Ethiopia: Office of the Prime Minister – Tigray Region Humanitarian Assistance Update (22.07.2021)

Ethiopia: The Global Society of Tigray Scholars (GSTS) – Open Letter – Call to Stop the Siege of Tigray and the Use of Starvation as a Weapon of War (22.07.2021)

Ethiopia: Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) – Statement on the Situation of Eritrean Refugees in Mai-Tsebri Area (22.07.2021)

Ethiopia: Security and Justice for Tigrayans (SJT) – Open Letter – An Urgent Appel to Stop Indiscriminate Human Rights Violations of Tigrayans (20.07.2021)

Ethiopia: The Government of the National State of Tigray – Statement by the Government of the Government of the National State of Tigray concerning the Eritrean refugees in Tigray (21.07.2021)

Ethiopia: Union of Oromo Communities in Canada (UOCC) – Statement of the UOCC Condemning the Deployment of Oromia Regional Forces against Tigray (19.07.2021)

Ethiopia: The TDF is targeting the main cargo route [A1/RN1] from Djibouti to Addis Ababa

Taken from Google Map – Made the transport route Addis Ababa – Semera – Djibouti

Djibouti’s port handles 95% of inbound and outbound trade from Ethiopia, earning more than $1 billion in port fees per year from Ethiopia alone. This makes Djibouti the dominant port service provider in the HoA and a major player in the Red Sea” (Guled Ahmed – ‘Djibouti needs a Plan B for the post-Guelleh era’ 20.07.2021, Middle East Institute).

There been reported earlier this week that the Tigray Defence Force went into both Amhara region and Afar region. This is happening as the Federal Government have redeployed their forces and using Regional Special Forces (RSF) to continue the conflict in the Tigray Regional State.

What is striking here is that the TDF are doing this to do the same as the state does to the Tigray region. The Federal Government and all its allies have had months upon months with blocking the roads, jamming phone-lines and an electricity black-out. Meaning, the utilities and basic necessities have been blocked, as well as stopping the agricultural sectors ability to sow the fields. The state has deliberately ensured a man-made famine, prolonging the agony and blocked anything from entering the Tigray Region.

That’s why today’s new strategy is bold, while also going at the heart of Addis Ababa government. A government who has used all means to destroy, loot and massacre civilians in Tigray region. The TDF is directly going at the cargo-line of the Federal Republic. Most imported goods passes this route and that has been reported by other organizations during the recent years.

The UNCTAD Report of 2018 states this:

The Djibouti City – Addis Ababa The main trunk road — meaning the road that has the most traffic — between Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Djibouti City passes through the Ethiopian towns of Awash and Mille, crosses the border at Galafi, joins the route nationale 1 (RN1) in Djibouti, passes through Yoboki, continues just north of Ali-Sabieh, and then enters Djibouti City. The route is shown in 2.1. This section of the Djibouti-Ethiopia road corridor carries about 1,000 trucks per day, mostly six-axle truck/trailer combinations, with those carrying wet bulk — mainly fuel tankers — comprising about 35 per cent of the heavy goods traffic and the remaining 65 per cent consisting of dry bulk and container trucks” (UNCTAD/ALDC/2018/6 – ‘The Djibouti City – Addis Ababa Transit and Transport Corridor: Turning Diagnostics into Action’ 2018).

So, if the TDF blocks this route then they are stopping the direct imports and exports to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. This is an act to do the same as the state has done for months in Tigray region. That is retaliating with the same means, which the Prosperity Party and all its allies has done for so many months now. Yes, this is hurting the middle-men, the innocent civilians and everyone participating in trading. However, that has been for so long and made things much worse in the Tigray region. So the TDF is initially doing what the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) , Amhara allies (Regional Special Forces and “Fano”) and Eritrean Defence Force (EDF).

This is a strategic move and a bold one as well. They are not only going into places where the redeployed Special Regional Forces are stationed in Afar Region. They are also going to the A1/RN1 route. The TDF will block and stop hauliers, container trucks and others to pass. This will ensure a stoppage of goods and ordinary business. They can clearly hurt the Federal Government this way. As the trading would cease and they would struggle to operate.

If the TDF is able to pull this off. They are hurting the pockets of the government and directly stopping business. Cargo-trading will be hurt and it will take time for Ethiopian businesses/traders to switch to other ports. That will delay the exports or imports… This will be interesting, but the TDF is moving forward and gaining territory in Afar region as we speak. So, this will be followed. Peace.

Ethiopia: In Amhara region civil servants are now getting military training

It has been known for months that the Amhara Regional State has been directly involved in the Tigray conflict. The Amhara Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) have today reported that in the Amhara region and in the East Gojjam Zone, Shebel Berenta Woreda the military training of civil servants has begun.

The ABC reports about the military training of civil servants here. However, don’t be shocked if this happens elsewhere in the Regional State. As the Amhara Regional State have used all means into the conflict. The Amhara have deployed their Special Forces and allowed a Para-Military Group “Fano” to be vital parts of the war-effort in Tigray region.

Therefore, this is a further escalation, but also showing no signs of stopping. As state employees and government workers are targeted for “recruitment” and going through military training. The report specified 15 consecutive days, which isn’t much of training, but the purpose is clear.

