FEBRUARY 6, 2021 ERITREA HUB ETHIOPIA, NEWS, TIGRAY

“The World Bank has stepped in to fill the gap” in the past, said Mark Bohlund, a senior credit research analyst at REDD Intelligence. That’s “become more politically challenging in the wake of alleged human-rights abuses committed during the war in Tigray,” he said.

Source: Bloomberg

Ethiopia Faces a New Crisis

By   Antony Sguazzin

February 5, 2021, 5:34 AM EST

The nation’s request to restructure its external debt under a Group-of-20 program highlights how much circumstances have changed for the country and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in just over a year.

In 2019, Abiy won the Nobel Peace Prize for ending two decades of conflict with Eritrea. After coming to power in 2018, he was hailed for pledging to open up the economy and create more space for democratic expression.

Banner besides a block of new residential buildings in Addis Ababa.

The coronavirus outbreak and a war with the rebellious Tigray region, have stifled that. Little progress has been made on privatization, and civilian casualties and displacement in Tigray has seen the leader of one of Africa’s fastest growing economies condemned internationally.

Now the country is worried about meeting its debt obligations and its announcement that it’s discussing liabilities with official lenders has sparked panic among private creditors. The country’s Eurobonds plunged the most on record last week.

“The World Bank has stepped in to fill the gap” in the past, said Mark Bohlund, a senior credit research analyst at REDD Intelligence. That’s “become more politically challenging in the wake of alleged human-rights abuses committed during the war in Tigray,” he said.

For now, there isn’t an immediate way out for Abiy.

The coronavirus has slashed demand for the country’s horticulture and textile exports and tourism has ground to a halt.

The war, which threatens to drag on in the form of guerrilla resistance, hasn’t helped.

FEBRUARY 6, 2021 MARTIN PLAUT ETHIOPIA, NEWS, TIGRAY

FEBRUARY 5, 2021 ERITREA HUB ETHIOPIA, NEWS, TIGRAY

FEBRUARY 3, 2021 MARTIN PLAUT ETHIOPIA, NEWS, TIGRAY, UN, UNHCR

A Joint Press Release by Tigray Independence Party (TIP), Salsay Weyane Tigray (SAWET), and National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona) on the Current Situation in Tigray

It has been almost three months since the unelected Ethiopian government officially declared a total war against the people of Tigray. This war is a war to deny people's constitutional right to self-government and self-determination as it is imposed on Tigray because Tigray defied the decision to postpone the sixth round election. This war, ostensibly declared in the name of ‘law enforcement’, deployed not only the Ethiopian defense force in its full capacity but also the ill-oriented Eritrean army in full capacity, regional state special police forces, Amhara militia, mercenaries from Somalia/Moqadisho and a technological support of non-African actors.

Since the start of this ominous war, more than 52,000 innocent civilians; including children, women, youth, elders and religious fathers; have been slaughtered indiscriminately. Towns and villages have been demolished by a blind artillery shelling, our health and educational facilities have been looted and destroyed and, to the surprise of any sane mind, our religious institutions have also been attacked and their sacred possessions plundered.

Extra-judicial killings and gang rapes have become every day practices of the aggressors. The rape that these forces are committing is so egregious that it includes forcing at gun point a father to do it on his daughter. Moreover, in fear of these abominable horrors of the invading forces, more than 3 million people have left their homes and become internally displaced with in Tigray, while around 150,000 have migrated to other parts of Ethiopia, although they couldn't escape ethnic profiling there too. Moreover, tens of thousands have fled to Sudan to escape from the atrocities in their homeland. The government and people of Sudan had always been a friend in need to the people of Tigray and we express our deepest gratitude for continuing to be one.

At this moment, more than 6.5 million people, including the internally displaced, are in need of urgent humanitarian aid. In fact, we have started to witness death of innocent civilians due to hunger even by the admission of ‘officials’ of the so-called provisional ‘government’ in Tigray. It should be noted that this hunger is man-made as we are aware that more than 4.8 million livestock have been butchered and raided, crops in fields have been burned and almost everything that the invading forces found in a Tigrayan home is looted and what is left of that is burned.

The Ethiopian government is using hunger as a weapon to subdue Tigray since it has been obstructing international efforts for humanitarian assistance. Keeping Tigray detached from the world by blocking internet and telephone communication is part of the strategy to obstruct helping the people of Tigray. Therefore, unless an urgent intervention is made by the international community to make food and medicine available to our people within days, we are afraid the looming humanitarian disaster of biblical proportion will become a gruesome reality in Tigray and humanity will be left to rue that.

