Opinion: It seems like Abiy don’t need Hailemariam Desalegn anymore…

There is now reports that the former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has an arrest warrant on him. There is a pending corruption case, which questions missing funds $50 million, which was misused and not spent as promised on agricultural equipment from Poland. Therefore, an old case is suddenly appearing and haunting the former Prime Minister.

When these sorts of things happens years after. As we have seen the succession of Abiy and the years in power. This seems like a sting and operation to take down a former ally who paved the way for Abiy to get into office. That is how it seems to me.

The money is most likely eaten and the ones in office is doing the same. If not they are misusing funds to combat it’s own people and asking for donors for military equipment to kill their own. Surely, the former PM have to answer for his own grievances.

However, this is a political game, as Abiy is safe and has the throne. He feels superior and untouchable, as the warfare haven’t hit home and neither has the crippling economy. So, as long as the gig is working. He can focus on consolidating all power and this way go after someone who can put him in a bad light.

Which just happens to be the former Prime Minister. A man who did the noble thing and resigned after failing. A PM stepping down after misusing his office and suspending the rights of his people. Using the Command Post and the State of Emergency to further the plight of the demonstrating youths. Alas, the former PM did the graceful thing and bowed out.

Nevertheless, Abiy rather silence and get rid of his critics. That’s why this fits a pattern and now he seeks a former ally and a predecessor. In such a way to silence and stop him too. To use the past and the courts to go after him. It is just so fitting and a political move, as the same courts has been used against high profiled opposition. Therefore, we know the drill and the motivation for it now.

Just like Abiy have gone after and gotten rid of the ones that made him like Lemma Megersa. It seems like he has put the target on Hailemariam now. The one who was before him and to signal that anyone can be touched. That is how it seems… and it wouldn’t be shocking. As there are plenty of political prisoners lingering in jail and the former PM would maybe even join fellow jailbirds who he put behind bars during his reign.

Therefore, this is just a sign of cleaning the house and furthering his consolidating of power, which is a enterprise, which doesn’t seem to slow down. However, it just takes new forms and the PM isn’t done with doing so. Peace.

Ethiopia: Oromia Liberation Front/Army (OLF-OLA) – The Net Results of Abiy’s ‘National Dialogue’ Prolongs the Ethiopian Civil War than End It! (29.01.2022)

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.

Ethiopia: Refugees and Returnees Service – Statement in Response to Accounts by UNHCR and UNOCHA (25.01.2022)

Ethiopia: Tigray External Affairs Office – Press Statement on Current Developments (25.01.2022)

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)

Ethiopia: Oganden National Liberation Front (ONLF) – Communique – ONLF Executive Commitee and Resolutions (21.01.2022)

Ethiopia: Statement by worldwide Oromo Civic, Professional, Advocacy, Human Rights, and Community organizations regarding the establishment of a National Dialogue Commission (NDC) in Ethiopia (21.01.2022)