Ethiopian Citizen

  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

But the fact remains that the Ethiopian government is not the one holding Tigray under siege but instead it is TPLF itself that is holding Tigray hostage from receiving any sorts of assistance both from the federal government and humanitarian organizations. By Ahmed Yusuf Editor-in-Chief, EthiopianCitizen.com  The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has been claiming, for a year now, that Tigray is "under siege" and that its forces are fighting until the siege on Tigray is lifted and many international observers especially Western governments have been swayed by this claim.  In other words, the West has remained hesitant to condemn TPLF when it committed atrocities in Afar and Amhara because it sees TPLF's "breaking the siege" sham objective as a just cause . But the fact remains that the Ethiopian government is not the one holding Tigray under siege but instead it is TPLF itself that is holding Tigray hostage from receiving any sorts of assistance b

The UAE is one of Ethiopia’s top allies and a crucial investor in its economy. The Horn of Africa country can also reliably provide agricultural products to its arid Gulf partner, which makes their economic ties mutually beneficial. By Andrew Korybko —  American political analyst Prime Minister Abiy’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a timely occasion to discuss the mutually beneficial and highly strategic nature of bilateral relations. He and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed (MBZ) praised their ties, with their friendly interaction reported upon in detail by the Khaleej Times in their informative article about the Ethiopian premier’s trip. More can be said about their relations than just what their two leaders discussed, however, which is the purpose of the present piece. Observers should remember that MBZ played an important role in facilitating the Ethiopian-Eritrean rapprochement shortly after PM Abiy entered office in 2018. He helped bring these form

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

LEFT: General Bacha Debele and Dr. Sileshi Bekele By Alemayehu Dessu —  a Sociologist and a Researcher  The Office of the President yesterday announced the appointment of 27 Ambassadors and some of the names in the list have shocked many Ethiopians. But it should not be so. The appointment of General Bacha Debele, senior member of ENDF, and Dr. Sileshi Bekele, GERD Negotiator and Minister of Water, as Ambassadors among others has shocked many because most believe these men were fulfilling their responsibilities to their fullest capacities and some felt they should be left where they are. The first misconception here arises from the notion that being assigned as an Ambassador is the same as being pushed away from the center stage of Ethiopian politics. This perception was instilled when the EPRDF government was in power and usually the EPRDF leadership, when they are dissatisfied with a certain official they appoint them as Ambassadors somewhere in the world and keep them at bay from

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