We, therefore, call up on the international community for action

• to ensure an immediate withdrawal of the invading Eritrean army.
• to ensure an immediate withdrawal of the aggressor Ethiopian army, Amhara militia and regional special police forces from Tigray land.
• to ensure a secure access and direct humanitarian assistance in Tigray.
• to ensure an unrestricted access to the international media to get to Tigray and cover what is happening.
• to ensure a deep, independent and international investigation of the egregious war crimes and crimes against humanity that are committed by all forces that wreaked havoc in Tigray and make the perpetrators accountable.
• to press the Ethiopian government to stop the ongoing war in Tigray and start a dialogue process aiming at resolving the political  problems in Tigray and Ethiopia.

Tigray will prevail!!

Tigray Independence Party (TIP)

Salsay Weyane Tigray (SAWET)

National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona)

February 2021, Mekelle-Tigray

The congress was held on January 16, 2021 under the slogan that goes: “ Through our internal unity and dedication we will confront any obstacles and win.“ Following the agenda prepared by the preparatory committee, the congress discussed beneficiary issues to our party, our country and the Horn region in general after which the regional congress passed the following resolutions and recommendations:

1. Work hard to increase party membership specially targeting young females and males.

2. The congress called upon our people to organize and elevate its struggle because without being organized we cannot replace the dictatorship with a just and democratic system.

3. Strengthen our party’s financial standing by meeting and convincing Eritreans and friends of Eritrea to offer assistance. In addition, the regional congress suggested to jump start a well planned capital investment whose feasibility to be primarily       studied by members with necessary skills.

4. Congress underscored that raising the awareness of our members reflected in our party project is better achieved through the modern media tools in which all party members ought to participate. Based on that the regional congress organized a    work project that is to be discharged at the level of branches and individual members.

5. The North America congress have put together a facilitating program to enable us boost our diplomatic activities with international institutions, familiarize the goals of our party through Broadcast and written media. Congress also encouraged the    party to establish relations with countries in our region (East Africa) to promote peace and stability. Moreover, the regional congress showed its resolve to conduct communications with government institutions and none profit organization in Nort    America level. Considering the current dangerous situation triggered by the prime minister of Ethiopia and the Eritrean dictator, congress followed the foot-steps of the EPDP central committee’s decision and likewise condemned the brutality of the    war lords over the people of Tigray and demanded the hostilities to stop immediately and called the parties to solve their differences on the negotiating table.

6. The unprovoked cross border conflict with Tigray led by the Eritrean dictator exposed our people to yet another uncalled for tragedy and so the congress called for swift secession of the hostilities and the trigger happy dictator to take his forces out    of Tigray. Consequently, congress encouraged to reinforce our resistance against the enemy along with other justice seekers.

7. Concerning the tragic violations perpetrated on the Eritrean refugees living in camps in Tigray under the auspices of UNHR and Ethiopia, the regional congress again called upon international human rights organizations, relevant UN organs and    governments to redress the damage done and return some semblance of dignity to the victimized refugees. Going forward, the congress stressed the necessity of co-operating with the diaspora opposition and the civic movements. More importantly the North America congress recommended that joining hands with Yiakl movement and intensifying the struggle against the brute in Eritrea will essentially hasten his demise or downfall.

8. A call of the North America congress to the Eritrean defense forces: we recognize and the Eritrean people knows the hefty price you paid time and again in order to secure sovereignty and the independence of your country. We know too that in the   past the dictator gambled with your lives by engaging you into wars unknown to you for the sole reason of protracting his time in power regardless of our people’s loss and pain. As is always the case even now you have been pushed into a bloody    war in Tigray where you are causing and sustaining untold death and distraction in Tigray. As you may know this war doesn’t bear any benefits for you and for your country other than simply being sacrificial lambs for Isaias’ sinister agenda of    interfering in Ethiopian hostilities. Therefore, the congress is urging you straight from where it is convening to never again be pushed into unjust wars that serve no good purpose for Eritrea.

Long live our national independence and sovereignty!

Justice and democracy for our people!

Eternal glory for our martyrs!

EPDP regional congress of North America.

January 16, 2021

JANUARY 31, 2021MARTIN PLAUTETHIOPIA, TIGRAY

Let me first express my utmost respect and sincerest appreciation to you, the people of Tigray, as I speak to you directly from the heart of our embattled Tigray while in the middle of defending it.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As our people defend their safety and security to ensure their right to self-determination, we are faced with the ominous threat of the fascist forces of Abiy Ahmed, who are determined to collectively punish and subjugate the people of Tigray for simply exercising their constitutional right to hold democratic elections. As a result of this, a genocidal war has been waged upon the People of Tigray to illegally appropriate by force your identity and your basic right to existence.

