It is almost ten months that the armed conflict broke out in the Northern part of Ethiopia. The heinous attack of the terrorist TPLF on the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) based in Tigray Regional State on November 4, 2020, was the immediate cause of the conflict.
Coincidently, the terrorist clique also massacred over 1,500 innocent civilians in Mai-Kadra only because of their identity. Afterward, to preserve the national survival, the federal government has taken the measure of law enforcement operation in the Tigray region.
To this end, the ENDF stationed between the border area of Ethiopia and Sudan deployed to the Tigray region.
Subsequently, Sudan has taken the advantage of both internal conflict and withdrawal of ENDF from the boarder as a kick at the can to deploy its military force promptly and occupied a large swath of land 60 km deep inside the border area of Ethiopia around Al-fashaqa. Due to Sudan’s Military incursion, thousands of civilians, farmers and investors were displaced while many were killed and repressed. Furthermore, the attack had also caused serious destruction on properties found in the region that estimated over 1.2 billion Dollar according to the report from government. The move was in contrast to the fundamental principles of United Nations Charter that governs international relations “State shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.”
Though Sudan’s military infiltration was against the territorial integrity of Ethiopia and a clear violation of international law, the international community intended to ignore the issue. Even the United Nations and its organ, the Security Council which are mandated to deal with such irresponsible action remain in a deaf ear to condemn Sudan’s government. On Ethiopia’s national interests, the international community particularly the Western are extremely persecuted and stand against the interest of Ethiopia’s hither to their deceit act revealed during the Fascist Italy occupation in (1935), irredentist expansion of Somalia government in (1977) and Ethio-Eritrea border conflict in 1998.
Ethiopia, as a member of League of Nations, the founding member of United Nations and the Organization of the African Unity and then changed into African Union, it has always been committed to the principle of United Nations Charter and other international conventions and protocols. Thus, it has repeatedly and clearly requested the government in Khartoum to withdraw its troops from the occupied land of Ethiopia and resolve the dispute through peaceful diplomacy.
Since the conflict was erupted between the government and TPLF terrorist group, the government of Sudan dominated by the military wing had been working tirelessly with Egypt and the West to destabilize Ethiopia. That is why they back TPLF in providing logistic, fund and artillery as well as military training for labeled faction as ‘Samri’. The blood thirst ‘Samri’ group was entered into Sudan after committed genocide act in Mai-kadra. Recently, it should also be noted that atrocities committed by TPLF in Afar Regional State claimed over 240 innocent civilians of which 107 are children.
The victims were internally displaced people sheltered in Health Center and School at Galicoma. On the other hand, Egypt, the West and few neo-liberal individual activists are using Sudan as a Trojan horse to undermine the sovereignty of Ethiopia without noticing right and left. This unholy marriage between Sudan, Egypt and the West is totally against the interest of its people and the Horn of Africa region.
For implementation of its mercenary mission, Sudan repeatedly attacked Ethiopia with the support of TPLF’s ‘Samri’ clique in many parts of the country bordering with Amhara and Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State. Due to its repeated attacks on civilian, TPLF junta was labeled as a terrorist group by Ethiopian House of Peoples’ Representative. Furthermore, Sudan tried to put diplomatic pressure on Ethiopia by pushing the United Nations so as to withdraw Ethiopian peace keeping force deployed under blue helmet in Abiye. Contrary to Sudan’s accusation, Ethiopian peacekeeping force deployed in Abiye has received recognition from the United Nations for its relentless contribution and scarifies to bring peace and stability in contentious oil rich area of Abiye claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan.
Regarding the Great Ethiopian Renaissances Dam (GERD), Ethiopia’s position was vivid and clear. The dam will not cause significant harm on the lower riparian countries, rather it reduces flooding and siltation. It also provides sustainable water flow that benefits Sudan to produce enough food on its vast arable land to feed its people and the region. But, the incumbent government in Sudan alleges that over 20 million Sudanese are seriously affected by water shortage due to the second dam filling.
