Tigray Defence Force

Ethiopia: Shabait’s shambolic rant against Secretary Blinken…

“In a Press Statement yesterday (20th March), US Secretary of State yet again raised unsubstantiated and defamatory accusations against the Eritrean Defense Forces in relation to the two-year conflict in north Ethiopia triggered by the TPLF’s deplorable War of Insurrection and choice” (Shabait, 21.03.2023)

As on the Tripartite Alliance members, the Eritrean Defence Force has been active and a constant presence in Northern Ethiopia. The EDF is known for it’s brutality, destruction and war-crimes committed since November 2020. The war has shown what the EDF is willing to do together with the Tripartite Alliance members. No one should be shocked that the oppressor and the ones issuing these war-crimes won’t state that it did or does so. Because, who wants to incriminate themselves?

Secondly, we know the Shabait, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Asmara is willing to lie about anything. The Shabait is always aiming at their enemies and projecting their crimes onto them. That’s what it has done forever now and it’s getting old…

“As it happens, the current cheap demonization campaign is designed to blackmail and intimidate Eritrea and the Federal Ethiopian government through fallacious accusations and keep them hostage while bolstering the TPLF to create further chaos. The ensuing mayhem would then create the pretexts and conditions for illicit and continued meddling and intervention” (Shabait, 21.03.2023).

The Shabait continues with their story of attacking TPLF and their credibility. While are supposed to forget the planned efforts, the armies on the border regions ready to assault and invade Tigray region ahead of the attack on the Northern Command. There was reports of troops flying into Asmara and Eritrea from Ethiopia. While stationed mechanic divisions and others in Amhara region, which was there in preparation of the invasion. Therefore, these words are hallow and shows the intentions of Eritrea to bury an old enemy, which was the whole idea of attacking the Tigray region…

Shabait continues: “The devastating war occurred because the TPLF launched premeditated, extensive and coordinated military assaults against Ethiopia’s Northern Command, killing more than 3000 soldiers in its initial blitzkrieg. TPLF’s war plans included massive long-range missile attacks against Eritrea in its initial phase alone, in violation of fundamental tenets of international law. Furthermore, the litany of TPLF’s crimes, including massive and forcible recruitment of tens of thousands of children in its human wave assaults in the Afar and Amhara Regions of Ethiopia, are too many to be recounted here. But they were deliberately downplayed and glossed over as US overarching objective remained salvaging the TPLF under all circumstances” (Shabait, 21.03.2023).

Here they are using the same rhetoric as in the past. The TPLF is the enemy and at fault for everything. They are putting in the spin, as this was a defence and righteous war. While we know the truth is more grim and dark than that. The EDF and the Tripartite Alliance was doing it to consolidate power, and annihilate an old enemy. That was the gist of the plan and the vilification of the region made more reasons to destroy it and go after them with lethal means.

I myself would not downplay the plights of the people of the Afar or Amhara region, which has also been caught in the cross-fire of this war. However, these bullets and battlefields has happened, because of the invading forces attacking the Tigray region. The Regional Government there had to answer back and also be on the offensive. Not only be defending itself. Therefore, this is a quagmire and a fault-line to attack the TPLF for that. When the EDF is responsible for massacres, possible genocide and part-take in a man-made famine with fellow allies. Yes, the ills, killings and plights of the other regions matters, but in the grand scheme of things. The biggest tragedy and the hugest loss happened in the Tigray region and it happened for a reason. This shouldn’t be understated or downplayed, which is what Shabait and others are doing. Just so they can clean their hands of the blood and call it a day…

This here Press Release from Shabait only proves what it is trying to do and the language or rhetoric it is spewing is doing themselves no good. The final nail in the coffin is this one: “Washington must thus extricate itself from duplicitous and cynical acts as well as illicit meddling” (Shabait, 21.03.2023).

It is just so rich and special of Eritrea to speak this way. When they are an invading force and a possible genocidal one. That it doesn’t want to have anyone to interfere or question its activity. We just know the Eritrean Forces wants to be able to do whatever it pleases on Ethiopian and Tigrayan soil. That’s the game plan here and they don’t want accountability or transparency about it. It just like any sort of Eritrean election, which is non-existent at this point. Peace.

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Statement (21.03.2023)

Ethiopia: The TPLF says the Eritrean forces and Fano are still operating in Tigray…

“The people and government of Tigray have been subjected to countless injustices and atrocities in recent years simply because they hold the popular belief and principle that “the order should be respected and the right of peoples to self-determination should not be violated”. They have also been struggling with remarkable tenacity and remarkable heroism to fight the unique suffering that has been inflicted on them and they have entered the process of peaceful political struggle in late October” (TPLF, 19.03.2023).

