#AbiyMustGo#Ethiopia

 

Ethiopian Forces Should Show Restraint at Upcoming Festival

Laetitia Bader

Director, Horn of Africa

Oromo Holiday Has Been a Flashpoint for Violence

Each year, massive crowds gather in the town of Bishoftu in Ethiopia’s Oromia region for the Oromo harvest festival of Irreecha. It’s one of the year’s most important cultural and religious events for millions of ethnic Oromos.

But this year’s festival, on October 3 and 4, occurs against the backdrop of escalating tensions and unrest in Oromia. On June 29, the assassination of popular Oromo singer Hachalu Hundessa triggered violence, leaving hundreds killed, some by security forces, others by civilian perpetrators, and massive property destruction and displacement.

In response, the government detained thousands, including prominent politicians it accuses of involvement in the violence. The security force presence in many towns in Oromia has increased, and recent protests have been met with a heavy-handed response.

Irreecha has already been a political flashpoint. In 2016, following a year of anti-government protests, security forces shot tear gas and discharged firearms as crowds gathered for the festival, sparking a stampede that left possibly hundreds dead.

Since March, the Ethiopian government has limited mass gatherings to slow the spread of Covid-19. With infection rates in Ethiopia remaining high, the authorities have recently further limited participation in large assemblies, most recently with the Orthodox Christian festival of Meskel, and now for this year’s Irreecha. An Oromia regional official has warned against manipulating the festival for political purposes. Federal security officials have also stated they will not tolerate any violence.

But many Oromos view the government’s attempts to limit participation in Irreecha with fear and suspicion. One 27-year-old man from West Arsi zone, Oromia, recently said: “The officials are selecting who will go, who will not, but they are not discussing with communities. You remember 2016? I fear that this year’s Irreecha festival will also face similar incidents.”

Amid a pandemic, reasonable restrictions on public gatherings may be justified. But with tensions already high, expressions of dissent and resistance to government directives may be expected. The government should show it has learned lessons from its recent responses to demonstrations and the events of 2016 by ensuring security forces exercise restraint and allowing gatherers to celebrate safely.

#AbiyMustGo#OromoProtests

 The Politics in the Political Trial of Jawar M and 23 Others

**************************************************************

I have now read the 336 pages of the indictment in full and here are my further reflections and observations.

Two preliminary points:

First: For those to whom it is intended, the indictment reads like a shocking thriller, conjuring an image of dangerous individuals who represent a mortal threat to the Ethiopian state and its PM, who is working hard to Make Ethiopia Great Again, and must be locked up and expunged from the political scene. Take for example the scene where the script writer imagines Jawar recruiting former OLF fighters and sends them to Egypt via Kenya, for training … the amount of cynicism here … basically praying on the prejudices, fears and apprehensions of the Addis Ababa elite ... A muslim Oromo, recruiting 'oneg' fighters, and sent them to Arab/Muslim Egypt, who is at a diplomatic war with Ethiopia ( note that the PM has been desperately trying to find some ways of using the enthusiasm over the GERD for internal politics, and of course his statement after Haacaaluu's assassination)

Second: For those against whom the script is written, it is likely to be perceived as a concatenation of provable falsehoods and outright lies designed to advance an oppressive political objective.

I have followed EPRDF era political trials and I have written on them extensively. I have also written on political trials elsewhere extensively. This indictment is perhaps the most blatant and egregious abuse of the legal system and the judicial space for political ends I have ever encountered.

The Trial

This trial is not a run-of-the-mill criminal trial. It is a political trial carefully choreographed and staged to put Oromo nationalism, which ushered the PM onto power, in the dock. The indictment reads as a prosecution of the aspiration of the Oromo public for a dignified and peaceful co-existence with the nations and nationalities of Ethiopia.

Indeed, some of the ridiculous evidence presented here and the sequence of events described and narrative makes it clear that this is part of a broader strategic manoeuvre by the government to depict an unpatriotic and violent image of Oromo nationalism to prepare the discursive environment for the PM's ultimate objective of dismantling multinational federation. Jawar and the 23 accused are convenient scapegoats on which to hang the stories the government wanted to filter into the court of public opinion.

