News in Brief

Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie remarks at the UN PSC meeting held on the conflict in Ethiopia

Ambassador Dina Mufti, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing on media distortions and the peace efforts of the African Union

Africa Union

Meeting on Monday (November 8) to discuss the conflict in Ethiopia, speakers in the UN Security Council extended their support for the African Union’s regional peace initiative and urged the Ethiopian authorities and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and its allied forces to enter a ceasefire, allow for unhindered humanitarian access and engage dialogue towards a political solution. Olusegun Obasanjo, African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa region, briefed the 15‑member organ on his efforts. He highlighted a 4 November meeting with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, as well as a recent visit to meet leaders in the Tigray region.

The African Union urges the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and all other relevant parties to the conflict in northern Ethiopia while being guided by a commitment to the supreme national interest of the country, to engage in a meaningful and genuine dialogue that aims at finding a lasting peaceful solution to the conflict, while underlining the importance of an inclusive, genuine and comprehensive national dialogue to sustaining peace, stability, democracy, good governance and reconciliation in Ethiopia. The Commission reiterated this in a Communiqué of the 1045th meeting of the PSC held on 8 November 2021, on the situation in Ethiopia. It further appeals to the international community to refrain from adopting unilateral coercive measures that run contrary to international law.

The African Union Commission said on Sunday (November 07) that social media reports saying Chairman Moussa Faki had called for temporary relocation of staff and offices are false. In a statement on Sunday, the AU chairman’s spokesperson Ebba Kalondo said the report purported to be an internal memo calling for their relocation from Ethiopia has no basis. “The said report is fake news and has no basis in fact nor form,” he said.

Ethiopia

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Saturday (November 06) in a Twitter message that Ethiopians are marching together to fend off the sovereignty of the country. “As labor precedes the coming of a new baby, such a current tribulation has brought about many brave Ethiopians,” the Premier underlined. Abiy added saying, “A nation of great potential and immense cultural, historic and national wealth, Ethiopia will persevere through our current challenges.” In unwavering unity Ethiopians will remain on their path towards greater heights, the Prime Minister reaffirmed.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, on Monday (November 8, 2021) stressed the need to leapfrog circumstances through unity and preparation for a better future. “Overcoming a turbulent period is a mark of national resilience. While we are being tested on many fronts, our collective will to realize the path we have embarked upon has strengthened us.” the Premier underlined. “Despite all attempting to hold us back, let’s continue moving forward in unity,” he said.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has held a phone conversation with the Prime Minister of Sweden on various issues of mutual concern on Monday (November 08). The two discussed bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister Abiy appreciated Sweden for its lasting contribution to Ethiopia’s reform journey. In 1945, Ethiopia became Sweden’s first foreign aid receiving country and bilateral relations have developed since then.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a tweet on Monday (November 08) that the democratically elected sovereign government of Ethiopia stands ready to work constructively with friends of Ethiopia in addressing temporal challenges. The Premier underlined that the government is committed to realizing development goals since the begging of the reform process. “We remain committed to progress, albeit the obstacles encountered”. Addressing the gatherings at a fundraising event in Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed noted that Ethiopians are in a better position to withstand all the circumstances with unity and sacrifice.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated on Wednesday (November 10) that Ethiopians can overturn current circumstances that are interwoven with biased approaches by various internal and external elements. “As proud Africans, it has never been more imperative we take back the narrative about our continent. As Ethiopians, the challenges we face are further compounded by bias” the Prime Minister noted. In unity we need to and we can overturn the challenges the nation is facing, the Prime Minister underscored.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated on Wednesday (November 10) that Ethiopians can overturn current circumstances that are interwoven with biased approaches by various internal and external elements. “As proud Africans, it has never been more imperative we take back the narrative about our continent. As Ethiopians, the challenges we face are further compounded by bias” the Prime Minister noted. In unity, we need to and we can overturn the challenges the nation is facing, the Prime Minister underscored.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Thursday (November 11/2021) called on Ethiopians to fight against fake news and disinformation which is now serving as a weapon of war from the enemy side. Addressing gatherings at the monthly “Addis Weg” dialogue, he underlined: “Ethiopia has never been defeated by any enemy in its long history. Ethiopians need to return to peaceful condition, and the government is committed to doing so”.

Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs had a meeting at his office on Friday (November 5), with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. Demeke briefed the UN official on the current status of the humanitarian situation in the northern part of the country. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister recalled the federal government’s efforts in providing humanitarian assistance during its presence in the Tigray region despite the destructive actions of the TPLF.

Press Secretariat of the Prime Minister Office, Billene Seyoum, while speaking to CNN, said on Wednesday (November 10) that the majority of Ethiopians at home and abroad strongly feel that CNN has been covering the conflict over the past year in a manner that is biased and detached from the context. “Recent example is the hysteria that CNN has caused last week as Addis Ababa was under siege by the terrorist forces”, Billene said.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations, Taye Atskeselassie, addressing the recent UNSC meeting on Ethiopia on Monday (November 08), said that what exalts Ethiopia as a nation is to overcome its own challenges. What may raise Ethiopia as a country is the commitment of all Ethiopians to bring peace and stability, Ambassador Taye underlined. “Out of our conviction to peaceful solutions to all disputes we will keep engaging all well-meaning actors” he added. (See full Statement)

During the UNSC briefing on peace and security in Africa, on Monday (November 8) Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN, Zhang Jun reaffirm China’s faith in Ethiopia to stay united at this critical juncture. Saying that Ethiopia is a country with wisdom and capability, Ambassador Zhang Jun expressed his confidence that Ethiopians can resolve the differences and bring their nation back on the right track of peace and stability.

Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, Anna Evstigneeva, at UNSC briefing on peace and security in Africa on Monday (November 08), said that her country is committed to reserving unity and territorial integrity of Ethiopia. “We have listened carefully to the statements on the latest developments of the situation in Northern Ethiopia delivered by Olusegun Obasanjo, the High Representative of the African Union for the Horn of Africa region, and Rosemary DiCarlo, USG for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. We also welcome the participation of Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the UN in today’s meeting” she said.

The spokesperson of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Dina Mufti, gave the Ministry’s biweekly press briefing on Thursday (November 11, 2021) to the media. In his presentation, the Ambassador spoke about the media campaigns launched against Ethiopia that aimed to create perceptions of fear and conflict in the country, including the peace mediation efforts of former Nigerian President, High Representative of the AUC to the Horn of Africa Region. (See article)

Amnesty International found evidence of brutal acts committed by terrorist TPLF fighters during an offensive in August. Tigrayan rebels raped, robbed, and beat up several women during an attack on a town in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, Amnesty International has found, amid mounting evidence of brutal violence committed during the year-long conflict. According to an investigation released on Wednesday (November 10) by the human rights watchdog, 14 of the 16 women from the town of Nefas Meewcha said they were gang-raped in August, during an offensive by the terrorist Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Ethiopians in the U.S. held a pro-government rally in Washington D.C on Monday (November 08) where they asked the Biden Administration to stop meddling in the internal affairs of the nation. They also urged international media to stop fake news and disinformation about Ethiopia. “Ethiopia is an Ally, Not an Enemy.” one of the placards they carried at the protest said. Friends of Ethiopians have also made their voices.

Israel has promised that if any of the Ethiopian immigrants airlifted to Israel in recent months during a conflict in the country are found to have committed war crimes, they will be sent back, Channel 13 reported on Tuesday (November 9). The report comes a day after the channel reported that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed angrily complained in a phone call with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett that some of those airlifted to Israel were officers involved in war crimes.

Residents of Addis Ababa city on Sunday (November 07) staged a rally to protest against the terrorist groups TPLF and Shene. The demonstrators also expressed their support to the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and other security forces. Demonstrators also called on the international community to denounce the renegade group and support Ethiopia in preserving its unity and territorial integrity.

Civil Society Organizations Council says on Friday (November 05/2021) AGOA restriction affects 200,000 Ethiopians out of which 80pct are women, and over a million citizens that make a living within the value chain of sectors such as apparel, footwear, and coffee. The Ethiopian CSOs Council is a statutory body established by the Ethiopian Parliament under the Civil Society Organizations Proclamation No. 1113/2019, Art 85, which is composed of all CSOs registered by the Authority for Civil Society Organizations and relevant authorities operating in Ethiopia.