The invaders have drawn on the combined forces of four countries and special forces of various Ethiopian regional states and descended upon Tigray, resulting in an uneven balance of power: one battalion of our Tigray Defence forces to one Division of the enemy invader forces. Despite this imbalance, the Tigray Defence forces have registered significant victories. Our successful operation on the Northern Command allowed us to minimize the debilitating attack planned by the invading enemy forces. Although they had planned on killing and humiliating the people, destroying the infrastructure, and looting their property, they failed to understand and thereby miscalculated that they can never rob or destroy the deeply entrenched psychological makeup of the people of Tigray. Now, with an even stronger commitment, we will rebuild Tigray again. They can never take us back to the stone ages as they had intended. “We get our armament from the enemies and our food supply from our people” This is the motto we always held high and, in this struggle, we continue to do so.

The bitter loss of our martyrs and heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice with their very lives only makes us more determined to keep on fighting. These brave men and women of the TPLF, who gave their lives while fighting against the illegal invasion of enemy forces, have for 46 years continued to pay the price for the continuation of the peoples’ struggle. That is a blessing. There are leaders, and there are rulers. Tigray has the former while the latter are in charge of Ethiopia.

To all the people of Tigray:

Our enemies are committing the worst atrocities such as looting, destroying essential infrastructure, including health institutions and medical supplies, water facilities, telecom and power establishments, and much more. The fascist forces of Abiy Ahmed and Isaias Afeworki are mercilessly slaughtering your children, bombing the institutions you worked hard for 30 years to build and destroying our historical religious sites. Nevertheless, this will not defeat us. It will only motivate us to fight harder.

To our most valued farmers:

I call upon you to send your children, as you have so gallantly done in the past, to join the struggle against the invading enemy forces.

To our people in the towns and villages in enemy territory:

You are facing daily horrors, including starvation, the merciless killings of your children, displacement, destruction of property and possessions, including the deliberate setting on fire of precious crops and animal feed. Despite facing such extreme challenges at these enemies’ hands, you continue to resist and support our struggle bravely. You have proven to the enemies that no matter the cost, you will never forcibly submit to the invading forces

To our Tigray Defence forces:

I say move on with our struggle for a just cause. I do not doubt as to its outcome. You will be victorious!

To the youth of Tigray:

Darkness has descended upon you. The invading enemy is killing you, forcing you to flee from your homes, depriving you of your fundamental right to self-development and education. Yet, you continue to resist employing courageous and systematic movements. You are awe-inspiring. I call upon you all to join the struggle.

To the Women of Tigray:

The enemies are committing unspeakable atrocities upon you; too gruesome to imagine, too painful to recount. Mothers and daughters are being raped side by side. Unbearable! All your resources are looted and destroyed. With time, the enemy’s opportunities are increased, resulting in more atrocities befalling on you. I call upon you to send your sons and daughters to join the struggle.

To the Tigrayan diaspora:

Your contribution to the struggle on behalf of your people is immensely appreciated. Furthermore, your clear understanding of this invasion’s true nature as a genocidal one has resulted in you taking on the role of ‘Ambassadors’ of your people and raising awareness among the international community, fundraising, and becoming the voices for the silenced people of Tigray. I urge you to take on your historic responsibility to consolidate your efforts and continue the struggle.

To the international community:

It is imperative that you fully grasp the magnitude of the atrocities being committed by the Ethiopian and Eritrean aggressors as well as other foreign powers. They are attacking the people of Tigray to exterminate them with bullets and weaponized hunger. The international community must recognize its responsibility and exercise its maximum efforts to bring these criminal aggressors Abiy Ahmed and Isaias Afeworki [committing grave crimes against humanity] to an international court.

Our ancestors defeated their enemies not with heavy artillery but with a decision not to give their fundamental human rights away. Furthermore, they fought with a strong commitment. We, too, are ready to defend our territorial integrity with our foundational beliefs of resistance and unity. We will continue to be united and stay strong to defeat Tigray’s invaders until our right to self-determination is secured.

In the past few days, our enemies have once again launched a sizeable offensive. But we will continue to thwart it and remove them from our land.

Victory for Tigray! Tigray Will Prevail!

Eritrean forces assumed control of Hitsats in early January and forced those remaining in the camp to evacuate, refugees said. “They threatened to kill us and people were afraid,” said one refugee now in Addis Ababa, who asked that his name not be used.

Source: Al-Jazeera

Thousands of people, many travelling by foot with no water and only leaves for food, have survived attacks and hardship to reach two camps in southern Tigray where the UN has regained access.

