Ethiopian Citizen

Dr. Legesse Tulu Minister of the Ministry Government Communication ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY, 2022, — Ethiopia's Minister of Government Communication, Dr. Legesse Tulu, rejected, during his interview with Al Ain Amharic , TPLF's claim that it is negotiating with the government. Dr. Legesse Tulu, however, said Ethiopia's door is always kept open for a peaceful alternative that guarantees the country's national interests and unity. TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael had said his group has been negotiating with the Ethiopian government indirectly during his interview with the BBC. "TPLF will use any political weapon necessary to sow suspicion among Ethiopians when it sees signs of disagreement. It wants Ethiopians to believe that the government is lying and negotiating behind their backs", said the Minister of Government Communication. "The government has not started any sort of negotiations or communication with the TPLF", said Dr. Legesse Tulu. He also

  ADDIS ABABA, FEBRUARY 01, 2022 — While France grapples with challenges in West Africa, it is attempting to maintain relations in the East as it promised to support Ethiopia's rehabilitation efforts and the soon to be all-inclusive national dialogue through its Horn of Africa Envoy, Frederic Clavier, who met Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen today. France suspended its military deal worth 100 million USD with Ethiopia in August, 2021, and despite Ethiopians demanding that their country is mostly safe, in November, 2021, France joined the United States in fearmongering the diplomatic community in Addis Ababa and repatriated its citizens from Ethiopia which many Ethiopians saw as a let down. The timing of the visit of the French Horn of Africa Envoy coincides with the upcoming African Union Assembly as well France's rising tensions with its former colony, Mali. Nevertheless, Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister said, during his meeting

  ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 31, 2022, — The residents of Semera and Logia, two major cities of Afar region, have come out in mass denouncing Tigray People's Liberation Front's (TPLF) recent attack on innocent civilians in Kilbatti Rasu zone of Afar region. "We condemn the Junta's ethnic cleansing on the innocent Afar people", read the placard the demonstrators were carrying. They also said "the land of Afar will be like the Erta Ale volcano for the terrorists". The protestors also stressed that the Afar people will never negotiate when it comes to the country's sovereignty. They said the TPLF group is the historical enemy of the Afar.  The infamous TPLF terrorists have been launching attacks ever since the beginning of the new year on Kilbatti Rasu (Zone 2), Afar region, preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Tigray, killing and displacing thousands from Abala. It managed to penetrate 150 KMs into Afar region and capture three Woredas . Th

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan [Picture: Khaleej Times] ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 29, 2022 — During Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his delegates' visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi said that there is a close link between the security and stability of the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea region on the one hand, and the security of the Horn of Africa on the other, according to a report from Khaleej Times. The Crown Prince said mentioned this when he expressed his thanks and appreciation for the Ethiopian government's stance and condemnation of the attacks of the Houthis on civilian facilities in the UAE and its solidarity with the UAE in any measures taken.  The close link between Arabian Peninsula, the Red Sea region and the Horn of Africa, he said, calls for a unified and effective regional stance against the threat posed by this militia to th

ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 28, 2022 — In an open letter to Filippo Grandi of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees yesterday, the Red Sea Afar Human Rights Organization (RSAHRO) expressed its deep concern about the deteriorating security, humanitarian, and human rights situations, as well as the safety and well-being of Eritrean Refugees, mostly from ethnic Afar living in Barahle district, Kiblatti Rasu of the Afar Regional State, as a result of the ongoing war in the region as a whole, and in Barahle particularly. The rights group quoted the Ethiopian Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Taye Atske Selassie who said TPLF forces are brutally attacking Barahle town, which it said is home to more than 15,000 refugees. "Our local sources has confirmed that TPLF forces are firing heavy artillery into the town indiscriminately in which the refugee camp has been hit and refugees are dispersed", said the Red Sea Afar Human Rights Organization.  "We are now alarmed of th

Tagesse Chafo, Ethiopia's Speaker of House of People's Representative (HoPR) [Picture: HoPR] ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 26, 2022 - Ethiopia's Speaker of House of People's Representative (HoPR), Tagesse Chafo, announced today that his office has selected 42 individuals out of the 632 nominees presented by Ethiopians for the Commissioner position of the National Dialogue Commission.  However, the selection process was not elaborated and the 632 and the 42 nominees were not identified. Nonetheless, Tagesse Chafo said they were nominated by citizens from all regions of the country and that his office has found most of the nominees with the required experience and education to shoulder the responsibilities of the Commissioner positions, which will be eleven. The draft proclamation initially assigned the power to appoint a Commissioner for the National Dialogue Committee to the Prime Minister which is according to the Constitution. However, after feedback from stakeholders and the

ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 26, 2022 — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it made its first delivery of medical supplies since last September into Mekelle, the capital of Tigray. With the support and through the facilitation of the authorities, the urgently needed supplies, including essential drugs, arrived in Mekelle on Wednesday. It said the supplies will be distributed to the region's health facilities. Although, the Ethiopian government had declared humanitarian ceasefire on June 2021, by September, 2021, Tigray People's Liberation Front's (TPLF) forces had expanded the conflict and occupied a significant portion of Amhara and Afar regions drastically affecting the delivery of humanitarian assistance into these regions as well as Tigray either by air or through land. "It is a huge relief that this first shipment is reaching hospitals," said Apollo Barasa, health coordinator at the ICRC delegation in Ethiopia. "This assistance is a lifeli

  ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 26, 2022 — The Afar Regional State released its second statement this week stating that forces from Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have penetrated 150 km into Afar region capturing Ab'ala, Magale and Erebti Woredas while the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), on the other hand, said in a statement that it was defending itself against an invasion from what it called a "Red Sea Force" of Afar and Eritrea. TPLF publicly admitted that it has captured parts of Afar region which it claimed will allow it to "neutralize" these "Red Sea Forces". Even though the TPLF forces have been pushed away from Brhale by Afar forces, reports indicate that TPLF has yet again opened new offensive at Konnaba, North of Ab'ala, shelling civilian population with heavy weapons from the mountains of Saridlu. "This is the third attempt by the TPLF to ethnically cleanse the Afar people. Although, it is attempting to dissuade the in

  ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 26, 2022 - In the 2nd Extraordinary Session convened today, Ethiopia's Council of Ministers agreed to lift the State of Emergency imposed nationwide on November 02, 2021. Ethiopia declared a nationwide State of Emergency on November 02, 2021 to defend its sovereignty against the impending threat from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The aim was to protect civilians from atrocities being committed by the terrorist TPLF group which at the time had captured two key towns in Amhara region, Dessie and Kombolcha. Soon after the State of Emergency was declared, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced , on November 22, 2021, his decision to go to the battlefront and lead Ethiopian forces in the fight against the TPLF. In just a matter of weeks, the TPLF forces were forced out of Amhara and Afar regions and many cities were liberated after months of brutal occupation. However, the federal government decided , on December 23, 2021, not to pursue the TPLF t

Left: Dr. Tedros and Dr. Amoth ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 25, 2022 – Ethiopia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Geneva released a statement today expressing its regrets for not being allowed to deliver a statement on the 24th of January 2022 at the 150th session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO). The Permanent Mission of Ethiopia in Geneva said such mistreatment against a member country is unacceptable. Ethiopia’s statement comes after WHO Executive Board Chair Dr. Amoth blocked Ambassador Zenebe Kebede from his speech that was about to expose Dr. Tedros’ misconduct. “Dr. Tedros hails from Ethiopia. Ethiopia nominated him for the post of Director General of the WHO. It mobilized Africans and other friendly countries to support him. As soon as the conflict was triggered by the TPLF, he showed his true colors. He chose his political affiliation to TPLF over his country. In the process, he betrayed his oath of office as a Director General of the WHO. He abu

  ADDIS ABABA, JANURARY 24, 2022 – Afar Regional State said in a statement today the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) terrorist group infiltrated and captured Ab’ala and Magale. It also said the TPLF group is attacking Brahle with heavy artillery injuring scores of civilians and forcing thousands to flee. “The Junta, which has been prolonging its life through fraud and false propaganda, has infiltrated various woredas in the Afar region and is still hurting innocent people by pretending to have been attacked. Today, the terrorist TPLF captured Magale and Abala, and also heavy fighting broke out in Aseda area of ​​Barahle district”, read the statement from the Afar regional government. The terrorist group which has no compassion or humanity is terrorizing innocent civilians, said the statement from the Afar regional government. The Afar regional government said the TPLF terrorist group is working day and night to make a profit by pitting the two peoples, the Afar and the

Left: Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, PM Abiy Ahmed and Minister of Defense Dr. Abraham Belay [Picture: SUNA] ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 23, 2022 — General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemetti) second in command of Sudan's Sovereign Council arrived in Addis Ababa on Saturday to discuss bilateral relations and issues of common interest with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula and Minister of Defense Dr. Abraham Belay.    After his arrival in Addis Ababa, he was welcomed at Bole International Airport by the Ethiopian Defense Minister Dr. Abraham Belay and Temesgen Tiruneh, the Director of the National Intelligence and Security Service. During his visit, Hemetti “will discuss bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and ways to strengthen and develop it in all fields in the interests of the two countries,” said the Sudanese official news agency.  "I am pleased to welcome today Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Vice-President of the Sove

  ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 21, 2022 — French Ambassador to Ethiopia Rémi Maréchaux visited Wollo University and Dessie Specialized Hospital which were ransacked and looted by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters. The Directors of the university and the hospital showed the destruction caused by the TPLF terrorists on civilian infrastructures to the French Ambassador and his envoy.  Wollo University is undergoing restoration and it is expected to begin classes the coming month, according to the President. Dr. Mengesha Ayene, Wollo University President, said that the terrorists stole anything they could carry while burning that which they could not.  Although, the French Ambassador Rémi Maréchaux said his country will assist in rebuilding the university, the President of Wollo University emphasized that the Ambassador's visit will help the international community understand the extent of destruction caused by the TPLF. It is to be recalled that on December 12, 2021, t

TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 21, 2022 — The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters raped more than 217 women and girls and killed more than 548 civilians in just South Wollo zone of Amhara region, according to an investigation carried out by the South Wollo Zone Administration. Dr. Abdi Hussein, the Administrator of South Wollo Zone, said this was just the first phase report of the investigation which is currently ongoing.  The report indicated that the TPLF terrorists have raped girls as young as 8 and elderly women. In South Wollo Zone alone, the TPLF fighters have ransacked and looted 101 health stations and 398 health posts, according to Dr. Abdi Hussein. Despite the challenges, however, he said most of the health facilities have been restored to the level of basic service provision. In late October 2021, an investigation led by the Ministry of Justice found out that in some parts of Amhara and Afar regions, the TPLF fighters had killed

WFP food assistance in Tigray [Picture: WFP] ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 20, 2022 -  The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in its situation report indicated all-time lowest food distribution in Tigray while the Ethiopian National Disaster Risk Management Commission said the humanitarian assistance to Tigray was obstructed due to the attack the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) opened on Abala town, a town in Afar region 50 km East of Mekelle, capital of Tigray. According to the UNOCHA, stock and fuel in Tigray are almost entirely exhausted reaching only about 10,000 people between 6-12 January. However, the report shies away from stating TPLF's obstruction of the Abala-Mekelle humanitarian corridor. But according to Debebe Zewde, Director of the Ethiopian National Disaster Risk Management Commission, who said in an interview with Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), the only humanitarian corridor into Tigray, Semera-Abala-Mekelle, was bloc

  ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 20, 2022 — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a statement today that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is a good example that demonstrates the principle of cooperation between Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia as well as globally.  At a time Ethiopia is preparing to test the GERD mega-dam for power production and for its 3rd round filling, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia said the Nile in general and the GERD project in particular are opportune for a higher purpose i.e. to nurture the narrative towards building peace, cooperation, mutual co-existence and development of all without harming one another. FULL STATEMENT  " Ethiopia has an ambition to build a modern economy based on agriculture, manufacturing and industry. It is committed to developing social infrastructure with quality education, health systems and the provision of clean water for its people. Ethiopia also aims to nurture a clean environment able to sequester carbon and emit net zero carbon; to ma

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army General Abebaw Tadesse ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 20, 2020 — In an interview with Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army General Abebaw Tadesse said the fight against the terrorist Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) is not over and that the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) is preparing itself for the next phase after it completed the first phase in removing the terrorists from Amhara and Afar regions. The General also confirmed that TPLF has not desisted from provoking neighboring regions. Since mid December, TPLF had been shelling Abala, capital of Kilbatti Rasu (Zone 2), Afar region, preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Tigray, killing and displacing thousands from Abala. General Abebaw Tadesse also said that the Ethiopian army is now measured by its merit and capability to fulfill its obligation than based on ethnicity. He said previously the ENDF was organized based on ethnicity and th

ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 17, 2022 — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, during his speech at the Great Ethiopian Homecoming fundraiser dinner held yesterday, said that Ethiopia could have lost the opportunity to host the African Union summit had the government decided not to release the prisoners on January 07, 2022. “One of the reasons the African Heads of State decided to host this year’s AU summit in Addis Ababa was that they have come to see that Ethiopia is not like what others talk about. Ethiopia is hosting thousands of its Diaspora who are enjoying their vacation peacefully and prisoners are being released. This gesture brought forth the image that this country has a hope. This was image we created which led Addis Ababa to host the AU summit. It was a difficult trial for us”, said Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The Prime Minister, who had been receiving backlash for releasing the TPLF leaders, told the Diaspora community that their role in guaranteeing Ethiopia’s dignity was immense. He said h

ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 16, 2022 – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed thanked African Heads of State for coming into consensus to hold the 35th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Addis Ababa which will take place from 05th to 06th February 2022. This message from the Ethiopian Prime Minister comes after the attempt to shift the 35th AU assembly out of Ethiopia, for fear of security issues, failed to bear fruit. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a statement that now is the time to strengthen the African brotherhood more than ever. “My dear African brothers and sisters, I want to express to you that Ethiopia has never failed from prioritizing African affairs from its agenda. Ethiopia’s commitment to Africa’s freedom has never dwindled. Her role in Pan-Africanism is always a major one. Ethiopia has always been the same from the past to the present. She has never had second thoughts on being African. Ethiopia lauds the current African Heads of State for deciding to hold the AU ass

Mirsi Darsa is an Afar girl who was displaced from Abala when the TPLF indiscriminately bombarded her hometown with heavy artillery.   ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 14, 2022 — The infamous Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has launched fresh attacks today on Abala town, capital of Kilbatti Rasu (Zone 2), Afar region, preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Tigray, killing and displacing thousands from Abala. The humanitarian convoys follow the 50 kilometer Abala-Mekelle corridor which has been suspended when the TPLF, in December 25, began shelling Abala town killing civilians including children. As a result, the new attack by the TPLF on civilian population, thousands are forced to flee and reports indicate only small Afar militia men and Afar Special Forces are defending their town against TPLF incursion. The Ethiopian government has not responded to these fresh attacks. However, yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said the TPLF carried out an attack on Abala t