Eritrea

Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the UN, Ambassador Sophia Tesfamariam said that western powers and the media are reluctant to denounce atrocities committed by the terrorist TPLF against innocent people of Ethiopia. In an exclusive interview with RT News, on Tuesday (November 9/2021) Ambassador Sophia underlined that the mainstream media has never told the truth about Eritrea or Ethiopia. Massacres, lootings and devastations caused by the terrorist TPLF in Ethiopia have never been told to the world through the international media, she said.

Djibouti

Ethiopian-owned NOC Djibouti NoC Djibouti has signed an agreement with China Construction to significantly renovate and modernize a service station in Djibouti worth 1.3 million dollars. Minister of Energy and Natural Resource of Djibouti, H.E Yonis Ali Guedi, Minister of Interior, H.E Said Nouh and Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti, H.E Berhanu Tsegaye, and scores of high-level officials have attended the inaugural ceremony.

Sudan

The Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan met, on Monday (November 8), at his office, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and the Head of the UN Integrated Transitional Assistant Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), Volker Perthes.

Gen. Abdel Al-Fattah Al-Burhan was sworn in on Thursday (November 11) before the Chief Justice, Abdel Aziz Fattah Al-Rahman as the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council in accordance with the Decree No.451 for 2021.

Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan issued a decree on Thursday (November 11) appointing the members of a new Transitional Sovereign Council that he chairs. According to the official news agency, SUNA, al-Burhan has already taken the oath of office as Chairman of the collegial presidency which excludes all the civilian members appointed by the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC). He appointed four members from the army including Mohamed Hamdan Daglo ” Hemetti” who is the Vice-Chairman, Shams al-Din Kabbashi Ibrahim, a member, Yasir Abdel-Rahman Hassan al-Atta, a member and Ibrahim Jabir Ibrahim, a Member. Also, he appointed as members the three leaders of the armed groups that joined the Sovereign Council after the Juba Peace Agreement: Malik Agar of the SPLM-N, Tahir Hajar of the GSLF, and Hadi Idris of the SLM-TC.

South Sudan

Ambassador of South Sudan in Addis Ababa, James Pitta Morgan reiterated on Sunday (November 07) that his country strongly rejects any foreign interference in Ethiopia’s internal affairs. Ethiopia, as a founding member of the League of Nations and the now United Nations and founder of the African Union, has a profound problem-solving experience that puts her at a better position to resolve its internal matters by itself, the Ambassador noted. “As neighbors, we will be affected by the problems in Ethiopia. That’s why we always stand by the Ethiopian side. We are one people living in two countries. So, we are ready to support Ethiopia in any circumstances” He said.

South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) has expressed concerns over the decision by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to withdraw its peacekeeping forces protecting civilians at the protection of Civilian sites (PoCs) in Malakal town. The UN camps were set up in the South Sudan capital, Juba and other major cities after the war erupted in December 2013, forcing thousands to seek protection. The sites were set up to protect people in imminent physical danger.

Somalia

On her inaugural visit to Somalia, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, on Sunday (November 07) called on the leadership of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to discuss the mission’s work in Somalia. The discussions included AMISOM’s priorities, operations, and challenges. AMISOM officials briefed the ASG on progress made so far to implement the mission’s mandate in line with the Somalia Transition Plan; its partnership and collaboration with Somali Security Forces (SSF); and efforts to secure the ongoing electoral process.

Somalia’s electoral body announced Thursday (November 11) that it has set the deadline for elections in the Lower House of parliament. “The Federal Elections Implementation Team has set a deadline for the elections of the House of the People, which is 24 Dec.,” government spokesman Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu said on Twitter. The commission officially announced that Lower House elections will start Nov. 16 in all federal member states and Mogadishu.

Somalia’s National Army Radio announced on Wednesday (November 10) that nine of al-Shabaab terrorists were killed during a military operation launched against them in the southern Shabla region. Somalian Army has been fighting al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group “al-Shabaab” since 2004. So far, the al-Shabaab terrorist group has claimed responsibility for several operations that have killed and injured hundreds in this country.

