Ethiopia: Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray (ACSOT) – Open Letter to the International Community on the Existing Humanitarian Crisis in Tigray (07.10.2021)

A look into the 4th October 2021 Speech of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali

On the 4th October 2021 was the day that Prosperity Party and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali was sworn-in into power after “winning” a majority in the recently held election. It was a the grand festivities in Addis Ababa with several of other Head of States. The PP and the elites celebrated winning an election, which was pre-selected in advance. There was no way the Prime Minister nor his party could ever loose. All the cards was stacked in his favour and only a return of Jesus could have stopped this from happening. Alas, Jesus didn’t come on the Hill over Jerusalem to destroy the party. That has to happen at another time, apparently.

This speech is made as his swearing-in to his first elected term, but his second term in power never the less. The PM is in the middle of conflict, in a war-torn republic and with plenty of enemies. Enemies that he has fostered and created during his 3 years in office. Therefore, the speech from him now. Will show he handles the pressure and the prolonged conflict, which was supposed to end in no time. To be exact, the final stage of the conflict was only a few weeks in it, about late-November 2020 if I remember correctly. So, it is interesting that he persist and doesn’t take defeat.

I will take a few small passages and discuss them, as I see fit and in the end come with a final brief statement overall. Just so you know the gist. Here we go!

I would like to start by thanking God for giving me this opportunity to deliver this speech before you on such a historic day when we are establishing a new government elected through a transparent and legitimate election process for the first time in the long history of Ethiopia as a state” (Abiy. 04.10.2021).

For him this was a historical day and for his party. It wasn’t an transparent or legitimate election process. If so, why didn’t he allow or let his competitors run against him? Why is major parts of the opposition behind bars? Why did so many party boycott the polls? Well, because the whole game rigged and there was no proper process surrounding the elections. This is insincere and shows how easily the PM lies. This is the opening statement and we can already assess very obvious lies.

Although the 6th National Election was not without blemish and limitations, it was a monumental occasion that has opened a new chapter in our longstanding quest to establish a democratic system – it has definitely taken us a step forward. We have now reached a stage where power emanates from the will of the people as expressed through the ballot – and not from the hereditary line, from the barrel of guns, nor from conspiracy and deceitful machinations” (Abiy, 04.10.2021).

Here he go again. It is kind of hard for the people to decide on the ballot who they want to vote for. When the authorities are barring so many candidates from standing. Stopping parties from participating and so fourth. Also, again plenty of parties boycotted the elections, because they knew it was insincere. So, when Abiy speaks of the “will of the people” his speaking of his selection and his wishes that was granted. The people was maybe not forced with guns or it happened through a coup d’etat. However, this was not an effort where the authorities or the state allowed serious opposition to participate or have any possibility of challenging Abiy. So, if this is new chapter it is a renewal of the similar elections held in Ethiopia before the Prosperity Party and Abiy. Come on!.

The outcome of the election does not make a single party a victor; it is not only a success for the government. The victory is for Ethiopia as a country and Ethiopians as people – a great success we should properly celebrate and can harness to fill many gaps if we duly recognize it” (Abiy, 04.10.2021).

It was one victor and that was Abiy. The Prosperity Party and Abiy won the whole thing. The others are “allowed” “Opposition” which is working directly with him. That’s why he appointed men from these parties into his cabinet too. This was a great success and a victory for him. Not a great one for the republic itself.

On our side, we commit to an inclusive and participatory process that will help build an Ethiopia that is by all, from all, and to all. We will work to ensure our political system will be a result of our agreed compromises instead of only a reflection of the winner’s interest” (Abiy, 04.10.2021).

I can guarantee you… that he will not do this. It is not in his interest to do this. If he cared about this he would need to free the 1000s of political prisoners and allow certain political parties to operate. He only works for his own interest. That was something he was doing before he even won. So, who believes that this man will go into dialogue and be inclusive? This man wouldn’t even have IGAD involved into the dialogue in Ethiopia. Therefore, Abiy isn’t believable here… and not shocking another lie.

