Somalia’s President Arrives in Ethiopia Amidst Escalating Tensions

Somalia’s President Arrives in Ethiopia Amidst Escalating Tensions Amidst escalating tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed of Somalia has landed in Addis Ababa. This arrival is particularly significant, given the recent discord sparked by the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which President Mohammed has vocally opposed. His visit to the Ethiopian capital underscores the heightened diplomatic stakes and the urgency of addressing the issues that have strained relations between the two nations. This diplomatic visit is set against the backdrop of President Mohammed’s attendance at the 34th session of the African Union, an event that draws leaders from across the continent to deliberate on pressing regional challenges. The controversy surrounding the MOU—wherein Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent entity in return for a 50-year lease on a stretch of its coastline—has thrust Somalia and Ethiopia into a complex diplomatic entanglement, with Somalia asserting that such an agreement infringes upon its sovereignty. The Somali government’s response to the agreement was immediate and firm, marked by the recall of its ambassador from Ethiopia and a cabinet meeting that reinforced Somalia’s refusal to recognize the MOU. President Mohammed’s outreach to international leaders to rally support for Somalia’s position has garnered backing from Egypt, along with statements from the Arab League, the African Union, and the European Union, all advocating for the protection of Somalia’s sovereign boundaries. Amid this contentious atmosphere, President Mohammed’s statements to Al Jazeera have made it clear that any diplomatic dialogue with Ethiopia must commence with the revocation of the MOU. While it remains uncertain if meetings between President Mohammed and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will take place during the visit, the situation highlights the fragile balance between upholding national sovereignty and fostering regional diplomacy. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent remarks indicate Ethiopia’s aversion to conflict with Somalia, suggesting a possible avenue for peaceful resolution.

