Council of the European Union: “South Sudan – Council Conclusions” (16.04.2018)

Somalia: MoFA Press Release on the relationship with the UAE (16.04.2018)

PM Abiy has shown his swagger, but the EPRDF acts and sounds much like the same!

I know it is just under 2 weeks since the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF) got a new Chairman and Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali. Just days after now, he has been traveling and having meetings within the regions highly affected by the prolonged State of Emergency with the draconian laws and military forces attacking civilians, arresting and stopping ordinary activity. Therefore, it is important that the Prime Minister traveling and meeting people in Oromia, even in Amhara later too. But just traveling, while having Agazi squad is still killing people. The numbers since takeover is already up-to six. There might be more, but that is the ones that is reported.

The EPRDF, the state and government are still keeping their Command Post and the military at bay. They are still silencing the people and their protests. There is still internally displaced people and the military, still has the final say. There is a change of the top inside the ruling coalition, but their activity hasn’t changed.

That is both proven in the condemnation of the United States House Resolution 128, that was voted on in the Representatives House yesterday. Not that is direct sanctions against the ERPDF, but it is a sign of change from Washington D.C. However, the EPRDF are condemning it, instead of asking themselves how the US came to that conclusion and assessment of the Ethiopian struggle. The EPRDF should instead work on change from within, unless they want the protesters to continue. Since, they haven’t done much, than small tokens.

It is a big deal that the PM offers a visit of the Opposition leaders at the Palace today, that they are in the lavish and the nice venue listening to the PM. As he eloquently saying the words needed to be said, but the acts of EPRDF isn’t much change, but more of the same. That is why the killings continue, the arrests and the lack of reconciliation. This is the first step, but if the EPRDF want to really open up. They need the SoE gone away and they need to negotiate to have proper elections and trustworthy National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). Not one rigging for the EPRDF and their Allied Parties.

We know that the EPRDF has no plan of directly changing, they think they can get away with changing the PM and make him speak softly around the Republic. Instead of actually making a difference. That is why the Local Elections are postponed again, instead of showing opportunity to freshen the local government in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa for instance.

The Ethiopian Government should be careful of their activity, as they have detained the leadership of the protest again, the famous writers and politicians that they recently released. I am not the sort of guy traded-off on beautiful speeches, even if I also can be carried away. Dr. Abiy has been able to pick his words wisely, but its time for the first steps of actions. If he wants to be the change or not a puppet. Right now he looks like a puppet and smells like a puppet. He has a nice tone and done some nice public appearances. However, it is not enough.

Not if the EPRDF want to be something else than the Woyane, the TPLF go-lucky gang who oppress the protest and the will of the people. Knowing how they look at themselves, we can see that from Seifeselassie Gebre who wrote this: “However, it is quite refreshing to see some lawmakers such as Senator Inhofe who had the courage to speak the truth by chastising the bill as nothing more than an opportunistic interference at a time Ethiopia finds itself at a critical juncture. The honorable thing for the congressmen would have been to congratulate the new PM and also applaud and commend the peaceful transfer of power that was made possible by (1) EPRDF’s time-tested internal deliberation and selection process for power transition, (2) the timely imposition of the State of Emergency that gave the government enough time to hash out its differences and reach a consensus regarding the selection of a new leader” (Seifeselassie Gebre – ‘H.Res-128: A Pretext in Search of a Neo-liberal Colony’ 12.04.2018, Tigraionline.com).

When you read this your blood should be boiling, as the goodness of the unnecessary deaths, the detentions of rights of the Amhara and Oromo people are put on the altar of one switching chair in Addis Ababa. Instead of thinking of the consequences of the State of Emergency, the TPLF supporters, are saying the Americans are meddling. They shouldn’t look directly at the meddling, but the results and the activity of the military, the Command Post and Agazi Squad in the regions of protest. That is if, the value of life matters to the TPLF and the EPRDF. It is a smack to the face of a Sovereign nations to get a resolution like it did, but they haven’t acted with humans intent. Only to keep power and silence the Queerro of Oromia and the Amhara too. That got to stop!