Going forward, we will work to embrace our diversity as beauty; reconcile our conflicts while respecting our differences; strengthen our multinational unity and collectively achieve new heights. We will conduct national consultations and discussions to narrow our political differences. We will include all who believe in resolving problems through discussions. The process will not just be consultations among political elites but will instead ensure participation of all parts of society and led by Ethiopians with the aim to find homegrown solutions” (Abiy, 04.10.2021).

Here he returns back to this. While we know he will not do this. He will only accept the ones following his paradigm or dogma. The ones differing from that is sent packing. That is what he has done in his three years in power. Who believes he will suddenly talk to his opponents now? He only talked to them and later, either detained them or deemed them as “terrorist”. I don’t think he will talk to Mohammed Jawar or Eskinder Nega, neither anyone else who he has stopped for that matter. That would mean the PM needs to humiliate himself. Nah, that isn’t happen from his grace.

The conflict in northern Ethiopia born out of betrayal and arrogance this past year has cost our country dearly. This war was created by few individuals who were intent on destabilizing the country unless they could be in charge to turn the wheels as they pleased” (Abiy, 04.10.2021).

Abiy wants to rewrite the narrative, which isn’t surprising. The Ethiopian government, together with Amhara regional forces and Eritrean forces was in-coordination in advance of the attack of the Northern Command. They had put mechanical divisions in Amhara. Flown brigades to Eritrea to be able to invade from two separate areas. Therefore, Abiy says they betrayed him, because they didn’t join the PP and didn’t accept the ending of the coalition of the EPRDF. While Abiy will never take responsibility for months of economic blockade ahead of the invasion and even sent commandos in 2018 to kill TPLF leadership. Nevertheless, people will believe the all powerful army and government from Addis Ababa and not Mekelle. That’s just how things goes…

When we recently pulled back our forces with hopes the enemy would come to its senses, instead they armed and put children on the battlefield; destroyed public resources; demolished schools and health centers; dismantled families, murdered innocent civilians; killed cattle vital to farmers’ livelihoods; desecrated holy sites” (Abiy, 04.10.2021).

The troops left parts of Tigray region, because the Tigray Defence Force had a successful campaign. The troops was instead stationed on the border, but they have never left the Western parts of Tigray. Secondly, the blockade of all commodities, utilities and food. The state have never given the ceasefire a try itself. Neither has any of it’s allies. That is the just first point.

The other points he does is projections. He blames the TDF and TPLF for everything his armies and allies has done. The Tripartite Alliance have destroyed infrastructure, destroyed farms and villages. The armies have looted and killed, raped and murdered civilians. The Tripartite Alliance has destroyed churches and holy sites. All of this documented, so now his targeting his enemies for the acts, which his allies and armed forces has done. That is deceitful and disgraceful, but shows his intentions.

Our fight is only with those anti-Ethiopian forces that are intent on threatening the very existence of our country, turning people against each other, stealing and looting our resources to fill their pockets and usurp power. We will exert all effort, take any action, and pay every sacrifice necessary until this existential threat is removed and the peaceful continuity of Ethiopia is assured” (Abiy, 04.10.2021).

What he means here is fighting everyone whose not on his side of the battle. Not the ones who fights for justice, freedom or liberty. The PM has created more liberation fronts and there is an united effort against him. These are what he calls “anti-Ethiopian” forces. Alas, that’s the power he has and he intends to use it. This is all happening, because of his imperial and tormenting manners of his regime. Not like he comes to give a hand, no he comes with an iron-fist.

At this critical time as we are working to fend off threats against our national sovereignty. The international pressure we faced has made us look back at our history: on the one hand, we have always had countries, people, institutions, and individuals who stand with us in our time of need; on the other hand, we have witnessed many betrayals as we strive to stay committed to principles” (Abiy, 04.10.2021).

