News in Brief

President Sahle-Work Zewde’s full opening speech to the House of Peoples’ Representatives of Ethiopia at the inaugural day of the New Ethiopian Government (Translation from Amharic)

TPLF’s deliberate destruction of the economic foundations of the people in North Wollo and Gondar of the Amhara region

Africa Union

Foreign Ministers of various African countries have participated in the 39th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union Commission that kicked off on Thursday (October 14). In his opening speech, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, noted the multifaceted problems the COVID-19 pandemic has posed in the continent. He called on the Ordinary Session to deliberate on ways to effectively combat the pandemic and gear up the efforts of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Chairperson of the Executive Council of the African Union Commission and Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Christophe Lutundula, has tabled the agenda items to the session. The session covered discussions on the AUC budget for the 2022 fiscal year, ways to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, including supporting efforts of Africa CDC, strengthening the Union, and elected two commissioners and high-level officials for the AUC.

Ethiopia

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping of China, President Sahle-Work Zewde on Friday (October 15) addressed the opening session of the second Global Sustainable Transport Conference. She said Ethiopia resolutely pursues sustainable transport, which includes economic, environmental, and social aspects. According to the President, Ethiopia allocated nearly 11% of its annual budget to roads infrastructure development and maintenance.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed along with high-level officials visited an irrigation-based wheat farm in Hetosa Woreda of Arisi Zone, Oromia Region. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Demeke Mekonnen and Former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Oromia Region President Shimelis Abdisa, and Mayor of Addis Ababa City Adanech Abiebie accompanied the premier in the visiting session. Ethiopia has prioritized irrigation-based wheat production as part of the efforts for food security and import substitution.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen had briefed the Foreign Ministers of AU member States on the current situation in Ethiopia at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council. In his remarks, Demeke said Ethiopia is working to solve internal problems with an Ethiopian-led process under the auspices of the AU. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister had held bilateral talks on the margins of the Ordinary Session.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen had a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Anže Logar. Demeke briefed Logar on the current situation in the Northern part of Ethiopia and the efforts being undertaken by the Ethiopian government to deliver humanitarian support to Tigray. He also explained in detail the attacks carried out by the Tplf in the Amhara and Afar Regions and how it destroyed the livelihood of civilians in the two regions. Demeke said the Tplf is diverting the more than 420 trucks that entered Tigray to deliver humanitarian aid for military purposes.

On the margins of the 39th Session of the Executive Council of the AU, Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia had held discussions with the Minister of External Relations and International Cooperation of Burundi, Amb. Albert Shingiro, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, Ramtane Lamamra, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leon, Prof. David J. Francis on ways to cement relationships and advance bilateral cooperation between the sisterly countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has issued a statement on Tuesday (October 12) detailing the destructive acts of the TPLF in areas it occupied in the Amhara region. Reports from occupied North Wollo and Gondar adjacent areas indicate that the TPLF is intent on devastating the economic lives of many households, says the statement. “The government of Ethiopia calls upon the international community to give due attention to the plight and needs of the people in north Wollo and Gondar, as part of its repeated request for accelerated provision of humanitarian assistance to those affected by these acts of the TPLF in all the areas currently under occupation.” (See Statement)

In his article to Foreign Policy, Senior Policy Advisor at the Office of the Prime Minister, Mamo Mihretu asked the US not to remove Ethiopia’s AGOA trade privileges. The Biden administration has threatened to end Addis Ababa’s eligibility under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, Mamo Mihretu said, adding that doing so would hurt the poor the most. U.S. President Joe Biden recently threatened to impose sanctions on Ethiopia due to the conflict in Tigray. If Washington follows through and removes preferential trade arrangements under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Ethiopia’s fledgling manufacturing sector could face an existential threat. While many people around the world share the U.S. government’s concern about “the peace, security, and stability of Ethiopia and the greater Horn of Africa region,” Ethiopians are dismayed by the threat of withdrawal of AGOA trade privileges. Whatever concerns one may have about the security situation in Ethiopia today, removal of AGOA eligibility would only worsen the condition of ordinary Ethiopians who have no connection to the Tigray conflict.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) construction National Public Coordination Office says the Diaspora have contributed 122 million Birr to the dam in just two months: July & August. Public Relations Director of the Office, Hailu Abraham, says the contribution of the Ethiopian diaspora to the construction of the dam is ever-increasing, adding that they have raised over 1 billion Birr to date.

The staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia celebrated National Flag Day on Monday (October 11) in the presence of high-level officials. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, delivered a brief speech expressing his belief that the year would mark our unity and resilience in the face of humiliated adversaries.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has donated 50 ambulances to the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia.  The fully equipped ambulances are worth 250 million Birr. The donation is made through the Red Crescent Society of the UAE. The first seven ambulances have arrived in Addis Ababa by plane. The United Arab Emirates Red Crescent Society will also cover the cost of transporting the ambulances.

Company owners and Employees of Hawassa Industrial Park approached by the media have said that the thought of the United States to ban Ethiopia from market access through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is unacceptable. According to them if the US puts it into practice it really affects the many lives of factory workers in Ethiopia. Nasa Garment Plc, having 1,400 employees, for instance, exports 98% of its products to the US through AGOA. The owner of the company has said that America’s thought of ban comes into reality, apart from making his business and the employees out of work, it adversely affects Ethiopia’s economy by discouraging further foreign investment. The employees and factory owners have therefore asked the United States to abandon its thought of putting a ban on Ethiopian products from getting access to US markets through AGOA.

Ethiopian Ambassador in Uganda, Alemtshay Meseret, had a meeting with Somalis of Ethiopian origin who live in Uganda. The meeting deliberated ways to strengthen trade and investment links between Ethiopia and Uganda. Ambassador Alemtshay noted the experience that attendees have developed in doing business in Uganda which should be used to scale up economic relations between the two countries. She said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement provides opportunities to investors of the two countries to maximize gains and cement ties.

Djibouti

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti congratulated Demeke Mekonnen on his reappointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia. He expressed his confidence that the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister’s reappointment demonstrates the confidence bestowed on him to steer his country towards sustainable peace, stability and economic prosperity. He finally said he and his government are committed to continue to work very closely with Ethiopia to further strengthen the historical and strategic bonds of brotherhood and cooperation that exist between the two people and countries.

Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti celebrated the 14th National Flag Day on Monday (October 12). Ambassador of Ethiopia to Djibouti, Berhanu Tsegaye, diplomats, members of the Defense Forces, and the Mission staff attended the event. Delivering a speech at the event, Ambassador Berhanu said Ethiopians are celebrating this year’s Flag Day following the successful democratic election in the country that heralds the beginning a new era of unity, peace, and prosperity. He called on Ethiopians living in Djibouti to be united and continue to give prompt responses to the calls of the people and the government of Ethiopia in times of need.

Sudan

Prime Minister, Dr. Abdalla Hamdouk, on Friday evening (October 15) directed an important address to the Sudanese nation on the current political situation in the country. “You have followed up the recent events in the country, and the severe political crisis that we are experiencing now, and I will not exaggerate if I say that it is the worst and most dangerous crisis that threatens the transition, and even threatens our entire country, and warns of a terrible evil,” he said. The dispute is not between civilians and the military, he said, “but rather between the camp of the civilian democratic transition and the camp of the coup against the revolution, a dispute in which I am not neutral or mediator.”

The President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan met Thursday, at his office, the African Group, Ambassadors, Heads of African missions, and the AU Representative in Khartoum. Al-Burhan, during the meeting, assured the necessity for expanding the participation circle to include all the political powers that contributed to make the change, stressing their full keenness to protect the change and the revolution to complete the phases of the democratic transition and the partnership included in the Constitutional Document. The African diplomat appreciated the TSC President for briefing them on the current developments in the country.

President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Gen. Abdel Al-Fatah Al-Burhan, on Thursday (October 14) received a telephone call from the US Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffery Feltman. Al-Burhan briefed the US diplomat on the progress of the transition in the country and the challenges facing the transitional period, affirming that the East Sudan issue is a political one and should be solved via peaceful means. The TSC President affirmed his commitment to protect the transitional period until the holding of elections.

South Sudan

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir told his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisis that Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed requested him to deliver a message of peace and expressed his readiness to resume talks on disputes surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project. “I was in Addis in September and the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed promised me to resume negotiations with Egypt and Sudan on Renaissance Dam after the formation of a new government and asked me to deliver this message to brother al-Sisi”, Kiir said on Sunday (October 10).

