Ethnic Irob, minority people northern Tigray,Ethiopia, took to the street opposing decision of the ruling coalition’s executive committee to cede the Bademe to Eritrea as a show of commitment for ending the existing “no war-no peace” which the prime minister described rather as a war with no human casualty.
Protesters say it is not appropriate for the Ethiopian government to accept the Algiers peace agreement in full and they requested that the party reconsider the decision as the agreement, which was signed eighteen years in Algeria, which puts the Ethiopian identity in question, reported state media Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.
Arega Tigray, an opposition party in the region and a member of opposition coalition MEDREK, also opposed the decision of the ruling party and announced that there will be peaceful protest across towns in Tigray.
Tigray People’s Liberation Front,the ruling party in the region, on the other hand, says that the ruling coalition’s decision to decision on Ethio-Eritrea issue is aimed at restoring normalcy in the relation between the “brotherly people of the two countries”
Eritrea has not yet responded to call on the part of Ethiopia officially. There have been reports on social media that the Eritrean president is indifferent to the call and that he does not want to hear any negotiation with “Woyane” ( a reference to TPLF) before the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops in the what his government believes is Eritrean territory.
More than eighty thousand soldiers are believed to have killed during the two years war between Ethiopia and Eritrea which was fought between 1998 and 2000.
Video credit : Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation
Cover photo : Screenshot from Video
Ethiopian Prime minister Abiy Ahmed secured the released of 32 Ethiopian prisoners during his visit to the North African country, Egypt, which was initiated by president Abdul Fatah al Sisi.
And all the released prisoners returned to Ethiopia with Abiy Ahmed who completed his two days official trip to Egypt.
One of the many pictures released by state media, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, shows three girls smiling and shaking hands with the prime minister in an Ethiopian Airlines plane.
Details of the reason they were arrested for in Egypt is not spelled out by Ethiopia’s state media.
It is believed that thousands of Ethiopian refugees live in Egypt.
In 2016, Ethiopia accused Egypt of meddling in Ethiopian politics after protest broke out during Irreecha, a religious festival for ethnic Oromos, in Bishoftu some 44 kilometers south-east of the capital Addis Ababa. Egypt denied the accusation saying that it does not conspire against “the brothers in Ethiopia.”
Two prominent members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), a radical ethnic Oromo nationalist party which was founded more than forty-five years ago, returned to Ethiopia on board to the plane that carried prime minister Abiy Ahmed.
Government media identified them as Colonel Abebe Geresu and Yonathan Dibissa. The former deserted the Ethiopian defense force along with 100 soldiers, and this was something that the government denied, and was later commanding Oromo Liberation Front rebel forces based in Eritrea. The latter was a member and founder of Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO) whose current chairman is the prime minister himself.
Two weeks ago, leaders of Oromo Democratic Front, a moderate ethnic Oromo political party based overseas whose leaders were among the founders of the radical ethno-nationalist party (OLF), returned to Ethiopia after decades of exile and they met with the prime minister and Lema Megerssa, president of Oromo region of Ethiopia.
Although there have been improving political situations Ethiopia, community based attacks and division still seem to pose a great threat to Ethiopia so much so that international human rights group like Amnesty International noticed the situation and called on the government to end the situation.
Resurgent ethnic based violence between Guji Oromo and ethnic Gedeo reportedly left as many as 75 people dead in seven localities of which nine are women. The violence has been going on for well over a week now and the nature of the attacks is reportedly horrifying. Apart from from fire arms, machete and spears are used in the violence.
Ethiopian media outlets confirm the news but the exact number of causality and as to what caused the violence is not known. There is no indication or report from government media if government has started investigating the causes of the violence.
Meleskachew Amha, a reporter to Voice of America Amharic service, reported today close to 100 people are dead in districts adjacent to East Guji (Oromo), West Guji (Oromo) and Gedwo zone which is located in the administrative region of Southern Ethiopia.
The conflict has caused for the displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents from the region and chronic humanitarian crisis. The two ethnic groups have history of violence in the past.
In May 2018, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs assessment indicated at least 274,548 residents in Guji zone which is located in Oromo region in the country were displaced to Gedeo zone which is in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region (SNNPR). Over 4,000 houses were burnt down.
In a related development, at least 12 people are reportedly killed in east Hararge zone, south eastern Ethiopia, when Ethiopia Somali region special forces open fire Oromo speaking residents in the area.
Celebration of 100th aircraft delivery at Bole international Source : Ethiopian Airlines facebook page
borkena
June 12,2018
In January 2018, Ethiopian Airlines announced that it is adding Chicago as the fourth destination in North America. Living up to its promises, the airlines inaugurated direct flight to Chicago on June 9,2018. The inaugural ceremony was held at VIP Salon of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. US Ambassador to Ethiopia,H.E. Mr. Michael Raynor,members of the Diplomatic Corps and executives of Ethiopian Airlines attended the occasion.
