


Ethiopia: Tigray External Affairs Office – Statement on the Current Condition of Religious and Cultural Heritages in Tigray (24.02.2022)











“There has been no negotiation yet. This does not rule out the possibility of discussions. Negotiation is a method of identifying problem-solving options. We have been betrayed while making efforts to rebuild acknowledging that the region is a part of our country. Negotiation is the upcoming all-inclusive national consultation. The Commissioners of the newly constituted National Dialogue Commission have simply been given the task of coming up with proposals; the Ethiopian people will make the final decisions” – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali (22.02.2022).
Prime Minister Abiy is continuing his path of non-negotiations and non-dialogue, as it is a publicity stunt, which was similar with the releases of opposition leaders of late. The Federal Government haven’t created peace or substantial change in the Republic. There isn’t a direct attack or new operations of invading the Tigray region. No, he ceased advances, but keeps the region besieged. Where he starves it out and stops humanitarian assistance. Which favours the allies of the Prime Minister and the Prosperity Party.
The Prosperity Party and allies are the ones that is holding talks. There is no real discussion or negotiation. The whole Dialogue Commission is made up of loyal cadres of the government. These will not inflict or harm the causes. They are only there to furthering the case. This is as believable as the Ministry of Peace, which has helped the war-effort.
That’s why this is interesting:
“We must be cautious not to fall prey to the enemy’s scheme. We released the prisoners for three reasons: to bring lasting peace, taking into consideration the overall situation of the prisoners, and to consolidate our victory. In a war, there is no such thing as a total triumph. When one party wins a combat while the other party is momentarily defeated, this is known as temporary victory. In turn, the defeated party would resurrect and assault. As a result, true triumph necessitates victory in the realm of peace. This decision has greatly helped Ethiopia. We must not compromise on decisions for the lasting good of the country” (Abiy, 22.02.2022).
This is really striking, as the PM and his government have said early on that the “Operation Law Enforcement” was over after a month in 2020. While the warfare is still on-going in February 2022. The months of war haven’t stopped. The advances and the front-lines might have changed, but the reality is that there is no significant “cease-fire” or agreed upon end of the war between the parties. It is a prolonged affair, which has never ended. That’s because the ENDF, EDF and Fano has all failed to contain the TDF and their allies. This has humiliated Abiy, as he thought he would have a brief and quick war to consolidate power. While having trusted allies in Bahir Dar and Asmara to back him up.
We knew the political prisoners was only let out so that the African Union and the “positivity” could be held for a brief moment. As he could bash in glory with the diaspora and the AU summit. To look grand and prestigious. While other parts of the Republic is burning on a regular basis. Where fights in Oromia, Ogaden, Afar, Amhara and Tigray is happening regularly. As well, as the usage of starvation, man-made famine and humanitarian assistance blockade, which is only hurting third party citizens who happens to live in a region.
That’s why it’s unbelievable that Abiy speaks of peace and triumphs now. As the conflict hasn’t ceased and the Federal Government haven’t one. It is only continuing the suffering and the plights of millions of civilians. While he is eating good and living good in Addis Ababa.
Abiy will not compromise with anyone. He will only bushwhack them and hoodwink the international community. This man will not create peace on the benefits of the people. No, he will only create peace, if he has ensured all consolidation of power. If it wasn’t that dire. He wouldn’t have ordered the war in the first place. That’s why we know there will be no talks or sit-downs with the stakeholders of the conflict. It will continue and the dialogue will be one-sided. Because, talking to the likes of Abiy is like talking to a wall. It is an echo-chamber of hubris and a massive ego. Which will not cease to exist or stop it’s ultimate goal to be crowned the King of the Abyssinia Empire in his life time. Peace.

“Arrests of civilian population continues overnight in Somali State (Ogaden). Dozens of youth & activists arrested in Degahbur town & 10 ONLF veterans arrested in Wardeer town in last 24hrs. House raids at night Increasing all over the Somali State. Public protest increasing” (Ogaden Diaspora Council, 21.02.2022).
“More than 10 ONLF Ex-soldiers have been arrested in Wardher, the capital of Dollo in the Somali region. The government of Mustafa Omar has imprisoned Former ONLF Fighters and Central committee members ONLF deal in 2018 a peace agreement with the Ethiopian government” (Muhammed Abdullah Ali, 20.02.2022).
A week ago on the 15th February 2022, I wrote this start and it’s fitting one week later:
“The Somali Region or the Ogaden region will be set on fire, as the Federal Government and Regional State Government will crack down in the youth and the opposition voices there. They will claim that these are trying to overthrow or a coup d’etat against Somali Region President Mustafa Omar Agjar. However, he was never elected or a representative of the people of the region. He is an unelected regional capo-regime of the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali” (Minbane, 15.02.2022).
It was just like scheduled programming and the Prosperity Party imposed government is doing exactly what we could expect in the Ogaden region or Somali Region of Ethiopia. That is very evident by the recent arrests in Ogaden. This just shows what the state does and how it cracks down on civil society, opposition and dissidents in general.
We are now seeing a clear picture and regional president Mustafa Omar Ajar is clearly doing his bidding of the Addis Ababa regime. He is serving the same sort of vicious tricks, which we have seen in other regions during the Medemer Terror era. Therefore, the acts in Ogaden follows a pattern.
Nobody should be shocked by this, but this a reflection of how the Federal Government of Ethiopia is operating these days. The same is now happening in Ogaden, as it has happened in other parts of the Federal Republic.
Now, the reports are out and the speculations earlier in the month was right. The state has now started to use all means to silence and shut down the opposition there. Peace.