At its core, this trial represents a collision of two radically contrasting visions of the future for Ethiopia: Jawar's ethnonational vision of a democratic multinational federal order, and the PM's "Make Ethiopia Great Again" vision of a highly centralised state in which he reigns supreme. And there is no symmetry between these two visions.

The established order is deploying the devices of law and justice to eliminate critical Oromo voices from the political space – a practice that is in keeping with Ethiopia's imperial origin and its anti-Oromo foundation. After all, this is a multi-ethnic empire that rendered significant parts of its population "a part of no part." The only reason people like Jawar, Eskinder, Lidetu, Bekele, Hamza and so many others are on trial is because Abiy and his neo-neftegna regime can. Abiy sees Jawar as a potent electoral threat in the short term & a mortal threat to his "Ethiopia First" vision in the long term. He is, quite simply, using the law 2 protect his personal interest.

Eskinder Nega and Others

People like Eskinder Nega and Lidetu Ayalew (both could represent a potential threat to Abiy’s electoral fortunes in Addis Ababa), are on trial because it allows the state to deny political motivation in the crackdown. They can say, look, we have arrested and detained individuals from other political formations too, not just Oromos, this is merely a matter of routine law and order operation.

What I find deeply tragic about Eskinder is how his metropolitan constituency seemed totally willing to sacrifice him. In their transactional worldview, if Abiy goes after Oromo nationalism and Oromo nationalists - forces they consider a threat to the established structure of privilege that gives them symbolic and material sustenance - Eskinder can be sacrificed.

By Awol Kasim

OMN: English News (Sept 23, 2020)

OMN: ENGLISH NEWS (Sept 27, 2020)

OMN: English News

OMN: Mil'uu Tibbanaa (Fulb 23, 2020)

Irreecha 2020 Ilaalchisee Ibsa Qeerroo

#AbiyAhmedMustGo#Ethiopia#OromoProtests

 

#AbiyMustGo#OromoProtests#Ethiopia

Yaadadhaa! Jawaar, Baqqalaa fi namootni isaan waliin turan marti Waxabajjii 30, 2020 gaafa qabaman ‘reeffa Hacaaluu Amboo geeffamaa ture humnaan Finfinneetti deebistan’ kan jedhuun hadheeffaman ture. Gidduu qabaman sana himannaan diinota irraa dhaga’ame tokko kana ture. Kun qofti jara qabanii tursuuf ga’aa akka hintaane gaafa hubatan poolisii Oromiyaa guyyaa gaafasii mooraa Giddugala Aadaa Oromoo keessatti lubbuun darbe kan ajjeese eegdota Jawaari kan jedhu itti eda’an. Gidduutti ragaan qorannoo yakkaa ajjeechaa poolisii Oromiyaa gaafas du’een walqabatee miliqee ba’e poolisichi kan du’e rasaasa dogongoraan harka isaa keessaa dhuka’een akka ta’e ibsee eegdonni Jawaar bilisa akka ta’an agarsiise (maxxansa Afaan Amaaraa Tsegaye R Ararssa  kan Hagayya 6 ilaali; Afaan Oromoof kan koo ilaali). 

Amma akkuma agartan himannaan Jawaar, Baqqalaa fi namoota isaan waliin jiran hunda irratti baname dirribii 10 ta’us mata-dureen himannichaa shororkeessummaa kan jedhu ta’ee jira. Waa’ee reeffa Hacaaluu fi du’a poolisichaa maqaaf qabiyyee himannaa keessa jiraatus hirraanfatamee jira. Himannaa Jawaar, Baqqalaa fi namoota isaan waliin jiran irratti har’a baname keessatti dhimmoonni kun lamaan maqaaf kaafaman malee akka dura dhiyaatanitti mata-duree himannaa ta’anii akka hindhiyaanne dookumantiin himannichaa har’a banamee ni addeessa. Himannaan jalqabaa kun lamaan maaliif hafe? 