Source : Ethiopian Airlines facebook page
The US Ambassador said during the ceremony :
“Day by day we are witnessing new successes at Ethiopian Airlines. Two days back, we celebrated the 100th aircraft milestone of Ethiopian Airlines and today we are inaugurating flights to Chicago.”
Ethiopian airlines made a new milestone in African aviation history when it received delivery of its 100th aircraft which was celebrated at Bole international airport.
Ethiopian Airlines will be flying three times a week, (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) and will a stop over in Dublin, Ireland. And it is offering bonus miles for that flight until August 7,2018.
The airlines has also inaugurated a flight to Geneva.
Ethiopian Airlines is poised to benefit from e-visa to international visitors from across the word. The Ethiopian government announced the service starting June 1,2018.
Despite stellar success story in the continent, the ruling party in Ethiopia announced last week that it is planning to partially privatize the airlines in an effort to tackle foreign currency crunch in the country.
The devastating effects of ethnic politics, with all its support structure, are being felt across the country. Even parts of Ethiopia not affected by ethnic violence before are affected.
Based on confirmed new emerged in social media, the town of Wolkite and adjacent areas experienced violence as ethnic Kebena, which is said to be a majority in the area, launched an organized attack on ethnic Gurage. Although not confirmed from other sources, the Kebena’s attack is motivated by “sending the Gurage’s to their country.” These neighboring communities are both located in what is known as Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR), one of the nine ethnic based federal regions in the country. Unlike the rest, SNNPR constitutes well over fifty language speaking groups.
The violence caused damages to properties. Images released on social media, which is verified, shows vehicles burning.
No government forces were deployed to the conflict area, according to social media sources.
In a similar development, the city of Awassa experienced violence, according to ESAT report, as Chembelala celebration was underway today. Apparently, there are deaths as red hat commandos were deployed and attacked youths but there is not confirmed report regarding the number of deaths. Seemingly, the violence was not foreseen. According to the report, Sidama Youth were marching peacefully during the festival to demand Sidama become a region on its own and were reportedly wearing a T- shirt bearing the portrait of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Then a seemingly organized group of youth, ESAT reports, appeared on the scene to provoke violence. The news source which has sources from the city seems to believe that regional authorities might have deployed the organized group who started the violence. Chembelala, UNESCO registered New Year of Sidama tradition is celebrated for two weeks.
The region also experienced a cross boarder ethnic based conflict in areas adjacent to Oromo region. This week, at least 75 people are reported dead following a renewed conflict between Gedeos and Guji Oromo.
There have been incidents of ethnic based violence in different areas of Oromo region of Ethiopia. The party governing the region, Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO), completed its 8th party conference and has identified the need to end ethnic based conflict in the region. In a statement issued after completion of the conference, the party said that it terminated more that 1500 leadership at the zone and district levels. Top party leadership, which is now popular in most parts of Ethiopia beyond oromo region, is believed to be progressive enough to foresee the danger and irrelevance of ethnic politics, catalyzing evolution of the organization a pan Ethiopian one does not seem to be an idea whose time has come in view of the damage ethnic politics wrought to the country in the past 27 years and in view of grassroots presence of radical ethno-nationalist groups whose ideals they were fighting for is addressed, almost entirely, by OPDO except secession.
On the other hand, although ethnic politics and ideology is identified as the fundamental causes of linguistic identity based conflicts in Ethiopia, analysts tend to speculate that the power struggle within the ruling coalition might have pushed a certain faction from within to employ a strategy of manufacturing conflict so as to make the situation appear ungovernable to the new administration of Abiy Ahmed.
TPLF seem gearing up to revers the changing power relations as it is opposing decisions from last EPRDF executive meeting and recent appointments. It sees an impending struggle and is calling for an emergency EPRDF meeting while calling the people of Tigray to stand by its side.
TPLF mekele meeting Source : Fana
borkena
June 13,2018
When the new prime minister was heading to Uganda and Egypt for an official visit, Tigray people’s Liberation Front (TPLF) called for an emergency meeting in Mekelle, which was completed yesterday.
Today, the party released decisions from the meeting which highlighted points of difference with the ruling coalition, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, a party it used to dominate for nearly three decades.
Ideological betrayal, mobilizations against TPLF and the people of Tigray, and “illegal movements” on matters related to identity and boundary issues, and TPLF believes issues like these are addressed by the constitution once and for all, against the interest of the people of Tigray are some cardinal points raised by TPLF.
The party believes that revolutionary democracy, ideology of the party, is facing threats from cliques within the party since recent years and effort to ensure “in-depth renewal”, as it calls it, in the interest of continuity of the political creed the party hold dear for the past 27 years has not been a success.
