The decision for the unilateral ceasefire by the Government, which considered the humanitarian challenges of our citizens and other issues of the country, was also partly in response to the repeated demands by various international humanitarian organizations to have unhindered mobility in transporting humanitarian assistance; to not be escorted; for removal of checkpoints and exempting humanitarian assistance vehicles from searches supposedly to save time. The unilateral ceasefire decision is a positive response from the Government of Ethiopia in light of these requests and the safety of our people.

However, after the government has taken positive measures to ensure the safety of its citizens and positively respond to international demand, the following are being witnessed:

1. None of the parties that demanded the Government of Ethiopia to ceasefire attempted to condemn or stop the attacks committed against our defense force as it was leaving stations following the government’s unilateral ceasefire decision.
2. The Western media and some Western countries, which have been urging the government to make the decision of ceasefire, appeared to degrade, minimize and demean the decision.
3. The deployment of child soldiers, which is an international war crime, is obviously ignored by international media, where some even shamelessly tried to report it as something positive.
4. No party has yet attempted to learn about, understand or condemn the TPLF’s attempts to wage war in the Afar and Amhara regions.
5. The Government decided to a ceasefire and evacuated to give the people relief and an opportunity for peace, and not to change the location of the conflict. The fact that proponents of the ceasefire did not condemn the actions of the TPLF has caused us to question if these actors indeed want the conflict to be over.
6. Even if the government decided to suspend the ceasefire and withdraw defense forces for the well-being of the people and based on the demands of the international community, the previous criticism against the Government of Ethiopia continues.
7. After National Defense Forces withdrew, Ethiopia has continued to facilitate humanitarian flights into Tigray. However, allegations continue that humanitarian organizations are still denied flight.
8. Harassment against Ethiopia by certain officials continues to intensify much to the dismay of the Ethiopian government. The Goverment of Ethiopia strongly believes that the attempts to impose sanctions on Ethiopia during the meeting held in Geneva is shameful. Denouncing and putting undue pressure on Ethiopia continues even from countries at a time when the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is conducting a joint investigation with the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Ethiopian government believes that such stands and actions are contradictory.
9. The Government noted that some humanitarian organizations were trying to arm the other side instead of coordinating humanitarian assistance. It is important to note that the Ethiopian government is forced to reconsider its relationship with such organizations, especially as we are witnessing the propaganda and attempts of arming by agencies and agents.

As a whole, we call on the international community to stand with Ethiopia, knowing that our country is facing an unprecedented crisis due to the work we are doing to complete the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the rule of law operations in Northern Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian government has sacrificially made a political decision, recognizing the dangers to the people, and will not tolerate any attack that violates the government’s decision and endangers Ethiopia. The Government calls upon all Ethiopians to think of Ethiopia beyond local issues and stand by the side of their government.

—ENDS—

Source: Ethiopia Current Issues Fact Check