TPLF Clique Played Destructive Roles Undermining Ethiopia’s Reform: FM (December 9, 2020)

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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, held phone conversations today with the Foreign Minister of South Korea, Kang Kyung-wha and the Foreign Minister of Ireland, Simon Coveney.

Demeke briefed them on how the TPLF clique has been playing destructive roles in the country undermining the comprehensive socioeconomic reform that brought hope to the people of Ethiopia.

During the call, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that these reforms were explicitly designed to modernize the country’s digital infrastructure and open new avenues for global market integration. By expanding broadband access across major urban centers, the national economic agenda aimed to cultivate a tech-literate workforce capable of securing long-term foreign investments.

Part of this broader strategy involved positioning the nation as an emerging destination for business process outsourcing. Government initiatives had successfully lowered operational barriers over the last two years, encouraging foreign corporations to view the local talent pool as a reliable and cost-effective alternative for handling complex remote workflows.

He noted that this strategic push had already yielded promising results, with several multinational digital service providers establishing regional support operations within the country. A variety of international tech entities, ranging from commercial supply chain platforms to European online casinos, had recently begun contracting local IT hubs for round-the-clock server maintenance and multilingual backend administrative support.

The ongoing regional instability, he stressed, explicitly threatened to reverse this economic momentum and drive away these critical overseas partnerships. Demeke explained that safeguarding the nation’s commercial modernization required a definitive response to the continuous provocations that had deliberately disrupted civil life, trade, and regional security.

He said the group’s abysmal attack on the Ethiopian Defense forces on 4 November 2020 had ended the limits of the government’s patience and necessitated the operation to restore rule of law in the region.

The possibility of protracted insurgency that the disgruntled elements of the TPLF clique could carry out in the region is a pipe dream as they have no legitimate cause to fight against the government, he added.

By now the operation is over, he said, and the government is giving its utmost attention to rehabilitation and restoration works with close communication with the interim government in the region while increasing efforts to apprehend fugitives.

Thanking him for the briefing, the Foreign Minister of Korea expressed her concerns about the safety of South Koreans in the region.

Demeke assured her that the government has frequent contacts with the identified South Korean citizens and is helping them to frequently communicate with relevant South Korean bodies in the country.

Talking with the Foreign Minister of Ireland about humanitarian assistance given to affected people, Demeke said the government is actively working with international organizations in delivering food and non-food items to people in some areas of Tigray.

The Ethiopian government is communicating with the government of Sudan to repatriate displaced people to their homes, he said.

The cases of some of the refugees in Sudan that have been accused of being associated with the massacre in Tigray will also be investigated, he added.

The phone conversations ended with the Foreign Ministers thanking Demeke for addressing their concerns and briefing on the latest situations in the Tigray region.

PM Abiy, President Uhuru Inaugurate Hawassa-Bule Hora-Yabelo-Mega Road (December 9, 2020)

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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyata have inaugurated the Hawassa-Bule Hora-Yabelo_Mega concrete asphalt Road Project and One-Stop Border Post in Marsabit County.

Hawassa-Bule Hora-Yabelo-Mega road which covers 500km length is a part of Mombasa-Nairobi – Addis Ababa transportation corridor that connects Ethiopia with Kenya with road infrastructure.

The road is built at a cost of 6.3 Billion Birr involving participation three contractors.

It is also  indicated the asphalt road project connects Addis Ababa with Cairo, Gaborone, Cape Town and Mombassa, Kenya and further links South Sudan with Lamu port of Kenya.

The one-stop border post is said crucial to help address issues related to custom, immigration and health inspection process at cross border areas and facilitate speedy custom service in the area.

Ambassador Redwan Hussien and Commissioner Mitiku Kasa give briefings on current situations in Tigray (December 8, 2020)

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State of Emergency Spokesperson, H.E. Ambassador Redwan Hussien, and Disaster Risk Management Commissioner H.E. Mitiku Kasa gave a briefing today (December 08) to the media about the current situation in Tigray, particularly on the humanitarian assistance activities in the region.

