Ethiopia: The Global Society of Tigrai Scholars (GSTS) – Misrepresentation of the Genocidal War on Tigray, by the Ethiopian Government, as an African Issue (07.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Congress of Somali Cause (CSC) – Statement by the Congress of Somali Cause (CSC) on National Dialogue Commission in Ethiopia (06.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – Ethiopian Human Rights Commission’s report concerning the Karrayyu Massacre (05.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Afar Revolutionary Party – The Tigray Criminals (TPLF) Commit Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes against Humanity against Afar People in the Afar Region of Ethiopia (05.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Prime Minister Abiy’s unjustified lies at the “Welcoming Remarks” at the AU Assembly

If you have followed the head of state of Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, you know that he can lie and tell stories, which is easily to debunk. There been plenty of statements, speeches and press releases where his state and his own office has been insincere. Therefore, when he speaks… you should take it with a grain of salt.

Today, I will only take a small piece of his speech at the 35th ordinary sessions at the African Union (AU) earlier today. I find it reasonable to first show it and later address the mismanaged information, which is prevalent… just take a look!

In this respect, the past year was particularly challenging to our continent in general, and my own country Ethiopia in particular. Ethiopia’s challenge was internal in nature and a matter of maintaining law and order. But resolution of our internal matters was made exceedingly difficult by the role played by external actors. I wish to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support, solidarity and understanding as we underwent these trying times. As you are aware, despite the intransigence of the other side in this conflict, my Government has taken a variety of measures to minimize the loss of life and destruction of property. We have implemented unilateral withdrawal from conflict areas and used force that is necessary to ensure law and order. As a gesture of good will, we have released high profile suspects with a view to creating a conducive environment for peace. We shall leave no stone unturned in our search for peace in our country. Consistent with our commitment to peaceful resolution of conflict, we have recently launched an inclusive national dialogue platform with formal legislation. Our commitment to pursuing a lasting and durable peace in our country shall remain steadfast” (Abiy, 05.02.2022).

We know that the Prime Minister is speaking of the conflict, which has been going on from November 2020. It is still on-going and the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) is using drones to attack civilians and citizens within the Tigray region. They have maybe stopped their advances, but that is it. While other allies is fighting in the Afar Region and in the Western part of the Tigray region. Where Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano” and Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) is still using lethal means. As well, as the state has cleansed Wollo of Tigrayan people, as a result of the warfare. Therefore, the state isn’t sincere in how it describes their “unilateral” ceasefire, as it is shallow and the humanitarian assistance blockade is prolonged. So, the PM is showing his lying behaviour here.

He calls the “Operation Law Enforcement” but it is a fully-fledged war with allies from both internally in Ethiopia, but also Eritrea in combination of outside actors supplying the Federal Government with drones and other military equipment. It is not like the Federal Government is working in a vacuum and on a lonely island with nobody helping the ENDF…

The state has used all means to destroy infrastructure, industry and other facilities within the Tigray region. The allies of the state has not only touched religious buildings, but has raided hospitals and other state institutions as well. The state has participated in massacres and killing innocent civilians. It is forcing the region to starvation and lacking basic necessities. The same PM that said electricity and phone-lines wasn’t that vital. As the man himself claims to care about “law and order”.

The talk of inclusive national dialogue is rubbish, as Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) and Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) are all not invited or part of it. It will only be a bazaar of bad ideas and speak of Amhara “unity” to unify Gondar and Bahir Dar, I suppose, because there will only be the “anointed” ones and the “opposition” who is already in cabinet and in near association with the ideals of the current regime. Therefore, the national dialogue is a waste of time at this current time.

I don’t believe that the PM is seeking peace. However, the PM is seeking to consolidate all power and silence his critics. He only released the opposition leaders and activists to get the African Union to hold the General Assembly and that effort was successful. So, that he could bash in glory yesterday … and continue it today. Therefore, his using Jawar and Gerba as pawns yet again… even Eskinder Nega who is game-on together with Abiy pursuing the war.

So, the ones believing these words in 2022. You are fooled. The man planned the war and secured the efforts with all of his allies. That was done to get rid of their foe. However, the war has backfired and the operations was as swiftly as the state actors said. As it should have ended and gotten into the second phase in late November 2020. We are supposed to forget that?

