Ethiopia: Office of the Prime Minister – Statement on Current Affairs and a National Call (10.08.2021)

Ethiopia: Amhara Director of Communication Muluneh says they “need to stop the storm”

Any steady body of water must be in a tidal wave to move from its original position. To be a storm, it must be caused by volcanoes or hurricanes” (Muluneh, 09.08.2021).

The Amhara Regional Director of Communication Gizachew Muluneh published today a piece called “If we stop the storm, we won’t be afraid of the storm”. It was published at the Amhara Communications Facebook Page and at the Ethiopian Press Agency.

We know that the Tigray Defence Force (TDF) is advancing within the Amhara region and therefore, the Amhara Regional State who has been so invested in the conflict. It has to show force and release texts to defend it’s war. They had first the war in Tigray region with the Amhara Regional Special Forces and “Fano”. Both working for the cause of the Regional State and annex parts of it too.

This is why the piece was released today, as the roads are besieged and the propaganda needs to revitalize the new recruits ahead of warfare in the nearby area of bigger and centralized areas of the Regional State.

As he states: “Most of the waves in front of us, which are against our very existence, have been hit hard by our common arm; If there is a tidal wave left, it can only be called a tidal wave. The Amhara Special Forces: Militia, the Coalition of Nationalities and the National Defense Forces, retaliated. As a result of their self-defense measures, TNG was forced to lose its manpower to invade the Amhara region” ((Muluneh, 09.08.2021).

We know the advances are hitting hard and it is showing the force of the TDF. As several of armies has attacked it and they are still able to get further into the region. The Amhara and ENDF should have the capacity to stop this. However, they have been losing and the brigades haven’t been prepared for what is meeting them. This is why the Amhara regional government sounds the horn and the “wave” have to be hit now.

He continues: “The whole people of Amhara must continue their struggle to survive where they are, recognizing that we have no choice but to prevent the storm of catastrophe that has come to destroy us. It does matter” (Muluneh, 09.08.2021).

They are now calling it all destructive force. That’s how powerful the TDF is… and the storm will clearly take everything in its way. We know it has shown restrained and played by the rules. Even when all the government propaganda machinery claims it to be the vicious and vindictive. As the projection of their own acts in Tigray region comes home to haunt them. While the continues vilifying of the enemy continues. That is a never ending cycle and the leaders of Amhara continues with it.

He further says: “Therefore, in order to summarize the threat to our existence as a nation and as a people, our main goal should not only be to bury the melt-in-your-mouth, but also to fight the hurricane that caused the storm. Because without a hurricane, there is no such thing as a storm” (Muluneh, 09.08.2021).

Here his stating that they have to go to the “root” and stop the waves before they occur. This is meaning they want to kill and get rid of the Tigrayan before they even step on the soil of Amhara. That is something the Amhara has been doing since November 2020. They have worked on this and this sort of message is the defence of the massacres and the annexation of Western Tigray. Therefore, the Director says it metaphorically and we should all be aware.

In the end he says: “The first option is to pay the price for the risks and fight together to sustain our existence, uplift our history, and build a region and a country where true democracy and peace are guaranteed” (…) “There is no doubt that the hero will always be the first choice for our people and our fighters. And in order to be successful in our first choice and to be the proud people on the world stage, we must unite to eradicate the erroneous terrorist weed and the common enemy and cancer of our people. And it will happen. Victory for our heroes !!!” (Muluneh, 09.08.2021).

Here we see the same symbolism as the state has done before and the genocidal narrative of “cancer” and “weed”. That is how the Tigrayan people is called by the Amhara and the Prosperity Party. They have no qualms calling them that… and we know the ones fighting the genocidal war is heroes, while the other is terrorists. That is just how their rhetoric goes and its a never ending story.

It shows the intent and what the state is willing to public. This warfare in Ethiopia is showing the sinister side of the Republic and it’s current leadership. When they are promoting propaganda like this and uses state media to push it too. Peace.

Ethiopia: WFP Delivers Food to Another 1 million People in Tigray During June and July but is Only Reaching Half of Those it Should Be (09.08.2021)

WFP aims to reach 2.1 million people with emergency food assistance from August onwards and needs at least 6,000 metric tons of food each week to do so

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, August 9, 2021 – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) delivered food to over a million people in the north-west and parts of southern Tigray in June and July under the second round of distributions, despite numerous challenges. But severe shortages of food, cash, fuel and functioning telecommunications equipment mean WFP has only reached half of those it planned to reach, including communities on the verge of famine.

WFP aims to reach 2.1 million people with emergency food assistance from August onwards and needs at least 6,000 metric tons of food each week to do so. Due to insecurity and operational constraints, it has been unable to bring these quantities into Tigray in recent weeks.

