Opinion: Afwerki wants it both ways…

“I have no intention of interfering in this matter despite the disinformation campaign going on trying to disrupt the process of peace in Ethiopia” (…) “You talk about withdrawal or no withdrawal (of Eritrean forces), and we say this is nonsense. Why are we bothered if Eritrean troops were there or not there?” (…) “Everybody talking about human rights violations (by Eritrean forces), rape, looting, this is a fantasy in the minds of those who own this factory that I call a factory of fabricating misinformation” – President Isaias Afwerki (09.02.2022).

A President for Life without elections, political opposition or any sort of accountability. He is the man to talk about responsibility and disinformation. When he himself controls every word about himself and whatever that is reported in the State of Eritrea. Shabait will only write favourably about him and his reign. Even where there is no proof of positive vibes or reforms. However, that doesn’t matter… as long as President Isaias Afwerki is crowned King.

No one should be surprised that Afwerki is blaming others for his own gains. That is what he does and he has tried to settle old grudges by going to war. The PIA or the President of Eritrea have tried to end the nemesis and old enemies of Tigray to no avail. He has retaliated and he has done what he could to avenge the past. However, as part of the Tripartite Alliance to tear Tigray apart isn’t over.

That’s why he has talked in Kenya and in a separate interview on Eri-TV where he has called it the proxy war of the United States of America. Like the TPLF wasn’t attacking Asmara in self-defence, as the borders of the region was filled with armies prepared to invade in November 2020. We are just supposed to forget that and not know the initial preparation, as a part of the peace-agreement, which is kept secret. That is why for some of us… the agreement made between Abiy and Afwerki seems like a war-pact. When you see what happened after the 2018 “peace” agreement.

It isn’t hard to believe that Afwerki wants to distort and downplay the role his armies and allies played in Tigray. That’s what his doing in the retorts in Kenya and in the interview on Eri-TV. He wants to be righteous and be a reasonable man. Even when his totally wrong and knows the acts of his armies within Ethiopia. They are there on accord with the ruling regime and the sovereign allowed it.

Still, the Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) didn’t come in peace, and it wasn’t intended to be this way. It was a war that was to be fought in darkness and create shallow graves of the ones who defied Addis Ababa and Asmara. That was the gist of this, the manner of which Afwerki got to retaliate and revenge Mekelle for past transgressions. That’s why this is personal to him, and he got to loot the ones who fought against him.

President Afwerki is willing to lie about it all and disregard anyone else. That’s why his like this and speaks about in this manner. It is all to create an alternative perception and make it seems differently. However, the reports and the proof of their actions in Tigray is there. Anyone would be naïve to think otherwise. That the men and the people who participated, ordered and sanctioned the atrocities would say it openly. Afwerki wants a clean-slate and act like the EDF wasn’t part of it. Alas, make it seem like they only participated in it in self-defence, which isn’t true. The Tripartite Alliance prepared, planned and enforced this war. That’s why he wants the spot-light on the victims and blame for their demise. Peace.

Ethiopia: The UNOPS and World Bank funds will not go to the Tigray region… [if we have learned anything from previous history]

“Addis Ababa, July 12, 2022 (FBC) –Ethiopia has signed a third-party implementation agreement with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for the implementation of the World Bank-financed recovery project in Tigray. According to the Ministry of Finance, the agreement was signed today by Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance and Werknesh Mekonen, representing the UNOPS. The project is part of the government’s national recovery program financed by the World Bank with the name Response-Recovery-Resilience for Conflict-Affected Communities in Ethiopia project” (Fana Broadcasting Compnay – ‘Ethiopia, UNOPS Sign Agreement For Implementation Of Recovery Project In Tigray’ 12.07.2022).

It is hard to believe that the World Bank and UNOPS wants to sign an agreement with the Federal Government based in Addis Ababa. It is like the World Bank and UNOPS haven’t followed the acts of Addis Ababa and the regime itself. This isn’t the first rodeo and they should have known better. These funds will most likely not get to the ones in need in Tigray region. Neither will there be a will to implement it.

