Ethiopia: The PP wants to be vindicated while shifting blame on either the TPLF or the West

ADDIS ABABA– Although the terrorist TPLF clique has been waging a new round of offensive to Amhara and Afar states and obstructing humanitarian access to Tigray, the West has not yet dared to condemn the group’s belligerence, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the United States said. In a press conference he gave recently, Ambassador Fitsum Arega stated that TPLF capitalized on the decision of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and allied forces not to advance to Tigray and expanded the conflict into the two neighboring states” (ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED – ‘West refuses to denounce terrorist TPLF’s latest aggression’ 12.02.2022, The Ethiopian Herald).

Today in the Ethiopian Herald there was written an article based on Ambassador Fitsum Arega’s words where the West and International Community is supposed to denounce the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), as the Tigray Defence Force (TDF) is advancing and furthering the conflict in Afar region, which it has done since the end of January 2022. As the conflict was started in November 2020. The besieged Tigray region haven’t stopped and neither have the bureaucratic hurdles for the humanitarian assistance.

We know that the Prime Minister Abiy have spoken ill of “wheat-aid” and his allies are clearly thinking the same. They are projecting everything on its enemies. They are always blaming and claiming the TDF have done the war-crimes or alleged atrocities. However, they have never accounted for their massacres, besieged region or humanitarian blockage, which the state has continued to produce through all the months of warfare in the Tigray.

That’s why these words are striking:

The West, particularly the U.S., UK, WFP, and others have turned blind eye and deaf ear to TPLF’s aggression and are not willing to denounce it despite the fact that they have ample evidence of the raid. ”It is evident that from the beginning, the TPLF has been hindering the delivery of humanitarian assistance by kidnapping aid trucks entering Tigray and looting warehouses”. Ambassador Fitsum further noted that if the West was really concerned about human rights, they would not have chosen to remain silent in the face of such abuses” (ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED – ‘West refuses to denounce terrorist TPLF’s latest aggression’ 12.02.2022, The Ethiopian Herald).

We know the state blames the TPLF for everything. They claimed the refugees going into Sudan was terrorists too at one point. Anyone who just happens to be Tigrayan is a terrorist and everyone who defends the needs of the Tigray region is a sympathizer. Therefore, no matter what you do… you will be under fire by the authorities.

With this in mind, the vilification of everyone who happens not to be them. Just shows what sorts of the efforts the government is working with. As they blame others and projects all sins upon others. We know that the ENDF and allies have looted, destroyed and burned buildings. The ENDF and the Tripartite Alliance has raped, killed and massacred civilians in the Tigray region. These has done the vile crimes, which it is putting it on the enemies.

Therefore, when the ambassador expects the West and US to blame the TPLF. The PP and the regime in Addis Ababa should look at its own actions and decisions of late. The Ethiopian government and allies needs to be held accountable for their war-crimes, choices of man-made famine and starvation of civilians. While the TDF and their allies should be held accountable as well, but it all should be investigated by a third party to ensure the truth and due process of the possible criminal actions. This is something the regime doesn’t want and we know the Federal Government will not accept this, because the state will not implicate itself, but rather shift blame.

In a war, usually both parties violates rights and misuse power. The TDF and other allies has possibly violated international war and the Geneva convention. The same can easily be assessed by a third party and such can also be said about the Tripartite Alliance. Therefore, the Ethiopian government and its allies should care about this. Especially, if they believe everything they claim the TPLF and TDF has done, which we know isn’t true. However, I wouldn’t be shocked if they have done something wrong as well. Nevertheless, the Tripartite Alliance has the power of the state, they have international support and financial muscles to boost the war effort in Tigray.

So, the blunt of the blame and use of state to own cause of consolidating power. The PM and the Addis Ababa regime should answer for their crimes as well. They are a party and cannot only put it on others. Like they are doing here to vindicate themselves. While never ever taking anything to account. That has been done since the beginning… Peace.

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Ethiopia: World Food Programme (WFP) states that the 2 million people are severely food insecure in the Tigray Region

Today, the World Food Programme (WFP) published a report after studying the food insecurity in Northern Ethiopia and specifically the Tigray region, which has been under a humanitarian blockade and significantly hurt by the prolonged conflict since November 2020. The Federal Government and the regime in Addis Ababa have made lots of bureaucratic hurdles plus also used their power to stop convoys to enter into the region. Therefore, the results of this is having affects…

The WFP states seriously issues and the possible starvation for up to 2 million civilians, while over half of the population is eating a poor diet and four in five eats inadequate diets. That means the food they actually have isn’t proper or substantial of what a person needs. This being the vitamins, proteins, vegetables or anything else that might be lacking in the diet. As the region is struggling to both produce and import the needed basic food items, which the civilians needs to have a proper diet. That says it all about the problematic siege of the region.

