Ethiopia: HoF ironic use of the Constitution to stop the regional elections in Tigray

Yesterday, the House of Federation (HoF) have answered the state of Tigray and their State Government who is issuing an election on the 9th September 2020. A local government election, which the HoF claims is unconstitutional. However, that is ironic. I will prove that in a second.

First, when a governing body like HoF uses the Constitution it should be air-tight. It shouldn’t be made in doubt… The Prosperity Party (PP) and the HoF is clearing missing the point. As they have earlier in the year done the unconstitutional to suspend the elections itself. So, to stop another poll because of it. Shows that they are using the constitution as they see fit and not as a guiding document, as it should be.

Fana Broadcasting Corporation stated this today: “Addis Ababa, September 6, 2020 (FBC) -The House of Federation said that Tigray regional state’s plan to hold election next Wednesday is unconstitutional. In a statement issued at the end of an urgent meeting held yesterday, September 6, the House unanimously voted not to recognize the results of the election” (…) “As per article 9(1) of the Ethiopian constitution, the decisions and activities will not be recognized and enforced, the statement stated” (Fana BC – ‘Tigray’s planned election unconstitutional: House of Federation’ 06.09.2020).

As we see, they are using the powers of the constitution, because it fits PP and the Prime Minister’s orders of earlier in the year. When they suspended the August elections in 2020. So, they will postpone elections and cling to power without the validation or being proper representation of the public. Since, they are not allowing the public to vote or decide their rulers.

That’s why this one from earlier this year says it all….

National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) stated this on the 1st April 2020: “After engaging in election operation and preparation activities, the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) had announced an election timetable. Based on this election timetable, the elections were to be held on August 29, 2020, and the Board was carrying out tasks as outlined in the timetable, and providing updates to the public regularly. Accordingly, several tasks were needed to be completed in March and April 2020; among them are: voter registration; recruitment of poll workers; training and deployment; voter education; and dissemination of voter registration materials, etc” (…) “Understanding that the Board cannot hold elections one month before the current parliament’s tenure ends, as stipulated in the Constitution, the Board will submit this decision and its analysis to the House of People’s Representatives to utilize as input should they choose to take further action” (NEBE, 01.04.2020).

When we know that… and the NEBE knows they are in the wrong suspending the August Elections. The HoF knows they are in the wrong stopping regional or state elections in the Tigray. The HoF used article 9(1). However, there are other articles that defends the Tigray and their will to hold elections in time.

Why aren’t the HoF looking into the Article 88(1): “Guided by democratic principles, Government shall promote and support the People’s self-rule at all levels”.

If the HoF believes in the Democratic Principals and shall promote self-rule at all levels, why are they stopping elections in 2020?

We can also use the Article 54(1): “Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives shall be elected by the People for a term of five years on the basis of universal suffrage and by direct, free and fair elections held by secret ballot”.

That proves that the NEBE is wrong in stopping their own planned and scheduled elections for August. As the Representatives are soon on overtime and are representatives who are unconstitutional. The same can be said for the Regional Governments like the Tigray. As they are not able to hold elections.

The Federal Government blocking a state like Tigray to hold elections in time. Citing the Constitution. Should know that its easily show how they are wrong and doesn’t need to be legal scholar to prove it either. They must think people are naive and cannot access it.

The Prosperity Party should let Tigray go ahead. They should just do their thing on the 9th September 2020. As they are following the Constitution and keeping the timelines for elections. It is the Federal Government and the Prosperity Party who is breaching the constitution. As they are continuing the term of five year, not holding elections for the House of People’s Representatives.

So, if the HoF should be sincere with Tigray. They should clear the air on their own actions. As they are the ones who is unconstitutional. This is to easy to see and find arguments for. They are not honouring the articles of 54(1) and 88(1), while using 9(1) against the Tigray Regional Government (TPLF). That shows a use of force, but not respecting the same constitution they claim to uphold. Peace.

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Press Release on Ethiopian Migrants in Saudi Arabia (03.09.2020)

Ethiopia: Tigray Regional Government Letter to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (02.09.2020)

Ethiopia: The Trump Administration halts aid to the Republic for all the wrong reasons…

The US Presidency and US Foreign Policy is going bonkers. The latest move to sway Addis Ababa is just obnoxious. It is neither productive nor sincere in its action. That the United States are involved as a partisan influence on a development project and electrification of Ethiopia. They are putting in hurdles and international set-back to stop a infrastructure project from happening. This being the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Because the US wants to support their ally Egypt.

The US if it had been sincere and cared about its standing in the Horn of Africa or even with all the counterparts of the region. They would have used other means to halt aid. Which isn’t implied in the development of the GERD. However, the brilliance and the brains has left Washington DC a long time ago it seems.