It is very ironic that the PM says this when the Eritrean forces is violating the “sovereignty” on a daily. Yes, I know the PM is paranoid about the United Nations Organizations, Humanitarian Aid Organizations and Foreign envoys. That’s because they are not working directly in the interest of the PM, but for the ones in dire need and who is starving in his nation. Secondly, maybe he shouldn’t be addicted to donor funds and direct government support to his Republic. If his so sovereign and doesn’t endure interference. He better start to get domestic revenue higher and proper taxes. Not live on donations and aid of others. Also, not follow guidelines and directives of the World Bank or the IMF. That’s if he has principals on this matter, but I think the almighty Dollars are to vital for him to do so. This would also hurt the already fragile war-economy….

The coming years will witness Ethiopia take out the thorns on its side, heals its wounds, establishes its multi-national unity on rock solid foundations, and an era when its name shall be celebrated throughout the world. The coming years will notice – the spine of poverty, the flanges of hatred, the pillars of disunion, the receptacles of displacement, the hands of carnage, and the powers of conceited incrimination – shredded to fragments through the united action of my countrymen” (Abiy, 04.10.2021).

Abiy’s era will not be remember like he think it will. This isn’t the honeymoon time and Nobel Peace Prize ceremony Abiy. No, this Ethiopia will be remembered for the bloodshed, famine and warfare. Abiy was able to get away with the injustice in Oromia and Ogaden, but the Tigray conflict has shown his true heart. It is not like the civil war will suddenly turn into a dream scenario. He has open a can of worms and he cannot control how it will spiral out of his control. That’s why he will not have the sort of legacy he seeks for and neither will the era be remembered fondly. This is the “Medemer” Terror and the Derg 2.0 so his not as fashionable as he think he is. Maybe the “Yes-Men” around him says so, but that’s not true.

Enough of this. PM Abiy was able at one point to trick the world, but I hope that saga is over. Peace.

Opinion: Belete Molla is an ally of the PM and not an “opposition”

We don’t accept many legal provisions including the constitution; but only because we will take government position sometime, we will fight to change the laws in peaceful and legal ways to build peaceful bargaining culture”Belete Molla Getahun (2019)

The National Movement of Amhara (NAMA) Chairman Belete Molla Getahun was appointed as a Minister in the new cabinet. There reports that his one out of three who is opposition. I have earlier today covered Dr. Bernahu Nega, Ezema who is also in-coordination with the Prosperity Party. If the “opposition” wasn’t like that. They would be kidnapped, detained or even killed. That is what happens to the real opposition in the Federal Republic.

So, when Molla accepted the role and the Ministry of Innovation and Technology. We knew that the Assistant Professor is a Amhara Nationalist. That is the signal of appointing him. When plenty have for so long said the PM needs Amhara support. It is very clear as the previous President of Amhara region became speaker of the Lower House in the House of Federation and the NAMA chairman gets a ministerial post.

What people should worry about is that the NAMA is both expansionist and militant. The NAMA is supportive of the warfare in Tigray Region. The NAMA wants to expand Amhara region in Oromia, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz. NAMA is claiming Amhara genocide, but supporting the man-made famine and starvation of Tigray region. It is clear that the NAMA is supportive in a way that the PM approves of.

NAMA has written statements against the United Nations Organizations. NAMA has applauded Eritrean participation in the warfare inside Eritrea. Therefore, they fit very well in the cabinet of Abiy. He is getting a token Amhara nationalist and ally.

The international community should know this. He is a nationalist and will not do any good. I doubt he will get the PM to cease the warfare, as the NAMA is in favour of the expansions and going after the TPLF. One of Molla’s long time enemies happens to be the TPLF. Therefore, the Tigray region is fair-game for the people like him. Peace.

