It is to be recalled that, in response to the use of force and the aggression by the TPLF clique the Government of Ethiopia had to undertake a law enforcement operation within the framework of a State of Emergency. As part of this operation of the relevant authorities, including the Human Rights Commission, the Federal Police and Attorney General have been conducting investigations relating to the crimes committed and incidents that have occurred in the Tigray Regional State.

As such investigations progress these institutions have also released to the public their findings. Furthermore, the necessary steps to ensure accountability have also been taken based on the findings of these investigations. It is expected that those who are suspected of being responsible for the attack against the Ethiopian National Defense Force and those who are suspected of involvement in the massacre committed in Maikadra will face charges before the appropriate courts in the coming weeks. In line with this commitment for ensuring rule of law and accountability, the appropriate authorities and institutions in Ethiopia will continue conducting investigations to ascertain facts and ensure accountability where it is established that crimes have been committed.

We are aware that such investigations are already underway by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission in relation to some of the allegations and incidents that have been reported by various entities, including crimes of sexual violence and allegations relating to incidents in the city of Axum. The Commission is undertaking these investigations by enlisting and collaborating with international experts in accordance with the principle of complementarity, which gives primacy to national human rights institutions and mechanisms.

Furthermore, the Federal Police and Prosecutors are also undertaking the necessary inquiry to ensure accountability. These institutions will continue to communicate to the public their findings and based on these findings the Government of Ethiopia will take the appropriate measures in accordance with the law. While tragic incidents and unfortunate events do occur in conflict situation, the Government of Ethiopia does not condone any act that gratuitously puts the lives of civilians in danger.

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The Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels has held a Webinar discussion on the 25th of February 2021, on the current situation in Ethiopia including updates on the situation in the Tigray region. The seminar was mainly organized for Media Houses and Think Tanks based in Brussels.

H.E. Dr. Gedion Timothewos, Attorney General of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Mitiku Kassa, Commissioner of Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission and H.E. Mr. Tesfahun Gobezay, Director General of Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs were the guest speakers. Dr Gidon briefed the audience about the reform process and the operation in Tigray from legal and Human Rights points of view, Mr Mitiku gave an elaborate talk on how the government is conducting humanitarian support with a coverage of 3.5 million people to date. The overall policy on refugees in the country and the status of camps in the Tigray region as well as the efforts to repatriate Ethiopians in the Sudan camps was expounded by Mr Tesfahun.
Issues such as the need to investigate alleged human rights violations, the actual humanitarian situation in Tigray and access to the media were amongst the issues raised by participants and discussed widely.
Ethiopian Ambassador to the Belgium, Luxembourg and EU institution, H.E Hirut Zemene had moderated the webinar. In her remarks, Ambassador Hirut has emphasized the hugely imbalanced coverage of the situation in Ethiopia by various international media houses and think tanks. She noted, hence, the need to organize the webinar with the aim of addressing these imbalances.

H.E. Mr. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has addressed the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council today via a pre-recorded video message. Mr. Demeke’s speech highlighted why the law enforcement operation in Tigray was an absolute necessity given the belligerent attitude of the TPLF clique that threatened to hijack the reforms registered under the new political administration in the country. He also emphasized that the focus of the government is now on the rehabilitation and humanitarian assistance works underway in the region. He reaffirmed the Government of Ethiopia’s commitment to take all allegations of human rights violations seriously and give proper attention to the findings of Independent institutions, such as the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission in this regard. Please find the whole speech below.
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Madam President,

Allow me at the outset to congratulate you on your election to preside over the work of the Human Rights Council. I wish to take this opportunity to express the full support and cooperation of my country to you and members of the bureau in the effective discharge of your responsibilities.

