Terrorist TPLF has killed 240 civilians in Afar region: Al-Jazeera (August 9, 2021)
Al-Jazeera reported that the TPLF terrorist group killed 240 civilians, including 107 children, in an attack in the Afar region.
Though the Ethiopian government declared a unilateral cease-fire, the TPLF continued to carry out attacks in neighbouring states, the report said.
The report remembered Samantha Power’s concern about the terrorist acts of the TPLF and the displacement of many people from Afar and Amhara, following the terrorist attack.
Al Jazeera reported that the group’s attacks targeted towns and schools in the Kalikuma area of the Afar region.
Al-Jazeera reported that a total of 240 civilians were killed, including 107 children, and hundreds of thousands were displaced as a result of the terrorist attack.
Al-Jazeera also reported that the terrorist group recruited children for the attack in the Afar region.
The report called on the international community to recognize that the terrorist group is undermining the peace and security of the country following a unilateral cease-fire.
Source: Al-Jazeera
ዳላስ ቴክሳስ አዲስ ታሪክ ተሰራ! (August 9, 2021)
በትናንትናው ዕለት ከምሽቱ 10:00 ሰዓት እስከ እኩለ ሌሊት በዘለቀው የኢትዮጵያውያን የዳላስ አብሮነት ምሽት ድንቅ የአጋርነት መልዕክቶችን በማስተላለፍ በኢትዮጵያ ድጋፍ ለሚሹ ወገኖች በአንድ መድረክ ከ$140,000 የአሜሪካን ዶላር በላይ በማሰባሰብ አዲስ ክብረ ወሰን ተመዝግቧል!
ይህ ድጋፍ እንዲገኝ ላስተባበሩ ለኮሚቴው ሰብሳቢና አመራሮች፣ ለኃይማኖት አባቶች፣ ለመድረክ መሪዎች እንዲሁም በጨረታ ጭምር በተደጋጋሚ ለለገሳችሁ ሁሉ የከበረ ምስጋናችን ይድረሳችሁ!
በቀጣይ የዳላሶችን ፈለግ በመከተል በሌሎችም ከተሞች የተጠናከረ የአጋርነትና የልገሳ ፕሮግራም እንደሚካሄድ እንተማመናለን! ኢትዮጵያ በልጆችዋ ትከበራለች!
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen says Ethiopians should unite in disabling TPLF’s destructive acts (August 8, 2021)
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, said Ethiopians should unite to defend their country and halt TPLF’s lootings and killings of civilians in the Amhara and Afar regions.
He said this today (August 08) while heading a visiting delegation to Debre Zebit, Meqet Woreda that comprises high-level federal and regional government officials, including Prosperity Party Office Head, Mr. Binalf Andualem.
The delegation paid a visit to the units of Ethiopian Defense Forces, Amhara Special Forces, and Fano that are defending the area from the destructive acts of the terrorist group.
The visiting group has also appreciated the preparation, motivation, and initiative of the people in the area to defend themselves from TPLF’s irresponsible acts working together with the ENDF and Special Forces.
Mr. Demeke underscored that the people should give a debilitative blow to the terrorist group and disable it from compromising the unity of Ethiopians and the wellbeing of their country.
A Response to the Statement by the UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Regarding the Situation of Eritrean Refugees in Ethiopia (August 7, 2021)
We would like to express our regret that the statement issued by the UN Commission on Human Rights (dated 6 August 2021), based on the hunches of its rapporteur, Dr. Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker (Sudan) on the situation of Eritrean refugees in Tigray, undermines Ethiopia’s centuries-old protection of refugees and does not take into account the facts on the ground.