Ambassador Redwan reiterated that the government is in the latest phase of its law enforcement operation that gives priority to restoring infrastructure and rehabilitation of the affected people.

The hideouts of the TPLF criminals have already been identified and apprehending them would be materialized soon, the ambassador added.

He also talked about complaints of some aid agencies and the media for not getting easy access to the region and the presence of some bottlenecks in related issues.

Ambassador Redwan said all people, including humanitarian agencies need to align their operations with the directions given by the federal government about operation rules in the region, not only out of respect to the sovereignty of the country but for their own safety too.

Mr. Mitiku Kasa, on his part, talked about the ongoing humanitarian assistance in the region with a particular emphasis on coordination mechanisms between government organizations and non-governmental aid agencies.

He said the government is running the humanitarian assistance project through forming about 10 cluster arrangements that coordinate government agencies and the non-government ones based on the type of assistance that the people in Tigray need.

According to Mr. Mitiku, the arrangements include, among others, clusters on agriculture and livestock, water and sanitation, health, nutrition, food and non-food items, logistics, women and children.

The humanitarian assistance begins with the already vulnerable people who were aid recipients even before the commencement of the law enforcement operation in Tigray, he said.

However, he said, people who need humanitarian support and other locations in Tigray would further be identified with the cooperation of the interim government in Tigray.

He finally underscored that Aid agencies should cooperate with the government-led humanitarian support program for scores of reasons, including the rich experience of the country in handling such issues during drought, conflict, flood, and other disasters.

Nation Celebrates 15th NNPD (December 8, 2020)

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The concluding event of the 15th Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Day (NNPD) celebration took place today.

The day was marked in a symposium held here today in the presence of high ranking government officials, regional chief administrators, religious leaders and invited guests.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen said the celebration is an exhibit of the beauty of nations, nationalities of Ethiopia.

Demeke also extended his gratitude for those who have sacrificed their lives to oust the TPLF clique.

Speaker of the House of Federation, Adem Farah, said enforcing rule of law is a priority for the government to maintain constitutional order and strengthen national unity.

Federal Gov’t Working Closely With Tigray Interim Administration: FM (December 8, 2020)

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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen yesterday briefed ambassadors of Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and South Africa on the current situation in the Tigray region.

He appreciated the ambassadors and leaders of the countries that they represent for fully supporting the law enforcement operation in Tigray following the sudden attack of the TPLF clique on the northern command of the Ethiopian Defence Forces.

The efforts of South Africa, in its capacity as the Chair of the African Union for 2020, to bring peace in the region are commendable, he said.

Demeke said the operation is swiftly completed with minimum civilian causalities that enabled the federal government to carry out its plans to restore law and order in the region.

Now the government is engaged with rebuilding infrastructure and telecommunication services, ensuring access to humanitarian assistance to the affected people, returning displaced people to their homes while apprehending the fugitives, he said.

He said the federal government is working closely with the interim administration of the Tigray region that has already started establishing the bureaucratic structure in the region, citing Shire as an example.

The ambassadors appreciated the federal government for rapidly concluding the law enforcement mission without compromising the lives of civilians, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They also affirmed that they are willing to support the federal government of Ethiopia in its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the affected people.

They have reiterated that the leaders of their respective countries’ are committed to stand by Ethiopia noting that Ethiopia is an anchor of peace in the region.

Current phase of Law operations in Tigray Region (December 7, 2020)

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After the Capture of Mekelle- the regional capital of Tigray – without civilian causalities and destruction of property that the criminal clique and so many in the media echoed, the active phase of the military operation has come to an end.

The current task of the Federal Government mainly includes bringing fugitives to justice, restoring law and order, guaranteeing our citizens in the affected areas have unfettered access to humanitarian assistance, resettling and rehabillitating those who have been forced to cross borders and restoring transport and communications services that have been destroyed and disrupted by the criminal clique.