Just read these paragraphs from the WFP report, which states the dire status on food insecurity there:

The compounded effect of multiple drivers of food insecurity resulted in 83 percent (4.6 million people) of the population surveyed in the Tigray Region being classified as food insecure, of which two million (37 percent of the population) are severely food insecure. The highest prevalence of food insecurity was recorded in the North western, Eastern and Central zones. More than four in five households consume inadequate diets, and 57 percent of these households consume poor diets. Although the consumption of cereals has remained steady, the consumption of nutritious foods such as meat, vegetables and fruit has declined drastically since October 2020 on less than one day a week on average” (World Food Programme – January 2022 – Tigray Emergency Food Security Assessment, P:5).

Food security in the Tigray Region is worrisome with 83 percent of households being food insecure (of which 46.4 percent are moderately food insecure and 37.5 percent are severely food insecure). The zones recording the highest food insecurity rates are the North western zone (93 percent), Eastern zone (86 percent) and the Central zone(84 percent). These zones also recorded the highest prevalence of households consuming poor diets due to the sporadic weekly consumption of nutritious foods such as milk and dairy products (on average consumed 0.4 days on weekly basis) or proteins (0.2 days per week in Central and North West and 0 days in East). In addition, the Central and Eastern zones are among those recording the highest prevalence of households who implement emergency coping mechanisms such as selling last female animals or of households who implement emergency coping mechanisms such as selling last female animals or reproductive animals in unsustainable way (20.9 and 32.1 percent, respectively)” (World Food Programme – January 2022 – Tigray Emergency Food Security Assessment, P: 24-25).

These two paragraphs states the devastation and the suffering if the people in the Tigray region. These statistics isn’t just numbers, but actually people who are not eating properly or have the ability to eat as they should. The results of the blockade is clear and the state wants at least 2 million people to suffer. Just so it can avenge the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). That is the sad reality here. The Federal Government is proud of and states times, and times again… that its doing so, because it’s for “unity”. A “unity” only worth and valued by Amhara elites. Therefore, the starvation, the famine and the food insecurity is done on the watch of the regime in Addis Ababa.

A government and a regime that doesn’t care. This is a deliberate act… and it’s sinister, tragic and could have been avoided. However, the regime is thriving on doing this. Peace.

Ethiopia: A new TDF offensive into the Afar region!

As the Tigray Defence Force (TDF) did a tactical retreat in December 2021. Now, it is reported that the TDF has started to attack and invade several of districts within the Afar Region. Where the ARed Sea Afar Forces, Afar Regional Special Forces and Eritrean Defence Forces are defending the region. That is very clear, as well as Afar People’s Force (APF) are countering the TDF.

The TDF is reported to have gotten as far as Abaala, as the TDF targeted the districts of Magale, Abaala, Dalol and Barahle. There was also reports that the TDF tried to advance in Erebti located north of Teru, but they were defeated north of Magale. The latest front the TDF has created is around Konnaba, at a place called Mayrami.

There unconfirmed reports that the spiralling conflict in Afar Region have created 250,000 Internally Displaced People’s (IDPs). However, that is not yet verified or proven. Nevertheless, with the advance of TDF into Afar region. There should be expected ramifications of this warfare. Just like the conflict has lingering effects in other regions as well.

The TDF is clearly doing this, as they know the Federal Government of Ethiopia has no interests in negotiating or creating lasting peace. As the Generals and High Ranking Officials been stating the will to annihilate and pursuit the final end of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Therefore, the conflict was just ceasing for a moment and sooner or later, the ENDF would strike.

Nevertheless, the TDF has now advanced and has a new offensive. If they are trying to get to Mille or any other strategic town is unknown. What is obvious… is that the war isn’t over and the Tripartite Alliance isn’t over either. As the EDF, RSAF, APF and ARSF are fighting against the invasion. Peace.

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Ethiopia: Tigray External Affairs Office – Statement on the Persistent Obstruction of Humanitarian Aid by the Federal Government of Ethiopia (24.01.2022)

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Updates on medical and other essential supplies to the Tigray region (23.01.2022)

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