The Prosperity Party, the former consolidated parties from the former party coalition Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which left out the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Who didn’t want to participate and be part of the new federal or national party. Therefore, the war in Tigray happened after long time of mistrust and after a local government election in September 2020. Which was just two months ahead of the start of the “Operation Law Enforcement” or prolonged warfare in Tigray. Parts of Tigray is still invaded and controlled by the Tripartite Alliance like the Western Tigray. While the Humanitarian Truce haven’t accordingly allowed humanitarian assistance to levels of need. That’s why 13 million people in the Northern Ethiopia is in a dire need of food security. Secondly, that is a man-made famine and created by the blockade, which has been a willed policy.

That’s why it’s striking that the World Bank and UNOPS signs off to this agreement. The Addis Ababa government have blocked the utilities, frozen banking and communications to the Tigray region. There was years and still no news of government funding to the regional government of Tigray. That will mean that there been no funds from Addis Ababa to Mekelle.

This was reported from 2018 to 2020 that the Regional Government of Tigray didn’t receive funds from the Federal Government. Secondly, the World Bank themselves financed a development project called: “Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP)”. It was reported that the FDRE got $66m USD to PSNP designated to Tigray in September 2020, but was blocked from the House of Federation (HoF). Therefore, with this knowledge… will the same happen again?

So, reading that the World Bank is funding another project and the RRRCAC today. It seems like a nightmare. These funds will not help Tigray… if so only parts of it. This is a life-line to the Addis Ababa government. They are using the conflict to replenish funds and the World Bank is willing to fund them. The state is in disarray… and there is so many regions that is bleeding. The Tigray region is war-torn and in a man-made famine.

The Federal Government have been punishing Tigray region continuously… just as this agreement was signed. There was reports of thousands of ethnic Tigrayans arrested for no other reason their ethnicity. That’s why I have hard time believing these funds will go to help or redevelop Tigray. The current leadership rather wants Tigray to burn or die. That’s their policy and how they worked over the last few years. Have a hard time that will change over night.

That will be lie. Just like all the meetings promising humanitarian assistance and opening of besieged region totally to humanitarian organizations. Something that is yet to happen, even when millions are possibly starving or lacking food security. Therefore, this news is tragic. That the World Bank and UNOPS are duped by the leaders of Addis Ababa. Peace.

Somalia: The Somali troops in Eritrea continues to haunt Mogadishu…

“Villa Somalia spokesperson Abdikarim Ali Kaar says a number of Somali troops in Eritrea are dead. The number was not given, but he did say that their parents are aware of the fatalities. “Some died naturally, and some perished while they were training.” Approximately 5,000 new recruits were sent secretly to Eritrea for military training by former president Farmaajo in 2019. Some of the troops were allegedly deployed into Tigray region to fight alongside Eritrean troops” (Arlaadi Media Network, 02.07.2022).

If you ever thought the truth would never be release. A new administration and a new President makes a huge difference in Somalia. The previous administration signed an agreement with Ethiopia and Eritrea. This alliance could be a reason for the deployment and training of Somali troops in Eritrea. It doesn’t make sense that they just perish and dies in an-mass on training-sites. That seems like a lie and some might have died of natural causes. This could easily happen, but not with thousands of men who was trained soldiers. No, that isn’t it and a cover-up.

We know by the reports of the time and the start of the conflict. There was deployment of Ethiopian, Eritrean and Somali soldiers inside Eritrean territory. That was done in preparation of the “Law Enforcement Operation” which started in November 2020. Therefore, the belief that they just perished and didn’t return. While there was public outcry and people wanting news about their loved ones. Just shows the truth of what happened. Since soldiers returning in caskets would have been the righteous things to do. However, this was a secret mission and this is why it wasn’t a publicly known enterprise of the then Villa Somalia.

This is why other sources revealed it. Now, the new administration isn’t denying the existence and the deployment of forces to Eritrea. However, they are not reporting or verifying the further use of them within the Tigray region. Which to me seems like the reason for the movement of troops to Eritrea in the first place.

This is why these reports was reported about last year.

UN Expert Report:

“In addition to reports of the involvement of Eritrean troops in the Tigray conflict, the Special Rapporteur also received information and reports that Somali soldiers were moved from military training camps in Eritrea to the front line in Tigray, where they accompanied Eritrean troops as they crossed the Ethiopian border. It is also reported that Somali fighters were present around Aksum. The Government of Somalia denied the participation of Somali soldiers in the Tigray conflict” (Situation of human rights in Eritrea – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, 12.05.2021).

