
EAPRI: Dialogue for Reconciliation, Healing, Peace and Stability in East Africa (20.06.2018)



The Ethiopia’s government lead by the new PM has yesterday released eight some of key ONLF’s political leaders and officers, whose freedom it deprived years ago. These leaders were part of thousands of Ogaden Somalis detained whilst fighting the right of their people to self-determination. These heroes paid an ultimate price for their people as they languish for a period of time in various substandard detention centres under torture and the other appalling conditions. Their selfilsess sacrifices for their people won’t be forgotten for generations to come.
Although releasing them is a positive step in the right direction, still millions of Somali people are in open prison while, thousands are languishing in both official and undisclosed detention centres in Ogaden. Around two thousand who were released recently from the infamous jail Ogaden, were sent to quasi-slave labour camp under the disguise of rehabilitating them and forced to till land taken from the local people along the Shabelle river. The ONLF advises that the new Ethiopain government lead by Dr Abiy Ahmend speeds up the release of all prisoners of conscious whose freedom is denied; and stop any further abuses in Ogaden and Ethiopia.
Furthermore, the ONLF believes that as a new leader, the new prime minister has an opportunity to turn a new chapter by genuinely and seriously addressing the core issues that are the source of conflict and inestimable suffering that befell all corners of Horn of Africa with Ogaden and Eritrea as the Epicentre since the Second World War.
The only means through winch genuine and sustainable peace and security could be achieved is by mathematically recognising the rights of all nations to unfettered self-determination and genuine democracy in the Ethiopian Empire state. Moreover, the Ethiopian state must change the culture of violence in dealing with genuine demands of all peoples under its rule and its neighbours.
The ONLF is always open to genuine dialogue that is based on mutual respect and principled negotiation that adheres to internationally accepted norms and genuine desire to reach a win -win solution which is meant to seriously address the rightful demands of the Somali people in Ogaden, instead of attempting to achieve quick fixes for a problem that existed for almost a century, where many lives were lost on all sides.
Finally, the ONLF strongly believes that the multi-faceted conflict in Ethiopia only can be solved through the genuine participation of all stakeholders and that none shall be left out, including neighbouring countries that are affected. Similarly, if the International community involvement is to bear positive results, it must engage all stakeholders, instead of conveniently being selective and ignoring the multitude who bears the cost of the perennial conflict in Ethiopia
Ogaden shall be free. The Ethiopian people shall Genuine Democracy and peace.
Issued by ONLF

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has retaliated towards the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Front (EPRDF) Executive Council and their wanting to respect the Algiers Agreement with the Eritrean brothers on their borders and the territory squabble. That has lasted and is why the two parties have been fighting over territory. The TPLF are really ruling the show and shown that over time, but isn’t accepting the provisions of the Executive Committee, that means the possible points from there is pointless. The TPLF and the Tigrai clearly want to have total control. They are not accepting that others are making decisions and changing the possible future. That is why these news are coming and in the future.
The TPLF are clearly reacting quickly, as this happen in the beginning of June and now in Mid-June in the first meeting of the TPLF, they are retaliating to the decisions made. The EPRDF will be guided by the TPLF, therefore, these results will be final. As they are not accepting anyone else. The Woyane has usually gotten their will in the coalition, as they have the major positions, while the other has technical and more soft places in the hierarchy.
From FANA BC:
“Addis Ababa, June 14, 2018 (FBC) – The Central Committee of the Tigray People’s Libration Font (TPLF) concluded its emergency meeting yesterday. The three-day meeting held 10-15 June, 2018 mainly deliberated on the recent decision of Executive Committee of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). In its meeting last week, the Executive Committee decided to accept and implement the Algiers Agreement and privatize state-owned enterprises. In a statement issued yesterday, the Front said that it accepts both decisions taken by the Executive Committee. However, it said, precautions should be made in the implementations of the decisions. It further said the move lacks completeness since both decisions were taken without the consultation of the EPRDF Council and affiliate parties. TPLF finally called for urgent meeting of EPRDF’s Executive Committee and Council to look into and evaluate current affairs” (FANA Broadcasting Company- ‘TPLF concludes emergency meeting’, 14.06.2018).
