Wednesday, 4th November 2020
Office of Prime Minister’s statement on TPLF’s attack on Ethiopian National Defense Forces Base in Tigray
In the early hours of November 4, 2020, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked the Ethiopian National Defense Forces Base located in Tigray region and attempted to rob the northern command of artillery and military equipment. The Northern command has been stationed in the Tigray region for more than two decades in service and protection of the people of Tigray from any threats.
It is to be recalled that in the past few weeks the TPLF has been arming and organizing irregular militias outside of the constitutionally mandated structure. The attack on the Northern Command has been premised on TPLF viewing the Ethiopian National Defense Forces as a foreign army rather than an army that has been protecting the people of Tigray for more than twenty years. Resultantly, TPLF has chosen to wage war in Dalshah.
Over the past months of continued provocation and incitement for violence by TPLF, the Federal Government has maintained a policy of extreme patience and caution in order to avoid any harm that such provocations would cause to the people of Tigray. In addition to Federal government provocation, the TPLF through Almeda Plc – a textiles manufacturing company based in the region – have been manufacturing military outfits resembling that of the Eritrean National Defense Forces, to implicate the Eritrean government in false claims of aggression against the people of Tigray.
While the Federal government has used all means to thwart a military engagement against the TPLF, a war however cannot be prevented only on the goodwill and decision of one side, but on the mutual choice for peace by both parties. The last red line has been crossed with this morning’s attacks and the Federal government is therefore forced into a military confrontation.
The Ethiopian National Defense Forces, under the direction of a Command Post, have been ordered to carry out their mission to save the country and the region from spiraling into instability.
Federal Council of Ministers declares State of Emergency in Tigray Region
In its 21st Extraordinary Session held today, on the 4th of November 2020, the Council of Ministers has decreed a state of emergency in accordance with article 93(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The Council of Ministers has decreed the state of emergency:- recognizing the constitutional responsibility of the state to maintain the country’s peace, the safety and security of its citizens and to prevent acts that may lead the country to further unrest and instability;
- recognizing that illegal and violent activities within the National Regional State of Tigray are endangering the constitution and constitutional order, public peace and security, specially threatening the country’s sovereignty, seriously impeding the Federal Government from discharging its constitutional responsibility in the Region, violating decisions of the House of Federation, and
- understanding that this situation has reached a level where it cannot be prevented and controlled through the regular law enforcement mechanism;
The State of Emergency is decreed for a period of six months and a State of Emergency Task Force to be led by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, composed of representatives from pertinent institutions and accountable to the Prime Minister has been established through the State of Emergency decree.
The State of Emergency Shall be applicable throughout the National Regional State of Tigray. The State of Emergency Taskforce may through directives expand or restrict the geographic scope of application of the decree. Detailed information regarding the State of Emergency on a regular basis will be provided in due course.
On recent violence in the Oromia Region…
The heinous identity-based attacks, which took place in the West Wellega Zone on 1st November, are the calculated actions of disgruntled political forces and militant groups hell bent on seizing political power at all costs, including at the expense of the state itself. These attacks only aim to foment further bloodshed, driving wedges between communities that have lived in harmony for millennia.
The Government of Ethiopia condemns these actions and those responsible for them in the strongest possible terms, while expressing its profound condolences to the families of those affected.
Investigations into these incidents are ongoing, the results of which will determine the extent of the attacks and the number of casualties. As we speak, the security forces have been deployed to the area and are taking all proportional measures to bring those responsible to justice and to re-establish peace and security.
Though these forces seek to divide us, and to derail the reforms that we have embarked on, the people, and the Government of Ethiopia, will always prevail. These attacks will not break the spirit or will of the Ethiopian people.
The House of Peoples' Representatives has called on the government to take conclusive and immediate action against the perpetrators of atrocities on the Amhara ethnic group if the country is to remain united.
Speaker of the House of Peoples' Representatives, Honourable Tagesse Chafo, said the aim of both internal and external anti-peace forces is to disintegrate the country. "We must stand together, save the country from this threat and not give them a chance to achieve what they want " he said.
On the progress of the AU-led GERD Negotiations…
It is to be recalled that Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt concluded the last round of AU-led tripartite talks over the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on 28th August 2020, with the understanding that talks would reconvene in September.
Unfortunately, the September talks, set to be held under the chairmanship of the Republic of Sudan, did not take place.
Following this unexpected pause in negotiations, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and current Chairperson of the AU, in consultation with the Heads of State and Government of the three countries, called for a resumption of the talks in mid-October.
Accordingly, ministerial talks comprising the ministers of water and foreign affairs of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt were held on 1st November 2020. The talks resulted in agreement that the three countries would assign six experts, two from each country, to discuss in further detail the modalities of upcoming talks and on the role of the AU’s experts going forward. The experts are expected to submit their findings to the ministers in the next round of talks slated to take place on 3rd November 2020.
As from the beginning, Ethiopia remains committed to successful conclusion of the AU-led tripartite negotiations. These negotiations represent the ideal opportunity for the three countries to constructively debate and reach consensus on the outstanding issues on this matter.
Ethiopia, once again, calls on all its partners to strengthen their support for the AU-led process as the ideal platform to bring about a sustainable win-win agreement on the GERD.
2021 National Elections Update
It is to be recalled that the National Electoral Board (NEBE), in its statement of April 1st 2020 announced its recommendation to postpone national elections due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sixth national elections, which had been scheduled to take place on 29th August 2020, were subsequently postponed following deliberations by a Council of Constitutional Interpretation (CCI), overseen by the House of Federation.
On 30th October 2020, in line with the recommendations tabled by the Minister of Health, Her Excellency, Dr Lia Tadesse, in her address to Parliament of 18th September 2020, the Board proposed that the postponed national elections be held in Spring 2021.
The Board has subsequently been engaged in a series of consultative meetings with political parties, civil society organisations, media and government organs in order to discuss the mode and manner in which the electoral process will take place. Additionally, the Board has requested a further 1.1 billion birr (approximately £22 million GBP) in funding to ensure the implementation of all necessary precautions against COVID-19.
The Board has also proposed a tentative schedule as follows:- December – January: Training for polling officers
- January – February: Voter Registration
- February: Candidate Registration
- February – Final week of Election: Campaigning
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