Ethiopia: Update on the Tripartite Alliance Offensive in Tigray Part II

Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede, the Commander-in Chief of the Tigray Defense Forces confirmed Eritrean forces are in Sheraro, northwestern Tigray, where the rebels said they were resisting a major offensive that Ethiopia and Eritrean troops launched last month on the region. In a statement Thursday, Tigray forces accused the air force of neighboring Eritrea of striking Adi Daero and killing “a number of civilians.” Eritrean forces are fighting alongside Ethiopia’s military in Tigray” (Garowe Online, 01.10.2022).

The bloody and genocidal war is continuing in Northern Ethiopia and especially in the Tigray region. The Tripartite Alliance is targeting the Tigray Defence Force from several fronts, but the alliance haven’t had a huge break-through. Considering the share amount of manpower, mechanical divisions and air-superiority. The Tripartite Alliance should by this offensive launched in September be able to occupy Mekelle by now. However, we are seeing they are still shelling Shire and only getting towards Alamata inside the Tigray region. That’s shocking after all this fighting and forced conscriptions in Eritrea.

The Eritrean Defence Force and Ethiopian National Defence Force must be exhausted or lack well-trained personnel at this point. Because, the armies should together with the militias be able to forge a way into Tigray. It is just showing how they are lacking both the moral, the cleverness or the totality of the war to succeed. They are more into creating massacres, bloodshed and revenging old wounds. Than actually “win” a war. That’s why innocent civilians are brutally killed and no one left to breathe. That’s also reports from sources from within Tigray in the recent days. Rumours of thousands of citizens killed by the invaders. Just so the Tripartite alliance can be proud of their “achievement”.

In addition, Garowe Online had this too:

A source in Eritrea said the authorities were trying to “stir emotions” at public meetings, linking their military intervention to “the existence and sovereignty of the nation”, and saying the TPLF “must be buried”. Last week, fighting was reported in many borders areas, including Adigrat, Rama, Shiraro, and Zalambesa. But many Eritreans have resisted the lasted call-up, saying they do not want to die in what they see as a needless war” (Garowe Online – ‘Eritrea soldiers mobilize civilians to join Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict – sources’ 13.10.2022).

It doesn’t help when these sorts of things happens too:

Leaflets have been distributed in Tigray since yesterday to the people to save themselves from the TPLF genocide. A final offensive is expected in the near future to destroy the remnants of the TPLF tyrant” (Naqfa Press, 15.10.2022).

You know the International Community is addressing it now. When the UN Secretary General wrote a minor statement too. Though, the talk of ceasing the warfare and calls for withdrawal of Eritrean forces won’t do much. It is just singing to the choir… because the intent is already in Asmara and Addis Ababa. The leaflets and the sentiment are already well-known.

The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the escalation of the fighting in Tigray, which is having a devastating impact on civilians in what is already a dire humanitarian situation. He calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The Secretary-General reiterates his full support to an African Union led mediation process and reaffirms the United Nations readiness to support the urgent resumption of talks in order to reach a lasting political settlement to this catastrophic conflict” (United Nations, 15.10.2022).

We will see how this goes, but I wouldn’t trust the Tripartite Alliance to stop. They are in it to conquer and destroy the Tigray region. The Tripartite Alliance is in it and they don’t mind the losses. They are there with a vengeance and no one should expect any peace anytime soon.

The armies are there to bury the whole region and ensure the end of Tigray as we know it. This isn’t about the sovereignty of Ethiopia, because that is violated on the regular by Eritrean forces. No, it is about consolidating power and revenge. That’s the sad reality and the Tigrayan people is suffering because of it. They are currently in the cross-fire and in the middle of the warfare… the victims and the ones who is dying….

However, no one should be shocked by this, when there is reports that the authorities of Eritrea wants “TPLF buried”. That is the message and it means the Tripartite Alliance wants to make the Tigray region a grave-yard. Peace.

Eritrea: Embassy of the State of Eritrea to the United States of America – Blaming the Victim and Saving the Perpetrator Under the Mantle of Human Rights (15.10.2022)

Ethiopia: Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonen letter to Republic of Ireland, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Minister for Defence Simon Coveney (11.10.2022)

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – OLF Statement on the Killing of Molbone Bekele, OLF Central Committee Member (13.10.2022)

Ethiopia: Government of Tigray – External Affairs Office – Statement on the Extension of the Mandate of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (11.10.2022)

Ethiopia: Joint Open letter to the African Union Commission from Salsay Weyane Tigray (SaWeT), National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona) and Tigray Independence Party (TIP) – Call for Substantial and Substantive Engagement of the International Community in Leading the Ethio-Tigray War Mediation Efforts (10.10.2022)

Ethiopia: Government of Tigray – External Affairs Office – Statement from the Central Command of the Government of Tigray (10.10.2022)

Ethiopia: FDRE Permanent Mission to the United Nations – Geneva – Press Release (08.10.2022)

Ethiopia: Oromo Legacy Leadership and Advocacy Association (OLLAA) – Mandate of UN Commission Investigating Ethiopia Renewed (07.10.2022)

Ethiopia: Did the Fact Check forget about Article 52 when addressing the State of Tigray?

Friends of Ethiopia or those that claim to respect the “Sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitution” of Ethiopia should refrain from using illegal terms in the upcoming peace talks to resolve conflict in Ethiopia’s restive north. Expressions such as “Government of” or “State of Tigray”, “Tigray External Service” are not just mere mistakes, but do threaten the sovereignty of Ethiopia and need to be fact-checked. In light of these peace talks, our friends and allies should remember that the two parties are fundamentally different: one a democratically elected, legitimate government and the other, the TPLF armed group. Likewise, expressions such as “Tigray Administration” or “Regional Government of Tigray” are unacceptable because there is no entity in the Tigray region that has been elected in accordance with the Ethiopian constitution. Any attempt to state that the peace talks is between the Federal government and the “Region of Tigray” is not only unacceptable but also violates national sovereignty as well as rules-based international order” (Ethiopia Current Issues Fact Check, 07.10.2022).

The months and months upon end with humanitarian blockade, the warfare and continues conflict is only hurting Northern Ethiopia. The “Law Enforcement Operation” was supposed to be a brief and quick conflict to annihilate the leadership and leaders who defied the Prosperity Party in Mekelle. However, we know that the PP and the PDFJ haven’t been able to get rid of the TPLF for good.

That’s why the Federal Government’s own Ethiopia Current Issues Fact Check, which seems to be a part of the FDRE Government Communication Services have now disregarded and downplayed the Regional State Government of Tigray. It just wants it to be silenced and not supposed to utter itself. Neither is it supposed to operate or work within it’s means.

Nevertheless, the Article 52 of the Constitution gives some stipulations, which is relevant in the matter. Especially, when the FDRE Ethiopia Current Issues Fact Check is publishing such text.

Just read it here:

Article 52. Powers and Functions of States

1. All powers not given expressly to the Federal Government alone, or concurrently to the Federal Government and the States are reserved to the States.

2. Consistent with sub-Article 1 of this article, states shall have the following powers and functions:

(a) To establish a State administration that best advances self-government, a democratic order based on the rule of law; to protect and defend the Federal Constitution;

(b) To enact and execute the State constitution and other laws;

(c) To formulate and execute economic, social and development policies, strategies and plans of State;

(d) to administer land and other natural resources in accordance with Federal Laws;

(e) To levy and collect taxes and duties on revenue sources reserved to the States and to draw up and administer the State budget;

(f) To enact and enforce laws on the State civil service and their condition of work; in the implementation of this responsibility it shall ensure that educational training and experience requirements for any job, title or position approximate national standards;

(g) To establish and administer a state police force, and to maintain public order and peace within the State;” (Ethiopian Constitution).

We know that the House of Federation didn’t accept the recent local elections in the Tigray region. The September 2020 elections we know was contested, but the only elections that was held within the stipulated time in the Constitution and not like the Elections that later “elected” the majority of the Prosperity Party. This is why the House of Federation even had an unconstitutional year before the polls itself. So, when the FDRE own government communication comes with these sorts of texts. They should look into own grievances before touching the Regional State of Tigray. That’s because of how it has operated and blocked it, even with the non-funding and blocking aide before the November 2020. Therefore, the regime in Addis Ababa had for a long time sort of ceased to work with Mekelle. That has been reported too and the Regional State had to work on their own accordingly.

That’s why when the Fact Check dismisses “Regional Government of Tigray” and “Tigray Administration” wouldn’t that mean any other state cannot use those words either? Wouldn’t that mean by definition that any other state that is created in the federation isn’t eligible for this? It cannot only be Tigray, but this has to be for the Somali, Oromia, Amhara or Afar for that matter.

Because everyone who follows knows that for instance the Amhara itself on official publications uses the “Amhara National Regional State” and I have hard to spot the different to “Regional Government of Tigray”. The Tigray Government did only last year use the “Government of National State of Tigray” which is similar to the Amhara. Therefore, these semantics only shows what the dismissal is all about. It is the hatred for the TPLF and it’s so obvious. This is really child’s play to see…

In article 52 it says: “2. Consistent with sub-Article 1 of this article, states shall have the following powers and functions:

(a) To establish a State administration that best advances self-government, a democratic order based on the rule of law; to protect and defend the Federal Constitution” (Ethiopian Constitution).

This here is key, it says State administration, administration is another word for government. Also not only that, but an administration that “best advances self-government” and this gives the State Government of Tigray to rebrand itself to it see fit within the parameters of the Constitution. The Regional State Government can call itself the “Tigray Government” or “Tigray State Administration” as long as it serves within the articles of the Constitution. That is legit and legal entity, as each Regional State should have a “State administration that best advances self-government”. Unless, the Prosperity Party has revised this or amended this part of the Constitution. I have a hard time to understand the issues of the “Fact Check” had with the “Regional Government of Tigray”. It is just following the law and delivering the “best advances of self-government”. Is this to much to grasp for the rulers in Addis Ababa? Or have the scholars of Addis Ababa totally forgotten this vital part of the Constitution?

It think you get my point by now. The hatred and the patronizing affairs is just tiring. Especially, when I have to spell out basics like this. Peace.