Ethiopia: The WAR isn’t over in the Tigray region

Farmers are being forgotten!!

Ethiopian and Eritrean troops are roaming around rural kebelees in Chercher, Korem, Alamata, Adwa, Asum and Shire Endasillasie and Ethiopian army are forgetting the farmers saying “you were a milisha, you are a milisha” In other areas as well. Specially the Eritrean army is robbing rural farmers. The looting of cities continues. Doesn’t the peace agreement apply to the civilians farmers of Tigray? Hasn’t the Ethiopian army that said it will protect Tigray from invaders been given the responsibility to protect the lives and properties of Tigray farmers? When is the agreement going to be implemented?” (Stalin Gebreselassie, 06.11.2022).

After the 2nd November 2022 peace agreement between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) the warfare haven’t ceased. Instead it’s actually continuing. There isn’t a silence of the guns. Neither is there any acts of goodwill or trying to appease the citizens of the Tigray region.

There been reports of usage of drones, air-strikes, continued pillage and looting on the front-lines of the Tripartite Alliance. The Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) and Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano” are still prolonging the war. The Tigray Defence Force (TDF) is continuing to defend these front-lines, which is natural when the invaders are still continuing the warfare.

Following Wednesday’s signed peace deal between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front to end hostilities, several reports have emerged of Ethiopian conducted airstrikes against civilians in Tigray. Peace cannot be possible without Ethiopian cooperation. Also alarming is the continued presence of Ethiopian allied Eritrean forces in Tigray, who are reportedly participating in killings and kidnappings of Tigrayan youth. There has been no indication of a swift withdrawal from the region on their part” (Omna Tigray, 05.11.2022).

So, it is now on the fourth day since the Peace Agreement was signed in South Africa. There is no withdrawal of forces. Neither is there any reports of ceasing of hostilities, which was sort of the ideals of the Peace Agreement. Secondly, the communication blockade is continuing. Another factor is the blockade of humanitarian assistance and medicines is continuing as well. There is no goodwill and no sort of changes. Only a paper signed in South Africa.

The Tigray Defence Forces (TDF) is still defending the region. The people is still living in a man-made famine, starvation and dying because of the lack of medicines. The Tigray region isn’t getting the help it needs. The Tripartite Alliance haven’t retreated or withdrawn their armies within the Tigray region. There is no changes and only gotten lots of positive vibes from the International Community. Even the IMF will issue new negotiations to secure funding for debt or loans the FDRE got to pay.

Until, there is signs of goodwill and actual changes on the ground. The war is going on and not stopping. Neither is there any mechanisms or sort of stipulation that is following up on the Peace Agreement. We can wonder, if the Tripartite Alliance or the TPLF will call for a peace-keeping mission or anything like that. That is something we await or see…

Especially, since the war is continuing. People are losing lives, the plight and looting is continuing. The guns aren’t silenced. Even if the ink on the paper is dry. Peace.

Ethiopia: American Afar Diaspora – Press Statement (03.11.2022)

Ethiopia: Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals (GSTS) – GSTS Position Statement on the Agreement for lasting peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) signed on 2 November 2022 in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa (04.11.2022)

A look into the TPLF’s Bureau of Public Relations Statement on the Peace Agreement

Today’s statement on the 2nd November 2022 Peace Agreement and Cessation of Hostilities between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE), which was signed and negotiated in South Africa. That one of the Parties drops a Press Release and a statement like they did. Is deliberately telling a story. The Prime Minister and the FDRE has already done the same. The parties also released a joint press on it as well. So, there haven’t been silence, but strangely little from Mekelle or associates of it.

However, the Regional Government of Tigray haven’t addressed it and neither a statement from the External Affairs Office of it. That’s why the silence was pellicular, but two days after the signing of the agreement. There was finally a wording and a press statement from this party of the conflict alone.

Here is the two parts of the Press Statement from TPLF that I find interesting!

The people of Tigray have been facing a serious existential threat due to the open military invasion and genocide declared against them since October 24, 2013 EC. Thus, he has been and continues to be subjected to countless betrayals, atrocities and injustices in the past two years. The coalition invading forces have committed destruction against Tigray and its people. The rest of this was scattered and displaced. It is known that the people and government of Tigray have repeatedly called for peace talks to be started to stop this destruction and create a comfortable environment for our people to live in peace” (TPLF – ‘The peace talks agreement will be implemented by putting the interests of the people of Tigray at the center!’ 04.11.2022).

This agreement is the result of our struggle to meet the needs of our people and to protect their security in a sustainable manner. The fundamental achievement of this agreement is respect for the constitution and the constitutional order. The people and government of Tigray were forced into war two years ago because of constitutional violations against us, not because war was our choice. Before and during the war, we have repeatedly demanded respect for the constitution and informed the international community. However, our demands were not responded to positively by the Addis Ababa side and we were forced to stay in the war for a long time” (TPLF – ‘The peace talks agreement will be implemented by putting the interests of the people of Tigray at the center!’ 04.11.2022).

When you read these words and such while knowing how the FDRE has portrayed it all. You will see a fine mismatch of ideals and reasoning. This being who started the war in November 2020 and why the FDRE took action in the first place. The Tripartite Alliance of Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano” and Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) was all part of the “Operation Law Enforcement” and this statement obviously counters that.

