Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – OLF Continues to Urge the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Handle Refugees Humanely (11.02.2022)

Drought in the Horn of Africa: New Analyses Flag Mounting Risks, Need to Support Rural Families (11.02.2022)

A drought picture from a previous drought in Somalia (sometime in 2016)

FAO senior officials visit affected areas in the rush to save lives and livelihoods.

NAIROBI, Kenya, February 11, 2022 – An extended, multi-season drought is driving acute food insecurity in the Horn of Africa, with 12 to 14 million people now at risk as crops continue to wither and animals weaken, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and partners warned today.

Resource-based conflicts are escalating as competition for water and pasturelands increases, and malnutrition rates are rising in affected areas of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, highlighting the need to sustain the rural livelihoods that underpin peace and food security across the Horn.

At a briefing to international donors in Nairobi, FAO and its partners reported that the food security outlook in the region will be highly dependent on the performance of the upcoming rainy season, with forecasts currently uncertain.

In a worst-case scenario in which the rains completely fail and agricultural-dependent communities do not receive adequate support, the number of highly food insecure people could climb to 15-20 million – with some worst-affected households facing “catastrophic” hunger conditions.

“Drought cycles are intensifying and occurring with greater frequency. Immediate humanitarian action to support farmers and herders is needed now,” said Bechdol, after visiting Kenyan communities where goats and cows are dying from lack of water and pasture. “The international community has a narrow window to prevent a major humanitarian catastrophe here,” she said.

“Alarm bells have already been rung – scaled-up action is needed now,” said Phiri. “FAO carried out anticipatory actions during the latter half of 2021 in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia to mitigate the impacts of drought on over one million rural people and so far a crisis has been mitigated. But much more is needed as the situation deteriorates and as crisis looms,” he said.

A plan to help rural families cope 

Under FAO’s new Horn of Africa Drought Response Plan, $130 million is urgently needed to provide time-critical assistance to highly vulnerable communities in drought-hit regions of the three countries. The plan supports the production of up to 90 million litres of milk and up to 40 000 tonnes of staple food crops in the first part of 2022, putting over one million highly-food insecure people on a safe footing.

For pastoralist families, FAO aims to deliver animal feed and nutritional supplements, provide mobile veterinary health clinics, transport 10 000 litre collapsible water reservoirs to remote areas, and upgrade existing wells to run on solar power.

For farming families, FAO aims to distribute drought-tolerant early-maturing varieties of sorghum, maize, cowpea and other beans and vegetables.

FAO is also carrying out cash transfers and cash-for-work programmes to ensure the most vulnerable can access food.

Additional new analysis published on Thursday from the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) for Somalia, hosted by FAO, shows that in Somalia alone, the number of acutely food insecure people (IPC Phase 3 and 4) is expected to increase from 3.5 to 4.1 million between January and March 2022, if humanitarian assistance is not received on time.

FAO’s Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol; Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, David Phiri; and Director of Emergencies and Resilience, Rein Paulsen have just completed a visit to Kenya to raise awareness on the drought and see FAO’s vital response in action, including in Isiolo and Marsabit counties in the north.

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – The Prosperity Party government must stop Pshysically and Psychologically torturing political prisoners and their Families (10.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and Congress for Somali Cause (CSC) – Joint Press Release (10.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), Debevoise & Plimpton & Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) – Joint Press Release – Landmark Case Filed against Ethiopia for Human Rights Violations in Tigray (08.02.2022)

Ethiopia: The Global Society of Tigrai Scholars (GSTS) – Misrepresentation of the Genocidal War on Tigray, by the Ethiopian Government, as an African Issue (07.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Congress of Somali Cause (CSC) – Statement by the Congress of Somali Cause (CSC) on National Dialogue Commission in Ethiopia (06.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – Ethiopian Human Rights Commission’s report concerning the Karrayyu Massacre (05.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Afar Revolutionary Party – The Tigray Criminals (TPLF) Commit Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes against Humanity against Afar People in the Afar Region of Ethiopia (05.02.2022)

Ethiopia: Prime Minister Abiy’s unjustified lies at the “Welcoming Remarks” at the AU Assembly

If you have followed the head of state of Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, you know that he can lie and tell stories, which is easily to debunk. There been plenty of statements, speeches and press releases where his state and his own office has been insincere. Therefore, when he speaks… you should take it with a grain of salt.

