The United States wants negotiation between the Ethiopian government and TPLF in exchange for “delay of sanction.” Many Ethiopian activists see the US move as an attempt to make TPLF relevant
borkena
“President Biden today signed an Executive Order (E.O.) establishing a new sanctions regime in response to the crisis. ”
Financial sanctions and visa restrictions on individuals and entities whom the United States view as “responsible for threatening peace and stability, obstructing humanitarian access or progress toward a ceasefire, or committing serious human rights abuses.”
The US government sees the sanction as a manifestation of its determination to employ what it called “appropriate too” in pursuit of bringing a “relief” to the “region.” It is notable that the statement used the noun “region” rather than making a reference to Ethiopia or the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
This new tool underscores our resolve to use every appropriate tool at our disposal to bring relief to the long-suffering people of the region.
What the US seeks to achieve with the sanction regime is a ceasefire and negotiation between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF forces. In what seems to be a push to move the Ethiopian government along that path, the US expressed readiness to “delay imposition of sanctions and focus on supporting a negotiated process” if its prescription is accepted.
The US State Department said, “The United States calls on the Ethiopian government and the TPLF to cease ongoing hostilities and enter into ceasefire negotiations immediately and without preconditions.”
The statement from the State Department also made accusations against the Government of Ethiopia, the Government of Eritrea, the Amhara regional government, and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) for failure to stop fighting and resort to “diplomacy.”
It went on to narrate that the conflict has led to “the worst humanitarian crisis in the world,” and indicated that over five million people have been affected by it. Over 900,000 people are under famine circumstances, it was added.
The statement failed to make a reference to the Ethiopian government declaration of a unilateral humanitarian ceasefire at the end of June and withdrawal of troops from the Tigray region of Ethiopia with the aim to facilitate, among other things, humanitarian access to the Tigray region of Ethiopia. In the ensuing weeks, TPLF launched a military operation and controlled areas in the Afar and Amhara region of Ethiopia, where it carried out multiples of massacres targeting civilians, including children and women, in both regions.
Many Ethiopian activists and politicians tend to believe that the U.S. ‘s push for negotiation between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF is intended to make the latter relevant in the Ethiopian political process.
Furthermore, the majority of Ethiopians believe that the U.S. is backing TPLF terrorists. U.S. nutritious food aid that was meant to be distributed for those in need in the Tigray region of Ethiopia has been consumed by TPLF fighters. It was established after TPLF forces captured in battle were caught with aid biscuits. Days after the story made news headlines, the USAID Ethiopia announced that the TPLF had looted its warehouses. Also, TPLF fighters registered as refugees with UNHCR in Sudan were caught in battle in Gondar with refugee I.D.s they were issued with by the UNHCR.
The U.S. sanction regime against Ethiopia came at time when the Ethiopian government announced finalization of military preparation to drive the TPLF forces from the areas they controlled in Amhara region of Ethiopia. Currently, 4.5 million people in the Amhara region are reportedly in TPLF controlled areas facing starvation and human rights violations including summary executions -a fact that the U.S. government ignored.
Full statement from the State Department is featured below :
Issuance of New Executive Order Establishing Sanctions Related to the Crisis in Ethiopia
PRESS STATEMENT
ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE
SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
In the midst of ongoing violence, abuses against civilians, and growing humanitarian plight in Ethiopia, President Biden today signed an Executive Order (E.O.) establishing a new sanctions regime in response to the crisis. With it, the United States will be able to impose financial sanctions on individuals and entities in connection with the conflict, including those responsible for threatening peace and stability, obstructing humanitarian access or progress toward a ceasefire, or committing serious human rights abuses. Designated individuals are also subject to visa restrictions. This conflict has sparked one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with more than five million people requiring assistance, of which over 900,000 are living in famine conditions. This new tool underscores our resolve to use every appropriate tool at our disposal to bring relief to the long-suffering people of the region.
For too long, the Government of Ethiopia, the Government of Eritrea, the Amhara regional government, and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have failed to stop fighting and invest in diplomacy required to solve the ongoing crisis. Instead, violence has escalated and spread, and human rights abuses and obstruction of humanitarian access continue. The Administration, in concert with our international partners, including in the region, has employed a range of diplomatic tools. Most recently, the United States designated Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) Chief of Staff General Filipos Woldeyohannes under the Global Magnitsky sanctions authority in connection with serious human rights abuses committed by the EDF in Ethiopia. In May, we also announced a visa restriction policy on the issuance of visas for individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the resolution of the crisis in Tigray.
The United States calls on the Ethiopian government and the TPLF to cease ongoing hostilities and enter into ceasefire negotiations immediately and without preconditions. Talks to achieve a negotiated ceasefire should lead to a broader dialogue to find a durable political solution to the conflict. Eritrean forces should immediately and permanently withdraw from Ethiopia. If the parties take immediate steps in this regard, the United States is prepared to delay imposition of sanctions and focus on supporting a negotiated process.
