Ethiopia: The TPLF-D is “taking over” TIRA…

“It is clear that the more the group gets additional terms in office, the more consequences and national destruction it will bring. Therefore, the TPLF Central Committee decided at its meeting on September 24, 2017 to resign the individuals in the group from their administrative positions on behalf of the TPLF and replace them with other representatives of the party. Hence, the following individuals have resigned from their administrative responsibilities as of October 7 today” (Tigray People’s Liberation Front, 07.10.2024).

Today is the day.. the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have initially takeover the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA). This is appointing a new leadership from the TPLF-D and not from the TPLF-R.

Getachew Reda is in real trouble here. Reda is currently being chastised and being fired by the party that he has been a part of. Now TIRA is getting a new leadership and the TPLF is appointing them.

The problem here is that the TIRA was created as a part of the Pretoria Agreement. That is the current interim government in the Tigray region. This is a creation of Abiy and such to ensure he has allies and people he can control in Tigray. That’s why he allowed it to happen… and let Getachew Reda take the reigns.

Now with the time going, the Debretsion Gebremichael is trying to reign it in. They are trying to take control of the TIRA. An entity that it doesn’t directly “own” or has “ownership” of. As it is a creation made for having puppets in Tigray.

Prime Minister Abiy wouldn’t allow “hardliners” or anyone who opposes him in office in Tigray. He would have other excuses to freeze it or stop it from functioning. That’s why Debretsion Gebremichael is playing a dangerous game.

Debretsion Gebremichael is already struggling to get the TPLF rectified and get it as a legal political entity. The Federal Authorities haven’t accepted it after calling it a “terrorist” organization during the war in the North. Therefore, his playing with fire and won’t win here.

The winner here is Abiy. Reda is losing too, but Debretsion won’t feel victorious either. Especially, if the people around the PM won’t accept the changes or allow it. Because, that isn’t up to the TPLF. The TIRA is destined and decided from a far. That won’t be an easy gambit.

Getachew Reda can easily linger on in office. Even if the TPLF-D sacks him. That’s because Abiy wants to keep him. It gives him the energy and weakens the TPLF. That’s a victory for the Prosperity Party. As the TPLF is doing more in-fighting and less governance. The TPLF aren’t governing, but fighting for roles and offices. That’s what Abiy wants to corrupt and make people weak enough to take his bait. Therefore, TPLF-D is losing here and not winning.

The TPLF as a whole is losing by the share definition of mediocre acts it’s doing. Instead of focusing on the betterment and restructuring the state after the war. Instead of looking into the pressing matters and the questions lingering after the Cessation of Hostilities. It is instead bound by internal spite and conflict, which could have been resolved over a cup of coffee.

These gentlemen knows better and they are playing a high stakes game. Neither will win here. The victor here is residing in Addis. He is grinning and laughing at this. Because, he see them fight over the spoils and the little token he gave after fighting them. This isn’t the strong party of old, and neither is it showing any sort of strength. Peace.

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Ethiopia: Berhanu Jula reveals the sinister acts of Eritrean soldiers in the Axum Massacre in November 2020..

“Several incidents occurred. There was gaps during the war. In areas, such as Adigrat, Adwa, and Aksum, there was terrible actions that took place. At that time, the Shabia army also arrived. Since it was a situation where one could not check and balance the other, there was some anti-democratic actions. At that time, it was like that, but leadership was also involved. It wasn’t a good job. Of course. It wasn’t as bad as they portrayed it; factories was dismantled and taken, property was looted, and people were killed. The massacre wasn’t quite like it was narrated. There was damage, but what was said wasn’t the kind that was portrayed for media consumption. The one at fault is the TPLF itself. When the Shabia army passed through there, they opened fire on them. How did they do that? They infiltrated the city with militia and armed people. It was like sudden attack. This was transpired within the city. And to defend themselves, they (Eritrean soldiers) didn’t differentiate one from the others, they took measures. That’s what happened. It’s not like they went into every house; it was a city, right? It (Eritrean soldiers) was fired upon and since there were many people in the city when retaliation was given, there were casualties. The provocations was done intentionally to cause harm. If you organize an armed group and send them into a city where an army is peacefully passing through then open fire, it has to defend itself. And to defend itself, it’s difficult to identify who is armed and who is not. They took action against those who attacked them. They followed and took action against those who fled or scattered; in the midst of this, peaceful people might have been harmed” – Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, Chief of the General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (01.10.2024).

