ACT NOW: US Aid to Ethiopia Supports Forced Relocations for Land Grabs
Sign the Petition to President Barack Obama and
USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah
read and sign petition
You are cordially invited to attend a ‘Round Table’ discussion on:
The second Scramble for African Land, Water and Resources.
University of Toronto St. George Campus
January 27, 2012, 5-8 pm
read or download poster
January 16, 2012
Human Rights Watch
Ethiopia: Forced Relocations Bring Hunger, Hardship
(London) – The Ethiopian government under its “villagization” program is forcibly relocating approximately 70,000 indigenous people from the western Gambella region to new villages that lack adequate food, farmland, healthcare, and educational facilities, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. State security forces have repeatedly threatened, assaulted, and arrested villagers who resist the transfers. read ...
“Waiting Here for Death”
This report in Ethiopia’s Gambella Region,” examines the first year of Gambella’s villagization program. It details the involuntary nature of the transfers, the loss of livelihoods, the deteriorating food situation, and ongoing abuses by the armed forces against the affected people. Many of the areas from which people are being moved are slated for leasing by the government for commercial agricultural development. read ...
January 15, 2012
Allegations of Corruption Emerge Against Federal Government Examiners as they Investigate the Corruption of the Gambella Regional President, Mr. Omot Obang Olom, and His Administration
In a yet unfolding drama involving the TPLF/EPRDF evaluation hearing surrounding allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the Gambella Regional Government under the current president, Omot Obang Olom, new allegations have now emerged accusing these same Ethiopian Federal government examiners of their own corruption in the execution of this hearing. read ...
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January 10, 2012
The people of the Omo Valley Sound SOS for help!
The Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia sounds an urgent emergency alert regarding the present endangerment of the people of the Omo Valley. These fellow-Ethiopians are being threatened with human rights violations and atrocities by the TPLF/EPRDF’s troops in the region as the regime moves ahead to remove the people from their land in another crony development scheme for a state-owned sugar plantation on245,000 hectares of land with an additional 100,000 or more hectares of some of the most fertile land committed for other agricultural projects. Those who resist, face state-sponsored human rights crimes. read ...
read in Amharic
January 5, 2012
Open letter to Mr. Mario Guido Friggieri, regarding the Ethiopians who have been detained in Malta
We in the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia are writing this letter in regards to the Ethiopians who have been detained
in Malta for nearly a year. We have been in contact with these people and are highly concerned about the length of their
detentions. We are also concerned regarding the extremely difficult conditions they face while in detention, including a lack of
adequate medical and/or psychological attention for some who need it services related to epilepsy, women’s health, depression
and mental health. Additionally, some are disabled and some are underage. read ...
read in Amharic
December 15, 2011
Our Muslim and Christian leaders must stand up for higher principles and avoid greater disaster!
The SMNE has been alerted to a serious issue affecting Christians and Muslims in the village of Qoto Baloso, Silte province of Ethiopia. Reports allege that Christian’s church was burned down on 29 November 2011 by Muslim students, accompanied by Muslim police officials. The students were shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great"). Is it really a Christian and Muslim conflict or just another TPLF/EPRDF power scheme?
read ...
December 13, 2011
Remembering that the December 13 Massacre of the Anuak is Going On Throughout Ethiopia!
(Ottawa)--December 13-15th, 2011 marks the eighth anniversary of the Anuak genocide that began with the brutal massacre of 424 Anuak leaders and young students in less than three days, but continued for another two years. Up to 1,500 more were killed, many more atrocities were committed and the limited infrastructure of the region was significantly destroyed. Today we clearly understand that the TPLF/EPRDF’s intent was to take over control of the land, water, oil and natural resources from the Anuak and other indigenous people in the region—the Nuer, the Majanger, the Opo and the Komi. read...
November 30, 2011
Truth, Reconciliation and Justice Charged with Terrorism in Ethiopia
Now we all know “Truth”, “Reconciliation” and “Justice” are not really people; but if they were, the Meles regime would certainly arrest them and charge them as terrorists. These principles stand as the most dangerous of all opponents to a regime based on lies, hate and oppression. Perhaps this is why our executive director Mr. Obang Metho was recently charged with “terrorism” by the Meles regime under their new and extremely vague anti-terrorism law that has been used as a tool to silence voices of freedom and has been widely criticized by human rights groups. read ...
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November 16, 2011
The Shocking Death of Yenesew Gebre Brings to Light the Extreme Desperation of Ethiopians
We in the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia are shocked to hear of the death of Yenesew Gebre, a 29-nine year old Ethiopian teacher from southwest Ethiopia who took his own life this week when he set himself on fire in the town of Dawro, Waka, Southern Ethiopia, after confronting government officials at a public meeting. It gives heartbreaking testimony to the unbearable pain he and others have suffered under the brutal and oppressive rule of the Meles Zenawi-controlled EPRDF regime. read ...
read in Amharic
November 16, 2011
Dessalegn Rahmato
LAND TO INVESTORS: Large-Scale Land Transfers
in Ethiopia
Forum for Social Studies - Addis Abba
read ...
October 14, 2011
Obang Addresses 27th International North South Media Forum
“Is The World Shifting? - The BRICS: Power and Limits”
As a leader of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia, a social justice movement whose mission is to bring lasting change to Ethiopia and beyond, my quick answer is “YES” in this global world where economic, financial, political, ideological, security and social interests have created both new partnerships and at times, competing interests. What results will have enormous consequences down the line; particularly as powerful countries, like those of the BRICS, seek land, resources and other opportunities beyond their borders. read ...
October 5, 2011
Rejecting the TPLF/EPRDF’s Game-playing with Our Lives
Ethiopian strongman, Meles Zenawi, is going wild. His “security forces” are rounding up everyone and putting them in jail, using politically-driven anti-terrorism laws to absurdly justify arresting some of the country’s finest citizens, like Woubishet Taye, Reyot Alemu, Bekele Gerba, Olbana Lelisa, Debebe Eshetu, Eskinder Nega and Andualem Aragie, the two Swedish journalists, Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye, people who have nothing to do with terrorism. This is not new, but what is different now is how the veil of deception and cover-up has abruptly fallen, revealing a hard-core dictator who can tolerate no challenge to his authority. read ...
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September 12, 2011
Warmest greetings to fellow Ethiopians for a Happy New Year.
We in the SMNE want to extend our warmest greetings to our fellow Ethiopians for a Happy New Year. The “better year” for which we are hoping, will not be possible without our commitment to making changes. In fact, without such changes, Ethiopia faces the possibility of implosion and disintegration. We must face the fact that right now, Ethiopia is dying—literally, as a people, and figuratively, as a nation. If we do not face the desperate urgency of our crisis, we will be so disconnected from reality that we will be unwilling or unmotivated to take action to save the life of this people and nation! read ...
September 9, 2011
Congratulatory Letter from Mr. Obang Metho to President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the people of the Republic of South Sudan
I want to extend my warmest greetings and congratulations to the people of the now independent Republic of South Sudan on the birth of your new nation on July 9, 2011 after years of oppression, war, death and the dispersion of the people to all parts of the world. With great regret, I had to decline the wonderful invitation to attend the celebration in Juba this past July; but yet, I still wanted to share with you my great joy at this remarkable achievement after over thirty years of civil war. read ...
August 28, 2011
Obang Addresses Ethiopians in Las Vegas, Nevada: “The Ethiopian Holodomor—Death by Hunger—in the Ogaden and Beyond”
Today I am here to speak about hunger in Ethiopia; not hunger caused by the worst drought in sixty years, but manmade hunger or hunger that could have been avoided by a legitimate government that was accountable to the people. Worse yet, what we may be seeing is a famine-genocide; intentionally planned and carried out by Meles and his regime in order to punish, weaken and eliminate the people of the Ogaden and beyond in order to gain access to their natural resources. The drought has exacerbated an already desperate situation. read ...
read in Amharic
August 12, 2011
Experiencing the Joy of “Ethiopian Community” in Australia
Australia is home to many Ethiopians who have come from all parts of our mother country. During my recent visit there, I had the joy of experiencing what it might be like in Ethiopia to have real community where acceptance was not based on ethnicity, religion, politics, viewpoint, age, gender or any other differences because I saw it demonstrated over and over again in Australia during my recent trip there. read ...
July 26, 2011
Mr. Obang Addresses Ethiopian community in Melbourne, Australia
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit rankings, Melbourne is the second most livable city in the world... But right now, Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa is one of the most unlivable places in the world. No wonder so many of us Ethiopians have left the country and are scattered throughout the world; not by choice, but in an attempt to find the safety, sustenance, freedom, justice and opportunity outside the country that was not available inside. Even though Ethiopians risk death, human trafficking, detentions and extreme hardship—sometimes for years—many Ethiopians back home; especially the young, would rather go abroad to live if they had the chance than face such a bleak future. read ...
July 17, 2011
Mr. Obang Addresses Ethiopian community in Geneva, Switzerland
By measurements of most any index of well being, Ethiopia remains near the bottom of every one. Life for the majority of Ethiopians has not improved regardless of what regime has been in power. Most Ethiopians continue to live under oppression, marginalization, poverty and limited opportunity. In 2011, many in the prime of their lives are actually worse off than their parents were fifty years ago. What should be our response to this? I focus on nine points. read ...
July 15, 2011
MUST-WATCH VIDEO: EPRDF Delegation Fumbles on UN Human Rights Committee’s Questions
Have you ever wished you could put some heat on the Ethiopian regime of Meles Zenawi by asking them some very direct and confrontive questions about the repressive and brutal measures used by this authoritarian government that has brought so much pain and suffering to the people? read and view...
July 13, 2011
AfrobeaRadio
The Great Ethiopian Land Grab
We begin our series on the phenomenon which is generally referred to as “Land Grab” in Africa.... Our guests on today’s program on AfrobeaRadio on WBAI
, joining us on the phone are, Mr. Obang Metho and Mr. Abdikarim Rabi. read and listen...
July 11, 2011
Mr. Obang’s statement to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioners for Human Rights, at the 102nd session of the Human Rights Committee in Geneva
Despite EPRDF’s many public declarations of commitment to the respect of human rights, democracy, the rule of law and sustainable development, Ethiopians are at greater risk today than ever before; not only due to the regime’s serial perpetration of acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other human rights atrocities; but because the EPRDF has purged the country of most independent institutions of Ethiopian civil society, monopolized institutions of power within the country and pursued the acquisition of economic resources at the expense of the vast majority of impoverished people. read ...
Mr. Obang Metho will be speaking in Melbourne, Australia on a working tour.
Mr. Obang Metho will discuss land grabs in Ethiopia and the ongoing Human Rights situation in Ethiopia. The grabbing of fertile land going on in Ethiopia is not just rhetoric, fear mongering or in one’s imagination; but instead, it is real and happening at a ferocious pace all over Ethiopian and Africa. It will change Ethiopia forever and the major damage has already been done. These opaque transactions, which essentially give title to Ethiopian land for up to 99 years, are being done without consultation with those people most affected. Unless Ethiopians people and peace loving people throughout the world act quickly to stop this, we will not reverse the major damage. read ...
July 5, 2011
Emerging Truth Changing Power Balance in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has become a land where Truth is the most feared and hated enemy of the TPLF/EPRDF. Regime supporters, from the top offices of Meles to the rural officials at the kebele level, have gone to great extremes of deception and injustice in order to repress truth, in any form, as well as to punish truth-tellers, by any means necessary. read ...
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June 21, 2011
Obang’s Address to Deustche Welle Global Media Forum: Human Rights and Globalization—Challenges to the Media
My talk will focus on Ethiopia and how the risks to the indigenous people are increasing as a result of the new global thirst for resources; however, I will be emphasizing how the real threat to indigenous populations is raised exponentially in countries where governments fail to protect their own people; particularly the indigenous and other vulnerable populations. Unfortunately, in Ethiopia, the regime’s corruption, brutality and outrageous complicity in the exploitation of the people has led to extraordinary levels of endangerment and without intervention the future looks bleak. read ...
June 16, 2011
Electrical Blackout as US Secretary of State Clinton Addresses the African Union in Ethiopia
Was it mere coincidence or purposeful sabotage that caused an electrical blackout to occur just as United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was addressing the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this past Monday as part of her African tour? As she began the topic of democracy, suddenly the lights went out and stayed out for nearly eight minutes before generators were turned on. Coincidence? Maybe, but some politically savvy Ethiopians viewed it as a veiled attempt to undermine the Secretary’s strong speech in support of democratic rights—a message that this regime would censor if they had the chance. read ...
June 15, 2011
Open Letter to the People of India, a Day Light Robbery in Ethiopia: “Doing Business” With African dictators
“If it is unacceptable for Ethiopians to go to India, China or Saudi Arabia and clear their land without consulting the people, it is unacceptable here. We are human too and we care about the future of our children like everyone else...my message to the foreign investors is, listen to the owners of the land!” (An Anuak man from the Gambella region of southwestern Ethiopia)
read ...
June 8, 2011
Joint Report from Oakland Institute and SMNE Sounds Alarm on Foreign Agri-Investments in Food Insecure Ethiopia
The Oakland Institute and the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia announce the June 8, 2011 release of their joint report on Ethiopia; part of the OI’s more comprehensive report on “Understanding Land Investment Deals in Africa.” The report on Ethiopia is the outcome of an extensive in-country study in Ethiopia of what is commonly called “land-grabs”—government executed land investment deals with foreign investors that give them the rights to some of the most fertile, water-accessible land in Ethiopia for up to 99 years at prices as low as $1.19 (USD) per hectare; all done without consulting the people. read ...
Download Understanding Land Investment Deals in Africa
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June 8, 2011
Understanding Land Investment Deals in Ethiopia:
SMNE Independent Commentary on Report Regarding Political Impact and Recommendations
The Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia and the Oakland Institute have jointly published a comprehensive report: Understanding Land Investment Deals in Ethiopia, which resulted from extensive research and an in-country assessment of the new phenomena of the explosion of land investment deals within Ethiopia. read ...
May 13, 2011
Open Letter to Ethiopian religious leaders and community leaders.
Dear Ethiopian religious leaders and community leaders,
We in the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia are appealing to you on behalf of the countless Ethiopian refugees throughout the world who are undergoing severe hardship or peril as they seek safety, freedom and justice outside of our mother country of Ethiopia.
These are our sons, our daughters, our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our community members, our leaders—our people. How many parents will or already have received a letter like the following: read...
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May 11, 2011
Major Loopholes in Land Lease Contracts Raise Many Questions
The Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development recently released the Land Rent Contractual Agreements for land leases between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and twenty-four companies or individuals; now available for downloading from the SMNE’s website. This comes after many months of frustration among those seeking to find out the exact terms of these previously opaque deals; yet, seeing them now only raises more questions! read...
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