With the change and reform that opened a new chapter in our country’s political and socio-economic dispensation three years ago, Ethiopia has made significant strides but also faced complex challenges from the global pandemic to domestic political problems. We were not, of course, oblivious of the daunting challenges of managing a transition in Ethiopia with the existing longstanding and complex socio-economic and political problems. One of such challenges was the deliberate and calculated efforts aimed at derailing the reform process through multi-faceted measures, including economic sabotages, disinformation campaign, incitement of violence and ethnic strife in many parts of the country. These anti-reform acts and campaigns were spearheaded by TPLF, which had dominated Ethiopian politics with brutal force for much of the past three decades but lost its power with the reform initiatives. TPLF’s authoritarian rule, which stifled and punished political dissent, suffocated the political space in the country as well as its rampant corruption and mismanagement of resources, was the cause of the popular uprisings which forced it out of power.

Despite TPLF’s long history of abuses and corruption, the new reformist administration in Ethiopia opted for peaceful co-existence and moving forward than criminal prosecution except for grave human rights violations and grand scale corruption by some top TPLF members. Even when TPLF and its acolytes launched both covert and public campaign as well as subversive efforts to derail the reform process, the new administration patiently sought all possible avenues for a peaceful resolution of the matter, including through several interlocutors.

TPLF rebuffed all these peace gestures; instead, it publicly escalated war rhetoric and public show of force, which ultimately culminated with a sudden and brazen military attack on the northern command of Ethiopian National Defense Forces stationed in the Tigray region, killing scores of the force members, and looting the armament. TPLF’s attack against the federal forces, including mid to top level command officers was particularly heinous as unsuspecting officers were massacred along ethnic lines in their own military camps. Thousands of the force members along with some of the force commanders were also kidnapped and detained by TPLF.

Following this heinous attack on the 4th of November 2020, and seizing of large number of weapons, TPLF publicly and unashamedly boasted about its “lightning strike” against the northern command and threatened to attack major cities including the capital city Addis Ababa. Indeed, it launched some rocket strikes in nearby cities leading to further deaths and destruction.
That is why the Ethiopian government was left with no option but to take legitimate law enforcement measures to reverse the unwarranted attack by TPLF, to free kidnapped federal force members, to restore law and order, and to recover looted weaponry. These operations were completed in less than a month with all the efforts to minimize civilian casualty.

Madam President,

Our priority currently is rehabilitation of affected areas of the Tigray region, including delivering much needed humanitarian assistance, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, and resuming social services, establishing law and order, and restoring full peace and stability. On the other hand, several senior civilian and military leadership of TPLF have either been arrested or surrendered and they have been brought to a court of law. The rest of TPLF leaders and accomplices who still remain at large and launch sporadic fighting in small pockets of Tigray are given a chance to peacefully surrender. Otherwise, the federal security forces will continue to pay all the sacrifice to bring them to justice.

In the meantime, we are mobilizing all the necessary efforts to provide urgent humanitarian response to people in dire need of assistance working closely with local and international partners. Admittedly, the humanitarian response effort was fraught with many challenges. There was a complete breakdown of law and order in the region. Critical infrastructure, including airports, roads, bridges, telecom, and electric installations were damaged. TPLF opened the doors for more than ten thousand prisoners some of whom are violent criminals. This has directly contributed to rising number of criminalities, including rape, and looting in the region.
TPLF remnants have also been ambushing humanitarian convoys. Therefore, full return to stability is a work in progress but there is no doubt the situation keeps on improving allowing better movement of humanitarian operations, except for few pocket areas, where there is sporadic shooting by these remnants. Emergency humanitarian assistance is being delivered in 36 Woredas of Tigray Region at 92 food distribution centers.

So far, we have reached out to two million beneficiaries in the region and all possible effort is being made to reach out to every single person in need. Some of the senior UN officials who visited the region recently have witnessed this fact. The hostile propaganda by the TPLF supporters in the diaspora and sensationalized reporting by some media, which appears to have filled the airwaves of social media, is by no means a reflection of the reality on the ground. My government is committed to facilitating unhindered access to humanitarian assistance. We are moving with urgency to approve request for international staff movements into and within Tigray. We are also committed to facilitating access to both local and international media and the relevant government departments are working with media representatives.