“The humanitarian response operations in northern Ethiopia remain restricted by several factors, including insecurity and bureaucratic impediments such as the inability to bring sufficient supplies, fuel, and cash to Tigray on one hand, and on the other, the high number of people in need, limited access to people in hard-to-reach areas due to insecurity, and limited presence of partners on the ground in some areas” (OCHA, 17.02.2022).
The humanitarian assistance blockade to the Tigray region in Northern Ethiopia isn’t only in words or by description of International Aid agencies. No, it is a real deal and has consequences, as the man made famine and starvation is done in such a large scale.
Just read this one here:
“In Tigray, the most northern parts along the Eritrean border including some kebeles in Rama in Central Zone, Erob in Eastern Zone, and Zala Anbessa town in Eastern Zone are still inaccessible for partners with tens of thousands of people in those areas who have not received any assistance for the past few months. In Amhara, some areas bordering Tigray are still inaccessible including parts in North Gondar, Wag Hemera and North Wollo zones due to security concerns and a volatile situation depriving the population from humanitarian assistance, including from critical food distribution. Hostilities and insecurity continued to block the delivery of humanitarian supplies into Tigray by road, via Semera-Abala-Mekelle, which has not been accessible since 15 December. The current blockage of this route has further exacerbated the flow of humanitarian supplies into Tigray, as the level of the supplies that was allowed before mid-December has been far below what is needed mainly due to bureaucratic impediments.Overall, 1,339 trucks have entered the Tigray region from Semera since 12 July, which represents only 8 per cent of the required supplies needed to meet the vast scale of humanitarian needs in Tigray. An additional 17 trucks of supplies entered from Kombolcha, Amahara, to Tigray last November” (OCHA, 17.02.2022).
When you read stuff like this… it should be a worry and a concern as so many innocent lives are behind the besieged region, which the Federal Government have abandoned and left to die. That’s why all the roads are closed into the Tigray region. While the Federal Government and their allies are claiming it’s the Tigray Defence Force (TDF) who does this damage to the region. Like they haven’t been doing this since the start of the conflict in November 2020. Therefore, we know the drill and it continues.
There is now people in Amhara, Afar and 9 millions in the Tigray region who needs humanitarian assistance in regard to food and other basic necessities. That is something you need to remember. This conflict is only causing more victims and innocent civilians who are dying because of it. Plenty more who is not eating a balanced diet. Therefore, the Federal Government is just showing their sinister plans and how they want to suffocate the region.
One step at the time, one road-block and another bureaucratic hurdle to stop it from entering and getting to the ones in dire need of help. Peace.

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Boris Cheshirkov – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
GENEVA, Switzerland, February 18, 2022 – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is working with the Ethiopian authorities and partners to provide emergency aid to thousands of Eritrean refugees who fled Barahle refugee camp and its environs in the Afar region after fighting engulfed the area.
Refugees who trekked the long distance to the regional capital in Semera told UNHCR staff that armed men entered the camp on 3 February, stole their belongings and occupied their homes. According to their testimonies, at least five refugees were killed and several women were kidnapped. Family members lost one another in the chaos of fleeing the camp.
So far, over 4,000 refugees are in Semera where UNHCR together with Ethiopia’s Government Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) and other partners are providing immediate support with shelter, relief items, food as well as clean water. We have also set up protection desks where the most vulnerable among the refugees, including separated children and others with specific needs, are being identified and provided with support.
Around 10,000 refugees are also reported to be living in Afdera town, approximately 225 kilometers from Semera. Others are also believed to have fled towards the towns of Altefa and Dabure, further inland.
The government has identified a temporary site in Serdo town, 40 kilometers from Semera, where UNHCR, RRS and partners are making preparations in order to quickly relocate refugees.
With yet another refugee camp severely impacted, UNHCR remains extremely worried about the safety and wellbeing of thousands of Eritrean refugees caught up in the conflict.
We condemn the attack on the refugee camp and reiterate the call for cessation of hostilities to avoid further destruction and potential loss of life for refugees and Ethiopians alike, and so that much needed humanitarian assistance can reach them.
There are also large numbers of internally displaced Ethiopians in the Afar region, including some 300,000 uprooted by the recent fighting.
UNHCR will continue our efforts to support the Ethiopian government in its response to refugees and displaced populations affected by the conflict.