And executives of TPLF linked the failure of these efforts to the erosion of revolutionary democracy character of the leadership in the ruling coalition. In the past the party made is clear that neoliberalism has become a challenge and has projected an image that it is fighting it.
The statement from TPLF made references to the latest EPRDF executive meeting which passed decision on foreign relation issue regarding Eritrea and economic decisions made to partially, or fully, privatize public enterprises including the successful national carrier – Ethiopian Airlines.
While hailing the decision to improve relation with Eritrea as “timely and appropriate,” the ethnic Tigray party which is losing the ability to dictate member parties of the ruling coalition accuses that announcing the decision to the public was a wrong move before discussing the issue within EPRDF council and partnering political organizations that don’t constitute membership in the executive committee and EPRDF council.
Regarding the issue of privatization, TPLF seem to have a great deal of enthusiasm to create an image that it argued in favor of durable solutions to resolve existing economic crisis in the country, and it is officially admitted on the part of TPLF for the first time, rather than selling national assets. TPLF believes, from the statement, that the economic problem could only be solved durably by adhering to revolutionary democracy principle, implying not by adopting neoliberal measures. But what critics of TPLF point to is: who is in responsible in the first place for the existing economic crisis in the country and which political entity amassed billions of dollars of tax payers money in illegal bank loan arrangement to finance a huge business empire in Ethiopia.
The statement also claims that the Executive committee of the ruling party failed to discuss issues and agenda raised during the Executive committee meeting in March 2018.
TPLF also made it clear that it has differences with the leadership in the ruling coalition regarding recent appointments; TPLF says that they violate EPRDF regulations and practices. It did not, however, spell out as to which appointments violate EPRDF rules and why they do so.
In an apparent move to respond to popular protest that has been shaking Ethiopia from more than three years, which was to a great extent about equitable and proportion allocation of power if not about fundamental revolutionary changes, prime minister Abiy Ahmed made personnel changes within the military and intelligence apparatus which led to removal of heads of these institutions who happen to be from TPLF. Ironically, the reform like measures has made the new prime minister popular among Ethiopians and that he seem to have the support of majority within the ruling coalition as well.
Further, TPLF executive committee demanded “recognition” for veteran TPLF leadership. But again it did not explain it. In fact this issue runs against popular sentiment of Ethiopians as many Ethiopians rather seem to be interested in seeing them held accountable for numerous unlawful killings over the past 27 years and for grand corruption scandals. For example, industrial-military institutions like METEC admitted in parliament that 9 billion Ethiopian birr is unaccounted for.
Perhaps as a hint to interest in reversing the changing power relation in the ruling party which could possibly take revolutionary line in the course time, TPLF sees impending, and inevitable, struggle between what it calls “democratic forces” (a reference to those who are behind TPLF) and “clique” within the party on the other, and it called for the people of Tigray to be on its side. The party also demanded EPRDF to call an emergency meeting.
This may mean an explosive situation and TPLF could drag Ethiopia towards civil war.
Abiy Ahmed led Federal government calls upon Ethiopians to stand in guard of effort for reconciliation and national unity.
borkena
June 14, 2018
The Ethiopian government issued a statement regarding flaring violence across the country. Violence in different parts of the country with the pretext of boundary and other issues in no way represents the interest of Ethiopians, says the report.
The Federal government, which is under the leadership of Abiy Ahmed, made it clear that the violence in different parts of Ethiopia are orchestrated by forces whose goal is to obstruct what it calls relative peace and national unity that Ethiopia is witnessing. It was specific enough that those behind conflict and instability are interested in promoting self-interest at the expense of the country.
Highlighting notable diplomatic success in recent times and efforts underway to make Ethiopia strong enough to defend its interests in the region while creating regional cooperation, the statement which is shared on Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) social media page calls on all Ethiopians to stand in guard of the peace and struggle bitterly against those who are working to lead Ethiopia to a ceaseless violence.
Ethiopia experienced multiples of ethnic-based violence in different parts of the country. In Wolkite, members of ethnic Gurage were attacked by Kebena groups who constitute a majority in the town and it is now confirmed that at least one person is killed since the violence started two days ago and multiples of businesses were attacked and looted. In Hawassa, which is the capital of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR), Sidama youth groups were attacked by a mob during Chembalala celebration yesterday. In the same region adjacent to Oromo region of Ethiopia, a conflict between Gedeo and Guji Oromo left at least 75 people dead since last week. In the Oromo region of Ethiopia itself, ethnic Amharas were targeted and displaced from some places.
Alike Abiy Ahmed led administration, analysts and politicized Ethiopians seem to see an orchestrated plan to create or spread violence between different language groups in Ethiopia. But unlike the Federal government, analysts tend to point a finger to point to Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in connection with the violence.