Madam President,

We have not also forgotten our nationals who crossed the border to Sudan to seek refuge. Most of them fled from the border town of Humera and the surrounding areas. We believe it is now possible to facilitate the safe, voluntary, and dignified return to their homes and the support of development partners in re-establishing their lives is critical. We have already prepared four temporary sites to accommodate those returnees as well as other internally displaced persons. While many of the refugees are innocent civilians affected by the military operations, it is also important to keep in mind that some of those in the Sudan refugee camps are the perpetrators of the Mai Kadra massacre and other crimes who should be brought to justice.

Ethiopia is also host to large number of refugees, some of whom have been affected by the military operation in the Tigray region. We are committed to the safety and well-being of Eritrean refugees and we duly appreciate the concerns of the international community in this regard. I want to assure this Council that Ethiopia, as a host country to hundreds of thousands of refugees, takes its responsibility to all refugees very seriously. We are working very closely with all relevant agencies to address their needs, including the delivery of the necessary humanitarian assistance.

Madam President,

Allegations of human rights violations including sexual violence is no doubt a matter of big concern for my government. We are fully committed to undertaking the necessary investigation and ensuring full accountability of all perpetrators. I wish to remind the Council that Ethiopia now has an independent, credible, and effective national human rights institution. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has already been investigating and reporting on human rights issues, including the Mai Kadra massacre, civilian casualties, sexual violence, and allegations of discriminatory treatment.

My government takes all of its findings very seriously and we are committed to working closely with the Commission to implement its recommendations to improve the human rights situation. This Council and the human rights agencies will do well to work with the Commission and further strengthen its capacity for the promotion and protection of human rights in Ethiopia. We believe supporting the work of the Commission is the sustainable way towards a credible, transparent, independent, and impartial investigation of all allegations of violations by all parties.

Finally, Madam President, despite the complicated challenges and the aforementioned setbacks, hopes remain high of our reform agenda and we are determined to pursue it with all the necessary vigor and commitment. We will continue to work tirelessly to fulfill the promise of a democratic and pluralistic political order based on the rule of law, respect for human rights for all. Let me conclude by thanking you for all your support so far and calling for your continued support and understanding as we strive to build a peaceful, democratic, inclusive, pluralist, and prosperous Ethiopia.

I thank you.

 

Ethiopia is poised to transform its telecoms industry. In the coming months, two new full-service telecommunications licenses will be awarded in a market that has been served solely by state-owned Ethio-Telecom. Opening the market to competition and new investment will expand and improve services for consumers. Importantly, this expansion will underpin a digital transformation in Ethiopia.

An expansion in mobile communications, internet access, and other telecom services is critical to accelerating economic growth and service delivery in Ethiopia. Sectors such as agriculture, health, trade, insurance, and transport will benefit tremendously from digitalization and increased inclusion. Digitalization of government services will also expand and improve the efficiency, reliability, and transparency of those services.
The Government of Ethiopia has sought to improve the enabling environment for the telecoms industry by reforming and updating existing policies, laws, and regulations. The Government has also evaluated international experiences and best practices in order to mitigate risks and manage change. Analysis of global experiences (such as in Korea, Japan, Myanmar, United Kingdom, China, and United States of America) demonstrated that deregulation and liberalization of the telecommunications sector in state-owned, state-operated, or operated in protected, monopolistic markets, led to economic growth and employment generation. On the African continent, in Nigeria, where information and communications technology attracted huge investment and generated significant revenues and employment opportunities, deregulation of the telecom sector jump-started strong economic growth.

The Ethiopian Parliament adopted the Communications Service Proclamation which is a key legislative and regulatory milestone in the process of liberalization. This proclamation allows for private investors, both domestic and international, to enter the sector, including building telecommunications infrastructure. It also establishes the Ethiopia Communications Authority (ECA) which is responsible to administer, monitor, and enforce telecommunications regulations and issue licenses to existing and new operators.