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Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie remarks at the UN PSC meeting held on the conflict in Ethiopia

Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor and for allowing the participation of my country in this briefing. I also congratulate you on Mexico’s presidency of the council for the month of November. I recognize the presence of His Excellency, President Obasanjo, High Representative of the African Union to the Horn of Africa and Undersecretary General Rosemarie de Carlo. I thank both for their briefing.

Mr. President, a year ago, the northern command of the Ethiopian National Defence force was attacked from within. The unsuspecting men and women in uniform were slain in the dark hours of November 4, 2020. The long-standing service and sacrifice of the National Defence Forces is rewarded by unprecedented level of betrayal and treasonous attack by the TPLF. Ethiopia will never forget the patriots and their service and sacrifice. The day will also go down as a day of infamy in Ethiopia’s proud history. In this connection, I would like to extend our thanks to members of this council who stood with my country during this very trying year.

Mr. President,

In the past year, we reversed the military threat posed by the TPLF. In parallel, we made only first to provide food and non-food items to people in need in Tigray. We signed a humanitarian assistance agreement with the United Nations. We spent close to 100 Billion Birr for assistance and reconstruction. We declared a humanitarian ceasefire and withdrew our forces and we implored the treasonous group to hand over leaders of its criminal scheme and leave its rank-and-file members to live in peace. All this is proven to be in vain. It didn’t help us gain peace. 

Today, I’ll not provide you details on the humanitarian assistance we deliver to our people in need. As a result of the continued and now widespread criminal belligerence of the TPLF, the people of Tigray that needed urgent humanitarian assistance are not having any aid delivered. The people in Afar and Amhara regions are rendered vulnerable. Cities and towns are shelled; residents are killed in their doorsteps, and dropped their earnings from their toil. True to its unscrupulous and cruel nature, the TPLF is causing terror and mayhem. As we speak, Ethiopians in the northern part of the country are fending for their life and the life of their children. The trucks we sent to Tigray with food and medical supplies are transporting weapons and use combatants that are forced to fight against their brothers and sisters for no apparent public interest but for the greedy driven political agenda of a few individuals.

Excellencies,

We honour and respect the call for political dialogue. It is an approach we fully proscribe to and even applied in resolving many interested disputes. Inherently, our current situation is not any different; there is a deep-seated political difference and grievances in our nascent democracy. We are also a diverse nation, and home to 83 languages and many groups than headlines care to mention, with unaddressed legitimate quests and demands. However, no political group, despite their grievances, have raised an arm against their brethren. No ethnic or political group, despite its unfulfilled demands, have waged war against the motherland. Diversity is not Ethiopia’s problem. 

Our challenge is not, as some reluctantly posit, a failure to manage diversity. Diversity is Ethiopia’s asset; our problem is a criminal group that refused to accept equality and let go of ill gained supremacy and privilege. Unfortunately, this group garners support from many sources: some media outlets in the west, some staff members and leaders of international organizations openly support the group. To your surprise, we sometimes learn the motives and the next steps of the group from statements and speeches of high-placed officials of these entities. As you may recall, even this council was made to convene over a false report alleging heinous crimes, including the use of anger as a weapon of war. Thankfully, the truth has come out and these malicious accusations are dispelled by the joint investigation report of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Our plea for members of the international community, states and non-state actors to refrain from providing moral and material support went and unheeded. The TPLF is emboldened and numbed itself to an extent it stopped counting the lives of Ethiopians from Tigray that it sacrificed on its hopeless journey. It is emboldened to a level it threatens to unseat a popularly elected federal government and destabilize a nation of 112 million people. We again reiterate our plea for the support of this group that have been providing it with communication equipment, satellite information, weapons and even fighters to desist from this; that is not only illegal but also an immoral act.

