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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Civil War in Ethiopia is breaking my heart
What the fuck is wrong iwth humanity?
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/4/a-year-on-ethiopia-decimated-by-civil-war
On November 4, 2020, the Ethiopian military was deployed to Tigray to squash forces loyal to the northern regions governing party, the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), in response to what the government said was an attack on federal army camps.
The operation was meant to be swift but a year later, the conflict has expanded beyond the regions frontiers, causing a full-blown humanitarian crisis and leaving the country in a seemingly inescapable quagmire as the rebels claim to have made advances towards the capital, Addis Ababa.
Since hostilities began, there have been mass rapes and massacres of civilians on a large scale. As far back as January, aid agencies were sounding alarms about how much worse the situation could get. Continued fighting, bureaucratic hurdles and aid blockades have since led to a continuing famine affecting hundreds of thousands of people. More than two million people have been displaced from their homes and tens of thousands more have died.
The declaration of a nationwide state of emergency by the federal government on Tuesday has triggered fears of more instability. The United States embassy in Addis Ababa has also issued a travel advisory, warning its citizens to avoid travel to Ethiopia.
The conflict had been portrayed as a law enforcement operation that would last a few weeks, said Awet Weldemichael, a Horn of Africa security expert and history professor at Queens University, Ontario. A year later, weve since seen it degenerate into a brutal war to crush and erode Tigray, and where talk of elimination of entire ethnic groups has been normalised.
mcar
(42,334 posts)when the girls were about 1. The extended family had a connection to Ethiopia as my friend (the mom)'s father was a missionary doctor there when she was a baby. He ended up being a professor at the University of Africa after he retired from medicine.
When the girls graduated from high school 3 years ago, the entire family took a trip to Ethiopia. It was an amazing experience for them all, but especially for these 2 wonderful young women.
Remembering the stories of their trip, and seeing the horrors now, is heartbreaking.
malaise
(269,067 posts)Quite a few Jamaicans live in Ethiopia.
Response to mcar (Reply #1)
malaise This message was self-deleted by its author.
leftstreet
(36,109 posts)Tetrachloride
(7,854 posts)No sign of security changes at this time in my area. In fact, its been quieter than spring for patrols.
Behind the scenes, i am sure they are very aware.
About 120 feet from me , there is a security outpost. At least one will have a rifle and body armor. i would have died in their black body armor this summer.
malaise
(269,067 posts)Stay safe
Act_of_Reparation
(9,116 posts)...but I'm old enough now that it isn't amazing to me at all.
malaise
(269,067 posts)but not much in Europe or the USA.
maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)It is very abstract for most Americans because we have no vested interest (oil, religion) and can't understand the internecine hostilities between ethnic groups (despite the presence of so many immigrants from all of them).
On top of that, it is difficult and dangerous to cover as the govt is hostile to outside journalists.
I fear Ethiopia will break apart over this - but that might be for the better. It already lost Eritrea in 1993, but soon there might be Tigray, Oromoland...
malaise
(269,067 posts)the breakup of the country.is a close second.
Response to maxsolomon (Reply #8)
malaise This message was self-deleted by its author.