News: Three #Tigrayan opposition political parties invalidate committee to lead establishment of interim admin in #Tigray

Three major opposition political parties in war-torn Tigray Region have invalidated the recently announced committee authorized to lead the establishment of an Interim Regional Administration (IRA) in the region pursuant to the signed peace agreement between the federal government of Ethiopia and Tigray authorities in South Africa Pretoria on 02 November 2022.

The parties: Tigray Independence Party, Salsay Weyane and National Congress for Greater Tigray in a joint media briefing yesterday announced that they will not accept the committee that will oversee the establishment of Interim regional government in the region, adding that they have no relationship with the committee.

Dejen Mezgebe (PhD), Communication Director of Tigray Independent Party, one of the three parties, told Addis Standard that the process of setting up the committee was neither participatory nor inclusive that, “all the nominated members, including the military leaders and the scholars, are either current or former members of the TPLF”.

https://addisstandard.com/news-three-tigrayan-opposition-political-parties-invalidate-committee-to-lead-establishment-of-interim-admin-in-tigray/

News: More than 60,000 mainly women, children arrive in #Ethiopia after fleeing recent clashes in #Laascaanood, #Somalia: #UN

More than 60,000 Somalis, mainly women and children, have fled to Ethiopia’s #Somali region in the past few weeks to escape clashes and insecurity in the city of Laascaanood, in Sool region. More than half of them arrived earlier this week.

Exhausted and traumatized, they have arrived with very little, only taking what they could carry. Women told staff from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, that they had to sell their belongings to pay for transportation to reach safety. Many of them have lost loved ones in the clashes or have been separated during flight.

Families have temporarily settled across more than 13 locations in the towns of Bookh, Galhamur and Danot Woredasiin in the Doolo zone in Ethiopia’s Somali region. In an extremely remote area with a limited humanitarian presence, local communities in Doolo have generously welcomed the refugees, sharing whatever resources they have. But these are quickly depleting as an average of 1,000 people continue to cross into Ethiopia each day.

https://addisstandard.com/news-more-than-60000-mainly-women-children-arrive-in-ethiopia-after-fleeing-recent-clashes-in-laascaanood-somalia-un/

#Ethiopia: #OLA says #Oromia region call for reconciliation “welcome news”, issues “key aspects” to be clarified

“OLF-Shene” is the common name government officials use to refer to the OLA, a point underscored in the group’s statement as one of the “key aspects that any peace process ought to clarify from the beginning.”

The “call for peace did not address the OLA,” the statement said. “The regional president still refers to a phantom armed group called “OLF-Shane.” Whilst this may not make much difference in substance, it did not help clarify the already multi-layered ambiguities regarding the prospect for peace and how the Ethiopian government wishes to pursue it.”

Other “key aspects” include the group’s call that the peace process with it should be “led by the federal government,” and the involvement of “international actors” as “guarantors for the enforcement of mediation agreements.”

https://addisstandard.com/news-ola-says-oromia-region-call-for-reconciliation-welcome-news-issues-key-aspects-to-be-clarified/

Commentary: A Call for a meaningful participation of #Irob and #Kunama communities in #Tigray Transitional Politics

By Hulluf Weldesilassie Kahsay

"All and sundry know that Tigray is forced to set up transitional or provisional governance arrangements as per the Pretoria and subsequent agreements. Now, apparently, the ball is in Tigray’s court to comply with the demand of Addis to set up a transitional/provisional government if it is to receive federal funds and for the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) to be removed from the terrorist designation. We from Tigray should come to terms with this as an inevitable reality. We all must negotiate with the reality on the ground without losing hope and sight of our collective aspiration as peoples of Tigray: Irobs, Kunama, and Tigrigna-speaking Tigrayans, civil society groups, diaspora – all of us. "

https://addisstandard.com/commentary-a-call-for-a-meaningful-participation-of-irob-and-kunama-communities-in-tigray-transitional-politics/

#Ethiopia: In the face of #drought, a roof over our heads is one less problem

In #Oromia, tucked in the southern region of Ethiopia, 63-year-old Boneya watches as his children play with toys crafted from dried leaves and sticks.

“I can’t believe we’ve been here for three years now. This is the life my children know,” he says.

