Ethiopia: Abiy we don’t believe you…

Attacks on innocent civilians & destruction of livelihoods by illegal and irregular forces is unacceptable. There is zero tolerance for horrific acts claiming lives recently in both Beninshangul & Oromia regions by elements whose main objective is to terrorize communities. Restoring peace and security in affected communities remains our key priority” (Abiy Ahmed Ali, 20.06.2022).

The head of state, the men of honour and of executive privilege is speaking. This being Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. Who is responding to a public outcry after yet another massacre is going public. Alas, we don’t believe him, because this is to common and practice of the security apparatus of the state. While blaming either the victims or the regional militias, which is doing more to defend civilians, than the security organization of the Federal State.

The ones coming with orders from the federal state can be vicious, sinister and destroy neighbourhoods. The state can with the iron fist and with the orders to quell any dissidents by any means. That means arresting the activists, the youths and whoever else who is vocal. While killing senselessly anyone who steps up and who is of the wrong ethnicity at the time. This being the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), Regional Special Forces who are deployed in other regions than their own or just straight up regional militia trained by government entities like the “Fano”. Therefore, the bloodshed isn’t anything new.

The 200 dead should make you numb and break you heart, but it’s so common. It is the law of the land and is ordered from the “high above”. The PM most likely knows about it. His informed by the regional governments and they know perfectly well what is going on. He is maybe able to fool someone, but not everyone all the time.

The leaks, the videos and the statement of others. Are just proving his involvement and that the state is behind it all. He tried to trick the world about the conflict in the North. Where he was even playing up to a certain point that the Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) wasn’t involved. Until he had to be upfront and say they would “investigate” the matter. However, nothing has ever come out of it. They just accepted the massacres in Tigray and moved on. Just like they created a man-made famine, a well prepared genocide and continued to bushwhack donors to feed the government foreign currency. Therefore, it is hard to believe a government doing that… will ever do something righteous.

Abiy and his allies have lived and thrived on bloodshed. If it was bloody skirmishes in the Ogaden region. The total destruction of Querro and dissidents in Oromia. The deaths and zones of destruction in Afar or parts of the Amhara for that matter now. There isn’t anywhere where the forces of the state is leaving behind peace, but instead leaving behind caskets and dead bodies. The remains of citizens caught in the cross-fire or becoming prey to vicious men in uniform. That is just the “nature” of things and the stores keep coming. There is no brief moment of silence, it is just continued violence.

That’s why statements like today’s from the PM is pointless. We know another massacre will happen in due time. The Regional Special Force, the army or anyone else associated with the state will be the burden behind it and the EHRC will call it out. However, nothing will ever happen and the victims will be pinned on opposition. Because, that is what Abiy does and continues to do. He thinks this trick works and can shield himself from all blame.

However, the gig is up. The bloodshed, the tyranny and the devastation is done in his name. It is on the “medemer” accords and the “fake” unity, which he proclaims on a regular. In the name of “rule of law” which is the weapon to take lives and never have to account for it. Because, the bullets are used, the lives taken and no one is ever responsible for it. These lives are just taken and never any consequences. Villages are destroyed, families are broken up and loved ones taken away prematurely. Just so one man can crown himself king.

This is the “medemer” terror and Abiy will be remembered for that. That is his legacy and the green-washing his name will not save him. The remains on the ground, the blood, the tears and the famines will be the detriment to his name. There will be no legacy of the going green, but bleeding red. Peace.

Ethiopia: Gambella Liberation Army/Front (GLA/F) – Press Release (18.06.2022)

The Gambella Liberation Army has spent at least one year operating jointly with its partner, the OLA in Oromia. GLA/F clearly knows that the enemy is one, which is the PP.

Anywhere there’s PP, GLA/F is willing to conduct join operations together with a sisterly party that really means it to remove PP.

Therefore, an accusation from Okok that OLA and GLA cannot do join operation in Gambella shows that, Okok’s party is used by the prosperity party as aback staber to the United Front.

Last, OLA and GLA cannot be divided by double standard party!

