Ethiopia says without legal documentations humanitarian organizations are forbidden to operate in Tigray

Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (Picture: Ethiopian News Agency ENA)

Addis Ababa, February 10, 2021 - Demeke Mekonnen,Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, conducted a briefing with ambassadors from African countries on the humanitarian situation in Tigray, the status of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the border crisis with Sudan.

The Humanitarian Situation in Tigray

"There are 26 international humanitarian organizations with legal documentations that are delivering assistance in Tigray", said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassadors from African countries being briefed on current events in Ethiopia (Picture: Ethiopian News Agency ENA)

"The Ethiopian government will not give permission to those who want to operate in Tigray in the name of humanitarian assistance without bringing proper evidence", said the deputy prime minister.

He also said that Tigray region has started paying salaries to employees working in the region's public institutions, business activities are underway and the area is returning to normalcy as banks have started providing services as well.

With regards to Eritrean refugees who were displaced from Hitsats and Shimelba refugee camps during the conflict, Demeke Mekonnen said that the government is working to relocate them to secure and safe camps.

On the GERD

Dr. Sileshi Bekele, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Ethiopia (Picture: Ethiopian News Agency ENA)

At the briefing, the deputy prime minister was also accompanied by the Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Dr. Sileshi Bekele, who explained to the ambassadors that the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is going according to the plan and that it will be filled in the coming rainy season.

Dr. Sileshi hailed South Africa's effort to bridge the gap between negotiating parties on the GERD. He emphasized Ethiopia's interest in resolving the issue based on fair and equitable water use.

Tensions with Sudan

Permanent Secretary to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Woinshet Tadesse, on her part said that Sudan violated Ethiopia's sovereignty while Ethiopian defense forces were busy on law enforcement operations in Tigray region.

She further elaborated that the Ethiopian government wants the issue to be resolved in a peaceful manner. She noted above all the the need to implement the 1972 memorandum of understanding signed between Ethiopia and Sudan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded that Sudan relinquish control of Ethiopian territories until the border dispute between the two countries is resolved peacefully.

Comments

Ethiopian Muslims Protest Over Demolished Mosques By Government

Addis Ababa – As Ethiopian Muslims completed their Friday (Jum'a) Prayers, May 26, they began denouncing government decision to demolish more than 30 Mosques in the newly established Shaggar City, formerly Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne. Addis Ababa Police attempted to storm the Anwar Grand Mosque amid protests on Friday. But the police angered the Muslims inside who saw the police's move as an attempt to desecrate the holy place. This forced the Muslims to throw stones at the police pushing them out of the Mosque. In a statement released on Friday, Addis Ababa Police said that two were killed. Although the statement did identify the victims, they were later identified as Siraj Mohammed and Abubaker Elias. Addis police said only four individuals, 37 police officers as well as 15 different police backup forces were injured. Many expected better years when the Oromia Regional government decided to establish the Shaggar City with a promise of ensuring equal growth and

Thousands Attend Funeral For Four Muslims Killed By Police In Addis Ababa

ADDIS ABABA – Thousands of Muslims gathered today for the funeral of Anwar Surur, Zubair Mudasir, Ibrahim Danbal and Jemil Redwan killed by police in Addis Ababa following Juma'a Friday Prayers at the Grand Anwar Mosque. Three of the four Zubair, Anwar and Ibrahim were killed yesterday after the Juma'a prayers were completed at the Grand Anwar Mosque while Jemil Redwan, was among those who were seriously injured in last week’s crackdown and has since been receiving medical treatment before he succumbed to his injuries. Their bodies were laid at Addis Ababa Kolfe Muslim Cemetary. And from yesterday's shooting Mukerem Asrar, Yonatan Mulugeta and Tadele Wabada are said to be in a critical condition at AaBET hospital, Addis Ababa. Reports also indicate that Yonatan and Tadele were shot while heading to work. Siraj Mohammed and Abubaker Elias were killed by police last week, May 26, when Muslims protested the demolition Mosques in Sha

Another Mosque Demolished in Ethiopia as Regional Government Denies Targeting Mosques

ADDIS ABABA – Oromia Regional Government said in a statement today that the demolishing of illegal housing taking place in the newly formed Shaggar City does not target Mosques. This statement came amid the destruction of another Mosque at Ajamba, at the outskirt of west Addis Ababa. In the statement, the regional government stated that the demolishing of illegal houses is planned to take place around 600 cities in Oromia. "Some groups are painting as if the demolishing of illegal houses targets one single religion", said Hailu Adugna, Communication Office Head, Oromia region. "When we are implementing this decision, many interest groups are disseminating information as if we are targeting one ethnicity and one religion. This is wrong.", said Hailu Adugna. The Ethiopian Institute for the Ombudsman has reported that it has received over one hundred thousand complaints from individuals whose homes were destroyed by Shaggar City a

Ethiopian Citizen

Search This Blog