Today, I will only take a small piece of his speech at the 35th ordinary sessions at the African Union (AU) earlier today. I find it reasonable to first show it and later address the mismanaged information, which is prevalent… just take a look!

In this respect, the past year was particularly challenging to our continent in general, and my own country Ethiopia in particular. Ethiopia’s challenge was internal in nature and a matter of maintaining law and order. But resolution of our internal matters was made exceedingly difficult by the role played by external actors. I wish to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support, solidarity and understanding as we underwent these trying times. As you are aware, despite the intransigence of the other side in this conflict, my Government has taken a variety of measures to minimize the loss of life and destruction of property. We have implemented unilateral withdrawal from conflict areas and used force that is necessary to ensure law and order. As a gesture of good will, we have released high profile suspects with a view to creating a conducive environment for peace. We shall leave no stone unturned in our search for peace in our country. Consistent with our commitment to peaceful resolution of conflict, we have recently launched an inclusive national dialogue platform with formal legislation. Our commitment to pursuing a lasting and durable peace in our country shall remain steadfast” (Abiy, 05.02.2022).

We know that the Prime Minister is speaking of the conflict, which has been going on from November 2020. It is still on-going and the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) is using drones to attack civilians and citizens within the Tigray region. They have maybe stopped their advances, but that is it. While other allies is fighting in the Afar Region and in the Western part of the Tigray region. Where Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano” and Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) is still using lethal means. As well, as the state has cleansed Wollo of Tigrayan people, as a result of the warfare. Therefore, the state isn’t sincere in how it describes their “unilateral” ceasefire, as it is shallow and the humanitarian assistance blockade is prolonged. So, the PM is showing his lying behaviour here.

He calls the “Operation Law Enforcement” but it is a fully-fledged war with allies from both internally in Ethiopia, but also Eritrea in combination of outside actors supplying the Federal Government with drones and other military equipment. It is not like the Federal Government is working in a vacuum and on a lonely island with nobody helping the ENDF…

The state has used all means to destroy infrastructure, industry and other facilities within the Tigray region. The allies of the state has not only touched religious buildings, but has raided hospitals and other state institutions as well. The state has participated in massacres and killing innocent civilians. It is forcing the region to starvation and lacking basic necessities. The same PM that said electricity and phone-lines wasn’t that vital. As the man himself claims to care about “law and order”.

The talk of inclusive national dialogue is rubbish, as Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) and Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) are all not invited or part of it. It will only be a bazaar of bad ideas and speak of Amhara “unity” to unify Gondar and Bahir Dar, I suppose, because there will only be the “anointed” ones and the “opposition” who is already in cabinet and in near association with the ideals of the current regime. Therefore, the national dialogue is a waste of time at this current time.

I don’t believe that the PM is seeking peace. However, the PM is seeking to consolidate all power and silence his critics. He only released the opposition leaders and activists to get the African Union to hold the General Assembly and that effort was successful. So, that he could bash in glory yesterday … and continue it today. Therefore, his using Jawar and Gerba as pawns yet again… even Eskinder Nega who is game-on together with Abiy pursuing the war.

So, the ones believing these words in 2022. You are fooled. The man planned the war and secured the efforts with all of his allies. That was done to get rid of their foe. However, the war has backfired and the operations was as swiftly as the state actors said. As it should have ended and gotten into the second phase in late November 2020. We are supposed to forget that?

While his speaking of seeking durable peace in February 2022 … and saying his actions are sincere. They are not and there is no indication of pure intentions from him or his allies. No, that’s not happening and it’s evident for every day that goes by. We can await worse reports and more lives lost. As the heads of states wants to salvage their “win” and finally finishing their annihilation of their enemies in the Tigray region. Peace.