Ethiopia: Tigray External Affairs Office – Response to the Globe and Mail’s “Report” on Sexual Violence in Amhara Region (30.11.2021)

Opinion: Abiy promises total victory again [Like he did on the 16th Nov. 2020 & 26th Nov. 2020]

The youth of Tigray is perishing like leaves. Knowing it is defeated, it is being led by one who does not have a clear vision or plan. It should surrender today to the Ethiopian National Defence Force, to the special forces, to the militias and to the people” (…) “The enemy has been defeated. We scored an unthinkable victory with the eastern command in one day… Now in the west we will repeat this victory” – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali (From footage released on 30th November 2021).

On the 17th November 2020 after about two weeks of conflict and civil war in the “Law Enforcement Operation”. The man high on power and brief successive victories proclaimed to the world, that the Tigray conflict was in it’s “final phase”.

The three-day deadline for the Tigray regional special forces and militia to hand themselves over to national defence forces instead of being a tool for the greedy junta has expired. Those Tigray special forces and militia who used the three-day deadline are appreciated, Since the deadline has been completed, in the coming days the final law enforcement activities will be done” (Abiy, 17.11.2020).

Now a year later on the 30th November 2021. The same man coming with similar threats. There been plenty of offensives and now a ‘counteroffensive’. The ENDF and allies has used all of their means to win the war. They have used all tactics and deployed all sinister means to gain advantage. This is everything from weaponizing humanitarian assistance, blockage of utilities, communications and whatever the Federal Government deemed fit. Therefore, the PM cannot think people will believe his stories now.

The PM did state again on the 26th November 2020 that it was the “final phase” and ending of the conflict. However, we know perfectly well that didn’t happen and the threats was useless. The PM and his allies didn’t have the knowledge or the strategic thinking to think differently. As the Tigray Defence Force (TDF) restructured and started warfare in a different manner of which the state underestimated. That is why they are on the advancing end and the ENDF is trying to regain lost territory, as it has lost 10,000 soldiers only defending the Afar region over the recent days. This is the results of the civil-war and the burden Abiy has put on his own people.

The PM is doing like he did last year asking the TDF and its allies to surrender last year in November. When the TDF and allies in encircling Addis Ababa. Why would they do it now? When they could have done it … when Mekelle was bombed and their territory was controlled by the Tripartite Alliance. Nevertheless, this PM isn’t that bright or smart to figure that one out.

He rather sounds boost-full and having it all in order. As the “survival campaign” and Nationwide State of Emergency isn’t regaining quickly enough territory or weakening his adversaries. Clearly, the TDF-OLA union has ensured the warfare to turn the tide. As they taking territory and planning joint manoeuvrers. That was a luxury the Federal Government had with ENDF, EDF, Fano and Special Forces all combating one enemy. Now this has become much more hectic and with several of Liberation Armies to beat.

The ‘counteroffensive’ and the publicity stunt of having the PM on the frontline must be a golden opportunity of the FDRE. However, it is also showing it’s weakness. As they are supposed to need the manpower of the man who should sit in the situation room and get all intelligence from the front. He should navigate together with the generals and commanders. Find the best strategy and not just look at the sky, the moon and the dust. Figuring out from which hill he should cross or what sort of trick he should pick out of his sleeve. Nevertheless, that is where we are and he thinks he can repeat itself and it will work wonders.

The fools that is joining his war and many are dying on the front. That’s why the 10,000 revelations shows what price it has cost the FDRE to regain territory in the Afar region alone. Therefore, the PM maybe needs to boost his ego and show some finesse.

Still, that is a lot too ask this late in the game. There is little wiggle room and the PM uses whatever he has at this disposal. We know the TDF-OLA alliance has hurt his prospects. We know they been able to capture lot’s of prisoners of war. That has been proven and displayed. Nevertheless, that has never ended the war.

The PM can be in public and create a lot of theatre, but everyone knows that this doesn’t win him the war. It is just prolonged and the agony continues. As the people are starving, struggling and the pain is delivered to the door-steps of even more people. This isn’t only happening in the Tigray region, which have gotten the blunt force of the state, but also in Amhara, Afar and Oromia. Where there is various degrees of suffering, because of the conflict. It all has to be addressed and the pain, suffering and the adherent needs are growing. As the state and FDRE vilifies the UN and everyone delivering “wheat aid”. Therefore, this isn’t becoming better by the day, but much worse. As we cannot know the true extent or what sort of levels of devastation in the Republic.

Time will tell… but Abiy needs new tricks and new measures. Since, re-issuing the same sort of statements. Only shows that his not winning, but slowly losing. Peace.

