US Ambassador Condemns TPLF’s “Unwinnable Fight” and Urges Return to Peace Talks
TORONTO, Canada – The United States is reacting to the outbreak of a conflict in northern Ethiopia.
U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin J. Massinga on Wednesday released a brief statement hours after news of the TPLF offensive, which the organization described as a defensive war. The Ambassador calls the TPLF war unwinnable.
He stated:
“I am disappointed to see the leadership of the TPLF, that the United States sanctioned earlier this year, make the poor decision to launch a large-scale offensive today. Rejecting dialogue sponsored by the AU under President Obasanjo and engaging in an unwinnable fight does nothing for the people. Other armed groups would be wise to avoid this. While the U.S. has tools to sanction additional leaders who try to push Ethiopia down the wrong path, I still believe a reasonable political dialogue is the right way to go.”
Ambassador Massinga has visited Mekelle several times this year to meet with TPLF leadership in an effort to avert the outbreak of another conflict.
In June, the United States imposed visa restrictions and asset freezes on key TPLF leaders and their family members.
That same month, the Ambassador issued a statement urging individuals actively undermining peace processes to urgently cooperate with efforts led by the African Union to promote dialogue.
AU mediator and former president Olusegun Obasanjo—a key player in the signing of the Pretoria Agreement, which ended the war between the TPLF and the federal government led by Abiy Ahmed—was in Tigray earlier this month to meet with TPLF leaders and ease tensions amid escalating circumstances. However, the TPLF rejected him on the grounds that he is not a neutral mediator while expressing commitment to peaceful negotiation.
On Wednesday, the TPLF launched what it called a defensive war against the federal government. The move came days after seven armed groups announced an Alliance For Survival in which the TPLF is a key player. In a bold move to start the war, the TPLF disarmed federal police forces posted at the Alula Aba Nega International Airport in Mekelle and abducted them. It also launched an offensive along the Afar-Tigray boundary and the Amhara-Tigray boundary.
The TPLF has not yet responded to the statement from the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia.
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Debre believes he has hit the deciding jackpot by the leaders of Fano and OLA presenting themselves as subservient beasts of burden to carry him on their backs all the way to Addis/Finfinnee as his now dead mentors did through the then OPDO & EPDM in 1991.
I second our brother H.E. Ambassador Massinga’s call for returning to the dialogue table. I call upon the youth and the noble of Tigray to oppose Debre’s irresponsible decision to send their sons and daughters to an awaiting inferno. TPLF has brought nothing but death, destruction and unwarranted hatred to the people of Tigray region since 1975. I also call on the regime at Arat Kilo to stop sending its drones and raining bombs in Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regions. I will be holding the leaders of Fano, OLA, TPLF and the regime equally responsible for the death and destruction hence forthwith. The entire world has been egging them to have their mind and solve the issues peacefully at the negotiating table but they did not heed the advice.
Your Excellency Mr. Massinga,
Ambassador of the United States of America,
Regarding the newly formed “Alliance for Survival “, it’s a Must to save Ethiopia against a Regime who steadly use a sofisticated strategy by waging extrajudicial war and conflict almost in every single region of Ethiopia. Unfortunately, the West has overlooked it, the atrocities that continued in Amhara, Oromia, Benshangul, Tigray, Gumuz, Guraghe, Konso, Afar, Somali, and continued lethal skirmishes in the Southern part of Ethiopia. We have demanded the removal of the defence force of its barbaric killings. But not heard! Including the West gave us a deaf Ear!! It seems a dazzling, shiny city built by the Chinese; when we are empty stomachs; so we know our own deeply rooted economical, problems. As long as the Regime stays on Power, our agony continues and finally the name Ethiopia existential threat is Enorme! So it’s urgent to make a coalition and Alliance!
It’s a corrupted Regime who left Ethiopia in such disarray and chaos! This Alliance for Survival is more importantly to silence the gun and to bring Peace for All Ethiopia.
Thank you.
The regional power Tigray should not blamed for the resumption of its military operation in Ethiopia to oust Abiy Ahmed. Tigray will also maintain its long standing and biilateral ties to the United States interms of mutual interests. Abiy Ahmed has abandoned and closed all the diplomatic and peaceful venues and contributed to the current crisis in the region. This time around the Tigray military operation is legitimiate and will get reid of Abiy Ahmed. As expected Abiy Ahmed is on stand by to flee the country.