Ethiopia: Yesterday, a motorcycle accident became a Massacre in Moyale!

The Command Post Secretariat posted after the massacre, that the foreign terrorist came into Moyale and the Aghazi “mistakenly” killed officially nine people, but some reports are saying over 20 people. Also dozens more hurt with wounds after the military attacked the town.

The start of the killings started like this:

A resident of Moyale town, who is a social worker and community monitor with Danish Refuge Council, told me that the incident occurred when two motorcycles collided on the highway and the two young men riding them started exchanging strong words that turned into a fight and people in the area gathered. Then soldiers in a military vehicle passing through started shooting indiscriminately” (Arefaynie Fantahun, Addis Journal, 10.03.2018).

So a small incident like that started and gave way for a massacre, shows how the State of Emergency is used to take down civilians. These people wasn’t demonstrating, they wasn’t working as a part of the Oromo Protests, these was not Queerroo. They we’re just civilians gathering around two motorcycles. Which shouldn’t be a crime, which shouldn’t be a reason for dying. It shows the mentality of the Woyane, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the EPRDF. They cannot run away from the innocent lives taken on their watch.

Yesterday, is another proof of the ill-will of the government, the acts of oppression and dismissal of liberty, as it is dangerous to even gather around a motorcycle accident. Then the Command Post says they does that by a mistake. That is a disgrace to all the lives lost, you don’t shot and kill someone by rare luck or by mistake. Especially not well-trained military soldiers like the Aghazi Squad. The Woyane knows this, all people knows this.

Because a good soldier knows how to carry the weapon, how much force it takes to pull the trigger and aim. How to use the weapon to make sure his enemy goes down. That is natural and not something that happens on dumb luck. That is disrespectful to the ones killed. That the EPRDF and the Command Post is saying it was an accident. Yes, the two motorcycles hitting each other, that was an accident, but what happen after was a military maneuver that aimed to get rid of the people. Woyane knows this and they have ordered this. Now the TPLF and EPRDF has to take responsibility for the killings.

[Wazema Alerts] The Oromo People Democratic Organization (Oromo People’s Democratic Organization) announced that it has killed nine innocent people in the town of Moyale in Oromia region. He expressed his sadness” (Wazema Radio, 10.03.2018).

Clearly this is a sign of the how far the TPLF and Woyane will go. In Oromia and Amhara, you cannot even have a motorcycle accident without having a military skirmish and killings. It is insane, but also the sad reality of the Central Government and the State of Emergency. We could anticipate this, but the worst really happen. The Aghazi did their thing and the innocent died, the people got hurt and families lost their loved ones. Because the government wants to prove their power and their authority. Peace.

International Development Secretary calls on the global community to ‘end the cycle of crisis’ in Somalia (06.03.2018)

Penny Mordaunt tells donors that despite success at averting a famine last year, drought is still a serious threat in Somalia.

LONDON, United Kingdom, March 6, 2018 –  International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt will tell an audience of global donors today that while swift action last year saved thousands of lives and held-off famine in Somalia, “the job is not yet done”.

At an event co-hosted by the Department for International Development (DFID), the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the International Development Secretary will praise the efforts of the international community in 2017 – but call for continued global support for the 5.4 million people in need living in Somalia.

Six years ago Somalia was ravaged by a deadly famine which killed 260,000 people – half of those who died were children.

With extreme weathers and an unprecedented fourth consecutive year of poor rain forecast for the country, Ms Mordaunt will today deliver the stark warning that half the population is still hungry and at risk of disease – and will call on global partners to generate innovative ideas for building long-term resilience to drought.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said:

“Last year the UK stood up and called for international action at a landmark conference to agree critical help for the people of Somalia. Together, we helped avert a famine and saved thousands of lives.”

“But drought continues to haunt Somalia, where today half the population is hungry and at risk of disease. The job is not yet done.”

“Drought and famine do not have to go hand-in-hand. We must harness the potential of new ideas to build future-proof resilience against drought – and end the cycle of crisis.”

“We cannot let the world forget Somalia. It’s not just the right thing to do – we are all less safe when hunger and poverty are free to feed extremism and mass irregular migration.”

The International Development Secretary will today announce a further emergency package to get urgently needed medical, nutritional, health and livelihood support to the country, including to 54,000 children who will be treated for Severe Acute Malnutrition.