Eritrean refugees queue during a distribution of items organised the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
Nearly 100,000 refugees from Eritrea, an oppressive, authoritarian nation bordering Ethiopia to the north, were registered in four camps in Tigray when fighting erupted in November between Abiy's government and the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). (Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

1 Feb 2021

After surviving gun battles, attempted abductions, attacks by angry militiamen and days-long treks to safety with nothing to eat but moringa leaves, Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.

Nearly 100,000 refugees from Eritrea, bordering Ethiopia to the north, were registered in four camps in Tigray when fighting erupted in November between Abiy’s government and the regional ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Two of those camps, Hitsats and Shimelba, were caught up in hostilities and remain inaccessible to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) and its Ethiopian counterpart, the Agency for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA).

The information vacuum has spurred dire speculation over the refugees’ fate.

The UN has sounded the alarm over reported targeted killings and abductions by Eritrean soldiers, whose role in the conflict is widely documented but officially denied by Addis Ababa and Asmara.

The US State Department last week cited “credible reports” of looting and sexual violence in the camps.

Mai Aini, one of two camps in southern Tigray where the UN has regained access, is now home to hundreds of refugees from Hitsats.

“Most of the people, if you search this camp, they’ll start crying when they talk about what happened,” said Girmay, who like other refugees insisted on using only one name, fearing reprisals.

“Our friends could be alive or dead. We don’t know.”

‘They came and killed’

Once fighting reached Hitsats in late November, pro-TPLF militiamen targeted refugees in reprisal killings after suffering battlefield setbacks against Eritrean troops, several refugees told AFP news agency. On one morning the militiamen shot dead nine young Eritrean men outside a church, they said.

Pro-TPLF forces based themselves out of Hitsats for weeks, forbidding hungry residents from going out in search of food and shooting dead several who tried, anyway.

“At first we couldn’t believe it because they speak the same language as us,” Girmay said of the pro-TPLF forces. “Before we are friends … Suddenly they came and killed.”

Eritrean soldiers also committed abuses, the refugees said, arresting dozens of people, likely more, and whisking them to an unknown destination.

“The Eritrean soldiers caught some people and started asking them questions. I’ve counted 26 or 27,” one refugee said. “The next day they took them somewhere else. We don’t know where they are.”

Ethiopia’s government is investigating abuses and will try to account for all of Hitsats’s pre-conflict population, which it estimates at about 11,000, said Tesfahun Gobezay, ARRA’s executive director.

“With regard to Eritrean soldiers taking Eritrean refugees, we don’t have any solid evidence yet,” Tesfahun told AFP.

‘How can I feel safe?’

Eritrean forces assumed control of Hitsats in early January and forced those remaining in the camp to evacuate, refugees said.

“They threatened to kill us and people were afraid,” said one refugee now in Addis Ababa, who asked that his name not be used.

Roughly 3,000 refugees from Hitsats and the other inaccessible northern camp, Shimelba, have since reached the two camps in southern Tigray, many travelling by foot with no water and only leaves for food.

In Mai Aini, some new arrivals complained of poor access to clean water and of not having a place to sleep.

But their biggest concern, shared by some longtime residents, was for their security, with several worrying that pro-TPLF militias could attack the camp despite an extensive federal military presence nearby.

“How can I feel safe here?” said Natnael, who has lived in Mai Aini since he was a boy. “There are many militias around the camp.”

ARRA’s Tesfahun said progress had been made in re-establishing basic services in the southern camps.

He also said the camps were safe, though he added that “security is more of a feeling than reality, so they may feel that they are still insecure even if the reality shows otherwise”.

It remains to be seen what has become of the two camps in northern Tigray that are still out of contact.

Satellite imagery shows widespread damage to both, suggesting a campaign to destroy them, the British-based investigations firm DX Open Network said.

“There are clear and consistent patterns across both camps over a two-month period demonstrating that these refugee camps were systematically targeted despite their protected humanitarian status,” it said in a statement.

Well before the conflict, Abiy’s government made no secret of its goal to get rid of the northern camps and relocate the refugees.

Tesfahun said the plan had been “sabotaged” by the TPLF, but that it was now “resuming”.

A family Eritrean refugees stand inside their house at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

Eritrean refugees socialise inside a house at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
 (Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

An Eritrean refugee woman seats with a child at the door of a house at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

An Eritrean refugee woman looks on during distribution of items organised the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

Ethiopian Army soldiers stand as a pick-up truck with militia men passes by at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

Eritrean refugees walks carrying items during a distribution of items organised the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)

A general view of the Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia, on January 30, 2021. - Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia fear their suffering may not be over, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed strains to end a brutal conflict in the northern region of Tigray that has rendered them uniquely vulnerable.
(Photo by EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP)