TADAUK EDITORIAL
**The Hypocrisy of Abiy Ahmed’s Slanderous Call for Tigrayan Elites to Support His Government: A Regime Built on Genocide, Lies, and Destruction**
The charlatans Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent call for Tigrayan elites to support his government is not only a grotesque display of hypocrisy but also a calculated attempt to whitewash the atrocities committed under his leadership. This call comes after his government, in collaboration with Eritrean forces and regional militias, orchestrated a genocidal war against the people of Tigray, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, the displacement of millions, and the systematic destruction of Tigray’s economy, infrastructure, and social fabric. Abiy Ahmed’s regime is responsible for genocide and one of the most devastating humanitarian crises of the 21st century, and his attempt to now court Tigrayan elites is nothing short of a cynical ploy to legitimise his faltering grip on power. This TADAUK edition will expose the criminality of Abiy Ahmed’s government, the involvement of Eritrea on Tigray genocide , and the international community’s failure to hold him accountable, while highlighting the devastating consequences of his war on Tigray.
*** The Genocidal War on Tigray: A Crime Against Humanity- Genocide
The war on Tigray, which began on November 4, 2020, was not a spontaneous conflict but a premeditated act of aggression orchestrated by Abiy Ahmed’s government. Under the guise of a “law enforcement operation,” Abiy launched a full-scale military assault on Tigray, using the Ethiopian National Défense Forces (ENDF), Amhara regional militias, and Eritrean troops. The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) has documented widespread atrocities, including massacres, sexual violence, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war. The Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy and the UK Parliamentary Inquiry on Tigray have both concluded that these actions constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
Abiy Ahmed’s government deliberately targeted civilians, killing over 400,000 people, including women, children, and the elderly. The siege imposed on Tigray prevented food, medicine, and humanitarian aid from reaching the region, leading to widespread starvation and preventable deaths. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war, with thousands of women and girls subjected to sexual violence by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers. The TADAUK.org genocide report highlights the deliberate destruction of Tigrayan cultural heritage, including churches, monasteries, and historical sites, as part of a broader campaign to erase Tigrayan identity.
***Eritrea’s Criminal Involvement in the Tigray War
The involvement of Eritrean forces in the Tigray war is one of the most egregious aspects of the conflict. Eritrea, under the dictatorship of Isaias Afwerki, has long harboured animosity toward Tigray, dating back to the border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea (1998-2000). Abiy Ahmed’s decision to invite Eritrean troops into Tigray was a betrayal of Ethiopia’s sovereignty and a blatant violation of international law. Eritrean soldiers have been implicated in some of the worst atrocities committed during the war, including the Axum & Mariam Dengelat massacre, where hundreds of civilians were executed in a single day.
The G7 Ministers’ report and the US government’s assessment have both condemned Eritrea’s role in the conflict, calling for accountability and sanctions against the Eritrean regime. However, despite overwhelming evidence of Eritrea’s crimes, the international community has failed to take decisive action. The Eritrean government’s involvement in the Tigray war is not only a violation of Ethiopia’s sovereignty but also a clear indication of Abiy Ahmed’s willingness to sacrifice his own people for political gain.
*** The Destruction of Tigray’s Economy and Infrastructure
The war on Tigray has caused catastrophic damage to the region’s economy and infrastructure. Tigray’s manufacturing sector, once a hub of industrial activity, has been decimated by the bombardment of factories and industrial facilities. The destruction of the Almeda Textile Factory, one of the largest textile manufacturers in Ethiopia, is a stark example of the deliberate targeting of Tigray’s economic infrastructure. The region’s power generation facilities, including the Tekeze Dam, have also been damaged, leading to widespread electricity shortages and further hampering economic recovery. The entire Agricultural sector is deliberately dismantled, farmer’s and small bus are robbed of their livelihood.
The education & health sector has been particularly hard hit, with hospitals and clinics deliberately targeted by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces. The destruction of the Ayder Referral Hospital in Mekelle, Tigray’s largest medical facility, has left millions without access to essential healthcare services. The bombing of the Almeda Pharmaceuticals Factory, which produced 70% of Ethiopia’s medical supplies, has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leaving Tigrayans without access to life-saving medicines.
*** The Detention and Extrajudicial Killing of Tigrayans
Abiy Ahmed’s government has also engaged in the systematic detention and extrajudicial killing of Tigrayans across Ethiopia. Hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans have been arbitrarily detained in federal detention canters, where they have been subjected to torture, starvation, and other forms of inhumane treatment. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has documented the extrajudicial killing of over 370 Tigrayans in detention, with many more deaths going unreported. The whereabouts of 3170 Tigrayans are unknown as we write this editorial.