The truth will be revealed and be told eventually. Now it is done for one reason or another. As the authorities, the state and the army itself wants to change the story. There are drip drops of knowledge. The ones involved will speak and say their peace.

Now the ENDF Field Marshal Berhanu Jula is speaking about the war in the north. He is addressing the conflict and how things went down. It is now over a year since the Pretoria Agreement and Cessation of Hostilities. We can wonder if it is in regard to this… and they want to downplay their own role. That would make sense now. However, it is telling that this is being said now!

Especially, when a Field Marshal says this and it co-incidentally fits the stories that was reported in 2021 about it. Now in 2024 the Army Commander is speaking and he does it with intent. We cannot know why right now… but it is for reason. Just look at the reports from 2021 and how conveniently it adds up!

Amnesty first reports:

“Between 19 and 29 November 2020, Eritrean troops operating in the Ethiopian city of Axum, Tigray, committed a series of human rights and humanitarian law violations, including killing hundreds of civilians. Over an approximately 24-hour period on 28-29 November, Eritrean soldiers deliberately shot civilians on the street and carried out systematic house-to-house searches, extrajudicially executing men and boys. The massacre was carried out in retaliation for an earlier attack by a small number of local militiamen, joined by local residents armed with sticks and stones” (Amnesty, February 2021).

EHRC states:

“Information collected during this preliminary investigation confirm that during the two days of November 28 and November 29, grave violations of human rights were committed and that in Aksum, over one hundred residents including visitors from other parts of the country who came to mark the annual Aksum Tsion celebration and internally displaced persons from other parts of Tigray, were killed by Eritrean soldiers” (EHRC, March 2021).

About the November 28th November Amnesty wrote this:

“From about 3 to 4 pm, lines of Eritrean trucks and tanks reportedly entered the city from the east. Their numbers bolstered by the new arrivals, Eritrean soldiers went on a rampage, shooting at civilian men and youths who were out on the streets attempting to flee in panic. The killing, which one witness said began around 4 pm, was carried out on a large scale and continued until the evening” (Amnesty, February 2021).

EHRC report says this:

“On November 25, members of ENDF were seen to be leaving Aksum and on November 26, residents said they could not see any “soldiers moving around the city”. On November 27, however, “a large number of Eritrean soldiers began coming into Aksum”. “They took up posts in three different locations of the city: ‘Maye Kuho’; ‘Samuna Fabrika’ and ‘Tsele’a’. On November 28, 2020, we started hearing heavy gun fire all around the city.”” (EHRC, March 2021).

You can it and it is evident, right?

Field Marshal spoke about this to make others look like villains and continue the blame-game. Meanwhile, he will treat it like a nothing affair. Because, if this had mattered. Something would have happened and the leaders in Addis Ababa would have called and notified Asmara about the transgressions. However, they were all in on it and didn’t mind the cost of the conflict. Therefore, this is to shade both the Eritrean involvement in the war and TPLF itself.

This just shows how they are throwing the allies under the bus and putting blame on them after the fact. Now they can do that after a fallout. That’s why the Field Marshal can address it and does it so blatantly.

The massacre of Axum should have consequences, but we haven’t seen any. Neither has the ENDF, Fano or EDF gotten any sort of punitive actions. Neither has the leaders in charge taking any accountability or tried to dig deep into the actions itself. This is why the investigations into it has gone nowhere. That’s because no one in office or in power wants the sinister acts revealed. Peace.

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Ethiopia: Is Fano breaking Abiy to pieces?

