Cementing peace in a given society is a subtle time-consuming (generational) collective effort. First and foremost, the desired peace must be anchored, preferably and in principle, by a legitimate and credible state, not only by temporal government of the day. Peace also requires deeply entrenched shared values and vision, (on the part of the sheeple=human mass) for its resilient sustenance. In addition, the art of balancing day-to-day incongruences need to be honed regularly on a cumulative basis, again, by all and sundry! When anyone of the above is weakened peace cannot be guaranteed. Unfortunately, the psychopathic leaders of our world system (not only the slimy politicos) don’t seem to understand the very worrying developments in today’s chaotic world!
Crying foul, every time instability flares up is not a mature way of handling problems, especially when the reasons behind popular revolts are palpably obvious. The tiring rants continuously employed by the status quo will not make headways unless accompanied by tangible efforts to address the prevailing comprehensive mal-governance. Peace and harmony do not come easy; they have to be earned the hard way, particularly in diverse nations. Imposing a view/policy not shared by a meaningful majority is bound to have its own latent problems, sooner than later. Failing to predict potential reactions to imposed strategies is one of the major shortcomings of the globally reigning status quo, invariably spearheaded by the political establishment. Whether we like it or not, many of our African nation states currently find themselves in such quandaries, Ethiopia not excluded. One would think these leaders would finally listen to the sheeple’s agony; but no, no, no. Suffices to recall the time-honored axiom; ‘those whom the Gods want to destroy, first they make mad’!
Amongst the core problems we Africans face, enduring peace stands out as the most critical, even the poverty we always hark on comes second to peace, after all one has to be around even to suffer poverty! When our capacity to manage the diversity we are blessed with lags behind popular expectation, outsiders with ulterior motives move in to capitalize on the situation. ‘Divide and rule’ is not an empty slogan. Today, just like a century ago, there are many outside forces already positioning themselves on the continent. Africa is, once again, ready for the grabbing, compliment of our shortsighted and corrupt leaders of post-independence!
Admitted or not, ‘Scramble for Africa Round II’ is fully underway, cynically exploiting new scenarios on the ground. Responsibility to Protect (R2P), i.e., to protect citizens from their own governments (Libya, Syria, etc.) is the new established pretext for intervention. Don’t be fooled; disturbed peace entices malice!
‘It is our turn to eat’ (a book about Kenyan elections) is the underlying philosophy behind many of the so-called democratically contested African political elections. The not so subtle objective of this statement is not to institute good governance or to secure the future for all, but rather to settle score at the expense of the gullible sheeple. Pathetic! In this case, state power is conceived as a mere tool for criminal accumulation. Without convincingly resolving such distorted conception of power, Africa will not have a promising future, useless rhetoric aside. We repeat; such orientations can never forge peace amongst the diverse peoples of the various nation states of the continent. The futile project to impose peace and harmony, superficially from above, is not only untenable, but is actually hypocritical, if not out rightly farcical. Our political leaders should realize that it is only wars they are capable of legislating, not peace! ‘State of Emergency’ (declared or otherwise) is low intensity warfare employed by the state against the rising violence directed towards it (organized or not.) In both cases, we are not talking about peace at all, even though the respective protagonists claim; ‘once they are through with their ‘just wars’, peace will prevail.’
Be that at it may, we don’t believe peace can be fully realized only by decree, government’s or otherwise. The main prerequisite for enduring peace and harmony in any nation is the institutionalization of unadulterated justice and democracy! Peace, particularly an internal one, (within a nation state) can come about once these values are securely established (not only formally and vacuously), honored as well as internalized by the gullible sheeple. “Peace is not just the absence of conflict but also the presence of justice, for in our world’s history, peace has never prevailed where justice was absent.”
Good Day!
PEACE CANNOT BE LEGISLATED
Queens Supermarket
Queens Supermarket launched their new store at the ground floor of Nani Building located besides Ghion Hotel on November 21, in the presence of Adanech Abebe Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa. The store which will be the ninth in the city will start operation on Monday November 23.
Queens, a member of the MIDROC Technology Group, is engaged in the wholesale and retail trade of consumable products. Established on July 2, 2010, with 51 employees, it started by retailing agro-industry products, agricultural products, seafood, personal care products, detergents, canned foods, beverages and other manufactured merchandise.
MIDROC Technology Group, a business founded by the Ethio-Saudi business tycoon Mohammed Hussein Ali Al-Amoudi, has invested 59.3 million birr to open the first supermarket. Pictured (L) Jemal Ahmed, Adanech Abebe and Abinet Gebremeskel CEO of MIDROC-Ethiopia
US diplomats weigh in on TPLF and Ethiopian Government
US diplomats disclosed that the TPLF, who ignited the first fire on November 3 evening, had targeted to overthrow the central government and repossess the political spectrum. They hinted that it’s their expectation that the operation will be done sooner.
On the telephone press conference that was held on Thursday evening, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy and the US Ambassador to Ethiopia Michael Raynor, have briefed journalists about the current situation in Ethiopia’s northern region.
They said that both sides were not willing to take part in mediation, which the US officials called it’s a way for a goal not by itself an end of goal.
Since the operation commenced by the Ethiopian government following the TPLF force firing on Ethiopian Defense Force, the regional force leaders have expressed their desire for negation, while the Ethiopian government underlined that it will be happen when the mission is concluded and the target of the mission achieved.
However TPLF expressed its desire for negotiation on its media outlets and via some international media. Furthermore the US Ambassador said that both sides are not ready for negotiation.
In response to the TPLF chairman’s argument that he stated for Financial Times this week saying that a breakup of Ethiopia could be one of the consequences of this conflict, Nagy said that, “I am not privy to the thinking of the TPLF leadership when they started this, but this was not to secede and create an independent state from Ethiopia, because the Ethiopian constitution has a provision for the states to be able to secede peacefully.”
“I mean, again, it is difficult to tell the motivation, but it seems like they were doing this more to depose the prime minister from power and to reassert themselves into the prominent position that they had atop the Ethiopian political spectrum for the last 27 years,” he explained the motive of igniting the conflict from the TPLF side.
He ridiculed their tactic for an opposite result has occurred.
“So hopefully right now I think that their tactic has had the opposite effect from what they were planning. It seems like this has brought the Ethiopian nation together, at least for the time being, in support of the prime minister, because this has really stoked Ethiopian nationalism, and hopefully those positive forces will remain,” Nagy said.
“But again, I want to make it very clear that this is not about Tigray. There is no equivalency here. This is not two sovereign states fighting against each other. This is a faction of the government running a region in Ethiopia that has decided to undertake hostilities against the central government, and it has not – in my view – has had the effect that they thought that they were going to get,” he added.
Regarding standing together to tackle the current challenge, the US Ambassador stressed that the central government has grabbed support from regions and general public. “Seemingly regional governments, federal governments, and large swaths of the people galvanizing around the government – the federal government and the national,” he expressed.
“From the first attacks on November 3rd by the TPLF, on the Ethiopian National Defense Force bases in the Tigray region, we have publicly and privately highlighted our grave concern. We strongly urge an immediate de-escalation of tensions, a cessation of hostilities, and a return to peace,” stated Nagy-the Assistant Secretary.
He said that the United States continues to coordinate with the Ethiopian government, local authorities, and international partners to ensure that civilians in and around the Tigray region have access to needed humanitarian assistance, “The protection and security of all civilians is essential. Our top priority is ensuring the welfare, protection, and security of U.S. citizens. The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa continues to work closely with the United Nations and others to relocate U.S. citizens in Tigray, as conditions permit,” he expounded.
He criticized the TPLF action that demands more attention and makes the case an international issue by saying the fighting in Tigray shall continue, as events last weekend suggest that the TPLF seeks to internationalize the conflict.
“The TPLF leadership has admitted responsibility for the November 13 missile launches at airports in Bahir Dar and Gondar, in the Amhara region, and the November 14 attack in Eritrea. These unacceptable attacks make the situation more dangerous, and the Secretary condemned them in his most recent statement. We have been in contact with Eritrean Government officials and are urging their continued restraint,” he said.
The Assistant Secretary said that the US continue to press the Ethiopian government to restore communication in the region as an act of accountability and transparency and to enable greater contact with civilians, including American citizens in the region.
“We also urge both sides to maintain access for humanitarian organizations to provide essential assistance to vulnerable groups in the region. We have been unequivocal with the Ethiopian Government and the TPLF on civilian lives since civilians must be protected and humanitarian access must be ensured,” he added.
“We remain deeply concerned over reports that civilians have been purposely targeted and attacked. We condemn the November 12 massacre in Mai-Kadra, apparently perpetrated by TPLF soldiers and militia as they retreated from the town,” he said expressing his concern on the attack of civilians
“Those found responsible must be held accountable in accordance with the law. Additionally, we are working with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Ethiopian government to ascertain why several journalists were recently arrested, their current status and well-being, and what charges they are facing,” he said.
Nagy appreciated Eritrea for its reservation as TPLF tried to internationalizing the conflict, “We expressed our thanks to Eritrea for not being provoked when they were attacked by missiles because apparently, one of the aims of the TPLF hardcore leadership was to try to internationalize the conflict so that there would be a way to try to really fan the flames of patriotism within the general population of Tigray, and we appreciate the fact that Eritrea has been restrained.”