South Sudan has set November 1 as the day on which members of the unified forces will be graduated from various training camps. The military spokesman Lul Ruai Koang said the exercise, expected to be the last leg in the process, will be preceded by dispatching a team of military experts to conduct screening of the forces in various training centers across the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan, Mayiik Ayii Deng, has sent a congratulatory message to Demeke Mekonnen on his reappointment as the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia. The South Sudanese Foreign Minister expressed his hope that Demeke would give renewed impetus to the longstanding and historical relationship between the two countries.

Somalia

The Somali government has rejected an African Union (AU) proposal for a joint stabilization mission with the United Nations (UN) to spearhead peacekeeping operations in the country. It said on Tuesday (October 12) that the Africa Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) did not consider Somalia’s views, including that of a joint technical team created to assess the best option for the country.

Uganda is sending 160 police personnel to Somalia for peacekeeping operations. According to the Ugandan Police Force, the officers have finished a six-month-training, and will be deployed by December under the African Union Mission in Somalia. “In Somalia, the officers will provide public order management and protection of African Union personnel and facilities.” The team is part of the Formed Police Units within the African Union, which rotates on an annual basis.

Fei Shengchao, Chinese Ambassador to Somalia, said the humanitarian supplies from China included 10,000 tents, 50,000 mosquito nets, 20,000 aid kits and baby weight scales, stethoscopes and thermometers. “The pandemic has taken its toll on humanitarian support worldwide. For these supplies, the cost of production has gone up 15 percent and the cost of shipment has soared seven times,” Fei said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

*******************

President Sahle-Work Zewde’s full opening speech to the House of Peoples’ Representatives of Ethiopia at the inaugural day of the New Ethiopian Government (Translation from Amharic)

Honorable Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives,

Honorable Speaker of the House of Federation,

Honorable Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of Federation,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for being able to speak at this session that officially announces the start of the two Houses’ term in the New Year.

I would like to congratulate you for having participated and been elected during the 6th General Elections held last June.

My congratulations go to the Prime Minister, Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of Federation who have been elected today.

You have joined Parliament at a critical time for our country. Therefore, I would like to use this opportunity to present to you my best wishes of success.

Today’s opening session of Parliament for the five years to come is, in many ways, different from the annual openings. The primary reason for that is the fact that it heralds the end of a chapter and the beginning of a brand new one. 

As if our country Ethiopia has not had enough of its share of suffering, it has been seriously tested in the past year.

There have been tests to our sovereignty, unity, and togetherness for which we have paid a heavy price.

Our fights as well as our well-known resilience has brought us to this day.

Accordingly, we need to give proper honor to those who paid the ultimate price, namely our armed forces, men and women, youth and elderly, all Ethiopians.

Our country Ethiopia has an experience of over 90 years of different forms of representation systems.

Parliament draws its power and sovereignty directly from the people it represents.

First among its powers is representation. Peoples’ ever-growing needs, concerns, problems, etc. can be heard through its representatives.

Thus, it is fundamental to have a strong relationship between parliamentarians and the people he or she represents. It reinforces accountability. Accountability cannot be overlooked in building democracy.

Parliament has a unique opportunity to check the pulse of the people. It helps address its rapidly growing needs.

In addition to that, as conflict does not occur out of the blue, it can detect signs and prevent conflict from erupting.

We should draw lessons from past and recent experiences.

The two Houses should be places where the peoples’ feelings and concerns are expressed, where different opinions are heard, where Members of Parliament fight for their ideas.

A strong Parliament is a guarantee of good governance, accountability, and respect for peoples’ rights.

Voters went in massive numbers to polling stations hoping their voices will be heard. Consequently, those who have been elected should know that they will be closely watched.

Parliament is there to maintain the strong bond that holds all of us together. Protecting this bond should be its prime responsibility.

It should not be forgotten that Parliament has a notable contribution to make to a country’s diplomatic work.

Even though the performance of the previous fiscal year 2013 EC has gone through various tensions, we have been able to conduct an election, which by any standard was acceptable. The election demonstrated the existence of strong institutions capable of conducting democratic elections, notwithstanding the shortcomings, and to lay a solid foundation for free and fair elections in the future.

