Skip to main content

Ethiopia says without legal documentations humanitarian organizations are forbidden to operate in Tigray

Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (Picture: Ethiopian News Agency ENA)

Addis Ababa, February 10, 2021 - Demeke Mekonnen,Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, conducted a briefing with ambassadors from African countries on the humanitarian situation in Tigray, the status of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and the border crisis with Sudan.

 The Humanitarian Situation in Tigray

"There are 26 international humanitarian organizations with legal documentations that are delivering assistance in Tigray", said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassadors from African countries being briefed on current events in Ethiopia (Picture: Ethiopian News Agency ENA)

"The Ethiopian government will not give permission to those who want to operate in Tigray in the name of humanitarian assistance without bringing proper evidence", said the deputy prime minister.

He also said that Tigray region has started paying salaries to employees working in the region's public institutions, business activities are underway and the area is returning to normalcy as banks have started providing services as well.

With regards to Eritrean refugees who were displaced from Hitsats and Shimelba refugee camps during the conflict, Demeke Mekonnen said that the government is working to relocate them to secure and safe camps.

On the GERD

Dr. Sileshi Bekele, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Ethiopia (Picture: Ethiopian News Agency ENA)

At the briefing, the deputy prime minister was also accompanied by the Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Dr. Sileshi Bekele, who explained to the ambassadors that the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is going according to the plan and that it will be filled in the coming rainy season.

Dr. Sileshi hailed South Africa's effort to bridge the gap between negotiating parties on the GERD. He emphasized Ethiopia's interest in resolving the issue based on fair and equitable water use.

Tensions with Sudan

Permanent Secretary to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Woinshet Tadesse, on her part said that Sudan violated Ethiopia's sovereignty while Ethiopian defense forces were busy on law enforcement operations in Tigray region. 

She further elaborated that the Ethiopian government wants the issue to be resolved in a peaceful manner. She noted above all the the need to implement the 1972 memorandum of understanding signed between Ethiopia and Sudan.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded that Sudan relinquish control of Ethiopian territories until the border dispute between the two countries is resolved peacefully.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

UN Security Council meeting on Ethiopia's Tigray operation cancelled; A diplomatic success for PM Abiy's administration

Addis Ababa, November 24, - The UN Security Council was due to hold talks today on the current law enforcement operation of the Ethiopian federal government on the TPLF rebel group. Nevertheless, the meeting was cancelled , according to reports from AFP. Although, the Ethiopian government repeatedly expressed that the actions being taken by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) is to maintain law and order, the international community is being led to believe that the Ethiopian government is targeting Tigrayans instead of looking at the atrocities being committed by the TPLF group. China leans towards Ethiopia Nevertheless, China, a permanent member of the UN security council with a powers to veto any "substantive" resolution , was celebrating its 50th Diplomatic Anniversary with Ethiopia today , November 24, 2020. China's and Ethiopia's diplomatic relations began on November 24, 1970. President Xi Jinping to President Sahle-Work Zewde said "over the past
1 comment
Read more

TPLF militia leader who controlled land more than the size of Addis Ababa within Sudan arrested

  Addis Ababa, December 01, 2020 - The Sudanese army arrested a senior TPLF militia leader fighting inside the Sudanese borders. According to reports from the Sudan Tribune , he was accompanied by his family members with a "considerable amount of money and gold". According to sources close to the Sudan Tribune on Monday, November 30, 2020, the "military intelligence of the 2nd Infantry Division in Gedaref had spotted the militia commander, accompanied by dozens of soldiers and his personal protection team, along with his family in the Allaw border area in Al-Fashaqa locality". It was also reported that this group managed to grab land more than the size of Addis Ababa, more than 600 square kilometers, from Sudanese farmers. These lands belonged to Sudanese farmers and herders in the areas of Majaj, Allaw and Allakdi where the TPLF militia inflicted widespread terror operations on villagers, according to the Sudan Tribune. It further said that the Sudanese forces
Post a Comment
Read more

ex-Tigray region President, Abay Weldu, arrested along with other key TPLF officials

  Addis Ababa, January 11, 2020 - Former Tigray Regional State President Abay Weldu and his former deputy Dr. Abraham Tekeste were arrested and brought to Addis Ababa today, reported Ethiopian News Agency (ENA). Abay Weldu, ex TPLF Chairman and Former Tigray Regional State President (Picture: ENA) Abay Weldu, who served as President of Tigray region from 2010 to 2018, also served as the chairman of the now defunct Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) from 2012 to 2017. He was replaced by Debretsion Gebremichael who still remains at large. Abay Weldu, ex TPLF Chairman and Former Tigray Regional State President (Picture: Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Dr. Abraham Tekeste was also the former Vice President of Tigray region. He also served as Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation (MoFEC) until 2018. From 2003-2005, he served as the Addis Ababa City Administration Mayor’s Secretary and Office Head. Dr. Abraham Tekeste, former Vice President of Tigray region (Picture: ENA)  
Post a Comment
Read more