There been many moons and many months since the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement was signed between the FDRE and the TPLF or the Regional Government of Tigray. Now after all this time and speculation. The TPLF is announcing one worrying factor. They are stating that the Amhara region is still part of the conflict and their armies are still in the region. This is happening months after CoHA came into effect. It just shows that the agreement isn’t valuable or off much concern.

The TPLF are dealing with an axis of enemies. They are based in Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar and in Asmara. This Tripartite Alliance got all the goodwill and international credibility by signing the agreement. Nevertheless, they haven’t done much to honour it and they know the international stakeholders doesn’t care either. Therefore, the TPLF signed off to early and it shows by yesterdays press release…

“However, as this peace talks process has started its journey in a better direction and we are carrying out the movement to establish the Interim Administration of Tigray, the Ethiopian government should pay special attention and stop the acts of disturbing the peace process The people of Tigray make their appeal. The expression of this weakness is that yesterday, March 10, 2015, an unacceptable demonstration was held in Alamata town. Tragic injustices have also been committed against many civilians. Genocide has been committed in the western and northwestern parts of Tigray since the beginning. The Ethiopian government should fulfill its responsibility to protect the safety of citizens and stop the atrocities committed against the people of West, South and Northwest Tigray regions by the Amhara Regional State administration. To do this, he should work decisively to withdraw the Amhara armed forces from Tigray soil altogether” (…) “We call on the African Union and the international community to take meaningful action to stop the crimes committed by the Amhara armed forces and the Eritrean army against the people of Tigray” (TPLF, 19.03.2023).

We are seeing the TPLF have faith and believes in the small steps to betterment. While they should be cautious, but not ridiculous. For one simple reason, they traded off a lot by signing the agreement and the pay-off has come in favour of Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar. It has not favoured Mekelle or Asmara. Which is very ironic, but true.

Eritrean Defence Forces are still on Tigrayan soil. That has been reported and now it is also reported that the Amhara Para-Military Group “Fano” is still there. Meaning the invading forces still are occupying and destroying the region. The war isn’t over when the invaders are still active. It has ceased the major operations, but the gist of it is still going on. This has become a silent conflict and the brewing of it could spark something even worse. It is a flame hidden in the ashes. When the ashes get enough oxygen it will spark. That’s what is going in and people should be worried. Especially when TPLF is calling it out after all this time.

It should worry people and the bloodshed is continuing. The invaders haven’t retreated or stopped. No, they are only doing it in silence…. And in darkness, and that’s why it’s concerning. Peace.

Ethiopia: Tigrai Universities Scholars Association (TUSA) – Open Letter – Call for immediate actions (17.03.2023)

Ethiopia: Prosperity Party’s hallow promises…

Another year, another pledge, this time the ruling regime and the consolidated party of the Prosperity Party released a Press Release yesterday from Executive Committee. This is in a way of showing progress and means to an end. We have seen what the Prosperity Party is willing to do and how it’s ushering in violence across the Republic. The PP cannot shield itself from criticism or questions about its actions. When it has waged war and caused conflict in several of regions of the Republic.

The PP Executive Committee starts with this:

“Ethiopia is on a bridge where our country is crossing to a great chapter. Some are struggling to bring it back from the bridge. Others are trying to break the bridge and throw it down a cliff. And her fighter children are struggling to make her walk on the bridge without much time. Prosperity has chosen the third. A bridge will not be as strong as the past road. But it is necessary to cross the cliff. Staying on the bridge for a long time is dangerous. It is important to cross quickly and reach the stable ground. This is what the transition period we are in tells us. The goal of the transition is not to stay there but to transition to a prosperous Ethiopia” (Prosperity Party, 18.03.2023).

This is a way of the party in power to play the game of buying time – calling their reign a transition and enable to them to “give way” so they will resolve the issues later. They are at the same time blaming others and claiming they are the ones that has understood how they need to cross the bridge. Not like the other ones, the ones taking the dangerous bridge or throwing it off a cliff. No, the PP party can lead this transition to a “prosperous” nation.