TPLF on its part released a statement yesterday claiming that certain groups are organizing themselves against the party and the people of Tigray and called on the people of Tigray to stand with the party and be ready for a struggle. The party also condemned some of the decisions from the latest EPRDF Executive Committee meeting which sources say were adopted with unanimous agreement and TPLF was a part to it.
When Abiy Ahmed visited United Arab Emirates as Ethiopian prime minister two weeks ago, on his way back from a two days official visit to Saudi Arabia, he invited Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit Ethiopia.
Today, one of the the most important holiday for Muslims, Eid Al Fitr, His Highness Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived to Ethiopia, for a two days visit, to a 21 gun salute and red carpet reception at Bole International Airport.
Then Abiy Ahmed swung to a rather informal and cordial mood ; he drove the crown prince himself seating him by the side of the wheel and they visited an IT project center at Bole mini.
The reception at the palace was very cultural. The crown prince was treated to a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony with all the details and the prince seemed to have enjoyed it.
The coffee ceremony in the palace Source : FBC
After a picture ceremony with the entourage of the prince and Ethiopian officials including the foreign minister Gebeyehu Workeneh, prime minister Abiy Ahmed presented the prince with a decorated white horse, a spear and a shield. The gift is not just cultural as it is a symbol of the survival of Ethiopian independence during the conquest of Africa in colonial times ; those are typical weapons of Ethiopian warriors in history.
Apart from the cultural ties, Abiy Ahmed was very successful in terms of securing some solid investment deals with the prince. His administration got US $2 billion as Foreign Direct Investment deal with United Arab Emirates and another US $ 1 billion in financial aid to help ease Ethiopia’s struggle with chronic shortage of foreign currency and it is to be deposited to the national bank, according to sources from the office of the prime minister.
UAE will be investing in Industrial Park, Hotel, Hospital, Shopping Mall and Manufacturing sectors.
A day after hosting United Arab Emirates Crown prince, Prime minister Abiy Ahmed traveled to Somalia where he held talks with president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (‘Farmaajo’). He was received warmly by the president up on arrival atAden Adde International Airport (Mogadishu International Airport)
The prime minister reportedly discussed regional security and the relations between the two countries and is said to have shared with the president of Somalia his vision about bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Somalia according to sources close to the prime minister.
Chief of staff in the Office of the prime minister, Fitsum Arega, tweeted the following :
“The conflict in Somalia feeds into& in turn feeds off other conflicts. In #Mogadishu, PM Dr Abiy outlined his vision for a new chapter in #Ethio-#Somalia relations. A vision of a single market—where the two nations are tied together with a shared purpose & respect to one another.”
The conflict in Somalia feeds into& in turn feeds off other conflicts. In #Mogadishu, PM Dr Abiy outlined his vision for a new chapter in #Ethio–#Somalia relations. A vision of a single market—where the two nations are tied together with a shared purpose & respect to one another. pic.twitter.com/2wwhFyGqM0
Ethiopia’s Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples region administration admit that 15 civilians are killed in the last three days due to the violence in Hawassa, Wolkite and Wolaita Sodo towns.
The deadliest one took place in Hawassa, a resort city in Southern Ethiopia, otherwise known for its warm social relation that gives no room for linguistic in social interaction. And what took many,who are familiar to the city, by surprise is that the violence was ethnic based between different ethnic groups. Eye witness accounts from the city claim that there were instances where residents were attacked simply because they belong to this or that ethnic group. Based on government report, at least 10 are killed and more than 80 wounded. The conditions of some of the wounded is said to be life threatening. Machetes and spears were used in the conflict.
The violence happened in the course of the two weeks long new year’s celebration of Sidama speaking people in the region which is known as Chembelala, a UNESCO registered cultural heritage.
Sidama youth were demanding for a regional state of their own and an end to the status of Zone in the region as they were celebrating their new year but it is not clear how they got into violence with youth from Wolaita speaking groups. Sidama speaking population in the region is believed to constitute between 3.5 and 4 million.
The week also saw another deadly violence in the towns of Wolaita Sodo and Wolkite. Government linked Fana Broadcasting reported yesterday that 2 people are killed in Wolkite, where ethnic kebena were reportedly attacking ethnic Gurage. Property worth millions of birr is destroyed,according to government media source. In Wolaita, 3 people are killed and 10 wounded.
Relative calm is restored in the towns after three days of violence.
Government is said to have made arrests of those who are believed to have been involved in manufucturing the violence but no further detail is available at this writing.
In a televised ten minutes speech on the occasion of Muslim holiday Eid Al Fitr, Ethiopian prime minister told Ethiopians that the violence in those region are instigated by greedy people who will benefit from disability and called on Ethiopians to guard the relative peace in the country.
The prime minister is travelling to the region next week to hold discussion with residents of towns that experienced violence.
Ethiopia is setting up a commission to study the federal structure to analyse the downsides and gains from it.