The last 24 hours must be humiliating for the rulers in Addis Ababa. As the armed rebellion in Amhara region is worsening for him. The Para-Military Group Fano, which has been deemed as unorganized and lack of leadership. That one can take over a bigger slice of the Amhara Region and even enter into Gondar (Gonder).

The armed group of FANO is able and has taken over 3 districts of the Gonder city. The historical city and the second biggest in the region are taken over by FANO. That’s a big fall and a utter failure of the ENDF. The Federal Government is just lacking composure and the tactical advances to ensure the safety of a city like this.

We know the citizens and everyone else will feel the pain of this. The armed forces will be brutal, and their actions will be questionable. Innocent lives will be taken from both sides. Just so they can supreme.

The Amhara region is steadily becoming a warzone and a place of insecurity, as the ENDF isn’t able or capable of controlling the FANO. That’s what is happening here, and the Federal Government is weakened as a result. That the former ally turned enemy becomes its worst nightmare. That’s what is going down…

The Prosperity Party and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali should be in dire straits here. They should revise their strategies and their ways of handling things. The way things are going. It is only going from bad to worse. There isn’t much to salvage from this and the trying to consolidate power at any means possible. Only ensures more conflict and more suffering on the third-party individuals that get caught in the crossfire. That’s what is happening and the whole Amhara region is caught up by it.

Some are saying the FANO should just start marching to Addis Ababa and overthrow the government. However, that’s a major task and it doesn’t have allies outside the region. It’s a regional force and made up by rebels, para-miliary trained forces and some former Regional Special Forces, which was disbanded and joined FANO. Therefore, the mentality and amount of training differs. Meanwhile the ENDF structure is supposed to be on another level, but that’s overstretched and lack proper coordination. At least how it looks like right now. When it cannot defend a city like Gondar.

This should send shockwaves across the nation. That a para-military group and former allies of the PM has taken over a city of this stature. It is the utter embarrassing acknowledgement of how Abiy has failed his nation. This is a sign of how he cannot keep the reign or be even credible as a Commander-in-Chief. No, his a lying and conniving man who has been made a fool of.

FANO now has a say and the ones paying the price is the people of Amhara. They are now under siege by their own militants. That’s what they are and we don’t know how this will end. It will be a bloodshed and innocent lives will be taken as a consequence. Warfare isn’t for the faint hearted. It will be bloody and everyone will point the finger at each other while doing it.

Abiy needs to reconsider and restructure things around him. His not assessing or having the personnel that can keep things in order. Neither is his wavy and selfish interests making things better. The lonely King with a crown and a palace in Addis Ababa won’t save anyone. Everyone else is left to ashes and he rules over it. That’s not bringing prosperity but bringing judgement day really fast. This is the legacy of the medemer terror and the plights that was carried during his time.

It is just tragic, and we will never know the true scope of the losses. We will not know the full extend and the cost of all of it. Only a fragment and rest will be kept shut. This is a dark day and more dark days to come. The utter failure and embarrassment will continue to persist. Because the price of consolidating power will continue as long as Abiy is in power. Peace.

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Ethiopia: Djibouti’s offer won’t save the Red-Sea dream of Abiy…

Djibouti has proposed that Ethiopia directly manage the Port of Tadjourah, according to Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. Youssouf stated that this offer is part of efforts to ease tensions in the Horn of Africa and ensure Ethiopia’s access to the sea. The proposal includes Ethiopia managing the port, located about 100 kilometres from its border, and potentially using a newly constructed corridor. Specific terms of the offer were not detailed, but Youssouf reported that Djibouti’s President, Ismail Omar Guelleh, has extended this proposal to facilitate regional stability” (Addis Standard, 31.08.2024).

The ones in power in Djibouti certainly tried to sweeten the deal and make an offer to de-escalate tensions on the Horn of Africa. As the spiralling conflict and possible interference in others sovereign is growing rapid.

The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali have had a wet-dream of a sea-port for ages and running his own Navy. The landlocked Federal Republic has sought out a Port and a Red Sea Connection for the return of the Ethiopian Empire. That’s been in the scope and been in sights for years now.