The package will be distributed before the end of March 2018, to ensure urgent delivery of these life-saving services.

UN humanitarian chief and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said:

“Last year, more than US$90 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Somalia Humanitarian Fund were released to mitigate against the worsening food security situation in Somalia.”

“Thanks to generous and timely contributions from the UK and other donors, the Somalia Humanitarian Fund is this year already programming $22 million for life-saving support. The CERF is also stepping up quickly with complementary, time-critical and life-saving funding which will help minimize further displacement of people in Somalia and other risks caused by the drought.”

Somalia: An Open Letter to the Somali Federal Cabinet (03.04.2018)

Ethiopia: The New State of Emergency Rules bans the most common ways of Communication!

The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defense Force (EPRDF) and the Tigray People’s Liberation Force (TPLF) are reinforcing the Command Post instructions and showing their lack of tolerance, neither their belief in liberty and freedom. As they are planning to further control the protests and the demonstrators in Oromia and Amhara. That is why there are putting up the ante and showing no mercy, as the Queerro has demonstrated and people have died over the weekend. That should not be forgotten, that in towns in Oromia, dozens of innocent citizens has died in gunfire from the Republics own guards. The ones supposed to defend them, not kill them!

The First ban of Communication:

The public should know that these social media posts are illegal and purposely aimed at affecting peaceful activities by terrorizing citizens, it said” (Asrat, 2018). So the Social Media, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and other Social Media sites are now illegal and will be cracked down on. This is like last year, when the shutdown the internet in the regions to stop the diaspora and other activists from spreading the word of the oppression done by the state. This will be in the same fashion, this time as well. However, now this time it is anticipated.

The Second ban of Communication:

The directives issued by the Command Post prohibit disrupting transport services, free movement of people, service delivery of private and public service institutions as well as closing commercial centers and shops” (Asrat, 2018). This second one is stopping people from closing their shops, deciding that the people cannot close road or bar people from moving around. Like the roadblocks and the stones in the roads are now illegal. This sort of peaceful demonstrations and closing of public space is now illegal. Proving that the state wants to limit the space of demonstrations and to give an outcry of the Queerro and the Amhara. This is in affect stopping the closing the silent ghosts towns and the blockades that both regions has done.

The Third Ban of Communication:

The State of Emergency also prohibits preparing, printing and distributing writings, displaying signs or publicizing messages that could incite violence via other means of communication”(Asrat, 2018). This is like obligated from the state, this is stopping the youthful messengers of the Queerro and other types of spreading the word. Even if the he-say and she-say will spread the words if the state likes it or not. They are not allowing people to write or spread any writings, any sort of communication. This is just showing how demeaning the state is and how concerned they are.

The Fourth Ban of Communication:

It also forbids importing or exporting publications and exchanging via mobile cell phone, television, radio, social media and other means of communication without license. It also prohibits disrupting delivery and distribution of basic commodities” (Asrat, 2018). We can really see that even using the phones is illegal to spread the messages, the Short Message Service (SMS) is even illegal. They cannot use the phones and the extended services, which a modern phone contains. They are already not allowed to use Social Media, so the SMS and TV messages, even Radio are showing that all types of content and spreading it is illegal.

Banning disobedience against work:

Moreover, it also prohibits being absent from work without enough reason, disappearing from work, strike and intentional underperformance as well as harming by any means public, government and private properties” (Asrat, 2018). The public is not allowed to be off work and demonstrate, they have to show-up and is obligated to do so. They just have to be at the office, at the shop, at the mill and whatnot because the Command Post says so.

If you believed anything good would come out of the new State Emergency, this proves how belittling, how disgusting and how far the state takes their powers to silence and oppress their own. These are their own citizens and they have less powers, than what kids has from their parents. It would be like constantly be in the time-out stage, the paternalism, where the TPLF and EPRDF are using all techniques to silence them. Treating the citizens like kids, that is why they are taking away what they see as privileges, like day-offs from work. Having the rights to close their own owned shops, the rights of using the phones, spread information through all sorts of communication, even spread all digital content with their fellow citizens. All of that is forbidden, while they are in time-outs.

