Condemning abhorrent food aid theft by cutting aid is punishing victims twice. Death is staring in the face of millions in Ethiopia, rescue them now!

  Since the onset of a “reformist government” under the leadership of the ruling Prosperity Party in April 2018, Ethiopians are enduring a cocktail of deadly humanitarian crises, including wars and other forms of militarized violence that not only turned them against each other, but also opened the doors wide for foreign mercenaries to destroy their lives and livelihoods. Drought that is threatening to return famine in multiple parts of the country is devouring urban households and the peasantry indiscriminately. This has come about in the wake of the global COVID pandemic that already crippled Ethiopia’s economy built over the past three decades.

All of which have robbed millions of hard working Ethiopians the means to survive without aid dependency. Today, more than 20 million Ethiopians are in need of external food aid assistance.

That is why the news of industrial scale food aid theft involving corruption and mismanagement of food aid distribution in crisis-hit Ethiopia caught the word by a shock. The scale of this abhorrent practice, which involved a web of complex logistical and deliberate mismanagement of the food aid system between layers of different actors including government officials, required a drastic response from the so-called humanitarian partners.

To a degree, the decision by these major humanitarian partners, notably the USAID and the WFP, to bring food aid delivery to a screeching halt was understandable insofar it was meant to bring a quick fix to such malpractice. In many cases, weak governance compounded by multiple wars and militarized violence, as well as a crippled economy – Ethiopia’s trademarks as of late – lead to people who have access to food aid delivery logistics to resort to theft, partly out of desperation, but in most part due to lack of monitoring and accountability mechanisms. In other words, a dysfunctional food aid management system.

These factors are the exact opposite factors of why Ethiopia’s food aid management system in the past had been considered solid. This country has faced recurring food crises over many decades, which has given the government and humanitarian organizations extensive experience in managing food aid operations. With each crisis, they have learned and adapted their strategies, building a level of expertise in handling such situations.

Under the EPRDF-led government, Ethiopia had shown a strong commitment to addressing food insecurity issues within the country. It had exercised the tricky balance of keeping its sovereignty while closely working with international aid agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to mitigate food insecurity, distribute food supplies, and ensure assistance reached those in need. It is this collaboration with major international organizations, such as the USAID and WFP, and other humanitarian agencies that helped Ethiopia to establish an effective chain of logistics and food aid management, avoiding duplication of aid and food aid theft while at the same time ensuring resources are efficiently allocated and used for the intended purposes. Surely, there were malpractices, but they were far and between.

Abiy Ahmed  regime can't govern the nation!

Furthermore, adhering to early warning systems that help predict and monitor food shortages and enable the government and aid agencies to respond proactively to emerging crises; engaging local communities to ensure that the aid provided aligns with the specific needs and cultural preferences of the affected populations; and staying focused on the importance of long-term solutions to food security issues by investing in agriculture, infrastructure, and sustainable development projects to enhance food production and improve resilience to future shocks have all made Ethiopia one of the leading countries in the word where drought and conflict related shocks are best managed.

The ruling  Abiy Ahmed's party was never held to account when it deliberately blocked food aid to millions of Ethiopians who are vulnerable to malnutrition and starvation due to its wars. What should have been seen as a violation of international humanitarian law and human rights principles, as access to food is recognized as a fundamental human right, was allowed to run free in Ethiopia, not only leading to loss of lives, but also corrupting a system of food aid management that was painstakingly built and survived times of wars and famines.

It is now an open secret and a fact admitted by many with inside knowledge that instead of fighting against such deliberate food aid blockades by taking crucial steps to protect the smooth running of Ethiopia’s well established food aid delivery system, and implement a transparent and accountable food aid distribution to the most vulnerable, the west, which constitutes Ethiopia’s largest humanitarian partners, sat by idly and watched the system collapse. Those with knowledge of how we have reached here confided in this publication that such negligence and complacency by the very humanitarian partners operating on the ground has forced the system to succumb to rampant corruption and food aid mismanagement at a scale that was never seen before.

As such, when the news of massive aid theft hit the headlines, including by this publication, the drastic immediate measures taken by the USAID and WFP were to announce the cutting off food aid delivery until further investigations were conducted and the system was fixed.

There is a strong possibility of linkage between the rapidly expanding chronic food shortage with the rising social unrest, newly emerging conflicts, and even mass displacements across several parts of the country. If not addressed as a matter of priority, and urgency, this could have regional and global implications, as neighboring countries may also face an influx of Ethiopian refugees seeking relief from hunger and instability.

