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STATE OF EMERGENCY FACT Sheet

23 January 2021

Letter to the Economist Newspaper

Misrepresentation of the Government of Ethiopia

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The Government of Ethiopia condemns in the strongest of terms the accusation that it is “using hunger as a weapon”. After citing “accounts”, quoting “frettings” of a certain “Western diplomat” and hesitating that it is “impossible to know”, the article then proceeds to make such an unconscionable and serious claim. In the past month, the Government of Ethiopia has mobilized and delivered more than 31,000 metric tons of food, non-food items and medical supplies to the region of Tigray. In addition, the Government of Ethiopia is putting in place necessary security protocols to protect civilians, stabilize the region and capture remaining suspects of treasonous crimes.

This article trivializes the constitutional obligation of the federal government of Ethiopia and resorts to a wholesale insult that “the government is too incompetent”. The Ethiopian National Defense Forces and other security institutions have demonstrated exceptional courage and skill in this law enforcement operation. There is a delicate and cautious balance that is to be observed in guaranteeing basic necessities while maintaining security in the Tigray region. Federal agencies, utility companies and other service providers are working at full speed to restore services in Tigray. They are doing so in the wake of the TPLF’s and its militia’s well-documented acts of vandalism against public and private infrastructure and assets including telecom, transport, energy and banking. Reconstruction will take time and this air of disconnect and mystery is fueling misinformation as the one in this article.

The article neglects to consider the TPLF’s history of systematic human rights violations. Like the rest of humanity, the people of Ethiopia seek peace and the rule of law. TPLF has been the grand sponsor of destabilization, terror and massacres for the past three decades and it has not eased its thirst for absolute power even after it was unseated through widespread protests and the electoral rules of the coalition which TPLF itself had engineered. Thanks to our millennia old tradition of statehood, Ethiopians are fierce believers in justice. And in this land of justice, actions have consequences.

In this complicated and high stakes operation, humanitarian, diplomatic and media agencies will have to endure the inconvenience of heeding to the direction of the government. The success of this operation necessitates that as Tigray transitions to rebuilding and recovery.

The gravest error this article makes is its shortsightedness. Ethiopians have a dream for peace and prosperity. The past two years have been profoundly painful for all Ethiopians but the Government of Ethiopia believes we are headed in the right direction. Magnifying troubles and echoing accusations of past regimes within the article as a comparison to this administration is a mere distraction. Ethiopians will not watch helplessly and idly as history repeats itself. This is exactly why the Government of Ethiopia has been determined in preventing spoilers such as TPLF from hijacking our new chapter.

The Government is implementing historic reforms across economic, political and social sectors. Ethiopia is poised to enter a new era and the Law Enforcement Operation in Tigray is a costly but necessary step in the right direction.

It is regrettable that the Economist assumes that leaders in Africa are either evil or incompetent.

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ETHIOPIA STATE OF EMERGENCY FACT CHECK

Twitter: @SOEFactCheck Facebook: EthiopiaSOEFactCheck

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen and Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab are holding discussion here in Addis Ababa.

The areas of discussion are the humanitarian situation in Tigray Region, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, climate change, and education, it was learned.

The two officials are also expected to discuss about ways of deepening the age-old diplomatic ties between their countries.

Moreover, they would discuss the ongoing border tensions between Ethiopia and Sudan.

Foreign Secretary Raab has been in an official visit to three East African countries, Ethiopia, Sudan and Kenya.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations, Taye Atskeselassie discussed with UNICEF Director General Heneritta Flore on humanitarian activities in Tigray.

The two explores ways to establish Humanitarian Emergency Coordination Center in Tigray so as to address needs of food and medicinal supply supplies.

Ambassador Taye said that he had a fruitful meeting with the UNICEF Director General on the significance of the humanitarian emergency center in the region to ensure speedy distribution of nutritious food and medical supplies to the region.

Chief Executive of Provisional Government of Tigray, Dr. Mulu Nega yesterday stated that acceleration of humanitarian aid has been given due attention by the interim regional government.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, held a telephone conversation today with US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy.

Demeke spoke at length about the successful rule of law operation in Tigray, the ongoing humanitarian efforts, including the rehabilitation of the infrastructure destroyed by the TPLF junta in the region.

He also described in detail the government’s efforts to stabilize Tigray, including the situation and treatment of Eritrean refugees, the atrocities committed in Maikadra and other areas, and the efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of those despicable acts.

The Deputy Prime Minister also said Ethiopia is keen to closely work with the new administration of the United States government.

Tibor Nagy, on his part, lauded Ethiopia’s efforts to overcome the situation in the Northern part of the country.

He underscored that the United States government applauds Ethiopia’s success as its achievement.

The Assistant Secretary thanked Demeke for the briefing and expressed optimism for the strengthening of relations between the two countries.

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has announced the cancellation of license of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

In a statement issued today, the board accused TPLF of engaging in armed riot. Officials of the Front are also prohibited from operating on behalf of the party.

The board also requested the Federal Attorney General’s office to send the detailed information it obtained regarding TPLF’s movable and immovable assets.

After the party’s debts are paid off, the assets will be utilized for civic and voter education in accordance with Proclamation number 1162/2019 article 99/3/, according to the statement.

The board had further instructed three other parties functioning in Tigray regional state to give explanation about their activities before a decision is taken.

The three parties requested by the NEBE to give explanation are Asimba Democratic Party, National Congress of Great Tigray (Bitona) and Salsay Weyane Tigray.

According to the board, the three parties took part in the illegal election held in Tigray while they were also on process to acquire licence from the electoral board.

The Electoral Board also cancelled the licence of Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party for fraudulent registration of persons as founders and presenting false information to the board.