While his speaking of seeking durable peace in February 2022 … and saying his actions are sincere. They are not and there is no indication of pure intentions from him or his allies. No, that’s not happening and it’s evident for every day that goes by. We can await worse reports and more lives lost. As the heads of states wants to salvage their “win” and finally finishing their annihilation of their enemies in the Tigray region. Peace.

Ethiopia: Prime Minister Abiy – Welcoming Remarks at the 35th ordinary Session of the AU Assembly (05.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Newest OCHA Report on Northern Regions states that 9 million needs food assistance and there is now 200,000 IDPs in Afar region

“Across northern Ethiopia, it is expected that constant humanitarian food assistance will be required at least throughout 2022” (OCHA, 04.02.2022).

The situation across the region is worsening, as the humanitarian assistance is either stopped, blocked or not able to access. The bureaucratic constrains combined with prolonged war-effort is ensuring lives is in danger and living in dire straits. As unknown number of civilians in the Tigray region, Amhara and Afar is now touched by the conflict. These are all innocent civilians who is caught in a crossfire between the parties and the involvement of the Federal Government. They are the ones who is blocking the needed access to humanitarian assistance in the area.

The explanations of OCHA are very vivid and direct. There is clearly a need for help and people are starving and lacking needed food for their diets. It’s so deliberate, as these sorts of efforts continues months upon months with no end. The dire situation isn’t changing, and the government is blaming the victims for not accepting it. This is their scheme and the whole region is hurting because of it.

Escalated conflict ensures more IDPs:

The situation in northern Ethiopia remains tense and volatile. While the situation in Tigray and Amhara regions was relatively calm during the reporting week with static lines of contact, heavy clashes were reported in Afar Region, along the border with Tigray, including in Abala, Berhale, Dalol, Erebti, Koneba and Megale woredas. These recent hostilities are further putting civilian lives at risk, increasing the humanitarian needs notably through higher populations’ displacement impacting livelihoods, and restricted access hindering humanitarian delivery to affected areas in Afar. According to the Afar regional authorities, more than 200,000 people have been displaced due to the recent fighting in the region and are scattered in remote areas with little or no access to critical items such as food and water. Reportedly, several internally displaced persons (IDPs) have arrived in Afdera town. Humanitarian partners could not verify the displacement figures as well as assess the needs of the displaced populations due to access constraints. The situation of the newly displaced people, however, is anticipated to be dire. This wave of IDPs comes on top of a previous caseload of previously displaced people, who have been returning to their places of origin, thus increasing the number of vulnerable people in need of urgent life-saving humanitarian assistance” (OCHA, 04.02.2022).

Fuel constrains:

“Fuel delivery is still restricted with no fuel for humanitarian operations allowed into Tigray since 2 August, except for two WFP trucks. Unable to receive sufficient fuel loans locally, partners had to reduce, postpone, or cancel critical operations such as distributions of food, water, medicine, and nutrition. Child protection services by one partner had to be completely suspended in the South-Eastern zone for lack of fuel and cash” (OCHA, 04.02.2022).

Food insecurity:

“Food assistance will be required throughout 2022 across northern Ethiopia. Population living in inaccessible areas (bordering areas and Western Zone), who were not covered in the assessment, will likely be facing an even worse food security situation since they have not been provided with assistance sufficiently. More than 9 million people need food assistance in northern Ethiopia. Regular flow of sufficient fuel, cash, and food supplies into Tigray to sustain food assistance. Provision of food assistance in hard-to-reach areas in Amhara and Afar” (OCHA, 04.02.2022).

This is just a bare minimum of the information from OCHA. As the records and the updates clearly indicates that the stocks are not only running low, but often empty. Because, of the tireless games of bureaucratic hurdles the Federal Government have been applying. While blocking and having their humanitarian assistance blockade of the Tigray region. Which is now in addition hurting Afar region and parts of Amhara. That’s all part of their way to try to defeat their enemies and make

Opinion: The Rebel born out of War is set to create Peace [according to IGAD]

The executive secretary of IGAD requested the President to intervene and help IGAD find a long-lasting solution to conflicts in some of its member states and he agreed to do so, they asked the President to intervene and help resolve the conflicts because of his experience in leadership and conflict resolution but he said he can’t do it as singlehandedly, he needs to engage other leaders in the region” – Mr Faruk Kirunda, the deputy presidential press secretary of IGAD (01.01.2022) – (Stephen Otage & Paul Adude – ‘Museveni to mediate Sudan, Ethiopia conflict’ 02.02.2022, Daily Monitor).