The economic reforms that have been put in place over the past three years have had a significant impact on reversing the downward trend and revitalizing the economy. In light of the natural and man-made catastrophes faced during the implementation of the economic reforms, the measures taken have been more or less effective. However, tackling the high cost of living and unemployment continue to be major economic challenges.

Last year was also the year we successfully completed the second-round filling of the Grand Renaissance Dam. Despite international pressure to prevent the filling from taking place on time, Ethiopia’s hard-working people have made great contributions in the construction, diplomatic, and financial areas to make the project successful.

As much as we have achieved great accomplishments as a nation last year, we have also witnessed tragic events. Above all, terrorists seeking to disrupt Ethiopia by overthrowing the constitutional order have committed an unexpected, tragic betrayal and massacre of the Ethiopian Defense Forces who lived for more than two decades, in a foxhole in northern Ethiopia guarding the country’s borders.

Moreover, having established alliances with anti-peace forces in different parts of the country, they have been killing innocent civilians, destroying properties, and causing displacements of people.

Nevertheless, Ethiopians who never compromise on the dignity and sovereignty of their country came together and were able to thwart the conspiracy to disrupt Ethiopia by foreign enemies and their internal factions. Our people, who live in all corners of the country, are still paying the ultimate price and maintaining the survival of the country.

As a result, one of our first homework will be to strengthen the ongoing humanitarian assistance to our affected citizens, to repatriate many of our displaced people, and to accelerate the recovery of our society.

Honorable Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives,

Honorable Speaker of the House of Federation,

Honorable Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of Federation,

Ladies and gentlemen,

By reviewing the past three years of reform and taking into consideration the long-term plans, the government’s main priority for the fiscal year 2014 EC will be to lay the foundation for continued prosperity.

In order to prevent the regression of economic growth, the government will work towards ensuring overall prosperity by stabilizing the macroeconomic growth of our country, reducing unemployment through job creation, stabilizing the cost of living by reducing inflation, as well as urgently addressing the shortcomings of natural and man-made catastrophes. 

It will focus on correcting the supply and demand imbalances that are causing rising inflation and the high cost of living in our country, transforming the rain-based agricultural system, and correcting the distorted trade system. Due attention will be given to monetary and fiscal policy regulations to prevent the unsustainable rise in the cost of living. Reforming the business system will also be one of the focuses of this year.

The target is to increase the government’s revenue to 600.9 billion Birr in the 2014 Ethiopian budget year, of which 83 percent is tax revenue. The total export revenue of goods for the fiscal year 2014 is projected to reach $5.25 billion dollars.

592 million quintals of crop production are planned in the agricultural sector, and many agree that the annual green legacy program is making a tangible difference. In the coming year, we will enhance our green legacy culture and thereby increase the number of forest resources in our country. As a country, we need to achieve our vision of planting 20 billion trees in four years’ time, and we need to ensure food security by accelerating the development of the agricultural sector, increasing production and productivity by curbing soil erosion, desertification, and biodiversity.

In the manufacturing sector, focus will be given to increasing job creation opportunities by improving the productivity of existing manufacturers as well as attracting new quality investments. In addition, there will be an expansion of manufacturing products to replace strategic imported goods.

Increasing the quantity, quality, and type of export products by creating a conducive environment for the local investor to engage in the manufacturing industry sub-sector will increase the contribution of the manufacturing industry to our overall GDP, and the sub-sector will be in alignment with the country’s sustainable development and green economy development strategy.

The government will work hard to increase foreign exchange earnings by marketing minerals of different kinds, quantity, and quality. Minerals needed for local industries will also be supplied locally. The government will pay special attention to solving security problems in areas with sizeable mineral resources to protect the national interest. Skilled human resource development in the sector will be enhanced, while special attention will be paid to traditional and small-scale miners.

By building the national capacity of the construction industry, most of the domestic demand will be covered by local companies. The construction industry will facilitate the creation of many jobs. There is a need to improve the competitiveness of construction projects in terms of quality, cost, and timeliness. By making road infrastructure more integrated, equitable, and accessible, the rate of growth will be increased by implementing activities that accelerate urban development and rural development sustainably in both urban and rural areas.