More than 175 trucks arrived in the Tigray region, via the Abala corridor, during the first week of August. This included 90 trucks loaded with over 5,000 metric tons of life-saving food. An additional 90 trucks are expected to arrive in the coming days to further replenish stocks of food, fuel, nutrition, health, WASH and shelter items in the region.

But with 5.2 million people in the region (90% of the Tigray population) in need of humanitarian food assistance – WFP and partners require at least 100 trucks to be arriving daily to meet the vast needs.

“People in Tigray are suffering due to lack of humanitarian support over the past month – we need to reach them now before they fall into famine. WFP is calling for all parties to agree to a ceasefire and guarantee an unimpeded flow of humanitarian supplies into Tigray, so that we can deliver lifesaving food and other emergency supplies safely before it’s too late,” said Michael Dunford, WFP’s Corporate Response Director for Tigray.

“Others in neighbouring regions are also falling deeper into hunger as a result of the conflict and WFP is working with the Government to reach communities in Afar and Amhara with life-saving food as soon as possible,” added Dunford.

The June IPC results indicate that up to 400,000 people will be facing famine-like conditions by September due to conflict, lack of market access, missed planting season and insufficient humanitarian support. To date, WFP has reached 2 million people with emergency food assistance across Eastern, Southern and Northwestern zones of Tigray.

The agricultural planting season has been missed in many parts of Tigray and estimates show -only 25% to 50% of the normal cereal production will be available this year. As a result, people in Tigray are expected to rely on food assistance up to the next year’s harvest season in October 2022.

Preliminary nutrition screening data shows Global Acute Malnourishment (GAM) rates near 30% for children under five years old and up to 80% for pregnant and breastfeeding women. UNICEF estimates 100,000 children in the region could die from complications of severe malnourishment. To date WFP has reached more than 400,000 vulnerable mothers and children with nutritionally fortified food, including 120,000 in July across 43 districts.

An additional 300,000 people are facing emergency levels of hunger in neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions, where over 250,000 people have been displaced due to continued conflict. WFP plans to support up to 80,000 people in Afar, working closely with the regional Disaster Risk Management Bureau and the federal National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC).

WFP also plans to work with the NDRMC to provide relief food in Amhara region.

There have been 3 United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flights carrying 143 humanitarian staff to and from Tigray, but these flights need to be operating at least twice a week to rotate humanitarian passengers in and out of the region.

Across Ethiopia, WFP aims to reach 11.9 million people in 2021 with food, nutrition and cash support and delivering activities to boost communities’ self-reliance and food security.

WFP needs US$79 million to continue to scale up its response in Tigray to save lives and livelihoods to the end of the year. For all activities under its Country Strategic Plan, WFP has a funding shortfall of US$288 million. Additional funding is vital to allow WFP to keep saving and changing lives in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia: Statement of the Government of Tigrayan the Worsening Humanitarian Crisis (08.08.2021)

Ethiopia: Abiy will not have dialogue with anyone [because his the next emperor]

There been some diplomatic moves where the Sudanese has tried to hold talks or even send messages the leadership in Addis Ababa. However, the Ambassador and Diplomats of Khartoum haven’t gotten anything fruitful and the project should just get dismissed.

We know that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and his allies within the Prosperity Party will not have talks or mediation with anyone. It doesn’t matter if it is his Sudanese counterpart Abdalla Hamdok, who happens to be the current Chair of The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which he has had since February this year.

Hamdok and the Sovereign Council would like the political capital of participating and having direct mediation in Ethiopia. That would boost his role on international scene and make him look even better. As there are enough trouble brewing in Khartoum and in Darfur as is. Not like the transitional government in Sudan is over the hurdle. There is still revolutionaries and dissidents who wants to topple this current regime as well. They are not seeing the civilian transition they aspired too. So, a mediation success in Ethiopia would buy the Sovereign Council and Hamdok time.

However, Abiy and PP has no interests in talks. Their handlers, the close associates and everyone rather vilify anyone. If it is the United States, United Nations organizations, Civil Society Organizations or Humanitarian agencies. Anyone is an possible enemy, as long as they act independently and not following direct accords with majesty in Addis.

This is why Abiy will not talk to Hamdok. Last few times they been close to each other. It has been pleasantries, but short-lived meetings. Hamdok have travelled to Addis Ababa only for an hour or two, before the host dipped to Tigray. Neither was there any sincere talks in the IGAD meeting of head of states. Therefore, asking for Hamdok to invite and do this was a foolish enterprise.

The Ethiopian has already grievances and they will cry out loud. They will claim Sudanese territory and not take accountability for the skirmishes inside Sudan. Neither, will the Ethiopian pay amends for the killed soldiers or anyone else. They will just claim Sudanese is in the wrong and that this isn’t an extension on the conflict in Tigray.