Ethiopia: Statement of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) on the Summary Execution of the Oromos June 18, 2022 (19.06.2022)

[VOL – JUNE 19,2022] While calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the northern part of the country, the government of the Prosperity Party has declared a brutal war on the Oromo people and Oromiya. Government security forces, Gambella and Amhara Regional State Police forces, militiamen, and Fano have targeted peaceful citizens. The Gambella incident and Hartuma Fursi massacre attest to this.

After the reported attack of the allied forces of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and Gambella Liberation Front (GLA) on Sene 6, 2014 (June 13, 2022), Gambella Regional State Security Forces targeted Oromo peaceful civilians in the city. They brutally murdered civilians by singling out Oromos due to their ethnic background. One of such cruel acts was shown in the video that went viral on social media. The video showed a young man whose hands were chained on his back and the government security forces raining several gunshots on him. Such a brutal act happened in a country where security forces were supposed to protect civilians.

As restated by Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, in Hartuma Fursi of Oromo Zone of Amhara Regional State, Amhara Regional State security forces and Fano militants conducted similar brutal summary execution of Oromos. The security men were seen drugging young men and women from a track and shooting on the spot. Corpses are seen thrown on the ground. The killers were heard speaking the Amharic language.

The Oromo Liberation Front condemns, by all possible terms, these illegal, hidden and unhidden summary executions of peaceful Oromos. We have disclosed similar unwarranted killings and summary execution of Oromos in Guji, Wollega, and West Showa Zones earlier. Such irresponsible deeds are unacceptable by any standard, and we strongly request our people to stand against it.

Such barbaric measures will undoubtedly aggravate the already volatile situation in Ethiopia in general and Oromiya in particular. The repetitive actions vividly show the irresponsible behaviour of members of the security forces and institutional and individual lack of interest in correcting such criminal acts.

OLF believes that the Ethiopian government is solely accountable for such heinous perpetration.

Therefore,

1. We demand the immediate cessation of such vicious killings and summary execution. We strongly request an impartial investigation, by a neutral body, into this monstrous act against innocent Oromo civilians.

2. We strongly demand the perpetrators of this criminal act should, without delay, be held accountable in the appropriate court of law transparently.

3. The security forces should refrain from such criminal acts and remain loyal to the people and respect to the constitution and international law rather than siding with a party in the grip of power.

4. We call upon the Oromo people and the rest of the Ethiopian peoples to put pressure on the government so that it renounces armed confrontation in favour of a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Oromiya and elsewhere.

5. We also call upon the international community to pressure the Ethiopian government to stop the hidden war and concomitant mass kiillings in Oromiya and encourage it to settle the conflict which is dragging the country into an endless quagmire. If our international allies leave the current condition in Ethiopia unattended, the downward journey will inevitably sink the country deeper.

Finally, we call upon the Oromo people to stand by the Oromo Regional National Transitional Government of Oromiya, their grantor of peace and security, so that the brutal killings and suffering will end soon.

Victory to the Masses!

Oromo Liberation Front

June 18, 2022

Finfinnee, Oromiya

Ethiopia: Office of the Prime Minister – Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative – Planting Our Print for Future Generations (19.06.2022)

Ethiopia: Joint Letter from Salsay Weyane Tigray (SaWeT), National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona) and Tigray Independence Party (TIP) to US Secretary of State Blinken and EU Representative Borrel – Restoring financial and telecommunication services is key to the humanitarian response in Tigray (16.06.2022)

Ethiopia: Union of Tigreans in Belgium – Urgent Call for EU and its Member States to Swiftly Respond to end the Genocidal War and Catastrophic Humanitarian Crisis on Tigray (17.06.2022)

Ethiopia: Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals (GSTS) – Concerns about the US Embassy Handling fo the Crisis in Tigray and Ethiopia (17.06.2022)

Ethiopia: Oromo Legacy Leadership and Advocacy Association (OLLAA) – Ethiopian Security Forces are targeting Oromos following clash with Armed Groups in Gambella City (17.06.2022)

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front/Army (OLF/A) – Targeting of Oromo Civilians can never Reverse the Course of our Advance (17.06.2022)

Ethiopia: Oromo people singled out in massacre(s) in Gambella region…

Why are innocent civilians killed?