If the EPRDF is serious, the first thing that has to happen, is to stop the State of Emergency. Second is to recalling the Agazi squad and military police out of the streets into the barracks. Third stop the road-blocks and fourth quit the draconian laws silencing the people. That from the Anti-Terror Law and the Codes put on the SoE. All of that has to stop, then there is time for nice speeches and trying to negotiate, to make a change from the current acts of the EPRDF. Because right now, the government are putting a nice act in-front of the world. But it hasn’t changed the system, neither the disrespectful interference in the citizens lives.

That is why the TPLF, the Woyane, the EPRDF, cannot only send Dr. Abiy as a puppet and speak of elegance and finesse. But he needs to show in acts in Parliament, there need to be votes to stop the State of Emergency. The Parliament needs to investigate the violence, the killings of innocent civilians and the arbitrary arrests. So justice can be for all and the ones who has misused power can get the punishment for their ill-will against the will of the people. The protesters has the right to get that. Even if someone believes silencing them is their god-given right. They shouldn’t, the Oromo and Amhara deserves a better fate. Just like the Tigrai. They don’t own it all.

We know all isn’t what it seems, when ESAT are reporting this:

The new prime ministers of the EPRDF are saying that they do not believe that the EPRDF line will continue. (ESAT News April 4, 2010) The current Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, is calling on the EPRDF line. According to the sources of ESAT’s EPRDF sources, some of the existing leaders of the EPRDF leadership, Ato Sibhat Nega, Abay Hailaye, Bere Simeon, Patriarch Joseph, Seyoum Mesfin, and others who have served in the organization, follow the politics of the new Prime Minister instead of the developmental ideology of the EPRDF. They are insisting that they will have to live up to their promises, and that they are more likely to listen to the opposition than the EPDRF. These new leaders, who have started a new campaign on the EPRDF line, have said that the new prime ministers are eager to save the EPRDF line without a desire to extend the EPRDF line. The ruling party has been in the process of mobilizing different supporters, saying that the Oromia region has created a bad system in our country and is a landlocked country. Although the regions have been given the power to govern themselves, the leadership of the National Intelligence and Security Service is in the process of revolving around the central authority, and the current leaders, who are said to be under attack, If they are going to engage with opponents without permission, then threatening to take action to protect the survival and protection of the archives. He added that the former leaders are gathering opinions, even those who are popular, and that the people have given their trust and confidence that the new prime minister will bring about real change” (ESAT, 12.04.2018).

We have to see if it is all public swagger from the new PM or if the EPRDF are real about it. I doubt it, since the killings has continued since the swearing-in. As long as innocent dies for any government to live, you know something is wrong. It doesn’t matter for who and where, it is just wrong. Peace.

The IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan Communces Consultations on the Outstanding Issues at HLRF (10.04.2018)

10th April 2018, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: The IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, accompanied by representatives of the Office of the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers, held consultations on 10th April 2018 with representatives of the South Sudanese Civil Society Stakeholders to the HLRF to discuss key outstanding issues at the Forum, including positions of the various parties and possible compromises. The consultations are pursuant to the decisions of the IGAD Council of Ministers at its 61stExtra-Ordinary Session on South Sudan held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 26 March 2018 to reconvene the continuation of Phase II of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) to conduct consultations and undertake shuttle diplomacy with the parties and stakeholders to the HLRF to narrow the gaps between the Parties, prior to the next reconvening of the Forum.

The consultations focused on the key areas of disagreements on governance and security arrangements at the HLRF. Under governance, the following issues were discussed: the composition of the transitional government; structure of the government; responsibility sharing; number of states and size and composition of the Parliament.

On security arrangements, the following issues were discussed: timeframe for reintegration/unification of forces and approach to the formation of one national army; security for Juba during the Transition; demilitarization of civilian centers; cantonment of forces and Security sector reform or establishment of new security services.

Following extensive deliberations, the representatives of the Civil Society and stakeholders at the HLRF   made recommendations for considerations by the Parties at the HLRF.

Opinion: Evidence of Warlord mentality appears within the Kiir government with the plot to assassinate Machar!

“a military leader of a nation or part of a nation, esp one who is accountable to nobody when the central government is weak” (Collins English Dictionary – ‘Warlord’).

