Ethiopia: Oromia Liberation Front (OLF) – Press Release – The Recent Targeted Oromo Youths killings are a Manifestation of the continued lack of peace and security in Oromia (25.10.2020)

While the Oromo people’s uncertainty about their well-being and safety in Oromia is so high and the Horn of Africa as a whole is under a cloud of fears and insecurity, targeted killings of the Oromo Youths will rather aggravate the situation than calming it down. When political parties like the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) are proposing a resolution for the current crises, such an inhuman way of killing innocent citizens rather worsen the situation.

Simply putting, it’s immoral and inhuman to kill these innocent youths. It is also against the law of the land as well as international law. Whoever committed this heinous killing, OLF condemns with a strong word possible such extrajudicial killing. These youths are the hopes of our freedom and our future and nation’s fate lies in their hand.

The various massacres that recently took place in South-Eastern Oromia in Bale Robe, Eastern Oromia in Awaday and Machahara, and Western Oromia in Nekemte clearly indicate the lack of peace and security in Oromia. We believe that such murdering of the Oromia youths on street, in their homes, and basically everywhere is orchestrated by those who used to be in government structure but are an anti-Oromo struggle.

Therefore, the Oromo people and the citizens of Oromia as a whole must realize these facts and act in unity to defend themselves from such genocidal killings.

Those who are currently working in security and police forces, and military personnel born of Oromia citizens, have Oromia citizens relatives or friends, and are residing in Oromia should refrain from committing such extrajudicial killings on Oromo youth.

We call upon you to rather stand up and protect your family, relatives, friend, and the citizens with whom you live from criminals. Remember, you took an oath to protect the people and nation, but not the interest of government or politicians.

To curve the current looming crises in Oromia, the OLF has called for the establishment of the National Transitional Government of Oromia. Taking this opportunity, we would like to remind all political parties, Oromo human rights Organizations, civic institutes, Oromo professionals/elites, non-governmental and private organizations, and the overall Oromia citizens, to own your responsibilities in supporting and working toward the realization of the Oromia National Transitional Government.

Lastly, these targeted killings on Oromo youth across Oromia is being committed by those few individuals or groups within the government structure. OLF would like to reaffirm that people’s struggle for freedom, peace, and democracy will never be reversed with such inhuman action, and those who have committed and are still committing such heinous killing will never escape from accountability, be it history or legal.

This politically motivated killing and harassment of citizens in Oromia only come to an end by establishing the Oromia National transitional government that can be trusted by the people. We should strengthen our struggle in all aspects to protect ourselves and defend our nation and interest.

Extrajudicial killings and intimidations across Oromia have been taking place on Oromo youths for over two years and still, there is no glimpse of hope that this will stop. In fact, such unjustifiable killings increase the concerns and anxiety of our people about their overall safety and security.

We as people should realize these real concerns and work toward bringing an end to it by establishing Oromia National transitional government.

Victor to the masses

Oromo Liberation front

October 25, 2020

Ethiopia: Office of the Prime Minister – The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is an affirmation of Ethiopia’s commitment for equiptable and reasonable utilitation of the Abbay River (24.10.2020)

Ethiopia: Will the World Bank accept the blocking of the funding of the Safety Net Program in Tigray?

The World Bank together with development partners has supported a Safety Net Development projects since the financial year of 2018 and it’s supposed to end by 31st December 2020. It is called by them Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). This is supposed to support farmers and secure food security across the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE).

Clearly, the fallout between the Tigray and Addis Ababa. The result of the political stalemate between Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Prosperity Party (PP) has yet another financial implication. The PP have already blocked Federal Support of the Regional Government of Tigray. Also, collaboration between the House of Federation (HoF) and Regional Government of Tigray has ceased.

Today, the news that the Federal Government are now blocking the funds and support through the World Bank Program of PSNP. A program made for farmers, secure livelihood and give the farmers social accountability. Latest support from the World Bank was in September 2020. The Federal Government got $66m USD allocated to PSNP. The funds now blocked has to be from this.

This means the state is deliberately blocking one region from accessing funds given to the whole Republic. It wasn’t given to just Amhara or Oromia. No, it was given to the government representing the whole Republic. That means, the altering of the funding, which was intended to them all.

The funders of the PSNP should react to this. Especially, if they care for the livelihood of the farmers in Tigray. If the state had blocked farmers in Ogaden or in Oromia. There would be the same reason to cry havoc. This is wrong on all basis and only done because the PP is punishing the Tigray for not following the “orders” from Addis.

The Federal Government is punishing the farmers of Tigray. That is the reality of this. The foreign donors are blocked from giving needed aid to Tigray. Just because the PP and Federal Government isn’t friendly with Mekelle at the moment.