From Tigrai Online:
“If the current EPRDF government is contemplating to surrender the disputed Ethiopian territories which are part of the Tigrai State, it will lose more than a few patches of lands, it will be digging its own grave as a political party in Ethiopia. First the people will not allow such treasonous action to take place. Second any uncalculated hasty decision will create a huge rift among member parties. EPRDF might even split in two or more groups permanently and that would be a disaster for the party and the country” (Tigrai Online – ‘EPRDF Executive Committee decision regarding the Algiers agreement rejected by majority Ethiopians’ 14.06.2018).
This here shows the problem in the Ethiopian politics at the moment. The power of the TPLF and how they are seemingly controlling the EPRDF and the ethnic politics in Ethiopia. This here is taking it to a tee. The battle of supremacy shouldn’t need to be there, as the TPLF should be a part of the whole nation to work for progress and development. They should co-operate with all the other political groups and make good solutions for Ethiopia. Instead, they are preoccupied with controlling the political scene and the nation itself.
That is why the TPLF decision to scrap the Executive Committee agreements and the plans ahead. Proves that the Prime Minister is being stopped from progression. The TPLF don’t want to move forward. But continue to have the total control. Peace.

Today I read something that boggled my mind. It didn’t make, sense because this counter everything we known about the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF), a political coalition made by the Tigray People’s Liberation Party and their allies. To forge ethnic parties in Ethiopia, but at the same time keep the power at the center. Meaning the TPLF is the ones that is the strongest and in control. Therefore, it is hard to believe reading this, that the other parties are suddenly crossing their feathers. That just puzzles me, but then again. I didn’t drop the dossier on social media. Someone else did.
“The EPRDF establishment is no doubt shaken by the sudden turn of events and faces a changing party. TPLF chairman has already expressed his displeasure with multiple issues, inc. release of certain prisoners and PM Abiy’s speech in Ambo where he thanked the Oromo youth—Qeerroo” (…) “EPRDF’s democratic centralism means the PM and his side (inc. Lemma, Demeke and Gedu Andargachew) will face deep criticism (Gimgema in Amharic). The TPLF chief has said the process that led to Abiy’s election was outside the norm of Revolutionary Democracy. Mistrust is rife” (…) “TPLFites say OPDO is flaunting party culture by not strictly adhering to revolutionary democacy and democratic centralism. The forced retirement of TPLF old guard has become a sore issue. TPLF boss has questioned the wisdom of replacing party elders who did not wish to retire” (…) “Other issues likely to be deliberated upon at the Exec committee meeting: The continued displacement of Amhara civilians from Oromia and Benishangul; Abdi Illey and the Liyu Police onslaught in Eastern Oromia. The EPRDF bosses will also outline plans for party Congress in August” (Mohammed Ademo, 05.06.2018).
That TPLF are saying this seems like drama. Seems like away of playing to the gallery. Have a hard time believing they feel sidelined. If they did, then Dr. Abiy Ahmed should really replace hardliners from TPLF. I don’t think he dares. He wouldn’t do that, he knows the party organizations, he knows the play. This is shadow play.
This is just making a fuzz, the TPLF will continue to control. They just don’t like that Dr. Abiy went outside their parameter and took them off guard. They want a puppet, they want someone who is like Hailemariam Desalegne. Who can be muffled and controlled. A full fledged puppeteer, who will whisk every time they need it and cheer when they need that too. Because the TPLF will not be questioned. The TPLF need their rights and their basic principals. Since everyone else in the “alliance” is there because of them. They are created and elevated because of them.
