Mager Media News Update – Thursday, August 25, 2022 (Nehase 19, 2014 EC)
Today’s Mager News Updates are as follows:
- TPLF’s attempt to control Raya Kobo has failed
- TPLF admitted to meeting with Prosperity Party
- TPLF broke into a WFP warehouse and stole fuel
- Mager Media broadcasted its first Mager English Program
TPLF’s attempt to control more of Raya Kobo has failed
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces attempted to invade through Selen Wuha Kebele of Raya Alamata Woreda & Rama Kidane Mihret (bordering Zobel) of Raya Kobo Woreda in Amhara Region and Dubale and Boditi areas of Yalo Woreda (Afar Region) according to sources on the ground who spoke to Mager Media.
Amhara Fano, Special Forces, militias and defense in the Zobel area took decisive military action against the invading TPLF forces according to Mager’s sources.
TPLF started intense fighting on the Raya and Afar fronts backed by heavy artillery yesterday at 3 am in the areas of Jemedo, Mehago, Shemeza Giyorgis, Atela Mikael and Janamora as previously reported by Mager Media.
TPLF admits to meeting with and speaking to representatives of Prosperity Party
TPLF yesterday, on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 (Nehase 18, 2014 EC) issued a letter in the name of TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael to the international community stating that TPLF had met with officials of Prosperity Party to discuss a ceasefire agreement.
TPLF in its letter admitted to meeting with military and civil leaders of the OPDO-led Prosperity regime in two rounds of talks and agreed to restore basic services to Tigray Region.
The letter also mentioned that the items of the agreement were sent to the United Nations and international diplomats.
A week prior, AFP reported that the African Union stated that the TPLF and Prosperity Party had met in person however TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda denounced the statement calling it false in a social media post.
Over various times, both the Prosperity government and the TPLF have issued multiple statements regarding the negotiations however there had previously been no official mention of in person meetings.
A week ago, the African Union for the first time mentioned representatives of the two parties to the war meeting in person for secret negotiations which confirmed suspicions held amongst the public over the past several months when the Prosperity government declared a ceasefire and the war slowed down.
TPLF broke into a World Food Programme (WFP) storage warehouse and stole fuel
The United Nations (UN) Spokesman for the Secretary General Stéphane Dujarric yesterday, Wednesday, August 24, 2022 (Nehase 18, 2014 EC), gave a press briefing stating that a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in Mekelle (Tigray Region) was looted by Tigrayan forces.
The spokesman reported that Tigrayan forces stole 12 fuel tankers containing 570,000 liters of fuel.
The UN Spokesman of the Secretary-General stated the fuel was prepared for aid delivery and this incident would present a challenge for delivery of humanitarian aid throughout northern Ethiopia.
The WFP Director David Beasley commented in a social media post regarding the looting committed by the TPLF calling it a “disgraceful” act which would hinder food delivery causing millions of people to starve. In connection, he also called for TPLF to immediately return the WFP property it stole.
Months prior, when the TPLF invaded into and occupied various parts of Amhara Region it had broken into USAID storage warehouses and committed similar looting which was reported by USAID Ethiopia Mission Director Sean Jones.
Mager Media broadcasted its first English Program
Mager Media aired its first English program on Monday, August 22, 2022 titled, “Amhara Perspective on Negotiations to End War in Ethiopia“ with representatives of Amhara Association of America (AAA). This program is a new initiative by Mager Media to bring Ethiopia related news and issues to a wider international audience.
In this first Mager English program discussion points were formulated starting from the letter issued by 28 Amhara organizations worldwide to diplomats regarding the exclusion of Amharas in negotiations to end the war in northern Ethiopia and this was discussed by two representatives from the global Amhara community.
The discussion was hosted by Mr. Biniam Ambachew and guests were AAA Chairman and President of Federation of Amharas in North America (FANA) Mr. Tewodrose Tirfe and AAA’s Director of Communications Mr. Robel Alemu.
Mr. Tewodrose described the precarious situation faced by Ethiopia today which threatens the country’s very existence and status as a failed state. He added the current war which has raged on for over 2 years now, the country’s frail economic state, inflation crisis, the Amhara genocide across the Oromo, Benishangul-Gumuz, Amhara and other Regions of the country, and the crackdown against critical Amhara voices, and it’s inability to protect borders including to the east of the country where there is renewed presence of Al-Shabab and to the north west where the Sudanese military occupies Ethiopian land.
Mr. Robel on his side mentioned how Ethiopia is at a cross roads which could lead the country on a path of ruin or one that is promising, making this a very crucial time in its history. He added how this parallels the 1991 negotiation process and later the constitutional drafting process between TPLF and the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) which led to the apartheid system, genocide and war we are witnessing today.
He described how a peace negotiations process between the TPLF and the Oromo Prosperity or Abiy led government which excludes Amharas could lead Ethiopia to ruin.
Mager previously reported on the letter issued by the international Amhara organizations.
Since July 5, 2022, Mager has shared English news updates but it will now air discussions in English regarding current events.