They are preparing everyone and even making military exercises with civil servants in Amhara region. This isn’t the act of government in peace and who works for law and order. No, this a warlord economics and planning.

The Amhara region is preparing more of its citizens for battle and the front. They are doing this to the ones who runs the Regional State. That says a lot. The bureaucrats and the clerks of the Regional State is now getting military training and equipment.

This is sadly no joke, but a worrying sign. As everyone is getting deployed and no boundaries in the conflict. That nobody stopped this and questioned this. Says a lot about the current state of affairs and to what extent the Amhara Regional State is willing to go. As they are now even possibly arming, but they are reported giving military training to civil servants. Peace.

Ethiopia: The TDF have now entered both Amhara and Afar regions

The conflict is really spiralling out of control for the Federal Government and their allies. As the Federal Government have deployed Regional Special Forces from all across the Republic in the recent days. The Tigray Defence Forces (TDF) is still able to gain further gains and continue to deliver winning battles.

The latest revelation says the TDF have already entered the Afar region, as they went after the ENDF and allies there. Now, they are going to Amhara, who has annexed and gone rouge in the Tigray region since November 2020. Therefore, this can be seen as self-defence. Since the Amhara Regional State isn’t not only involved in the warfare, but their militias and armies are directly implicated from day-one. The Amhara Regional State President have been openly campaigned for monetary support for the war. So, I understand why the TDF enters Amhara.

The TDF reveals today:

Strict warning from the Tigray Defense Forces TDF:

Tigray Defense Forces are currently operating in the Amhara region; That is, with the full cooperation of the residents of Sekota, Kobo and Weldiya (Woldia) areas. He intensified his military campaign. In addition, the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) is also active in the Afar region. The same support is being given to the brotherly people of Afar; He continued his military campaign. In this case, the people of the Amhara and Afar regions where the TDF operates:

Weapons that you have previously acquired or given to you by the government; They are yours.

We want to let you know that no one can touch you. in order to do so;

1st. Keep the weapons in your hands in your home;

2nd. You must never shoot at members of the Tigray Defense Forces

And if you do these two things, Tigray Defense Forces will not disarm you.

We would like to inform you.” (TDF, 20.07.2021).

So, this is a further escalation of the TDF, but that happens as the Federal Government has been redeploying troops as well. Instead of waiting inside Tigray for the attacks. The TDF have gone to the frontline of the enemies who are coming for them. That is the reason for this. We are seeing the war becoming different and the TDF is able to go after RSF and ENDF outside of the Tigray region.

This is just days after the TDF entered Afar and now they have done so in Amhara as well. Peace.

Ethiopia: Abiy deploys everyone so he can annihilate the TDF

It is clear that the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) is hurting and lack soldiers for the war-effort. That must be the initial take after 8 months of conflict in the Tigray Region. The Tigray Defence Force (TDF) must have hurt the Tripartite Alliance of ENDF, Eritrea Defence Force (EDF) and Amhara armies (Special Forces and “Fano”). Since after the ceasefire, the state needed to redeploy other forces to fight their battles. That says a lot at this point.

The list of new deployed troops comes from all the different regions and states of the Republic. It really says a lot of what Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and the Prosperity Party. We know the Regional Special Forces have been out in the Regional States meeting quotas for deployment. Thta means many of the ones coming to the battlefield is new blood and not trained soldiers.

That should worry the ones deployed. These are facing the TDF who has now fought bravely for months against several of armies and been able to overcome it. Not that it has liberated the whole of Tigray, but still a huge part of it. Which has humiliated the Prime Minister and his allies. That’s the reason for the ceasefire in the end June 2021. So, that he could redeploy new forces.

Now the amount of “armies” and “militias” is official. This war will be a continued bloodshed and unknown amount of casualties. The Federal Government haven’t given any numbers or said anything about the destruction of previous participating brigades and ENDF troops in Tigray. Clearly, it has been bad.

When the ENDF is calling up these to fight its battle:

Amhara Regional Special Forces – (This one who have participated since November 2020)

Benishangul-Gumuz Regional Special Forces

Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano” (This one have participated since November 2020)

Dire Dawa Police,

Gambela Regional Special Forces

Sidama Regional Special Force,

Oromia Regional Special Forces,

Somali (Ogaden) Regional Special Forces,

Harari Regional Special Forces

Afar Regional Special Forces

It is ten units who has been called up and deployed soldiers to the battlefield. The Federal Government is now trusting the Special Forces, which has been used to secure peace in the respective regional states and regions to combat the TDF. That says a lot about the drain of soldiers in the ENDF. They cannot sustain or have the ability to redeploy without using the regional state own forces. This is tragic and shows how the PM underestimated the Tigray region and his own armies might.

The Prosperity Party and the Prime Minister who is willing to wage genocidal tactics, starve the region to death and create a man made famine. That man is willing to wage war with the forces, which is creating stability and peace in the other regions. His risking to lose the strength of several of other regional states. As they are now sending these Special Forces.

That is clearly a risk the PM is willing to take… as his continuing to wage war and continuing his wish to annihilate the Tigray region. Peace.