Just look here:

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo approved plans to halt some aid to Ethiopia as part of its effort to mediate a dispute over a dam on the Nile River that’s pitted the Horn of Africa nation against Egypt and Sudan, Foreign Policy reported. The decision could affect about $130 million of assistance to programs including security, counter-terrorism and anti-human trafficking, the news website said, without saying where it got the information. The cuts won’t impact funding for emergency humanitarian relief, food assistance or health programs, it said” (David Malingha – ‘U.S. May Cut Funding to Ethiopia Over Nile Dam Dispute’ 28.08.2020, Bloomberg News).

If the Trump Administration had some balls, had some finesse and some flex. They would have halted aid for other reasons. There are plenty of mischief and misgivings in the current leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. His whole Prosperity Party is dissolving the civic space, getting rid of activists and opposition. His using the means of extra judicial killings, political prisoners and oppress the voices of dissidents. There are enough blood, sweet and tears in the Republic.

To use the GERD just seems like the Ethiopian state is just supposed to accept treaties of colonial times. That the Republic should be bullied into submission by force. That their hand is tied, because the financial system would crack and the US support would vanish.

That is the sort of behaviour, which only shows how much love the US has for Cairo. It is really obvious that they are serving them and want to deliver for their needs. Just like when Pompeo went to Khartoum to serve Israel with a symbolic victory there.

The Trump administration thinks this is smart. It is not. Especially, that the Ethiopian side would feel the hurt. They are more alone in Addis Ababa and they do need the GERD. While they are using force against their own. Which the US doesn’t condemn or even state word of reckoning. That shows where the heart of Washington is.

They only want to serve their allies on a gold plate. While bullying others to submission. Not even have the skills to use the extra judicial killings and political prisoners as a bargain chip. That one would have not implied the relations to Cairo, but it does by doing it because of GERD.

The Trump Administration and its foreign policy is a hack-work and this is yet another one of those. It shows that they are not that knowledgable nor have the skills to prove their point. They are just like an bull in a china shop. Peace.

Ethiopia: 120 killed since 18th August in Oromia.. [and the state sponsored violence continues]

If you ever thought the guns was silent in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Your wrong. The Prosperity Party and Prime Minister Ahmed Ali Abiy continues to use the army and law enforcement to kill protesters. It is happening so rampantly and so easily. That the lives are taken.

There are reports that a pregnant woman was shot and killed, that kids down to the age of 10 years old as well. This is the sort of state of affairs that is going on in Ethiopia. They are cracking down on opposition, dissidents and civil disobedience. All sort of protest is met with arrests, detaining, torture and killings too. This is the reform that the PM Abiy and his men.

Here is what the numbers of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission been dropping today and its horrific how many fatalities and extra judicial killings being done in the region of Oromia alone. Just look at these grim numbers, who are innocent people who gotten into the firing line, because they protested against the government.

Ethiopian Human Rights Commission says there’s have been killings ‘amid protests’ in 13 places in Oromia in past few days.

Other deaths amid protests/communal violence in the past month or so:

– Wolyata (17 deaths)

– Konso (17 deaths)

– Benishangul (14 deaths)” (Kalkidan Yibeltal, 20.08.2020).

Since 18 August 2020:

-Death toll in the Oromia-wide protests is estimated to be above 120

-500+ wounded as hospitals in Hararghe and West Arsi are overwhelmed with civilians.

-Hundreds more citizens detained to quash protests” (Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, 20.08.2020).

That his is happening so easy. That lives are taken without any consideration is worrying. This is the second slaughter for the state in a short amount of time. In early July there was reports of massive amount fatalities and arrests. Therefore, after the protests in July after the assassination of Hachalu Hundessa. Which now continues… and seems like a non-stop brigade of death squads targeting civilians in Oromia.

It is just mere days since the Wolaita Zone and the fatalities there. The PP and the PM is persistent in their ways. They are continuing a destructive behaviour. Still the international silence and lack of response is worrying. Especially, when the head of state is a Nobel laureate. Who shouldn’t kill his own, no one should kill their own, but that is what he does. As the unelected head of state, who has postponed the elections and are using armed forces against his own. That is the sort of man he is.

It is a bloodshed. The amount of deaths are staggering. What is possible, that the numbers are even worse, as there is always some not noted. Also, some are dying later of the injuries made during the protests. Therefore, the numbers are most likely worse, but they shows a pattern and what the state does to its own.

PM Abiy are you proud of killing your own? Prosperity Party is this your legacy and how you want to be remembered? Peace.

Ethiopia: Government of Regional National State of Tigrai – Election 2020 Observation Invitation Letter (August 2020)

Ethiopia: A crackdown on protesters in Wolaita zone [and fatalities on the rise]

On the 9th August 2020 in Wolayita zone, 28 leaders was arrested. After that there been running demonstrations. The Wolaita National Movement (WNM) wants an autonomous state in the Federation, just like Sidama got recently.

