News in Brief

Message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on current situations in Tigray

Statement on factors that stall the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire and the way forward Issued by Ambassador Redwan Hussein (Translated from Amharic as released on July 15, 2021)

On the untimely adoption of a politically motivated resolution by the EU on the situation of human rights in Tigray (Press Statement)

On the situation of Eritrean Refugees (Statement by Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs)

On resuming the trilateral AU-led negotiations on GERD (Press Statement)

Africa and the African Union

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat, welcomed the proclamation by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia of the final results of the general elections held 21 June 2021. The Chairperson congratulated Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday (July 13) for the overwhelming victory of the Prosperity Party at the national and regional level. He commends the National Election Board of Ethiopia, political parties, civil society, and all other stakeholders for their collective efforts in ensuring largely peaceful, orderly, and credible elections, despite challenges relating to security, logistics and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Tuesday (July 13) condemns in the strongest terms the surge of violence that has resulted in the deaths of civilians and appalling scenes of the looting of public and private property, destruction of infrastructure, including the suspension of essential services in Kwazulu-Natal, Gauteng and other parts of South Africa. The Chairperson extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a rapid and full recovery to the wounded.

Diplomats at the UN Security Council (UNSC) have reiterated that the African Union is the “most appropriate venue to address the dispute on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)” between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt. At the discussion held at the United Nations Security Council yesterday, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “We understand that the Nile waters and how these waters are used are important to all three of these countries. And we believe this is an issue that can be reconciled.”

Ethiopia

President Sahle-Work Zewde attended a convention organized to strengthen higher education, research, technology and industry linkage among the pertinent institutions in Ethiopia that kicked off on Monday (July 12) in Addis Ababa. In her opening remarks, President Sahle-Work Zewde said that strong education, research, technology and industry linkage provides an enabling environment to help the country attain its development goals.

President Sahlework Zewde on Friday (July 9) said that Ethiopia, as one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, is taking practical steps to improve the community’s adaptability and resilience through a variety of collective and national climate actions. She made the remark at the V20 Climate Vulnerable Finance Summit organized by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

The Government of Ethiopia has urged the people to stand together and continue supporting the ENDF in every way possible and defend the country’s sovereignty and reverse the threat posed by internal and external enemies of the country. In a statement he issued on Tuesday (July 13), Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the Government of Ethiopia has shown to the world its good intentions for the wellbeing of the people of Tigray Region through the recently declared unilateral humanitarian ceasefire.

Foreign Affairs State Minister, Redwan Hussien explained on Thursday (July 15) the major issues that stall the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire declared by the federal government. He recalled that the TPLF attacked the Ethiopian Defense Force, who were withdrawing from Tigray respecting the humanitarian ceasefire, but no one condemned this atrocious act as it could have aborted the peace process at its inception.

Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Seleshi Bekele met the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to discuss on the Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Monday (July 12). During the meeting, Seleshi briefed Guterres about the construction stage of GERD, the second-year filling and the AU led negotiation between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. “I clarified Ethiopia’s position on the outstanding technical and legal issues to conclude the rules and guidelines on the GERD to the General Secretary,” Sileshi twitted.

Ambassador Woineshet Tadesse has presented her letters of credentials on Monday (July 12) to President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the occasion, the two sides exchanged views on ways to give new impetus to the longstanding relationships between the two countries.

Ethiopia has rejected the resolution by the European Union on the situation of human rights in Tigray adopted at the 47th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. In a press statement issued on Tuesday (July 13) Ministry of Foreign Affair noted that “there is no moral nor legal ground to justify the untimely adoption of a politically motivated resolution.” It is to be recalled that the government had agreed to the deployment of the joint investigation team composed of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to inquire into human rights violations allegedly committed during the crisis in Tigray.

The 11th Ethiopia-Russia military technical cooperation joint meeting concluded on Monday (July 12) with signing various agreements, according to the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF). Speaking at the closing ceremony of the session, Defense State Minister Martha Luiji said the current agreement will further strengthen the long-standing friendship between the two countries and enable them to work together much closer.

Ruling Prosperity Party on Saturday (July 10) was declared the winner of the 6th general election held on the 21 of June in Ethiopia. The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) disclosed results of the 6th general election held on the 21 of June for seats of House of Peoples’ Representative (HPR) and regional states Council.