We find the statement full of fabrications, misrepresentation, and ill-informed of facts and data, which puts the rapporteur’s impartiality and credibility into question. To begin with, the statement tries to draw a comparison between TPLF, a terrorist enterprise, and the government of Ethiopia and the people of a country that protects refugees for ages by calling them “all combatants”. Then, it blatantly and deliberately tries to protect the terrorist enterprise by stating “by forces affiliated with [TPLF]”, while directly and falsely incriminating the government of Ethiopia by undermining all efforts exerted to rescue the refugees by relocating them to a safe location and granting assisted urban refugee status. It has even the audacity to claim that Eritrean refugees are being “targeted and victimized by both sides for their perceived collaboration with the other side in the conflict.” How a government who has a proven track record of hosting and protecting refugees for centuries, and is currently granting the right to live in its capital city can be labelled in such a manner is beyond consideration. It is simply an insidious and baseless lie.
While the TPLF and its affiliates were attacking the two refugee camps, it was the EDF that helped ARRA to locate and transport the scattered refugees. Of the 19,200 refugees from Hitsats and Shimelba, the Ethiopian government has relocated more than 9,000 to Mai-Aini and Adi-Harush and 69 to Berahle, 79 refugees are waiting relocation to Berahle, registered more than 5,300 refugees in Addis Ababa, and both ARRA and UNHCR have credible data that shows the total population of Eritrean refugees who fled the two camps and reside in the city is more than 9,000. We have made 91 hectares of land available to develop into a new camp and have made repeated calls for help in rescuing the refugees. The government has also graciously decided to give out-of-camp status to those who are already in the city and in three days more than 800 are re-registered.
Furthermore, the statement systematically neglects the fact that TPLF launches fresh attacks on refugee hosting areas and puts their lives at risk with reported abductions, killings, looting, and deployment of heavy artilleries inside the camp, and blocks refugees from moving out of danger which is tantamount to hostage situation. To make the captioned issue straight, this fact has already been expressed by the Government of the USA and the UNHCR in addition to the Ethiopian government.
As the Ethiopian Government’s unilateral ceasefire which is aimed at enabling humanitarian assistance continues to be hampered by the TPLF’s provocations, we have a reason to believe that such a statement is a craft to diminish the efforts of the government. We call for officials holding humanitarian posts to act impartially, however, if this is not the case, the government of Ethiopia would be forced to assess the reasons for impartiality and take measures accordingly.
Reaffirming our commitment to the protection of refugees, we request the UN Human Rights Commission to correct the biased and partial opinions of its rapporteur. We also call the Commission and other international humanitarian organizations to help our efforts of rescuing the refugees from the imminent danger they are in and assist our efforts of investigating the issue.
Press Statement on Protection of Cultural Sites (August 6, 2021)
TPLF has continued launching attacks and creating havoc in the adjacent territories of the Tigray region. The TPLF forces also continue to impede humanitarian assistance, thereby putting the lives of many millions at risk.
Despite the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Government, the TPLF forces have turned a deaf ear to the call by the international community to cease all sorts of hostility and allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people in need and for farmers in the Region to make use of the rainy season.
Due to the recent attacks by the force in some areas in the Amhara Region, the people are concerned about the possible destruction of religious and other institutions by the TPLF which signify the centuries-old identity, religion, and culture of Ethiopian people. This concern stems from the fact that the TPLF has done a lot of pillaging, looting, and destruction over the past eight months.
The Government will take all the necessary measures to ensure that these sacred places and other institutions are well protected and call on the international community to condemn this heinous act of the TPLF.
Office of the Spokesperson
06 August 2021
Statement on preoccupying issues in Ethiopia and the way forward (August 6, 2021)
The situation in Tigray and the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire declared by the Government of Ethiopia, including the need to enhancing All-inclusive National Dialogue, have been the major preoccupying issues lately.
The Government of Ethiopia has been committed to the Unilateral Humanitarian Ceasefire that it has declared on 28 June 2021 in a bid to give respite to the people of Tigray and make use of the farming season.
