BY HENOK TIBEBU
Why is the world suffering from routine conflicts and wars that claim millions of lives? Why are some countries portrayed as being synonymous with drought and famine? Why is the media fond of painting a gloomy picture and fixing its eye on tragic stories? Why is Africa the major focus of the western nations? Why the western media are so obsessed with Africa and Ethiopia? Why are some countries after our mega project; The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and why do other entities continue to serve the interest and echo the unfounded claims of Ethiopia’s arch yet historical enemies? How is Ethiopia going to be able to address all these problems diplomatically?
All these and other issues of concern are being questioned by many Ethiopians and other concerned bodies currently and before. They are expected to be questions of the future generation until the issues are addressed appropriately and anyone in a leading position throughout the country.
A country may go through several steps of changes be it positive or negative. Mainly it is the socioeconomic and political hurdles that ignite changes or reforms in a country. In fact, change is inevitable. However, Ethiopia and its people have been tested by and gone through all these problems that still pose the questions this writer raised above. The war which came to an end with a peace accord struck between the Ethiopian government and TPLF in Pretoria caused the nation a great deal of loss.
The Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) agreement signed between the parties is the first sign that shows Africans can solve their problems on their own. The execution process which is still underway seems to have several questions coming from different interest groups around the world.
Last week, TPLF official Getachew Reda announced that the organization is exerting efforts to implement the terms of the peace accord, such as disengaging and disarming TPLF combatants. Getachew also admitted that unhindered humanitarian aid is being delivered to the Tigray region ever since CoH is signed.
Unhindered humanitarian aid supply to Shire, Axum, and Mekelle is being delivered by the Ethiopian government and humanitarian aid agencies. About 1.8 billion Birr worth of aid is supplied by the government of Ethiopia as well.
Trying to rebuild destroyed infrastructure in Amhara, Tigray, and Afar states which the war has destroyed to some extent is the commitment of the Ethiopian government.
While allowing unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance, the incumbent is working round the clock to restore basic services as pertinent bodies expedite the process. In some areas, banking electric services have already been resumed.
Accordingly, Ethiopian Electric Utility is working on maintaining transmission lines. It has announced that electricity has been restored to Alamata, Korem, Waja, Timuga, and Kobo towns, following the completion of the transmission lines maintenance. Electric power was cut off in these areas for a while following the destruction of electricity infrastructure by the conflict.
Utility’s Woldia District Director Shimelis Wo l d e s a m a y a t explained that these areas have regained e l e c t r i c i t y service due to the swift maintenance of the electricity infrastructure to restore the service. He also mentioned that the areas have been without power for a long time as they get electricity from the A l a m a t a substation.
The Utility also revealed that it was possible to restore the service by repairing the high-voltage and low-voltage power lines that were heavily d a m a g e d during the war. The damaged medium power lines from Alamata to Kobo were repaired in a short period of time due to the diligent maintenance work done by the district workers, the director added.
He said that the technical staff of the district have completed the maintenance of the 66 KV power transmission line from Alamata to Lalibela and are making great efforts to make the surrounding towns benefit from the service.
Likewise, the restoration of electric lines that cover Alamata-Bisober to Yalo- Kelwan towns has been completed, Afar State Electric Utility Executive Officer Yasin Ali said. The maintenance work has been carried out from Alamata-Bisober to Yaleo- Kelwan towns and the transformer repair work has been completed. “Some electric lines which are covered by tree branches are being cleared and will be restored and get full service shortly.”
The inspection work is undergoing to repair the Mekelle-Wukro substation since the area gets electricity from the line that passes through Kilbeti District and the necessary materials are being prepared. Also, the service in Chifra, Awura, and Ewa towns will be restored after the repair work in Woldia mobile electric substation is completed, he said.
There are hopes that other parts of the northern part of the country will get a full electric supply soon. In this case, people reaffirm pledges for the achievement of the cessation of hostilities so that social services are reinstated in Amhara, Tigray, and Afar regions. The peace deal has been hailed as a breakthrough to ensure lasting stability in the country and has been attracting acclimation both in and outside of the country.
Commenting on the accord, Tigrayan community lauded the deal signed between the federal government of Ethiopia and TPLF saying that the value of peace is more than irreplaceable for the people of Tigray who have been suffering from the war that took part in Amhara, Tigray and Afar states in the past years.
Meanwhile, it is obvious that war is always destructive. And, there is should be no room for conflict entrepreneurs to instigate war and dump their interest in the poor country’s internal affairs for their own benefit at the expense of poor people’s lives.
“The people of Ethiopia, be it the Tigray, Amhara, Afar, etc have suffered a lot from internal conflicts. This reality has to change and the people of Tigray, Amhara, and Afar who are direct victims of the crisis are lauding the cessation of hostilities because it serves everyone else right” says Masho Kidane a Tigrayan resident in Addis Ababa.
The peace agreement is accepted by the global community except for some war mongers who live comfortable life outside Ethiopia and who do not know the current reality on the ground. They rely on fake voices that come from outside and think they could only get solutions from outside. So they are still trying to convince the global community that war is the only way. But it proved to be peace is the only way.
Now the war is ended and a peace accord is signed the focus remains on the successful effectuation of the deal. In this regard, The Ethiopian government is living up to its words as it doubles down its efforts to provide humanitarian aid to conflict-ridden areas.
The Ethiopian Herald December 1/2022
