PM Abiy Ahmed Declares War on Tigray: First bullets fired

[Che -Guevara]

3 minutes ago, galbeedi said:

Che,

Why Abiy keep addressing the international community to justify his actions for the last few days?

 

He was the negotiated pick when the IC pushed out TPLF. There was an understanding that he is a transitional leader, but the pastor took on another role. The IC wanted a peaceful settlement and a transition to true multiparty democracy. If things get out of hand, contrary to some might say, it is he that will get the blame. Abiy has to calm nervous Western diplomats who consider Ethiopia as an anchor in the chaotic Horn. 

[galbeedi]

If things get worse, then they have to make another pick. Within the last six months, he arrested every Oromo leader. Jawar Mohamed, Bakale Garba and Lema Maggreasa. 

If election is held next year, Abiy will have no base.

[dhismahaguud]

 

[Che -Guevara]

4 minutes ago, galbeedi said:

If things get worse, then they have to make another pick. Within the last six months, he arrested every Oromo leader. Jawar Mohamed, Bakale Garba and Lema Maggreasa. 

If election is held next year, Abiy will have no base.

And he is left with Amharas who are not in a position to reassert their hegemony. More seriously, Amhara parties like NAMA who in reality enjoy more support than Amhara PP sees him as a threat. In short, it is a big mess.

By the way, there is an active war in Western Oromia where a large section of the Ethiopian army had to vacate. Oromo are kicking out Amhara 'settlers'.  The very Amhara they support his attack on Tigray accused Abiy of being an Oromo extremist when it comes to Western Oromia. 

[galbeedi]

 I like Farah Macalin. He always opposed the TPLF led Ethiopia and their actions toward Somalis in the region. 

I think Farah is missing that this nothing but Amhara war to gain more land and finish off the TPLF opposition once for all. After they crush the TPLF, the only main opposition will be Oromo. They will split the Oromo in three groups.

10 minutes ago, Che -Guevara said:

By the way, there is an active war in Western Oromia where a large section of the Ethiopian army had to vacate. Oromo are kicking out Amhara 'settlers'.  The very Amhara they support his attack on Tigray accused Abiy of being an Oromo extremist when it comes to Western Oromia. 

Che,

If this Amhara has misgivings even in Abiy, how are they planning to recreate the old system? The way I see is that without the TPLF no one could stop them especially if they get a chance to rule.

S

 

 

 

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Che -Guevara]

Amhara Farmers militia

 

 

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Che -Guevara]

Abiy's version of events

 

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Ethiopia's Tigray conflict sparks spread of misinformation

With the Ethiopian government conducting a military offensive in the northern Tigray region, some people have taken the opportunity to spread misinformation online.

This includes material either not directly related to the conflict or, sometimes, altered to make it look like it is.

A manipulated image of a missile defence system

Some have been sharing photos they say show an S-400 Russian missile defence system, claiming it is in use in the Tigray region to ward off Ethiopian air attacks.

They also claim a Russian-made flamethrower system is being used.

Accompanying text reads: "This weapon you see on the picture, even Ethiopia doesn't own it as a country.

"The Tigrayans have it to protect themselves from air strikes."

The photos each show a soldier in what appears to be the uniform of Tigray special forces, standing nearby.

But these images have been manipulated, with the soldiers added in.

Their shadows are either pointing in the wrong direction when compared with those from other objects or are too dark.

In one of the photos, the soldier is also out of proportion when compared with the background.

An online image search revealed the photos of the weapons system are from military exercises in the Astrakhan region, in southern Russia.

A Russian-language video of that exercise was posted online in September, showing the system in action.

The S-400 is an advanced Russian surface-to-air missile system, which only a few foreign countries have bought.

And Ethiopia is not one of them.

"Ethiopia has never imported an S-300 series or S-400 series... system and neither have any neighbouring countries," says Justin Bronk, of the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), in London.

The downed fighter jet not from Ethiopia

Hundreds of Facebook users have been sharing a picture purporting to show a downed Ethiopian military plane burning on the ground.

One post says: "Tigray special forces were attacked from the air.

"They have destroyed one [Ethiopian] fighter jet and killed lots of special-force military (commando).

"The fight is still going on."

But a reverse image search reveals this picture is not from Ethiopia.

An identical image appears:

in a July 2018 Iranian-run Press TV report about a Saudi warplane shot down in Yemen.

in a May 2015 Twitter post about a MiG-25 plane downed near the Libyan city of Zintan

The misuse of Ethiopian Airlines crash photos

Some have been sharing photos from the site where a civilian Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max 8 crashed, killing more than 150 people shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa in March last year.

A misleading Facebook post - now deleted - claimed they showed body bags near the Tigray region, containing the remains of soldiers from the neighbouring Amhara region.

There've been militia forces from Amhara fighting along with Ethiopian government forces.

But other users pointed out correctly that these images were nothing to do with the current fighting in the Tigray region.

An Ethiopian minister didn't urge soldiers to wear masks

Screenshots of what appears to be a tweet by Ethiopian Health Minister Lia Tadesse have been circulating, mocking her for apparently posting Covid safety instructions to the military during a conflict.

The translation of the supposed tweet reads: "With social distancing, sanitiser and wearing our masks properly, let all concerned bodies contribute towards the peaceful end of the war."

But the screenshot is fabricated.

And this tweet does not appear on her actual Twitter timeline.

A look at genuine posts by the minister also shows she posts using an iPhone - and not an Android device as shown in these screenshots.

Screenshots of what appears to be a tweet by Ethiopian Health Minister Lia Tadesse have been circulating, mocking her for apparently posting Covid safety instructions to the military during a conflict.

The translation of the supposed tweet reads: "With social distancing, sanitiser and wearing our masks properly, let all concerned bodies contribute towards the peaceful end of the war."

Beenbeensii

[Che -Guevara]

 

[Kala Duwan Clan]

I hope Ethiopia burns. 

[maakhiri1]

Time Somali region seek independence 

Chaos is a ladder 

[Che -Guevara]

Amharas allege massacre