News in Brief

Ethiopian Media Authority warns CNN, BBC, AP and Reuters to refrain from disseminating unsubstantiated information on Ethiopia (Statement)

State Minister Redwan Hussein’s interview with Al Jazeera Horn of Africa

On the US Government Sanctions Imposed on the Eritrean Government (Statement)

On the Terrorist Attack in Kampala, Uganda (Press Statement)

Africa and the African Union

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission issued on Saturday (November 13), a statement on the situation in Sudan. In his statement, the Chairperson noted with regret that political actors are still far from reaching a consensus on a democratic transition thereby not responding to the aspirations of the people of Sudan in line with the AU Peace and Security Council at its 1041st meeting of 26 October 2021. The Chairperson reiterate his calls to the military authorities of Sudan to engage without further delay, in a political process leading to the return of constitutional order in line with the Constitutional Decree agreed on August 2019 and the Juba Agreement for Peace in Sudan of 3 October 2020.

Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat paid a working visit to Moscow, Russia on Tuesday (November 16), and held diplomatic talks with his counterpart Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The talks, intended to strengthen political dialogue, also focused on the search for effective ways to scale-up development in Africa.

Ethiopia

President Shale-Work Zewde delivered an opening remark on the third African Woman Leaders Network (AWLN) Forum on Thursday (November 18). In her remarks, the President said women are not only victims but also sources of solutions. Women’s role in conflict prevention, peace negotiations, mediation, and peacebuilding at the grass-root level can never be overemphasized, President Sahle-Work underscored.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held phone talks with his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, on Saturday (November 13) on bilateral issues of mutual concern. The Premier noted that the conversation was productive in a way to enhance cooperation between Ethiopia and Canada. Abiy extended gratitude to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his government’s friendship and support for Ethiopia.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on all Africans on Saturday (November 13) to stand with Ethiopia against foreign pressures. He urged the people of the continent to come together with the truth and support Ethiopians in containing the recent situation. He underlined that “Ethiopia’s green, yellow, and red emblem of freedom inspired many African nations in their independence struggles.”

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed welcomed Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta, on Sunday (November 14) at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. “I welcome my dear brother, President Uhuru Kenyatta, to his second home,” PM Abiy tweeted.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday (November 17) called upon the people of Ethiopia to defend the country from augmented media warfare. “My fellow Ethiopians, let us not forget that we are also engaged in a sophisticated narrative war waged against the nation with many using disinformation as a pathway for their sinister moves. Each Ethiopian must play a role in pushing back and reversing the distorted narrative,” he tweeted.

On Thursday (November 18), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen met US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman to discuss current issues. Demeke briefed the Special Envoy that humanitarian flights have been allowed to Kombolcha and Lalibela. He also told the U.S. Special Envoy that 369 trucks loaded with humanitarian support have headed to Tigray.

On Thursday (November 18), Ambassador Redwan Hussien, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, spoke over the phone with Vicky Ford (MP), Minister for Africa, Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs of the UK, about the current situation in northern Ethiopia. The Minister for Africa urged for a political solution to the conflict with the TPLF forces, and for both sides to take confidence-building measures and stop inflammatory social media comments.

Ethiopian Media Authority today (November 19) issued a warning letter to four international media outlets that are licensed to operate in Ethiopia. According to the letters addressed to CNN, BBC, Reuters, and AP, the media outlets have consistently disseminated news that sowed seeds of animosity among people. Their pro-TPLF and biased coverage of Ethiopia’s contemporary situation has increased tension and inflamed conflicts among the society, a document attached with the letters indicates. The document presented in support of the allegations stated in the letters also said, “the media outlets have openly backed the terrorist TPLF group through propaganda and operating as the clique’s mouthpiece to undermine and forcefully change the constitutionally elected government of Ethiopia.” (See Statement)

Ambassador Redwan Hussien, on Friday (November 12), told Aljazeera that there has been no systematic arrest since the state of emergency was declared by the government. People might inform the police if they see something unusual, and the police might arrest an individual, but that is not systematic or targeted at one ethnic group.” (See article)

Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority stated today (November 19) that any flight in Ethiopian Airspace including Addis Ababa international airport is safe and secured. The warning issued and released by media outlets is baseless and quite contradictory to the reality, the statement says. “We strongly assure users of our airspace and airports that we are not compromising their safety and security as we are taking every measure to ensure safe and secured flight operation as before; we are complying with the international standards of safety and security measure.”