Regrettably, the TPLF has failed to reciprocate. The terrorist group chose to launch new attacks in neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara, which left more than 300,000 people displaced and thousands dead. The Government of Ethiopia has been firm in its commitment to the ceasefire. However, the international community should stop giving a deaf ear to the ongoing atrocities of the terrorist enterprise of TPLF. The Government of Ethiopia could not allow the warmongering group to launch new attacks in neighboring regions and continue disrupting the livelihood of the people. The action of the irresponsible group is testing the Federal Government’s patience and pushing it to change its defensive mood which has been taken for the sake of the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire. It is high time to call a spade a spade and hold the terrorist group accountable for the death of thousands of teenagers that it is wantonly using as cannon fodders. Though the Federal Government of Ethiopia has left no stone unturned to give lasting peace to the situation in Tigray, it’s being forced to do none but respond to the renewed resolve of the terrorist TPLF to expand the conflict to the neighboring regions and destabilizing the country.
Concerning humanitarian access, the Government of Ethiopia remains committed to employing everything at its disposal to expedite the process and let the necessary aid reach the people of Tigray. The effort to give humanitarian support also includes the newly displaced people of the Afar and Amhara regions due to the ongoing atrocities of the terrorist enterprise of TPLF.
The terrorist enterprise has been playing the victim while keeps on hindering humanitarian access. The Government of Ethiopia once again calls upon the international community to condemn continued acts of hostility perpetrated by the terrorist TPLF despite the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire.
The government of Ethiopia also reiterates its demand that the illegal armed group active in Tigray at the moment desist from the use of terrorist tactics, covert and overt hostile acts, and acts of aggression. The Government of Ethiopia also calls upon the masterminds of the attack against the northern command to stand trial for their wanton crimes against the Ethiopian state, its constitutional order, and the suffering and pain their reckless acts have caused. The government of Ethiopia also reaffirms its commitment to ensuring accountability and justice for crimes and gross violations of pertinent legal norms committed by any party throughout the duration of and before the onset of the conflict. It also underscores the need to respect democratic norms and principles as enshrined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance, while categorically rejecting all initiatives and external pressures to circumvent the constitutional order and the expressed will of the people of Ethiopia through the ballot box.
Regarding enduring peace, enhancing democratization, and the ongoing reform process, Ethiopia has recently conducted one of the most transparent, free, fair, democratic, and credible elections. Ethiopia believes that the election laid a strong foundation for building democratic culture in the country. The new government will incorporate members of opposition political parties and enhance the ongoing inclusive national dialogue to broaden democratization and boost national consensus.
With continued fresh attacks in neighboring Afar and Amhara regions, the intransigence of the warmongering TPLF is increasingly making every endeavor to peace unattainable. Thus, cognizant of its moral, legal, and political obligation to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state, the Federal Government of Ethiopia is being pushed to mobilize and deploy the entire defensive capability of the state if its humanitarian overtures for a peaceful resolution of the conflict remain unreciprocated.
A Week in the Horn (August 6, 2021)
For the latest updates from the Horn of Africa checkout MFA weekly online magazine A Week in the Horn August 6, 2021. Get the major news stories in the week about Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia and AU.
Some Media Outlets Continue To Manipulate Int’l Community On Passage Of Humanitarian Aid: PMO (August 5, 2021)
Office of the Prime Minister said despite the government’s efforts to enable a secured passage for humanitarian assistances in Tigray region, there is still a deliberate campaign to manipulate the international community by some western media outlets.
Press Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister, Billene Seyoum told the international media today that in the past weeks there have been a continued bravados attempted by some media outlets to undermine the activities being carried out by the government of Ethiopia to provide humanitarian aid in Tigray.
According to her, those media took such a biased position on the whole thing in favor of the terrorist TPLF by discrediting the leadership of the Ethiopian government.
“In the past weeks we have seen the continued bravado of the terrorist TPLF in some media outlets attempting to discredit the leadership of the Ethiopian government as well as the efforts that have been made.”
Even if TPLF has continued with its belligerent encroachment into other regions and blocked the humanitarian convoys, Billene indicated some 157 trucks of humanitarian assistance have entered in Tigray region and this have also reached in Mekele city as of yesterday.