Seven years ago, his hometown of #Moyale, close to the #Kenyan border, was engulfed in intercommunal conflict, pushing them to flee some 37 kilometers into Oromia. Since then, they have been living in a makeshift tent they constructed using local materials.

Being displaced had its challenges, but this worsened for the father of 13 since the drought hit the region. More than half a million people were displaced by what is now the worst drought to ever hit the country in the past 40 years.

https://storyteller.iom.int/stories/face-drought-roof-over-our-heads-one-less-problem

#Ethiopia: #Orthodox Synod says agreement to resolve schism breached as breakaway group expresses dissent

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (#EOTC) Holy Synod in Addis Abeba said that the agreement to resolve the schism that led to unrest in the country over the past weeks has been breached by the breakaway group two days after it was reached.

Abune Abreham, general manager of the Holy Synod said in a statement on Friday that the three Archbishops who according to the agreement reached on Wednesday were to return to their former dioceses and noscripts violated the agreement by addressing the media using a name “the new synod”.

The three Archbishops and 25 episcopate ordained by them in a presser subsequent to the agreement said on Friday that they accept the agreement reached in its entirety but expressed dissent on the agreement point which says the episcopate ordained by the three archbishops would return to their former ranks.

They said revoking the anointment which was made according to the church’s canon is against the canon itself and that the anointment should be upheld.

Abune Abreham said that “despite knowing that the episcopate anointment was annulled by the agreement, they violated the agreement by wearing the robe of sanctity and those who were part of the agreement altogether violated the canon again”.

https://addisstandard.com/news-orthodox-synod-says-agreement-to-resolve-schism-breached-as-breakaway-group-expresses-dissent/

#Ethiopia - verbatim

“Let’s involve women”

“The Ethiopian peace process has restored services in Tigray and silenced the guns. We are not yet there; more is still needed. Thank you President Obasanjo for leading us in this process. Let’s keep working, let’s involve women.”

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former South African deputy president and member of the negotiation team for peace talks between federal government and the TPLF.

Authorities in #Ethiopia’s #Somali region suspend 15 media outlets, revoke media association’s license

"The recent suspensions of 15 media outlets the ban on a media association in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional States have eroded reporting in the region, and paint a picture of a government unwilling to make room for dissenting voices,” said CPJ Sub-Saharan Africa Representative Muthoki Mumo. “Authorities should allow journalists from these outlets to resume their jobs, ensure that enforcement of licensing regulations is not used to muzzle the media.”

https://cpj.org/2023/02/authorities-in-ethiopias-somali-region-suspend-15-media-outlets-revoke-media-associations-license/

#EthiopiaDrought

Commentary: After all livestock are dead, now what is left for #Borana pastoralists? Unveiling devastating impacts of prolonged drought

By Galgalo Dika (PhD)

Dr Galgalo writes about the devastating consequences of the ongoing drought on Borana pastoralists with previously unseen, alarming data.

Excerpts

“Above 2.3 million heads of livestock have died due to the prolonged drought, which left more than 67,000 households with no livestock, according to the Rapid Assessment report. This is a complete loss due to drought.”

https://addisstandard.com/commentary-after-all-livestock-are-dead-now-what-is-left-for-borana-pastoralists-unveiling-devastating-impacts-of-prolonged-drought/

#Kenya’s Safaricom on The Verge of Launching Mobile Money Services in #Ethiopia

“We are finalizing our commercial and technical readiness, and we expect to launch operations within the upcoming financial year," Safaricom’s CEO Aanwar Soussa said.

https://www.tekedia.com/kenyas-safaricom-on-the-verge-of-launching-mobile-money-services-in-ethiopia/

#Ethiopia Proposing $150 Million License Fee For M-Pesa and Other Mobile Operators

The National Bank of Ethiopia, the country’s industry regulator is proposing a $150 million license fee from M-Pesa and other mobile operators who want to set up shop in the country.

