Millions of Ethiopians on Saturday took to streets and other open places to protest against activities of terrorist group TPLF, foreign interference and to show solidarity to government for ensuring law and order.

The demonstrations were staged in major cities and towns across the country including Addis Ababa, Adama, Ambo, Jimma, Hawassa and Bonga.

The protestors armed with placards written on: We Speakout for Ethiopia, stop intervention in the name of humanitarian aid, I stand with Ethiopia, I raise my voice, sung liberation songs as they courageously disapproved any pressures from the West for government to succumb to demands of sponsored terrorist group TPLF.

They also chanted slogans like “Respect Our Sovereignty”, “No two parallel armies in a sovereign state”, “No More Proxy War”, among others.

Representatives of political parties, community leaders and public figures also participated in the demonstration.

In the capital Addis Ababa, thousands flocked to the Meskel Square waving tri colors of the nation and chanting slogans that praise the gallantry of the army and the unwavering unity of Ethiopians against enemies.

Public open spaces and squares in Adama, Jimma and Hawassa cities have also seen big gatherings of people who called on the West to hold the terrorist TPLF accountable for the atrocities committed on innocent civilians. They also called for disarmament of the terrorist group in order to ensure lasting peace in Ethiopia.

They appreciated the measures the government is taking to resolve the conflict peacefully and step up delivery of humanitarian assistance to people in need in Tigray and other areas in the northern part of the country.

Today’s demonstrations are synonymous to those of November 2021 when Ethiopians, in millions, took to streets to protest against misreporting of facts by western media on Tigray conflict.

TPLF, a terrorist designated group on Wednesday, August 24 resumed fighting in the Northern part of Ethiopia, outrightly undermining calls and efforts aimed at peaceful resolution of the conflict in Tigray.

The group at around 5am made an attack on the Eastern Front in Bisober, Zobel, and Tekulesh directions.

For yet another time, Ethiopians have demonstrated that Africans, when united, can defeat imperialists and their sinister motives against the people of Africa.

By carrying out these attacks, TPLF have officially violated the Ceasefire, according to the country’s Communication Service.

“The federal government of Ethiopia has been taking steps to bring the war in the northern part of Ethiopia to a peaceful conclusion. However, the terrorist organization, as well as its foreign backers, have expressed a strong desire to continue fighting,” reads a statement in parts by the country’s Communication Service.

“In the last six months, they have been committing various provocations, boasting with false claims. They have been committing various provocations, boasting with false claims. They tried to attack from the west several times and were always defeated”

“Despite their repeated attempts to attack through South Tigray, the government has thwarted their efforts and prevented the situation from worsening by stating that the main solution is the path of peace,” read the statement.

In March this year, the Federal Government of Ethiopia led by Prime Minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed, declared an indefinite humanitarian truce to facilitate the free flow of humanitarian aid into Tigray region as well as giving an opportunity to peaceful negotiations.

While announcing the humanitarian truce, government said thousands of people from Tigray were trekking into neighboring regions in search for assistance.

Considering this fact, government said, the situation warranted urgent measures to assist the locals, thus committing to exert maximum effort to facilitate the free flow of the needed aid.

This happened at the backdrop of the fact that TPLF uses starvation through interrupting the flow of humanitarian support into the Northern region, stealing the ready to harvest food and consuming the stockpiled one.

Much as government asked TPLF to desist from acts of aggression and withdraw from areas they occupied in neighboring regions, no signs of such were seen. TPLF still occupied some areas in Afar and Amhara regions and as well continued with provocations.

They on several occasions, commandeered humanitarian vehicles that entered Mekelle. It is worth noting that the group also rejected to observe the government declared Unilateral Ceasefire in June 2021.

TPLF’s belief that continued fighting in Tigray and neighbouring regions would Ethiopia force Addis Ababa to succumb and give-in to the North is frustrating all the possible negotiations.

In April, Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said TPLF was mobilizing a massive number of fighters to areas adjacent to the Amhara and Afar regions to wage another devastating war.

The group had written an open letter to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on April 21, 2022, threatening to launch another round of attack if its demands are not met.

At the end of July this year, the government of Ethiopia facilitated a visit to Mekelle, the Capital of Tigray, for the UN special envoys and Ambassadors from EU, USA , France Germany, Italy and UK.

During the visit, Redwan Hussien, Security adviser of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, revealed that Ethiopia is ready to negotiate with TPLF without preconditions. Instead, TPLF rejected to cooperate and opted for war to once again unleash terror and war crimes on the people of Tigray and the neighbouring regions.

The TPLF resumed the attack a few days aftee the Ethiopian Government unveiled three pronged Peace Proposal – peace talks towards an agreed ceasefire, an in-depth political dialogue for a lasting settlement and addressing pending issues through a national dialogue.

World Food Program (WFP) Chief, David Beasley blamed the TPLF for robbing over 570, 000 liters of fuel from the compound (warehouse) of WFP in Tigray.

Government of Ethiopia has been calling on the International Community to pressure the TPLF to stop its offensive, and engage in the AU-led peace efforts.

At the start of this Month, Horn of Africa envoy Olusegun Obasanjo briefed the bloc’s Peace and Security Council on his progress in resolving the conflict.

The AU council called on the warring sides “to place the supreme interests of Ethiopia and its people above all else and embrace inclusive political dialogue as the only viable approach towards finding a consensual solution to the current situation.”

Kungu Al-Mahadi Adam is an experienced Ugandan multimedia Journalist with a background of fact checking and thorough research. He is very passionate about current African affairs particularly Horn of Africa. He...

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