These trucks contained food and non-food items delivered by humanitarian actors like the World Food Program and other UN agencies as well as international organization that are operating in the region, the secretary revealed.
Noting that the government of Ethiopia has been exerting efforts to facilitate a secured passage of humanitarian convoy into Tigray, however she said the terrorist TPLF’s manipulative campaign has been misleading the international community about the reality on the ground.
“There is still deliberate effort to manipulate the international community to thinking that the support provisions put into place by the government to support the delivery of aid into the region are ineffective,” Billene indicated.
This skewing narrative is supported by paid TPLF’s social media and even mainstream media writers to undermine the leadership of the Ethiopian government.
“Aided by their digital foot soldiers and operatives, they have continuously skewed the narrative posturing as right defenders for the people of Tigray in whose name they continued to trade,” she noted.
She added that the terrorist TPLF group is playing victim and victory identity to accuse the government for everything.
Whereas, the government of Ethiopia is in a full posture to neutralize areas from the terrorist TPLF for effective humanitarian aid flow and keep the integrity of the country.
The Spokesperson Of The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Of Ethiopia, Press Briefing Summary (August 5, 2021)
Spokesperson of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Ambassador Dina Mufti, gave the Ministry’s biweekly press briefing today to the media on major diplomatic activities over the week. Please find here summary of the press briefing:
I. Political Diplomacy
H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia received on Thursday (July 29) Mr. Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA). The new OCHA head is in Ethiopia to exchange views on the situation in Tigray, review the humanitarian assistance efforts and visit Amhara and Tigray Regional States. During the meeting Mr. Demeke,
- Appreciated UNOCHA’s productive operations that supported the national humanitarian preparedness and response capacity of Ethiopia since 1984.
- Pointed out that the engagement of UNOCHA, both at the Headquarters and Country Office levels, has not been forthcoming since the beginning of the law enforcement operation in the Tigray Regional State. In this regard, Mr. Demeke said inaccurate information that continues to be issued by UNOCHA about the situation in the Tigray Regional State through its statements and reports is of serious concern to the Government of Ethiopia
- Recalled the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire that had been declared to enable farmers to employ the rainy season and provide humanitarian assistance to people in need.
- Despite this measure taken by the Federal Government, the TPLF has chosen the road to violence and conflict to the extent of recruiting children to bear arms, he said.
- 170 trucks that carried food and non-food items got stuck in Semera for weeks due to provocative attacks by TPLF, even though around 40 trucks started moving to Mekelle last Wednesday.
- Noted that due emphasis should be given to about 220,000 people who fled from the Afar and Amhara regions because of TPLF belligerence
- underscored that OCHA should condemn and hold TPLF responsible for exacerbating conflicts, recruiting and deploying children, and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching the people in need.
- Expressed his confidence that the new Under-Secretary-General will be transparent, neutral, and exhibit the highest level of professionalism in guiding the operation of the Office.
- Mr. Martin Griffiths, on his part, appreciated all the support extended to OCHA’s operations in Ethiopia and pledged to communicate well and work closely with the government of Ethiopia. He also appreciated the initiative taken by the federal government of Ethiopia in declaring the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire and noted that the declaration would have been fruitful had it been reciprocated.
- Mr. Demeke said the government of Ethiopia would do its level best to address the concerns of humanitarians and stay committed to the ceasefire, although new attacks by the TPLF may influence the government’s behavior.
- Following the results of the 6th General elections, Mr. Demeke said the new government which will be formed in September will launch a roadmap to have an inclusive dialogue with stakeholders and incorporate opposition forces in the governing structure.
