Ethiopia: Salsay Weyane Tigray – Weekly press release from Salsay Weyane Tigray (22.01.2024)

Interngovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD): Communique of the 42nd Extraordinary Assembly of IGAD Heads of State and Government, Entebbe, Republic of Uganda (18.01.2024)

Somalia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Press Statement (18.01.2024)

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs letter to Djibouti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (13.01.2024)

Ethiopia: Abiy to trigger Mogadishu even further…

“#Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed is expected to visit Berbera this week to finalise the MoU between Ethiopia and #Somaliland over port access and recognition. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy PM, has already arrived in Hargeisa. Abiy will be the first sitting Ethiopian leader to visit Somaliland” (Sahan Research, 15.01.2024).

“SOURCES: Ethiopian PM expected to visit Berbera this week to finalize the agreement his government made with Somaliland on Jan 1. A delegation led by Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister has arrived in Hargeisa today to plan for Abiy Ahmed’s visit” (Garowe Online, 15.01.2024).

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and the FDRE is continuing on the path to access to the Red Sea and stop being a landlocked nation. That is being done by the agreement made with Hargeisa or the Republic of Somaliland to lease certain amount of territories or port in the nation. Therefore, Abiy is continuing to play with fire.

The lawmakers and the rulers of Mogadishu have reacted to the MoU and said the deal is “null and void”. They have enacted laws stopping the agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Somaliland government. Which are now not only challenged, but tested by the leadership of Addis Ababa.

PM Abiy is willing to destroy diplomatic ties and continuity of amicable relations with Somalia over a favorable agreement with Somaliland. That’s what his doing and this will cause a friction between Addis and Mogadishu. While Hargeisa gets a validation and awaiting the recognition it needs as a separatist republic from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). Somaliland hopes the FDRE gives what the FGS will not give them. Therefore, the sale of territory and getting recognition is more important to the leaders of Hargeisa.

This is about sovereigns and who has the rights to act. It is also about old grievances and involvement, as Mogadishu feels scorn and Hargeisa says “back-off”. While Addis are an external force in it all doing the bidding for own selfish interests. Meanwhile everyone see’s what is at stake and the other IGAD nations should look how this one plays out.

The IGAD seems like a fish out of water and lack control of the matter. The planned meetings and dialogue will lose all steam if Abiy travels to Somaliland. Then the talks with Somalia is over before it happens. Because why should they talk to a man that defies them and doesn’t respect them?

Abiy has already decided, and he needs to “win” this as his “losing” on the home front. There is little to cheer for at home and the FDRE is weaken by years of internal conflict. He needs a victory to salvage the hurt. That’s what he does, and this is an easy one. Even if he destroys all relations with Somalia and becomes an enemy of Mogadishu. That’s the outcome here and it’s tragic really.

This here is a detriment to the relations in the IGAD nations and at the Horn of Africa. As Abiy endanger them all over his own pride and glory. He wants to rule over land, air, and sea. That’s why he does this to enlarge his throne and create a massive legacy. Alas, his also possibly creating another conflict and playing with more fire.

By visiting Hargeisa and Berbera this week… his putting more gasoline on the fire and doing it willingly too. That’s the reality here and he won’t mind because this is a flawed victory for him. Peace.

Ethiopia: Tigray – TIP sounds the alarm on the rising hunger…

We have also lost more than a million lives due to the open genocidal war declared against us, let alone the destruction of property in our homes and villages. This is not a number but our brother, sister, father, mother, children … but our person, dignity and identity in general. Following this, we as a people and as a country are in immense heartache and physical misery. Moreover, the drought and famine we are facing is killing the lives of infants, pregnant women, mothers and the elderly. And there can never be anything more heartbreaking than seeing our country Tigray fall into question marks of existence or non-existence due to the open genocidal war declared against us, cruel drought and famine” (Tigray Independence Party, 13.01.2024).

The conditions of the Tigray Region haven’t become any better since the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoH) in Pretoria, South Africa. The Tigray Interim Regional Administration haven’t the mandate or the power to make a difference. The Interim Administration has called out the Federal Government and the International Community to help them out. However, that has all fallen on deaf ears.

Now the Opposition Party, Tigray Independence Party (TIP) has released their Press Release called “Hunger knows no condition!!” and what it says is tragic. The reports from the Tigray region should worry anyone and that after the brutal war that was fought by the Tripartite Alliance against the Tigrayan people. Therefore, what TIP is saying is a sign of a worrying trend and a cycle of deaths that is never ceasing. Now the people aren’t dying out of conflict, but out of starvation/hunger. That’s a result of the warfare and of the lack of re-building of the regional state.

TIP says: “The “Tigray Emergency Response (TER)” task force has been established as a crucial national task force. We cannot overcome the terrible famine that has been looming over us since early November. We have started and will probably start in the future when we work responsibly, reliably and determinedly based on the rights of the task forces for the safety of our people.
Of course, we can avoid this immense danger not only by using our own capabilities, but even by mobilizing the capabilities of the international community”
(TIP, 13.01.2024).

This famine has been known and been warned about. Since the war there been a humanitarian catastrophe in the Tigray region. As humanitarian assistance has been blocked and the agricultural sector been hurt by war. That has been done with targeted and bureaucratic hurdles to ensure the demise of more people in Tigray. Now that the cessation of hostilities haven’t stopped this and neither has there been reports of steady stream of humanitarian assistance to the region either. Therefore, the continued plight has persisted.

TIP further says: “The leadership and members of our cluster and district organizations should monitor the activities of this task force and whether the aid is reaching the beneficiaries properly; If you ’ve noticed any weaknesses or signs of corruption, please inform the TIP headquarters. Hunger knows no conditions!” (TIP, 13.01.2024).

You know things are bad when the opposition doesn’t trust the TIRA or the TPLF. They are worried that they will eat the aid and not give it to the starving. That is telling in the middle of this crisis and wants a word if people knows. It is really sad things are boiling down to this. The Tigray region needs help and the crisis cannot be forgotten. Yet another famine that continues the trend of destruction and desperation in Tigray.

TIP is only speaking out for the ones in need. They want the TIRA/TPLF to do what they need to do and asks others to help them so they can. This is the sad reality and so many people needs help and they cannot wait for tomorrow. Peace.

Somaliland: Waddani Party – Arbitrary Extrajudicial Detention of Journalists (14.01.2024)

Djibouti: Minstry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation letter to IGAD Member States and IGAD Secretariat (11.01.2024)

Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – Press Release (09.01.2024)

Ethiopia: Oromo Legacy Leadership and Advocacy Association (OLLAA) – OLLAA’s Concern: Tension over MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland and Governments, Urges Caution and Vigilance (08.01.2024)