We know that there is some parts who are struggling with the new PM as this was written recently: “The new Ethiopian prime minister is doing too much and too fast probably he is eager to please everyone in all sides. Prime Minister Abiy’s actions for the first weeks after he took office must have been exiting for many Ethiopians, however as time goes on the euphoria that swept across Ethiopia is fading faster than morning fog” (Tigrai Online – ‘Lift the state of emergency in Ethiopia, and lose the country’ 02.06.2018).
Clearly, he is doing something to piss them off. He speaks in away they are not used. They cannot manage that everyone is not following the program. Everyone is supposed to follow the program. Even the PM. Because that is the way of TPLF. They are just using the EPRDF coalition as a front. That is known. That is why I wonder about this leak and for what purpose. Seems like they are trying to forge issues. When there is most likely not. As they really made other plans or PR stunts later in the day. Peace.


On the Morning of May 10, 2018 the killing squads created by TPLF in the Somali Territory code named Liyu-police in order to terrorise them as special police abducted Ms Taysir Omar Food, a twenty four year old unmarried girl and Lynched her at the Qabridaharre police station in Ogaden. After two ours they called the relatives of the extra-judicially killed girl and asked them to sign a disclosure claiming that she killed herself. The relatives who immediately took the picture of the girl with marks of the wire used for lynching and nail scratch during her struggle, refused to sign the paper and run crying to the town centre.
After hearing what happened the town’s folk took to the streets and started an impromptu demonstration. The Ethiopian army and security forces tried to frighten the demonstrators firing life bullets. Later the head of security and army in Qabridaharre called the elders and asked them to calm the people but the elders refused. Hundreds of people were detained and the town was put under Curfew.
The Ethiopian Army and Liyu-police has been committing massive violations of human rights in the Somali territory under Ethiopia for the last twenty five years and has made the Somali territory(Ogaden) hell on Earth. Although the Somali people resisted and paid a heavy price for struggle for their right to self-determination, the new upheavals that started in other parts of Ethiopia has brought a measure of hope that at least the new Prime Minister will take action against the TPLF right hand henchman in Ogaden, who was the main instrument of TPLF pogrom in Ogaden, Abdi Ilay. However, after the status quo in Ogaden was kept as before, despite changes in the Ethiopia, the Somali people started agitating peacefully for their rights. Activists in Europe and America intensified their propagation of the crimes committed in Ogaden and demonstrations started in Siti (Shinile)Region, then spread to Fafan(Jigjiga) and parts of Degahbur, Godey and in the Whole of the Ogaden where the people started expressing the need for change and lifting of the undeclared marshall law in Ogaden that was imposed since 1994, when ONLF was banned and the territory put under undeclared military administration, using the Somali regional administration as proxy.
The Killing of Taysir by lynching is reminiscent of the lynching of Ms Ridwan by the Ethiopian army in 2007, is a new catalyst for the insurrection of Somali people to get rid of TPLF special rule that is based on war economy, using the Ogaden as cash cow to rebuilt Tigray region.
ONLF Categorically condemns the Ethiopian regime that allows the criminals in Ogaden to terrorise a whole nation and commit such heinous crimes as befell Taysir to continue and calls the Somali people to unite and stand together in order to liberate the Somali people from this criminal regime and achieve genuine self-determination.
ONLF calls upon the international community to pressure the Ethiopian government to stop the crimes it is coming against the Somali people using such people as Abdi Ilay and allow the Somali people to exercise their right to self-determination.
ONLF supports and stands by the Somali people in their struggle against occupation and tyranny.
Unity, Perseverance, Self-reliance and Victory to the People

Since the end of March 2018, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF) selected their new Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ali. That happens after the end of February, when the Command Post and the Minister of Defense Siraj Fegessa announced another State of Emergency, that was approved by the Parliament early March and means the continued oppression of the protesters in the regions of Amhara and Oromia would continue. As it has, it hasn’t stopped with the selection of Dr. Abiy as the PM. The Command Post and Agazi Squad has continued their raids, the terror and tyranny in the Somali Region, Ogaden, Amhara and Oromia.