Can Ethiopia Find Peace Through Negotiation? Rwanda Provides Lessons

Can Ethiopia Find Peace Through Negotiation? Rwanda Provides Lessons Article by : Elias Demissie Currently, Ethiopia is passing through a non-predictable outcome. The whole world including Ethiopians believed there was a change of Regime in 2018, after the 2005 election in Ethiopia most of the opposition voices died and created an acquiesced atmosphere of the general public over the oppressing regime of EPDRF but this ambiance didn’t last for long and brought another strong chain of protests which managed to crack the EPRDF into two units following an internal power contestation.  nevertheless, the protesters’ sacrifices were used to get a better power position in the leading party. The infamous split of  EPDF  happened in 2018, creating two strong entities with the same leading ideology but different political capital and ethnic backgrounds. The subtle power friction resulted in bringing the current Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali to power hold,  who gave hope of bringing a change to Ethiopians and those interested in the country’s future, as it’s the same party with the identical ideology from the parent party EPDRF the leadership fell short by repeating the same mistakes which the youth of Ethiopia protest against. After the change, the party EPDRF split into two and created political fortresses in Addis Ababa and Mekele, The Addis Ababa group changed its name to Prosperity Party with only party reforms, but the Mekele half stayed the same with zero party alliance making it solely a TPLF where it has started some three decades ago. This made TPLF the black ship.  with its wrong political calculations soldiered with its 27 years of oppression, crime, genocidal acts, and human rights abuses made the party a bystander in the Ethiopian political Arena. Because of the inherent character of the leading party, OPDO/PP in Ethiopia is no different from its parent EPDRF.  it took a very short time to start State-sponsored killings and internal displacements of Ethnic Amharas by installing a new Governmental project called Oromuma, because of all these crimes unveiled; Ethiopians started to question if the change was genuine or not, yet what most forget was the protest only managed to split the party and withdraw the former oppressor and bring a New one. The outcome of the protests was only a shift from a Tigray political dominance to an Oromo one, amid all these problems happening the conundrum brought by Abiy Ahmed was to name his new party Prosperity Party which again ended in bringing nothing new from the former TPLF led government. While all these were happening TPLF from Tigray was waiting for an opportune moment to resume its power in the capital. COVID-19 was a lottery ticket to TPLF to swing some heavy shots on the leading gov’t.  Tplf believed it would be a golden ticket to Addis Ababa if they put the leading party In a legitimacy question. The power struggle ended in bringing a brutal civil war which made Ethnic Amharas pass through genocide and war crimes. Because the war added to the already happening genocide, massacre, and internal displacements by the Abiy Ahmed regime and its Mercenary group OLA-Shene, it made the suffering of Ethnic Amharas go on a hyperbole. The first civil war ended in catastrophic human rights abuse to genocide crimes against the people of Amhara. Because the whole world has turned a blind eye to these heinous crimes, ethnic Amharas continue to face countless genocides and human rights abuses in non-carrying areas like Oromia, Beninshangul Gumuz, and Addis Ababa to say the least. No one expected there would be another war happening in Ethiopia but it happened as a “war for war crimes” with no objective goal. In this war, the government of Ethiopia was able to defend the two critical wings of the war which are  Afar and Welkait, and leave the rest.  This enabled  TPLF forces to move deep into the Amhara lands of Wollo and Shewa. In the first war, GOE lost its international community support because of war crime allegations from the Tigray side, the government tried its best to contest the allegations by directly attacking the IC and the US specifically through a popular movement called NOMORE. The movement #NOMORE was so aggressive that some feared it might bring homegrown terrorism on US soil.  A resentment over the  US made a political shift of support to the Russian Federation, Some believed the country might take the stride to reignite the former Ethiopian Pres. Mengistu’s times of communism sidelined the US from the Horn of Africa politics. Nonetheless, the Ethiopian gov’t aggressive move over the IC failed miserably. But This doesn’t stop the gov’t from using the second TPLF aggression as a crime-balancing war by using a term called “tactical retreat”. Closing the two critical corridors and leaving other areas unprotected let the TPLF army move in the hearts of Amhara lands without a challenge which enabled them to commit war crimes of a very high magnitude. This left the Amhara people under the water. This plan of the gov’t was so successful that the IC started to show a soft heart to the GOE, which even pressured the IC to think about bringing peace by putting these two war criminal gov’t fragments on a negotiating table. Failed Negotiation of War Criminals and the Case of Rwanda July 1992 was the time when the peace talks started in Rwanda to bring two big actors The AKAZU Interahamwe embedded gov’t and the RPF to the negotiation table, both parties are known for war crimes and rampant civilian targeted genocide in  Rwanda and Burundi.  The UN was able to introduce the UNAMIR mission and tried to impose the ARUSHA accords in August 1993, yet the peace talks and arrangements failed. while these peace arrangements were happening Rwanda was passing through war crimes for consecutive three years, the very obvious mistake that the International community made was trying to bring criminals to a negotiating table, the only way to it should have been stopping the civil war and start an independent investigation to clear out the war and genocide criminals and proceed to negotiation. Because of the failure to see the shortcomings of sitting parties whose hands are soaked in crime Rwanda faced one of the deadliest genocide in the history of mankind.   This happened while the whole world was wide awake and under the presence of the UN peacekeepers. What should the International community learn from Rwanda The writer believes and advises that before creating peace, accountability, and justice shall prevail, then any peace talks and negotiations can be produced because the air is cleared from the violent actors. The case of Ethiopia: currently Ethiopia is passing through a brutal civil war in the north and government-sponsored genocide in Oromia, most give a lazy eye to the latter, because the focus is on the war.  Oromia a region where there is abundant Ethnic diversity has become a prison of Ethnic groups and minorities because of the enabling regional constitution which ushered in an Oromo ethnic group hegemony leaving other ethnic groups without any political representation this Single-handedly helped the government-sponsored genocide to go unnoticed. Because of the war in the North, the International community undermined the baby steps of the current genocide in Oromia against ethnic Amharas, the numbers are growing every day to bring an Apocalypse. These two big phenomena should be dealt with inseparably. Negotiations of criminals might only bring a non-confidential ceasefire which will then erupt as a bloody war any time soon. because the warring actors are on hold of their warring armies. To fix the current issue in Ethiopia the IC must push for justice before any peace talks and negotiations. Otherwise, the peace talks will fail drastically like the Arusha accords of Rwanda.

Journalist Fekadu Alemu, Head of Ethiopian National Media Support, Flees Country Amidst Safety Fears