Ethiopia: Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) President Debretsion Gebremichael letter to Antonio Guterres – Concern of the Meddling of non-African countries in the genocidal war of Ethiopia (27.11.2021)

Ethiopia: Abiy tries to emulate Debretsion Gebremichael now…

Just as the supposed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali is at the front-lines. While sitting in the middle of the field with fancy conference-room chairs and a desk. Where he held a massive speech to the Republican Guards and other military leaders. As well, as sitting beside him was “liqe mekwas” or his body-double, which is his impersonator or the “double of the emperor”. That was very visible on one of the pictures leaked to the press.

PM Abiy copies the meeting outside and gathering people to get the vision like the Tigray have been doing. While also wearing a Tegaru scarf just like TPLF President Debretsion Gebremichael is known for doing. This is emulating and copying his enemy, but doing it without any sophistication.

The man is supposed to be on the front-line, but the chairs looks from a half-way decent hotel and they are clean too. Abiy looks like he has had a shower and been groomed for the meeting. Secondly, the “liqe mekwas” wearing a suit and tie, which wouldn’t fit on the battlefield. Unless, you are playing around and mocking the whole war from afar.

Some reports even say he was in Bishoftu at the Kurufu Resort or the Tadiyos Hotel, while the private jet the PM uses was stationed at Bishoftu Air Force base. While the PM held the meeting on the grass in-front of the forest there. However, that haven’t been verified, but he looks so fresh and so clean for being on the front-line.

The PM looks like he haven’t had dirt, dust or anything under his fingernails even. As he walks impeccably with his military fatigue and held a speech. The publicity stunt isn’t working smoothly. It isn’t making it believable. Only the cult will believe this stunt.

This is not a PR victory. Only shows how he want to be a carbon-copy of his enemies. While never ceasing to compete on all fronts. Abiy is only showing out of touch and how he thinks this will work. This is not clever, but only proving his arrogance and his hubris in the midst of war.

When you take a conference room from a hotel or a resort and station it in-front of a forest to stage that your are at the front-line. That just shows that you have lost the plot. Not only that, but you have tried to make it look like a leadership gathering like your enemies and wearing their scarf. That just shows what sort of mental game-plan the Prime Minister has at the very moment. He is just boosting his own ego. As the ‘counter-offensive’ is happening in the border-region of Afar. Since the takeover of certain towns there of late. However, nobody knows for how long this can last. Certainly, Abiy isn’t there fighting, as his to nurtured to be there now. Peace.

Ethiopia: Statement from The Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray concerning the prevailing atrocity and stop the ethnic mass arrest and evict of Tigrians from all regions of Ethiopia and Western zone of Tigray (25.11.2021)

Ethiopia: The Global Society of Tigrai Scholars (GSTS) – Denouncing Addis Ababa University’s Recent Statement and Warning to Revoke Academic Degrees of Individuals Based on their Political Opinion (28.11.2021)

Ethiopia: The World Oromo Congress (WOC) – Statement on the Threats against the Security of Oromo Political Prisoners (26.11.2021)

Ethiopia: Press Release by the United Front of Ethiopian Federalist and Confederalist Forces (UFEFCF) on Ongoing Genocide in Ethiopia! – Subjecting the Entire People of Tigray to Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide in Ethiopia Must Be Immediately Stopped and Condemned in the Strongest Possible Terms! (26.11.2021)

Ethiopia: Abiy sounds like his winning the war…

What you see behind me is a mountain area that was a strong hold for the enemy until yesterday. Now we have managed to clear the area fully. The morale of the defence forces is really great. This war is being undertaken with great feat. Now we have taken Kasagita. Today we will take over Chifra and Burqa. We will continue until Ethiopia’s freedom is ensured. We want to see is an Ethiopia that stands on our sacrifices – either to be Ethiopian or to be Ethiopia. We are confident that we will make this happen through victory. Our people are beside us” (…) “Our people beside us. Our brothers in Ethiopia are using all their capacity to making their voices heard. Academics are making their voices heard. Our role then is to be at the forefront leading the forces and ensuring success. You have seen the victory attained in a one day battle. This will continue with many great victories. The enemy does not have the posture that can compete with us. We will win. And we will transfer a free and prosperous country for our children. That is what we are here to do. And the results are good.” – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali at the frontline in Afar Region (26.11.2021).

The Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy released a video from the frontline in Afar Region. The area where the Tigray Defence Force (TDF) have stagnate and not been able to get through. The Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) and Afar Regional Special Forces have been able to stop the invasion from the TDF, which had plans to get to the strategic town of Mille. However, this is something the TDF haven’t been able too and they have been hit back there.

What is clear here is that the ‘counteroffensive’ is done in the Bati and Chifra areas of the Afar Region. This is done while the TDF and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) alliance was moving forward and getting close to Addis Ababa (Finfinne). This is a clear motivation to stifle movement forward or advancing in strategic parts of the Amhara Region. While the TDF-OLA alliance have been able to create a lot of damage there. While the ENDF and allies are trying to get back into Tigray region by manoeuvring with additional manpower in the Afar region. However, we don’t know how long that can hold.