On the 17th January 2021 this was reported and I wrote about it then:

“With that in mind the Somali Guardian have today released a report that 2500 Somali trained soldiers who enlisted to a Qatari Military Service was flown to bases in Eritrea ahead of combat. These soldiers was destined and taken to military camps within Eritrea for the sole purpose of participating in the conflict in Tigray” (Minbane – ‘Ethiopia: Abiy’s Regional Conflict in Tigray’ 17.01.2021).

What I will say in the end… that is a mystery that the remains haven’t been returned to the mourning families. Neither has there any revelation of the agreement and direct arrangement between Mogadishu and Asmara. This is why the “natural death and perished” while training seems like another spin-and-another twist of the involvement of Somali troops in the conflict in Northern Ethiopia or the Tigray region. Time will tell if they release more information and be more honest about it. Now, the cat is out of the bag, but the whole deal is far from released to the public. Peace.

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

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.

Ethiopia: Joint NGOs/CSOs letter to UN Human Rights Council – The UN Human Rights Council should urgently hold a special session to address the ongoing human rights crisis (25.11.2021)

Ethiopia: New State of Emergency Measures (!!!)

Early in November 2021 the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) issued a Nationwide State of Emergency, as the Tigray Defence Force (TDF) – Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) – United Front was starting to advance to strategical parts in the Amhara region. Therefore, the state and the Republic set in motion, stipulations and articles of which gave the state more power and also more oversight to every moment in the Republic.

However, that haven’t been enough, as there have been one revision or additional order before today’s new measures. Meaning this the third one in month. This is now happening while the FDRE is run by acting Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen and the (s)elected PM is at unknown location. While there been speculations that he was at the Afar front-line, but quickly vanished from there back to the palace in Addis Ababa. However, that hasn’t been confirmed, as of yet. Nobody knows where he is or is up-to.

What we do know… is by official channels that the state has issued new restrictions and new measures.

First and foremost, it is illegal to wear military fatigue or regalia, if you are a civilian or not part of any security organizations. Meaning the only one allowed to wear uniform or fatigues is if you are a soldier, part of special force or a police officer. It is forbidden to wear it otherwise.

Secondly, the citizens are forbidden from giving intelligence or leak information of the whereabout or the locations of military troops. Battlefield or frontline information should only go through by either civilian or military leaders. Meaning, all information on how the warfare is going and what’s happening in the front. These sorts of statement or intelligence is only allowed to be controlled by the state. A private person or a citizen is forbidden from writing that on any social media or on any media platform. This would also block newspapers, journalists and reporters from broadcasting or reporting from the frontline. As they have to await statements from state officials or military spokespersons before they publish stories. Therefore, this is blocking the news and the ability to follow what happens on the frontline. As it will take away many people’s ability to publish or print about what happens on the frontline. That is the reality out of this. 

This just shows how dire things are… when these sorts of things is happening. This is not a sign of strength or control. It is very clear that the state want to ensure who is involved in the conflict. That’s why they target the fatigues and the ones wearing military outfits. The second is to have total control of the output of information and seize anyone who leaks any sort of intelligence. That is to mull and silence, anyone who drops viable intel and can damage the war-effort. It is silencing the citizens, but a natural stance when the war-effort is going badly.

The Federal Government is clearly not going strong. The ENDF and it’s allies is clearly not able to stagnate the attacks on all fronts. They are clearly missing the mark. If it was going smooth. None of these measures would have been put. The state wouldn’t have cared, because they wanted to big-men like they where in the end of November last year in 2020. However, that time has long gone…

These measures are clear and with intent. There is no middle-ground. What this is aiming at the heart. While striking fear and also silence the ones who dares to write online. They want no information leaking out. The state don’t want any sort of reporting on the military campaigns or ‘counteroffensive’ for that matter. Because, that would hurt the pride, but also the end-game of the state too.

This is what wits end looks like. It is devastating to see how hard the state has fallen. However, the same state has made a man-made famine and weaponized aid. So, hard to feel sorry when innocent civilians are dying as a cause of their efforts. This brutality is just coming home and the ones who dares to challenge it at this time. Will, well… face the law like the Debre Birhan Police Chief Taye Habtegiorgis who dared to question and act with his conscience, which isn’t what his supposed to do at this given time. That’s why his behind bars now and became a prisoner of war himself. Peace.