Djibouti

The presidents of Djibouti and Nigeria have sent congratulatory messages to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday (July 13) for the landslide win he and the Prosperity Party have registered in the 6th General elections. Djiboutian President Ismail Oguelleh congratulated Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on elections 2021 victory. The President stated, “Under your leadership, the friendly Ethiopian nation is today providing the whole world with proof of its determination to embrace the modern values of a flourishing society in the long term, breaking with the demons of division where alliances are not based on the principle of ethnic cleavages but on that of the communion of ideas and visions.”

Somalia

President of Federal Republic of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo on Sunday (July 11) has congratulated Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for winning the election. It is to be recalled that the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) announced on Saturday the results of the Ethiopian 6th general election held on the 21 of June.

South Sudan

The United Nations mission in South Sudan has announced on Monday (July 12) plans to launch a Peace Fellowship Program for citizens drawn from all the 10 states of the East African nation. The initiative, UNMISS said in a statement on its Facebook page, will be undertaken in close cooperation with the Foreign Affairs ministry.

Sudan

Sudanese diplomats and UN experts Wednesday (July 14) discussed the security situation in Darfur, as they have to report to the Security Council about the possible left of sanction related to the western Sudan region imposed 16 years ago. Sudan demands an end to the arms embargo in Darfur and the abolition of sanctions imposed on former officials and militia leaders under Resolution 1591 of March 2005, considering the political change in the country after the fall of the Bashir regime and the signing of a peace agreement with the armed groups.

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Message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on current situations in Tigray(translated from Amharic)

Through the recently declared unilateral humanitarian ceasefire, the Government of Ethiopia has shown to the world its good intentions for the wellbeing of the people of the Tigray Region. The Federal Government believed that the ceasefire would cease hostilities and give chances to farmers to employ the rainy season while the people get humanitarian assistance without alleged impediments. The Government of Ethiopia has paid sacrifices in declaring the ceasefire, and it was a choice made consciously to give peace a last chance.

But true to its form, the TPLF chose violence to peace. It has demonstrated that it cannot survive without engaging in conflict. It has continued to use child soldiers by numbing them through drugs. The Ethiopian Defense Force is obligated to protect these kids.

The ceasefire could not bear desired fruits due to people who could not appreciate the sacrifices that the Government of Ethiopia has paid for the sake of the people of Tigray. Given the irresponsible actions of the TPLF that poses a great danger to the sovereignty of the country, the Federal Government, through mobilizing the people of Ethiopia, is determined to curb this threat. We will facilitate the humanitarian works and defend the country from the joint attacks by its domestic and external enemies.

The TPLF junta was lamenting that the Government of Ethiopia had been using starvation as a weapon of war. However, when the Federal Government declared the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire, the Junta soon forgets the famine accusations and intensified its military activities.

The international community also soon forgets its pronouncements on looming famine in the Tigray region. They said nothing while the Junta recruits children as soldiers. They even tend to point fingers at the Government of Ethiopia even when the Junta makes humanitarian corridors as centers of military conflicts.

Taking all matters that unfold after the declaration of the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire, the Federal Government would like to announce that it is ready to take all the proper action to the wellbeing of Ethiopians and the nation.

The Government calls on the people of Ethiopia to protect itself from influences of unsubstantiated information and the propaganda machine of the Junta, whose remaining power is just fabricating falsified information. The people of Ethiopia should understand that our domestic and external enemies are working in unison to sow dissent and mistrust among us. The Government urges the people of Ethiopia to stand together and continue supporting the ENDF in every way possible and defend the country’s sovereignty and reverse the threat posed by internal and external enemies of the country.

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Statement on factors that stall the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire and the way forward Issued by Ambassador Redwan Hussein (Translated from Amharic as released on July 15, 2021)

Hello. How have you been?

As you are aware, we have been providing you updates regarding the government’s unilateral humanitarian ceasefire and its withdrawal of the Federal Army from Tigray.

In conjunction with that, I am here today to provide you brief remark over the ceasefire as well as the Ethiopian Federal Government’s stance on the ongoing developments. I’d also like to highlight the perceptions and reactions of the international communities over the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire. Very briefly I will touch upon the federal government’s observation and its position with respect to the ongoing law enforcement operation and unilateral humanitarian ceasefire.

As it’s known in the last 8 months, the Federal government was forced to engage in a Law enforcement operation in the northern part of our Country. As a result, we incurred significant loss of our citizens, resources and damage to our country’s reputation.