Akka namootni akka kiyyaa jedhanitti osoo hintaane akkaataa diinni Oromoo Abiy Ahmed yaadutti durumaa rakkoon jiru isaan kana waliin hidhata hinqabu jechuudha. Kana jechuun Jawaarii fi Baqqalaan osoo gaafa Waxabajjii 30, 2020 bakka reeffa Hacaaluutti argamuu baataniillee bakkuma jiranitti qabamuun isaanii hinafu ture jechuudha. Akkuma beekamu jara kana irratti himata banuun guyyaa 80 fudhate; erga jara hidhanii waan ittiin himatan irratti barbaadaa turan. Inni gaafa Waxabajjii 30 balleessitan jedhame sun sababa jechuudha. Baqqalaa fi Jawaar himannaa sana lamaan irraa walaba ta’uun ifa ta’us akkuma ‘standard’ dubbii jaraattan dubbataa jira 

Duraa-duuba adeemsa kanaa yoo ilaaltan Haceen kan wareegame balaa tasaan osoo hintaane karooraan akka ta’e ‘suggest’ godha. Akkaatuma adeemsa sirni Nefxenyaa Abiy kun wareegamuu Haceen booda adeemaa jiru yoo ilaaltan Haceen kan wareegame karoora jarri Nefxenyaa baafattee lafaa qabuun akka ta’e ragaa kenna. Kun hiikkoo ani ofii kennaa jiru miti, duraa-duuba adeemsa dubbiitu akkas dubbata.  Ajjeechaan Hacaaluu irratti raawwatame ajjeechaa siyaasaa ti. Kana jechuun himannaan ‘reeffa Hacaaluu Amboo geeffamaa ture humnaan Finfinneetti deebistan’ jedhu Jawaar, Baqqalaa qabuuf sababa uumame jechuudha. Waan wareegamuu Hacee booda Oromiyaa fi Oromoo irratti raawwatame mara ilaalaa. Haceen dhimmuma kanaaf karooraan ajjeefame jechuudha. Ragaan biraan osoo hinbarbaachifne, wantootuma kana ilaaluudhaan Jawaarii fi Baqqalaa hidhuuf wareegamuu Hacaaluu dursee qophiin taasifamaa akka ture beekuun ni danda’ama. Kun ragaa al-kallattii diinonni keenya deemsa isaaniitiin of irratti ba’aa jiranidha. Yoo maal goone Jawaarii fi Baqqalaa yakkinee akka hidhaa galchinuuf karaa nuuf bana jedhanii qoratanii qophaa’aa turan jechuudha. Gocha akkamii yoo raawwanne hooggantoota Oromoo hafanis jumlaan hidhuu dandeenya kan jedhutu adeemaa ture. Kana hinbeektan jedheen dubbataa jira miti, ragaa jarri of irratti baate ilaalaa, yaadadhaa jechuufi. #AbiyMustGo

By Itana Habte

Ethiopia charges opposition figures with terrorism

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-54219925

https://www.aljazeera.com/.../ethiopia-files-terror...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/.../52249eb0-fa6c-11ea...

https://www.bloomberg.com/.../ethiopia-files-terrorism...

https://www.reuters.com/.../ethiopia-files-terrorism...

https://apnews.com/c5b1f95bb4eb2258767c2676e665a2dd

https://www.thesundaily.my/.../reuters-world-news-summary...

https://africa.cgtn.com/.../ethiopia-files-terrorism.../

https://news.yahoo.com/ethiopia-files-terrorism-charges...

https://www.africanews.com/.../ethiopia-charges.../

https://www.ourmidland.com/.../Ethiopia-charges-prominent...

http://www.china.org.cn/.../2020-09/19/content_76721036.htm

https://www.channelstv.com/.../ethiopia-files-terrorism.../

https://www.nambuccaguardian.com.au/.../ethiopian.../...

https://www.cbc.ca/.../ethiopia-opposition-terrorism...

https://www.dw.com/.../ethiopia-files-terror.../a-54991464

https://www.nsk.se/.../oppositionella-i-etiopien.../...

#AbiyAhmedMustGo#OromoProtests#Ethiopia

Abiy Ahmed is a Security Threat! 

=======

Abiy Ahmed is the number 1 security threat in this extremely volatile region of the Horn of Africa. Peace has long been suspended in the entire region ever since he came to power and drove Ethiopia into chaos. Ethiopia has truly gone from crisis to crisis and a deeper and multifaceted  set of crises. 

Everywhere, across the country, the level of insecurity has risen. In most parts of the country, people live under the shadow of:

a) extra-judicial killings;

b) massacre of civilians;

c) political assassinations;

d) tortures;

e) political rape;

f) arbitrary arrests;

g) mass detentions;

h) evictions; and

i) various other acts of state terror.

