Ethiopian ambassador faults international media for “biased” reportage on conflict

“The lie is travelling half the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” A famous quote by American essayist Mark Twin is all the Ethiopian Ambassador to South Sudan, Nebil Mahdi, used to describe the disinformation that spilt from the Ethiopian conflict.

While addressing the media at a Christmas dinner reception at PamAfrica Hotel in Juba yesterday evening, Mahdi lashed at the international media for what he termed as peddling fake news to fit the narrative of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)- a secessionist group that has conflicted with the Ethiopian government.

Mahdi lamented how “these days journalism is becoming expensive” as he pin-pointed the international media for the blame.

“Even some of the giant international medias have fallen from their grace by being architects of fake news. The kind of reporting and framing of events, for instance, the war in Ethiopia, is an important illustrator of the case in point,’’ he stated.

“These international media houses open another war front by being the mouthpiece of the TPLF criminal enterprise and disseminating misinformation about the conflict in Ethiopia,’’ he added.

He called on the western countries to avoid micromanaging the affairs of Ethiopia saying Addis Ababa will continue teaming up with like-minded peers to shun such acts of neo-colonialism.

“To denounce such meddling in our internal affairs by some western nations and their agencies, the Ethiopian Community, African brothers and friends of Ethiopia from around the world including here in South Sudan are participating to answer calls of H.E rime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Greater Ethiopian Home Coming,’’ Mahdi stated.

Open to dialogue

According to the diplomat, the Ethiopian government is still committed to a peaceful solution to the conflict pitting it against the TPLF. However, a military offensive will continue being used “till the TPLF come to their senses”.

“The government has recaptured almost all towns in Amhara and Afar regions. We have witnessed the brutal atrocities and catastrophes committed by the TPLF. The group has shown its irresponsible nature by looting and demolishing health centres, schools and universities. Regrettably, this got the attention of neither an international journalist nor a human rights activist,’’ he lamented.

For months now, the TPLF forces have been engaging the Ethiopian army bringing a lot of anxiety to the country. However, the wantaway forces began to retreat after unsuccessfully making threats that they would take hostage of the country’s capital- Addis Ababa.