This is tragic that foreign aid can be used like this and be suspended, because of the Napoleon Complex of the Prime Minister. Peace.

Ethiopia: The Oromo American Community Highlights Human Rights Violations in Oromia Region of Ethiopia, Amidst US 2020 Elections (15.10.2020)

Ethiopia: Samuel Bekele Gerba – My Open letter to Abiy Ahmed (10.10.2020)

Ethiopia: Amhara Association of American Supports Bipartisan House Resolution that Condems Targeted Ethnic and Religious Killings in Ethiopia (09.10.2020)

Ethiopia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Press Release on Irregular Migrants in KSA (09.10.2020)

Ethiopia: Statement from Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (Ezema) – Let us protect our peace and actively participate in the upcoming election to lay the foundation for a democratic system in Ethiopia! (06.10.2020)

National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE): Amended Provisions to Directive No. FIS/03/2020 (07.10.2020)

Opinion: Will the Tigray be pushed to secede from the Federation?

This week the House of Federations has done two things to the Regional Government of Tigray as an response to September 2020 elections. They have both ceded co-operation with the Regional Government and also stopped the subsidiary of the budgets of the state. This is clearly amping up the tensions. As much, as the Tigray have also ceased co-operation with the House of Representatives too. Therefore, a real stalemate have appeared.

The Federal Government in Addis Ababa is playing with high stakes. As they cannot ambush every region of the Republic. The Prosperity Party and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali is trying to bush-whack the ones being at helm for over two decades. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) knows all the tricks and hurdles ahead. The TPLF isn’t a weak party. They are former oppressors of the Republic and knows all the steps ahead.

It seems like the PP and PM Abiy haven’t captured or understood who they are dealing with. It is like he don’t know what game his playing. Just reacting and trying to play catch-up. That is why the Tigray doesn’t seemed shocked or unprepared for it. This is why they went ahead with an election. When the Federal Government had suspended it and even ensured that their own mandate would cease before the next polls.

The Federal Government have taken all consolidated the powers. They are using the boots on the grounds, political prisoners and intimidation to incite power within the ranks of the public. The Prosperity Party is coming with soldiers and with bracelets. The state is arresting, torturing and killing its dissidents at a rate that are worse and beyond the TPLF. The TPLF which had much more years in power, but still Abiy have succeeded to have a worst record in the short span his been power.

Still with that betrayal of reforms and moving forward. The Prime Minister and the Representatives in Addis is trying to outsmart Mekelle. However, they are only ensuring and giving reasons for the Tigray to secede from the Federation. Instead of being beside the opposition and showing reason. The Federal Government is creating all the good arguments to cease and rebuke the central power.

The 1995 Constitution article 39 (4) is clear on this and is a protocol for how to do it. The TPLF should know this by heart. So, if the Legislative Council of the Nation (Tigray) votes for a Referendum with a margin of two-thirds majority. Then, the Federal Government has to organize a election within 3 years. After that, if a majority supported the referendum. It is at that point the Federal Government have to transfer its powers to the Council of the Nation.

Those things are far from this very moment. However, the more the stakes are set. The cards are played and the deck is set. The game is ready for it. The House of Federation is clearly not interested in the citizens of Tigray. Neither, are they interested in doing any favours to the TPLF. The Party that rejected the Prosperity Party. Therefore, everything that has happen since is a sort of retribution. As they didn’t want to be a part of the Abiy project. Whatever that is, except of consolidating all power around “his highness”.

I was never blind to the ills of the TPLF and its reign. However, the PP and Abiy isn’t better. They are using the same means and at such scale. The citizens of Oromia and Ogaden is feeling the blunt force of it. There is only a fake-peace. Where the arms are aimed at the public. That cannot last forever. Neither, can a stalemate with Tigray last forever. There will be reactions and actions made.

Some speaks of fear of civil war. That would have been unleashed, because the Federal Government didn’t respect its constitution and neither did its duty. Alas, the fallacy is all in Addis and in the hands of Abiy. He has the loyalty and the powers from his unelected representatives. They can make a difference.

However, will they do that? Would they accept the vote from the TPLF for succession and secede from the Federation?

I really don’t know, but the state of affairs isn’t becoming better. It is becoming worse. That is handled wrong and not negotiating between the parties. Instead, they are using their means against each other. To see who gets humiliated first and gives way. That is something can last for long and prolong the juxtaposition they have put themselves in. The quagmire created by the Federal Government and TPLF. Which they both can solve, but is there a will and way?

I hope and pray for less guns, less bloodshed and loss of lives. There has already been enough loss of lives because of ignorance, arrogance and hunger for power. However, how much more needs to be lost over the throne and ability to rule supreme in Addis? I don’t know, but something got to give. Peace.