Jeffrey Feltman , who was named as  U.S. Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa  in April of this year, is visiting as Ethiopia is preparing to undertake the second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam during the rainy seasons

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The U.S. Department of State announced over the weekend that U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman is travelling to Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan between May 4 and May 13, 2021

He will be holding talks with government officials in the region. Also, he will be meeting with African Union and United Nations officials as well as “political stakeholders” and humanitarian organizations. 

Regarding the purpose of this trip, the state department said “The Special Envoy’s travel underscores the Administration’s commitment to lead a sustained diplomatic effort to address the interlinked political, security, and humanitarian crises in the Horn of Africa, and he will coordinate U.S. policy across the region to advance that goal. ” 

The United States has been putting immense political pressure on Ethiopia in connection with “what it calls humanitarian crisis and human rights violations” in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. 

The United States wants an end to the conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia – which has been described as a law enforcement operation and an internal affairs by the government of Ethiopia – , and a political dialogue between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian government. 

As well, the United States wants the withdrawal of Eritrean troops from the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Last month, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Asmara to meet with president Isaias Afeworki to discuss the same issue. 

In a statement from the US State Department last month, The United States has demanded that the troop withdrawal has been to be verifiable. 

Furthermore, the US government has been expressing concern about alleged human rights abuse in the region. Ethiopia invited international investigators to investigate the claim. Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the United Nations Human Rights Commission have agreed an agreement to conduct a joint investigation. 

Mr. Jeffrey Feltman  is also expected to discuss the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam – about which there is no agreement between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt after ten years of negotiation. 

The U.S. government, under president Donald Trump, demonstrated a tendency to support Egyptian position on the issue of operation and filling of the Grand Renaissance Dam. Ethiopia withdrew from U.S. brokered GERD negotiation in February 2021 as the US began to dictate the terms of the agreement. 

It was following that development that the African Union began to take a leading role in facilitating the GERD negotiation. The latest round of negotiation took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo in early April 2021 only to be stalled again as Sudan and Egypt proposed to elevate the U.S.’ observer role to the level of the African Union – something Ethiopia rejected out of respect, as it calls it, to the African Union led process. 

It remains to be seen if Mr. Jeffrey Feltman discussion with the leaders of Ethiopia will change Ethiopia’s position or not. Ethiopia has currently zero share from the Nile River also more than 85 percent of the water originates from Ethiopian soil.

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European Union accuses Ethiopian government for not agreeing with “Key parameters” for the deployment of observer mission 

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The European Union on Sunday announced that it has cancelled observing the sixth general election in Ethiopia – which is scheduled to take place on June 5, 2021. 

“Despite all efforts by the European Union, it was not possible to reach an agreement with Ethiopian authorities on key parameters for the deployment of an EU Electoral Observation Mission in view of the parliamentary elections on 5 June 2021,” said the statement from the Union. 

The narrative from the EU paints Ethiopian authorities as standing between the European Observation mission and the task of observing the election. 

“The EU regrets the refusal of the fulfilment of standard requirements for the deployment of any Electoral Observation Mission,” it said. 

It alleges that independence of the observation mission and “the import of mission communication systems,” and the EU claims that that impacts the pre-election process including voter registration. 

Some Ethiopian intellectuals tend to see the measure on the part of the EU rather as a sabotage to delegitimize the Ethiopian Election. 

The Ethiopian government has issued a statement in response to the cancellation of the European Union observation mission. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “All possible efforts were made by the Government to conclude the Administrative Arrangement for the deployment of the mission, but these were to no avail.” 

Furthermore, the ministry said “it is very unfortunate to have learnt that the issue of communications equipment was put forth as a deal-breaker for the EU to observe one of the most hoped-for democratic elections in the country’s history.”

The Ethiopian government is saying that VSAT service can only be provided by the country’s huge Telecom provider – Ethio Telecom. On the other hand, the EU wants to import equipment to Ethiopia. 

The Ethiopian Election was supposed to take place in August 2020, but the parliament postponed it due to the Coronavirus situation in the country following a constitutional inquiry commission proceeding. 

As for the Ethiopian government, the “key parameters” that the European Union demanded for have never been an issue in election observation missions in the country in the past. 

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Ethiopia on Wednesday celebrated the 80th anniversary of Victory Day at the Dilachin Statue (it means our victory ) near Arat Kilo, Addis Ababa. 

Ethiopian Patriots who took part in the five years of resistance war against the invasion of Fascist Italy, residents of Addis Ababa and government officials celebrated it. 