The killings of mass Oromo civilians in the Gambella Region must stop immediately. The government as a government should follow up and investigate and clean up. The perpetrators should be brought to justice; however, killing civilians in the name of “Shane” can cause serious problems as a nation and this brutal act should be stopped.

It is a crime to kill civilians!” (The Golden Mean, 16.06.2022).

There is reports of bloodshed and massacre(s) in the Gambella region in Ethiopia. This is happening as the reported joint forces of Oromo Liberation Front & Gambella Liberation Front in the Gambella region. Therefore, it is a reaction to the rebellion and the regional militias retaliating against the state. We are possibly seeing an act of revenge, which is an war-crime. Nevertheless, these acts of evil doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Which is why I have several of reports from the last 48 hours. Where there thoughts, reports and direct commentary on the situation. That is something I see as fit, because it tells a deeper story.

Just reads these:

On June 15, 2022, Omod Ojulu, the Gambella region chief administrator, announced the establishment of a night curfew that would start at 8 p.m. After that time, only the federal security forces will be allowed to move through the streets, he warned. He also called on the public to inform security forces of any suspicious activity in Gambella city, as well as help security forces in protecting the peace of the city” (Gambella Stars News – ‘Ethiopia: Night curfew imposes in Gambella region start at 8 pm’ 16.06.2022).

Thoughts on the current situation in Gambella.💭My question is what human being will allow a senseless war to occur in their own home without taking action? In his most recent video; Gatluak Buom said only “20% of Nuer people are great and the remaining 80% are senseless”. I must disagree with his statement and challenge his narrative of leading a rebel offense in a city with such a large population of families. In Nuer customary laws and traditions women and children will always be protected in the event of a conflict, this is the reason a large population of civilians involved themselves by taking arms against this rebel group. Your mission to irradicate the current administration has lost its cause after this violent offense. I highly suggest that you retract your position. You can easily gain the trust of Gambella youth to support your mission if you complete this in a non violent means. Nuer society has had enough with war and senseless killings. The effects of this current conflict have been devastating and will take sometime to recover. State building without blood shed can be accomplished in this Era that we live in” (Gambella refugee camps residents/UNHCR, 16.06.2022).

Gambella President Omot Ojulu identifies GLF/A elements that attacked Gambella town.

President of Gambella Omot Ojulu and his deputy Thakuey Joack has confirmed the elements of GLF/A that attacked the State Government yesterday. The elements of GLF/A are Anyuak, Nuer and Oromia forces from Damadollo region. They wanted to overthrow the government of Omot Ojulu and Thakuey Joack leadership over the nepotism and discrimination against the people of Gambella Region” (I Love Nuer, 15.06.2022).

This morning around 6:30 AM, Gambella, Ethiopia was attacked by rebel groups. Many people have died, families have been displaced and homes were destroyed. The fighting took place within a mile of The Hope For Children Orphanage and The Lutheran Seminary. Pastor Simon (pictured) who runs Hope Orphanage and Professor Tor Chul of the Lutheran Seminary have both shared that they are all ok. Please pray with us for the people of Gambella – for immediate peace and safety during this time” (Audio Scripture Ministries, 15.06.2022).

We know by reports that there was between 20 to 40 dead after the skirmishes between government forces and the militias yesterday. Where soldiers and militia members was killed. There was also reports of civilian casualties in Gambella town.

Now, there is reports of retaliation now and civilians targeted out of their ethnicity. That is now done by government forces. That being Amhara regional special forces and other associated authorities. They are shooting at innocent civilians who just lives and resides in the region. They are defenceless and has no weapons. The soldiers are senselessly killing and that’s extra judicial killings, which should be spread. Because, this shows what sort of government that is ruling Ethiopia right now. This is the “Medemer Terror” which some has talked about since the invasion of Tigray region in November 2020. Now, similar actions are now happening in Gambella region.

This is why this has to be called out and it’s a reason why the regional militias is growing in popularity. When the state is just killing people for who they are and their ethnicity. That should be a “warning sign” for a possible genocide. Since, we know the army and regional forces has had their “final offensive” in Oromia for a while too. So, it is not like it’s only in Gambella.

The Prosperity Party makes every region burn and they do in the name “rule of law and law enforcement”. Peace.