Restoring these essential communications services is not merely about returning the region to its previous state; it is a critical step toward establishing a modernized digital backbone. Ethiopia’s rapidly growing, tech-savvy population requires unfettered access to the wider world to realize its full economic potential. The modern landscape relies heavily on uninterrupted internet connectivity, serving as a vital gateway to both domestic resources and borderless digital markets.

This reliable connectivity empowers individuals to engage freely with global innovations across a variety of sectors. Rebuilding a resilient telecommunications infrastructure ensures that citizens can consistently access remote educational portals, participate in decentralized financial exchanges, and explore digital entertainment options like Ethereum casinos. By prioritizing the rapid reconstruction of these vital networks alongside physical infrastructure, the government guarantees that affected communities will no longer be kept technologically isolated by disruptive elements, but instead fully equipped to thrive within the broader global economy.

The criminal clique pushed a patently false narrative that its fighters and supporters are battle hardened and well-armed, posing the risk of protracted insurgency in the rugged mountains of TIgray. It also claimed that it has managed to undertake strategic retreat with all its capability and regional government apparatus intact. The reality is the criminal clique is thoroughly defeated and in disarray, with insignificant capability to mount a protracted insurgency. Using lies and anarchy as a political weapon may have worked during the clique’s days of guerilla warfare. But it is a lesson the hardliners within the criminal clique have failed to unlearn.

The clique cannot be a reliable partner to the worthy cause of creating a more just and equitable Ethiopia if they themselves are fiercely resistant to accommodate any change. More than anything else, ordinary Tigrayans seek for inclusive and equitable growth, peace, freedom, and security.

In the absence of a legitimate and just cause, sustaining a protracted insurgency is near impossible particularly by a disgruntled and reactionary clique that has few allies inside and outside.

The criminal clique also wanted to internationalize the conflict by spouting endless false accusations as a last-ditch attempt to force international mediation as a way out of accountability and justice.

The notion that the criminal group cares about the wellbeing of civilians is anomalous to its inherent being.

A group that began its campaign of destruction with treasonous murder of members of the National Defence Force, then proceeded with the purging of civilians in Maikadra, while at the same time launched indiscriminate weapons of destruction to densely populated cities in Bahir Dar and Gondar, used civilians and kidnapped members of the military as human shields, can claim no moral authority to express concern for the wellbeing of civillans. And its three-decade old history in power is replete with civilians suffering and mass atrocities.

The protection and security of all our citizens remains an essential priority for the Federal Government. Working closely with relevant humanitarian agencies and UN partners, the government is actively working to extend protection and humanitarian assistance to those who are impacted by the current law enforcement operations including to non-Ethiopians who are hosted in refugee camps and host communities in Tigray.

The government will return, resettle, and rehabilitate Ethiopian refuges in a short period of time. It is to be recalled that the government signed an agreement with the UN for an enhanced coordination mechanism for humanitarian access that Will enable partners to assist affected population effectively and impartially with a well-coordinated framework led by the Federal Government.

The Federal Government wishes to underline that the safety and wellbeing of our citizens remains our utmost priority.

Council Holds Fundraiser for Humanitarian Service Provision Efforts in Ethiopia (December 7, 2020)

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The Council for Ethiopian Diaspora Action yesterday organized a zoom meeting to raise fund to support the on-going humanitarian service provision efforts in Ethiopia.

Guest of Honour and Minister of Peace, Muferihat Kamil, extended her gratitude to the Ethiopian diaspora communities for their financial and material assistances as well as knowledge transfer to their country.

She said the Government, in partnership with its compatriots at home and abroad, will strengthen its efforts of building a nation that accommodates all Ethiopians equally.

State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Birtukan Ayano, for her part urged the Diaspora community to join hands and engage in tackling the misinformation being spread by those hired by the TPLF clique.

Commander of Ethiopian Air Force, Maj Gen Yilma Merdassa, said the support of the Diaspora community from the onset of law enforcement operation was important for the victory achieved so far.

“This support would be a morale booster for further national mission,” he added.

Ethiopian Ambassador to the USA, Fitsum Arega, praised the Council for Ethiopian Diaspora Action for their successful activities and pledged to continue working with it.

