By Dr. Yohannes Taye
Dear Honorable Marco Rubio, we heard your brief remarks on the current situation in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. Your words were as follows:
“You have these separatists that were attacking inside of Ethiopia. You had an Ethiopian response to it. You see troops surging on both sides of the border as a result of that. And anytime you see troops on both sides of the border in a place like that, you’re always worried that that can turn into a broader conflict.”
“We understand the challenge you’re facing from these separatists, and obviously no one is supportive of terrorism and the terrorist attacks that came against them, drone attacks against their own capital, but we also think … it’s a time to sort of be wise and measured in how you respond to that and make sure it doesn’t turn into a broader war which could ultimately pull in other countries.”
We would like to highlight three key points. First, we agree that there is a buildup of tensions on the borders, with the potential for a full-scale war along the Eritrean Ethiopian border. This escalation has been largely fueled by a destabilizing force operating under the direction of the UAE and other regional actors. Your security briefings may provide further details on this matter, given that your country is the most powerful nation on the planet. We have no doubt about its capacity to assess the situation accurately. Second, we agree with your assessment that the region does not need another war. Third, we welcome your efforts to prevent the outbreak of another conflict and commend your commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Having said this, Your Excellency, we would like to draw your attention to two words or phrases you used in your communication with journalists. In our view, these words and phrases may reflect either an informed assessment or a deliberate framing of the situation on the ground. We are inclined to believe that the former may be the case. Nevertheless, we would like to provide some context regarding the realities within Ethiopia.
The two questions we wish to highlight are:
- Who is acting AS a TERRORIST, and on what basis?
- Who is a separatist in Ethiopia, and how is that designation being applied?
Your Excellency, we ask for your patience as we raise these important questions. We will not go into the details or present an extensive account of the facts here. Instead, we leave it to your robust information-gathering and analytical systems on the ground to independently investigate and verify the relevant facts.
First, who is acting as a terrorist?
Consider the reported drone attacks in Addis Ababa, which the Ethiopian government has not officially acknowledged. We understand that you referred to these alleged attacks, which the government has denied hiding from public, as attempts to target military facilities that are terrorizing the population. You characterized such actions as terrorist acts. This raises an important question: What exactly constitutes a terrorist act, and should that definition be applied consistently, regardless of who carries out the attack?
Just days ago, the Ethiopian government, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, reportedly carried out repeated drone strikes against Tigray and Amhara people several times. Reports have also indicated that several hotels in Adwa and the television station in Mekelle were struck before the Ethiopian government launched its latest large-scale military offensive against Tigray. Furthermore, over the past several years, drone strikes attributed to the Ethiopian government have reportedly affected civilians in Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia, raising serious concerns about the protection of civilian lives.
Millions of Ethiopian farmers live in remote rural communities, many without access to electricity or running water. Yet, according to reports, civilians in these communities have endured the devastating consequences of drone attacks and other military operations. Such incidents have been reported in Amhara over the past four years, in Oromia over the past seven years, and in Tigray over the past five years. Ethiopians living in small towns and villages have also witnessed the destruction of schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure in Amhara, Tigray, and parts of Oromia, with some of these incidents attributed to government drone strikes. They are TERRORIZED by their own government.
Your Excellency, these circumstances raise a fundamental question: If attacks on military targets and infrastructure in the capital city and at the Debre Zeit Air Force base, where thousands of drones are reportedly stationed, are considered acts of terrorism despite their military nature, what term should be used for the thousands of drone operations conducted by the government itself, as acknowledged by senior officials? They deliberately attack civilians, kids, women and lay farmers. Today, on 20-10-26 a small kid’s school was hit by drones in Gondar, Dera area, terrorizing many small kids. This is terrorism. Terrorizing the small kids, terrorizing the society. We respectfully submit that allegations of terrorism and other serious violations must be examined objectively, consistently, and on the basis of credible evidence, regardless of the identity, position, or political status of those responsible.