James Moody reports: “The Somali region protests erupted on 20 April. The first protests called for the regional government to release 1,500 prisoners, as it had promised to do in February (Africa News, 28 February 2018). In the following days the protests gained momentum, spreading to other towns in the Siti zone, and the scope of the complaints widened – the protests were increasingly against corruption and abuse by the regional president, Abdi Illey. Illey is generally unpopular in Somali province because of his violent deployment of the Somali regional militia, the Liyu Police (ACLED, 12 April 2018) and because of corruption accusations. However, not only is Illey facing challenges from the population, he is also balancing leadership turbulence within his own party. On 24 April, Illey fired the deputy regional president, Abdikarim Igali, fearing that Igali would capitalise on the regional protests to mount a challenge to Illey’s position in the Somali government (Addis Standard, 27 April 2018). This strategy backfired, instead provoking increased protest, particularly from Igali’s home district of Shinile. Illey’s other response to the protests has been to reinforce security by ordering Liyu Police forces back to the regional capital Jijiga. There have been relatively few confrontations between the Liyu police and protesters, but responses to calm the protesters should be cautious to avoid further conflagration” (James Moody – ‘ETHIOPIA: PROTESTS SHIFT FROM OROMIA TO SOMALI PROVINCE’ 05.05.2018, link: https://www.acleddata.com/2018/05/05/ethiopia-protests-shift-from-oromia-to-somali-province/).
So the government hasn’t changed, the new PM makes a shining light with speeches and public gatherings. However, the actions of the EPRDF is still fueled with aggression against the population. That hasn’t changed, not with the new PM. It is more of the same. Just nicer speeches and impression of hope. While the dire needs are still there and the authorities are still acting oblivious world-wide, while locally cracking down on anyone questioning the EPRDF, the TPLF infused government.
For the second time within the three months, there is again violent skirmishes from the authorities in Moyale, which happen last time in February 2018. The reason this time is unknown, there are reports of casualties, but none verified as the gun-shots has appeared, as well as fires in the town. Also that people are fleeing from the town to Kenya. Just like they did in February. Therefore, the government has no direct solution.
We know also that things aren’t getting better with the problems in various regions as the reports on the 3rd May 2018, when the Federal Attorney General ordered that all arrests done by the Command Post in regions, would be taken care of in the states and not federal. Meaning, the local leaderships and their courts will be in-charge of the ones detained while it occurred during the State of Emergency. Also, securing that the TPLF central government isn’t the ones who are keeping people arrested, but the local leadership.
There been little sign of hope, less if you look at the beautiful words, but those words doesn’t bring justice to oppressed, to the ones shackled and detained, the ones afraid of speaking, the ones afraid of gathering and the ones who might lose their lives. Just for standing up against a government, which doesn’t represent them or their kind. They are just representing businesses and foreign interests. Not the public, not the regions and not the unemployed youths or poor peasants, who deserves a government that actually represent them. Peace.




The United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) condemns today’s suicide bombing in the city of Gaalkacyo, which reportedly killed government security officers and civilians.
“This attack occurred because extremists feel threatened by the progress that is being made with reconciliation efforts in Gaalkacyo,” said the head of UNSOM, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Michael Keating.
“The country has suffered enough violence and bloodshed; it is time for reconciliation,” he added. “The people and authorities in Gaalkacyo are courageously finding a way forward; they should not be derailed by this assault on their chances of a peaceful future.’’
According to initial reports, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in an area of the city known as Jiiro Abdullahi Yusuf, where security forces were stationed, earlier on Saturday morning, killing at least two senior security force commanders as well as civilians. Al-Shabaab has reportedly claimed responsibility.
UNSOM expresses its condolences to the families and colleagues of the victims and wishes the injured a full and speedy recovery.
