Ethiopians and Eritreans stage protest in Juba against TPLF

The Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in Juba on Saturday held a joint protest against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPFL).

The TPFL is an armed secessionist group that has been fighting to break away from Ethiopia.

Daniel  Mengistu, the Ethiopian Community leader in the country, said they gathered together to protest any kind of support to the ‘‘alleged brutal terrorist group’’ of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a rebel group in the two countries.

“We are saying no to external pressure from the western countries on Ethiopian and Eritrean governments, and we are also opposing the fake news campaign against Ethiopia and the Eastern Africa region, that are misleading the international community by being machines of lies over lies,” Mengistu said

Most of the Ethiopians who gathered at Land Mark Hotel in Juba on Saturday carried colourful posters written “no more interference in Ethiopia and Africa in internal affairs.”

Others read: ‘‘African Solution to African Problems, No More Disrespect to the Voice of People and Democratically elected Government of Ethiopia’’. ‘‘No more Destabilizations in the name of Democracy and fabricated Human Rights abuses’’.

Mengistu stressed that the Ethiopian ancient civilisation is among the African emerging countries that have full capacity to effectively manage its internal affairs.

“Ethiopian people out of their democratically elected incumbent government do not need an external uninvited guardianship,” he said.

Mengistu vowed to fight for his country for them to get peace.

“Everybody needs to resolve issues peacefully and everybody loves peace, we have been living for thousands of years with no problems but now the issue is if you have an irreconcilable ideology, is that is what you do? you fight as if there is no way of solving the issue peacefully, we are ready,” he said.

‘Leave us alone’

He urged the western powers not to meddle in their internal affairs, adding that they are strong enough to solve their problems as Africans.  

Tewelde Fisscha, an Eritrean national living in Juba, said the Ethiopian case cannot be treated as an isolated one from the Eritrean.

He said though the two countries had conflicts for 20 years, that was ruled by the international court, the TPLF has never accepted the international ruling that brought instability between the Ethiopians and Eritreans.

However, current Ethiopia’s regime led by Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed supported the ruling of the international court and accepted to reconcile the two countries for last peace.

“I have joined this protest today because it is to benefit both the Ethiopians and the Eritreans. That is the reason why I have accepted to join this event to oppose the intervention of the western countries and to support the decision taken by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia as well as by the Eritrean President,” Fisscha said.

He said the fighting had been prolonged because the TPLF refused to accept the solutions given by the international court.

“The common interest for peace from both leaders made us reach this stage. However, the TPLF is still opposing that verdict and all the military conflicts seen in Ethiopia is practically due to the rejection of the TPLF regime accepted by both leaders from both countries.”

“Therefore the TPLF regime in any circumstance can be eliminated to make the peace suitable,” Fisscha added.

Tarik Alem is another protester who accused the American leaders of fighting the Ethiopian government for their interests.

“We the Ethiopians are fighting for our rights and they should stop interfering in our country and even in other countries,” he said.