Journalist Fekadu Alemu, Head of Ethiopian National Media Support, Flees Country Amidst Safety Fears The founder and Executive Director of Ethiopian National Media Support (ENMS), journalist Fekadu Alemu, has reportedly left the country due to safety concerns. Fekadu Alemu, a prominent journalist and the driving force behind ENMS, recently disclosed his decision to leave Ethiopia. Speaking to an anonymous source from Addis Insight, he suggested that the pressures he faced, stemming from his identity and his journalistic endeavors, along with intense surveillance by unidentified individuals, may have contributed to his departure. Our sources indicate that during his tenure at Fana Broadcasting Corporation, journalist Fekadu Alemu authored various articles under a pen name. Furthermore, he contributed critical and educational pieces on a wide range of political and social issues to prominent media outlets such as Wazema Radio, Addis Maleda, and Addis Insight Media. In addition to his career in journalism, Fekadu Alemu is recognized for his role as an educator and trainer in the fields of journalism and communication. He has imparted his knowledge and expertise at institutions including Axum University, Hawassa University, and various colleges in Addis Ababa. Drawing from his 13 years of experience as a journalist and educator, he established Ethiopian National Media Support (ENMS) in 2020. You can learn more about ENMS by visiting their website at https://www.facebook.com/newenms With ENMS, he has been leading and facilitating various media freedom project activities that significantly improved media professionalism in Ethiopia in collaboration with local and international organizations. The Chevening Africa Media Freedom Fellowship award cohort of 2022, African Civic Engagement Academy, University of Georgia 2021, and others are among the fellowships he has received. In closing, sources have indicated to Addis Insight that journalist Fekadu Alemu has applied for asylum in England, underscoring the challenges and concerns faced by journalists working in Ethiopia.

On the Horizon: Afwerki and Ahmed’s Imminent Confrontation at Saudi Summit

On the Horizon: Afwerki and Ahmed’s Imminent Confrontation at Saudi Summit The Saudi-Africa Summit in Riyadh, a platform for dialogue and cooperation among African nations and Saudi Arabia, is set to witness a significant encounter between Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. This meeting is particularly noteworthy given the recent tensions between the two leaders, exacerbated by Ethiopia’s aspirations for sea access. President Afwerki’s presence at the summit follows a period of strained relations with Ethiopia, especially after the 2018 peace deal he signed with Prime Minister Ahmed. The deal initially raised hopes for sustainable peace but later faltered due to ongoing conflicts with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The Eritrean government’s involvement in these conflicts, alongside Ethiopian forces, has been a point of contention, especially after reports of human rights violations by Eritrean soldiers in the Tigray region. Moreover, President Afwerki’s regime faced sanctions from the European Union in March 2021 for human rights violations in Eritrea, which further complicated the geopolitical scenario. The Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed these sanctions as “baseless and offensive,” indicating a dismissive stance towards international criticism. On the other hand, Prime Minister Ahmed has publicly acknowledged the presence of Eritrean forces in Tigray, expressing gratitude for their assistance but also emphasizing Ethiopia’s sovereignty and the need for the withdrawal of foreign forces. This statement and Ethiopia’s quest for sea access mark a delicate phase in the relations between these two Horn of Africa nations. The Saudi-Africa Summit, therefore, presents a critical juncture for potential diplomatic engagement between President Afwerki and Prime Minister Ahmed. Their interactions could signal either a further deterioration or a possible reconciliation in their bilateral relations, with significant implications for regional stability and cooperation. Tags abiy ahmed ethiopia ethiopia news ethiopia news today ethiopian news

Ethiopia’s Government Blocks US State Department Report and Social Media, Leaving VPN as the Only Option

Ethiopia’s Government Blocks US State Department Report and Social Media, Leaving VPN as the Only Option Ethiopia’s government has recently blocked access to the US State Department annual human rights report. The report, which is accessible on the https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/ website, is no longer accessible without using a virtual private network (VPN). Additionally, the official website of the US State Department is no longer available without a VPN (State.gov). This action follows Ethiopia’s recent move to block access to social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube without a VPN. Ethiopia is currently emerging from a two-year conflict in the north that saw all parties involved committing atrocities. The cessation of hostilities agreement (COHA), signed on November 2, 2022, has led to a decrease in human rights abuses in northern Ethiopia, the withdrawal of Eritrean forces, and the Ethiopian government’s initial steps towards transitional justice. However, it is important to acknowledge the suffering that was inflicted upon civilians in northern Ethiopia during the conflict. After a thorough review of the law and facts, it has been determined that members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF), Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces, and Amhara forces committed war crimes during the conflict in northern Ethiopia. Acknowledging the atrocities committed by all parties involved is a crucial step in achieving sustainable peace. Those most responsible for the atrocities, including those in positions of command, must be held accountable. It is encouraging to see the commitment made by the parties to the COHA to acknowledge the atrocities and their devastating consequences. It is imperative that all parties follow through on their commitments to one another and implement a credible, inclusive, and comprehensive transitional justice process. The Government of Eritrea must also ensure comprehensive justice and accountability for those responsible for abuses in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government has accused the United States of taking a “partisan” approach by alleging that its forces, along with Eritrean troops, had committed war crimes during the two-year conflict in Tigray. The foreign ministry issued a statement on Tuesday, a day after Washington accused all parties to the conflict of committing war crimes but singled out Ethiopian, Eritrean, and regional Amhara forces for crimes against humanity, without mentioning forces loyal to the TPLF. On Tuesday, Eritrea’s foreign ministry stated that the allegations were “unsubstantiated and defamatory” and constituted a “continuation of unwarranted hostility and demonization that US administrations have pursued against Eritrea since 2009 to advance their ulterior political agendas.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently made his first visit to Ethiopia since the November 2022 peace deal between the federal government and Tigrayan rebels. Upon returning to Washington, Blinken made a strong call for accountability, citing the State Department’s “careful review of the law and facts”