Societal militarization through arming of vigilante groups has risen. Urban violence is rampant. Lawlessness and banditry has become the norm in some of the regions.

Abiy goes to the extent of randomly authorizing soldiers to "serve themselves" by confiscating money from people if people are seen with an amount that is above the legal limit.

Land grab, illegal settlement, an outright scramble for farmers' land has been done before the watching eyes of officials who act as patrons to the criminals. 

Virtually all the important opposition political leaders are in jail.

Selected media outlets are targeted for arbitrary persecution. OMN is a case in point.

In the last two years alone, as per a conservative estimaate of the dead, over 3000 persons have been killed, and countless people have been subjected to enforced disappearance. 

Millions have been internally displaced.

Victims of natural disaster such as flood, wild locusts, drought, environmental pollution, the global pandemic, and other local epidemics have all been left unattended to and unassisted by the government. 

Development projects have been stalled.

Foreign relations, and treaties thereof, have been terribly mismanaged.

Foreign interferences that has compromised the national security architecture and has exposed strategic economic, military, and geopolitical, interests to risk has also been witnessed.

Constitutional institutions and their procedures are utterly undermined.

The defense forces' constitutional responsibility is trivialized, and the army is threatened with the risk of being disbanded. They are publucly told that, unless they support Abiy's personal right of rule (with or wothout election), they will soon be replaced by his 'republican guards' and 'special forces'. 

The Regional States' constitutional authority is usurped or severely undermined. Those states which insisted on self-rule (eg. Tigray) are threatened with war. 

Each nation's sovereignty has been trampled upon and several times violently repressed. 

Unconstitutional and unbridled use of power by the executive (treaty power, war power, emergency power, power over fiscal decisions, etc) has become the new normal.

The country's international reputation and standing is at its lowest ebb. Our neighbors and strategic allies cannot trust Ethiopia anymore.

The internal instability, much of which is caused single handedly by Abiy's political (and arguably psychological) insanity has thrown the country's peace and security into chaos. This instability--especially the ebb in trust in Ethiopia's leader--has now started to spill over to the countries in the region all of whom are currently unsure of how things unfold. The distant and not so distant superpowers who have a stake in the region are now openly looking for another reliable partner in the region.

Abiy is radiating peacelessness and insecurity to to the entire region. By default, he is exporting Ethiopia's instability.

Internally, the country and its peoples are going through hell. 

Thankfully, though, it will end soon. In fact, it should end soon. And then, there will be a respite before hurrying on to start afresh. 

A respite is nigh. የእፎይታ ጊዜ ቅርብ ነው።

And then, ... we will start again.

Yes, we will restore peace. We will free the oppressed. We will restore agency to the people. 

We will thereby restore sanity to public offices, and dignity and integrity to public service.

And then, we will be "ready to run, to win, and to serve, in style"--again!

#Abiy_must_be_removed because

#Abiy_is_a_security_threat!

#Abiy_is_the_past!

#AbiyMustGo#OromoProtests#Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s neo-Neftegna regime filed terrorism and other charges against 24 prominent Oromo opposition leaders and activists in one of the most outrageous & fraudulent legal proceedings in the country. 

As I’ve been pointing out since Jawar and several others were arrested, this decision is entirely political and it is motivated by the the Prime Minister’s dictatorial desire to eliminate his formidable political opponents from Ethiopia’s political scene. The PM knows that his anomalous prosperity party which was wholly designed to consolidate his personal power has no hope of winning a democratic election and the only way he can realise his childhood dream of crowning himself the 7th King (as he repeatedly told us) is by disposing his powerful adversaries. That is elimination in “accordance with some prearranged rules”

This is not a “trial”. It is political repression through the weaponisation of the law and the court system. These proceedings have nothing to do with the rule of law or justice. And they do absolutely nothing to cure Ethiopia’s historic ills.

While the elimination of individuals who pose a critical electoral threat to the govt no doubt serves the personal interests of the showboat Prime Minister, it will haunt Ethiopia for decades to come.

#AbiyMustGo#OromoProtests#Ethiopia

They can try, as they have done hundreds of times, to destroy the OLF, but they never and never and never succeed. The OLF will be the winner at the end of the day when the Oromos have won their freedom which is the ultimate goal of the OLF fight!