That is why the international community must accept the fact that despite the Ethiopian government not being in a position to rescue millions of its citizens from famine induced deaths, hunger and malnutrition, they should make the bitter decision to work with it to immediately restore food aid delivery to Ethiopia.

Gocha Suukanneessaa Ummata Nagaa Irratti Raawwatamaa Jiruuf Kan Itti Gaafatamu Mootummaa PP Dr.Abiyyii Ahmadiin Durfamuu Dha.

 Gocha Suukanneessaa Ummata Nagaa Irratti Raawwatamaa Jiruuf Kan Itti Gaafatamu Mootummaa PP Dr.Abiyyii Ahmadiin Durfamuu Dha.

Mootummaan PP yakka namoomaa itti fufiinsaan ummata nagaa meesha maleeyyii irratti raawataa turee fi jiruuf gafatama seeraa fi seenaa jalaa hin bahu. Ummata nagahaa jumlaan ajjeesuun, mana waliin gubuu fi ilmaan ummataa humnaan qabuun waraana hin feesifnetti naquun aangoon siyaasaa dheereffatamu hin jiraatu.

“Qurxummii bishaan keessaa bal’eessuuf galaana gosuu” dhaadannoo jedhuun waraana hin xumuramnetti xumura gochuuf ummata nagaa fi meesha maleeyyii lafa irraa duguuguu hojii guyya guyyaa godhatee itti fufeera. Hojii faashistummaa fi diinummaa ummata nagaa irratti raawwatnaan bishaan gogus, qurxummiin dhabamus hin jiru.

Badii ummata qulqulluu irraan gahaa jiraniif Biltsiginnaan gaafatama seeraa fi seenaa jalaa hin ba’u. Addi Bilisummaa Oromoo (ABO)n hojii faashistummaa waraanni mootummaa Dr.Abiy ummata meesha-maleeyyii irratti raawwatu gadi jabeessee balaaleffata; duras dhaabbata.

Maqaa WBO waliin hidhata qabdan jechuun lolli mootummaan Dr.Abiyyii Ahimad waggoota shanan darbaniif goleelee Oromiyaa cufa keessatti ummata Oromoo irratti banan daran jabaatee itti fufuu isaa gabaasaalee guyyuu nu dhaqqaban irraa mirkaneeffanneerra.

Akka kanaan, Giddu-gala Oromiyaa Godina Shawaa Lixaa Ona Abuunaa Gindabarat gandoota hedduu keessatti waraanni mootummaa PP ummata nagahaa irraatti ajjeechaa jumlaa raawwateera. Muddee 10 fi 11, 2023 Ona Abuunaa Gindabaratitti gandeen Irjaajjoo, Caffee Erer fi Finnootti waraanni mootummaa, ummata nagaa magaalaa walakkaatti rasaasa itti roobsuun namoota 8 yoo ajjeesan, 3 ammoo madeessaniiru. Kanneen ajjeefaman kunniinis:

1) Obbo Guutaa Baay’isaa - nama dhukkubsataa sammuun fayyaa hin taane

2) Obbo Tasfaayee Guddataa - umurii 56,

3) Hirkoo Hombossaa - umurii 56

4) Fufaa Goobanaa - umurii 60

5) Taammanaa Raggaasaa - umurii 47

6) Abarraa Dirribaa - umurii 52,

7) Guutaa Galmeessaa - umurii 42 yoo ta’an, namootni 4 eenyummaan reeffa isaanii hin baramin kanneen biroos keessatti argamu.

Immushee Kabbee umurii 16, dubree Baatuu fi Asaffaa Tarfaasaa umuriin 45 kanneen madaa’an keessatti argamu.

Muddee 12, 2023ttis Agamsa bakka Qorqobbee jedhamutti osoo bulchiinsi mootummaa jiruu ummanni nagaan hidhattoota Faannoo sirnichi gadhaabeen jumlaan ajjeefamaniiru. Dargaggoonni Oromoo Agaamsaa irraa konkolaataa Sinootiraakii tokkoon miidhaan gahe sassaabuuf gara Goojjam Lixaa imalan Mormor gamatti bakka Qorqobbee (Dhagaa walbaata) jedhamutti namoonni 13 ol ajjeefamaniiru. Abdallaa Waaqjiraa, Maatiyoos Nugusaa fi Shuumatee Maammoo kan jedhaman keessatti argaman.

