Archive for category: Uncategorized

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today met with political parties and civil society organizations (CSOs) to discuss about the upcoming general elections scheduled for mid-2021.

The discussion, which took place at the Prime Minister’s office, was attended by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).

The discussions saw presentation on the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders and an overview of electoral systems.

During the discussion, participants raised among others the following points:

• not rushing to elections without putting the necessary foundations in place• creating an enabling environment

• ensuring the primacy of rule of law preceding the elections

• placement of an election code of conduct for stakeholders including election observers

• stocktaking of legitimate political parties

• engagement of political parties according to the ‘rules of the game’

The Prime Minister on the occasion shared the federal government’s unwavering efforts to lay the foundation for free and fair elections in Ethiopia.

At the end, the participants reached an understanding on ways to ensure that the 2021 elections are democratic.

Ethiopian Ambassador to Washington, Fitsum Arega yesterday briefed the Heads of Missions and diplomats of Ethiopia’s neighboring countries accredited to the United States.

The briefing mainly focused on the current situation in Ethiopia in relation to the law enforcement measures in Tigray regional state, according to the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington DC.

Ambassador Fitsum recounted the efforts by the federal government for dialogue in the past two and half years where by the TPLF’s clique stubbornly rejected and continued to belittle the reform process.

He mentioned that the TPLF gangs crossed the red line when they commit the barbaric and treasonous attack on the unsuspecting Ethiopian National Defense Forces of the Northern Command.

Ambassador Fitsum said the law enforcement operation has been successfully completed after the seizure of Mekelle by the heroic Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF).

He also noted that the remaining task will be apprehending TPLF’s cliques and bring them to justice.

Ambassador Fitsum expressed his gratitude to the leaders and governments of Ethiopia’s neighbors and IGAD member states for standing with us and for their invaluable support to Ethiopia’s sovereignty, national integrity and lasting peace.

The Head of Missions and diplomats thanked Ambassador Fitsum and the Embassy for organizing this timely and important briefing.

They also appreciated the government of Ethiopia for wrapping up the law enforcement operation in a short time with minimum civilian casualties.

The Ambassadors vowed to work closely for the peace and economic integration of IGAD region.

In his explanation at the 6^th year 2^nd extraordinary session of the parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed underlined that Ethiopia is a country that Knows diplomacy, and a nation contributed to the existence of international organizations.

“Ethiopia is a founding member of the United Nations and African Union. My message to friends of Ethiopia is that we may be poor but we are not a country that will negotiate our sovereignty. Threatening Ethiopia for coins will not work.” Prime Minister Abiy stressed.

“We have proven that making good relationship with neighboring countries rewarded us with good results,” note Prime Minister Abiy, saying “Imagine what might have happened if we did not reconcile with the neighboring Eritrea.

The decision to accept the Algiers agreement and translate it in to action was made by the assembly of the then Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Front (EPRDF), but the TPLF Junta tried to impede the reconciliation, said the premier.

The people of Eritrea have shown us how the outcomes of the restoration of peace between the two countries benefited both, the premier said.

Eritreans sheltered troops of the Ethiopian National Defence force who fled the unexpected assault from the TPLF Junta forces, and offered them a warm care with full spirit of companionship, Abiy said.

The people of Eritrea practically showed us how the peace agreement reached between the two countries brought many positive things to them.

Prime Minister Abiy has expressed gratitude to the people and governments of Eritrea, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan for their support to Ethiopia during the law enforcement measures.

Premier stressed need to further strengthen the relationship between neighboring countries based on mutual interests.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has recounted the weeks and days before his premiership and the TPLF’s open surveillance and duress to create pressure upon those that were expected to be at the helm of the news administration in 2018.

Addressing the parliament, the Prime Minister said that 113 incidents of communal violence have occurred in various parts of Ethiopia over the last two and half years.Of that number, 37 and 23 incidents took place in Oromia and Amhara regional states and 7 in Gambella and other places respectively, he said.

Prior to the then EPRDF’s nomination of the next Prime Minister, TPLF are said to have been undertaking intrigue to put in place an individual that would succumb to their pressure and promote their interests.