However, its allegation is entirely against colossal scientific truth. To this end, Abay (the Blue Nile) has exposed the falsehood accusation of the Government in Khartoum sending a clarion call to all Sudanese and international communities, inundating many villages and towns’ including Khartoum International Airports. The action of the Blue Nile seems to give assurance for international commuters that transit to various countries.
In line with scientific evidences and facts about the benefits of the GERD to lower riparian countries, Sudan irrigation minister requested Ethiopia to provide one thousand megawatts of electricity to supply energy for its industry. This would be a tangible reason and justification for Ethiopia to build additional dams on the Blue Nile so that Sudan and countries in the region could access cheap and renewable energy.
The additional energy will help Sudan to satisfy its burgeoning power demand for sustainable economic growth and regional integration. On top of what mentioned above, the mainstream media reported that a number of Sudanese military generals were surrendered at warfront while fighting the Government of Ethiopia in support of TPLF terrorist faction. The generals were succumbed at the hinterland of Lalibela Rock-Hewn Church. The Church is one of the nine Ethiopia’s tangible world heritage site registered by UNESCO.
While Ethiopia shoulders all these clandestine and overt activities orchestrated against its people by the leadership of Sudan’s up there in Khartoum, we have learnt from the statement of Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok suddenly that he is working to mediate the conflict between the government of Ethiopia and TPLF junta. This audacious and surprising announcement came after a phone discussion between Hamdok and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on August 9, 2021 about the conflict in the northern part of Ethiopia without the knowledge and consultation of the Ethiopian authority.
As the international community is well aware, immediately after the Joe Biden Administration Assumes power, Blinken, Susan Rise, Feltsman, Tomas Linda, and some other fanatic American and European Union authorities are working to undermine Prime Minister Abiy administration against the will of all Ethiopians. As Geopolitics Press revealed recently, the West established Command and Control Fusion Center (C2FC) Running a Basma-like Campaign on Ethiopia. The purpose of C2FC is coordinating pro-west international media obsessed in defamation of Prime Minister Abiy’s image, provision of fund, logistics and intelligence service for TPLF terrorist group and other likeminded factions working to disintegrate Ethiopia into small satellite states.
So, it is important to interrogate a frequent visit of American and European officials to Sudan targeting Ethiopian refugees while giving a deaf ear for over a million internally displaced people in different parts of Ethiopia. If the objective of this entire visit is to provide humanitarian assistance to the people in need, it is pertinent to ask why the West are not interested to provide any humanitarian assistance to the people displaced in Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz and Afar regional states.
As the government of Ethiopia disclosed, there is concrete evidence regarding the purpose of frequent visits made by Western officials to Sudan. The visitis bound to mobilize and arm the mercenary members of TPLF terrorist group as well as supporting Sudan to bring regime change in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa aiming to create fragmented states that serve their purpose. Having all this in mind, Ethiopia has all convincing reason to reject Sudan’s shroud proposal of mediation between the Government and TPLF terrorist group.
As it has been repeatedly reported by international media, TPLF is supported by Sudan, Egypt and the West. In this regard, what surprises Ethiopia and the international community is a statement made by Sudan’s Foreign Minister to justify calling her Ambassador from Ethiopia. The funny thing is that, her decision was made to respond to Ethiopia for rejecting its mediation proposal. Refusal of mediation proposal should not be a source of embarrassment and humiliation. Thus, it is difficult for Ethiopia to trust the current leadership in Sudan who are busy in doing all odds against the sovereignty of Ethiopia, while Sudan itself is in turmoil and on the verge of collapse.
Therefore, to normalize the bilateral relation between the two countries, the leadership in Khartoum should first behave as a responsible member of international community by polling its military force from the occupied sovereign territory of Ethiopia. Second, stop proxy war with Ethiopia that only serves the interest of Egypt and the neoliberal West. Third, hand over the terrorist TPLF group that massacre over 1,500 innocent civilians and fighting back Ethiopia using Sudan as spring board. Fourth, must halt the provision of all political, intelligence, military and financial support to TPLF Junta and anti-peace element sheltered in Sudan. Fifth, quit serving as a launching pad for covert interest of Egypt and the West which is against the benefit of the Sudanese people and the region.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
The Ethiopian Herald August 19/2021
