I wrote the following words almost a year ago, under the title "Misinterpreted Promises and Deceptive Tactics: The Somaliland-Ethiopia MOU Fallout.”
“The complete fruition of the agreement ( meaning the MOU) is yet to be witnessed, especially in light of the recent disclosure of deception surrounding the pact. In the aftermath, as the dust settled, what remained was a deceived and naive Somaliland president and a Prime Minister ( Abiy Ahmed) who, at least in this instance, attempted to deceive the public using a strategy of hoodwinking and obfuscation, gloating at his skill in the art of deception.”
Read the following communique from Ankara, dated 12/12/2024. The fate of that MOU is sealed. It is dead and buried. Then you would realize that my words above were not based on idle speculation but an outcome of having a complete knowledge of the deceitful nature of Abiy Ahmed. @AbiyAhmedAli@FdreService@Mustafe_M_Omer@AlainAmharic@EthioReporter@ETHZema@MOJEthiopia@BilleneSeyoum@NeaminZeleke@PMEthiopia@BBCNews@dw_amharic@RedwanHussien@danielkibret@ethioNDC@VOAAmharic@fanatelevision @walta_info @ebczena@EmishawEskedar@HOAAffairs
It has been over six months since the assassination of Batte Urgessa. Yet, to this day, justice remains elusive. The @EthioHRC is said to have completed its investigation into his murder, but inexplicably, the findings remain withheld from the public. This lack of transparency is a glaring failure of accountability.
Batte’s assassination was a heinous act of violence that demanded immediate and thorough accountability. While the EHRC initially pledged to uncover the truth, its inability or refusal to release the investigation report long after its completion raises critical questions: What is being hidden? Who benefits from this silence?
The consequences of this failure are far-reaching. Batte’s family now live in exile in the United States, forced to flee Ethiopia due to fear for their safety. Their exile is a tragic testament to the government’s unwillingness to protect its citizens. It also underscores a pattern of impunity we have seen over the last six years.
The withholding of the EHRC’s report also represents a broader systemic issue in Ethiopia. When justice is delayed, withheld, or denied, it creates a vacuum where impunity thrives. This is not just about Batte Urgessa—it is about the integrity of Ethiopia’s institutions and their commitment to accountability.
Justice for Batte Urgessa is not just about seeking accountability for one man’s murder—it is about setting a precedent that no life is expendable, no family’s suffering is ignored, and no voice for justice can be silenced.
It is time for the EHRC to fulfill its mandate. Release the report. Deliver justice. End the impunity. For Batte Urgessa, his family, and the countless others who have been denied their fundamental rights, the world is watching—and history will remember.