Opinion: Bernahu Nega is no real “opposition” but an advisor of the PM

The former Patriotic Ginbot 7 (PG7) leader who returned from 11 years in exile. Prof. Bernahu Nega have been appointed to a ministry this week. The PG7 formed a coalition out of 4 parties in 2018 after returning. All of this became the new party – Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA) and it was allowed to be on the polls. Because of the friendly relations between Ezema and PP he was on the ticket and got the no-power role of 4 representatives in the House of Federation.

Nega have been the middleman between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki. That has been vital to the secretive agreements made between them. The ones proclaimed as a “peace-agreement” but with everyday going by. It seems more like a war-pact to get rid of a common enemy, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Someone Nega has a deep hatred for as well.

There has even been leaked emails from Nega to Kebour Ghenna, where the Professor is writing: “Watch your mouth. Just kidding 🙂

Aleka has a lot to learn. You know I had to write a portion of the book for him.” (Nega, 27.04.2021).

If that is true, than the advisor, middleman and such have written possibly parts of the significant project – the “Medemer” book. The one book that sets the standard and what is Abiy’s political ideology. That says a lot, if it is true.

It is bad enough that his a middleman between Abiy and Afewerki. Someone had to be and Nega had lived for years in Eritrea. So, he had to know the inner-workings and how to get them to talk.

Now this man is running the Ministry of Education. A man who is an opportunist and warmonger. I cannot see how this will go well. It just shows what sort of men Abiy trusts these days. As he has promoted and given Nega this opportunity. You know his no real “opposition”. The real opposition is either kidnapped, detained or killed in the Federal Republic. Abiy and his men didn’t fear Ezema. They knew that this party worked in tandem with them. So, it was a friendly face and not dissidents.

Bernahu Nega has gotten a pay-off after years in absentia. He got the ear of the PM and a Ministry. He was never a real opposition or cared about that. There has been reports that Nega has only hired people positive to Abiy and the PP in ESAT. Also, that his party has gotten direct state support. Therefore, nothing seems like an opposition candidate to me. Neither, the secret security document that got leaked. Where the ENDF needed EDF to salvage the war and had to keep the Eritrean soldiers on Ethiopian soil by any means.

Nevertheless, the state friendly media and others are going to call Nega an “opposition”. Even though that is far from the truth. He is an ally and someone who has visited the Menelik Palace several of times. Therefore, he is a trusted associated and because of that, he was rewarded with a Ministerial post. Peace.

Ethiopia: The Global Society of Tigrai Scholars (GSTS) – An Urgent Call for Direct Aerial Delivery of Humanitarian Aid to Tigray (05.10.2021)

Ethiopia: United Front of Ethiopian Federalist Forces – Press Statement (04.10.2021)

Ethiopia: This is not a “New Beginning” but legitimizing the “Medemer Terror”

Today, the sham election is now fulfilled, as the opposition have been either boycotting, blocked or detained ahead of the polls. The Prosperity Party had no other choice but to win in the polls that happened during the calendar year of 2021. There was no other results that could happen. As the other parties and the prominent opposition have been kept behind bars, disallowed to organize or even been labelled as “terrorist”. Therefore, today’s swearing-in was a formality and not a ceremony of honour.

This is the first election of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali who took over the EPRDF in 2018 after the previous PM stepped down. He was internally elected and given the mantle until the next election. An election he postponed because of COVID-19, but held a year later while the same pandemic was still lingering on. Therefore, the excuse to postpone has been for whole other reasons.

PM Abiy have clearly done whatever in his power to consolidate power. That is all clear, as his allies are weapon-brothers and they are willing to use all means to silence detractors. There is no manner or way that isn’t used. If it is political charges, seizing businesses and keeping them behind bars without any due process. If not killing and stopping the parties from actively working. This is why regional state parties have boycotted or not been allowed to be on the ballot. Which just states that the PP was destined to win. Since the ones who had the popularity and the leaders people trusted in these states wasn’t allowed to run or even participate in this poll.