Absent clear and concrete progress toward a negotiated ceasefire and an end to abuses – as well as unhindered humanitarian access to those Ethiopians who are suffering – the United States will designate imminently specific leaders, organizations, and entities under this new sanctions regime. Any sanctions imposed under this new authority would target those responsible for or complicit in actions or policies that are prolonging the conflict in northern Ethiopia, obstructing humanitarian access and a ceasefire, or committing serious human rights abuses. We have taken a series of steps to help ensure legitimate humanitarian assistance (including COVID-19 related assistance), as well as personal remittances, food, and medicine continue to reach the Ethiopian and Eritrean people and that the activities of international organizations and non-governmental organizations in Ethiopia and Eritrea can proceed.
Today’s action demonstrates that the United States will continue to use all appropriate tools at our disposal to end the conflict.
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Seriously???!!!
How long will these demons continue with their agenda?
This is the final push. Let’s eliminate the traitors of Ethiopia, and destroy the plans of their evil puppet masters!
I really doubt even if Ethiopia wins, it is with negotiation that gives more power to foreigners: give up Nile and Tigray ( place for Solomon that belongs to us) or else we will annihilate you. Aby may slerp with Turkey and Arabs but it still the same, spreading islam and taking resources. This endless war will continue until you dont recognise Ethiopians in Ethiopia, that justlike what Oman arab did in Maldives and Tanzania, Arabs they are setting in African countries as well as converting Africans to Islam. The same with the West is converting Agricans to protestant. When they convert you to their side, most likely it is hypnotizing you to take your resources and and. It has happened in South Africa and the entire North Africa
Lulu, I totally agree with you.
I have been amazed at the speed, and how much of a hold, that the Protestant movement has had on Ethiopia over the years.
Plus, I have family members on my wife side that converted from Orthodox to that religion, which has a European foundation and values and absolutely nothing to do with Africa.
Subject: “U.S. push for ceasefire with sanction regime as Ethiopia ready for final operation to clear TPLF forces from Amhara and Tigray regions”
borkena.com, September 17, 2021
Humble Commentary, 18 September 2021
I did not read the entire Article.
It is obvious — it has always been obvious for time immemorial — that COLONIALISTS [and we know who is who] do NOT want to have solid Africa but fragmented Africa. They succeeded. In all the entire BLACK AFRICA, one country succeeded, for time immemorial, to be a FREE INDEPENDENT country — ETHIOPIA. The COLONIALIST never leave “a stone” unturned. NEVER. Consequently, the notion of having a solid meaningful INDEPENDENT BLACK African country is against the ‘taste’ of the White Race. There is no any other explanation other than the devilish effort to create and maintain divided African countries into pieces — always being subservient to the White Masters.
Yes, so goes the cruelty, It seems, Dear Africa can’t be left in peace with the most abundant natural resources on/in its territory. NEVER, voluntarily!!! The devilish basic conclusion is that the Black Man should not/never have such richness ; so goes the inherent hatred of White Man over the Black Man. Written History is the witness. Much More than that is the glaring example of the so-called “MODERN TODAY” Tigray, the ancient proud part of Ethiopia, for time immemorial, is being separated from Ethiopia.. And the United States of America — a country of diverse race — is instrumental for the division of Ethiopia into pieces. In other words, America the Great is being used as the divider expert of Nations!!! WOW!!!
We were taught by … you know who … that the concept of democracy and freedom of expression was never meant as a source of enmity and division of Nations into pieces.. Abraham Lincoln, Master of Unity, rather than division, and other Great Leaders of the United States of America are turning in their Graves. The wise American President of the current Twenty First Century is now recorded in History as a champion of separation of Tigray from Ethiopia, What separation next? Unless Ethiopia, with its proud ancient history, finds a way to seal the crack on its solid walls, that will last for centuries, Ethiopia may be divided into NINE pieces That will be the most extraordinary TRAGEDY. Who will be benefit? The answer is simple. Otherwise, it is absolute THE END.
My first reaction to this article about Berhanu Nega being considered for a foreign minister position was ‘What?’ followed by ‘Excuse me?’ O boy, O boy!!! Meanwhile this countryman has all the right to run for the position speculated. Will he bring a truckload of baggage that will end up being a distraction? Yes and a monstrous one. First of all I see him a part of a generation that that should be expunged, deemed out of place, from the political life of that country. His generation has caused enough of destruction on that gem of the colored. Its harmonious social fabric meticulously built by our far sighted ancestors over centuries was brought to a brink of destruction in just less a half a century by the deacons of violence preaching leftist dogma of the 1960’s and 70’s. In many parts of that country those loud mouth leftist extremists were able to plant their animosity poison that still lingers on. I have said this on several occasions before. A well designed education plan must be devised by the intellectuals among the young generation to detoxify that country from such lethal poison that is pitching one group of people against another. That generation which spent most of its adult life raising the name of The Almighty Our Creator in vain should be relegated to a life of retirement. Out of my sight!!!!We will send them a traditionally woven shawl made from the coveted lily white Ethiopian cotton laced with threads of ‘critical theory’ mumbo jumbo to keep them warm in their retirement lives. Bon voyage!!!!
Anthony Blinken will do everything possible in his power to save TPLF terrorists (Tigray people liberation front), except picking up a Kalashnikov and joining his buddies, Debetsion Gebremichaael and Getachew Reda, but then, you never know! If his boss the American TPLF member Susan Rice tells him, he might join them.