ONLF Announces Formation of Somali People Alliance
Patriarch of Ethiopia's Orthodox Church Criticizes TPLF Factions
Patriarch of Ethiopia's Orthodox Church Criticizes TPLF Factions
Abuna Mathias, the Patriarch of Ethiopia’s Orthodox Church, has criticized the two factions of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) for pursuing a destructive path. In a letter addressed to the leadership of both factions, led by party chairman Debretsion Gebremichael and Interim Regional Administration President Getachew Redda, the Patriarch called on the leaders to listen to the people and respond to their demands. He expressed concern about the gravity of the current situation in the region and criticized the leaders for failing to focus on resolving the people’s problems.UN Reports Reluctance to Relocate from High-Risk Areas in Afar and Oromia
The UN humanitarian office in Ethiopia has reported that some people, particularly pastoralists, are reluctant to relocate from high-risk areas in the Afar and Oromia regions, which are vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic activity. The government is currently relocating 60,000 people from these volcanic-affected areas. The UN and NGOs have been providing technical support and humanitarian aid for the relocation efforts, but significant gaps remain. Incident Command Posts have been established in Awash town, Afar region, and Metehara town, Oromia, to facilitate the ongoing humanitarian and relocation efforts.527,000 IDPs Return Home in Benshangul Gumuz Region
The Disaster Risk Management authorities have reported that 527,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) displaced by conflicts in the Benshangul Gumuz region and neighboring areas bordering Amhara and Oromia regions have returned to their homes. Over the past few years, 568,274 people were displaced due to conflicts and armed attacks. However, over 40,000 people from four districts, including Gilgel Beles and Dibate, remain sheltered in temporary IDP centers. The return of these IDPs follows peace agreements between armed groups and the regional administration.Outgoing U.S. Diplomat Criticizes Security Forces in Amhara and Oromia Regions
Outgoing U.S. senior diplomat for African Affairs, Molly Phee, has expressed concern over the actions of government security forces in Ethiopia’s Amhara and Oromia regions. Phee highlighted that the security forces' actions show little regard for civilian casualties. She stressed the United States' interest in resuming its previous partnership with Ethiopia but emphasized that the Ethiopian government must take further steps. The Biden administration had previously suspended Ethiopia from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) due to human rights violations during the war in northern Ethiopia.ONLF Announces Formation of Somali People Alliance
The opposition Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has announced an agreement among Somali political leaders and stakeholders in Ethiopia’s Somali region to form the Somali People Alliance. The decision was made during a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, last week. The new political alliance will be officially launched at an All Somali National Conference in three months. The alliance's goal is to fulfill the aspirations of the Somali people for unity, justice, and freedom, while claiming a rightful place for the Somali people in the Horn of Africa and beyond. Recently, the ONLF has been critical of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government for the delayed implementation of the Peace Agreement signed in Asmara, Eritrea, six years ago.