Ethiopia: Djibouti’s Proxy War in Afar Region…

1) 26 small sized reconnaissance drones purchased from China by the Djibouti regime were delivered to the Somali region in Ethiopia on Monday, June 3, 2024. Half of these drones can operate at night as they are equipped with infrared. Eight Djiboutian army officers received training on operation of these drones in the Presidential Guard camp in Djibouti and they are currently in Ethiopia in Dire Dawa hosted by the Ugaas of Issa, Mustapha Mohamed Ibrahim to train 15 others for 3 weeks to operate the drones.

2) The majority of Somalis engaged since June 1, 2024 in the fight against Afar region in Ethiopia belong to the Ogaden clan from Kenya. They are paid handsomely and recruited from villages, some from remote villages. The massive recruitment of Ogadenis was made possible by the intervention of certain Somali leaders in Kenya, in particular the former Speaker of the Kenyan parliament, Farah Moalim” (Lettre Confidentielle de Djibouti, 08.06.2024).

Since April 2024 there been reports of skirmishes in the Sitti Zone of the Afar Region. This being done by the Issa-Somali militias, which happens to be supported by the Djibouti regime and stationed in the Ogaden (Somali) region.

It is now alleged that all of the training and military equipment is coming from Djibouti. They are helping the mercenaries and fighters who attacks the Afar region. These who are from the Somali origin and elsewhere. The proxy war is now in affect.

The Ogaden and Issa-Somali are trying to spin it as they are victims and defending their lands. While they are initially attacking and trying to take over the pastoral-ize zones of the Afar region. This is shown now.

That the cosmopolitan city of Dire Dawa is used as a hub for the warfare should be warning sign too. This is what the leadership of Djibouti is up too and it’s weakening the neighbour. The proxy war should be condemned and put chills down the spine of the leaders in Addis Ababa. However, Prime Minister Abiy haven’t said a word or ordered anything. It’s like it has his blessing and it’s weakening two regional states. That’s why his accepting it and it takes away the accountability and transparency in the lack of government services on his behalf.

It is also telling when the Afar Regional Special Forces and the locally trained militias are able to contain and stop the Djibouti sponsored armies. The fighters and soldiers from the Somali region who are getting specialized training. Should by all account be inferior to the Afarian. However, they are able to repel the attacks. This is why it’s going on for months on end. It is showing the strength of Semara, but also the will of the Afar people.

This here is all tragic news as the regions are suffering. The proxy-war is just a damning enterprise and a sign of deteriorating borders. As the foreign supported war is able to harm Afar region so much. It shows also the lack of concern from the Federal Government that let this happen. As long as mercenaries and outsiders are trying to force people to flee their land and settle. They are wanting to annex and ensure superiority over it. That’s what is going on and it’s a nightmare.

This here shouldn’t happen, but Guelleh has his war and is in invested in it. He has people participating and doing his bidding within Ethiopia. That should ring the alarm bells in Addis Ababa. However, I doubt it… because they have enough trying to defeat other internal militias to get anywhere. Peace.

Ethiopia: Afar Revolutionary Party (APR) – Afar UGUUGUMO Condemns Abduction of Afar Children by Somali Regional State Forces, Djubouti Military Mercenaries, and ONLF Terrorist Group (07.06.2024)

Ethiopia: Somali Political Parties (UDFP, WSDP & SFP) – Press Release (05.06.2024)

Ethiopia: Afar Revolutionary Party (APR) – War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity Committed by the Somali Regional Forces, Djibouti Mercenaries, and the ONLF against Afar Civilians in Adda-Ado District, Yngudi, Afar Region (02.06.2024)

Ethiopia: Oromo Scholars and Professionals – Oromos should reject the “Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission” (03.06.2024)

Ethiopia: Afar Region – Sitti Solidarity Council – Press Statement (02.06.2024)

Ethiopia: Salsay Weyane Tigray – Impending Catastrophe for Displaced Tigrayans! (03.06.2024)

Ethiopia: Abiy’s dialogue isn’t believable…

Today is a new chapter for Ethiopia” – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali (01.06.2024)

Maybe if this had been in 2018 and when there was hope in the air. Then the idea of this and the acts of the Federal Government would have been believable. However, the years of the Prosperity Party, the wars and the conflicts of the nation. It is unbelievable to be sincere or honest.

Prime Minister Abiy wants to speak big game, but it won’t be honest. No, he wants a trick and headlines. A man with the Ministry of Peace, but has constant internal conflict. A man who speaks peace, but orders wars. His a warlord who desperately wants to be a peaceful diplomat. We all know the gist by now and the citizens are feeling the pendulum swinging too.

There isn’t any hope on the horizon. Neither is there any sort of consensus or sort of proper dialogue to be held. We know the talks will be to see who participate and who can be bargained with. That’s the deal here…

Abiy is about consolidating power by any means. The National Dialogue Commission will have as much use as the Ministry of Peace. They are both nice in spirit, but in reality it’s the devil. The innocent is already butchered and the ideals of sincerity is long gone. Abiy won’t serve that and take people in with open arms. No, he wants to figure out ways to outsmart and snare people into a trap. That’s what he does… and get them under his spell.