Mr. President,

Ethiopia is pained. What we have gone through at the hands of this criminal group will require intergenerational effort to heal. For this, Ethiopia needs its children to dialogue and reconcile. We have time and again expressed our readiness and explained the preparation for national political dialogue. Had it not been for the bloodshed caused by the TPLF, even the political future of this group would have had a prospect of resolution through dialogue. In line with our commitment, we entertain the efforts for support and undertook the work with all our friends to learn from their experience and draw the available and relevant lesson and support. We accepted the High Representative of the African Union to the whole of Africa and assist his role. We believe the regional solution is best placed to support us get out of this problem.

This being said, our route to dialogue and a political solution will not be straightforward or easy. For now, we are focused on halting the TPLF and rescuing and reaching our public that suffered immensely under its cruel and deceptive methods. In this regard, we remind everyone concerned, there are no two parties here, there is a government representing the will of the Ethiopian people and representing the Ethiopian state, and there is a group advancing its criminal cause through atrocities. Any attempt, including the media campaign we have been witnessing in the past few days, to launder the TPLF and diminish the horror it committed against the Ethiopian people will only be counter-productive.

Mr. President,

What exalts my country as a nation is to overcome its own challenges. What may raise us as a country is the commitment of all Ethiopians to bring peace and stability. What is needed is well-meant insight, and forethought and support. Statements of marginalization, sanctions, and punitive measures will not help are rather counter-productive. Out of our conviction to a peaceful solution to all disputes we’ll keep engaging all well-meaning actors the AU High Representative and regional leaders. In the course of this process, we hope we have the understanding of this council and its membership.

I would like to assure this council member that my country will prevail as it did in the past in the face of all its adversities.

I thank you Mr. President,

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Ambassador Dina Mufti, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing on media distortions and the peace efforts of the African Union

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Dina Mufti met the media on Thursday (November 11) for a weekly briefing. He covered a lot of current issues, particularly the failed attempts of the orchestrated campaign that aimed to create an atmosphere of fear and confusion in the country and the peace efforts of former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, to the conflict in Ethiopia under the aegis of the African Union.

The last two weeks are characterized by international media distortions and deliberate misinformation from different corners with regard to the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia, he said. “The media have reported as if Addis Ababa was encircled by the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) forces and predicting the immediate collapse of the Ethiopian National Defense Force and the government.”

He said the media have also predicted looming communal violence in Addis Ababa and purges against ethnically-targeted individuals. According to Ambassador Dina, the distorted news went even to the extent of claiming neighboring countries, such as Kenya had closed their borders with Ethiopia while the AU Commission had decided to temporarily move its headquarters from Addis Ababa. Based on such misinformation, he said, some countries have also issued warning statements against traveling to Ethiopia while pressing their diplomats and citizens in Ethiopia for immediate evacuation.

The news stories are proved false and none of the fears of the diplomats and foreign citizens were materialized in line with the doomsday prophesies, he said. However, the Government of Ethiopia understands why all such orchestrated campaigns are made against the country and its people, he said. “They are aimed to create maximum pressure on the government and erode the people’s confidence in their government’s capability to maintain law and order in the country.”

Contrary to the wishes of the doomsday predictions, the people of Ethiopia residing in various parts of the country, including Addis Ababa and cities of various regions showed their overwhelming support to the government, he added. People, participating in rallies in different parts of the country, have clearly said, “they are done with fake news stories of main media outlets”.

Regarding ongoing peace efforts under the aegis of the African Union, Ambassador Dina recalled the decision of the Chairperson of the AU Commission to appoint former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo as his High Representative to the Horn of Africa. The Government of Ethiopia has never protested the appointment of Mr. Obasanjo due to its deep commitment to peace, rich experience of the Representative in political matters, and the government’s commitment to solving African Problems by Africans, he said.

Although the TPLF had automatically rejected the appointment of Obasanjo and the mediation efforts of the AU Commission for lack of neutrality, the Government of Ethiopia showed its overtures for peace by appreciating the efforts of the Union, he said. Once the government accepted the AU efforts, he stressed, then it would not be in the mandate of the government to give order to the Representative to go to or refrain from going anywhere.   

 Accordingly, he said, Obasanjo has been in Addis Ababa, Mekelle, the United States, and some other places where he believed that he could get the context to the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia. He was, in fact, presenting his findings and recommendations to the Peace and Security Councils of the AU and the UN.

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