This @reda_getachew interview is very revealing and not just from his body language, and his absurd & tautological claims.

What caught my eye are two specific remarks which confirm information I have heard from elsewhere.
@reda_getachew 1. Towards the beginning he discusses the air-strikes, and in doing so he suggests that the UN was warned by the Ethiopian Govt. about the coming air strikes.
@reda_getachew My unconfirmed report is this. UN had staff stationed in the Planet Hotel - the site of one of the first airstrikes on Monday. And my source told me that the building was also occupied by TPLF leadership.
@reda_getachew My understanding that the military target that was taken out in that strike was some kind of communication interference device/equipment, located nearby. The TPLF claimed it was an attack on civilians, specifically a market.
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh perhaps should ask the UN if it is true that they were warned about the coming airstrikes, and if so when and by who?
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh 1. The second thing that stood out for me came at the end of the interview when Reda talks about the offensives and mentions that there is conflict on "another front" without saying what that front is.
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh My unconfirmed report was that there was a TPLF attack on another front before the October 11th announcement/release from Reda which had gone spectacularly badly for the TPLF, and which was the reason for launching the offensive on the Eastern Front - in Wollo.
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh This is perhaps that's something that @DeclanWalsh could ask his TPLF contacts about.

What engagement was @reda_getachew referring to in these remarks? Where and when?
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh All this is rather important in terms of actually understanding what is happening in the war. On Tuesday this week there was a significant offensive by TPLF forces against Chiffra. The purpose of this appears to have been to move into Afar (as mentioned by Declan).
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh The objective of this action appears to be to take the Addis-Djibouti road, to gain leverage to use against Addis.

This is the same initial military objective (openly stated by TPLF spokespeople and enablers) when TPLF's Afar/Amhara counter-offensive began, back in July.
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh And in terms of what we are seeing now makes sense. If the TPLF had attempted to breakout of Tigray on another front, and been thwarted/defeated, it would explain the current levels of desperation and fear that you can see in this @reda_getachew IV.
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh At the end of the Interview Reda talks about all the winning that the TPLF is doing (i.e. the deaths of ENDF soldiers and POWs etc.), claims that TPLF's objectives are not power, but in the same breath also talks about marching on Addis, if necessary.
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh Again if you have been paying attention, these are things that Reda has always said. But what is this tweet about?

Subsequent reports suggest that mortars were indeed fired at Dessie - a large city with hundreds of thousands of IDPs in it.
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh Indiscriminately shelling a city of that size is a war crime, this is exactly what Assad did in Syria. So why would Reda be talking about doing this.

The obvious answer is that TPLF's options are running out. They are blocked at Chiffra, fighting seems to be continuing there.
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh Attacking Dessie and Kombulcha, in an attempt to March on Addis - as mentioned by Reda - would be the only remaining option for TPLF commanders.
@reda_getachew @declanwalsh Such a strategy would be a last ditch, catastrophically harmful attempt to save a doomed rebellion. But based on Reda's interview with himself, it seems to be on the cards. And that also explains some reports that came out yesterday about what's really happening in Mekelle.
First we have this:

My understanding: TPLF has given orders to its civilian population. As of last night no one can leave Mekelle at threat of being shot. Everyone outside Mekelle has been ordered to go to Amhara and seek revenge. I.E. Genocide.

Thread:
This is based on local TV reporting concerning what is happening in Mekelle. These reports emerged a couple of days ago, but are becoming clearer.
Another version of the same reports here - i.e. preparations by the TPLF to prevent civilians fleeing from Mekelle presumably so their presence will inhibit attacks on the city.
This resulted in my writing this quick twitter commentary on the wider implications of what appears to be the accelerating disintegration of the TPLF, and its apparently genocidal reflexive response. threadreaderapp.com/thread/1451592…
/ENDS

@threadreaderapp unroll

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Alastair Thompson

Alastair Thompson Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @althecat

23 Oct
The @NYTImes latest coverage of the Ethipoian conflict. From @rickgladstone and @DeclanWalsh.

U.N. Flight Thwarted as Fighting Grows in Ethiopia nytimes.com/2021/10/22/wor…
@nytimes @rickgladstone @declanwalsh This bit stands out to me as being wrong, and based on the TPLF narrative.