Since, the ‘counteroffensive’ cannot continue or be viable. If the Debre Birhan is falling. As the sooner or later is encircling Addis Ababa. As the OLA and the joint forces on the frontline will have ability to advance for several parts of Amhara and Oromia. That is why the ENDF have to return back and redeploy to safeguard the capital, which they cannot afford to loose to the United Front against the ENDF and it’s allies.

What is striking about the PM is that his still have the same rhetoric, as he had of late. While only claiming his forces are fighting for Ethiopia. Just like the TDF-OLA United Front isn’t fighting for the Republic either. That is like saying only your side is fighting a just war. This just shows the current narrative and undermining the others. However, that is natural, as the PM and allies ordered the war and it has backfired.

The PM now wants to seem confident…. He wants it seem like they have control and has strengthen their cause. Abiy is forgetting about the current Nationwide State of Emergency and all the revisions of it. Which only shows the problems of the state, as well, as the need for the PM to be in the frontline. Since the Head of State should be in the situation room and discuss the overview of the war. So, he could have a total oversight over the conflict he ordered in November 2020. Now, he has to sound like he got it, but we know he don’t. As there are speculations of advancing TDF in Amhara region on several of fronts. This means they are encircling Addis Ababa.

The TDF-OLA United Front aiming at Addis Ababa would hurt the FDRE more than taking Mille. At this point, that makes more sense and the victory of bashing itself in the capital would damage the PM forever. To take a territory in Afar region wouldn’t do the same damage to his reputation or his armies. This is maybe why they have focused their troops on the fronts in Amhara region. That is clear by how things are going.

Lastly, it’s been a while since I seen someone so fresh and clean at a frontline. Seemed like he was untouched and straight from the shower. No dust, no wrinkled clothes and just Metal Gear Solid or Battlefield for PlayStation ready. However, but who I am to judge. I am sure he just came directly from the Palace to the frontline that day. Peace.

Ethiopia: Millions more in need of food assistance as a direct result of conflict in Northern Ethiopia, says WFP (26.11.2021)

Of the people across northern Ethiopia in need of assistance, more than 80% (7.8 million) of them are behind battle lines.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 26, 2021 – The number of people in need of humanitarian food assistance across northern Ethiopia has grown to an estimated 9.4 million as a direct result of ongoing conflict, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today.

Amhara region – the frontlines of the conflict in Ethiopia – has seen the largest jump in numbers with 3.7 million people now in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Of the people across northern Ethiopia in need of assistance, more than 80% (7.8 million) of them are behind battle lines. It is vital that food assistance can cross battle lines to reach families in need.

  • This week WFP delivered food to over 10,000 people in the Amhara towns of Dessie and Kombolcha on behalf of the Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP). These are the first distributions to happen in these towns since they were taken over by Tigray Forces almost a month ago. WFP was only granted full access to its warehouses in the region last week.
  • The nutrition situation across North Ethiopia is deteriorating with screening data from all three regions showing malnutrition rates between 16%-28% for children. Even more alarmingly, up to 50% of pregnant and breastfeeding women screened in Amhara and Tigray were also found to be malnourished.
  • To date WFP has reached more than 3.2 million people with emergency food and nutrition assistance across northern Ethiopia, including 875,000 vulnerable mothers and children with nutritionally fortified food in Tigray and Amhara.
  • United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flights into Tigray resumed on Wednesday, rotating the first humanitarian workers into and out of the region since a security incident on 22 October.
  • WFP needs a million litres of fuel to be able to reach the 7.8 million people who are currently behind the battle lines and in urgent need of food assistance. Tigray Authorities have made fuel available for WFP in Kombolcha – with an initial batch of 45,000 litres already on its way to support the scale-up of food assistance in Tigray.
  • A convoy loaded with 2,200 metric tons of life-saving food is expected to arrive in Mekelle in the coming days, 35 trucks have arrived so far. In addition, trucks loaded with food from Kombolcha are being sent into Southern Tigray today.
  • Corridors into Tigray had been closed due to the recent Tigrayan offences on Afar and Amhara, as well as severe disruptions in clearances from Federal Government. Since mid-July, less than a third of the supplies required to meet estimated humanitarian food needs have entered the region.
  • In Tigray, in this current round of food assistance, WFP has reached 180,000 people – just 7 percent of the 2.5 million WFP needs to reach.
  • In Amhara, WFP has reached more than 220,000 people with food and nutrition assistance and is scaling up to reach 650,000 people.
  • In Afar, WFP has distributed food to 124,000 people out of its targeted 534,000.
  • WFP’s Northern Ethiopia response urgently requires US$316 million to deliver assistance over the next six months. Across the entire country, WFP has an unprecedented funding gap of US$579 million to save and change the lives of 12 million people over the next six months.
  • Funding shortages have already forced ration cuts for some 710,000 refugees and 2.4 million food insecure people in Somali region.