Ethiopian Citizen

  ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 10, 2021 — Getachew Reda, spokesman for the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), said, during his interview on Tigray tv, that they were told by the United States (US) not to enter Addis Ababa alone without forming coalition. #Ethiopia : Spokesperson of #TPLF @reda_getachew reveals U.S. government's interest for Tigrayan rebels to enter #AddisAbaba , forge an alliance with various political groups to avoid chaos. (Courtesy of #Tigray TV) pic.twitter.com/iijMdeAdjJ — EthioTube (@EthioTube) December 9, 2021 "The intention of the Americans is for us to enter Addis Ababa. Some European countries have also similar interest. But they told us to forge an alliance with different groups to avoid chaos when our forces take control of Addis Ababa.", said Getachew Reda in the interview. He expressed his frustration at the US for asking them to form such coalition. He said the US' request was 'ridiculous and petty'. The spokesman's

ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 10, 2021 — The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) received , on December 06, an "A" level status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI). "Re-accreditation of EHRC with "A" status is testament to global recognition of EHRC as an independent and effective national human rights institution fully compliant with global standards. We thank all our stakeholders", said Daniel Bekele, Chief Commissioner of Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC). According to the global human rights groups alliance, GANHRI, in accordance with the Paris Principles and the GANHRI Statute, “A” and “B” classifications for accreditation were used. “A” level status means human rights groups are Fully compliant with the Paris Principles while “B” level status means they were partially compliant with the Paris Principles.   The Paris Principles ("Principles Relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions"

Council of Ministers approves draft proclamation to form National Dialogue Commission [Picture: Office of the Prime Minister] ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 10, 2021 —  Ethiopia's Council of Ministers held its second regular meeting this morning to discuss on the draft proclamation which will establish the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission.  Accordingly, the Council passed the draft proclamation establishing Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission. The statement released via the Office of Prime Minister's facebook page stated that when the government was formed after the 6th National Elections one of the issues it promised to carry out was an all inclusive national dialogue and consensus that will establish a common ground on national issues. The draft proclamation will layout the foundation for the establishment of an independent and inclusive institution that is accepted by all sides. The institution will also allow diverse viewpoints on national issues propagated by political el

ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 09 —  The United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) staff and vehicles were seen giving cover and protection from attacks to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) terrorists as they looted and ransacked Dessie, the capital of South Wollo, Amhara region, according to witnesses in Dessie interviewed by Abbay Media. The vehicles, with WFP flag on them, were seen protecting the TPLF fighters from drone strikes as they took the looted items out of the town. "It was the WFP that involved in the looting. There were also white people involved. Their vehicles  had the WFP flag and they were escorting the Junta [TPLF] trucks which were carrying away looted items from the city. WFP was one of the main culprits. Another one is the World Vision organization which was using its humanitarian flag to escort the Junta. They were looting food and carrying it away. These were the ones who were destroying our country more than the Junta. I have seen them with my

Food distribution in Northern Ethiopia [Picture: WFP] ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 09, 2021 - The United Nations (UN) Spokesperson on his briefing on Wednesday blamed residents of Kombolcha town for mass looting of food warehouses during their occupation under the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a terrorist designated group, and the World Food Programme (WFP) has consequently decided to halt its food aid to Kombolcha as well as Dessie towns. The UN spokesperson was reserved from blaming the TPLF terrorists entirely for the looting but said the culprits were "elements within the Tigrayan forces'. This is in spite of the fact that the group has been ransacking Amhara and Afar regions for the past six months without receiving any blame or condemnation from the international community. The spokesperson also said the harassment of humanitarian staff at gunpoint by armed forces is unacceptable. He added that this type of action undermines the ability of the United Nations a

ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 06, 2021 – Ethiopia has announced the #GreatEthiopianHomeComing challenge to its diaspora community to return home for Ethiopian Christmas in millions in the in hopes of recovering the tourism sector which has suffered steep decline by COVID-19 and the war provoked by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Due to the TPLF led war, Ethiopia has lost almost a quarter of a million USD just from the Simein Mountains Park,Amhara region, only and the community in the region that relied on tourism for livelihood has lost more than half a million USD, according to the Ministry of Government Communication Services (GCS). Ethiopia’s international tourist arrival almost hit a million mark in 2017 only to decline due to the popular protest that deposed the tyrannical TPLF regime and ushered in the more progressive Prosperity Party (PP) led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. In the spite of the changes, tourism sector could not recover quickly as the country was facing va

  ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 06, 2021 — Just a week a go Ethiopia's Ministry of Education announced that it will close secondary schools for a week so that the students, along with teachers and other officials can harvest crops of farmers who went on a mission, leaving their farms unattended, to defend their homeland. Starting today, the students were engaged in harvesting crops and donating blood and their community service will continue until Friday, said the Ministry of Education.   "My appreciation to all high school students and teachers that are taking this week to support our farming communities with harvest. In unity, we will continue persevering as a nation!", said Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in a tweet . My appreciation to all high school students and teachers that are taking this week to support our farming communities with harvest. In unity, we will continue persevering as a nation! pic.twitter.com/sL81wkLWcz — Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) December 6, 202

  ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 2021 - An elderly woman in her late 50s committed suicide after being gang-raped by Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) terrorists in Shewa Robit City, Amhara region, reported Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA). Police and local eyewitnesses told EPA reporters at the scene that the woman committed suicide because she said after the incident she felt too humiliated to see her son who had been held captive at the same house during the incident. The woman who is a mother of a 15 year old boy used to run her livelihood selling firewood and baking bread for sell, according to Commander Ahmed Mohammed, Shewa Robit City Police Crime Investigation Department Head, who spoke to EPA. According to the Commander, the terrorists locked her son in a separate room while they raped his mother.  Simultaneously, another elderly woman, who is also a friend to the deceased, was also brought to the same house and gang raped by the group. And she was able to tell her story to repo

  ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 05, 2021 - Former high ranking members of Ethiopia's National Defense Forces (ENDF) returned to their country to join in the fight against the existential threat the country is facing, reported ESAT. They arrived at Addis Ababa yesterday. These former high ranking officers of the ENDF, who returned to their homeland, were formerly members of the navy, air force and infantry. The officers returned home following Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's decision to lead Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) at the battlefront. During their arrival at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, they were greeted by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense and former high ranking members of the ENDF who were residing in Addis Ababa. "We are honored to have you here with us so that you will share your wisdom at a time when your country needs it most", said Navy Petty Officer Wondwossen Assefa, who greeted the former members at th

African leaders meet at Oran, Algeria for the 8th High Level Seminar on Peace & Security in Africa [Picture: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia] ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 04, 2021 - The 8th High Level Seminar on Peace & Security in Africa was held in Oran, Algeria, from December 02 to December 04, 2021, under the theme “Assisting African Members of the United Nations Security Council (A3) in preparing to address peace & security issues on the Continent. The seminar, which was inaugurated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad, Ramtane Lamamra, was devoted to the issue of building good governance in Africa and fighting terrorism in Africa, reported DZBreaking from Algeria. Ramtane Lamamra, Alegeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad [Picture: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Algeria] Ramtane Lamamra, Alegeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, said "we welcome this renewed oppor

Organizers of the Tigrayan rally to denounce TPLF [Picture: EBC] ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 04, 2021 — Tigrayans will be holding a rally to tomorrow morning in Addis Ababa to denounce the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) terrorists, reported Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC). Tigrayan elders and residents of Addis Ababa gave a presser today to announce their intention of organizing a rally that will not only denounce the group but also call on Tigrayans to detach themselves from this group. "Tigrayans are reasonable. They are people of faith. They are people of character. The problem we are witnessing now is not the problem of Tigrayans but that of the TPLF", said one of the Tigrayan elders during the press briefing. The organizers called on Tigrayans in Addis Ababa to join the rally tomorrow morning starting 6am. The rally will take place at the Abebe Bikila Stadium. However, this is not the first time Tigrayans got organized to denounce the group.  One of th

  ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 04, 2021 - Hany Raslan, an Egyptian political analyst and a staunch critique of Ethiopia's policy towards the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), died today, due to COVID-19, according to a report from Al Ain. Hany Raslan has been opposing Ethiopia's decision to use its water rights including echoing Al Sisi's statement that 'all options are open' in order to stop Ethiopia from completing the dam. Hany Raslan, a consultant to the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS), opposes Ethiopia's position regarding the colonial treaties on the Nile made without including it. “Rather, these are issues that Ethiopia interfered with just to find propaganda arguments and pretexts to cover up its true position, which is the claim of ownership of the river.” said Hany Raslan on April, 2021. Raslan believed that the Egyptian position is the most 'stable and clearest in the crisis', especially, he says, since President

Minister of Peace, Binalf Andualem, with Debre Tabor University staff harvesting crops of farms whose owners have left to defend nation [Picture: EBC] ADDIS ABABA, December 04, 2021 – On Monday, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education announced that it will close secondary schools for a week so that the students, along with teachers and other officials can harvest crops of farmers who went on a mission, leaving their farms unattended, to defend their homeland. “We cannot live if we are deprived of our country. Everyone has a responsibility to protect their country and the education sector is no exception”, said Professor Birhanu Nega, Minister of Education.  Professor Birhanu Nega, Minister of Education. [Picture: Ministry of Education] However, the BBC misappropriated Ethiopia’s recent move to ensure food security and labeled it as an effort to 'boost civil war’ by releasing an article with a headline “ Ethiopia closes schools to boost civil war efforts ”. “Another disinformation headli