Particularly the highlighted sentences.
The passage refers to this report (nytimes.com/2021/10/12/wor…) from @DeclanWalsh which in turn is based on a statement issued by @reda_getachew - the mainTPLF spokesman - on 11th October.
Read 8 tweets
23 Oct
Attn: @StephDujarric @EdithLedererAP @michellenichols @rickgladstone

The UN briefing yesterday was a good start. But to get to the bottom of what is happening in Tigray, and why there are issues with fuel entering the region, you need to look into this.
The tweet quoted ^^ is from @fitsumaregaa the Ethiopian Ambassador to the USA. I am certain he would be available to be interviewed about this.

Ethiopia is understandably concerned further fuel deliveries to Tigray will be used for military purposes.
It is also understandable that @OCHA_Ethiopia doesn’t want to explicitly say this, but such is the reality of this horrific war.

For months TPLF forces have been using humanitarian aid to pursue a brutal war not just against the ENDF burn against civilians in Amhara.
Read 4 tweets
23 Oct
This special OCHA press briefing was not carried live on UN Web TV and was posted to @youtube early this morning CEST, around midnight ET(US).

It was held before the regular press briefing which I posted last night, and explains why that was light on Ethiopia content.
In the intro @UN_Spokesperson @StephDujarric jokes that he arranged the briefing as there is lots of media questions, and also because “I didn’t want to answer them”.

The briefing is from the OCHA regional coordinator Gemma Connell, based in Nairobi.
Here is the readout from Ms Connell, which was followed by a Q&A with three questions from reporters from @ap @reuters and @nytimes.

The aborted flight appears to have been the reason for increased media interest.
Read 19 tweets
22 Oct
Tonight is an Emperor’s New Clothes moment for the world. The TPLF have just flipped the kill switch on their war because they now know they have lost and they want to burn all of Ethiopia.
Meanwhile global news media are obsessing over a plane that could not land because of tweets from “nutty professor” @ProfKindeya, a serial liar, the basic facts about which are contested, and even if true, completely irrelevant to what is happening in this conflict.
This is the biggest war in the world, and it is yet to receive any significant news coverage in both the EU and the US.

The basic facts are the UN, US and EU all believe TPLF lies about their actions absent any evidence, and in the face 1000s of deaths and Mlns of IDPs.
Read 10 tweets
22 Oct
@GetachewTamiru5 I’ve been wondering similar things.

The UN is definitely failing again in the ways you describe. It seems to be doubling down on its false facts as we tweet.

But the difference is COVID & Climate. Two huge crises which will not wait for human stupidity to resolve itself.
@GetachewTamiru5 The UN as it is now is not equipped to really deal with either. For the most part it is a multi-disciplinary humanitarian aid, governance consultancy, and development delivery organization with some political/legal arms.
@GetachewTamiru5 It has no effective Governance or Accountability mechanisms. And in media terms outside of the places where it is working is politically and news media wise invisible.
Read 12 tweets
21 Oct
There is a similar but different pattern on the West Coast of the Pacific, albeit significantly more unusual. Rains have already started to fall in California and up the coast all the way to Alaska, with a lot more in the forecast, including loads of snow in BC.
This East Pacific 16 day PWAT forecast animation shows a series of atmospheric rivers bringing multiple episodes of heavy rain up and down the West Coast.
A wider angle view of all of North America shows the collision between the Wet Pacific and cold Arctic Air masses over the Rockies. Meanwhile in the East there is also a very late season cyclone over Haiti (albeit highly speculative at such long range).
Read 4 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

:(