Ethiopians slam US in massive pro government rally amid onslaught by rebels

Tens of thousands of
Ethiopians rallied in Addis Ababa on Sunday to condemn the United States and
express support for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government as the country’s
military confronts rebels threatening to march on the city.
The rally in central
Addis Ababa was the government’s latest attempt to shore up public support for
the conflict against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and allied
rebel groups.
The massive rally in
Addis Ababa came five days after the government declared a nationwide state of
emergency ostensibly to protect civilians from the TPLF, which has claimed key
gains in recent days while floating a possible march on the capital.
The protests on
Sunday, were also directed against countries who have called for an end to the
violence.
“We don’t need
interference from abroad,” read some of the placards.
Irate demonstrators
denounced the United States government, which is accused of backing TPLF rebels
in their year-long war that has killed thousands of people.
One of the banners
carried by the demonstrators urged the US, to “stop sucking our blood”.
Credible
sources indicate that TPLF is receiving intelligence support
from a foreign country on the movement of the Ethiopian army including
satellite imageries.
Rally-goers also held
signs blasting Western media including BBC and CNN for spreading “fake news” exaggerating rebel
gains.
Addis Ababa mayor
Adanech Abebe said in a speech that Ethiopia’s foes were trying to “terrorize
our population”.
“They say Addis Ababa
is surrounded, but Addis Ababa is only surrounded by its incredible people, by
its vigilant, heroic children,” she said.
She was particularly
critical of the US government, which last week announced plans to boot Ethiopia
out of a vital trade pact because of rights abuses related to the war.
“If aid and loans will
strip us of our freedom, if they will lead us to sacrifice our freedom, we
won’t sacrifice our freedom,” Adanech said, adding that the TPLF’s rightful
place “is in hell”.
The Ugandan president
is set to host a summit of the East African bloc the Intergovernmental
Authority on Development on November 16 to discuss the conflict.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into
Tigray last November to topple the TPLF, then the regional ruling party, a move
he said came in response to TPLF attacks on federal army camps.