Sadaasa 25, 2023 ajjechaan jumlaa Lixa Oromiyaa Godina Qellem Wallaggaa magaalaa Gidaamiitti waraanni mootummaa Biltsiginnaa ilmaan Oromoo 9 mana amantaa Makaana Yesuus keessaa fuudhuun ganda baadiyyaa Maleekkoo jedhamutti ajjeesaniiru. Isaanis:

1) Taliilaa Lammeessaa,

2) Tolinaa Lammeessaa,

3) Tammiraat Lammeessaa,

4) Jireenyaa Dingaataa,

5) Solomoon Dingaataa,

6) Qabbanaa Bulchaa,

7) Siraaj,

8)Hiikaa Ayyaanaa fi

9) Geetaachoo Beekkataa kannen jedhamanii dha.

Sadaasa 24 fi 25, 2023 Kibba-baha Oromiyaa Godina Arsii Bahaa Ona Sirkaa gandoota Waajii Raphasaa, Biduu Baalaa, Heellaa Amajaa, Heellaa Xareetaa, Gallabee Amajaa, Macarraa, Sojjii Saadee, Gallabee Hulul fi kanneen birootti haleellaa ummata nagahaa irratti taheen, maatii mana tokkoo kan ijoolleen xixinnoon keessatti argaman dabalatee lubbuun ummata 50 olii galaafatamuu fi manneen hedduun gubachuu mirkanaa’eera. Kanneen ajjeefaman keessaa kan maqaan nu dhaqqabe:

1) Usmaan Daawud,

2) Ibraahim Haaji Issaa,

3) Sheek Awwal Mohaammad,

4) Qaasim Ahmad,

5) Fattash Aloo kanneen jedhaman keessatti argamu.

Sadaasa 25, 2023 magaalaa Dambi Doollootti waraanni PP dhukaasa ummata nagahaa irratti bananiin lubbuu namoota hedduu galaafataniiru. Kanneen lubbuun dabarte keessaa kan maqaan nu dhaqqabe:

1) Lalisee Dibaabaa - ganda Sayyoo Minkoo,

2) Lalisee kennaa - Danbi Doolloo gan da 05,

3) Hundattuu Heenok – Dambi Doolloo ganda 04 ,

4) Meskeram Yohannis Danbi Doolloo ganda 05 keessatti argamu.

Sadaasa 24, 2023 Godina Gujii Lixaa Ona Galaanaa ganda Giwwee baadiyaatti ilmaan Oromoo ja’a (6) haala suukanneessaan ajjeefamaniiru. Kanneen Ajjeefaman:

1) Maanguddoo Badhaanee Lolee - umriin 60,

2) Nugusee Gannaalee - umriin 38,

3) Bushaa Ataraa - umriin 35,

4) Halakee Hoxxeessaa - umriin 35,

5) Chuuchuu Areerii – umriin 26,

6) Taarikuu Miiraa - umriin 24 keessatti argamu.

Sadaasa 23, 2023 Kibba Lixa Oromiyaa Godina Buunnoo Beddellee Ona Cawwaaqaa mana barumsaa Odaa Kanniisaa jedhamu irratti haleellaa xayyaara nam-maleessaa (drone) raawwateen barattoota dabalatee ilmaan Oromoo 52 ol ta’an ajjeesan.

Godina Wallagga Bahaa Ona Haroo Limmuu ganda Sankooraatti dhuma baatii Sadaasaa darbe keessa waraanni mootummaa qonnaan bultoota kan ta'an namoota saddeet gara jabinaan iddoo tokkotti ajjeesaniiru. Kanneen ajjeefaman:

1) Dirribaa Waqgaarii,

2) Addisuu Walee,

3) Dojaa Ayyalaa,

4) Roobaa Dassaalee,

5) Ibrahim Ahmadii fi

6) Obbo Magarsaa kanneen jedhaman keessatti argamu.

Tibbuma kana qofa waraanni mootummaa PP tarkaanfii suukaneessaa ummata nagahaa irratti fudhateen, Kibba Baha Oromiyaa Gidina Baaleetti manneen 109, Arsii Lixaa Ona Gadab Hasaasaa ganda Hulluuqqoo gooxii Asaabalee jedhamutti gaafa Muddee 5, 2023 manneen ummataa lakkoofsaa 7 tahu gubaniiru. Arsii Lixaa Ona Qoreettis gaafa Muddee 7, 2023 manneen 11 gubaniiru. Godina Arsii Lixaa Ona Adabaatti manneen 8, Ona Gadab Hasaasaa Ganda Coofira Shaasheetti manneen 7, Godina Arsii Bahaatti manneen 14 ol gubaniiru. Akka walii galaatti tibba kana qofa keessaa Godina Kibba Bahaatti manneen ummataa 156 ol waraana mootummaa PPn gubachuu caasaa keenya irraa mirkaneeffanneerra.

