The reputable Ethiopian Airlines has been staying afloat during this trying COVID-19 pandemic despite the staggering economic impact on the aviation industry. The Airlines has been transporting vaccines and medical equipment to Africa and other parts of the world.
The flagship company has been one of the leading profitable Airlines in the aviation industry that brings lofty economic gains to Ethiopia’s development. Ethiopian Airlines is the most sought after Airliner for its reliable flight services. This company however is becoming the target of the ongoing external pressure waged against Ethiopia. Since recently, some western media outlets are engaging in spreading false information against this successful aviation company.
In a bid to intensify pressure and unleash economic impact against Ethiopia, some media outlets supported by paid activists are targeting the most lucrative commercial companies of the countries.
The latest report of CNN reads Ethiopia’s government has used the country’s flagship commercial airline to shuttle weapons to and from neighboring Eritrea during the civil war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Cargo documents and manifests seen by CNN, as well as eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence, confirm that arms were transported between Addis Ababa’s international airport and airports in the Eritrean cities of Asmara and Massawa on board multiple Ethiopian Airlines planes in November 2020 during the first few weeks of the Tigray conflict.
“It’s the first time this weapons trade between the former foes has been documented during the war. Experts said the flights would constitute a violation of international aviation law, which forbids the smuggling of arms for military use on civil aircraft.”
CNN’s fake report however is being also debunked by aviation analysts, appearing in the network, an aviation expert has tracked down Nima Elibagir’s dangerous lies about the carrier explaining the legality of using civilian aircraft during national emergencies.
General U.S. Department of Transportation Former Inspector Mary Schiavo told CNN that it is legal for civilian aircraft to be used for military purposes during national emergencies.
The expert further said that: “It is right. Many countries including the United States in times of national emergence can declare civilian airline to become part of the national emergence. Every country has its own laws. Ethiopia’s law may be very different because the government owns the airline.”
Many countries have laws in place to allow the airlines in time of emergency to use commercial airlines, commercial planes to perform military functions. Many countries including the U.S use civilian aircraft for military functions. It is perfectly legal, the expert underscored.
The United States government used Ethiopian Airlines for military purposes as part of the Afghanistan evacuation effort.
“Both cargo and passenger planes were used in the operation, though CNN has no evidence that commercial passengers were on any of the flights carrying weapons”, it was learnt.
Approached by The Ethiopian Press Agency, regarding the report of CNN, Abadula Gemeda, board member of the Ethiopian airlines said, “The report on the Ethiopian Airlines is a false and misleading one. It goes without saying that Airlines is a company that goes along with international airline rules.
He went on to say, “The misleading report on the Ethiopian Airline is part and parcel of the international pressure on Ethiopia, and tarnishing its reputation. “The Airlines serves as an emblem of Ethiopia.”
He stressed that Ethiopian Airlines is a company that complies with international aviation regulations. “It has not ever got off the international aviation regulations,” he added.
He elucidated that on account of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no airlines worldwide that did not ask for subsidies. Furthermore, many employees were forced to leave their job. However, during those tough times, Ethiopian Airlines continued attaining the fruits of accomplishment.
“The management and the entire staff of the Ethiopian airlines are hard-working.”
“As the Ethiopian Airlines has been in service for more than seven decades, the media would like to drive the airline out of the market by engaging itself in a smear campaign against Ethiopia.”
In a related move, he stated that some foreign forces are trying to destabilize Ethiopia, just as they have destabilized other countries. Ethiopians are committed to upholding their sovereignty and protecting national interests.
Two things must be done to cope up with such pressures. The government has to be active in telling the truth to the world and supporting Ethiopians living abroad to continue working together to avert the pressure.
“To foil the conspiracies of the enemy quarters, we Ethiopians must work together for the benefit of our country putting aside other things and working day and night. We have to improve our economy and be self-sufficient by working industriously.”
“By the same token, there has been an unprecedented pressure on Ethiopia in connection with the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).”
It is to be recalled that Ethiopian Airlines strongly refuted the recent allegations by CNN regarding the airlines’ involvement in transporting weapons.
Ethiopian Airlines is a multi-award-winning global airline which is one of the senior members of IATA and member of Star Alliance for a decade, and which has been providing safe and reliable air transport service to the continent of Africa and the rest of the world for the last 75 years and that has been commended for its humanitarian and commercial operations in good and bad times. Accordingly, Ethiopian Airlines strictly complies with all National, regional and International aviation-related regulation.
Hence, Ethiopian Airlines strongly refuted the recent allegations by CNN and would like to confirm that to the best of its knowledge and its records, it has not transported any war armament in any of its routes by any of its Aircraft. The mentioned airwaybills in the CNN article clearly show that the nature of goods transported on the alleged flights was “Foodstuff and Refill” as declared on the document as per IATA standards. The alleged pictures are not known to Ethiopian Airlines.
As the media works hand-in-glove with the Biden administration, activists, and others that would like to twist Ethiopia’s arm, it has been coming up with cooked-up stories time and again.
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD OCTOBER 12/2021