What the new administration in 2018 aspired for was a change in Ethiopia’s political culture towards a more inclusive and unified approach. Yet our inclusive agenda was rebuffed by TPLF.

“The day I was sworn in as Prime Minister, the security sector controlled then by the TPLF clique refused the entrance of my own chosen security to the office and my residence.”, the primer recalled and said that he was told he can only use his security personne.

“Swift changes were being demanded by the people we serve while we were under the conditions of duress by TPLF’s well laid out espionage network. Yet we agreed we would take any risks counting on the Ethiopian people to stand for us.”, he noted.

“Alshabab was going to attack us. I told him to bring data to that effect and went to the region.”, the Premier noted.

His first trip in 2018 was to the Somali Region because of the dangers it was facing by then, and he were told he cannot go by the head of intelligence at the time on the false context.

“We took a firm decision to remove “mini governments” operating within the legitimate government by taking measures to guarantee institutional independence from the influence of a clique working for its own survival. This was done particularly in the security sector.”, he said.

“Our request for the release of political prisoner Andargachew Tsige was also met with a strong resistance by TPLF. They told me that it would dangerous to release him. This led to a conflict. I asked myself who is the Prime Minister now?”

Reforming the defense force was difficult in the initial stages considering domination by one group. Four star generals from Tigray constituted 60pct while the rest of 40pct were from the other parts of the country. The same was true with other army ranks down the command chain.

“Over the past two and half years there were 113 conflicts orchestrated throughout the country, expect in Tigray region. All these conflicts supported financially, through training, through media organized for this to give an impression the new administration is weak.” the Premier underlined.

In Oromia region alone 37 conflicts were orchestrated in the past two and half years, sowing the seeds of division along ethnic and religious lines. Yet TPLF claims to stand for the people of Oromia after leaving many lives in shambles through conflicts they initiated, according to the Prime Minister.

Conflict between Afar and Somali regions showed a departure from the traditional pattern indicating it was also orchestrated. Women were being targeted; fighting was at night with fighters faces covered. We ordered the army members to leave & after that it was quite.

“Why would we strike Mekelle? Mekelle is ours. It’s Ethiopia’s. Our ENDF operate with utmost discipline with care for civilians.”, Prime Minister Abiy stressed.

The Ethiopian Diaspora needs to be conscious of how illegal remittance channels have been benefiting the criminal TPLF clique to mete out violence against its own people.

“The impression that TPLF left when EPRDF decided to merge is a false narrative. TPLF itself endorsed the merger. TPLF itself had also voted for the decision to adopt the Algiers decision & forge peace with Eritrea. Then they go out in public & say they didn’t.”

Despite TPLF’s many orchestrated roadblocks, we managed many reforms: charity law, anti-terrorism law, media law, the electoral law, human rights commission reform, electoral board reform, amongst many others.

Ethiopia’s relations in the Horn also shifted positively and contributed for the success of the law enforcement measures against the TPLF Junta.

National armaments have purposely been kept and amassed in Tigray region for years by the TPLF criminal clique, and almost all the rockets were stationed in the region, the Prime Minister added.

The law enforcement measure in Mekele City has been conducted successfully without causing any harm to the innocent people, the Prime Minister added.

President Sahle-Work said the remarkable economic ties between Ethiopia and Djibouti is an inspirational model for economic integration in the continent.

President Sahle-Work Zewde made the remark during a press statement she gave with her Djiboutian counterpart, President Ismail Oumer Guelle on Sunday November 29, 2020.

President Sahle-Work, extending her heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome accorded to her and the delegation, praised the ever growing ties between the two countries as remarkable.

In her opening remarks, she conveyed Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s greetings to the Government and People of Djibouti as well.

The President has expressed her government’s unwavering commitments to further strengthen the strategic cooperation with Djibouti on multifaceted areas.

According to Foreign Affairs Minister, President Ismail Oumer Guelleh, welcoming the President to her second home, underscored the need to use the successes recorded to serve as a dynamics to upscale the partnerships in all areas of common interest.

President Ismail commended the Ethiopian government for its remarkable efforts to uphold the rule of law in Tigray region.

President Sahle-Work arrived in Djibouti yesterda morning for a two-day official working visit.