There is hard to believe in the idea or belief of the dialogue when there is warfare going on. It isn’t like there will be talks with the enemies of the state in Oromia or in Amhara regions. Neither will certain opposition parties partake or even try to participate. That’s when you know it isn’t built for the promise it’s pledges. When it lack substantial parties and stakeholders… it will only be there to create headlines and a make-belief.

The mirage of Abiy shouldn’t be sold. The Warlord won’t bring a prosperous peace. No, he won’t make it happen. He can’t stop touching things and interfere. It is bound to be a failure and that’s on the accord of him wanting so badly to be the little King. The next emperor and high priest of the nation. That’s who Abiy wants to be and the crown he wants to wear so badly.

This dialogue will lead to nowhere. There is nowhere to go and it’s bound to crash and burn. It will deliver a report and be based on the epic storytelling of the PM. However, it won’t be real or do what it said it did. There is to may component missing and everyone can see that. Peace.

Ethiopia: After three years – The TPLF is soon allowed to return to “normalcy”…

The Council of Ministers has approved a proclamation allowing formerly banned organizations to re-register as political parties. Pending approval from the House of Peoples’ Representatives, this amendment could pave the way for political groups like the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to attain legal party status once again. The Prime Minister’s office revealed that the existing Electoral Proclamation lacked provisions for groups involved in past non-peaceful activities to transition into legitimate political entities. However, the proposed amendments would offer a framework for such groups, emphasizing the abandonment of violence and a commitment to peaceful operations. Following unanimous endorsement from the Council of Ministers, the draft has been sent to parliament for approval” (Addis Standard, 31.05.2024).

On the 5th May 2021 the Council of Ministers approved a resolution that the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) would be designated as a “terrorist organization”. That’s why today is a big deal, as the Council of Ministers are on the 31st May 2024 is opening up for the TPLF to get re-registered as a political party. After over three years of being seen as so, but after the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, the TPLF and the Federal Government had to work together. So, it couldn’t have worked to be an illegal organization for much longer.

The Prosperity Party and the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has made amends with the TPLF. The recent talks have been favourable and they have been reassured. The TIRA is delivering and following the agreements, which is what Abiy wants too.

We knew this was all political and not sincere, as stated by Redwan Hussain last year:

As you are all aware, the TPLF was labelled as a terrorist organisation not because of ideological differences, a political programme, the TPLF’s possession of weapons, or the fact that it held elections. The TPLF was labelled a terrorist organisation not merely to make our defence forces feel more at ease in continuing the fight. To continue the war, we do not need to label TPLF as a terrorist group; we can already declare war on the basis of the constitution and military establishment’s decree. The defence is now fighting many armed groups in several parts of Ethiopia, including Gambella and Benshangul. However we have not labelled these armed groups as terrorist. Until recently, Only OLF and TPLF have been labelled as terrorists. For some time after the war began, the TPLF was not labelled as a terrorist organisation. The fundamental purpose for labelling the TPLF as terrorist is to control and weaken TPLF’s political and economic power, as well as provide better capacity to our defence and federal police” –Minister, National Security Advisor to the PM of FDRE, Redwan Hussein (22.03.2023).

It is compelling that the PP is changing heart now. That’s to legitimize the TPLF. For the ones that wanted it defunct and annihilate it. Certainly they have lost, but the TPLF is weakened after the war in the North. They are on talking terms, but not a powerhouse, which they were before. The Tigray region isn’t in a good place yet. The war-torn region is still hurting and the people are far from in a good place. Therefore, the re-registration is a nice gesture for the political elite, but it isn’t saving all the victims of the war.

The Tigray region needs more than a political revival of the TPLF. It needs to be genuinely a part of the Federation and gets it’s direct support. The FDRE have disassociated and worked against the Tigray region even before the war. That’s because the TPLF didn’t want to disband and be a part of the Prosperity Party after the ending of the EPRDF coalition. Therefore, the reality now is that Abiy has leverage and isn’t worried about them anymore. This is why he can give them “life” again.

That’s how I see it. The war was about consolidating power and beating an enemy who wouldn’t want to bend the knee. Now they are doing so and following the direct decrees of Addis Ababa. That’s why Mekelle get some fanfare, but they are not getting ready to party just yet. No, they have to much work and struggles to overcome. Peace.

Ethiopia: Assimba Democratic Party (ADP) – Press Release (29.05.2024)

The invading Eritrean army is trying to distort the identity of citizens in Tigray region  in Irob, Gulemakhada, Zalanbesa, Egala and Badme districts by force.

But the facts are:

  1. It is the Eritrean army that broke the Algiers Treaty by re-invading Tigray.
  2. According to the agreement, there is no land reserved for Eritrea,
  3. The people of Tigray who live in the occupied territories do not want to be separated to Eritrea. Knowing these reasons, we strongly express that the international community should pressurize the invading Eritrean army to leave Tigray territories immediately.