Ms #SolianaShimelles was anti-OLF from the start and most importantly, she is motivated by #OromoPhobia even when she comments on Oromo issues. She has never been neutral as she would be as a member of the Ethiopian Electoral Board which should represent all political parties.

Since she was appointed by Abiy Ahmed without any approval from the other parties, she fulfills the mission given to her by Abiy to destroy the OLF. But she will be falling a million times and never succeeds in here lifetimes.

Last time she lied to VOA reporters when asked if Mr. Dowud submitted a letter to the board about legal action against those who violated OLF internal rules and opposed the OLF. 

Contrary she endorsed the false allegations against the chairman of the OLF - Dawud Ibsa.

Here is proof that the letter was sent to the council while she lied to the media about it. Shame goes on her and on the board and it's just ridiculous to have such liars in that position. where is the dignity and responsibility for what they are meant to represent?

የምርጫ ቦርዷ ሶልያና  ሽመልስ አልደረሰንም ብላ VOA Amharic ላይ ሽምጥጥ አድርጋ የካደችው ኦነግ ለምርጫ ቦርድ ያሳወቀበት ደብዳቤ::

ለታሪክ እና ለማረጃ ብቻ:

#AbiyMustGo#Ethiopia

 OLF Press Statement

[VOL - September 13,2020] The Oromo Liberation Front passionately believes that sustainable and permanent solution to Ethiopia’s complex political problems could only be attained with an All-Inclusive democracy and participation of all political forces. To this effect, OLF had been working with various political forces including those in power of ruling the country and opposition groups to create a national consensus to solve the political crises in Ethiopia. Since, the OLF moved its leadership to the country on 15th September 2018 it committed itself to work with honesty and integrity for the success of the peace process that lead to inclusive true democracy.

Although OLF was not happy on how the transition to democracy in Ethiopia was handled by PM Abiy Ahmed’s government from the very beginning, we patiently dealt with the situations with the hope that it would be improved; but not without price. However, the Political reform started in 2018 have faced huge challenges both internally within the ruling party as well as externally with the opposition groups. The situations are getting worse from time to time and currently it reached at stage where everything is out of control leading the government to collapse.

Now there is very alarming instability and fractured political prospect in the country and the public have lost hope and trust from the ruling party. We observed a clear ‘’constitutional crisis” in the country and the party in power has fallen short of its initial promises and has been using the government organs responsible to protect the Constitution towards its own political benefits. Detaining leaders and members of opposition political parties and gross human rights violations is a day to day job of the Government security forces. Despite the atrocities, OLF and other opposition parties have continued to express their willingness to support the reform, individually as well as jointly.

In addition to our individual proposals, the OLF is involved in different fora of opposition parties to support the democratic transition. One of the fora was the Alliance for Multi-nation Federalism (Alliance) that aim to provide joint support to the transition and democratic process. In April 2020, this Alliance provided comprehensive recommendations to the government on the transitional process. The recommendations clearly set out how to continue with the reform towards political settlement based on consensus and spelled out how stable democratic governance could be formed through a step- by- step process.

The recommendations were drafted within the framework of the Ethiopian constitution and considered the fallacies of the change process and the behavior of the ruling party; the current instability and security issues; and the human rights violations. In general, we analyzed the challenges of the reform system in both directions (the ruling party and the oppositions) and proposed workable recommendation that will be implemented jointly by the ruling party and the opposition groups.

The proposed recommendations highlighted to have binding political convention that enables other political parties to take part and to ensure proper oversight of the change process in order to build genuine democracy and help create sustainable peace in the country and would ensure livelihood improvement of citizens in which the Alliance and its member organizations, as well as all other forces would play their part.

The proposed binding political convention include the establishment of:

1. Council of Foreign Relation to inspire domestic trust and gain international legitimacy.

2. Coordinated National Security Council for monitoring the implementation of the Security arrangements in regions.

3. Democratic Building Institution to protect the autonomy and authority of independent judiciary, electoral board and independent media that could hold the executives accountable.

4. A body that resolve conflict and disparity between State building and Nation building to create national consensus on resolving outstanding political problems.

5. A body that would monitor the implementation of the convention to limit the quest of any further extension to the election and set out appropriate election date.