Certainly, the Prosperity Party and the Prime Minister Ahmed Ali Abiy have not taken this wish kindly. The PM tried to block Sidama as a state. Therefore, doing it here too, would make sense and be a pattern for the Head of State. Also, the erupting violence and the escalation of soldiers killing civilians. While the authorities are saying its the victims fault and the WNM who are working with TPLF and Querro/OLF. Another pattern of the state. While they are sending trucks of soldiers to Sodo and using violence against civilians. This is becoming a repeating story under PM Abiy.

Where people are standing up against injustice and wants recognition, but the Federal Government answers with guns and arrests of its leaders. The same happen in Oromia, as its happening in Wolayita. This is another zone, but the same results. The same innocent civilians ending up as fatalities in the hands of law enforcement and soldiers.

Recent violence in the region:

In another news, Public Relations of the Walayita National Movement (WNM) Andualem Tadesse said government security forces killed 21 civilians and wounded 105 others amid in the Walayita zone of southern Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said the police used excessive force to disperse the protestors who demanded the release of the zone’s officials. The commission confirmed the death of five people and arrest of 178 people including 26 officials of the zone” (Ezega News – ‘National Army is United, Not Divided, Says Chief of Staff’ 11.08.2020).

Nuso Times today reports that military forces have killed a number of citizens in Sodo, Wolayta and among the dead is a pregnant mother. The death toll has currently risen to 30 with over 179 injured and 56 critically injured” (Ethiopia HRC, 12.08.2020).

TPLF condemns the killing:

Once again, the answer to the people’s questions is kidnapping, arresting leaders who have risen in public demand, persecuting, arresting, and killing forces that believe in legitimate and peaceful politics. The actions taken by the Wolayita people a few days ago, claiming that they will suppress the constitutional demand for self-determination, also stem from this oppressive, unitary dictatorship. He reaffirmed in response to public inquiries that he had been killed, persecuted and arrested” (…) “On this occasion, the TPLF would like to reaffirm our solidarity with the Wolayita and other oppressed peoples in order to immediately put an end to this unconstitutional, anti-democratic and unitary dictatorship’s actions against the Ethiopian people” (TPLF, 11.08.2020).

We are seeing the numbers are rising. This means the possible amounts might run even higher. They are already grim, as the demonstrations came quickly after the arrests of the leaders on the 9th August 2020. Within 3 days there are reports of 30 dead. That is 10 people a day on the watch of the government and with the orders of the same authorities.

This is grim… worrying and should concern people. As the same state killed hundreds during the protests in Oromia during the protests there. Now, the same tactic is used in Wolayita zone, which also wants to become a Federal State too. This is the cost for becoming autonomous, apparently. A deadly wish and the costly protest against the state.

The state have two answers to the ones defying it:

– Arrests, fatalities and injuries

– Blame the victims and hope nobody questions it.

Ethiopia is burning, one zone at the time, apparently. Peace.

Ethiopia: PM Abiy removes his Oromo backers

The rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ali Ahmed are continuing his consolidation of power, which he started with the creation of Prosperity Party (PP) out of the Party Coalition Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF). Now, his continuing it with taking out the people who supported him and backed him while he rose to power.

Now he gone after his side-kick and backer from the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO) to Oromo Democratic Party (ODP) and all the way to PP. He has already politically arrested all main opposition in Oromia. They are all charged and in prison. While others who defy the PP and the Central Government will be forced to silence or detained. Just like the recent arrests of leaders from Wolayata Zone.

Today, there are reports that these are dismissed and removed from the PP:

Lemma Megersa, Minister of Defence

Tayiba Hassen, Deputy president of the Oromia regional state,

– Dr Milkesa Mideksa, Representative of Oromia regional state

This is all a clear sign of that there are only one man to listen too and the others has to keep their traps shut. Because, the man on the top, the Prime Minister will demote or get rid of the ones who are in his way. There is no other way to see it now. His making political prisoners out of the opposition, making fake-coups towards the ones who doesn’t support him and appoint leaders who are his allies. He get rid of the ones who are facing him and wants glory for all his work.

The Prime Minister is playing a dangerous game here. The consolidation of power can only take you so far. At one point, paranoia and despair will be on his mind. The PM will cause conflict and warn people. He will talk of danger, but when he is the one who orders the guns.

Now, he went for the ones who was behind his rise to become PM. The ones who was close and supported him. When he can do this to them. What can he do to a real opposition? People who are fighting for liberty, freedom and justice? They will suffer, these people lost their titles and been removed. However, this only shows what sort of fella the PM is.

We can wonder what he does next, but he does not run on reforms anymore. The PM runs on control and by any means. He doesn’t care of the costs, as long as his supreme. Peace.

Ethiopia: Press Release on the Resumption of the Tripartite negotiation on the GERD (03.08.2020)

Ethiopia: Global Oromo Advocacy Group (GOAG) – The safety and well-being of the Oromo political prisoners including Mr. Dawud Ibsa, chairman of the Oromo Liberation Front, are in grave danger (29.07.2020)