Imposing unilateral sanctions or coercive measures on Ethiopia regarding the situation in the country is counterproductive and unacceptable, Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia Terekhin noted. Speaking to Oromia Broadcasting Network (OBN), Ambassador Evgeny Terekhin said on Saturday (November 13) that the imposition of unilateral sanctions and coercive measures on Ethiopia is counterproductive and will aggravate the situation.

Former Ambassadors of the U.S. to Ethiopia, Tibor P. Nagy, and Donald E. Booth stated on Monday (November 15) that the ongoing attempts of external powers to interfere in the internal affairs of Ethiopia would not bring a solution to the current situation in Ethiopia. The U.S. diplomats underscored that “foreign meddling will bring nothing other than worsening the situation.” They underlined that Ethiopians have to narrow their differences through dialogue and other peaceful mechanisms to address the ongoing dispute.

Ethiopians, people of Ethiopian origins, and friends of Ethiopia living in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain have held a rally on Monday (November 15) in Brussels to protest undue external pressures against Ethiopia. At the rally held in front of the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, demonstrators urged the European Union and the United States to refrain from pressuring the government of Ethiopia.

The United Nations said on Monday (November 15), had released emergency funds to help provide life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection to civilians. UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said he had released a total of 40 million USD aimed at scaling up emergency operations in the Tigray region and other parts of the country, and as an early response to drought in the south of the country.

The government of Ethiopia has denounced the announcement by the United States of America to impose sanctions on the State of Eritrea. (See Statement)

The government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia issued a statement on Wednesday (November 17) expressing condolences over the deaths and injuries of civilians and police officers on November 16, 2021, of the twin terrorist attacks in Kampala. “The government of Ethiopia condemns these cowardly attacks on the strongest terms while expressing solidarity with the people and government of the Republic of Uganda.” (See article)

Eritrea

The Government of Eritrea denounced on Saturday (November 13) the announcement by the United States of America to impose sanctions as illicit and immoral. In the statement by the ministry of information, Eritrea denounces the unilateral sanction that shifts blame to and scapegoats Eritrea on the basis of spurious allegations, which is in contravention of international law and constitutes a flagrant breach of the sovereignty, independence, and liberation of peoples and nations.

Djibouti

Djibouti’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, said on Tuesday (November 16) that the country’s territory will not be used for hostile intervention in neighboring countries. Some expressed concern about Djibouti’s territory being used for hostile intervention in the neighboring countries. That is not going to happen because the Djiboutian government is attached to its relations with its neighbors,” he tweeted.

Kenya

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday (November 14), in Addis Ababa, held private talks with the top leadership of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, led by President SahleWorkZewde and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.

On Wednesday (November 16), President Uhuru Kenyatta met visiting United States of America Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in Nairobi at the start of his three-nation African visit. President Kenyatta thanked the American government for the development support it continues to offer Kenya, especially in the health sector, and once again reiterated Kenya’s deep desire to become a regional vaccine production and logistics hub.

Somalia

On Tuesday (November 16), Prime Minister Mohamed Roble visited the offices of the State Elections Implementation Team of Galmudug and the electoral security committee in Dhusamareb to observe the technical arrangements of the House of People elections.

The government of the Federal Republic of Somalia strongly condemned on Thursday (November 18) the twin terrorist attacks that killed and injured a number of police personnel and civilians in Kampala this week and affirmed that it stands united with the friendly Ugandan government and people in confronting all terrorist activities that undermine its security, stability, well-being and development.