Cities will be governed by a comprehensive plan and a decentralized city administration. A conducive living environment in cities will be created through effective land and housing supply and administration system. In addition, cities’ food security system will be expanded, good governance will be established, and their financial capacity will be increased.

To increase the revenue from the tourism sector, existing destinations need to be supported by strengthening heritage protection and conservation work and improving service delivery. New tourist attractions will also be developed. The development of Gorgora, Wonchi, and Koysha tourist destinations launched at the “Dine for Ethiopia” event will continue as planned. We will also work to develop our natural resources and tourist destinations in different parts of the country so that they can become profitable.

All regions, zones, woredas, and city administrations should adopt the good practice of developing tourist destination parks similar to the city of Addis Ababa. Ongoing projects in different parts of the country will be finalized and become operational.

By expanding the supply of drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, public services will benefit populations in remote areas. The use of our great Nile River, which has been a source of lamentation and suffering for centuries, is in the final stages of lifting Ethiopians out of the darkness this year after years of frustration, hard work, perseverance, and struggle.

Distinguished Members of the House of Representatives and the House of Federation,

Last year’s atrocities committed on the Northern Command, which had been guarding the Northern border for years, as well as the attacks and terrorist acts against public and government institutions deviated from the rule of law, our moral values, and our culture. It should be noted that the power that comes from violence, guns or intimidation of the innocent will never be accepted in Ethiopia. It is only the Ethiopian people that can bestow or revoke power.

Therefore, I would like to urge the country’s politicians and political parties to participate in democratic elections and choose only peaceful forums, in order to serve our people and our country. In a democratic system, everything is subject to the law; all matters must be handled in accordance with the rule of law. Therefore, the entire population of our country must respect and uphold the supremacy of the rule of law. All citizens must do their part to ensure the respect of the rule of law and democracy in our country. In Ethiopia, a sanctuary to all of us, there should never be a force above the country or its laws.

Elections are part of the democratic process, but elections are not the only goal. Thus, the government and all Ethiopians must realize that we have a lot of homework ahead of us after the election, and we must all work together as “one counselor and one speaker.’’

The threats that jeopardize the very existence of our country, the unity of its people, and that have caused the crisis in our country for several years must be resolved through national consensus. To achieve the desired national consensus, we must develop a culture of openness, trust, unity and solidarity, and a culture of dialogue and debate.

On the other hand, there must also be justice and accountability, compensation for the victims, and social justice. Since national consensus is not a single event but a long-term process of change, all Ethiopians must continue to work for national consensus in our country.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Fair and quality education will be ensured for all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, location, gender, socio-economic background, disability, and talent at all levels of education so that all children and young people achieve their full potential. In addition, the curriculum will be tailored to market needs.

We are building a resilient health system focused on improving public health and contributing to economic growth by: preventing maternal and child mortality due to avertible causes; prevention and reduction of morbidity and mortality due to infectious and non- communicable diseases; protecting citizens from emergency health issues; engaging in woreda transformation; and establishing a user-centered and reliable health system.

We are strengthening the protection system of women and children to ensure their overall safety and rights and ensuring the equitable participation and representation of women and youth in leadership and decision-making.

The community’s attitudinal change is essential to increase the full participation and benefit of women, children, and youth. Therefore, the issue of women, children, and youth will be included in the economic and social sectors to ensure their equitable access.

Honorable Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives,

Honorable Speaker of the House of Federation,

Honorable Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of Federation,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

In our long history of statehood, Ethiopia has never surrendered its sovereignty and national interest to any force. Eternal praise to our ancestors. Ethiopia is a symbol of freedom. History will remember and write that in bold. History written in blood cannot be changed by the ink of a pen! Ethiopians have never surrendered their sovereignty and national interest and will never cede it. Therefore, our foreign policy principles will continue to preserve the values of our sovereignty, our national interest and pride, and our unity and territorial integrity.

In the Horn of Africa where Ethiopia is located, there has been an escalation of tension among powerful actors in the Red Sea, Bab el- Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. Ethiopia should not take a back seat in the events unfolding in the region.

We will work closely to safeguard Ethiopia’s national interest by collaborating with neighboring countries and regional organizations.

We will design and implement a strategy that will govern our relations with neighboring countries and promote sustainable peace, social interaction, economic integration, and shared prosperity.

