NAIROBI: A rebel leader fighting Ethiopia’s government says his troops are near the capital and preparing another attack, predicting the war would end “very soon” as diplomats rush to negotiate a ceasefire.
Jaal Marroo, commander of the Oromo Liberation Army, warned Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that pro-government fighters were defecting and the rebels were very close to victory.
“What I am sure (of) is that it is going to end very soon,” Jaal, whose real name is Kumsa Diriba, told AFP in an interview Sunday.
“We are preparing to push for another launch, and for another attack. The government is just trying to buy time, and they are trying to instigate civil war.”
The OLA and its allies, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, have claimed several victories in recent weeks, taking towns some 400 kilometers from the capital, and have not ruled out marching on Addis Ababa.
Jaal said his fighters were even closer — some 40 kilometers from the capital — and had “never moved (back) an inch” from territory they controlled.
AFP could not independently confirm this claim. Much of the conflict-affected zone is under a communications blackout and access for journalists is restricted, making battlefield positions difficult to verify.
The government has rejected suggestions the rebels are within striking distance of Addis Ababa, but has ordered the capital to prepare to defend itself, while foreign embassies have withdrawn staff.
“While we are being tested on many fronts, our collective will to realize the path we have embarked upon has strengthened us,” Abiy tweeted Monday, a day after tens of thousands marched in Addis Ababa in support of the government.
The threat of fresh rebel advances has spurred efforts by foreign envoys to broker a settlement to a conflict that has killed thousands and inflicted atrocities and starvation on civilians.
On Sunday, the African Union’s high representative for the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo, sat down with TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael in Tigray’s capital Mekele.
The same day, the UN undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, Martin Griffiths, also visited Mekele where he met the “de-facto authorities” there, said a spokesperson.
Abiy, winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, sent troops into Tigray in November last year to topple the TPLF, accusing them of attacking military bases.
In August, the OLA and TPLF — both designated terrorist groups by the government — announced they had brokered an alliance to fight against a common enemy, despite the two groups holding historic grievances.
Leader of Ethiopia’s Oromo rebels sees victory ‘very soon’
https://arab.news/mpkkp
Leader of Ethiopia’s Oromo rebels sees victory ‘very soon’
Rawdah Mohamed promotes Dolce & Gabbana eyewear campaign
DUBAI: Somali Norwegian model Rawdah Mohamed took to social media to celebrate her latest campaign with Italian label Dolce & Gabbana.
The model took to Instagram to share a video of the marketing materials, on show in an eyewear outlet in the UAE’s Dubai Mall. Mohamed posed for the Italian luxury label’s latest eyewear collection and can be seen showing off sunglasses while wearing various patterned hijabs.
“What a moment! Thank you to the @dolcegabbana team and @nimabenati for always capturing my beauty,” Mohamed captioned the post, highlighting Italian fashion photographer Nima Benati’s role in the project. She now walks the runway for storied brands and stars in luxury fashion campaigns, but Mohamed’s early years were marked by upheaval as her family fled Somalia’s civil war for the safety of Kenya when she was just a baby. Alongside her parents and nine siblings, including an adopted sister, she spent her childhood in a refugee camp before relocating to Norway at the age of eight.
Mohamed previously told Arab News that she “sort of stumbled into modeling” after a mutual friend put her in touch with her manager while she was at university studying for a degree in behavioral analysis and healthcare.
Mohamed said: “I went to a fashion show in Oslo at the end of 2018 where I met my manager. He told me about what they were doing and I went to his office for a meeting and I said I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a model but I wanted to work in fashion.”
Fast forward to 2024 and she is fast becoming a recognizable face in the industry, working with brands like Boss and H&M.
Mohamed walked the Roberto Cavalli show in Dubai in September, wearing an all-black three-piece suit consisting of a structured blazer, a fitted vest, and wide-legged trousers, all crafted from a subtly textured fabric. The outfit was completed with a dramatic wide-brimmed black hat that was styled over a black hijab.
“A privilege to walk the runway of @roberto_cavalli show. Sublime collection,” she later wrote on Instagram.
She was also spotted on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2023 and 2024.
Prospect of Lebanon ceasefire leaves Gazans feeling abandoned
CAIRO: The prospect of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah without a similar deal with Hamas in Gaza has left Palestinians feeling abandoned and fearful that Israel will focus squarely on its onslaught in the enclave.
The Iran-backed Hezbollah began firing missiles at Israel in solidarity with Hamas after the Palestinian militant group attacked Israel in October of 2023, triggering the Gaza war.