Your Excellency, these circumstances raise a fundamental question: If attacks that hit military targets and infrastructures in the capital city and in Debrezeit airforce where thousands of Drones are that threaten civilians and damage civilian infrastructure are considered acts of terror, what are you going to call the thousands of drone operation done by the government, confirmed by the top echelon people themselves, what are you going to call it? We respectfully submit that allegations of terrorism and other serious violations must be examined objectively, consistently, and on the basis of credible evidence, regardless of the identity or political status of those responsible.
Abiy Ahmed Ali’s mindset is war after war, conflict after conflict, and not peace. He committed genocide during the war in Tigray, which killed one million people. He then launched a war against the Amhara people over the past three years. Both the people in these regions and young Ethiopian soldiers are being humiliated every day. Since the beginning of his reign, he has launched several forms of conflict in the Oromia region just to control the people, as if he were the only political force representing Oromia. The elites from Wellega, who are in a better position than him, have been humiliated by him in many ways. They can testify to this. It is a paradox that such a personality has received the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. This shows how full of HYPOCRITES this world is, even at the highest levels of its power structures. Abiy Ahmed Ali is the very terrorist actor who took the Nobel peace prize, yet who terrorizes millions of children across the country by destroying their school, and other civilians like women and farmers while they are in their God given village and mountains far from the civilized world. Deal with him, Sir! Ethiopia and Ethiopia needs better person!
Who Is a Separatist in Ethiopia?
You also referred to the coalition forces as separatists. This could be a reference to the TPLF (Tigray People’s Liberation Front) and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which are fighting for the self-determination of their respective peoples. For example, the TPLF led the country for three decades. Despite the connotations of its name, it did not seek to separate Tigray from Ethiopia during that period. Yet, they are accused of being separatist. The other coalition member is the Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM). The movement is also fighting for the Amhara people to determine their own future and to be represented through their own free choice. Do you think the AFNM is fighting for separation? This is not true. People who have informed you that they are separatists have lied to you. You are an American who believes in freedom! The Fano movement represents a struggle for freedom, not separatism. The people in the Fano movement deeply believe in Ethiopia. So, who is the separatist?
When a group of people demands their rights and calls for genuine representation in the country, we cannot simply label it separatist. Or are you referring to the Afar forces that have also joined the coalition? The Afar people deeply believe in their Ethiopian identity and their African heritage. There should be no confusion about this! In fact, all seven groups in the coalition have come together to save the country from a reckless and incompetent leader who, in our view, is unfit to lead a nation of 130 million people. Their purpose is to save Ethiopia, NOT to separate it! In fact, Ethiopians, these days, know who is behaving like separatists, ABIY AHEMED ALI and all his OPDO gangs. They are actively working to establish a Cushitic state dominated by Oromia.
Our advice to You, Your Excellency,
Please discuss this issue with the leader of the coalition’s leadership, particularly Mr. Zemene Kassie, the leader of the AFNM. He was a gold medalist at his university and can explain the situation to you in a way that may be more helpful than relying solely on the perspective of Abiy Ahmed Ali, whom we believe has repeatedly pursued policies that have generated conflicts in Ethiopia and the wider region. Please cooperate with capable people in this highly volatile part of the world. The region needs stable and capable leadership to help safeguard peace and security through cooperation with neighboring countries.
In addition, we would like to draw your attention to one more matter. We believe that the United States has never been represented by a weak ambassador in Addis Ababa with such a low level of capability and understanding of the situation on the ground. We have heard reports that he could have been targeted in a helicopter attack, and that the Ethiopian government might seek to exploit such an incident to draw the United States to its side in the ongoing conflict. We urge you to take these reports seriously, verify their credibility, and consider whether a change of ambassador in Addis Ababa is necessary to ensure that the United States receives accurate and reliable information about developments on the ground.
Thank you for your attention!
God bless the USA, and God bless Ethiopia!
Editor’s Note: Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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