We also indicated the implementation of the recommendations including the details of responsibilities, system, and mechanism by which these parties would operate. We believe implementing these proposed recommendations will help to build democracy and help create sustainable peace in the country. It also addresses the security issues in regional states among themselves as well as the disparity between the government and opposition parties and differences among the oppositions themselves as well as address issue of contradictory stand on “State-Building” and “Nation-Building.

Therefore, we strongly suggest that the Ethiopian government should reconsider these recommendations as we believe it will resolve the current widespread crises. Also, we would like to reiterate our willingness to play our part in genuine democratic process if stakeholders discharge their responsibilities. In this instance, we would like to appeal to the international community to take serious action to safe Ethiopia from constitutional crises and total chaos. Particularly, we strongly appeal to the African Union’s (AU), the UN bodies, EU, and other international community to urge the Ethiopian government to engage with negotiation with opposition parties and jointly set out a road map to all-inclusive democracy through power sharing transitional government that will prepare and implement free and fair elections.

We praise the African Union’s (AU) role in leading and promoting dialogue-centered approach to conflict prevention and resolution in many African countries to maintain peaceful and secure Africa. We believe that the current crises in Ethiopia demands, more than any other entity, serious attention from the AU. In accordance with the article 4(h) of the Constitutive Act of the AU the Union has a right to intervene in a member state to prevent grave violations of human rights.

The national and international evidence clearly shows the continuous gross violations of human rights are committed by Ethiopian Regime on Ethiopian civilians for the last 27 years and in unprecedented scale in the last two years. In addition, there are Organized and strong armed forces emerging in most regional states that threaten the general governance and bring about security crises throughout the country.

Given the current crises and fast-moving potential conflicts and threats, the AU must intervene and excel its responsibility sooner than later. Also we would like to stress that the current situation in Ethiopia not only disintegrate the second largest country in Africa but also one of the biggest impediments to achieve AU Aspiration 4 of Agenda 2063 which aspires for “A peaceful and secure Africa”. Moreover, being Finfinnee (Addis Ababa) is the seat of FDRE, capital city of Oromia and the seat of AU headquarters, the security of the AU office and safety of more than 2000 employees working there must be taken into account in line with current peace and instability issues Ethiopia and in particular in Oromia.

We realize the role of UN in averting crises in the world and would like the UN bodies including UN Security Council (UNSC), the UN Human Rights Council, and others play their part in averting the current crises in Ethiopia. Particularly, the UNSC who has primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security, should not give a blind eye when one of the second largest country in Africa is encountered with political, social, human rights and economic crises and eventually collapse.

We appreciate the leading role the EU is playing in promoting economic integration, peace, and stability in Ethiopia, whilst supporting the implementation of national reform agenda and forming diversified development cooperation with Ethiopia. However, the Political reform started in 2018 have faced huge challenges, miss managed by PM Abiy and collapsed. This will halt the EU partnership and all the EU ambitions to Ethiopia. So, we believe that the EU will intervene with its capacities to avert the huge political crises that its key partners in the region is facing now.

Therefore:

1. We call up on the AU to intervene into the crises in Ethiopia based on its constitutive right stated in article 4(h) and other supporting articles of the Union.

2. We call up on the UNSC to take appropriate measures in accordance with its obligations stated in Article 39 and 41 of the UN constitutive act as the threats to peace and security is clearly evidenced in Ethiopia. We also appeal to UNHRC to act accordingly to address gross human rights violations in Ethiopia.

3. We call upon the EU to give serious attention to the instability in Ethiopia, especially Oromia, as this is huge conflict of a century and immensely affect the peace and stability in the horn of Africa, and affect the diplomatic and development partnerships of European countries with Ethiopia.

4. We call upon all Political Parties in Ethiopia to seriously take our proposal and work with us to avert looming and eminent chaos.

We hereby also call upon Independent Oromo Political Forces and the General Oromo people to prepare for Transitional Government of Oromia to avert any form of political and Security crisis. The OLF will continue to consult stakeholders on this position at both levels of government.

Victory to the Masses!

Oromo Liberation Front

Finfinnee

September 13, 2020

#AbiyMustGo#OromoProtests#Ethiopia

#Horn24News 

AMERICAN CITIZEN MISHA KIDNAPPED BY ETHIOPIAN SECURITY AGENTS 

American Citizen Misha Chiri kidnapped by Oromia Police moments after he was freed on bail by an Addis Ababa court.