Fascist Italy occupied Ethiopian for five years between 1936 and 1941. It was on May 5, 1941, that  the Ethiopian flag was raised in the capital Addis Ababa after five years of Italian occupation. 

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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Security Task Force seems to see the movement for Addis Ababa as a “terrorist activity” 

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Ethiopia’s Intelligence, Security  and Anti-Terrorism Task Force on Wednesday said that it has foiled plots to disrupt the sixth general election which is scheduled for June five. 

A lengthy disclosure distributed through state-owned broadcasters as  “breaking news” made numerous claims  in connection with what it called plans to disrupt the election and establish a transitional government by force. 

It linked the plot to some Ethiopians based in the Diaspora and two army officers – one of them said to be dismissed from the Defense Force on alleged ethical grounds and the other one member of former defense force from colonel Mengistu era. 

Sergeant Yihune Jembere, dismissed member of the Ethiopian Defense force as described in the report by government media outlets, was allegedly “gathering information about the activities of key government officials,” through connections in the army – the statement claims. 

It also implicated Commander Mulugeta Tsige, vertan. The statement from the task force said he was coordinating with Sergent Yihune. They both were shuttling between Addis Ababa and Amhara region to recruit and train youth, the task force claimed. It was in the news that radical forces within the Oromia regional structure were stopping passenger vehicles between Gojjam and Addis Ababa. There were even killings of Isuzu drivers sometime last week.

Intelligence, Security  and Anti-Terrorism Task Force also linked the alleged terror plot to a facebook group with less than 2000 members advocating for the rights of residents in Addis Ababa. 

“Sile Addis Ababa Zim Anelem” (which translates to “We will never be silent about Addis Ababa”) is the group that is said to have a mission to groups in Addis Ababa allegedly operating clandestinely to disrupt the election and “form transitional government.”  To give a context about the movement for Addis Ababa, radical oromo forces within the political organizations that Prime Minister once led, Oromo Democratic Front, made an official claim months after Abiy Ahmed took over office saying that Addis Ababa exclusively belongs to Oromos. The political position gave rise to a movement including Baleadera Council whose leaders are incarcerated with trumped up charges of destabilizing the government. 

The statement from Abiy Ahmed’s Security Task Force disseminated via  state owned broadcasters disclosed that 15 individuals including Sergent Yihune Jemere and Commander Tsige Mulugeta were arrested. Most of those arrested were distributing flyers opposing organizing elections as the killing of ethnic Amhara continues and at the expense of the blood of children. Distributing flyers with a political opinion is not considered a “terrorist act” in the Ethiopian constitution. 

It is also claimed that the group was caught with an 85 page long draft constitution and 1000 copies, which were ready for distribution. 

A charitable organization (Meseret Charitable Organization) is implicated in facilitating the import of communication devices to be used by the alleged clandestine group. 

The task force also linked some Ethiopians based in the United States and Germany to the alleged plot. Professor Abera Meshesha, Teshale Kebede, Yeharerwork Gashaw, Dr. Genet. Woizero Aregash, Engineer Lishan Gizaw, Hagere Addis, Asfaw Jebessa, Meareg, Binya, and Kirubel are among Ethiopians listed implicated in the attack. 

Furthermore, the statement mentioned that the clandestine movement aimed at reversing Amahra genocide with the armed resistance. 

Opposition party members are yet to react to what many called a reckless move to threaten people on the issue of Addis Ababa. Many activists on social media tend to see the claim as dangerous and unwise that will make Amhara people, especially in the Oromo region of Ethiopia,  vulnerable to further massacres. 

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The Ethiopian Parliament nodded to the claim that OLF Shane and TPLF have been pursuing terrorism as a means to achieve political objective 

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The House of People’s Representatives of Ethiopia on Thursday approved a decision from the council of ministers to designate Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), and Oromo Liberation Front -Shane as terrorist organizations. 

It was during a regular session of the house that the members of parliament who attended the session unanimously voted in favor of listing TPLF, and OLF -Shane as terrorist organizations. 

The parliament has given 48 hours notices for the organizations to defend themselves before it passed the decision. It did not happen. 

The House believed that the organizations have been engaged in terrorist activities with the aim to attain their political goals. It also said that leaders of the two organizations are leading the terrorist activities. 

TPLF attacked the Ethiopian Defense Force on November 4, 2020. After losing the war, it launched a guerrilla warfare, and the government has been linking security incidents in the Tigray region of Ethiopia including the killing of civilians deployed for humanitarian activity in the region. 