So, we are here… and the Sudanese has already asked for the Ethiopian peacekeepers to leave the Abyei region. Where they are residing. There has also already been reports of arms confiscated from the Ethiopian army to Sudanese rebels. This is why the Sudanese doesn’t trust the Ethiopian consignment to the peacekeeping operation.

Hamdok and the Sudanese might have all the best reasons for the mediation or dialogue within Sudan. The Ethiopian parties might get served well with these outsiders looking in. However, the Sudanese has given up and even recalled the ambassador from Addis Ababa. That shows how fickle and why nothing will work.

Abiy just have to have his way, as his the anointed emperor and seventh king of Ethiopia. The warlord who will not negotiate or talk with anyone. His enemies either just have to die or linger as treasonous people behind bars. That’s what he does and the “peace agreement” with Eritrea seems more like a war-pact, than a peace agreement with each passing moment. This is why the Eritrean forces been so active and destructive in the months of warfare within Ethiopia.

While Abiy and PP speaks of sovereignty, but still let foreign forces invade and murder citizens. This is why the asking of a diplomatic mission and dialogue would make sense. However, then Abiy have to meet others halfway and he has to give up his consolidation of power. That is a “reform” he is not willing to loose. He has already invested everything. Even the death of the youth and the army to get his objective. This is why he will not give way and give-in. That is already long time gone. He needs to win this and by all cost. Doesn’t matter if it is genocide, hyper-inflation or possible shortages of basic commodities. No, it is all worth it for the throne and the rise to power.

Prime Minister Abiy as awaiting his coronation and swearing-in. He is awaiting the grandeur of his growing empire and everyone dancing to his tunes. That is what his goal and it doesn’t matter what it cost. It doesn’t matter how much blood that is sacrifices and many lives who was touched to get there. No, they are casualties for the greater good and his prestige. Everyone is supposed to sing psalms of glory and praise the king for his ways.

That is why Hamdok could never succeed. The Sudanese was on a fools mission and there was never hope of this succeeding. It was meant to fail and it was by no coincidence. Abiy wanted it this way and Khartoum shouldn’t worry about this failure. That was inevitable. Nobody would have made it through. When there is no will, there is no way. Peace.

Ethiopia: The Global Society of Tigray Scholars (GSTS) – The Fate of Tigrayan Military and Security Personnel and Civilians Languishing in Ethiopia’s Detention an Concentration Camps (07.08.2021)

Ethiopia: The Government of the National State of Tigray – Press Release by the Government of the National State of Tigray (07.08.2021)

A look into the Amhara Prosperity Party newest piece called “No to Slavery for Freedom!!”

Today the Amhara Prosperity Party published a new piece on Facebook this time called ‘No to slavery for freedom!!’. This has happened as the Tigray Defence Forces (TDF) are advancing and the central government have pledged that they could send the remaining troops at the frontline. Therefore, the words and rhetoric here is important to notice.

We know already the Amhara is clear-cut allies of the warfare, as it has invested it’s resources with the Regional Special Forces and Para-Military Group “Fano”. It has also annexed land been vital part of warfare since last year. The Regional State is now facing the blunt force from the army it attacked and seemingly is continuing its hateful content on the web. Which I will show.

First passage from the party:

This force is far from the value of Ethiopianness, it logs like locusts, robs, rapes women and mothers, and destroys infrastructure in general; The hatred of Amhara and Ethiopia is crazy and should be eradicated immediately. He should not be given rest or time. As a result, the campaign of survival will continue to intensify. Every night, the depths of the pit of the terrorist power increase. The enemy must be buried, both in deed and in thought” (APP, 06.08.2021).

We see the ideals and the acts of the APP. The ruling party from Amhara region. They are basing and saying the Tigrayans are doing illegal stuff. While we know what the Tripartite Alliance have been doing in the Tigray region. The exact things they are claiming the TDF is doing. This is a tactic and a measure which has become a staple in the conflict. As they are projecting. Also, like before from the same part. As the mountains was “a trap” today it’s “a pit” and the TPLF will be buried in it.

The APP Continues: “Although the terrorist TPLF has set out to attack Ethiopia, ranging from 12-year-olds to 70-year-old men and women, the ultimate goal of this war is to liberate the Tigrayan people who are affiliated with the TPLF. In particular, the oppressed farmer of Tigray, who lives in a shallow hut and pushes soil under a rock; It is not too late to start asking the terrorist TPLF: “Where did you throw our children?”” (APP, 06.08.2021).