Workneh Gebeyehu congratulated the Somali government and people on the completion of the Upper House of Parliament election on Sunday (November 14). According to a press release the IGAD Executive Secretary sent to the media, Workneh has congratulated the government and people of Somalia for the successful completion of the election of the Upper House of Parliament.

South Sudan

A delegation of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) led by Colonel Mack Tok has visited the 24th motorized battalion of the peacekeeping force mission post. During the visit on Thursday (November 18), the head of the delegation, Colonel Mack Tok, said Ethiopia has been applying its longstanding and profound experience in peacekeeping to ensure peace in the region.

On Tuesday (November 16), the Ethiopian embassy in South Sudan met with Ethiopians living in South Sudan to discuss the current situation in Ethiopia. Discussants denounced the destructive actions of the TPLF and the undue pressure from some corners of the international community against the government of Ethiopia. The Ambassador of Ethiopia in South Sudan, Nebil Mahdi, noted the destabilizing roles that the TPLF have continued to play following their expulsion from power through protests in Ethiopia.

Sudan

Ethiopian Ambassador to Sudan Yibeltal Aemero on Monday (November 15), gave a briefing to local and international media outlets based in Khartoum about the current situation in Ethiopia. He said deliberately distorted information about Ethiopia should not deceive the people of Sudan from understanding the reality on the ground in Ethiopia. He said the story of the siege of Addis Ababa by the TPLF and its affiliates was a part of the orchestrated psychological warfare that aimed to break the unity of Ethiopians.

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Ethiopian Media Authority warns CNN, BBC, AP and Reuters to refrain from disseminating unsubstantiated information on Ethiopia (Statement)

The Ethiopian Media Authority, in issuing licences for journalistic operations, expects reports not to endanger Ethiopia’s national interest, territorial integrity, or the peaceful coexistence of the people of Ethiopia. Since the onset of the law enforcement operation in the Northern Region of Ethiopia by the Federal government, the Authority has been monitoring numerous foreign media outlets and conducting a trend analysis on their reporting on the issue.

Unfortunately, the Authority finds CNN/AP/Reuters/BBC as one of the mainstream news organizations that have consistently disseminated news that sowed seeds of animosity among people and compromised the sovereignty of the country. As covered in detail within this letter the Authority has identified some of the trends of media misconduct and shady CNN reporting, which include,

1.         Manufacturing and dissemination of false news and news analyses on Ethiopia to assist the TPLF’s objectives;

2.         Reporting the Law enforcement operation as a genocidal campaign;

3.         Reports undermining the government’s efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in the Tigray region;

4.         Reporting that the government is using famine and rape as a weapon of war in the Tigray region;

5.         Producing defamatory reports on the country’s leading institutions;

6.         Generating News seeking to discredit the country’s leader in the international arena and put the country under intense diplomatic pressure

The Authority would like to bring to your notice that despite repeated attempts, formal and informal discussions, to rectify journalistic misconduct of your news institution, no significant change has been registered so far.

Given the Authority’s responsibility to protect the wellbeing of the Ethiopian people from the dissemination of unsubstantiated information, the Authority, hereby, extends to your institution a written warning with an understanding that in the absence of ethical and professional journalistic operation, the Authority would be compelled to revoke the licence granted to your institution to operate in Ethiopia. 

19 November 2021

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State Minister Redwan Hussein’s interview with Al Jazeera Horn of Africa

State Minister Redwan Hussein had an interview with Al Jazeera Horn of Africa over the week regarding current situations in Ethiopia. The interview covered topics ranging from the recently declared state of emergency in Ethiopia to the latest humanitarian situation in the northern part of the country.