OLF shane, although no organization claimed the identity so far, is believed to be the military wing of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). Among other things, it has been undertaking a series of massacres targeting ethnic Amhara in the Oromo region of Ethiopia. 

Last month, it shifted the area of its military attack in North central Ethiopia, and undertook five days of uninterrupted attack in parts of North Shoa and South Wollo. The city of Ataye was entirely destroyed and over 250,000 Ethiopians were displaced from several towns in the region. 

The Office of Ombudsman of Ethiopia has confirmed last month that more than 200 civilians had been killed in the latest round of OLF attacks in North Central Ethiopia. 

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U.S. senator  Christopher Coons  called for a single armed force under a civilian government in Sudan, sees it as essential for democratic transition

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The U.S. seems to be adhering to the practice of sending senators as delegates to Africa. Less than two months after sending Senator Christopher Coons to Ethiopia in connection with the alleged Humanitarian Crisis in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, the U.S. sent a delegation of two senators to Sudan this week for three days of working visit. 

One of them is Senator Christopher Coons himself and the other one is Senator  Chris Van Hollen. 

They met with Mr. Abdella Hamdok, the Prime Minister of Sudan, and with General Abdel-Fattah Burhan who is the head of  the country’s Transitional Sovereignty Council.” Also, they met with the Ministers for Finance and Water and irrigation. 

A report by Sudan Tribune published on May 5 indicates that Sudan’s “transition to democracy” was the main agenda item during their discussion with the leaders of the country. 

Also, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam was an agenda item, and the two senators expressed support in the effort to bring about the three countries to an agreement. 

“The two lawmakers voiced their support for the democratic transition in Sudan and vowed to support the ongoing efforts to bring Sudan Ethiopia and Egypt to stick a deal over the GERD filling and operation,” said the report by Sudan Tribune. 

Senators Christopher Coons and Chris Van Hollen  had a press conference on Wednesday in the capital Khartoum after they concluded their visit. 

Senator Coons “called for the formation of a unified army including all the militias and armed groups, under the umbrella of the civilian government,” as reported by Sudan Tribune. 

Mr. Coons is likely reflecting the view of the U.S. government, not just his own personal views, which may mean that the U.S. is signaling the army will not continue to be under the leadership of  General Abdel-Fattah Burhan. 

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An American man running a “charitable organization” who is said to have known Abune Mathias  for several years took the video says AP but it was not published. 

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A report published on Friday by the Associated Press claims that Patriarch of Ethiopian Orthodox Church Abune Mathias lasted “Genocide in Tigray.”

The Associated Press quoted him as saying “They want to destroy the people of Tigray.”  The source claimed that Abune Mathias remarked about “Tigray genocide” in an alleged video message that was shot some time last month, but it was not published along with the report. 

It is Dennis Waldley, said to run “U.S.-based Bridges of Hope Organization,” who shot the video “In an impulsive moment,”  says the report by AP.  And the report about the video came after he returned to the United States on Friday. 

Explaining how the video message shot, Mr Waldly said, as reported by the AP,  “I just pulled out my iPhone and said if you want to get the word out, let’s do it,” 

 “He just poured out his heart. … It’s so sad. I actually hugged him; I never did that before.” he added.

The report is not yet confirmed by Ethiopian sources. 

Abune Mathias has been repeatedly making headlines in state media condemning widespread ethnic based violence in Ethiopia. 

Before the start of what the Ethiopian government calls law enforcement operation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia after Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked the Ethiopian Defense Force, Patriarch Abune Mathias was one part of an elders and religious fathers’ delegation sent to Tigray to lure TPLF leaders to make peace with the Federal level of government. 

Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Human Rights Commission have signed an agreement last month to investigate the alleged human rights violations in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.  

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About two years ago, there were reports about divisions within ESAT board of Directors

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The Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT), Ethiopian Broadcaster which was initially launched in the United States during the struggle against TPLF-led government, is now transformed into a public media. 

According to a report by state media, Ethiopia News Agency (ENA), ESAT is transformed from private share company to a public media in accordance with the new media regulation. 

It will work “entirely neutral from political, ethnic and religious affiliation,” it was said. 

ESAT has reportedly elected about 16 board of directors on Saturday.  No more information is provided as to how the members of the board of directors are elected and on what basis. 

What is known is that Andargachew Tsige, former secretary of Arbegnoch Ginbot 7 movement who was kidnapped by TPLF led government in Yemen during transit to Eritrea, is the Director for ESAT. 

“There was no law to organize public media before. Because the new law for mass media allows it, ESAT is organized afresh as public media,” he said, as reported by ENA. A new guideline is approved to govern the operation of ESAT, he added. 

