Tigrayan Nonprofits and Community-based Organizations: On the Ethiopian Federal Government’s Illegitimate Temporary Ceasefire and Framing of this Action as a Humanitarian Gesture
The temporary ceasefire declared by the Ethiopian federal government is illegitimate, and as Tigrayan community-based organizations and nonprofits within the global diaspora, we condemn Ethiopia for framing this action as a humanitarian gesture. The democratically elected and constitutionally mandated government of Tigray now resumes control over significant parts of Tigray including the capital city of Mekelle from June 28, 2021. Having faced major military defeats and resounding international condemnation, the Ethiopian federal government was forced to retreat and declare a temporary ceasefire without making any active effort to stop the violence.[1]https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/us-news/2021/06/29/us-threatens-sanctions-on-eritrea-if-forces-not-withdrawn-from-tigray/
Despite the supposed ceasefire, hostile actors are still operating in many parts of Eastern and Western Tigray. Eritrean troops are still in the region; and there has been no attempt on Ethiopia to dispel them and no indication that Eritrea is committed to a ceasefire.[2]https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/eritrean-forces-withdraw-from-key-towns-in-ethiopias-tigray/2021/06/29/8299b618-d8d6-11eb-8c87-ad6f27918c78_story.html Abiy Ahmed went on record only one week before the ceasefire stating he will not force the Eritrean army out of Tigray.[3]https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-57551057?piano-modal In addition, the Amhara ruling party has threatened Tigrayan forces against reclaiming Western Tigray, an area in which there has been mounting evidence of ethnic cleansing of Tigrayans.[4]https://addisstandard.com/news-ruling-party-in-amhara-state-warns-tigrayan-forces-against-attempt-to-retake-areas-in-western-tigray/ Satellite imagery confirms two Ethiopian Sukhoi SU-27s have recently appeared at Bahir Dar Airport in the Amhara region, a departure from its typical base at Harar Meda Airport in the Oromia region.[5]https://twitter.com/alula_solomon/status/1409925106659385347?s=12 The mobilization of Ethiopian fighter jets, while withdrawing Ethiopian federal officials from the capitol, draws concern of Tigray being at risk of arterial bombardment.
The violent events that occurred on the day Ethiopia declared a ceasefire proves they have no intention of de-escalation. Additionally, retreating ENDF forces destroyed and vandalized Tigray TV equipment.[6]https://eritreahub.org/willful-destruction-of-tigray-television-by-departing-ethiopian-troops The Hawelti Semaetat’s museum was also found completely looted and vandalized with historical artifacts, books, and images missing from the premises.[7]https://twitter.com/Mattewos88/status/1411661870742790146?s=20 Eritrean troops carried out a massacre in Tembien that took the lives of 30 civilians.[8]https://twitter.com/getachew_temare/status/1409523566865956879?s=20 Only one day before the ceasefire, Yechila, a Tigrayan town of 30,000 residents was destroyed following the bombardments by the Ethiopian army. They burned down the entire village, killing six civilians.[9]https://www.facebook.com/102601551775689/posts/202297131806130/?d=n
It is confirmed that ENDF troops have obstructed humanitarian action on their way out of Mekelle, attacking both UNICEF and The World Food Program. They dismantled satellite communications equipment, telecommunications infrastructure, and cut off the internet for the whole of Mekelle.[10]https://www.unocha.org/story/daily-noon-briefing-highlights-democratic-republic-congo-ethiopia-0 Although the internet has been periodically shut down for the entire region, this is a new development for the capital city. The communications blackout obstructs information on the current situation’s impact on the humanitarian operation and hinders the service and safety of humanitarian aid workers. Tigray TV has also been looted, and employees were told to stay home, further restricting information.[11]https://twitter.com/HailuKebede_/status/1409506847573348354?s=20 Flights to and from Mekelle have been suspended and roads to and from Mekele are blocked.[12]https://et.usembassy.gov/alert-situation-in-mekele/ Civilians across Tigray are trapped in the region with no cell service or media coverage to warn them of attacks or document what will happen next, including those in Mekelle.