Alas, that’s where the fault line begins, because we have seen what they have been up for the last few years. It doesn’t help with a metaphor, when they are the ones making it either dangerous to cross or they are the ones destroying the bridges. They can act a fool, but we have seen what the PP party has been up to…

It is really rich that the PP says this:

“The executive committee has assessed that the problem of administering freedom that is seen in the area of administrations, media, religious institutions, political parties and activists should be addressed immediately. Free governance means respecting the law, without hurting others, destroying the country and causing conflict, and being able to use your rights. Destroying the law, violating the rights of others, provoking conflict and hatred. But it can’t be freedom. And crime must be held accountable by the law. Therefore, there are signs that administering freedom in our country is becoming a challenge. We are losing the freedom that we got because of the crime committed in the name of freedom. The executive committee calls on government institutions, political parties, media, justice institutions, religious institutions, scholars and elders to do what is required of you” (Prosperity Party, 18.03.2023).

The PP have fore-longed the issue of freedom or liberty. It has taken the same old EPRDF orders and elevated it. That’s why parties cannot assemble, parties cannot be on the ballot or even the party itself interferes in the religious sphere. The PP party takes everything and involves itself where-ever it can. There is nothing it cannot touch or have a say in. They are limiting the space and only allowing the anointed ones of the government to speak. The rest has to move in silence or be oppressed. So, when the state speaks of being accountable. The state is using a fierce hand and the law as a tool to silence its critics. That is obvious and been so in all the years of the PP. The PP amped everything up from the EPRDF. It just re-issued and re-used the techniques, to take leaders, activists, journalists and whoever who stood in its way. Just so they could reign supreme and have no initial naysayers in public.

The PP Party continues:

“The Prosperity Executive Committee has assessed that our country is at a critical stage. We are getting rid of the two years of war. The work we have done to control the illegal armed forces in the area is bearing fruit. We are getting better results in agricultural products. Activities started with job creation are getting results. The challenges we had in diplomacy are getting better. Aid and loans are increasing. Ethiopian economy is one of Africa’s three major economies in sub-Sahara. The projects we started in Gebeta are being completed. We have to overcome the challenges that are thrown from all directions to stop these hopeful beginnings. For this, it is important to strengthen our national unity like steel. We have to make sure that our actions and speech will lead the oppressed people to prosperity. Let’s focus on development, peace and security. It is a must to administer our freedom responsibly. They will make the cost of living and accelerate our development. Taking constructive measures is our homework that can’t be done for tomorrow. Expanding and consolidating our diplomacy is our key action. Making the plan and situation happen at the intended time is to make Ethiopia succeed” (Prosperity Party, 18.03.2023).

The PP party is acting like the conflict of the North is over. PP is saying the war is over. The “Operation Law Enforcement” is now “game over”. Nevertheless, the blockade, the lack of service and no real change on the ground. The Tigray region is far from safe, sound or in any good hands. The troubles of the war is still prevalent and the famine isn’t over either. The possibility of starvation, death and a humanitarian crisis is still on. It isn’t averted and the border regions of Amhara and Afar is already badly hit by the conflict. These are only endangered and lacking the resource to be rebuilt. This is all the play the PP government to consolidate power and gain total control of Mekelle. The price is the thousands of dead civilians, starving people and lack of basic necessities. In combination of a national blockade and military enterprising with fellow allies. Allies who are still in the region and has never left it either. So, the Eritrean armies are still in the Tigray and they haven’t been called “home” either. Just showing how the Addis Ababa – Asmara axis is toying around with Mekelle in 2023.

The ones believing the words of the PP in 2023 is naive. They are at a crossroad. The PP is still challenged in Oromia. It has enemies in the Ogaden and Issa Somali militia in Ogaden/Afar regions. There are plenty of enemies who will haunt the ones in office. The rulers of Ethiopia aren’t in a moment of peace and neither have they done anything fruitful to ensure it either. Only create headlines and praying to the Gods that United States of America opens up trade through AGOA again. Because, the Addis Ababa elite needs the currency and the trade to save themselves in a deficit created by steady conflict. War is expensive and the prestige of doing so has cost the Prime Minister even more. His a warlord and an ally of another one in Eritrea. These two have a pact and it’s obvious that Tigray are the ones that get to suffer the consequence of that.

Nothing in this Press Release from the ruling regime was any good. Just mere boosting the ego of the Prime Minister and trying to sound resourceful. While we know the gist of the ones in-charge. Abiy and his closest allies will not cause or be able to handle peace. They only know how to wage war and conflict. Certainly, they will only accept defeat of their enemies and ensure their demise. That all they are up too and the years they have been in the office proves this. Peace.