Refuting claims over the detention of individuals based on their identity, he said, “People are not detained just because of their ethnic background. If the police found them free of their suspected involvement in prohibited activities as stated in the State of Emergency implementation procedure, police will immediately release them.” The State Minister also responded to the allegation of some corners of the international community on the Ethiopian Government’s deliberate attack on the UN staff using the SoE as a pretext. He said, “Reports on the detention of UN personnel do not have anything to do with the organization that they are working for. Again, if the police do not have evidence for their arrest, these people will be released from detention.”

Ambassador Redwan also rectified the erroneous report on the government blockage of humanitarian supply to Tigray since October 18. According to the Ambassador, on the same day the interview had been made, “369 trucks loading humanitarian support have headed to Tigray,” and “humanitarian flights to Kombolcha and Lalibela have also been allowed.”   

The Ambassador also talked about the destructive outputs of internationally renowned media outlets while covering issues that are related to the situation in the northern part of the country. He highlighted that reports on the siege of Addis Ababa by the TPLF and its affiliates are concocted by media outlets, such as CNN, BBC, AP, and Reuters to create hysteria and disorient the government from its duty.

In relation to this point, “Ethiopia current issue Fact Sheet” over the week has also issued a statement downplaying the report by Reuters which claimed that the Government of Ethiopia, through the recently declared State of Emergency, has forced citizens to carry ID cards that identify their ethnic backgrounds. The news story is false because of two facts:

1. The State of Emergency allows citizens to make use of various alternatives as identity documents including driver’s license, employment ID cards, and national passports. None of these documents include the ethnicity of their bearer.

2. Since the coming into office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, most municipalities that used to include ethnic Identity In residence ID cards have discontinued this practice.

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On the US Government Sanctions Imposed on the Eritrean Government (Press Statement)

The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia denounces the announcement of the United States on November 12, 2021, to impose sanctions on the State of Eritrea. We believe the US has failed to consider important facts:

1.         The Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) fired rockets at a sovereign country, Eritrea, following its unprovoked attack on the Northern Command of Ethiopia’s National Defense Forces on November 3, 2020.

2.         It is the sovereign right of the Eritrean government to respond to imminent danger to its territorial integrity and security.

3.         The government of Ethiopia has never lodged any grievances to the international community regarding the initial presence of Eritrean forces on its soil in defense of their territorial integrity. The prerogative to put forth such a complaint lies with the government of Ethiopia and not any other country.

4.         The Government of Eritrea has evacuated its military forces from Ethiopia following the declaration of the Unilateral Humanitarian Ceasefire by the Government of Ethiopia at the end of June 2021.

5.         The government of Ethiopia does not believe that the State of Eritrea is an impediment to sustainable peace in Ethiopia. The real and present threat to peace in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa region is the continued belligerence and aggression of the TPLF. We reiterate that the international community’s reluctance to strongly condemn the destabilizing roles of the TPLF has emboldened the terrorist group.

If the purpose of sanctions is to compel parties to cease their destabilizing actions, the Ethiopian government strongly believes that the real target for sanctions and further tougher actions by the US government and the greater international community should be directed towards the TPLF.

We, therefore, implore the US government to rescind its decision to impose sanctions on the State of Eritrea and to take actions against the real root cause of the current challenges in Ethiopia-the TPLF.

13 November 2021

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On the Terrorist Attack in Kampala, Uganda (Press Statement)

The government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has learned with dismay of the deaths and injuries of civilians and police officers on November 16, 2021, of the twin terrorist attacks in Kampala.

The government of Ethiopia condemns these cowardly attacks on the strongest terms while expressing solidarity with the people and government of the Republic of Uganda.

Ethiopia had also been a victim of similar terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of innocent people and destroyed property. The government of Ethiopia and Uganda deployed their men and women in uniform in Somalia, realizing that cooperation is indispensable in fighting terrorism.

The government of Ethiopia is confident that the attack in Kampala will not deter Uganda or any other African countries from further fighting terrorism with even more resolve.

The government of Ethiopia expresses its deepest condolences to the people and government of Uganda as well as to the bereaved families.

17 November 2021

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