This is actual disbelief. Not that this idea is anything new. They used President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni in the Inter-Burundian Dialogue, which was a travesty of a diplomatic mission and also used his tricks in the 2018 in South Sudan. Therefore, some might say his the right guy, but I beg to differ.

This man has sent soldiers all across the board. This President has used warfare to help his causes. To install puppets and his head of state’s elsewhere. Museveni have used violence, warfare and fierce conflicts to get on top. It is not like Museveni came with peace and peace endured. No, he prolonged warfare in Northern Uganda for years… and he could have silenced the guns earlier.

Museveni has spoken with double tongue so many times. If it was in relations to the genocide in Rwanda and getting Kagame into office in Kigali. The manner of which he took down Mobutu Sese Seko in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Neither will we need to discuss how he used militias and military operations to bring down Laurent Kabila in the DRC. There is also speculations in his involvement in South Sudan founding father Joseph Garang.

That’s why I have hard time believing in a man that couldn’t even honour the Nairobi Peace Accord of 17th December 1985. It was just the next month and a momentum, which brought him into power. Therefore, he celebrated NRM at 36th Year Celebration on the 26th January 2022 in honour of the takeover and coup d’etat on the 26th January 1986.

So, that man… who used military means and conflict to rise to the top. Is the man that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) trusts to mediate and help solving conflicts in Sudan and Ethiopia. This man is the wrong one and the most insincere one.

Since, during the mediation in South Sudan in 2018. He sent snipers and was the arms-dealer of the state. While trading arms to them not only during an arms embargo, but holding talks at the State House with various of fractions within the conflict there. That is the sort of fella Museveni and that shouldn’t be forgotten.

Museveni supports para-military groups and insurgencies, when it benefits him and his allies. He has done it countless of times in the DRC and it will not stop. That is the sort of President he is. So, I have a hard time to believe him to be neither neutral or seeking peace. He will find ways to make the current leaders free and ensure the big-men in their respective strongholds. Just like he supported President Salva Kiir Mayardit in South Sudan and only held a few meeting at the State House with other parties.

Therefore, having Museveni to play parley and peace is the wrong person to do so. The President hasn’t been sincere and a known liar. So, this man shouldn’t be trusted and his objectivity is usually questionable at best.

The IGAD should seek more qualified and less questionable leader to mediate in conflicts, as this man will not solve anything. Alas, he will only prolong the agony and find ways to benefit from the things happening himself. That’s the sort of man he is and Museveni shouldn’t be anywhere close to the stakeholders in Sudan or mediate in the conflict in Ethiopia.

If Museveni was supposed to do so, I would expect him to gracefully get visit from Transitional Sovereign Council at the State House of Entebbe and bash in their glory. While accepting all stipulations and ideals of army commanders of Khartoum. As Museveni wouldn’t challenge or seek talks from Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) or any of the other civilian Resistance Committee’s, which is on the streets demonstrating for a civilian elected government. Therefore, it would be half-assed and a lie. Where the President and his Vice would get play, but the others wouldn’t even be touched…

If he would be like this in concern to Sudan. How do you think he would be, in consideration with the stakeholders and the parties of the conflict in Ethiopia? Secondly, who believes the Prime Minister Abiy will even talk or negotiate with Tigray/Oromo leadership, which he has fallen out from. Therefore, Museveni … will not be the guy or the mediator the world needs.

Museveni will not solve or resolve things. No, he will only make a splash, hold hands and sing Kum Ba Yah around the tent-fire. However, don’t expect him to single-handedly make a difference. No, he will just find ways to profit from the situation himself. That is what he does… and that’s the sinister truth in all of this. Peace.

Ethiopia: UNICEF – Prolonged drought pushing families in Ethiopia to the brink (01.02.022)

Ethiopia: The Global Society of Tigrai Scholars (GSTS) – A Call to Ethiopian Scholars to Support and Facilitate Comprehensive Dialogue for Enduring Peace in Ethiopia (31.01.2022)