Situation in Eritrea (per 05 January)
Peace negotiations (per 05 January)
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According to Amhara media outlet Mereja.com, there is a “high” probability that Tigray regional President, Debretsion, will be appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia after a surprise cabinet reshuffle, but sources linked to the Tigray government deny such conversations are taking place.
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Mereja.com says Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen and Director General of Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service Temesgen Tiruneh wil step down.
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Demeke is reported by sources to be appointed as Ethiopia ambassador to the UN in New York.
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Dr Tedros Adhanom, DG of the WHO, commends the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) Agreement regarding the resumption of food and medicine deliveries and telecom services.
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Tedros stated that the Eritrean forces continue killing civilians; and they must withdraw from Tigray.
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Rahel Bafel head of the Ethiopian Political Parties Joint Council and VP of the Ethiopian Social Democratic Party (ESDP), said there is a lack of transparency of the CoH Agreement, reports Borkena.
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The Global Society of Tigrayan Scholars (GSTS) calls for the unconditional and immediate withdrawal of Eritrean and Amhara forces from Tigray to the pre-Nov 03 2020 positions.
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GSTS called for unfettered access for the Human Rights investigation Commission of Experts to Tigray.
Situation in Tigray (per 05 January)
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Tigrayan refugees in East Sudan, from the Wolkait district (west Tigray), and from Kemant, Kunama and Irob, express fear to return home, due to occupation by armed forces from Amhara militia and Eritrea.
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According to Tghat, Eritrean and Amhara forces in Shire are kidnapping people who come back from banks and loot their money.
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Reports that Eritrean soldiers are severely plundering from Tigray occupied areas including taking looted goods away with camels and trucks.
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Eritrean and Amhara forces are also accused of kidnapping people arriving by plane, says Tghat.
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Ethiopian State Minister of Health, Ayele Teshome, said that 8 hospitals and 26 health stations have resumed basic services in Tigray, reports Ethiopian Herald.
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A dollar is being sold for 150 Birr in the illegal market while it is less than 54 Birr in banks. The Ethiopian government wants remittances sent to the banks that have been reopened in Tigray, where a percentage of the rate is used for transfer costs, according to Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation.
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UN OCHA says removal of obstacles to provide access for humanitarian aid is a key priority for recovery in Tigray. it said 368.000 people in Tigray received food assistance during the end of December.
Situation in Ethiopia (per 05 January)
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Mereja.com says that former regional President of Oromia State and former chair of Oromo PP, Dr. Lemma Megerssa, is accused by PM Abiy of leading OLF Shane.
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Lemma was appointed by the World Food Programme in Rome, on the recommendation of Abiy.
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Ethiopia has its worst drought in 40 years. This is affecting communities in the southern regions.
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The Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) has announced a military operation against the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in southern Oromia, says All Africa.
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The aim of the operation is “to destroy the rebel group operating in the area and stabilise the region”.
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The ENDF stated that it controls villages in southern Oromia, which it has ‘liberated’.
Regional Situation (per 05 January)
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Al Shabaab killed 35 including 8 family members and wounded 40 in Central Somalia by car bombs.
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Al Shabab’s media office issued a statement saying that it took responsibility and that it had targeted “apostate militias and soldiers” and put the number of dead at 87.
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The Sudanese government and former rebel groups agreed to establish a 12.000 force to protect civilians in Darfur after the withdrawal of UNAMID, according to Sudan Tribune.
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Business Insider Africa says Sudan announced record-breaking gold production of over 18 tons in 2022, the highest in the country’s mineral sector history. 50%-80% of the country’s gold is smuggled out of Sudan and used to finance internal conflicts.
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Russia has been smuggling gold out of Sudan to finance the war against Ukraine.
Links of interest
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-sudan-arrest-world-most-wanted-human-trafficker
https://mereja.com/index/427077
https://www.africanews.com/2023/01/05/french-and-german-diplomatic-chiefs-to-visit-ethiopia-next-week/
WHO Chief Tedros praises progress in Ethiopia’s Tigray region but warns eritrean forces continue to massacre civilians and-must withdraw
A statement from the Global Society of Tigrayan Scholars
135 ሺህ 487 ሜትሪክ ቶን ምግብና ምግብ ነክ ያልሆነ እርዳታ እንዲሁም 879 ሺህ 980 ሊትር ነዳጅ ወደ ትግራይ ተልኳል
https://youtu.be/_eD83OTD83M?t=44
Eritrean and Amhara forces kidnapping people, looting their money in Shire
Hospitals, health stations resume basic service in Tigray
Ethiopia – Situation Report, 5 Jan 2023
https://twitter.com/Haphtom/status/1610960525634174977?t=BKAyQBl68fiMtYBYNyV6QQ&s=19
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/jan/05/im-scared-to-think-what-ethiopia-will-become-tigray-war-refugees-fear-return
https://allafrica.com/stories/202301040273.html
https://borkena.com/2023/01/03/ethiopian-opposition-implementation-of-the-agreement-lacks-transparency-top-political-figure/
https://mereja.com/index/426795
Car bombs kill 35, burn houses in central Somalia – police
Sudan equips civilian protection force in Darfur
Sudan breaks gold production record in 2022
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