The Embassy of the State of Eritrea to the US strongly condemns and vehemently rejects the unfounded accusations made against the country in the article, “Ethiopia Peace Process Undermined as Eritrean Forces Continue Attacking Civilians,” recently published by Bloomberg (30 November 2022). It is deeply concerning that an outlet presumably dedicated to accurately and objectively informing the public has instead chosen to spread crass disinformation and falsehoods. Regrettably, this is not the first time that the outlet or the particular authors have made allegations about Eritrea without a shred of evidence.
In the first place, the conflict in Ethiopia was triggered when the TPLF launched a surprise, unprovoked attack across all outposts of Ethiopia’s Northern Command on 3/4 November 2020. According to different estimates, between 3,000 and 6,000 federal troops were callously slaughtered in the attack (many as they were sleeping and defenseless). Thousands more were maimed and forced to desperately flee. The TPLF’s war plans included concomitant military measures against Eritrea as part and parcel of its hostile policies of territorial aggrandizement and “regime change” that it had doggedly pursued for almost two decades when it was at the helm of power in Ethiopia.
Unfortunately, throughout the conflict, the TPLF’s major crimes and sole culpability for both launching the war, as well as repeatedly breaking ceasefires and truces, were completely ignored or downplayed, while it has continually, yet wrongly, been portrayed as a victim. The baseless allegations and disinformation now being made against Eritrea aim to shift blame and provide wiggle room as the TPLF drags its feet and raises stipulations to avoid fully implementing the conditions of the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement it signed last month. Recall, too, that the historical record, spanning recent years and past decades, clearly shows that it is the TPLF that has been the main obstacle to peace and the central cause of so much of the tension, violence, and instability that have plagued the entire region.
As a final clarification, Eritrea’s regional policy is consistent and clear: it is otherwise firmly anchored on the promotion of regional peace, stability, and economic cooperation on the basis of full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. Indeed, Eritrea deeply cherishes genuine, lasting peace and stability as it has been affected by externally imposed and intermittent wars in the past decades. As always, it will continue to work cooperatively with others to play a constructive role toward establishing lasting peace, development, and prosperity in the region.
Around the world, people look to the mainstream media, including global outlets such as Bloomberg, to maintain high standards of integrity, objectivity, and balance. Unfortunately, in its latest article on Eritrea, the outlet has been cavalier with the truth and widely missed the mark. The Embassy of Eritrea implores Bloomberg to cease spreading falsehoods and strongly encourages it to deal with Eritrea and the region in a truthful and objective manner moving forward.
2 December 2022
Washington DC, US