It just show how insane and afraid the state is of the message, of the power of the written word and the content that question their authority, because they are afraid that they go from being kids to teens. Who rebels against their parents and doesn’t want to follow, what they see as unfair rules. Its the state who hasn’t seen how the kids has grown, they are having a thinking mind and are justified to their freedoms and liberty. To grow and become their own person, not just having their free minds and liberty. Not being chained because the TPLF believes so.

You know the state has lost their value, lost their purpose and lost their way, when the people cannot communicate and cannot use the ordinary means of passing content between each other. That is so controlling and so outrages, that the TPLF should have a time-out, not the citizens who are losing all privileges. It is insane and showing how little value liberty, freedom and the representation of the oppressed has. They can lose everything so a little elite can have everything. Peace.

Reference

Asrat, Amare – ‘Command Post urges public to carry out normal day-to-day activities, reject social media intimidating posts’ (05.03.2018) link: http://www.fanabc.com/english/index.php/news/item/11485-command-post-urges-public-to-carry-out-normal-day-to-day-activities,-reject-social-media-intimidating-posts

Communique of the Summit of the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCS) to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) – (03.03.2018)

Is the UAE using DP World Ports Deals to get diplomatic leverage now?

The Dubai based port and container company, that has catched a lot of flack within this week. Both with their devious deal, that the Federal Republic of Somalia dismissed, after Somaliland, Ethiopia and DP World went into a co-venture over the Berbera Port. If that isn’t enough internal and diplomatic squabble, nothing is. As the United Arab Emirates are even trying influence more politicians over deal on the Horn of Africa. As they have already had the power to get a 30 year deal in Somaliland.

However, that deal has been under fire and people have wondered if the Mogadishu government has accepted it or done so with a favor. Since, this is still a government facility and important hub. That other nations like Ethiopia would like to have their stake in. Secondly, DP World has already another agreement on the horn in the port of Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT). That deal was done in 2006 and got binned by the government of Djibouti late February. So, the 30 year deal in Djibouti has already gone south and if the UAE government business want to interfere on the horn, they still have leverage in Somaliland. Where similar deal was made and the same concession of the port. Therefore, in the similar time-span and leadership, you can wonder if the Somaliland leadership signed similar agreement as the Djibouti counterparts, who has now canceled it there.

As that is happening, there is news of building and operating a Banana Port in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the agreements and the plans between Kabila’s government and DP World is appearing. Where the state will generate development and roads into the interior from the port, so the state can ensure the port that gets the containers and exports into the DRC. This is a big deal with amazing amount of funds going both to the Kabila cronies and the spending from DP World to upgrade the port there.

Since the writings notes of the 21st February 2018 Council of Ministers said about it:

The 5 texts on the Construction of the Banana Deep Water Port (the Proclamation of Harmonization of Views on the Contract Clauses of the Collaboration Agreement and the Shareholders’ Pact) and the Collective Agreement on Delegation of Service Public: the draft decree approving the Banana Deep Water Port Construction Agreement, the Muanda-Banana Estate Industrial Estate Decree and the Shareholder Corporation’s Shareholder Agreement. Banana Deep Water Port), the Council decided to visualize the project at its next meeting prior to any final decision on it” (COMPTE RENDU DE LA 8 ème REUNION ORDINAIRE DU CONSEIL DES MINISTRES, 21.02.2018).

Therefore, the DRC Government is planning to finalize an agreement with DP World, who has already had questionable agreements in Somaliland and Djibouti. This is not also to extend the arm of the company, but also give the UAE more involvement on the continent. As they have already ports agreement in Senegal and Somaliland, as they lost the one in Djibouti. Therefore, this would be possible now in the DRC.

We can now, see the diplomatic arm and business goes hand in hand, this through the port and UAE are using means of giant sums of infrastructure building, to get the government happy and ready to sign over their port control to the company, who happens to be state-run. This gives Dubai more power and also more control over the container business and handling of goods in these countries. As well, as the questionable dealings, are gaining the political elites, but not giving back to the community as a whole.

We can just wonder if this is a useful tool for Dubai and UAE to gain more political leverage in and around on the African continent, clearly it is working and getting reactions. We have to see if the Federal Government of Somalia, will do more than just canceling and dismissing the tripart agreement between Somaliland, Ethiopia and DP World. Just have to see how this can affect the relationship between FSG, Somaliland and DP World. Also, if the DP World really making itself ready to takeover the Banana Port. They are clearly, making influences and throwing money around to gain important infrastructures, like the ports. So, they can have leverage when concerning political games like in the Qatar Crisis. Peace.