It is organized as a not-for-profit public media. 

When it was operating only from outside of Ethiopia, ESAT relied on financial support from Diaspora Ethiopians to broadcast to Ethiopia.

In June 2019, well over a year after TPLF lost central power in Addis Ababa, there was a talk about restructuring ESAT following a dispute that is said to have given rise to schism over questions related to ownership.

There were rumors that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration is in part behind division within ESAT.

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Abune Mathias claims a campaign to decimate ethnic Tigreans underway, even calling it “genocide.”  While expressing anger that PM Abiy Ahmed’s government stifled the patriarch and a potential danger to the patriarch,  a considerable number of Ethiopians do not agree with his claim of “Tigray genocide,” which sounded more like the cliam from TPLF propagandists

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When the Associated Press on Friday published a story of a video released by Ethiopian Patriarch Abune Mathias, the video itself was not published. 

It was a little later that the video started to be shared on social media after Tigrary Media House published it. 

Dennis Wadley, International Director Bridges of Hope International, took it to Twitter saying that it was him who videotaped Abune Mathias clandestinely using his cellphone.   

He tweeted “The Ethiopian Patriarch has tried repeatedly to get his message out about the Tigray genocide, but has been censored. He has asked me to release to the world a 14-minute video today.”

In the 14 minutes of video message, the patriarch talked about ongoing massacres all over Ethiopia but claimed that what is going on in Tigray is different, he said.

He claimed that a “genocide” is going on in Tigray. And he said that the perpetrators, in this case he is referring to the Ethiopian and Eritrean army, although he did not name names, are carrying it out with the intention to decimate ethnic Tightens from the face of the earth. 

Furthermore, he mentioned that he has been trying to speak out against it several times, and had several interviews, apparently with state media, but it was not aired due to censorship from people who are in power. 

“I am stifled,” he said.  The video turned out to be viral as the story was published by many in the mainstream media including CNN. 

He encouraged ethnic Tigreans by saying to not be demoralized by what is happening. It will pass, he said. 

Abune Mathias has been speaking out, in tears, against the massacre of Ethiopian Orthodox followers in the Oromo and Benishangul Gumuz regions of Ethiopia, among other regions of the country. 

Reactions from Ethiopians 

Reactions to his message are mixed. There are those who are angered by his message that there is a plan to decimate Tigreans. They opposed that he framed it as an anti-Tigrean war. For this group, the war is against the TPLF which attacked the Ethiopian Defense Force on November 4, 2020 triggering a military response from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. Some even claimed that the patriarch’s message is meant to cover up the crimes of TPLF. It is also intended to rescue TPLF by appealing for international intervention, military, in the region. 

There are also activists who criticized the patriarch for omitting the genocide in Maikadra, which is confirmed by humanitarian organizations. 

There are also Ethiopians who understood the video message in light of a planned plot to probably assassinate the Patriarch and cause mayhem in the country. But these groups still do not approve the Patriarch’s claim that the war in the Tigray region is intended to eliminate ethnic Tigreans. 

At the same time, numerous outrageous messages have been expressed against prime minister Abiy Ahmed’s government security arrangement to stifle Abune Mathias. It seems more  Ethiopians seem to agree that the government should stop arresting his right to exercise his freedom of speech. 

There is also another group that supports TPLF that exploited the video message as a tool to lobby the international community in favour of international intervention in the region. 

Reaction from TPLF supporters is seen as a move to influence policymakers and destabilize Ethiopia 

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Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Holy Synod will meet to discuss his Holiness Abune Mathias’ video message which was released over the weekend

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Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on Monday remarked over Patriarch Abune Mathias video message which was said to be tapped clandestinely by an American “philanthropist” working in the country. 

Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox church and archbishop of the  Sidama and Gedeo diocese, Abune Yosef, said the message by Abune Mathias was his own personal views and does not represent the stand of the Holy Synod. 

He added that the way the patriarch conveyed the message is not in line with the practices and procedures of the Holy Synod and the Patriarchate. 

Statements are conveyed when they get endorsed by the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, according to the Archbishop Abune Yosef. 

Furthermore, he disclosed that the issue will be discussed in the Holy Synod meeting next. 

His Holiness’ message was published by mainstream media outlets in the west including CNN. A considerable number of Ethiopians on social media sympathized with the Patriarch although his characterization of the situation in Tigray is seen as wrongful. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Human Rights Commission have agreed to launch a joint investigation into the allegation of pervasive human rights violations in Tigray. 

Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Geeta Pasi, met with Abune Mathias at her residence. A statement from the U.S. embassy, shared on Facebook, said the Ambassador and his Holiness Abune Mathias discussed “the current situation in Ethiopia and specifically the humanitarian crisis in Tigray, including his recent public message.” 

In a video message released on Friday, His holiness Abune Mathias said he had been trying to convey a message several times regarding the situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and the massacres of Christians across the country, but it was not allowed. At least two interviews were cancelled from being aired in the state media due to censorship. 

He also claimed that there is a “Genocide in Tigray” by forces whom he described as “sleepless unless they eliminated ethnic Tigreans.” 

His message relating to inability to convey a message due to censorship angered the followers of many Ethiopian Orthodox Church followers and fingers are being pointed at Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Prosperity Party cadres – that are said to be advancing radical ethnic Oromo nationalist agenda from within the Church. 
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The U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, Geeta Pasi, has hosted Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Patriarch Holiness Abune Mathias at her residence, the embassy announced on Monday. 

The current situation in Ethiopia, the humanitarian situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and His Holiness’ video message, which was given extensive media coverage in the mainstream media, were among the issues they discussed. 

The update from the embassy also indicated that Ambassador Geeta “invited the Patriarch to attend future inter-faith community meetings at the Embassy to further explore and continue their conversation.” 

Abune Mathias’ Video message 

In a video message released last Friday, His Holiness said that his attempt to voice his concerns about the situation in the Tigray region and the rest of Ethiopia met with repressive measures from the government. His interview was not allowed to be aired on the state broadcaster. 

Abune Mathias claimed that a “genocide” is underway in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. 

Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Abune Yosef, appeared on state media on Monday saying that the Holy Synod did endorse the Patriarch’s message. He described the message as the patriarch’s own personal views. 

The Holy Synod is expected to meet, and the message from His Holiness Abune Mathias is among the agenda items to be discussed. 

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A day after reported cancellation of Meskel Square Iftar, Addis Ababa, the city administration appears to reconsider its decision.

A report by Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) indicates that the city administration cancelled the schedule on alleged grounds of unfinished works of Meskel Square renovation project. 

The city also regretted what it called an unpleasant communication over the issue between the city and the organizers. However, it thinks that the issue was blown out of proportion on social media. 

According to some sources, the public Iftar will take place on Tuesday, May 11. Security arrangement is said to be in place for the event. 

Over the past few days, the issue has been controversial among Ethiopians on social media. For some followers of Ethiopian church, Meskel Square is the Ethiopian Church land holding acquired in inheritance from an individual who used to own the place.  And they claim no other religious event should be organized there. 

On the other hand, there are those followers who reason out , visibly greater, that even secular musical concerts had been organized and so the Iftar program should not be an issue. However, they oppose the claim by some Muslims who are said to have claims that Meskel square should be renamed as “Eid Square.” 

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Most of the deaths in Axum City during in late November 2020 are those who took part in the war on the part of Tigray People’s Liberation Front, says Attorney General report 

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The Federal Attorney General on Monday disclosed its findings from an investigation into alleged human rights violations in Axum City, Tigray region of Ethiopia, in late November 2020. 

A statement from the AG said a team drawn from Federal police and the office of the Attorney General undertook a two months long investigation into the allegation. 

There were claims that Eritrean and Ethiopian troops  committed gross human rights violations including raping women. And the team travelled to the city as part of its investigation, the AG said. 

Furthermore, the statement claimed that five civilians were killed when fired artillery missed the target, hit residential homes and near Aksum University. Another man was killed during a confrontation with a member of Federal police over curfew in the city. 

The investigation also revealed that the Ethiopian Defense Force was in the city for about a week between November 19, 2020, and November 27, 2020. 

It was after that TPLF special forces and militia along with 1500 new recruits from the city moved to a military strategic spot near Axum city to wage war – and there were stationed Eritrean troops in the city – apparently much less than the TPLF army. 

It is claimed that the team verified the information from an interview with TPLF soldiers and youth who were given firearms to take part in the war.  Some firearms distributed were looted from the Ethiopian Defense Force arsenal when TPLF launched a surprise attack on several army bases of the Northern Command on November 4, 2020. 

The TPLF forces were in a battle between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. and moved to Axum city as reinforcement arrived, the investigation team said.  According to the statement, 95 eyewitnesses were interviewed who confirmed that 93 people were killed during the war. It is also claimed that most of those killed took part in the war, although they were not in military uniforms. 

In connection with rape, 116 victims have reported to police. Some members of the Federal police and some members of Ethiopian Defense Forces took part in the war near the city. 