Ethiopian analysts point to Ethiopia’s experience in the last 27 years to claim that ethnic based federal arrangement is a recipe for ethnic based conflict.
Picture from Mekelle Protest Source : Social Media
borkena
June 17,2018
An opposition protest against EPRDF government decision which was planned to take place in the capital Addis Ababa for today is cancelled.
It was allegedly called for by members of Irob community, a minority ethnic group in northern Tigray. They are concerned that decision to hand over Bademe area to Eritrean government will halve their community and leave them separated in two different countries.
Not much is known as to why it was cancelled after the protest was allowed by the authorities in Addis Ababa.
Pro-TPLF online news source, Horn Affairs, seem to claim that cancellation of the protest has something to do with campaigns against it :
“The protest rally was cancelled after several government affiliated social media users and self-proclaimed supporters of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed campaigned against it.”
On the other hand protest took place yesterday in Mekelle, seat of Tigray regional state, as planned. There was another protest in Adigrat last week. Demonstrators condemned Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) executive committee decision to fully accept and implement the Algiers Peace Agreement which ended,in December 2000, the two years devastating war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. If the agreement is fully implemented, as the ruling party says, the town of Bademe – which allegedly caused the war – will be ceded to Eritrea.
It was the late Meles Zenawi, then chairman of the ruling coalition and of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), who signed the Algiers agreement . But in what seem to be a deliberate move to avoid public anger, his administration lied to the public that the boundary commission, which was established as part of the agreement, decided to give the town of Badme and its environs to Ethiopia, which was not the case.
This week, TPLF, the very same party, issued a statement accusing the ruling coalition of disclosing the recent decision to public before it is discussed at different levels within and outside of the ruling coalition.
More than 80,000 solders are believed to have died in the two years border conflict. Despite soaring popularity, Abiy Ahmed’s party decision to give Badme to Eritrea is opposed even in other parts of Ethiopia.
The government of Eritrea has not officially responded to the offer so far and it is rumored that the situation has caused the authorities in Ethiopian government to change their mind.
Eritrea’s position rather seem to be that Ethiopia has to withdraw its troops from Badme area before any talks.
Prime minister Abiy Ahemed is poised to make changes to leaders of top financial institutions in the country.
According to local news providers in Ethiopia, Teklewold Atnafu, the current governor of National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), is preparing to leave the bank owing to decision by the new administration.
NBE is said to be ravaged due to irresponsible practice that led to chronic foreign currency shortage so much so that government had to decide to privatize key national assets including Ethiopian Airlines.
Yinager Dessie who is currently National Plan Commissioner is expected to take over as Governor of NBE, as per report by The Ethiopian Reporter. And current president of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Bekalu Zeleke, is expected to vice president.
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) are also expected to see leadership changes and it is believed to be part of the new administration’s measure to reform leading financial institutions in Ethiopia.
The report by Ethiopian reporter further added that Wondimagne Negara who is currently heading Ethiopian Stoke Exchange will take over as president of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia recently got pledges $US 1 billion as financial aid from United Arab Emirates to help ease dire foreign currency shortage.
Yinager Dessie (Ph.D) is confirmed as the new governor of National Bank of Ethiopia replacing Teklewold Atinafu. He was serving as National Plan Commissioner. Bekalu Zeleke,president of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, is expected to serve as deputy governor.
Prime Minister Aiy Ahmed’s Administration is introducing reform measures to the financial sector and the new appointment to NBE is part of his reform measure. Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and Development Bank of Ethiopia are also expected to get new presidents.
Abiy Ahmed during his appearance at the parliament today Source : Screenshot from ETV video
borkena
June 17,2018
Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) government had been crippled by fear of change for decades. The heavy handed policy it pursued against opposition forces in the country to the extent of legalizing repression with the pretext of “anti-terrorism” legislation evidently explains that, for many analysts. In consequence, peaceful political opposition in the country was virtually made nonexistent or meaningless, to say the least.
As it turns out now, there was an apparent opposition simmering from within the ruling party and that is what the events unfolded since, at least,December of 2017 seem to suggest. It even sounded a movement that represent change – what the ruling party was fearing for too long.
And in the last three months Ethiopians came to know that the new prime minister,who was a member of the unpopular ruling coalition that ruled the country for nearly three decades, represent change despite institutional arrangements that are created for resisting change,and are intact, caused some skepticism at first.
Abiy Ahmed is slowly taking measures that would compel Ethiopians to shake off their skepticism and make them believe that change is coming. He is doing so while resisting reactionary resistance and power struggle from privileged class within the party which still wields a considerable control over the army and intelligence apparatus. In as little as three months, he turned out to be most popular politician in the entire region, if not in the continent of Africa and it did not take a fundamental reform to get there.