Hostilities in Lebanon have drastically escalated in the last two months, with Israel stepping up airstrikes and sending in ground forces to Lebanon’s south and Hezbollah sustaining rocket fire on Israel.
Now Israel looks set to approve a US plan for a ceasefire with Hezbollah when its security cabinet meets on Tuesday, while Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib expressed hope that a ceasefire would be reached by Tuesday night.
While diplomacy focuses on Lebanon, Palestinians feel let down by the world after 14 months of conflict which has devastated the Gaza Strip and killed more than 44,000 people. “It showed Gaza is an orphan, with no support and no mercy from the unjust world,” said Abdel-Ghani, a father of five who only gave a first name.
“I am angry against the world that has failed to bring one solution to the two regions,” Abdel-Ghani. “Maybe, there will be another deal for Gaza, maybe.”
An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire without a deal for Gaza would be a blow to Hamas, whose leaders had hoped the expansion of the war into Lebanon would pressure Israel to reach a comprehensive ceasefire. Hezbollah had insisted that it would not agree to a ceasefire until the war in Gaza ends, but it dropped that condition.
“We had high hopes that Hezbollah would remain steadfast until the end but it seems they couldn’t,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman, who like most Gazans has been displaced from his home. “We are afraid the Israeli army will now have a free hand in Gaza.”
While a Lebanon deal could leave some Hezbollah commanders in place after Israel killed the heavily armed group’s veteran leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and his successor, Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas completely.
“We hoped the expansion of the war meant one solution for all, but we were left alone in the face of the monstrous (Israeli) occupation,” said Zakeya Rezik, 56, a mother of six.
“Enough is enough, we are exhausted. How many more had to die before they stopped the war? Gaza war must stop, the people are being wiped out, starved, and bombed every day.”
What has caused Pakistan’s deadly clashes between police and supporters of Imran Khan?
- Topping the demands of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is the release of all its leaders, including Khan
- PTI supporters say they will hold ‘do or die’ sit-in at public square near parliament that is a popular protest site
Thousands of supporters of Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan marched on the capital Islamabad this week, breaking through barricades and clashing with police in response to his call for a sit-in protest.
Here is a look at what led to the protest and this chapter of political rallies in Pakistan:
WHAT DO PROTESTERS WANT?
Topping the demands of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is the release of all its leaders, including Khan, who has been jailed on a series of corruption charges since August 2023.
They also seek the resignation of the current government over what they call rigged general elections this year.
PTI supporters from across the country, including Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, have marched on the capital, with large numbers coming from the party’s stronghold in the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
They have vowed to enter the capital and rally at a public square near parliament that is a popular protest site, holding what leaders have called a “do or die” sit-in.
HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED?
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has given no indication yet of bending to the demands. Authorities have used shipping containers to block major roads and streets in Islamabad, with police and paramilitary patrolling in riot gear.
Mobile Internet links are down and schools have been closed for several days in the capital and the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi. Gatherings have been banned in Islamabad.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE MARCH BEGAN?
Thousands of supporters clashed with police and paramilitary troops on the weekend, as they tried to enter Islamabad.
Both sides have reported injuries and the prime minister’s office said members of the paramilitary were killed when they were run over by a car in the protest convoy. The interior ministry put the number of those killed at four.
WHERE DO THE PROTESTERS WANT TO GO?
The marchers aim to reach the roundabout near parliament that has long been a rallying point for protests and sit-ins that have marked Pakistan’s turbulent politics for decades.
The site is in Islamabad’s heavily fortified red zone, home to parliament, key government installations, luxury hotels, embassies and the offices of foreign organizations.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF POLITICAL PROTEST IN PAKISTAN?
Stormy politics and unrest during Pakistan’s 77-year history have included protests and sit-ins by opposition parties.
Khan led one of Pakistan’s largest sit-ins in 2014 when his supporters protesting against the PML-N government occupied the roundabout site for 126 days.
PTI supporters last marched on Islamabad in October, sparking days of clashes with police that killed one officer.
Ex-PM Khan party’s protest disrupts petrol supply in Islamabad, Punjab— oil transporters
- Authorities have sealed off roads leading to Islamabad with containers to deter protesters
- Several pump stations have run out of petrol due to non-delivery, says oil tankers association
ISLAMABAD: The supply of petrol to Islamabad and several cities in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province has been “severely affected” due to a protest by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party, an oil tankers association said on Tuesday, as major roads and highways leading to the capital were sealed off.