I was arrested and detained together with Misha  early July and faced similar charges.  

His whereabouts remain unknown. 

I was similarly kidnapped in the same style after the same court freed me on bail. This illegal kidnappings usually take place after the federal police fail to produce evidence in court. The case is then taken over by another police force...this time probably the Oromia police...who then will take another one month "investigating" making sure that Misha remains in detention for as long as they wish. He will be facing the same same charges that the Federal police failed to prove only difference this time is that the prosecutor is Oromia police. When Oromia police fails to sustain in court Misha will be freed on bail again and then again Kidnapped by Addis Ababa to make sure he is detained for another month adding up to 3 months on detention.

That is the justice system in Ethiopia for you...the headquarters of African Union.

#abiyMustGo#Ethiopia

 BREAKING:

Abiy Ahmed government in Ethiopia abruptly made public new Bank (Birr) Notes. If I’m not mistaken, it might go into the market soon or may be injected already?

1. No one has expected this. No public notices given, no public discussions, or no consultations.

2. Not sufficient time to prepare for the financial instability this might cause. 85% of the population live in rural area and it takes them days to travel to towns where Bank are located.

3. Private sectors who don’t have prior notices can be harmed by this abrupt decisions.

4. The process the Gov’t followed seems to encourage government corruption and money laundering.

It seems that the change in Birr notes was done in secret, possibly with high government and Bank Officials’ discreet knowledge of the note reform.

This will give them sufficient time to “clean” their dirt money they acquired via corruption over time.

Another financtjonal injustice! And financial corruption by Abiy Ahmed government

More on this to follow later!

#AbiyMustGo#OromoProtests#Ethiopia

The arrest and detention of Kjetil Tronvoll, a highly regarded and engaged scholar with a particular expertise on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, will have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and academic inquiry.

Since the assassination of Haacaaluu Hundeessa, the Ethiopian state has returned to its default position - a police state - where security forces arrest critical opponents of the PM, weaponizing the rule of law and the court system, and deploying Orwellian doublespeak to confuse the masses. This incident highlights just how emboldened and intolerant this neo-Neftegna regime has become. It is intended to send the message that the state no longer cares about public opinion (domestic or international) and that it would not tolerate anyone second-guessing the PM's pastoral decision.

I left home before I knew who I was but home never really left me. Home is Oromia! #OromoProtests #QarreePower #JUSTICEFORHAACAALUU #FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners #FreeOromia

Senate Resolution of Minnesota condemning the atrocities happening in Ethiopia and calling for the release of Oromo Political prisoners! #OromoProtests #AbiyMustGo #FreeAllPoliticalPrisoners

 

#abiyMustGo#OromoProtest#Ethiopia

 Tigrayans are exercising their right to vote in defiance of the federal government which postponed the national elections scheduled to take place last month (August). Tigrayans are exercising the most important political rights guaranteed by the constitution at a time when the rights of citizens in other regions have been indefinitely deferred by the ruling regime through a dubious constitutional machination.

The Property Party postponed the elections mainly because the leadership knew that the party faced an electoral wipe out if it were to go into an election months after its establishment. A weird and uncanny construct created to serve an individual's desire for unlimited power, the Prosperity Party needed time to prepare for this election. As a party with no social basis and does not reflect the existing social cleavages or political fault lines in Ethiopia, PP needed to first purge its formidable opponents (especially in Oromia), establish patronage structures across the entire country, and institute divide and rule strategies (within ethnic groups and across groups) before it could muster the courage of going into an election of any sort - even if undemocratic.

Whatever the federal government and the House of Federation say about this election, the defiance by a regional state of a federal government in this country is unprecedented and cannot be written off as an ephemeral non-event. It would set an important precedent for Ethiopia's federation going forward

The statements and declarations by the federal government would have no constitutional or legal effect as far as regional and local elections are concerned. It is possible that the PP cabal might say that the Tigray regional state is illegitimate and withhold federal subsidies if PP remains in power whenever that deferred election is held, but that too would be too costly for any federal government and the Ethiopian state. If this election is seen as legitimate and credible by the Tigrayan people, any future action by the federal government would be seen as an attack as a democratic decision of the Tigray people, and could threaten the break up of the Ethiopian state.