Those federal police members who were involved in it will face justice at the region’s office of attorney general while members of the Ethiopian defense forces will stand trial in a court-martial, as reported by Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation. 

There have been allegations of genocide in Axum city. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Human Rights Commission have agreed to jointly investigate the human rights violations in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. 

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Intelligence and Security Task Force of Ethiopia arrested over 100 in connection with alleged terror plot targeting the capital Addis Ababa and some other cities in the oromo region of Ethiopia

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Intelligence and Security Task Force on Monday said that it had foiled a planned terror attack, and arrested members of the terrorist group who were about to carry out the terror plan. The terrorists in custody are described as members of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – Shane and Tigray People’s Liberation Front. 

Earlier this month, the Ethiopian parliament designated those organizations as terrorist organizations.

The OLF -Shane group mostly operates in the Oromo region of Ethiopia. However, in early April it launched a massive and organized attack in north central Ethiopia invading several cities including Ataye, which was entirely destroyed. The attack was reportedly reversed after the Federal and regional governments deployed forces to the region. 

Tigray People’s Liberation Front  (TPLF) dominated Ethiopian politics for nearly three decades until it lost the power struggle in the Federal government in April 2018. 

On November 4, 2020, it launched a massive surprise attack on several bases of the Northern Command of the Ethiopian Defense Forces. After losing a war, the TPLF is mainly operating as a guerrilla force in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. 

Addis Ababa and some cities in the Oromo region of Ethiopia were primary targets of the alleged terror attack, the task force.  They were also aiming for large scale property damages. According to the task force, they were arrested as they were about to launch the terror attack. 

The objective was to create chaos in pursuit of clandestine political goals. The task force also said that the group is supported by what it called internal and external anti-peace forces. 

Over 300,000 US dollars and over 2 million Ethiopian birr that was meant for conducting the terror attack is seized in Addis Ababa Bole Airport and “other areas,” the Task Force added.  Satellite phones fitted with Solar are also recovered. 

OLF -Shane deployed “Aba Torbe” killing squad targeting key infrastructure, prominent figures, government officials. 

Furthermore, individuals who were trying to distribute explosives and other forms of firearms are arrested. Among those whose names are disclosed are, Abdissa Tafa  Qocholte, Ebsa Terefa, Alemayehu Waqo. Rabira Wirtu Mosissa, Dereje Dughassa Hordofa, Wondwossen Megra, Abera  Muleta, Lelisa Adamu, Mule Seyome and Abraham Abu are the suspects in custody. 

There are also those who are given a terror mission in Jimma, and the task force disclosed names. Iyasu Lema , Kalid Seid, Abdella Aba Belay, Seifu Belay and Negassa Kenesa. 

The total number of suspects in custody are 71, according to a report by the Ethiopian News Agency. 

15 other individuals living abroad are suspected of supporting the terror group with finance and the task force said that it is working with the authorities of unspecified countries to hold them accountable. 

With regard to the TPLF, the Task Force claimed that it has deployed a death squad, Kibrit, in the region’s major cities and in the capital Addis Ababa too. 

General Fisseha Manjus and Kahsay Wodi Mgulat  (  U.S. resident), Teklay and Ataklti (Holland residents), Takele (UK resident), Tesfay Neguse and Seyfe Ambaye, residents of Sweden and South Sudan respectively, are implicated in the terror plot. 

32 individuals who were allegedly coordinating logistics and finance for the TPLF, now designated as terrorist organization, are also in custody – as claimed by the Task Force. 

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Addis Ababa City administration said the Great Street Iftar event concluded peacefully without any security incident 

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A day before Eid al-fitr holiday, Ethiopian Muslims carried out a massive ‘Great Street Iftar’ ceremony in the capital Addis Ababa. 

The street from Mexico square to Bambis, crossing the Meskel Square, was packed with faithfuls of the Muslim faith breaking day long fasting.  It was organized with the motto “Great Street Iftar in Ethiopia.”  

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the event was organized by Halal promotion and Nejashi charitable organizations. 

It was intended to achieve three objectives, as reported by ENA. To demonstrate that the Holy month of Ramadan is a time of compassion, sharing and supporting one another – which is in line with Islamic teachings.  The Elderly and the needy were part of the Iftar, the “Great Road Iftar in Ethiopia.” 

The other objective, as indicated in the ENA report, is to break the African record of Iftar events – one that was registered in Egypt with 7,000 participants.  The Great Street Iftar in Addis Ababa is believed to have attracted hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian Muslims.  The aim behind that was, “to enhance Addis Ababa’s popularity in the world,” it was reported. 

