BY YOHANES JEMANEH
These days, against the backdrop of unjustified external intervention, Ethiopians across the world are echoing their voices to safeguard the national interest and sovereignty of their country.
For almost two years, the country has been a victim of foreign pressure and political intrigue which sometimes come on the pretext of human rights and humanitarian aid. Since the TPLF-provoked war, some western countries have been trying to infringe on Ethiopia’s sovereign interests with some countries imposing sanctions on the country.
The Ethiopian government and Ethiopian people at home and abroad have been doing their level best to fend off the continued foreign meddling through different means. Ethiopians particularly those living places countries that exert unprecedented pressure in Ethiopia have been serving as public diplomats in giving the right information and countering disinformation campaigns.
These public diplomacy efforts have been seen in terms of demonstrations, submitting letters to respective foreign governments’ organs, and media campaigns against undue pressures. All these efforts have helped the nation to resonate its truth to the international community thereby forestalling unwarranted sanctions and laws by some western global powers.
As criminal TPLF collapses and loses more territories due to Ethiopia’s defensive measures, some global powers are still trying to intervene in the country’s domestic affairs in the name of human right protection. Accordingly, Ethiopians at home and abroad are protesting against these unwarranted pressures widely participating in public demonstrations. From Belgium to Washington, Ethiopian diasporas have been holding mass rallies, talking to senators and congress members, and other officials.
These activities including social media campaigns have been helpful in defending the pressure and allowing other countries to have the right understanding of the current situation of the country.
On Oct 20, 2022, the Ethiopian diaspora living in Europe held a public rally in Brussels, calling on Western powers and some international organizations to refrain from their unfair pressure on Ethiopia and undermining its sovereignty.
Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia living in France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany gathered and participated in the rally held in Shuman Square in front of the European Commission, in Brussels. The purpose of the demonstration was to protest the unfair stance and inappropriate intervention of some western powers in Ethiopia and to inform the international community about the existing reality, said coordinators of the ‘Defend Ethiopia Task Force Europe’.
Last weekend, major cities including the capital witnessed numerous citizens protesting against western interventions in Ethiopia’s internal affairs. On Saturday 2022, Ethiopians across the country were seen marching to Meskel Square chanting slogans.
“Respect our sovereignty,” “TPLF is a mercenary group,” “TPLF is the cause!” “End proxy war on Ethiopia,” “People in Tigray are our compatriots; Junta [TPLF] is our enemy,” and “TPLF should not be given a chance to prepare for the fourth round of attack” are some of the slogans that protestors chanted while marching to Meskel Square.
Many believe that Ethiopians increasingly tend to think that the western powers are primarily interested in reviving the TPLF, the rebel group that was designated as a terrorist group by the Ethiopian parliament.
By the end of 2021 TPLF invaded some parts of the Afar and Amhara regions. By the time, western powers were preoccupied with setting up political conditions internationally by creating an impression as if the TPLF forces were about to control Addis Ababa. There was no call for an end to the cessation of hostility.
Renewed pressure against Ethiopia in connection with the war against the TPLF rebel groups is on the rise as the TPLF forces are losing ground militarily. The Ethiopian government confirmed earlier this week that the Defense Forces controlled three key towns (Shire, Alamata, and Korem) in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Local sources also indicate that the Ethiopian government has already started distributing food aid in the areas recaptured recently. Work to restore power to the aforementioned towns is also underway.
Yesterday, the government has announced that the national defense force has continued taking control of major urban centers in the past few days. The ENDF has succeeded in avoiding combat in urban areas while debilitating the military capabilities of the TPLF.
The Government of Ethiopia is working in coordination with humanitarian agencies to continue providing humanitarian aid in these areas. It has also requested operators of essential services to expedite their preparation to resume services in these areas, it said.
The Government is also exploring ways in which public administration and social services in these areas could begin in consultation with the local population. Meanwhile, the Government of Ethiopia will be participating in the AU-convened peace talks to be held in South Africa. The Government of Ethiopia views the talks as an opportunity to peacefully resolve the conflict and consolidate the improvement of the situation on the ground brought about through the sacrifices of the ENDF. The announcement also indicated that the delegation of the Ethiopian Government left for South Africa on Monday morning.
According to President Sahle-Work Zewde, the government of Ethiopia is committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the northern part of the country. The federal government has taken a variety of steps to address the country’s major challenges, which include conflict and internal displacement. The President said this on October 10, 2022while opening the joint session of the House of People’s Representatives and the House of Federation for the sixth term and second year.
According to her, to resolve the conflict in the north, the Government of Ethiopia has shown readiness to negotiate with the TPLF group without any precondition.
The Ethiopian Government remains dedicated to an amicable settlement of the Northern conflict under AU leadership. “But if the other side is unwilling to consider peaceful alternatives, the government will take corrective actions,” she said.
The Ethiopian Government has also created an environment that is favorable for the upcoming national dialogue, and the commission charged with overseeing it has assumed that duty. In order to make the National Dialogue successful, President Sahle-Work also emphasized the critical importance of all stakeholders and citizens’ active participation.
A week ago, United Nations Secretary- General, Antonio Guterres, made claims that the war in Ethiopia is “spiraling out of control.” His call was echoed by the United States and some of its western allies. They are advancing “there is no military solution to the conflict,” while at times adding voice to the TPLF’s unsubstantiated claims about “genocide” and “human rights” violations.
Ethiopians are rejecting foreign interventions and proxy wars. TPLF, for the majority of Ethiopians, indulged in an unnecessary war with the illusion that it would restore the power it dominated for nearly three decades. Foreign intervention is meant to facilitate that.
Ethiopians and Eritreans in the United States and Europe have staged protests against western support for TPLF and infringement on the sovereign rights of Ethiopia.
According to the Task Force, the demonstrators held slogans calling on some western powers and international organizations to stop the politically motivated pressure they are imposing on Ethiopia. The organizers of the rally said that they submitted a letter to the EU Commission’s head of foreign affairs, asking to refrain from its unfair pressure and intervention in Ethiopia. In addition to EU Commission, Schuman Square is also home to the Belgian Parliament, the American Embassy and other large government institutions.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER 2022