The Government of Ethiopia cannot deliver on this vision by continuing with the status quo. Technological advancements in the telecommunications sector evolve rapidly and require expertise and regular updates and investments in new infrastructure. Liberalizing the telecoms sector is a prerequisite to jump-starting Ethiopia’s digital revolution.

Simultaneously, Ethio telecom will be partially privatized to bring on board a strategic investment partner that has well-established experience as a telecom operator. This will boost Ethio telecom’s financial and technological capacity. The Government of Ethiopia will continue to be a major stakeholder in Ethio-telecoms with a 55% majority stakeholder. A 5% stake of Ethio telecom will also be sold to citizens.

This process is a win-win. As new operators come into the market and digital services and access expand, opportunities in new industries, with new customers, by new firms will expand as well. Private-sector-led technology and innovation are foundational for employment growth in Ethiopia, including among the youth. This digital transformation will change the way we live and do business in Ethiopia.

Mod

The Spokesperson of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Ambassador Dina Mufti, has presented the Ministry’s biweekly press briefing today (February 23) focusing on #political diplomacy, the current situations in #Tigray, the #Ethiopia-#Sudan border issue, including major activities related to #Economic Diplomacy, #citizen-centered diplomacy and activities in #capacity building. Please find the summary report below:

I. #Political Diplomacy

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, paid an official visit to India from 17-19 February 2021. The Deputy Premier held bilateral talks with the External Affairs Minister of India, h.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar during his visit. He has inaugurated the newly built Ethiopian embassy and residence building and participated in a business forum that aimed to strengthen relations between the two countries. The visit was accompanied by the signing of visa waver agreement for diplomatic passport holders and a Memorandum of Understanding between educational two institutions.

H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia and H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Turkey had a discussion last week in Ankara on ways to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. On the occasion, Mr. Demeke appreciated the all-weather friendship of Turkey and Ethiopia and called on to expedite the growth momentum of the Ethio-Turkish cooperation and strategic partnership. The two senior officials had participated in an inauguration ceremony of the newly built Ethiopian embassy and residence building in Ankara.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen had a phone conversation on February 11 with State Councillor & Minister of Foreign Affairs of China H.E. Mr. Wang Yi about current humanitarian supports in the Tigray region, cooperation against the #COVID19 pandemic, the negotiations over the #GERD and the #Ethiopia-#Sudan border dispute.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Demeke Mekonnen received at his office on February 10 the #EU Envoy and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, H.E. Pekka Haavisto. At the meeting, Mr. Demeke briefed the Envoy on the ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the Tigray region. Mr. Pekka Haavisto, following his visits in Ethiopia said (on his twitter page) that he has spent two intensive days in Ethiopia, held substantive meetings with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, President Sahle Work and and other key ministers mainly on the issue of humanitarian access to Tigray. He said, International humanitarian organizations are doing #good work.

State Minister H.E. Ambassador Redwan Hussein had a meeting with resident Asian Ambassadors on the pertinent issues of national and regional significance. In the meeting, border issues, GERD and Current affairs are covered. Regarding the humanitarian support in Tigray, he said, all the assistance coming from partners is less than 1/3 of what is required. What the Ambassador underlined was that “real partners” should help the government take care of its citizens providing all the necessary support rather than being taken away by disinformation and other negative campaigns that add nothing to lessen the suffering of affected people.

Ethiopia and #Israel held a fruitful and productive political consultation virtually on February 15, 2021, reaching a common understanding to intensify their long-standing and historical relations in bilateral, regional, and multilateral fields. The Political Consultation was held on a special occasion to celebrate the 30th year anniversary of the opening of the Ethiopian Embassy in Israel with the spirit of the 3000 years of historical friendship and partnership.

H.E. Ambassador Dina Mufti gave a briefing last week to South Sudan based local and international media outlets regarding the GERD negotiations, the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute and the humanitarian assistance efforts underway in Tigray.