The third aim was to pray for the unity of Ethiopia. 

Deputy mayor Jantirar Asfaw, government service providers’ coordinator in the city administration, attended the event. “All religious rituals are our assets,” he is cited as saying. 

He expressed appreciation for all those who contributed to the success of the event. 

No security incident was reported and the hours-long ceremony concluded peacefully. Addis Ababa police closed several streets and roads leading to where the Great Street Iftar took place as a security measure.

Addis Ababa City Administration initially did not allow the event to take place in Meskel Square saying that renovation project is not completed for the entire part of the place to be used. 

Following a conversation with organizers and Muslim leaders, the city on Monday announced that it has allowed it to take place. 

Ethiopian activists who are not even from the Islamic faith condemned the city administration over its decision not to allow the event. 

Days before the Great Street Iftar in Addis Ababa, similar iftar projects were organized in several towns in the Amhara regions of Ethiopia.  

No reports of street iftar  in Oromia, Gambella, Somali and Benishangul Gumuz regions of Ethiopia, among others, 

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A week ago the European Union said it has cancelled plans to send election observers to Ethiopia

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Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia on Tuesday announced that the European Union is sending experts to observe the Sixth general election in Ethiopia. 

Last week, the European Union said that it is not sending election observers on alleged grounds that “key parameters” proposed to the Ethiopian government were not agreed upon.  In a statement the EU said “The EU regrets the refusal of the fulfilment of standard requirements for the deployment of any Electoral Observation Mission.” 

The “key parameters” fell short of Ethiopia’s assessment against the sovereignty of the country. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said, during a weekly brief by the spokesperson, that Ethiopia did not accept any of the preconditions set by the European Union needed to send their observers. 

And the Ministry has confirmed that the EU is sending a six members observers mission to Ethiopia.  They will have to adhere to the guidelines from relevant institutions in Ethiopia while carrying out their activities related to observing the election. 

Furthermore, the Ministry disclosed that Russian and African Union election observers will arrive to observe the election which is scheduled for June 2021. 

As far as Russia is concerned, the observers are said to be from Russian Civic Societies. No further information is provided.  

Mr. Dina Mufti, spokesperson of the ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, said  “observers from international and domestic institutions are finalizing their preparations to undertake their responsibilities.” 

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) extended voter registration deadline for a second time as the number of people registered was below what was expected. 

State Broadcaster, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, reported this week that over 30 million eligible voters have registered so far. 

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Topic : European Union, Ethiopian Election, Russia

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TeleBirr Mobile Money service is expected to have up to 53 million users in the country  

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Ethiopia on Tuesday inaugurated the country’s first Mobile Money service. It is the country’s giant state owned telecommunications service provider, Ethio Telecom, that launched the service – in a ceremonious event. 

If you think about why all this celebration, said the CEO of Ethio Telecom – Firehiwot Tamiru – , “It deserves it!” 

It is unique for Ethio Telecom’s 127 years of service, and was on the works for nearly two years.  Firehiwot added that the Mobile Money service, TeleBirr, is created in consideration of low income earners, those who are living in the countryside as well as those who do not have any income. 

Beyond being fast and easy, it is expected to minimize the need to print paper money and the spending for it. 

Ethio Telecom got support from key institutions like the National Bank of Ethiopia in terms of preparing the legal framework to get license for the service. It took a lot of policy revisions, Firehiwot Tamiru said.

The company is projecting that up to 53 million Ethiopians will be Mobile Money service users in the country and the service will be available in five languages, it was added. 

Top level government officials including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed attended the launching ceremony in the capital Addis Ababa. 

Abiy Ahmed remarked ” We launched TeleBirr Mobile Money service withstanding international pressure.”  He added that the service is intended to further strengthen Ethio Telecom to emerge as a competitor in the international market.  

He also said that the Mobile Money service was proposed more than ten years ago but did not succeed at that time.

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Ethiopian Human Rights Commission condemned  the extrajudicial killings in the Oromo regional state of Ethiopia 

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The Oromo regional State of Ethiopia has been a hell for some Ethiopians for over three years now. Unlike the series of massacres in the recent past by armed rebel groups, which very often, if not all the time, claims the lives of ethnic Amhara or the followers of the orthodox tewahedo religion, the latest gross human rights violations is perpetrated by state actors. 

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission on Wednesday confirmed that security forces in the region committed extrajudicial killing in an alleged exercise of law enforcement operation. 