The rulers of Ethiopia have even sought out an agreement and memorandum of understanding with Hargeisa and the semi-autonomous government of Somaliland. That is directly in conflict with the Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu. Villa Somalia and the President of Somalia is losing power and the Ethiopian interference is directly giving leverage to the outpost of Hargeisa.

This is also involving the Egyptian support of Somalia. As well, as the lack of successful talks in Turkey. The stakeholders are all creating a foreplay for another military theatre between Ethiopia and Somalia. As the Egyptian soldiers and that the United Arab Emirates investments are also kept in-tact. This is all business and possible transactions for the benefit of the Head of States. This is why this is playing out.

The Addis Ababa wants to have a hold over and control over Maritime land and no other stakeholders holding oversight of it. That’s why the MoU with Somaliland is important to Abiy. It gives him leverage and power. While the offering of Djibouti is more of the status quo, but with a twist. It holds the transport and the cargo transport through Djibouti as today, but with the secondary status of changing ports within the sovereign.

This is a high stakes game and you can wonder who is winning what. Because at this point Abiy and the Prosperity Party has their dream. They don’t care if they create nightmares or diplomatic disputes. They already started that with the MoU with Somaliland. The FGS said it was “null and void” but we know the parties behind the MoU won’t accept that. These are the beneficiaries of it and will get the perks of it. Therefore, the stalemate is bound to continue, until implementation or armed insurgency happens.

That’s the worry here… as there are movements and bought heavy-arms are transferred. The Ethiopian government has attacked and invaded Somalia before. That’s been for a greater cause or for ceasing the moment. If it was the “war on terror” or ending a dictatorship in Mogadishu. Now, it will be selfish reasons and for personal gains for the Prime Minister, Just so he can get his wet dream and red sea access. That’s more important that furthering instability and conflict in the region.

There is already pushback from Asmara that has claims on lands in Ras Doumeira, but that has never been resolved. There been conflict between Eritrea and Djibouti with foreign mediation after it. Which ceased the armed skirmishes, but the conflict has never been silenced completely. Which means the Asmara leadership still seeks to gain more territory and in its interests to get hold of that. That’s why they are not in favour of seeing Ethiopian government getting a control of land and maritime land within the domain of Djibouti. Especially, when the Eritrean-Djibouti conflict haven’t stopped or the grievances haven’t been met. Therefore, we know this will cause issues too, but only fear-mongering and possibly warning-shots.

Abiy has already several conflicts within Ethiopia. The PM should resolve internal disputes and armed conflicts, which is haunting his Office and reign. He is already humiliated by other militias, which are making a mockery of the ENDF. That’s happening in Amhara and Oromia. His just ceased hostilities in Tigray region. Therefore, his army is already in vast military operations across the republic.

The ENDF doesn’t need another conflict or war. That is what is up and a warlord lavishes on war. He rises on the occasion and feels special issuing the war. Alas, the soldiers are dying as a cause of it and the costs of it is on the people. The war will be costly and the burden will be worsen the economic situation and the financial stability, which is already fragile in Ethiopia.

Abiy isn’t creating stability or peace, but is creating more instability and possibly war. That’s what is up. The Djibouti deal will only favour Djibouti and favour the trade that is currently going between Ethiopia and Djibouti. This is securing the imports and exports going through the same republic. Ensuring the profits and the jobs within Djibouti.

I don’t see the PP or Abiy accepting the Djibouti deal of port. That isn’t sustainable for the wet-dream and the imperial dreams of the Prime Minister. His not getting the whole thing and only partial. Therefore, this won’t help it. The Somalia government would be happy and the such. The Djibouti government would be happy, but we see Eritrea being unhappy. Therefore, it causes another stir and another case of questionable border interference from Asmara.

PM Abiy is leading this and his causing all of it. All for the personal gains and for his ego. That’s who he is… and what we are seeing. While creating more instability and more issues on the Horn of Africa. Peace.