There one of these days, something striking and so profound, that you lose your grip of reality. It will come one of these days, when all glass shatters and everything you believe in will vanish. That is not today, since the Juba administration, the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), which has led to another brutal civil war in South Sudan. Have evidently given an offer to one of their generals to assassinate Dr. Riek Machar, the former First Vice-President of South Sudan. If that doesn’t make the alarm-bell running, nothing does. I am sure the same offer came within the time the tanks was driving down the streets of Juba and the rebels of SPLM/A-IO went into the bush of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after failed peace-agreement and settlement between SPLM/A and SPLM/A-IO.

So yesterday’s revelations says a lot:

“South Sudan’s presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told reporters in Juba today that the failed plot to pursue and kill the former first vice president turned rebel leader Riek Machar originated with Gen. Paul Malong. “The Central Bank of South Sudan was opened at night and $5 million was released for military operations against Riek Machar,” Ateny said. The government blamed Paul Malong for failing to kill the main opposition leader after receiving as much as $5 million for military operations after rebels forces had been driven out of the capital Juba. “Malong took the money but Riek Machar was not killed. He [Malong] failed to pursue Machar and Riek Machar did not face any difficulty. But he [Malong] took the money,” Ateny said, while accusing the former military chief of massive corruption, barely one day after he officially declared himself a rebel” (Radio Tamazuj, 10.04.2018).

That the government today, years after the brutal attack on Machar in Juba and left him fleeing, after the sacking of Gen. Malong last year and his sudden, but not strange new rebellion against the state. Then the state reveal their devious plan to kill Machar. Not like that would be surprising in some aspect, these are violent affairs and death follows. The SPLA and SPLM/A-IO has fought dozens of skirmishes and certainly not the last. Because, none of them seems to be willing to back down. While more rebels appear, more groups and some coalitions of rebels, also comes out of the dust.

That the state doesn’t think this implicate themselves and only tarnish Malong, that is really foolish. This shows how little lack of governance and will of institutions, that the central government, which was supposed to co-operate with Machar. Would actually hire someone, a fellow general and his troops to kill him. The problem isn’t directly that Malong would kill him, but that the government gave him money and a contract to do so.

The TGoNU has really with this story sold themselves short. They thought it was a brilliant way of tarnishing the efforts of Malong to start his rebellion. Well, it shows that he does whatever to get by and get wealthy, but it also shows how the state moves and tries to make people disappear, that they don’t like or don’t want to co-operate with. That is what this signals, that they are putting money on people’s head. If they start to test the structures and the people on-high.

We can just imagine who sanctioned this and who payed Malong, that is the big-deal and that shows who thought it would be a good arrangement. To settle the difference not with consensus, but by the guns. That is why this is War-Lord mentality. Peace.

South Sudan: Humanitarian Coordinator condemns killing of aid worker, calls for the release of seven others held by armed group (10.04.2018)

South Sudan: Gen. Paul Malong launch South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) – (09.04.2018)

U.S. Funded Special Forces Used for Political Standoff in Somalia (04.04.2018)

Opinion: Did Abiy follow Hailemariam 2012 script on Eritrea?

I don’t like being fooled, but sometimes it happens. This might be coincidence, and most like not. It is not like the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Force (EPRDF) and their coalition parties has done this without thinking. As of yesterday, the newly selected and appointed Chairman and Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali took over for incumbent Hailemariam Desalegn. Why I wonder if the thing we saw yesterday was real, is because of this. Deja vu’ is not my cup of tea, but maybe if I drink something stronger, it might be swallowed without thinking.

2012 Ethiopian PM:

“If you ask me, ‘Do you want to go to Asmara and sit down and negotiate with Isaias Afwerki?’ Then, I will say yes’,” Hailemariam said in an interview with Al Jazeera to be broadcast on Saturday” (Al Jazeera – ‘Ethiopia PM willing to talk to Eritrea’ 06.12.2018).

2018 Ethiopian PM:

Speaking on state television after his swearing-in ceremony, Mr Abiy called for an end to “years of misunderstandings”. “I call on the Eritrean government to take the same stand,” he said” (BBC News – ‘Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed wants to resolve Eritrea disputes’ 02.04.2018).

Both of them talk of addressing the grievances with the brothers of Eritrea, but will there be any changes here? Or is this a marketing plot of making people look away from the troubles beneath the surface?

