Peace negotiations (per 11 January)
- Eritrean Ambassador in Russia, Petros Tsegay, says Eritrean troops will not leave Tigray unless Ethiopia demands it, reports Mereja.com.
- The Ambassador indicated that Ethiopia has not yet requested Eritrea to withdraw from Tigray.
- The Ambassador said that the US and others do not have the right to press Eritrea to withdraw its forces from Ethiopia.
- He alleged that ‘’the US is supporting the TPLF and this may resume the war’’.
- Getachew Reda, spokesperson of the Tigray regional government, confirmed that Tigray has handed over heavy weapons as part of the implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) Agreement, witnessed by the AU Monitoring and Verification team.
- He said that he hopes and expects that it will lead to the full implementation of the peace deal.
Situation in Tigray (per 11 January)
- After two years of blockade, COVID-19 vaccinations will start in Tigray, reports Dimtsi Woyane.
- The Deputy head of the Bureau of Health said the Bureau has finalised preparations to carry out COVID vaccinations in Abi Adi, Wukro, Adigrat, Maychew and Mekoni areas next week.
- The Water Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) Cluster in Ethiopia notes that key challenges for the WASH response in Tigray include limited funding, high needs and limited staffing capacity among partners.
Situation in Ethiopia (per 11 January)
- Ethiopian deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen and his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand ”all rounded” bilateral ties.
- The Foreign Ministers call on the international community to beef up support to the reconstruction of conflict affected areas.
- According to Oromia Media Network (OMN), the Ethiopian Federal Government is moving its large forces from north Ethiopia to Oromia region.
- OMN reported that here was heavy fighting yesterday between ENDF and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in locations in Ambo and Alfata districts of the Western Shoa zone of Oromia region.
- Residents said that government soldiers continue to “torture and abuse” citizens, says OMN.
- Heavy fighting is also reported in West Oromia, districts of Anfilo and Begi. Reported that the government has deployed a large number of troops recently in these areas.
- A few days ago, the OLA launched a military operation on a prison camp in the Bule Hora city of Western Guji zone of Oromia, says OMN.
- In the operation over 500 prisoners were reportedly set free, added OMN.
- The National Anti-Corruption Coordinating Committee reviewed its work on 110 investigations
Regional Situation (per 11 January)
- According to the Long War Journal, the US Africa command launched 15 airstrikes in 2022 in Somalia killing almost 107 Al-Shabab fighters including senior commanders.
- It is estimated that the militant group has up to 10.000 fighters across Somalia, reports Garowe online.
- Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua met with Sudan Transitional Sovereignty Council General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) on Monday 9 January. Both parties expressed interest in strengthening relations between the two countries.
International Situation (per 11 January)
- German Foreign Minister Baerbock and French Foreign Minister Colonna will visit Ethiopia on 12 and 13 January. They will meet President Sahle-Work Zewde, PM Abiy Ahmed, and Dep PM Demeke Mekonen.
- According to EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa Annette Weber, the visit is meant to acknowledge the CoH Agreement that was signed, but also to underscore the steps that are necessary for a lasting peace.
- Michael Rubin, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, says that the US needs a coherent strategy on Eritrea.
- He states that ‘’Biden could develop a Marshall Plan for a post-Isaias Eritrea that could enable one of the world’s most reclusive states to join the international community in earnest.’’
- Rubin stated that Eritreans have been subjected to misery because of “the greed, incompetence and selfishness of President Isayas”.
- Inaction by the US would extend the “suffering of Eritreans and open opportunities for Russia, China and others to expand their foothold in the red sea,” adds Rubin.
- Eritrean Catholics in the US diocese of Arlington pray for peace and an end to religious persecution in Eritrea as they give thanks to the release of the catholic bishops who had been arrested in Eritrea.
- Dutch prosecutor Hoekstra says that the Netherlands registered five more people as suspects in its criminal investigation against a human smuggler from Eritrea who operated in Libya.
Links of interest
Twitter: Getachew Reda
Covid vaccination to start in Tigray, DW
WASH meeting minutes January 10 2023
IC urged to beef up support for conflict–ridden areas
በኦሮሚያ ላለፉት አራት አመታት ሲካሄድ የቆየው ጦርነት ተባብሶ መቀጠሉ ተሰማ።
የኦሮሞ ነጻነት ሰራዊት ከቀናት በፊት በምዕራብ ጉጂ ዞን ቡሌ ሆራ ከተማ በፈጸመው ኦፕሬሽን ከእስር የተፈቱ የፖለቲካ እስረኞች ቀድሞውንም በውሸት ወንጀል ነው ለእስር እንደተዳረጉ ገለፁ
አሜሪካ ለትግራይ አማጺያን ድጋፍ ስለምትሰጥ ጦርነቱ ተመልሶ ሊያገረሽ ይችላል – በሩሲያ የኤርትራ አምባሳደር
News: OLA fighters break into prison, set hundreds of detainees free in West Guji Zone, Southern Oromia
Ethiopian Press Agency/The Ethiopian Herald on Facebook
US air strikes against Alshabab in Somalia increased under Biden administration
Can Berlin and Paris reset ‘strained’ EU-Ethiopia ties?
German, French foreign ministers to visit Ethiopia Thursday
It’s Time to Get Serious About Eritrea
Five new suspects in major human smuggling case around notorious Eritrean
Disclaimer: All information in this Situation Report is presented as a fluid update report, as to the best knowledge and understanding of the authors at the moment of publication. EEPA does not claim that the information is correct but verifies to the best of ability within the circumstances. Publication is weighed on the basis of interest to understand potential impacts of events (or perceptions of these) on the situation. Check all information against updates and other media. EEPA does not take responsibility for the use of the information or impact thereof. All information reported originates from third parties and the content of all reported and linked information remains the sole responsibility of these third parties. Report to info@eepa.be any additional information and corrections.