Abiy Ahmed’s first report to the parliament
In what is said to be unprecedented in the recent history, Ethiopians were glued to TV , computers and smart phones to hear Abiy Ahmed report which was started around 2 pm local time on Monday. It ended around 5 pm.
In the two and half hours presentation,question and answer session, the prime minister touched up on political and economic issues including the decision to accept the Algiers peace conference, ethnic-based conflict in many parts of Ethiopia which he believes is somehow orchestrated by individuals and groups who resist the change, decision to privatize public enterprises,the release of political prisoners and his government’s achievement in the diplomatic front ,among others.
Unlike his predecessors who have been denying, and at times justifying, egregious human rights violations recorded by reputable human rights defenders, Abiy Ahmed boldly admitted that the ruling party has committed act of terrorism against citizens by way of violating constitutional rights. He spoke about it when a member of parliament from Tigray region, Honorable Mulu Gebreegziabhier, asked for an explanation as to what compelled government to violate “anti-terrorism legislation” and rule of law to release people who were convicted of “terrorism charges” and homicide crimes. Abiy highlighted that the release of political prisoners was a party decision and was implemented in line with laws and government regulations , and that no law was violated.
Response to question related to economic matters, privatization issue to be more specific, mostly run contours of political theory analysis and the prime minister shared his conception of neoliberalism, and developmental state ideology which his government claims to have adhered to for decades now. He defended the action. There seem to be a considerable number of voices, even from among his supporters, who tend to think that the economic decision is rather short sighted.
Regarding ethnic based conflict related to “boundary” and exclusive ethnic land right, he stated that there is no such thing as border within a border. Existing regional lines are not to be confused with border or boundary, he says. he added that Ethiopians have the right to live and work anywhere in the country and it is a constitutionally protected right. But he did not highlight plans of action to reverse it in a lasting manner except for mentioning that a commission to study the matter will be established.
Abiy also explained the ruling party’s decision to accept the Algiers peace agreement sharing his own personal story as a soldier who fought during the Ethio-Eritrean conflict. He explained that the decision to accept the agreement was made by his predecessors and that it is not appropriate to politicize the matter for political gains. With regard to the critic that the decision at the level of the ruling party’s Executive Committee was not discussed by the public, he trashed it by pointing out that the public was never consulted when Assab,which many Ethiopians believe to be Ethiopia’s rightful port, was given away.
Abiy also made a call for opposition forces who resorted to armed struggle to give it up as it is an archaic, in his words, and encouraged them to resume peaceful struggle.
Reaction to Abiy’s report
It seems to be reasonable to say that Abiy Ahmed’s appearance at the parliament today was a success in that many Ethiopians are feeling that he is the kind of leader that Ethiopia has been looking for a long time.
Yet, there are critical voices too. Yilkal Getnet,an opposition leader, for example does not seem to be impressed by the prime minister and thinks no clear road-map is indicated to resolve many of Ethiopia’s problem. However, the credited the prime minister for his stand on the issue of ethnic based violence and his stand on matters related to claims of exclusive ethic land and displacement of Ethiopians on the basis of their ethnicity.
There are also others who are not quiting their political ground. They reason out that what the prime minister told Ethiopians today is nothing new and that Ethiopians know it very well. These group of people rather see political naivety and gullibility at ones.
What is indisputable, however, is that Abiy represent a change and that he seem to be inspired by the idea of bringing about reconciliation and unity in the country which is what most Ethiopians care about the most.
Adem Mohammed, Ethiopia’s new intelligence chief Source : FBC
borkena
June 19,2018
One of the key changes in the new administration, despite the same party that ruled the country over the past 27 years, is appointment of new Director General to Ethiopian National Intelligence and Security Service.
Mohamed Adem, served as head of the Ethiopian Air force, who is now in charge of the intelligence agency met with senior authorities in the organization.
He says that the mission of defending the constitutional order in the country need to be achieved in a manner of free from political partiality. The idea seem to be to make the agency a neutral organization that emphasizes professionalism and the interest of the country with loyalty to the constitution. In that regard, the agency is expected to undertake reform in accordance with recommendation from the executive body.
Getachew Assefa, who served as intelligence chief for well over two decades until he was replaced by Mohamed Adem some two weeks ago, is politburo member of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and an executive committee member of the ruling coalition, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). Majority of Ethiopians tend to believe that the former director general is responsible for numerous atrocities committed in different parts of the country.
Seems like the end of an era in the relation between Ethiopia and Eritrea is unfolding. Eritrea is sending high level delegation to “chart out and plan” next step.
President Isayas Afeworki Source : Eritrea MOI
borkena
June 20,2018
Eritrea is breaking its silence as it is responding to the call for peace from Ethiopia. President Isayas Afeworki announced today that his country will send high level delegation to Ethiopia to meet with the new administration.