A People-to-People forum that ensures comprehensive cooperation and integration among the peoples of the horn of Africa will be established.

We recognize that we share a strong bond with our neighbors in terms of culture, language, identity, and aspiration for economic growth and development.

With this in mind, we have formulated and are implementing a foreign policy that prioritizes our cooperation with neighboring countries.

Our relationships with our neighbors will be based on mutual benefit, international agreements, and rooted in the sense of brotherhood.

The utilization of cross-border natural resources will be implemented in the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding, following the principles of mutual benefit and equitable use.

We are working diligently to complete our Grand Renaissance Dam in a manner that does not harm the lower riparian countries as well as Ethiopia’s right to development. On the other hand, in order to strengthen the Nile Basin Cooperation Initiative, dialogue and consultation forums involving all the riparian countries need to be held on a sustainable basis.

The participation of Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian descent living abroad in the affairs of Ethiopia is bearing fruit with the citizen-oriented approach to diplomacy Ethiopia is pursuing.

More and more efforts are being made to ensure that the rights and interests of all Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian descent living in all parts of the world are respected.

Ethiopians around the world are building a better image of their country. By effectively participating in activities such as partnering in fundraising for development, attracting foreign direct investment and increasing tourism, thereby safeguarding and protecting Ethiopia’s national interest.

Whether we like it or not, we do not have an alternative country. Therefore, if we believe in Ethiopia, the only option we have is to accommodate one another in order to live together.

Children from the same mother are not all alike. By the same token, we sons and daughters are different from one another. As much as we raise our children by treating them equally, correcting their mistakes, and punishing them when need be, we always make sure to protect the family ties that hold us together.

Similarly, we children from the same land should listen to one another, abhor hatred, accommodate each other, discuss, accept differences of opinions, propose alternatives, be ready to listen even what we do not want to hear and, by so doing, reaching a sustainable consensus and maintaining it should be our priority.

Before concluding, I would like to quote what one philosopher said.

 “There is light at the end of every challenge. If your hands are bleeding from the thorns, it is because you are about to touch the rose.”

I say that the rose is not far off.

Finally, I wish the members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of Federations a happy and prosperous new year. I proclaim that the working year of 2014 EC of the House of Peoples’ Representative is officially opened.

Thank you.

*******************

TPLF’s deliberate destruction of the economic foundations of the people in North Wollo and Gondar of the Amhara region

The TPLF has continued with its dangerous attempt of holding on to political power by subjecting people to fear and want. The sheer number of people still under a safety net program in Tigray, despite its leadership of the country for the last 27 years, is a demonstration of its utter disregard for the welfare of the people of Tigray. In areas of North Gondar and Wollo that the group has invaded by rejecting the Unilateral Humanitarian Ceasefire of the Government, the TPLF has proved, once again, of its enmity to the Amhara people.

Reports from occupied North Wollo and Gondar adjacent areas indicate that the TPLF is intent on devastating the economic lives of many households. As farmers in occupied territories recently reported, the terrorist TPLF soldiers and their co-opted peasant followers are stealing ready harvest. What is worse is that the TPLF soldiers already having consumed the stockpiled food of farmers in occupied areas have destroyed the rest. The terrorist group did not even spare food-aid warehouses and forcibly taking distributed assistance from recipients in these areas. The livelihood of farmers in Ethiopia is highly dependent on livestock for food, farming, and biofuel. Sadly, these also have not been spared from the destructive actions of the TPLF.

The destruction of the lives of people also goes beyond individuals, but communities as a whole. In many places, the group did not spare Day Care centers, schools and colleges, banks, health centers, hotels, and other institutions. The ongoing Awash Woldia / Hara Gebeya railway project has unfortunately been targeted by this irresponsible group.

These deeds of the TPLF will not contribute to the advancement of the people of Tigray but rather foster hostility and resentment between the people of Amhara and Tigray. The atrocities the TPLF has committed and still is committing in Wollo and Gondar could only be explained as a last-ditch attempt to stay politically relevant.

The government of Ethiopia calls upon the international community to give due attention to the plight and needs of the people in north Wollo and Gondar, as part of its repeated request for accelerated provision of humanitarian assistance to those affected by these acts of the TPLF in all the areas currently under occupation.

12 October 2021

*******************