On Thursday, three days after declaring a ceasefire, Amhara Security Forces destroyed the Tekeze bridge connecting Gondar to Shire. This bridge was critical for allowing aid into Tigray, as three of the four main roads into Tigray are now obstructed and we are unsure if the fourth road is passable.[13]https://news.yahoo.com/tigray-ceasefire-needs-two-tango-150203039.html Ethnic profiling is rampant in many parts of Ethiopia, including Addis Ababa, where reports of mass arrests are underway. Sources confirm police are detaining youth and business owners, labeling them traitors and taking them to an undisclosed location.[14]https://twitter.com/martinplaut/status/1410847653563441153?s=20 It is abundantly clear this is not a law and order operation. ENDFs violent actions at the command of Abiy Ahmed, continuously point to their goal of ethnically cleansing Tigrayans.
Abiy Ahmed and the Ethiopian federal government have gone on record contradicting themselves numerous times. He claims the ceasefire declaration was to allow the delivery of aid to starving populations in Tigray, however, just one week ago, denied there ever being a famine.[15]https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-57551057?piano-modal On May 17th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Ethiopian government rejects the repeated call to cease hostilities with TPLF. The Ethiopian government also has yet to recognize the re-instated elected Government of Tigray, making it unclear who they are considering negotiations with for a ceasefire.
The Ethiopian government’s history of deceptiveness, continued use of weaponized starvation, apparent mobilization of fighter jets, and lack of a withdrawal of Amhara and Eritrean forces proves the federal government is still an active threat to Tigray. Ethiopia is guilty of long denying humanitarian aid to Tigrayans and is now using their forced retreat from the capital to pretend to care about the safety of Tigrayans. This ceasefire is a ploy to save their reputation while regrouping for another attack, all the while demonizing TDF for defending innocent civilians from ENDF’s violence. As Tigrayan organizations and nonprofits of the global diaspora, we are deeply concerned about the safety of our people back home and fully support the Government of Tigray’s call to assist humanitarian aid workers. We stand alongside the government of Tigray and Tigray Defense Forces, ready to support the United Nations and humanitarian organizations working to deliver emergency aid to the most critical population in Tigray.
To ensure the safety of civilian lives, we at Omna in collaboration with Tigrayan organizations, demand the following:
- Immediate, internationally monitored and verifiable, withdrawal of Eritrean and Amhara invading forces from Tigray and restore the pre-war territorial integrity of Tigray;
- For the United Nations to establish an independent body charged with impartial investigation into the different crimes committed against the people of Tigray and to bring perpetrators of such crimes to the International Criminal Court;
- Allow unimpeded humanitarian access to Tigray and facilitate the comprehensive rehabilitation of internally displaced Tigrayans as well as refugees;
- Repatriate illegally looted public and private properties from Tigray and provide proportional compensation for any damage incurred;
- Restore public services including internet, electricity, banking, transportation and telecommunications throughout Tigray. Allow direct international flight to and from Tigray;
- Respect the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and accept the framework laid out by such constitution to settle any political issue;
- Any bilateral or multilateral relations regarding Tigray, be it domestic or international, should be conducted between the democratically elected and constitutionally mandated government of Tigray and other stakeholders; and
- Immediate end to the ongoing mass arrest of Tigrayans residing in different parts of Ethiopia including Addis Ababa and release of all wrongfully detained individuals on the basis of their ethnic identity including Tigrayan members of the ENDF.
We will continue advocating for Tigrayans and humanitarian workers in Tigray.
Signed,
The collective of Tigrayan community-based organizations and nonprofits within the global diaspora listed below:
- OMNA Tigray
- Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals (GSTS)
- Security and Justice for Tigray
- Health Professionals Network for Tigray
- UTNA (Union of Tigrians in North America)
- Union of Tigrayans in Belgium (UTB)
- Stand with Tigray
- Alliance of Tigrayan Associations in Australia and New Zealand
- Association of Tigray Community in Canada
- Tigray Communities Forum
- Tigray Äthiopischer Verein in Deutschland e.V.
- Tegaru Professionals Network National
- United Tegaru Canada
- United Tegaru Australia
- Tigray Youth Network
- Giovani Tigrai Italiani
- Tigray Youth Movement Switzerland
- Tegaru Youth Germany
- Tigrean Youth Association Victoria
- Tigray Youth Holland
- Tigray Relief Sweden
- IROB Anina Civil Society
- I Stand with Tigray
- Mekete Tigray UK
- Tghat Media
- Tigrai Media House
Press Release, July 06, 2021
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