The president disclosed the plan during televised Martyrs day speech which commemorates fallen Eritrean People’s Liberation Front combatants during the thirty years of guerrilla warfare.
The purpose of the delegation is, according to Reuters, to hold talks regarding the conflict and figure out as to where the new Ethiopian Prime minister stands in relation to issues that stand between building peace between the two countries and identity plan for the next step.
Eritrean Ambassador to Japan Estifanos tweeted “President ISAIAS announced tdy that #Eritrea shall dispatch delegation to Addis Abeba to a constructive engagement with #Ethiopia #BBC #CNN”
President ISAIAS announced tdy that #Eritrea shall dispatch delegation to Addis Abeba to a constructive engagement with #Ethiopia#BBC#CNN
— Ambassador Estifanos (@AmbassadorEstif) June 20, 2018
It is not clear how soon the Eritrean delegation is arriving to Ethiopia for the talk. If it happens, it will undoubtedly represent a breakthrough in the relations between the two countries and will have the potential to transform the two counties politically,socially and economically and contribute for peace in the region.
“Ethiopia is now at a turning point or transition. What is the destination? How will this be achieved? These are timely questions that must be raised. But although it will require time and efforts to remove the TPLF’s toxic and malignant legacy and to bring about a congenial climate, the positive direction that has been set in motion is crystal clear” President Isayas is cited as saying.
The president added :
“Needless to stress, it is the Ethiopian people – forced as they were into adversarial ties of vertical polarization – who were the primary victims, and who have borne the main brunt, of the destructive policies of the TPLF regime and its paymasters.”
For the Eritrean president, the proposed concession emanates from the aspirations of people in both countries to establish peace and harmony.
Former United States Assistant secretary of State, Herman Cohen, was accusing for not responding to Ethiopia’s offer when he tweeted “…#Eritrea needs to learn how to take “yes” for an answer.”
#Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is going from strength to strength as he pushes his country toward true democracy. He should be encouraged as much as possible by the international community. #Eritrea needs to learn how to take "yes" for an answer.
It was last month that the executive committee of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) announced decision to fully accept and implement the December 2000 Algiers agreement which ended the deadly war between the two countries which claimed more than 80 thousand people on both sides.
There have been opposition rally in Tigray against the decision to fully accept the Algiers agreement. While being a party to the body that passed the decision, Tigray Peoples Liberation Front issued a statement last week condemning the ruling coalition for publicizing the decision “before it is discussed with the public.”
In what seem to be a response to it, Abiy Ahmed pointed out during his appearance in the parliament on Monday that the Algeris peace agreement was signed by his predecessor and the there was no public consultation about it.
Mentioning his own experience as a soldier during the two years war between 1998 and 2000 and his first hand knowledge of suffering of people in the region, Abiy Ahmed underlined that restoring peace and normalcy is in the interests of both countries.
Implementing the Algeris peace agreement which inevitably gives the Badme town, which allegedly sparked the war, to Eritrea is not without problems. Members of ethnic Irob, constitute minority in northern Tigray, will find themselves in two countries and they are opposing that.
Arbegnoch Ginbot 7, Eritrean based Ethiopian rebel group, says it will end armed struggle and resort to peaceful one if Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed implements the reform measures he promised during his speech in the Ethiopian parliament on Monday this week.
Stating that the movement was compelled to opt for armed struggle due to the nature of the regime in Ethiopia,TPLF, that is losing power after Abiy Ahmed took over office, the movement asserted that it never had an intention to cling on armed struggle as the only option to bring about change in Ethiopia and that it could change it if government is scraping legislation that incriminate political parties and politicians as “terrorists.”
Leader of the movement, Dr. Berhanu Nega, once a professor of economics at Bucknell University, was sentenced to death in absentia. The movement itself was outlawed in Ethiopia as a “terrorist organization.”
Oromo Federalist Congress chairman, Merera Gudina, was thrown to jail for more than a year for meeting leaders of the movement when he traveled to Europe in November 2016.
The movement also called for Abiy Ahmed’s administration to make institutional arrangement necessary for democratic transition in the country.
Arbegnoch Ginbot 7 statement which is released today is meant to be a response to prime minister Abiy Ahmed who called on all rebel groups to end armed struggle and move to the country for a peaceful struggle.
The movement rated the prime minister’s speech at the Ethiopian parliament on Monday as encouraging and positive.
Eritrea, the country that has been hosting anti-TPLF rebel groups, announced today that it is sending delegation to Ethiopia to figure out next step for the peace talk proposed by prime minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
If the hostile relation between Eritrea and Ethiopia is ending, there is no rationale for Eritrea to host rebel groups in its territory which could be another factor that impact Ethiopian rebels in Eritrea.
In what seem to be a move to ensure accountability of government officials, prime minister Abiy Ahmed suggested in a video message on Wednesday that authorities involved, either through action or inaction, in the violence that claimed the lives of at least 15 Ethiopians in Hawassa and Wolaita resign from their role.