Taking the social, political, and humanitarian crisis into consideration, as well as avoiding further damages, the Government has declared a unilateral humanitarian ceasefire and withdrew its Federal Army from the conflict area.

The Declaration of the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire and the action taken by the Federal Government was also a response at least:

1.        For Aid agencies that refused to be checked, accompanied, or followed and wished to deliver aid supplies by themselves.

2.        For those who have been demanding and pressurizing us to remove checkpoints so that the aid convoys should not be checked as to what or who they are delivering.

3.        For those who reiterated that we curb the conflict so that they can easily deliver aid to the impacted areas, as well ensure that the farmers can farm before the farming season is over

4.        For those who threatened and accused us of using famine as a weapon unless we ceasefire

Whatsoever their wishes, objectives and reasons, for those who have been amplifying the aforementioned points, we do believe that the declaration of the Unilateral Humanitarian Ceasefire was a critical and appropriate response.

In fact, the declaration of the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire decision was believed to have offered comfort and happiness for those who have been genuinely concerned, worried and stressed about Ethiopia and its people

In the aftermath of our government’s unilateral humanitarian ceasefire, we have observed the following issues and tendencies in the international response. We were able to observe and confirm the scope and magnitude, connectedness and continuity of negative tendencies in the international response.

Here are some of the government’s observations in brief:

1.        Following the decision of the government’s withdrawal of its force, the provocative and cynical attacks to prolong the conflict on the ENDF was barely condemned by organizations or bodies, who have been demanding us to stop the conflict, create peace, give a break to the people and deliver aid.

We believe that attempts to circumvent and sabotage the ceasefire by the TPLF would have been condemned by these agencies and organizations had they genuinely been concerned about the humanitarian crisis. 

2.        Some organizations have wasted no time to discredit, minimize and undermine the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire decision of the Ethiopian government.

Instead of appreciating the government’s decision of the ceasefire, Western media and some individuals in a power position used their platforms to belittle and undermine the process.

3.        On the other hand, when the other party, TPLF, was using child soldiers blatantly, a crime against humanity, the international community and western media completely ignored it. TPLF’s use of children as soldiers should have been condemned in the strongest term possible. Instead of holding TPLF accountable, some of the western mainstream media justified the use of child soldiers in an outrageous and reprehensible manner.

4.        The attacks of TPLF to expand the conflict on the Afar and Amhara regions, the heinous retaliatory crimes committed by TPLF even after the departure of ENDF were barely condemned by the international community. The government’s declaration of ceasefire and withdrawal was intended to provide a break for the people and give a chance for a peaceful resolution.

However, the silence and lack of condemnation of TPLF’s crimes, attacks and disruption of aid delivery from the international community forced the government to ponder whether some actors really wanted the conflict to stop.

5.        Particularly, those who have been claiming that they were going to deliver humanitarian assistance, although their questions and requests have been fully answered, continue to criticize the government.  This, in turn, made the government raise a question of intentionality and integrity. The government also wonder whether there was a problem of delivering aid in the first place.

6.        The continued blame of the government even after it solved many problems, to say that the government is not allowing flying while the government has already allowed flying, especially when there is already a collective committee was established with the UN partners and the government working to deliver aid via the

Afar and Amhara regions and the Southern part of Tigray is disingenuous and won’t help.

We are also cognizant that some individuals sitting in Brussels, New York and Geneva are working to undermine the government’s effort in this matter.

7.        Some European Union member countries and western individuals have taken this matter too personally and amplifying their one-sided view to pressurize Ethiopia. Recently in Geneva, we have witnessed a coordinated attack that would set a precondition to sanction Ethiopia.

In regard to joint investigations, regardless of who committed the alleged atrocities against our citizens, our government has invited both the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Our government has committed manpower to facilitate the joint investigation between OHCHR and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and this investigation is progressing. There has not been any complaint from OHCHR in terms of our government’s cooperation. Yet we have witnessed orchestrated efforts which in some instances were threatening or bribing to persuade some countries to support the idea of the EU to release a statement against Ethiopia. These efforts deny all the positive measures the Ethiopian government has undertaken and continue to put undue pressure on Ethiopia.

The government of Ethiopia would like to take this opportunity and extend its gratitude to those countries who stood with us.