H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, and Honorable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada had an online video conversation on Sunday on the situations in Tigray. At the onset of their discussion, the two officials noted the historical and fraternal relationship between Ethiopia and Canada, which should further be strengthened.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Demeke Mekonnen warmly welcomed to his office members of a peace corps formed by Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian origin in the United States. The Peace Corps represents more than 30 civic organizations in various parts of the United States organized to advance the interests of Ethiopia and address the needs of Ethiopians in different sectors. The group briefed the Deputy Prime Minister on their activities that contributed to the development and image building efforts of Ethiopia as well as their delivery of humanitarian support to those in need in the country. The Deputy Prime Minister, on his part, commended the valuable efforts of Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian origins in the US who have been able to register tangible results that advanced Ethiopia’s interests so far.
USAID Administrator, Ms. Samantha Power has arrived in Ethiopia on Wednesday. She has held talks with the Minister of Peace, H.E. Mufariat Kamil on access to humanitarian support to Tigray. The Minister has briefed Ms. Samantha on the destructive efforts of the TPLF that blocked humanitarian aid and caused new displacements on the people of Afar and Amhara.
Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Italy, H.E. Demitu Hambisa had a fruitful discussion yesterday on current domestic and regional issues regarding Ethiopia with H.E. Adolfo Urso, president of the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic of Italy. The discussion between the two sides highlighted the destructive activities of the TPLF group, issues of common concern on the Horn of Africa as well as the situation regarding the GERD.
II. Economic Diplomacy
Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association and the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have signed a MoU that establishes Ethiopia-Algeria Business Council today. The establishment of the Business Council is expected to enhance comprehensive economic ties between Ethiopia and Algeria.
Ethio-Engineering Group (EEG) and the Algerian GISB Group held a successful virtual Investment meeting on 29 July 2021 hosted by the Ethiopian Embassy in Algiers. In the discussion between Ethio-Engineering Group, a government owned Industrial enterprise, and GISB, an Algerian Industrial group, potential cooperation and Investment areas are identified.
Discussions were held to promote wheat production in our country using modern technology from Israeli anchor company Miterlli.
The Joint Tourism Promotion and Marketing Committee meeting was held over the week. Dissuasion was made on a prepared investment profile which will be a major source of information for investors investing in the tourism sector at home and abroad. The major performance of the 2013 fiscal year has also been evaluated.
III. Tigray
As of August 4, 2021 – 157 trucks of humanitarian assistance have reached Mekelle. The trucks containing food & non-food items include assistance from WFP and UN agencies like UNICEF, UNFPA & other Int’l NGOs operating in the delivery of food and non-food assistance.
The TPLF has wasted the opportunity furnished by the Unilateral Humanitarian Ceasefire for peace, continued fighting in Amhara and Afar regions obstructing humanitarian aid heading to Tigray.
Despite the destructive actions of the TPLF, the Government of Ethiopia stays committed to the Ceasefire, supports more than 300,000 displaced people in newly launched attacks by the TPLF, and will continue cooperating with humanitarian operators in addressing the needs of the people in Tigray. But we expect the international community to influence the group to respect the ceasefire.
Following the establishment of the new government in September, the government will start to implement the roadmap it has been preparing for conducting an all-inclusive dialogue with opposition parties in Tigray, religious leaders, women, youth, and other constituents from the region.
Iv . Citizencentred Diplomacy
Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian origins residing in various countries have continued contributions to the GERD. In this regard, Ethiopians in Juba have pledged to donate $80,000 while those in the USA have donated 120,000 within 24 hrs.
Staffers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs donated blood to the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and affirmed their commitment to further provide all the necessary support to the protectors and defenders of the country.
Ethiopians living in Sudan have made public demonstrations vowing to support the campaign in the northern part of the country in every way possible. The demonstrators rejected the undue external pressures on the government of Ethiopia and other meddlings in the internal affairs of the country.
Members of the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in Germany made a rally under the theme, “peace and stability for the Horn of Africa”.
533 Ethiopians have been repatriated over the week. Of these 117 were from Kenya, 58 from Djibouti, 144 from Tanzania, 133 from Puntland, 79 from Yemen 1 from Mogadishu and 1 from Tunisia.