II. Situations in #Tigray

Humanitarian Support
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• Over the past three months, 75 members of international organizations who have applied for access to the Tigray Regional State have been granted access to support the humanitarian and rehabilitation process.
• Emergency humanitarian assistance is underway in 36 Woredas of Tigray Region at 92 food distribution points.
• 70% of food items covered by the Ethiopian government and 30% by development partners and NGOs.
• So far we have reached out to 2,007,000 beneficiaries in the region.
• Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali and the regional presidents and city administrators launched a solidarity initiative for the Tigray Regional Provisional Administration and the people of the region. The solidarity initiative aims at mobilising the contribution of regions and federal institutions as well as other stakeholders in supporting humanitarian efforts underway.
• Ethiopian Red Cross has refuted AFP’s misquoted report issuing a statement that saqid, “the President was not referring to geographical location. He was rather expressing lack of capacity and shortage of resources we are currently encountering. The fact that we have so far reached close to 400, 000 beneficiaries in Tigray, even less than 20% of the total beneficiaries in need of assistance is what our president alluded to…”

Power Supply
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• One of the two Electricity power lines in the Tigray region (i.e., Alamata-Mehoni-Mekelle power line) was cut off by members of the TPLF clique in the Adigudom area. The line had been badly damaged in the past, and it took a long time to repair. The other power line in the region (the Tekeze-Axum line) is under construction. Ethiopian Electric Power is working to rehabilitate the damaged infrastructure. The clique has shown to the world, once again, that it has a complete disregard to the wellbeing of the people of Tigray.

Continued Allegations
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• There are various allegedly committed atrocities and crimes in Tigray (such as the killings of many people in Axum, sexual violence against women, denial of access to the region, the presence of Eritrean troops and many other).
• Although the Government of Ethiopia has officially refuted the claims of using ‘hunger as weapon,’ it also understands that rape, plunder, callous and intentional mass killings, as observed and verified in Mikadra, and every other imaginable crime could have happened in Tigray where many are illegally armed, the legal and administrative structure compromised and 13000 prisoners are intentionally released.
• The government of Ethiopia has been diligent to end the impunity in Tigray achieving notable results so far. Any serious offense committed against the rights of citizens, including refugees in the region will be investigated and perpetrators will be brought to justice. To this end, the Interim government in Tigray, the Federal Police and the Attorney General will independently investigate any allegedly committed crime.

III. #Ethiopia-#Sudan Border

• We have issued a statement on Thursday (February 18) condemning the “provocative behavior”, of the Sudan on the joint border adding that it will cause damage to the two countries. We have stated that the Ethiopian government strongly believes that the conflict being trumpeted by the Sudanese government’s military wing could only serve the interests of a third party at the expense of the Sudanese people.

• Our standing has always been consistent, the Sudanese army has to withdraw from our land, then we will start to negotiate and solve the issue through existing mechanisms.

IV. #Economic Diplomacy

• Coordinated by our embassy in #Djibouti, a delegation comprised of more than 21 people from Djibouti Tourism, Tour Operators’ Association, and Hotel Owners as well as scores of Ethiopian have had a three-day business forum in Addis Ababa. It was aimed at reviving intraregional tourism at the time where COVID-19 has depressingly affected the sector.

V. #Citizen-centered Diplomacy

• 1669 citizens were repatriated from Jidda and Riyadh from February 8-22.

VI. #Capacity Building

• The Ethiopian Foreign Service Training Institute has organized and gave a two-week long diplomatic training for newly appointed Ambassadors and deputies. The training covered topics, among others, Diplomacy and International relations, international conventions, Ethiopian Foreign Policy, political, economic, and public diplomacy, including digital diplomacy.

MoFA

On February 18, 2021, H.E. Hirut Zemene, Ambassador of Ethiopia to Belgium, Luxembourg and EU institutions held a fruitful exchange of views with Ambassador Rita Laranjinhha, Director of Africa at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Mr. Jean marc Pisani, Head of Horn of Africa Division, on the works that the Government of Ethiopia have been doing to address the Humanitarian situation in Tigray region and the ongoing investigation of human rights violations.
Furthermore, the two sides also exchanged views on current regional issues.