Wal yaadachiisuuf, Hagayya 7, 8, 10 fi 11, 2023 Giddu gala Oromiyaa Lixa Shaggar Onoota Amboo, Daannoo, Iluu Galaan, Liiban Jaawwii, Midaa Qanyii, Ilfata, Cobii fi Gindabaratitti walduraa duubaan yakka suukanneessaa ummata nagahaa irratti raawwatan. Fulbaana 08, 2023 Lixa Oromiyaatti dargaggoo Tamasgeen Dhinaa jedhamu ajjeesuun gatan. Lixa Oromiyaa Godina Wallagga Bahaa Ona Giddaa Ayyaanaa fi naannootti Fulbaana 13, 14 fi 15, 2023 tarkaanfii suukanneessaa ummata nagahaa irratti fudhataniin ajjechaa raawwataniiru.

Godina Kaaba Shawaa Ona Warra Jaarsoo gandoota Migiroo Baddeessaa fi Gitoo Milkii jedhamanitti Onkoloolessa 14, 2023 maqaa deggertoota WBO jedhuun namoota nagaa 20 ajjeesan.

Giddu-gala Oromiyaa Godina Lixa Shawaa Ona Jalduu ganda Kibeetti Onkoloolessa 15, 2023 sababa tokkoon ala ummata nagahaa irratti rasaasa roobsuun namoota 20 ol bakka tokkotti fixuu ABOn ibsa Onkoloolessa 18, 2023 baaseen ifoomsuun ni yaadatama.

Mootummaan Dr.Abiyii Ahimad yakka namoomaa fi ajjeechaa jumlaa itti fufiinsaan ummata nagahaa irratti raawwataa turee fi jiruuf gaafatama jalaa hin bahu.

Dhaamsa maayiin, hiraarsaa fi hararaafama itti fufiinsaan mootummaan PP ummata keenya irratti raawataa jiruuf, ummanni Oromoo bal’aan, lammiileen Oromiyaa, sabaa fi sab-lammoonni, ummatoonni biyya kanaa dinne didaan dura dhaabbachuu qabu jenna. Hawaasi Idil-addunyaa fi dhaabbileen mirga dhala namaatiif falman mootummaa Dr.Abiy Ahmadiin durfamu dhiigaa ummataa soorataa jiruu fi kanaanis aangoo siyaasaa dheereffachuuf abjootu kana gocha isaa irraa akka dhaabbatuuf dhiibbaa gama isaanii akka godhan Addi Bilisummaa Oromoo (ABO)n waamicha taasisa.

Injifannoo Ummata Bal’aaf!

Adda Bilisummaa Oromoo

Muddee , 2023

Finfinnee

Ending the War in Oromia is the only viable solution and Abiy Ahmed regime must stop the killing

 

The resumption of the second round peace talks between the Ethiopian government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) early last month brought in a collective sigh of relief not just in the restive Oromia region, but across the country with many expecting for a positive outcome that will see a negotiated settlement to end a war that is ravaging lives and livelihoods with little to no attention from the international community.

The people of Oromia and millions on both sides of the warring parties were reassured by the mere fact that the talks brought together the top-most military leaders from both sides face-to-face for the first time in the presence of credible third parties as mediators.

But to the dismay of millions, the talks that took place in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam collapsed after two weeks; what was more unsettling was the final statement from both sides, which left no sign of willingness to continue the engagement to end a war that continued causing harrowing human rights violations ever since it started five years ago.

The failure by both sides to realize this unmistakable reality and to make the necessary concessions through negotiations is not only an act of indifference to the Oromo people’s ordeals, and the overwhelming desire for peace to prevail, but also poses a significant risk to undermine Ethiopia’s national security. In a country that is being ravaged by natural disasters, disease outbreaks and economic hardships as a result of both, peaceful settlement of man made wars is not a matter of choice, but of necessity.

Not finding a negotiated settlement to the war in Oromia is also having a reverberating effect in extending the ongoing conflict.

In November, the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) revealed that drone strikes by government forces in the  region including on a school and a bus station resulted in the deaths of at least 20 civilians, sounding the alarm about gross human rights abuses in the context of conflict.

What’s less talked about is the fact that the fighting has resulted in road closures, severely disrupting the timely delivery of vital food aid and fertilizers to communities devastated by the conflict, drought and disease outbreak.

If the recent hearing by the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee titled “Ethiopia: Promise or Perils of the U.S. Policy”, and the remarks made at the hearing are anything to go by, the lasting impacts of these military conflicts in Oromia are above and beyond the suffering of civilians; they pose a direct threat to the country’s national security interests.

The diplomat also reiterated his country’s continued commitment to the peaceful resolution of the war in Oromia. It is time all sides seize on this opportunity to negotiate and resolve the conflicts without further delay.