Today, five authorities in the region tendered their resignation letter in a response to the request by the prime minister and they explicitly stated it.
Head of Wolaita Zone administration, Head of Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement (SEPDM) in Wolaita zone, Rural political affairs head in the zone, Head of political affairs for urban areas and deputy head of the zone administration have announced their resignation in a letter they released today.
They pointed out they will carry on with their responsibility until replacement is assigned and transition is completed.
As well, they stated in their letter, which is published on Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), they resigned with the intention to be part of the solution for the problem that affected the region in the last three weeks, ethnic based violence that affected innocent civilian lives.
Prime minister Abiy Ahmed held discussion with residents of Hawassa,Wolaita and Wolkite on Tuesday and Wedesday. He expressed optimism after the discussion that the violence will not happen again which does not seem to be the case.
A video which is highly circulated in social media today purportedly show a young boy, reportedly from ethnic Wolaita, being attacked brutally by a group of youngsters, reportedly from ethnic Sidama.
Based on sources from the area, it rather seem to be the case that normalcy is not restored in Hawassa.
As the reform agenda of prime minister Abiy Ahmed administration gets bolder, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) called an emergency meeting in Mekelle and issued a statement upon completing it.
It sounded more like an ultimatum not only against the “new” government but also against member parties of the ruling coalition whom TPLF linked to betrayal of the ideology of the party, revolutionary democracy.
Among other things, TPLF condemned EPRDF Executive Committee economic decision to privatize major public enterprises and unfinished projects asserting that the decision will not bring about lasting solution to the economic crisis in the country. It also boldly stated that the economic crisis, including chronic foreign currency shortage, could rather be resolved in a durable manner by adhering to revolutionary democracy and developmental state principles.
In the political front, TPLF appeared as it is frustrated by the decision relating to restoring normalcy with Eritrea by accepting the December 2000 Algeris Peace Agreement in all its forms and working towards its implementation. What it did not like about ,claimed TPLF, is that the decision could have been announced after consultation with stakeholders and community members in the border area.
Apparently, TPLF acted as if opposed it when it realized that people in Tigray protested against EPRDF Executive Committee decision. Otherwise, TPLF has 25% representation in the committee that passed the decision, just like the other three parties. And there were reports that the decision on the peace offer to Eritrea was passed with unanimous decision.
Today, Ethiopian News Agency (government media) reported that TPLF chairman, Debretsion Gebremichal, and of course he was speaking on behalf of his ethnic party, announced that TPLF accepted economic reform measures saying that it is not at odds with developmental state policy.
TPLF also says that it sees the decision to improve relation with Eritrea and the response from Eritrea to send delegation to Ethiopia in a positive light as it could end 18 years of stalemate.
The tone and spirit of TPLF position today seem to vindicate Abiy Ahmed leadership in connection with EPRDF executive committee decision. Clearly, it represent a retreat from the belligerent statement the party issues about two weeks ago.
The question is what compelled TPLF to support the decision it condemned just a fortnight ago?
Possibly, the leaders in the party realized that support to the leadership of Abiy is a mountain they can not move. The massive demonstration in support of reform measures by Abiy Ahmed which is coming up this Friday is possibly another reason.
Arbegoch Ginbot 7, an armed opposition group based in Eritrea, announced today that it renounced armed struggle. The decision of the party is effective as to today, according the statement that the party released. Leadership of the party ordered members,added the statement, in different parts Ethiopia to refrain from any form of violent activity against the Ethiopian government.
Reform measures by prime minister Abiy Ahmed administration brought about hope that the political struggle in Ethiopia could be peaceful, says the statement.
The decision was passed by a special meeting called by executives of the party.
The movement is known to have thousands of rebel forces operating within Eritrea. And it is not clear at this writing if the forces are returning back to Ethiopia.
This week, Eritrea responded positively to the peace offer from Ethiopia and is sending high level delegation to Ethiopia to plan nextstep to the Ethiopian-Eritrean relation and discuss Ethiopia’s decision to accept and implement the Algeris peace agreement fully.
Arbegnoch Ginbot 7 movement was declared as a “terrorist organization” by the Ethiopian parliament, which had no single opposition voice, and leaders of the party were sentenced to death in absentia.
Andargachew Tsige, secretary of the party was abducted from Yemen and handed over to the Ethiopian authorities in 2014, is in the United Kingdom after four years under brutal arrest by Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) government. It is now public that his release from prison has angered Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) which used to be the master of the ruling coalition until it saw a political blow following an alliance by two of the major parties in the coalition.
Two prominent members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), a radical ethnic Oromo nationalist party which was founded more than forty-five years ago, returned to Ethiopia on board to the plane that carried prime minister Abiy Ahmed. 
Map source : Google
