Ethiopia: World Food Programme (WFP) – No food, no fuel, no funding: WFP’s northern Ethiopia operations grinding to a halt (14.01.2022)

Stocks of nutritionally fortified food for the treatment of malnourished children and women are now exhausted.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 14, 2022 – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that its life-saving food assistance operations in northern Ethiopia are about to grind to a halt because intense fighting has blocked the passage of fuel and food.

The escalation of conflict across northern Ethiopia means that no WFP convoy has reached Mekelle since mid-December. Stocks of nutritionally fortified food for the treatment of malnourished children and women are now exhausted, and the last of WFP’s cereals, pulses and oil will be distributed next week.

“We’re now having to choose who goes hungry to prevent another from starving,” said Michael Dunford, WFP’s Regional Director for Eastern Africa.

“We need immediate guarantees from all parties to the conflict for safe and secure humanitarian corridors, via all routes, across northern Ethiopia. Humanitarian supplies are simply not flowing at the pace and scale needed. The lack of both food and fuel means we’ve only been able to reach 20% of those we should have in this latest distribution in Tigray. We’re on the edge of a humanitarian disaster.”

More than a year into the conflict in northern Ethiopia, an estimated 9.4 million people require humanitarian food assistance. This is an increase of 2.7 million from just four months ago, the highest number yet. At the same time, because of fighting, food distributions are at an all-time low.

WFP plans to reach 2.1 million people with food assistance in Tigray; 650,000 in Amhara; and 534,000 in Afar Region.

WFP also warns it will likely run out of food and nutrition supplies for millions of people across all of Ethiopia from next month due to an unprecedented lack of funding. WFP is calling for an additional US$337 million to deliver its emergency food assistance response in Northern Ethiopia and US$170 million to reach those affected by severe drought in Somali region over the next six months.

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Ethiopia: Eskinder Nega calls for a continued war in Tigray

In the first press conference since his release from prison. Party Leader of Balderas Eskinder Nega has called for total extermination of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and continue the warfare in Tigray region.

He has dismissed the forced stopping of advances of the Tripartite Alliance in Tigray region. As well, as the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) not moving forward from Alamata. Therefore, the Balderas party head is closer aligned with NaMA, than others within the political sphere.

We know the ENDF have continued to use drones in the Tigray region, as they have not moved troops or mechanical units further into the region. In Western Tigray the Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano” has continued it’s rampage and campaigns with Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF). These has not slowed down. Therefore, the Balderas party leader is calling for extermination of the TPLF and total war in Tigray. That’s his mission and this is why his displeased with the recent actions, which ironically lead to his release from prison as well.

It is clear that Nega is aligned with NaMA and Ezema at this point. They are ready and want to fiercely get rid of their mortal enemy. These parties doesn’t want the war to end and real talks to happen. They are already mentally ready to annihilate and use all force to silence them. That’s the sort of drive they have and it’s very obvious.

Eskinder Nega have been a political prisoner, but shows that Balderas could just have been a distant cousin of NaMA or former Amhara Democratic Party (ADP). Nega wants war and this is his cry for it. As he haven’t seen it or been part of it. He has been behind bars and have only heard reports, if even that.

It shows that his a warmonger and a possible war-lord himself. As he calls to quit the ceasefire and stopping of direct combat between the Tigray Defence Force and the ENDF. He wants total war and a final end of the TPLF leadership as well. That’s his mission and his truth.

It shows that it isn’t only a sentiment in the fascists of Amhara, but also elsewhere where the hatred and the mentality to destroy is alive. As the Balderas and Nega wants it too. He wants more bloodshed, more suffering and continue the plights of the Tigrayan people. Instead of trying to find common means to an end. He wants to wage war and end his enemies.

That the sort of leader Nega is and it shows. Balderas and NaMA should just forge an politicial union. They have the same ideals and it’s evident by now. It’s disgraceful that this is the first message Eskinder Nega delivers to the public. However, it just shows his heart or lack of thereof, as his only interested at furthering his own gains by the possible sacrifices of others. Peace.

Ethiopia: The Oromo plight isn’t over with the limited freedom of Jawar and Bekele et. All.

Yesterday, there was a release of several of high ranking Oromo opposition leaders. This included Mohammed Jawar and Bekele Gerba. There was several of others who was released as well. However, they are skimming the top of the problem and only taking the most notable ones, which they have charged with terrorism. They have never had a proper court trial with and this amnesty can easily be revoked again.

By my calculation without any proper trial or sentencing, they kept Jawar and others close to one and half year in prison. I have little faith in the means to an end at this very point. As there is still a 1000 of political prisoners. We know also that Eskinder Nega was also released as well. Therefore, the state is showing the big names are freed, but they been kept detained as political prisoners.

This release is happening long after the elections and done in a manner of which is very calculated. I don’t believe this release is done in good faith. The FDRE and the Prosperity Party would only do this now to get some credibility and show some good faith. Alas, we know it is only done with a purpose.

You don’t keep people detained for over a year without sentencing and with political charges to release them without some plans ahead. This is either done to disfranchise the Oromo people more. As his putting the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) political leaders out, but not releasing the Oromo Liberation Front-Army (OLF-A) leaders, which is still lingering in jail. Therefore, this is only a marginalized attempt to show “mercy”.

The Prime Minster and his cabinet isn’t sincere with this. As this is done with the preparation of the National Dialogue and the House of Federation planned sessions ahead. They are doing this to buy time and try to forge a narrative of positivity. However, they are the ones that arrested these men, criminalized their activities and was behind the violence in the Oromia region. Where the state is still extra judicially killing civilians, as we speak. Therefore, I have little faith in this move. Unless, the PM hopes the diplomatic community believes in this publicity stunt.