Ethiopian Orthodox Church Condemns Violation of Agreement and Canon, Urges Unity”

Ethiopian Orthodox Church Condemns Violation of Agreement and Canon, Urges Unity” The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has issued a statement indicating that an agreement made by the fathers a few days ago has been violated, along with the canon. The Holy Synod office released a statement regarding the matter today. Abune Abraham, speaking to his followers, reminded them that peace had been declared just two days prior. However, he noted that in the ensuing days, all that has been heard has served to further divide the church and create discord between fathers and children. At around nine o’clock under the new name ‘#New_Synodos’, those related to the papacy and those who are not, as well as those related to the episcopate and those who are not, broke the agreement and the canon, thereby destroying them. This action effectively reinstated the old religion and laws that had been previously broken. Their actions conveyed a message that their appointment is legal and will not be revoked in any way. However, this message is seen as a frivolous allegation that has more to do with politics than religion. Instead of protecting the church and teaching the faithful, they are using power and force to create conflicts and control everyone. They are claiming that all of their thoughts are on an equal level, and the 25 ministers and priests from yesterday are still bishops. At nine o’clock, they announced that they would not come all day, but they later entered their house of worship without notifying anyone. The church is watching silently, waiting patiently. Therefore, the message being conveyed is that those who violate the law, break agreements, and use falsehoods to pretend to be true must stop this behavior and show some courage. Tags ethiopia church news ethiopian orthodox church

The Persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Church Followers: A Comparison to Jewish Persecution Throughout History

The Persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Church Followers: A Comparison to Jewish Persecution Throughout History The persecution of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church draws comparisons to the persecution of the Jewish people. Both groups have been targeted by authorities for their religious beliefs and have been subject to human rights abuses. The use of disproportionate force and the arrest of individuals without due process are common threads that run through both instances of persecution. The recent persecution of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has been a matter of great concern for many people. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world and has been involved in a dispute over the appointment of the papacy and the establishment of the Synod. This disagreement led to the formation of a new synod by some bishops who were not appointed by the main leadership of the church. The main leadership of the church condemned this action as a violation of its order and canon. The government’s response to the dispute has been to arrest individuals suspected of creating informal organizations to achieve their own goals and political needs, to pit religion against religion and nation against nation, and to undermine the constitution and the constitutional system. However, the church’s lawyers claim that the arrests are politically motivated and have increased even after the government agreed to allow the church to settle the matter with its own religious canon and administration without government intervention. The use of disproportionate force by government security personnel has led to accusations of human rights abuses. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission confirmed that eight people were shot and beaten in Shashemene, but the church claims that the number is higher. Additionally, parishioners and religious leaders who opposed the bishops who claimed to have established the new “Church” were beaten, harassed, kicked out of churches, restricted by force, and illegally arrested. The persecution of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church draws comparisons to the persecution of the Jewish people. Both groups have been targeted by authorities for their religious beliefs and have been subjected to human rights abuses. The use of disproportionate force and the arrest of individuals without due process are common threads that run through both instances of persecution. It is important to note that the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is not the only religious group to have faced persecution in Ethiopia. The country has a history of religious tension and conflict, and the government has been accused of favoring certain religious groups over others. It is important for the government to ensure that all religious groups are treated equally, and that the human rights of all individuals are respected. In connection with the recent incident of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the church’s lawyers told the BBC that the followers of the faith were arrested, and most of them were taken to the Awash Seven military camp. According to Ayatollah Bitane, chairman of the main committee of lawyers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, more than 200 believers have been arrested. However, the actual number is not known, and the information body set up for this purpose will provide the details in the coming days. The arrests were mostly made in Addis Ababa and neighboring areas, and there is information about the number of pilgrims taken to Awash Seven. Although they do not know exactly how many individuals were arrested in Awash Seven, they said that 100 to 200 followers of the faith were taken to the place. Some of those arrested in Addis Ababa on Monday, February 06/2015, appeared in court and were arrested on suspicion of “terrorist activities and forming an informal organization to undermine the constitution.” Twelve people from the records of Principal Mehrete Ab Asefa and Kerubel Asefa, as well as those of Feven Zerihun and Brooktavit Nabiyu, were present at the hearing on Monday. Among them, seven suspects were released on bail, but the others were given an appointment of eight days, and their case was heard on February 14/2015. It is stated that it will be seen. Among those suspected of terrorist crimes are Feven Zerihun, the chairman of the youth and adult associations of the church, the general secretary of the association, Biruktait Nebyou. Tags ethiopia orthodox church news ethiopian orthodox church