Earlier, the story has been circulating on social media with an image of a young man in his twenties wearing Church choir vestment and another picture with bearing signs of torture, his hands tied behind his back and a handgun hanging on his chest. The later picture was said to be just before he was executed.  It has caused outrage among Ethiopians on social media 

The incident happened in Dembi Dollo, Wollega region of Ethiopia. The Spence of extrajudicial killing in a street and in the background  a small park where a huge election poster of prime minister Abiy Ahmed was hanging. 

In a brief statement, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said “The Commission condemns all forms of extrajudicial killings in the strongest terms and reiterates its message on the use of only lawful means for all law enforcement operations.” 

EHCR added that the measure negatively impacts public confidence in the rule of law, and “reverse any gains made in that regard.” 

The commission urged authorities in the Oromo region of Ethiopia to immediately investigate the incident and take appropriate measures. 

Furthermore, it said that it is monitoring the situation closely and will disclose its findings to the public. 

A week or so ago, the commission released a statement findings from an investigation into rights abuse of people in police custody in the region, especially those arrested following the assassination of Hachalu Hundessa. 

It said that it investigated 21 selected police stations which involved a discussion with relevant prison authorities, police and inmates. 

Apart from deplorable prison conditions, EHRC said “Credible testimonies were received that many of the prisoners were detained without a formal investigation opened against them and that they had not been brought before court within the time prescribed by the law.”

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The restriction on farmers has caused severe famine in the region, says the region’s interim administration

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The Tigray region interim administration disclosed that farmers in the region are being restricted from undertaking farming activities. 

According to a report by Ahadu Radio and Television, which cited France 24 news which has been regularly covering stories about Tigary after Ethiopian government launched a law enforcement campaign against TPLF, government troops imposed the restriction.

France 24 cited deputy executive of the interim administration, Abebe Gebrehiwot, as saying that the restriction has exposed the public to severe famine.  

Head of Tigray Interim administration, Dr. Mulu Nega, was removed from his position last week and replaced by Dr. Abraham Belay, who served in the Abiy Ahmed cabinet as Innovation and Technology Minister, among other things. 

It is unclear how the restriction, which is disclosed this week,  has an immediate impact on the food supply in the region. It is also unspecified if the restriction is region wide or in a selected place, and why the restriction is imposed. 

Last week, Ethiopian Patriarch, Abune Mathias, released a video message in which he claimed that a genocide is going on in Tigray.

Months after losing the war to the Ethiopian Defense Force, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which started it when it attacked army bases of the Northern Command of the Ethiopian Defense Force on the 4th of November 2020, regrouped to wage a guerrilla war in the region which made the security situation complicated. 

According to some sources,  even humanitarian activity was impacted by the security situation. The United States has been calling for an end to the war and for what it called “a political solution” to the conflict. The U.S. also demanded for the withdrawal of Eritrean forces in a way that is “verifiable.” 

Eight international humanitarian organizations have been providing humanitarian assistance in the region. 

In the first few months after the completion of the law enforcement operation, the Ethiopian government  distributed humanitarian assistance to over four million people in the region – as reported by state media.

Erstwhile, about 70 percent of the humanitarian aid in the region was covered by the Federal government of Ethiopia. But last week, the Ethiopian government announced that going forward, it will cover only 14 percent of humanitarian aid needed in the region. 

Regional administrations have also donated hundreds of millions of birr with the aim to ease the dire humanitarian situation in the region. 

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Topic : Tigray region, Farmers

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Ethiopian Muslims are poised to celebrate the 1442nd Eid al-Fitr on Thursday. It marks the end of a month long Holy Month of Ramadan, in the Islamic religious traditions.

The Holiday will be celebrated in Salat prayer across the country. 

Religious leaders have called for the faithful to exercise caution to prevent the spread of Coronavirus disease. They have also called for support for those who need it. 

Law enforcement bodies have said that they have finalized preparations to ensure that the holiday is celebrated peacefully, as reported by state media. 

Religious leaders advised the faithful to report any suspicious activities to nearby law enforcement bodies. 

On Tuesday,a massive street iftar program was organized in the capital Addis Ababa – an event that attracted more than 10,000 participants. It is said to be the largest ever street iftar in Africa. 

Senior level Federal and regional government officials have expressed messages of best wishes for the Holiday. 

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed released two pages of messages for Ethiopian Muslims. He emphasized messages of unity. “This year’s Eid al-Fitir is celebrated at a time when Ethiopia is facing multifaceted challenges than ever before. Internal and external forces are doing everything they can to damage our foundation for us to fall part,” he said. 

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