reference
Here is a compilation of reference materials on salient facts and issues impacting the current conflict in Ethiopia
On the most recent democratic election in Ethiopia.
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SOURCES:
https://www.npr.org/2021/07/10/1015019374/ethiopias-ruling-party-wins-nationalelection-in-landslide
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"Failure to Stand for Democracy in Ethiopia Has Weakened Democracy Worldwide" by Ann Fitz-Gerald and Hugh Segal, The Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, 3 November 2021 https://peacediplomacy.org/2021/11/03/failure-to-stand-for-democracy-in-ethiopia/
“It was the first peaceful, democratic and transparent election ever to be held in the country, confirmed by 100,000 local election monitors and over 100 international election observers.”
Wikipedia (Contains details of seats won)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 2021_Ethiopian_general_election
The African Studies Centre Leiden
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On the TPLF's (Tigray People’s Liberation Front) past listing as a terrorist organization.
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SOURCES:
US Department of Homeland Security
“As far as the fighting leading to other ethnic conflict, you have to say – okay, I’m not privy to the thinking of the TPLF leadership when they started this, but this was not to secede and create an independent state from Ethiopia, because the Ethiopian constitution has a provision for the states to be able to secede peacefully. I mean, again, difficult to tell motivation, but it seems like they were doing this more to depose the prime minister from power and to reassert themselves into the prominent position that they had atop the Ethiopian political spectrum for the last 27 years.”
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Senator Jim Inhofe speaks on the terrorist designation of TPLF (12minute mark): https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=nZIXVM249Lc
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On the attacks that started the recent conflict in Ethiopia.
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SOURCES:
BBC: “Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: How a soldier survived an 11-hour gun battle”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55215431
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“From the first attacks on November 3rd by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, TPLF, on Ethiopian National Defense Force bases in the Tigray region, we have publicly and privately highlighted our grave concern.”“…As of today, the fighting in Tigray continues, and events last weekend suggest that the TPLF seeks to internationalize the conflict. The TPLF leadership has admitted responsibility for the November 13 missile launches at airports in Bahir Dar and Gondar, in the Amhara region, and the November 14 attack in Eritrea. These unacceptable attacks make the situation more dangerous, and the Secretary condemned them in his most recent statement.” “As far as the fighting leading to other ethnic conflict, you have to say – okay, I’m not privy to the thinking of the TPLF leadership when they started this, but this was not to secede and create an independent state from Ethiopia, because the Ethiopian constitution has a provision for the states to be able to secede peacefully. I mean, again, difficult to tell motivation, but it seems like they were doing this more to depose the prime minister from power and to reassert themselves into the prominent position that they had atop the Ethiopian political spectrum for the last 27 years.” “but again, I want to make it very clear that this is not about Tigray. There is no equivalency here. This is not two sovereign states fighting against each other. This is a faction of the government running a region in Ethiopia that has decided to undertake hostilities against the central government, and it has not – in my view – has had the effect that they thought that they were going to get.”
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Tweet from former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
https://twitter.com/secpompeo/status/1324121664108580875
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Launching missiles into neighboring Eritrea
https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1328721926643195907?t=Cm_we5ETyVIoiVR-fVOz3A&s=19
Reuters article on the TPLF launching the war
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-conflict-usa-idUSKBN27V0KT
Statement by Senator Chris Coons confirming the TPLf started the war
https://twitter.com/negashag/status/1460728980143853575?t=A1b2CAa_fJrlvbXE7zsGmg&s=19
Senator Jim Inhoff speech on the senate floor condemning the TPLF war against Ethiopia
https://youtu.be/nZIXVM249Lc
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On TPLF’s conflict expansion and blocking of humanitarian aid efforts.
SOURCES:
France24: “Hundreds of aid trucks 'not returned' from Ethiopia's Tigray region, says UN”
“We condemn the November 12 massacre in Mai-Kadra, apparently perpetrated by TPLF soldiers and militia as they retreated from the town. We urge independent investigations of all reports of atrocities and attacks against civilians. Those found responsible must be held accountable in accordance with the law.”“As I mentioned, we expressed our thanks to Eritrea for not being provoked when they were attacked by missiles because apparently, one of the aims of the TPLF hardcore leadership was to try to internationalize the conflict so that they could – that that would be a way to try to really fan the flames of patriotism within the general population of Tigray, and we appreciate the fact that Eritrea has been restrained.”
“Amnesty International has not yet been able to confirm who was responsible for the killings, but has spoken to witnesses who said forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) were responsible for the mass killings, apparently after they suffered defeat from the federal EDF forces.”
American Ethiopian Public Affair Committee
https://www.ft.com/content/bc0edfcf-9816-4451-a6c4-2ac7b8891646
“Fighters from Tigray in northern Ethiopia this week fought against pro-government troops in the neighbouring Afar region, opening a new front in the war after eight months of conflict.”
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On alledged atrocities on all sides.
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SOURCES:
Joint investigation by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the UN Human Rights Office
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/ET/OHCHR-EHRC-Tigray-Report.pdf
Voice of America
https://www.voanews.com/a/africa_ethiopia-convicts-3-troops-rape-charges-28-killings/6206097.html
On the $30B embezzled by TPLF during its 27 years of brutal rule in Ethiopia
SOURCES:
Forbes: “Ethiopia’s Cruel Con Game”which references a *Global Financial Integrity report on illicit financial flows from developing countries. https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2017/03/03/ethiopias-cruel-con-game/?sh=4fd6c43a29d0
*http://www.gfintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/IFF-Update_2015-Final-1.pdf
On the #NoMore movement taking place in 30 cities across 5 continents globally
SOURCES:
There is a chilling absence of mainstream media coverage for the movement, which continues to gain momentum across Africa and the globe.
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On US intervention in Ethiopia, including economic sanctions.
SOURCES:
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