The targeting of Tigrayans extends beyond detention canters, with reports of mass arrests, forced disappearances, and targeted killings in cities across Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government’s campaign of terror against Tigrayans is a clear attempt to suppress dissent and consolidate power, but it has only deepened the divisions within Ethiopian society. The civilian killings are continuing in other parts of the regions including Oromia and Amhara.
*** Abiy Ahmed’s Patronising Remarks and the Road to Genocide
Abiy Ahmed’s patronising remarks about Tigray in the lead-up to the war reveal the deep-seated prejudice and contempt that underpins his government’s policies. In 2020, Abiy dismissed Tigrayan grievances as the complaints of a “spoiled child,” a remark that reflects his disdain for the people of Tigray and their legitimate demands for self-determination. This rhetoric laid the groundwork for the dehumanisation of Tigrayans and the subsequent genocide.
The use of food as a weapon of war is one of the most heinous aspects of Abiy Ahmed’s campaign against Tigray. By imposing a siege on the region, Abiy’s government has deliberately starved millions of people, leading to widespread malnutrition and preventable deaths. The UN has estimated that over 90% of Tigray’s population is in need of humanitarian assistance, with millions facing famine-like conditions. This is not a byproduct of war but a deliberate strategy to break the will of the Tigrayan people.
*** The International Community’s Failure to Act
Despite overwhelming evidence of atrocities, the international community has failed to hold Abiy Ahmed’s government accountable. The ICHREE report, the Newlines Institute report, and the UK Parliamentary Inquiry on Tigray have all called for accountability, but these calls have gone unheeded. The G7 Ministers’ report and the US government’s assessment have also condemned the atrocities, but concrete action has been lacking.
The failure of the international community to act has emboldened Abiy Ahmed and his allies, allowing them to continue their campaign of terror with impunity. The UN Security Council’s inaction is particularly egregious, as it has allowed the crisis in Tigray to escalate into one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent history.
*** Abiy Ahmed’s Cynical Call for Peace (Mebechaw in Tigrigna, Selak in Amharic)
Abiy Ahmed’s recent call for Tigrayan elites to support his government is a cynical attempt to rewrite history and absolve himself of responsibility for the atrocities committed under his leadership. This call is not a genuine offer of peace but a desperate attempt to salvage his crumbling regime. Abiy’s government is facing mounting pressure from within Ethiopia and the international community, and his call for Tigrayan elites to join him is a transparent ploy to create the illusion of unity and legitimacy.
However, the people of Tigray cannot and will not forget the ongoing horrors inflicted upon them by Abiy Ahmed’s government. The scars of this war will endure for generations, and no amount of slander or manipulation can erase the crimes committed against the Tigrayan people. Abiy Ahmed’s call for peace is not only insulting but also a painful reminder of the impunity with which his government has operated.
*** The Pain of Betrayal and the Quest for Justice
The pain inflicted on the people of Tigray by Abiy Ahmed’s government is immeasurable. The genocide, the destruction of Tigray’s economy and infrastructure, the detention and extrajudicial killing of Tigrayans, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war are crimes that demand justice. Abiy Ahmed’s slanderous call for Tigrayan elites to support his government is a cruel insult to the victims of his regime and a blatant attempt to rewrite history.
The international community must not be complicit in Abiy Ahmed’s crimes. It is imperative that the findings of the ICHREE report, the Newlines Institute report, the UK Parliamentary Inquiry on Tigray, and other investigations be acted upon. Sanctions must be imposed on Abiy Ahmed, his government, and their Eritrean allies, and a comprehensive accountability mechanism must be established to ensure justice for the victims. The immediate reinstatement of ICHREE & robust international accountability mechanism is the way forward. The planned national reconciliation scheme has miserably failed before it started, as it failed neutrality and inclusivity test.
The people of Tigray have endured unimaginable suffering, but their resilience and determination to seek justice remain unshaken. Abiy Ahmed’s regime may try to silence them, but the truth cannot be buried. The world must stand with Tigray and ensure that those responsible for these atrocities are held accountable. The Abiy government must honour & implement the Pretoria Agreement in full, respect the Ethiopian constitution including sovereign territories, urgently address the suffering of internally displaced persons and allow independent international investigations mandated by the U.N. only then can there be any hope of healing and reconciliation.