We know the Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar – Asmara has questioned the legitimacy of the regional government of Mekelle. That’s why the Tripartite Alliance has with several of offensives and such has tried to conquer and annihilate the Tigray Defence Force (TDF). However, that hasn’t happened, even as the current offensive has gained a corridor from Eritrea, but it never gotten as close to Mekelle, as the Tripartite Alliance wanted. They wanted the TPLF to surrender and just disarm. That is not happening now…

That’s why this statement is more than interesting. It is shedding a light on the Tripartite Alliance it won’t have. The same government that has vilified, recklessly have spewed hateful rhetoric and been disingenuous about its reasons for the war. That’s why so many of the statements from the FDRE could be debunked and so could the lies or deception about the war as well. Therefore, this statement from the TPLF is aiming at that. We know the Tripartite Alliance will dismiss it. That is just the nature of the game.

We can wonder how the spin-doctors of Addis Ababa will look at this. Because this counters their reasons to usher in the war and give them “credibility” to do so. Nevertheless, we shouldn’t expect or anticipate anything sincere from there. It haven’t been common or the modus operandi. That’s why I wouldn’t think that would come anytime soon. Especially when the authorities has acted like it has over the last few years. Prime Minister Abiy and President Afewerki haven’t been honest… and that’s why this sort of statement shows another side of the conflict. Peace.

Ethiopia: Qeerro Bilisummaa Oromoo (QBO) – Oromo Youth Liberation Movement – A call for all Oromians who live in and outside the country (04.11.2022)

Eritrea: Embassy of the State of Eritrea in the United Kingdom – Press Statement (04.11.2022)

Ethiopia: Oromo Legacy Leadership and Advocacy Association (OLLAA) – Drone Attacks and Violence across Western Oromia (25.10.2022)

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front/Army (OLF-OLA High Command) – Intensification of Indiscriminate Aerial Attack on Oromia (25.10.2022)

Ethiopia: The FDRE blames the victims for dying in the Tigray Region…

“A state of war only serves as an excuse for domestic tyranny” Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

The sinister side of the two year was in the Tigray region never ceases to amaze me. The willingness to lie and deceive never ends. The Prosperity Party and it’s allies has no issues making pre-conditions and predetermine the state of affairs. They are willing to be brutal, blunt and directly involve foreign forces on it’s soil. While crying out loud about sovereignty. The ironies of this war is as blunt as the offensives launched on the Tigray region.

The Tripartite Alliance and the FDRE is willing to say that the civilians are used as shields. While the Tripartite Alliance is carpet-bombing cities and strategic towns. It isn’t bombing air-fields, military compounds or even possible military buildings. No, it is bombing civilian targets and inciting fear. While doing so, it is blaming the victims and pinning the blame on the Regional Government, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). That just shows how sinister and without reason the Tripartite Alliance is at this very moment.

There is no justification for these war-crimes. Just like the state cannot justify the rapes, the massacres or the other means of war, which it has orchestrated in this conflict. Yet, here we are and it shows.

Now one authority and use of communication is blaming the victims and pinning it on the enemy. Instead of saying why the Tripartite Alliance is directly bombing civilian areas, central towns, markets and other public spaces. That’s what the air-force and drones are doing. It is deliberate to incite fear and intimidate the population. Just to add more terror and frighten the civilians there.

Just read this latest update from the FDRE:

To offset significant losses on the battlefield, media outlets under the control of the TPLF group have been attempting to influence the diplomatic front with allegations of civilian deaths. With the certainty that the harm and death of vulnerable groups, especially women and children would elicit international outrage and condemnation and it would help meet their objectives. The mission and target of the ENDF is to debilitate the military capabilities of TPLF and liberate the civilians it uses as shield. All units have undergone sufficient training in protecting civilian populations in conflict zones and have proven disciplinary track record. There are many documented cases where, for the production of dramatized footage, TPLF places civilians in harm’s way and manufactures actual victims in the process. In other cases, we find photos in circulation that allege a strike has occurred where there’s demonstrably none” (Ethiopia Current Issues Fact Check, 24.10.2022).

Just to read this now is disgusting. We know the aim of the FDRE and the Tripartite Alliance is to defend the indefensible. The Tripartite Alliance knows killing civilians and unarmed people in midst of war is a war-crime. They didn’t kill active combatants or even militia members. No, it has bombed civilian targets and killed innocent people.

That’s why this text is showing the darkness of the Warlords of Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar and Asmara. They are all vouching for this and planning this invasion. The Tripartite Alliance is all doing this to get a new victory and hopefully get to capture Mekelle. That is the goal and shows how the talks are a waste of time. Since, the FDRE has no sincere condolences or worry about the lives lost. They are just shields and was created to die by the enemy. Instead, of questioning or even show proof of their allegations. It is just more vilification and justification of genocide. The same government that has defended the man-made famine, weaponizing humanitarian assistance and so fourth.

There is no heart in the Tripartite Alliance. They only want to consolidate power and strangle the Tigray region. That’s all it wants and that seems to be it’s aim. The end-game is total annihilation… and they don’t mind a bloodshed. It is the victims fault or the enemies. The Tripartite Alliance is saints and righteous people… which they want people to belief, but they have kept the world in the dark. The region under severe plight and shown no heart. So, I cannot believe that. The truth will set you free and right now the FDRE is lying. Peace.

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – Continous, Systemic and Purposeful Civilian Killings are barbaric and War Crimes, OLF Condemns the series of Air Strike in Civilian areas (24.10.2022)