Ethiopia: The Parliament approved the State of Emergency – “Nothing good will come out of this!”

It was anticipated and now it’s official, that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Front (EPRDF) are using their powers to quell demonstrations, by any means and now by the sanctions of the Parliament. The TPLF will really answer the protests and done so by approving the State of Emergency, which the military and the TPLF supported. This will really advance the brutality and the killings in Oromia and Amhara. Where the protest has been the loudest. That is where the Aghazi squad and their fellow peers has assaulted people in their homes, killed dozens of people and hospitalized unknown amount of people, since the State of Emergency came into effect.

“Addis Ababa, March 2, 2018 (FBC) – The House of People’s Representatives (HPR) today approved the State of Emergency declared by the Council of Ministers on February 16, 2018. The House approved the decree by vote of 395 in favor to 88 against, with 7 abstentions. The emergency rule was declared to protect the constitution and the constitutional order, ensure freedom of movement and rights of people to generate wealth by maintaining their unity and equality. Incidents in violation of the constitution and the constitutional order as well as that could pose threat to the country have been expanding in some parts of the country since recently, it was stated. People living in various parts asked the government to give them the necessary protection as a result of these violence and conflicts, it was noted. The emergency rule was declared as the threat posed to the country has reached to the level where it could not be prevented and controlled by the regular law enforcement, according to the government” (Fana Broadcasting Company – ‘Ethiopian parliament approves State of Emergency’ 02.03.2018).

As seemingly as Sergey Lavrov and Rex Tillerson passes by Addis Ababa, they are still putting in full effort to silence the people. They are using the parliament to stop the demonstrations and circumvent the constitution for their benefit. This is done to make sure the uprisings in Amhara and Oromia are silenced by any means, as the Command Post orders lately constituted. There isn’t nothing in this, that is positive. It will only lead to more oppression, more death and more harassment of the citizens. The state will ensure to kill civilians, take away their rights and shut down any protest by anybody. Even if they are spreading political information or not. The TPLF is so afraid for losing the control, that they are killing their own people to rule. It is insane, but also the reality.

This State of Emergency is made to ensure the TPLF stays on top, by the guns and for the guns. This is not made for progress or for peace; it is just a quest to stay longer in power. The people are besieged in their towns are under a military occupation. This is fellow citizens and the ones these people are supposed to represent and they are answering with military force against civilians. Who only have demonstrated for fair representation of their group and their people! That is clearly a violation of their rights, concerning these fellow leaders in Addis. Who are now using the SOE to quell and silence them.

When concerning this SOE, there isn’t anything positive, it is just making the people prisoners of the conscious of the TPLF. They are all just taken for granted and losing their rights, because one political party wants to rule them all. The EPRDF, the TPLF controlled entity, is now forcing itself and using the military to stop the others from speaking up. It could end bloody, it already has taken lives and continues to do so. Even as the world leaders pass by, greet and walks away. Nothing is done to spare the innocent and the ones who just want a fair ruler. That is apparently, to much to ask for the Amhara and Omoro, who just have to follow the guidelines of the Tigray. It isn’t beautiful, it is despicable and disgraceful. No honour, nor bravery, just brutal enslavement of the minds, because of one groups who has the idea of total domination.

The Parliament agreed with it, even as many abstained, many didn’t even show up. That shows the discontent is beyond the reach, if it had been favourable, it wouldn’t have had that many people voting against and have that many representatives not showing up. That is just the sense you can have, after all of this.

The SOE will be brutal, will be fatal and will only bring destruction; nothing good comes out of this. Nothing at all and the people who deserves someone to represent them, are seeing their leaders sending soldiers to their homes, to their streets and to their meetings. The SOE will just be another reason for killing, detaining and silencing the people. Nothing, nothing good comes out of it. It only brings more hurt to the civilians, who just wished to have someone that actually represented them and their needs. Peace.

Somalia: Ministry of Ports and Marine Transports declares the Agreement between Somaliland, Ethiopia and DP World Berbera Port as “Null and Void” (02.03.2018)

DP World: Ethiopia Acquires 19% Stake in DP World Berbera Port (01.03.2018)

Eritrea Ministry of Information Press Statement on Ethiopia: “Repetitive lies cannot bury the truth” (28.02.2018)