“Obviously, the Ethiopian government is also very keen to keep the situation from being internationalized because that would be destabilizing the entire region,” the diplomat, who knows the region very well, said.
The Assistant Secretary who appreciated mediation added that it is a tactic and a way to get to the goal that is a quick end to the conflict, restoration of peace, and protection of civilians.
“A whole series of regional leaders, continental leaders, other international leaders have reached out with offers of mediation. At this point, neither party, from everything we hear, is interested in mediation,” he added.
Regarding humanitarian issue, Michael Raynor, US Ambassador says ,“We, along with other humanitarian governments, including the United Nations, have been pressing from the outside: establishing humanitarian access for commodities – fuel, gas, other items; establishing a corridor to enable the insertion of those supplies and also to facilitate and monitor civilians. We raised that with the government. They said they would look into it.”
“When I raised that with the TPLF, they did not really engage on that possibility. But we continue to press it very hard,” he added.
“Another aspect of this is that as the Ethiopian government continues to articulate a vision of the military conflict coming to an end fairly soon, a week or two from now, which isn’t to say that there isn’t a humanitarian crisis on the ground, because there absolutely is,” he said hinting when the conflict might be over and humanitarian crises shall be ended.
The digital migration: New scheme that digitizes logistics set to be deployed in three phases
The Federal Transport Authority (FTA) is set to introduce a modern platform to uplift the logistics and fleet management and operation. To operate the E-service, transport companies are expected to undertake re-registration starting from next week.
Djibouti will be integrated in the second phase of the online operation that is expected to be commenced in the near future.
FTA announced that the system will be operational in the transport companies and facilities that operate under federal level.
Abdulber Shemsu, Deputy Director General of FTA, told Capital that the E-service will be applied in different phases and that the first phase will be commenced in the near future.
“We have accomplished the preparation and have also given training for relevant civil servant, transport company officers and others who have relation with the operation since it’s a new scheme,” Abdulber said.
According to the Deputy Director General, on October 26 the authority has issued a new directive that allows for the implementation of the new system and transport companies should re-register based on the directive. “Action plan have develop for the implementation of the directive so it will be applied,” he added.
The re-registration is expected to commence in the coming week and in the coming six months the registration is expected to be fully done.
The new scheme is an E-service that all transport companies will be administered under and their activity will be managed, coordinated and controlled on paperless basis.
The implementation of the technology is supported and developed by the Innovation and Technology Institute, which is under Ministry of Innovation and Technology.
The system will improve the logistics and transport service and shall reduce the involvement and chain of unnecessary middlemen, because all the gaps shall transparently be seen by the regulatory body, companies and other stakeholders.
Under the new system the security feature is very strong and this allows owners of trucks or companies to follow the activity of their trucks and assign the trucks for proper operation.
Besides strong security features, bar codes will be used to give all information like the drivers and truck data, and there will be QR codes that digitalize declaration of entry and others information that is currently given manually.
Information like the location of truck, its activity permission, profile of driver, owner of the truck, the cargo that it will load and loaded shall be also easily made known on the new scheme.
Abdulber said that it will also allow to prevent loading cargos without agreement since currently contracts of loading are done orally. “Accountability, security and benefiting not only owners but also operators or drivers is also the other advantages,” he commented.
To introduce the first phase it took 8 months and implementation work is undertaken in collaboration with FTA and Innovation and Technology Institute IT and other staffs.
In the second phase, the operation will extend on cross borders with deals with countries. He said that FTA has already agreed with Djibouti Port Community Services to expand the operation in Djibouti, which is the main sea outlet for Ethiopia.
In the phase, other relevant public originations and companies like customs, insurance companies, and other will be integrated to elevate the manual operation.
Integrated GPS system will also be installed to ensue modern fleet management on every commercial truck is undertaken.
Djiboutian leaders who were in Addis Ababa this week have also stated that their country system will be integrated with the new FTA platform.
“Djibouti Port Community Services will benefit by receiving advanced notifications of incoming trucks while the authority tracks cargo trucks on Djibouti corridor and ports,” it said.
“We have agreed to integrate the system with their facility that will be undertaken in the second phase. In the community in Djibouti, the operation will be linked on an end to end basis regarding controlling the activity and flow of information,” Abdulber says, “it needs more work but we have agreed on the implementation.”
In the third phase the operation will be expanded to public transport service and automate the operation by introducing cashless and paper less operations besides implementing different controlling mechanism.
