others has joined forces with him. The TDF/OLA isn’t the only one, but several of other liberation armies/militias has joined this effort. It is not like his alone and on an island. No, he has allies, just like the state does have as well. Though, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali risk of issuing this war has backfired. Instead of saving his reputation and getting a quick victory, which he promised last year. He has instead gotten a prolonged war where his only losing slow.

Prime Minister Abiy must be furious that the clip went online and become the talk of the town. Because, that stops the impression of his power and abilities in office. Since Debretsion shows his influence and his reach. That’s why his message is being dismissed and his location being mocked. The state apparatus is even trying to claim his place of footage is from a United Nations container. Just the continued vilification of the humanitarian assistance, which the state wants to block by any means. There is no stop … in doing that and this was another instance of that.

That he speaks of a transition of power is an early step. Some might say it is hubris, but the TDF and his party has survived a brutal beating. The same has the whole population of the Tigray region for months. So, that’s maybe why to sell a little bit of hope. As the stagnation, but ability to hold areas outside the region proves what they willing to do. We don’t know how much strength and manpower the TDF has in comparison to the Tripartite Alliance. Alas, it is only with time we will see what the TDF is able to do. As well, as all their allies as well. The Tripartite Alliance haven’t proven their supremacy and greatness since they fled Mekelle in June 2021. Therefore, he feels superior and that they can move forward yet again.

This war is slow process, but have huge ramifications. That is shown both in Mekelle and in Addis Ababa. As the PM and his government isn’t as sought after or respected as it used to be. The state finances and costly war is becoming a huge problem for Abiy. Not only the loss of equipments, ammunition and prisoners of war. The state itself has lost reputation and the IMF cannot even state the future of the Republic either. That is warning of how dire things has become and the state would never foreseen this when they issued the “Operation Law Enforcement” in November 2020. Now, the time is up…

Debretsion Gebremichael message can either be seen as hubris or as a warning shot. It is hard to speculate what the outcome will be. Whatever it is… the war is issued and prolonged. It doesn’t seem to stop and we can just be in sorrow of how many innocent lives that is taken in this spoils of war. Peace.

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Putting the record straight on UN aid planes and airstrike in Mekelle (23.10.2021)

Ethiopia: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffths statement on Ethiopia (22.10.2021)

Ethiopia: Tigray External Affairs Office – Press Statement on the Air Strikes on the people of Tigray & UNHAS Flight (23.10.2021)

Ethiopia: Security and Justice for Tigrayans (SJT) – Urgent Call to Condemn and Stop the Indiscriminate Aerial Bombardment of Mekelle City (21.10.2021)

 

Ethiopia: Abiy blames the “wheat aid” for a majority of the problems his facing right now

If we prevent wheat aid from entering Ethiopia, 70% of our problems will be solved. Ethiopia main problem is aid wheat. Together with aid wheat diseases and many other problems comes with. Stopping aid wheat means resolving most of our problems. After stopping aid wheat, we can create touristic areas. For example, can build a cafeterias in this place like we saw earlier today. Tourists go to Cape Town and South France. In our case. It’s sitting idle” – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali (October 2021).

A nation in the midst of high inflation, lack of financial stability and lacking of food security. The Prime Minister and Head of State Abiy Ahmed Ali blames the “wheat aid” or humanitarian food assistance in general of the majority of the problems of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE).

That is really infuriating to blame aid for the issues of the Republic. This is pointing the finger at the United Nations Organizations trying to help out citizens in dire need. There is a lack of concern for the man-made starvation or famine in Tigray region. It is also drought, locusts attack and concern for food security in other regions too. However, the de-facto blockade of humanitarian aid to Tigray is the ones creating headlines and where people are starving.

There is also need for food assistance in Amhara, Afar, Oromia and possibly in Ogaden as well. Therefore, the nation is in the midst of dire humanitarian assistance and “wheat aid”. That is the nature of things in combination of the destructive war-economy and inflation. The state is creating the lack of produce and imports. They have rather spent this on arms and ammunition, than securing the ones starving and in need.

Everyone who follows and knows the situation. They should be mad too. Since, the PM and his authorities is the ones that has blocked humanitarian convoys from entering the Tigray region. They are the ones that has made it hard to properly help the ones in need. Therefore, the PM is blaming them and knowingly blocking them too. It is like he wants them to suffer and be in dire straits. This is an deliberate act and we now see his “heart”.

The “Wheat Aid” isn’t the problem of the PM. The problem of the PM is that he tried to consolidate all power by the means of the gun and it’s going terribly wrong. His losing not only international support, but also has less friends internally. Because, his gig is up and the game is weakening. He has no treasury chest or a war-chest to pump-up his chest. That’s why he has to blame the people who are helping people, which is really insulting to everyone with some intelligence.

A man who is a colonel and a doctor like the Prime Minister should know better. However, the “wheat aid” is necessary, as the warfare is prolonging and the lack of care of the agricultural sector. That was proven in Tigray and certainly this has been affected in the other areas, which the conflict has spiralled into.

The PM should be grateful for the “wheat aid” and for the willingness to deliver humanitarian assistance. Because, the need is there and the state haven’t been able to cover the basic needs in the Republic. This is why the PM shouldn’t throw the UN agencies under the bus and neither any of the Humanitarian organizations who facilitate this.

Abiy shouldn’t be dismissive, because this “wheat aid” is saving his citizens. The PM should consider this, but clearly he prefer people dying than saving their lives. That is what we can understand from this. It so cold-heartedly and disgraceful of him. Peace.

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – OLF Press Release on the Heart-Breaking Draught Situation in Borana – Oromia Region (17.10.2021)

Somalia NGO Consortium: Humanitarian agencies warn that Somalia is at the brink of hunger crisis (15.10.2021)

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – The Government of Dr. Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party are Responsible for continued Cold Blood Murders of Oromo Civilians in East Wallaga – Oromia (15.10.2021)