TPLF spent $100 million meant for famine aid in Tigray region on weapons – Ethiopian diplomat

Ethiopian Ambassador to South Sudan, Amb. Nebil Mehdi Abdullahi, speaks to reporters during a press conference at his country’s embassy in Juba on Saturday 3rd September 2022 [Photo Sudans Post]JUBA – Ethiopia’s ambassador to South Sudan Nebil Mehdi has said that the rebellious Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has siphoned at least $100 million mobilized 30 years ago to aid victims of famine in the Tigray region to buy weapons.

The crisis in 1984 prompted a huge Western relief effort.

Although millions of people were saved by the aid that poured into the country, evidence suggests not all of the aid went to the needy.

At the time, the Ethiopian government was fighting rebellions in the northern provinces of Eritrea and Tigray.

Much of the countryside was outside of government control, so relief agencies brought aid in from neighboring Sudan.

Some were in the form of food, some as cash, to buy grain from Ethiopian farmers in areas that were still in surplus.

Amb. Mehdi said the money collected at the time from Western governments and charities was channeled into the rebel war efforts.

“There was fundraising of Tigray people for the drought and famine in Tigray some 30 years ago. At that time hundred million dollars were raised but almost 90% of this money goes to TPLF for recruitment of military equipment,” Amb. Mehdi told reporters during a press conference held in Juba over the weekend.

Amb. Mehdi also disclosed that the rebel group last week stole 570,000 liters of fuel from the WFP warehouse in Mekele.

“Last week, TPLF looted 125 gallons of fuel from World Food Programme meant for humanitarian supply in Mekele,” he said.

“The looting started since the inception of TPLF 47 years ago. The inception of TPLF is about 47 years ago and the TPLF proved itself as looters as usual since their rebellion time in the bush.”

The top Ethiopian diplomat accused rebel group of stealing humanitarian aid.

“It has been proved recently by International Community that TPLF used the humanitarian supply for their soldiers, it happened four months ago.”

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