In a draft proposal signed by Solomon Damtew, the Payment and Settlement System Director at the National Bank of Ethiopia, the regulator is referring to the $150 million fee as an investment protection fee. This fee is described as the amount paid by foreign nationals who invest in businesses exclusively reserved for domestic investors or the government.

https://technovagh.com/ethiopia-proposing-150-million-license-fee-for-m-pesa-and-other-mobile-operators/

#Ethiopia: $40m agreement to reduce carbon emissions through land preservation

The Emission Reductions Purchase Agreement unlocks up to $40m that will help communities, gov't & stakeholders to reduce carbon emissions & increase carbon sequestration through forest preservation and other environment-friendly land uses.

https://www.esi-africa.com/east-africa/ethiopia-40m-agreement-to-reduce-carbon-emissions-through-land-preservation/

News: #NEBE reports majority vote in favor of new region in recent referendum, irregularities in #Wolaita zone

The referendum was held in six zones and five special districts, but NEBE said it is pending a decision on the results of the election in Wolaita Zone due to massive irregularities pre and during election process and complaints of vote fraud.

According the NEBE, it has verified and approved the results of the referendum held in five zones (Konso, South Omo, Gamo, Gedeo and Gofa) and five special districts (Burji, Basketo, Ale, Amaro, Derashe) where the majority voted in favor of coming together in cluster to form Ethiopia’s newest regional state.

Notable rejection of the new regional state was seen in #Gedeo zone where 46,749 people voted against the establishment of the new region out of 241, 695 valid votes.

However, the board announced that, “activities considered as serious operational violations” were committed in several polling stations in Wolaita Zone where there has been long lasting quest for statehood.

https://addisstandard.com/news-nebe-reports-majority-vote-in-favor-of-new-region-in-recent-referendum-irregularities-in-wolaita-zone/

Analysis: #Tigray Orthodox Church declines call by Synod to normalize relations, blames Synod for endorsing “war of genocide” on people of Tigray. What next?

By Medihane Ekubamichael

On 09 February, the Tigray Orthodox Church Council of Bishops held a joint meeting in which they have issued rejection to an earlier call made by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church (EOTC) Holy Synod’s Secretariat requesting for talks of reconciliation and normalization of relations between the Synod in Addis Abeba and Tigray Orthodox Church.

In a detailed account that highlighted the outcomes of the devastating two years atrocious war in the Tigray region, the Council of Bishops pulled no punches when blaming the Holy Synod for endorsing the “war of genocide” that was declared on the people of Tigray and explaining why they find it difficult to mend relations with it.

What is next?

https://addisstandard.com/analysis-tigray-orthodox-church-declines-call-by-synod-to-normalize-relations-blames-synod-for-endorsing-war-of-genocide-on-people-of-tigray-what-next/

The Interview: “Government’s lack of clear political agenda exacerbated the war in Oromia”: Colonel Gemechu Ayana

A must read interview to understand why the OLF-gov. 2018 peace talks collapsed, leading to the current complex war in #Oromia.

Interview by Beka Atoma Boru

Excerpts:

AS: When you returned from Asmara, you were persuaded to embrace peaceful struggle. Is it because the agreement you made was breached that the armed struggle continued, or was there a conviction that there still was a cause to fight for?

Colonel Gemechu: The main reason was the failure on the government’s side to uphold the agreement. The government declared war on our fighters in Wollegga. Some of those who returned from Eritrea and were stationed in Arsi were shot dead only fro asking minor questions. They poisoned those who returned heeding a call by Jawar, Bekele Gerba and Abba Gada Beyene Senbeto. The government didn’t have the interest to obey the agreement and that’s what necessitated the armed struggle. It is not because the OLF fighters back then didn’t embrace the peaceful struggle but because the government made it clear that it was impossible.

AS: Over the past four years the war in Oromia has transpired significantly and became more complex. What is your reading? How do you describe what is going on today?

Colonel Gemechu: The OLA’s position is clear. It is fighting in the belief that anyone who stands against the freedom of the Oromo, is the enemy of the Oromo. This belief does not change because who controls the government power has changed. The OLA fought the Dergue, it fought the EPRDF and it still is fighting. It is not about who took power, it fights for its demands. There are people who give up when they become ministers, those who abandon their demands when they enter the parliament. We have seen such people including from within the OLF, but the OLA believes that anyone who stands against the freedom of the Oromo is its enemy, whether a national group or an organization. But anyone who believes in the right of self-determination whether they are Amhara or Guraghe or Tegaru, is a friend of the OLA, this is clear.

https://addisstandard.com/the-interview-governments-lack-of-clear-political-agenda-exacerbated-the-war-in-oromia-colonel-gemechu-ayana/