However, we have also noted that the manner in which some EU member states and individuals campaigned against Ethiopia 24/7 is disheartening.  Our government firmly believes that these actions are destructive and will not help to foster positive relationships.

8.        Using aid as a pretext, some aid agencies have been actively engaged in a destructive role.

We have also confirmed that they have been using aid as a cover and arming the rebel groups to prolong the conflicts and chaos.

In the last 8 months also we have encountered and caught certain aid organizations delivering weapons and equipment to the rebel groups. The government has been warning these organizations to refrain from their unbecoming activities. In particular, some members of UN Aid organizations kept on fabricating facts and figures from afar bypassing their people who are designated to work in Ethiopia. They have been rather hell-bent on actively campaigning in disrespecting and defaming Ethiopia. As such, the Ethiopian government has already issued warnings repeatedly. If they are going to continue with their baseless acts, and since the government’s priority is to safeguard the sovereignty and safety of the country, the government would reassess its stance of conducting business with these organizations. There will also be a case where the government will be forced to expel some members of them. Whether it is UN Agencies or any other Aid organization, if their intention is to support Ethiopia or deliver aid, we would like to reiterate that they have to specifically focus on their tasks of providing humanitarian support exclusively.

Generally speaking, our country is going through major challenges in its history. We also need to be cognizant that we are also under relentless attack from multiple fronts.

Using our Dam, border, and policies as a pretext, taking our geostrategic location and potential resource into consideration, realizing our current challenges and fractured relationship among our societies coordinated attacks are underway with the intention to disunite, disintegrate and disperse us.

Amid these challenges, we do have also great allies and partners. To our allies, we urge you to realize the magnitude of the challenges that are thrown our way and continue you to stand in solidarity with Ethiopia. For others, we call upon you to stand with the truth and recognize that Ethiopia will prevail as it has persevered through a multitude of challenges in its history.

We also call upon all Ethiopian people that as you have shown your unity over our dam and the recent election, collaborate, and stand in solidarity and unison.

Our challenges are multiple, our faultfinders are so many, the cynicism and traps are endless.  Thus, we can only overcome this challenging time by standing together, collaborating and supporting one another.

The government calls upon all of you to follow the strategy and guidelines from the federal government for our people’s peace and unity. We call upon all individuals to fulfill their responsibilities in accordance.

The international community also needs to understand that Ethiopia is patient and would like to overcome her poverty-related challenges. To that end, your effort and support to maintain peace would be appreciated.

The government is also cognizant that the withdrawal of ENDF forces and the price that has been paid is to give a chance for peaceful resolution and give break to the people.

The government has already made a political decision and paid its price. But it still is patiently trying to mitigate the situation benevolently. However, if the provocative attacks continue from the TPLF, the government will reconsider its decision regarding the Humanitarian ceasefire. In this respect, the government will be forced to take necessary measures to fulfill its constitutional duties and protect its citizens from harm’s way.

Those who really want peace in Ethiopia, those who would like to see the end of social unrest, and those whom our suffering impacts, we call upon you to expose, condemn and denounce the terrorist acts of the TPLF. If TPLF continues its reckless acts, the government has the mandate to safeguard and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. As such, the government will take full measures to protect the country from becoming a failed state. We urge our people to stand for peace and the international community to condemn terrorism and stand in solidarity with Ethiopia.

Thank you!

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On the untimely adoption of a politically motivated resolution by the EU on the situation of human rights in Tigray (Press Statement)

The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia expresses its disappointment at the resolution by the European Union on the situation of human rights in Tigray adopted at the 47th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

It is to be recalled that the Ethiopian Government has agreed to the deployment of the joint investigation team composed of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to inquire into human rights violations allegedly committed during the crisis in Tigray. The joint team has commenced its investigation in May this year and is expected to finalize its work in August 2021. In addition, investigations are being expanded in scope by coordinating the efforts of the military justice system, regional law enforcement authorities and federal investigators and prosecutors.

Since the proposal was put forth by the European Union at the 47th Session of the Human Rights Council, the Government of Ethiopia has been appealing for the withdrawal of the resolution on the premise that first, it is premature, and second, it interferes with and undermines the integrity of the ongoing joint investigations. It has made its case clear before the Council, pleaded for the investigation to run its course and called on the august body to provide the necessary time and space for the investigations to be completed. All its efforts, however, were to no avail and, in its view, there is no moral nor legal ground to justify the untimely adoption of a politically motivated resolution. Constructive engagement, rather than a hasty decision by the Council, would have contributed to expeditiously bring the ongoing efforts to a successful conclusion. For these reasons, Ethiopia rejects this resolution.

