CRISIS GROUP: TIME FOR ETHIOPIA TO BARGAIN WITH SIDAMA OVER STATEHOOD

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Che -Guevara]

 

 

[Haatu]

On 7/18/2019 at 8:25 PM, Old_Observer said:

Both Farmaajo and Abiy are following Afwerki way. Be tough arrest or kill if you have to. No Federalism.

They forget that Afwerki is dictator, no opposiion, more than 300 prisons..etc

PM Abiy trying to say if there is violence, I was not there. Very weak.

Sinically one can say Abiy is trying to co-ordinate with Afwerki to pressure Tigray. This will definitely undo Ethiopia. The Oromo separatists field day. They get what they want and they are ready.

 

I am afraid Kililka is at its weakest. The President may have education, but is no substitute for leadership and gutsy decisions.

I think their aim is to declare independence. Everything they've done so far points towards that.

[Che -Guevara]

ETHIOPIA SAYS ARMY TO TAKE OVER SECURITY IN TROUBLED SOUTH

July 22, 2019

Efforts by the Sidama ethnic group, the largest in Ethiopia’s southern region, to establish a new semi-autonomous state, has put them on a collision course with the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

Ethiopia announced Monday that soldiers and federal police will take over security in a restive southern region following days of violence that has left at least 18 people dead.

“The regular security structure has been unable to ensure rule of law and has been stymied by various agendas,” said a statement read on regional state television late Monday.

“From today onward the southern region will be under a federal security forces-led command post.”

The unrest stems from efforts by the Sidama ethnic group, the largest in the southern region, to establish a new semi-autonomous state – a project that has put them on a collision course with the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Protests erupted last week as Sidama activists sought to declare their own territory separate from the diverse Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region.

Ethiopia is already partitioned into nine semi-autonomous regions. The constitution requires the government to organise a referendum for any ethnic group that wants to form a new entity within a year of them requesting it.

Sidama leaders submitted their request last July and were preparing to unilaterally declare their new state last week but instead accepted a government request to delay the move.

Clahses broke out when it became clear that a declaration was not imminent, with violence carrying through the weekend into Monday.

In its statement, the government said security had deteriorated and the southern region was plagued by “strife, destruction, displacement and robberies”.

“Armed and illegal groups have been wreaking havoc in the region and the army has been trying to restore the rule of law,” it said.

It said the federal takeover came at the request of regional officials. Details of a new central command post be made known in coming days, it added.

– Rising death toll –

Hospital officials in Hawassa, the regional capital, said last Friday that four people were killed in protests there.

Security forces swiftly quelled the unrest but violence in towns outside Hawassa spread.

A hospital official in Woreta Rassa, located about 30 kilometres (18 miles) outside Hawassa, said Monday that 12 people had died after being shot by soldiers late last week.

“Twelve people from the community were killed and 19 were injured,” said the official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to reveal casualty totals.

“They were fighting the military.”

In Yirgalem, around 40 kilometres south of Hawassa, two people died out of 10 who were admitted to the local hospital, said Gudura Funte, the hospital’s head.

“One patient was shot at 4:00 am today. He was admitted in the morning and then he died. The rest came on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Funte said.

He added that the security situation had largely stabilised by Monday afternoon.

The numbers provided Monday by hospital officials are likely incomplete, as violence was also reported in other areas.

Some Sidama activists have put the death toll as high as 60 but it has not been possible to verify their reports.

Derese Desalegn, the head of the Sidama health department, said he planned to dispatch officials to affected areas on Tuesday to begin gathering comprehensive casualty figures.

At least 150 people had been arrested in connection with the violence as of Friday, Hawassa Mayor Sukare Shuda told regional state media.

Source: AFP

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Old_Observer]

2 hours ago, Che -Guevara said:

 

I am glad the PM Abiy government did not listen to its main insiders from G7 and others. National movements never die, they just kill you slowly. The Sidama have full support from the Oromo and others.

Only the Amxara were opposed to the Sidama statehood.

If it was not for Abtigis, Somalis should have been more prominent in supporting the Sidama more than Oromo. It's in Somalis best interest that Ethiopia is further decentralized. No Somali except some opportunists and bought out politicians should ever support centralization in Ethiopia.

[Che -Guevara]

Observer,

He made the right decision though this might open pandora's box. Regarding Somali leaders, I came to the conclusion they don't really care about their constituents. It is a hard thing to accept but that's reality. If Abtigiis cared, he would hold the Oromo leadership accountable for what they did to Somalis on the border town and inside Oromia.

[Old_Observer]

22 hours ago, Che -Guevara said:

Observer,

He made the right decision though this might open pandora's box. Regarding Somali leaders, I came to the conclusion they don't really care about their constituents. It is a hard thing to accept but that's reality. If Abtigiis cared, he would hold the Oromo leadership accountable for what they did to Somalis on the border town and inside Oromia.

He does not even mention it, let alone to take stand and measures. All the persons that participated from the Oromo side are in power.

The man who led the security and police of Oromo where they gathered Somalis, telling them they will be protected in police station and then abondoned them to be slaughtered is now the Chief of Security and Intelligence of Ethiopia. That is why the case against Iley goes no where. They just want to punish him not bring him to justice.

Abtigis is their main propaganda man accusing Illey not of abuse of power, corruption, violation of human rights...but of being only a separatist.

 

If you are a Somali they tell you Illey was a nazi so we arrested him and will take him to court so those Somalis who suffered will get justice.

To the Amxara and most Ethiopia they tell you Illey was separatist. He was preparing the kilil to separate. Abtigis is champion of this angle. By arresting Illey we saved Ethiopia. He will be punished so that no one will even think of separating in the future.

To Afwerki, to Farmaajo...they tell you that Illey was working with Ghelleh all the time. They always have secret meetings and Illey has promised Ghelleh that unless the pipeline is through Djibouti, it will not be built and will not function.

 

Which one is the case? Maybe all of them. But which was the most significant. It depends who you are.

Even Jawar who had campaigned for Illey arrest from 2 years ago is now disillusioned about the case.

 

Abtigis is getting ahead of himself. Trying to climb the ladder in Ethiopia without a somali base and ground to stand on.

 

The Sidama case has exposed a lot of politicians in Ethiopia, that wanted to pass under the radar.

 

 

 

 

 

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Old_Observer]

On 11/13/2019 at 9:37 PM, Che -Guevara said:

 

Abiy may be realizing that his main supporters the Amxara Gurgae are not reaible and also the weakest. Most Oromos support the Sidama to be a Kilil.

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Che -Guevara]