It is positive that the leaders are released. That was about time, but this is a means to an end. The PP and PM wouldn’t do this, if they couldn’t get credit and credibility for it. They want to be praised for releasing their own political prisoners. Which is giving the authorities and the state credit for reversing their oppression.

We know the Prime Minister Abiy will be proud of this. His the one who got them into the spotlight and paid amends. While later he did get them arrested and kept them behind bars for days upon end. Plenty is still behind bars and they shall not be forgotten. Even if some of the big-shots has been released. That is important, but it cannot be the whole story…

This move will only be further scrutinized, as this might be an attempt to alter and split the Oromo people. I don’t see Abiy or his leadership doing this out of goodwill. He might use those words and try to spin it that way. However, his not the man to give them room or let them even properly represent their region. As he blocked them from the recent election and that’s says it all really. If he was sincere… he wouldn’t have used the authorities and the rule book to keep them detained for so long.

That’s why I am not celebrating or thinking this is a victory. They can so easily be detained again or house-arrested for that matter. If these gentlemen doesn’t play along to the songs of Abiy. They will suffer again and so will their parties. That is the reality of this and that is something the PP crowds will never say. Since that means they take accountability for their actions. It was an injustice to arrest them to begin with and they had no real case against them. That’s why the amnesty was easy to announce and to decree from the Prime Minister. However, we know the drill and this isn’t the end of the saga. No, this is just a new chapter and soon the reason for the release will be evident. Since, it has been done for some coins or credit. The PP and PM wouldn’t do this unless they could get something out of it. Peace.

Ethiopia: Tesfa – Tigray-Eritrea Solidary Forum Statement demanding withdrawal of Eritrean and Amhara regional forces from Tigray (17.07.2021)

Opinion: The SNLF calls Abiy out!

Yesterday, the Sidama National Liberation Front (SNLF) released a statement called: “The SNLF Condemns with The Strongest Possible Terms the Forced Deployment of the Sidama’s Forces By Abiy’s regime installed Sidama’s Prosperity Party (PP) Cadres”. This message is clear and not shocking. As it was reported that Special Forces from Sidama, Oromia and Amhara would all participate in the Tigray conflict. Today, it is also reported that the Somali Region or Ogaden Special Forces will join as well. Therefore, all regions are participating in going after one Regional Government and their Tigray Defence Force (TDF).

What is striking in this statement is for instance this:

The Ethiopian government is also pushing with its incoherent approach in the aspect of its promises to uphold unilateral ceasefire it has declared few weeks ago. Instead of finding amicable solutions, the regime and its Eritrean ally with the Amhara’s regional government that is calling another regional allies to fight its war in Tigray; are actively engaged in ongoing military operation in Tigray, Oromia, Benshangul Gumuz and Kemant causing further bloodshed, severe material and human costs. This must be wholly denounced and immediately stopped. This is the time when the nations of political south were called to support the Amhara elites’ expansionist war on Tigray on July 11, 2021. Due to Abiy’s regime plotted Amhara elites call, the Sidama special force was summoned to an urgent meeting on the evening 12th of July 2021where the Sidama state’s Abiy’s regime installed cadre including the state’s President ‘Desta Ledamo’ and his accomlices have advised the Sidama forces to be ready for deployment to support Amhara elites’ war in Tigray under the pretext of ‘in defence of Ethiopia’. The Sidama’s special forces have out rightly rejected and advised they do not want to kill Tigray civilians and do not want to be unnecessarily sacrificed” (SNLF, 15.07.2021).

Here we see a clear message from the SNLF. It is saying things that the Prosperity Party and Prime Minister Abiy doesn’t want out. He wants to be the grand leader and the one searching for peaceful. However, the ones that follows his tracks knows that his just another Warlord. That’s clear by this statement as well.

Especially, when you see the statement on the ceasefire and how its now reinforcing troops from all the regions. While only listening to his allies of Amhara to continue the war in Tigray.

The SNLF continues:

Subsequently, most these Sidama special forces have disappeared into their own districts and remain in various discreet locations. Additionally, on the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th of July 2021, the Sidama’s Abiy’s desperate cadres called for the Sidama’s ordinary police personnel with some new and untrained recruits from various districts of the Sidama state to fill in their quota and advised them they will be deployed to the Afar not to Amhara. Although these also refused, the recruits were forced and given false promises in return for their services by stressing that upon their return they will be rewarded with unknown kind of prizes. Abiy’s regime-controlled state Media has announced in the evening of July 14, 2021 that the Sidama state has prepared 200 special forces to join the war on Tigray nation under the pretext of maintaining law and order” (SNLF, 15.07.2021).

Here we see what the Federal Government does to continue the conflict as well. They are just randomly recruiting and sending them to the battlefield. It wouldn’t be surprising if the state did the same in Oromia and Ogaden as well. To get a “quota” of new recruits quickly. As the Prosperity Party and Prime Minister needs new soldiers to be able to defeat the TDF. Which he haven’t been able too and now his sending in new blood without long training. Against guerrillas and soldiers who has fought for months. This is sending civilians and youths to their death in a battle, which isn’t theirs, but is all on Prime Minister Abiy.

This sort of message needs to go out far and wide. It shows what the Federal Government is doing and also what its objective is. What is tragic is what will happen to the new recruits and their possible demise. As they are caught up into a conflict, which not earn them anything. However, they will just become another casualty in the war of Abiy. Peace.

Ethiopia Media Authority: Advising to refrain from using terminologies that violate Ethiopia’s sovereign Territorial Integrity (16.07.2021)

Ethiopia Human Rights Commission (EHRC): Protect Civilians from Harassment, Arbitrary Detention and Attacks (15.07.2021)