Pakistani authorities started closing highways and motorways leading to Islamabad in many parts of the country with shipping containers on Saturday, ahead of a “long march” to Islamabad by Khan’s party.
Authorities also said on Sunday they were closing certain sections of the motorway due to maintenance work. These sections were: M-1 Islamabad to Peshawar, M-2 Islamabad to Lahore, M-3 Lahore to Abdul Hakeem, M-4 Pindi Bhattian to Multan, M-14 Hakla to Yarik and M-11 Lahore to Sialkot.
The closed routes had stalled the delivery of petrol to several parts of Punjab and Islamabad, Oil Tanker Contractors Association spokesperson Noman Butt said.
“Routes to Islamabad, Rawalpindi and North Punjab are closed due to which supply from petrol tankers is severely affected,” Butt said in a statement.
“Thousands of tankers are waiting for the route to open.”
Butt said petrol had not been supplied to Gujranwala, Jhelum, Sialkot and Kharian districts in Punjab for the last three days.
He said petrol supply has also been affected in Islamabad, Kohala, and the northern city of Gilgit.
“Petrol has run out at pumps in many cities,” he added.
Khan’s party aims to pressure the government to end his imprisonment, which has lasted for over a year on what his party contends are politically motivated charges.
The party also aims to raise its voice against alleged rigging in the Feb. 8 general elections while calling for measures to ensure judicial independence, which it says has been undermined by the 26th constitutional amendment. The government denies this.
Thousands of Khan supporters arrived at D-Chowk, a high-security area in Islamabad’s Red Zone that houses key government buildings and is a popular site for protests, on Tuesday afternoon.
His supporters, led by the former prime minister’s wife Bushra Khan, braved teargassing, arrests and clashes to reach D-Chowk where they plan on staging a sit-in protest to demand his release.
Pakistan’s interior minister said three Rangers personnel and a Punjab Police constable had been killed in the clashes. The PTI rejects its supporters were responsible for their deaths.
Saudi Arabia grants operator license for 1st international marina to Jeddah yacht club
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has granted an operator license for its first international harbour to Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina, boosting tourism and strengthening its position as a leading regional and global maritime hub.
On Nov. 26, the Saudi Red Sea Authority announced that it had submitted the license to the organization, which is owned by Sela, a company under the Public Investment Fund.
Mohammed Bukhari, vice president of the coastal tourism operations at SRSA, presented the license to Amer Daggag, head of destinations at Sela, at the headquarters of the Jeddah-based club.
In line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the authority began working in 2021 to develop and regulate the coastal tourism sector.
Its efforts include issuing licenses and permits, creating policies and strategies, and assessing infrastructure needs, as well as preserving the marine environment, attracting investments, and promoting navigational and marine tourism activities.
In a statement, SRSA said the move is part of its efforts to develop a thriving coastal tourism sector by issuing licenses and permits and establishing guidelines, rules, and standards for marinas’ development, management, and operation.
The release added that the initiative aims to encourage participation in these activities, attract and support investors, and promote coastal tourism projects along the Red Sea.
In May, SRSA granted licenses for three tourist marinas: the Al-Ahlam Marina in Jeddah, the Al-Ahlam Marina in Jazan, and the Red Sea Marina in Jeddah.
The authority emphasized that regulating marina operations would enhance the quality of services for tourists and visitors while protecting and sustaining the marine environment, emphasizing that these operators must adhere to international standards to obtain their licenses.
SRSA also issued its first maritime tourism agent license to Cruise Saudi, a company owned by PIF, as part of its broader role in enabling tourism.
The licensed agent was stated to provide services to yachts and cruise ships, ensuring the sustainable development of marine tourism and facilitating vessel movements within the Kingdom’s waters in accordance with the highest environmental standards and practices.
Last year, the Saudi Sailing Federation and Sela signed a memorandum of understanding at JYC to enhance cooperation between the two parties. Under the agreement, Sela committed to providing consultancy services and logistical support for SSF events and activities held at the Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina.
Sela also agreed to collaborate with SSF to establish a strategic partnership to manage races and events at JYC. The agreement allows SSF to benefit from the JYC training academy, offering educational programs for those seeking to develop their sailing skills.
In December 2023, JYC hosted the first America’s Cup race on the Red Sea, which was attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, minister of sport, along with dignitaries from across the Kingdom, the world’s top professional sailors, and global enthusiasts.