Let it be known that those who were involved in committing crimes will be brought to justice and punished to the full extent of the law.

The Government of Ethiopia once again reiterates its commitment to fulfill its national and international human rights obligations.

Spokesperson Office

13 July 2021

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On the situation of Eritrean Refugees (Statement by Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs)

July 14, 2021

The Ethiopian Government and its people have a longstanding reputation for hosting and protecting refugees. The government is working hard to ensure that refugees contribute to peace and prosperity in the Horn of Africa and the world at large upon their return to their countries of origin and to the world they live in. Currently, Ethiopia is home to more than 900,000 refugees, mainly from neighbouring South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan.

In contravention to these facts, reports are emerging from different directions regarding attacks on Eritrean refugees in the Tigray region. To set the record straight, the attack began back in November 2020, as the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) forces targeted two of the refugee camps, namely Shimelba and Hitsats and seriously affected the refugee operation. As a result, the two camps were out of service, and the refugees were scattered to the surroundings. Following the law enforcement operation, we resume regular service provisions to refugees in Mai-aini and Adi-harush camps, located scattered refugees across the Tigray region and in towns and cities across the country including the capital, Addis Ababa. In an effort to consolidate the refugees, the government succeeded in relocating about 9,000 to Mai-aini and Adi-harush, where they could access the required humanitarian services. As part of the protection efforts, a lot has also been done through continuous security checks in the refugee camps to help refugees develop a sense of security. More than 5,200 refugees were registered in Addis Ababa and registration has continued. Furthering the efforts, we managed to transfer several refugees to Berahle refugee camp in the Afar region. Recently, ARRA has requested UNHCR Ethiopia to transport 79 refugees for relocation from Shire to Berahle and working closely to that effect, and also assessing if there is a need for similar arrangements.

In addition, to give a lasting solution to the refugees that left Shimelba and Hitsats, in coordination with UNHCR Ethiopia, a new camp establishment is in progress at North Gondar Zone of Dabat Woreda in a locality called Alem-Wach, though the support that is anticipated from the international community has not been forthcoming.

Despite these encouraging efforts, it is becoming clear that TPLF has rejected the Government’s humanitarian cease-fire and engaging in fresh attacks including in refugee-hosting areas. As a result, Eritrean refugees in Mai-aini and Adi-harush camps feel that they are in imminent danger and in need of immediate solutions in the form of relocation to safer locations, grant to urban status and third-country solutions. To that effect, we have conducted continuous discussions with refugee representatives, the recent being a joint one at the presence of UNHCR on July 13, 2021 in Dabat, at Alem-Wach, a location for the new refugee camp. The Government is working hard to meet their demands through relocation and granting assisted urban status with optimism that their voices will be heard by the international humanitarian actors. Cognizant of these developments, we call upon international community to join efforts to accelerate the relocation process by availing of active and tangible support.

While reaffirming its commitment to the safety of refugees, the Government of Ethiopia calls upon the international community to unanimously condemn the torture and killing of Eritrean refugees by TPLF, and support investigations on the reported incidents of reprisal attacks, abductions, arrests and violence by the same group.

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On resuming the trilateral AU-led negotiations on GERD (Press Statement)

The trilateral negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan have been underway to reach an outcome on the first filling and annual operation of the GERD, as per the Declaration of Principles.

It is regrettable, however, to witness that the progress of the negotiations has been dragged and politicized. Ethiopia has made its position clear time and again that this is unproductive and bringing the subject matter to the United Nations Security Council was and is unhelpful and far from the mandate of the Council.

It is recognized that the AU-led process is an important vehicle to address each party’s concerns and they have been able to reach understanding on a considerable number of issues through this setting. Furthermore, the process has also revealed the longstanding challenges which have to do with the absence of water treaty and basin-wide mechanism on the Nile.

Ethiopia is committed to bringing the AU-led trilateral process to a successful conclusion aiming to reach a mutually acceptable outcome. It is prepared and ready to work on the phased approach proposed by the Chairperson of the African Union, and, therefore, encourages both Egypt and Sudan to negotiate in good faith to bring the process to fruition.

Spokesperson Office

13 July 2021

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