I have doubts that this change quickly, since it has been stalemate so long. Unless, the EPRDF plans to change their inner-works. However, there is no sign of military changes, neither with the internal problems of yet. The state has detained people for celebrating the new PM in Dire Dawa, where youth we’re taken directly to a Military Camp, while also Woman and their children was detained for celebrating the new PM. The State of Emergency are still creating more arrests and arbitrary at best. All people can for various of reasons, end behind bars.

Therefore, I don’t take the words to heart, neither expect much to appear, I feel more I see a mirage, than the real. Unless, something substantially changes. If the framework, the idea of the EPRDF government changes, because right now it is a new PM, but the structure is the same and the actions are more of the same. It has only been a hot-minute, but he has to really deliver and show it. Not only redecorate a office and smile to camera. Than, he is just another puppet for the TPLF and the current central government, who has no issues taking protesters and civilian hostages in their nation. That has been evident and still is. Unless, the PM wants that changed.

Time to see, but I not yet believing, since I also the similar tune between the two PMs and the previous one, didn’t do squat about the Eritrean questions or the Badme land-grab. There is just to many things left unfinished. PM Abiy needs time, but he is laying himself traps and the scenario isn’t change for the better. He rose to power swiftly, but if he will carry the dialogue with protesters and keep EPRDF at bay, that is the next question. Since, he has enough turmoil inside, to be dealing with foreign nuisance too.

We have heard it before, it is time to see action, but will we? Peace.

A Powerful Speech from PM Dr. Abiy Ahmed, but will he deliver?

I want it all to go well, we all want to see Ethiopia prosper and be friendly with its neighbors. We all wants to see that, that the farmers get their deserved pay for their harvest, the traders their value of the products and the right price on the exports before leaving for the ports of Djibouti or Somaliland. That is natural. The Federal Government of Ethiopia has to deliver that, the government of Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Defence Front (EPRDF), the coalition government with a new Chairman and Prime Minister from today on.

It is now official, the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO) get their leader on top of the coalition party, that is Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali. The other parties get other positions and also, there has not been changes in the parliament or within the Council’s of Ministers. Therefore, the only change has been the head and not the hierarchy. The EPRDF is still the same, but with a new guy on the top.

His speech today was powerful and refreshing, the words and prospects are golden, they are vital, but will he act upon them? Will the new Prime Minister challenge the Command Post and the Military, who are occupying the provinces with military forces and taken away the liberties and democratic freedoms. Therefore, if the speech should have any value, the new PM has to act and do it within EPRDF. Which will be interesting, as to see if he is allowed or controlled. As it is easy to speak, it is to write, but harder to sanction or even enforce changes. Especially if it cost for certain parties.

Dr. Abiy also said that this power transition is a historic moment in the country. Disagreements are not the result of disagreement, but they are the result of better understanding when it comes to understanding the principle. As the democracy does not originate from the government, it is considered to be a solution, “he said. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed said that the right to freedom of expression, assembly and association should be respected by the constitution and that public participation should be strengthened. He said that they should not seek to interfere with the rights of others to demand a democratic right. In order to achieve the rule of law in our country, democracy and the rule of law will prevail, freedom and justice will be realized” (Ethiopian Broadcasting Company, 02.03.2018).

This is promising hopes and changes from the government, who has used all techniques, all use of force and taken away all freedoms of the protesters, detained thousands of them, killed numerous and who knows how many ended up at the hospitals in the provinces. Therefore, the civilian casualties made by the state fighting their own citizens, has to stop, the military siege of Amhara and Oromia has to stop. That is a serious change of pattern, secondly stop the road-blocks, the stop of suspension of a political gatherings, all rules and regulation made by the fresh State of Emergency. That is if, the EPRDF are serious about the words the PM said.

The provinces has to see this, it is well thought of speech, a speech of hope and of promise. But the words will fall flat, unless he works upon it. Take talks with the stakeholders, have community meetings and meets with the groups whose been seen as terrorists and anti-government. When, they are really just working for their own liberty and freedom. As the government has oppressed and been besieging their homes, and their lands.

That has to change, if his rhetoric is a mirage or a make belief, or if he is the real deal. The citizens deserves that, the great nation of Ethiopia does so too. But will the new PM deliver or will the Council of Ministers stop him? Will the other Committee’s overpower him? Peace.