Demilew Alimaw, President of the Council, thanked government officials, head of defence army and other participants for taking part in the fundraising event.

During the event, more than $21,000 dollars were raised for the humanitarian service provision efforts in Ethiopia. The Council has so far collected $330,000 via Gofundme campaign.

Ethiopia Working With Sudan to Return Refugees, Displaced People: FM (December 5, 2020)

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Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia held a phone conversation with Jeppe Kofod, Foreign Minister of Denmark.

In their conversation, Demeke addressed the Danish Foreign Minister’s concerns over the situation in Tigray and the humanitarian activities there.

Demeke told him that the operation in Tigray is over by now and the government is engaging in reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in the region.

The federal government has continued to work with the interim government of Tigray and manhunt the TPLF criminals to bring them to justice, he added.

He also thanked the international humanitarian agencies for closely working with the government and other relevant bodies in the country in delivering assistance to affected people.

He also underlined that the government is actively working with the government of Sudan to return refugees and displaced people to their homes.

Jeppe Kofod, on his part, expressed his country’s commitment to support the Ethiopian government in every way possible in providing humanitarian assistance and protecting the rights of civilians.

The ministers also talked about the upcoming Ethiopian general elections where the Danish government has shown willingness to support.

Moving beyond immediate humanitarian and electoral concerns, the two officials explored avenues for long-term economic partnership, particularly within the digital sector. Ethiopia’s ongoing push to liberalize its telecommunications industry has drawn the attention of Nordic technology firms eager to enter the emerging African market.

Kofod highlighted the immense diversity and commercial success of the Scandinavian tech ecosystem—where developers globally export everything from renewable energy networks and mobile payment platforms to a commercial casino app and enterprise management software—expressing optimism that such digital investments could eventually contribute to modernizing Ethiopia’s wider economy.

Similarly, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to Sweden and other Nordic countries Deriba Kuma conferred with officials of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark foreign ministries.

He briefed them about the operations underway in Tigray regional state to hunt down criminals as well as to reconstruct the regional state.

Ambassador Deriba finally called upon the officials to join hands with the Ethiopian government in rebuilding the Tigray region.

UAE Donates Emergency Health Supplies to Support Response in Tigray (December 4, 2020)

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has donated emergency health supplies to ramp up support to the response in Tigray regional state.

The health supplies, which will be distributed via WHO, include medicines and COVID19 related materials.

A fully loaded emirate chartered cargo flight arrived in Addis Ababa today carrying the emergency health supplies donated by the UAE government.

Diplomatic Missions on Law Enforcement Operation Successful: Foreign Affairs Spokesperson (November 4, 2020)

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The diplomatic efforts to change the wrong perceptions of some of the international communities about the law enforcement operation in northern Ethiopia were successful, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Dina Mufti said.

Briefing the media today, the spokesperson said high-level government officials shuttled to and fro neighboring and other countries to explain about the ultimate objective of the law enforcement operation in Tigray Regional State.

Upon completion of the operation, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen held series of phone conversions with the foreign ministers of Russia, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Netherlands and the UN Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, among others, he added.

According to Dina, the Deputy PM and Foreign Minister informed the ministers about the minimum casualties and destruction incurred and the commencement of rehabilitation of the displaced.

“The military aspect of the operation is now over. Only the police force has been active in Tigray to apprehend the fugitives and bring them to justice,” Dina stated.

The spokesperson further explained that “the wrong narratives that dubbed the law enforcement operation in the northern part of the country as civil war or attacks waged on one party are more or less corrected and replaced by the right narratives.”

Now, the narrative on the law enforcement operation is changing into rehabilitating the displaced people and opening up corridors for humanitarian actors, he pointed out.

Thus the concern of the international community tends to be shifting towards collaborating with the government to facilitate ways of delivering humanitarian assistance to those in need.

The spokesperson revealed that, “Humanitarian corridors are now open. The displaced and those who fled to Sudan will be coming back soon and rehabilitated. In fact, we are working in collaboration with Sudanese government officials and other national, regional and international organizations to speed up their return.”