GPE strongly condemns the targeting of religious institutions by the government in Ethiopia

GPE strongly condemns the targeting of religious institutions by the government in Ethiopia Genocide Prevention in Ethiopia has received credible information that the ruling Prosperity Party is escalating violent attacks on civilians massacring more than forty (40) laity and two clergymen to date while arresting several hundreds of peaceful worshipers, and clergymen, exasperating an already volatile situation. The illegal detention of the faithful has continued right until we issued this statement. GPE has asserted that the government and its various legal and illegal agencies as beingthe primary actors of many of the countries human rights violations & crimes againsthumanity (genocide, war crimes, mass murder, mass arrest, disappearances of well-knownadvocates) kidnapping and robbing of banks along with arming illegal groups.Over the course of the last four years, the government has been the central agitator andsponsor of violence in religious and educational institutions through its various agents. Thegovernment was involved in the overthrowing of the spiritual leader of the legitimateIslamic Council as well as the continued harassing of worshipers during religious holidays.In effect, the government is committing the crimes, as well as acting as law enforcement.It is engaged in shady practices disrupting civic organizations, by facilitating andcoordinating with non-state criminal actors that massacred ethnically targeted people.Thousands of innocent civilians, most of whom were women, children, and elderly weregunned down or hacked to death with machetes with their bodies spread over fields left forvultures and wild animals denied even burial rights. The involvement of the government incriminal endeavors has now extended to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, itsleaders, and the faithful. GPE condemns the ongoing killing and persecution of the faithful, forceful entry intoworship places and religious institutions, and all disruptive and irresponsible acts by thegovernment and its agencies. We call upon the government to dispense its duties to protectinstead of perpetrating crimes against humanity. GPE also warns that the very agitating press release by the Oromo National RegionalThe government may create a hostile environment that encourages hate-driven mobs to carry out ethnic and religious-based attacks we have seen take place in the past. It is important to note since 2018 there was consistent and horrific targeting of ethnic Amharas and Orthodox Christians in the region. The regional officials will need to take responsibility for any attack their aggravating announcements may spur. GPE warns members of the international community that there is an imminent danger oflarge-scale genocide if there is no pressure placed on the government to tamper its rhetoricand threats to illegally interfere in matters of faith.

Ethiopian Orthodox Church Concerned Over Abduction of Journalist Deacon Yosef by Government Forces

Ethiopian Orthodox Church Concerned Over Abduction of Journalist Deacon Yosef by Government Forces The Ethiopian government’s interference in religious affairs and media censorship continues to be a concern for citizens and rights groups. The recent abduction of journalist Deacon Yosef Ketema by government security forces has raised questions about the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of its citizens. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has been vocal in calling for an end to government interference in church affairs. While the government has made promises to address this issue, some observers note that interference has continued to undermine the church’s activities. The church recently postponed a planned rally following government promises to halt interference. In addition, the government’s crackdown on social media platforms has limited access to these platforms, requiring the use of VPNs to access them. This has been viewed by some as a violation of the right to free speech and expression. The situation in Ethiopia is complex, with the country continuing to face political and social unrest. While the government has made commitments to address issues of interference in religious affairs and media censorship, there are concerns that it has not followed through on these promises. This is a developing story, and we will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available. Tags abduction D/N Yosef City ethiopia Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church free speech government interference media censorship Oromo language security forces