With that in mind… the political mindfuck is that his supporters calling this the “first democratically elected Head of State”. That is dismissing the 2015, 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, 1987 and 1973 elections for instance. This is happening because the PP is trading itself a “reformist” party and different than the previous coalition of Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF). However, this election is copying means and ways of which has been common by the ruling regime in Addis Ababa. There been polls, but everyone knew who to vote for and the opposition didn’t have a true voice or ability to campaign. This just sounds like today. Therefore, PP and EPRDF is the same and when people called 2015 elections sham. The 2021 elections is no difference. Only the name of the party and the leader of such party.

What we can expect from Abiy is that he will follow his warlord ways and do what he can to annihilate his enemies. That is clear when the Upper House of the House of Federation has elected previous Amhara President Agegnehu Teshager as speaker. That is just a further proof days after he stepped down as the regional state President. This is what the regime is doing and his a loyal man of the Head of State.

The PM will not deliver a “new beginning”. That could only have happened in 2018. There is to much water under the bridge. To many lives at stake. He has started to many conflicts, tensions and unfinished destruction to suddenly turn to another type of leader. The PM is galvanized by war and by creating enemies. Instead of dialogue and peace, he prefers to use violence and monopoly of legal justice to strangle his enemies. Therefore, the “Medemer Terror” will continue. His allies are still there and they will continue to work with him. This alliance will prolong and not wither, unless there is no profit or possible way of actually winning it.

The PM undermined and arrogantly thought he could finish the Tigray conflict within a months time last year. However, we are in October and nearly a year after with no end. The conflict has spiralled out of proportions. People are dying of starvation and man-made famine. His policies are draconian and genocidal. The state is arresting people on the basis of ethnicity and even former allies in the Tigray interim government has been detained as well. No soul left behind. This conflict has also gone into Afar and Amhara. While there violence appearing in Ogaden region as well and guerrilla warfare in Oromia. The state is supposedly behind massacres in Benishangul-Gumuz. So, it is not like it is only warfare and war-crimes happening in Tigray region since November 2020. The state had already misused the same sort of violence in Ogaden region and Oromia. That was to silence and stop the dissident there. Also, on the forefront in Oromima for instance to stop the Queerro from rising to power or have ability weakening the regime.

The PM will not deliver a “new beginning”. That phase is over. We know what we are getting and he still haven’t made it rain. This man is willing to bury his neighbour just to rule supreme. Innocent civilians are dying because of his ego and entitlement to be the head of state. Today’s swearing-in and new legislative term will not significantly change things. The only thing it does is to legitimize it. He has the polls and election to give him leeway. However, the truth will eventually come out.

This will only ensure the Prime Minister can continue his “Medmer Terror”. He has the whole House of Federation and the PP rules with a massive majority. There will be no other way. The opposition and the dissident will continue to suffer. At this point of time there is no remedy. For me there is no hope and possibility for change. Since there been a year and longer where Abiy has used force to get his will. That’s why Jawar and other are still behind bars as a political prisoner. Abiy can act like those things doesn’t matter, but it does. Because, in Oromia his party would have been crushed if Jawar and allies stood on the ballots. The same with ONLF in Ogaden. Therefore, it is deluded to think he usher in “new beginning” now.

I know that I would be deported or detained if I arrived at Bole International Airport. That’s because, I have several of blog-posts dismissive or disregarding Abiy. The state would call me “anti-Ethiopian”. While I only want justice for the ones suffering injustice and impunity. Just like I want that for everyone. Abiy is insincere and is an tyrant.

Long live the Seventh King, Abiy Ahmed Ali. Peace.

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Press Release (01.10.2021)

Ethiopia: The Government of the National Regional State of Tigray – Press Statement on the Expulsion of High-Level UN Officials (01.10.2021)

Ethiopia: The Global Society of Tigray Scholars (GSTS) – Denouncing Decision by Ethiopian Regime to Expel High-Level United Nations Officials (30.09.2021)