Here the APP comes with it’s propaganda of the age and child soldiers, which have been use as a tool to vilify the TDF. While the PP, APP and allies have conscripted youths and untrained civilians to combat. Sending them to the frontline with barely enough training. They are the ones sending their “children” or the future of the Republic to an early grave. As they are meeting trained soldiers and guerrillas ready for battle. This is just infuriating to read, when you know the man-made famine and the ills of the state in region of Tigray. As the APP claims to free Tigray too, when they have looted, destroyed, raped and killed on large scale for months there. How dare they?

APP further states: “Although the war was aimed at bringing Ethiopia’s cancer to the grave, the barren mother of Tigray will also be liberated. Ethiopia’s national unity is demonstrating that it will not allow the unity of the state to be jeopardized by bandits and child terrorists” (APP, 06.08.2021).

Here again… the picture of an grave and death. While the mothers who was raped by the Tripartite Alliance is supposed to be freed by the APP now. That is really sickening. The mother who didn’t have food to feed it’s children. The mother who lost her livelihood and had to seek refugee. Because, the invading forces of the Tripartite Alliance came and caused systemic horrors. That mother is supposed to be saved by the same alliance? Who is the APP kidding here?

Again, with the Child Soldier propaganda…. the APP cannot help themselves and its obvious at this point. Say a lie once, everyone knows it is a lie. Say a lie twice and someone might believe it. Repeat the same lie and hope people start to believe it is a fact. That is what the state and the media houses connected are hoping for. While they are sending youth to die for a war that was futile and unnecessary.

Final point of the APP:

This force is far from the value of Ethiopianness, it logs like locusts, robs, rapes women and mothers, and destroys infrastructure in general; The hatred of Amhara and Ethiopia is crazy and should be eradicated immediately. He should not be given rest or time. As a result, the campaign of survival will continue to intensify. Every night, the depths of the pit of the terrorist power increase. The enemy must be buried, both in deed and in thought” (APP, 06.08.2021).

We are seeing here the vilification continues. Just like the “cancer” and “weeding” out which has been used in the past by the PM and APP. They are now calling their enemies “locust” and directly bastardizing them. A continued ploy to make them evil and being the berserks of the modern Ethiopia. That is how it looks.

The APP, PM and PP in general is not winding down their rhetoric. However, they are scaling up and showing no remorse. They are going straight and aiming directly. There is no middle-ground and the objective is clear.

While the APP and such is using the same propaganda to vilify the TDF or the TPLF. As they have to be the enemy and villain. Because, the state who we shouldn’t pay no mind. Is the hero and the saint, who can do no bad and no harm. Even if their report, their acts and their deviousness could easily be called into question. As the results within the Tigray region speaks for itself and make them look like terrorist compared to the TDF. They did everything they say the TPLF is doing, which is ironic and tragic at the same time. Peace.

Opinion: Abiy is projecting at TDF in concern to Lalibela, as his allies raided and destroyed sites in Tigray

“They have been bombarding churches and monasteries including in Axum and Debre Damo. The bombarding of the Debre Damo monastery was so terrifying. They destroyed the monastery residences and the life of at least one monk was lost [in the destruction]” Abune Mathias

The Tripartite Alliance in their path went all across the Tigray Region in the months of warfare. They bombed, the destroyed and looted heritage sites across the region. The Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) and Amhara Special Forces & Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano”. These allies went across the region and did the bidding.

The alliance didn’t care or have any concern of these buildings and it’s history. No, they raided Emperor Yohannes IV Museum/Palace in Mekelle. The same forces went in and massacred around the Tsion in Axum. There was several of other churches and buildings which was looted and destroyed by the Tripartite Alliance in the months of warfare.

Therefore, the use of Lalibela and being a UNESCO heritage site is just very convenient for the regime and it’s allies. They are spinning it and saying people should be worried. Like we don’t know what they did in Mekelle, Axum and elsewhere in the previous of months. The reports, the pictures and the knowledge of missing artefacts as well.

Like the Tripartite Alliance has looted the Debre Damo monastery and the Wukro al-Nejashi mosque. These are old heritage sites as well, which has significant importance for the Christian and Muslims. Where the was scrolls and manuscripts, which was looted and taken away from there. This is what the state and their allies did in the recent months.

So, when the Prosperity Party and the Prime Minister speaks ill of the TPLF and the TDF it is total projection of what they did themselves in Tigray. The state and its allies did destroy and loot heritage sites. The alliance did loot and rob factories, universities and everything else in their sights. Therefore, these statements and the ones from the outside should worry what this alliance still does in Western Tigray.

The TDF have not shown signs of destruction or looting, which the ENDF, EDF and Amhara allies has done in Tigray. The world should see what the Tripartite alliance did in the recent months and see the projection for which it is. The PM and PP knows this, but they have a vilifying story to sell. Peace.

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Press Statement on Protection of Cultural Sites (06.08.2021)