News: Communities in drought-hit #Borana reel amid rising aid delivery scandal, officials refute allegations

By Biruk Alemu and Medihane Ekubamichael

#Yabelo, Borana – Community members in Yabelo, the administrative capital of the drought-hit Borana zone, in Southern Oromia, are reeling in the midst of allegations on the rising cases of corruption in aid administration that saw a portion of the aid deliveries are taken for personal use by the people in charge of local aid distribution.

Alarmed community members informed team Addis Standard on the ground that they encountered flour branded after Busa Gonofa, a regional relief commission, solely packed for aid purposes were appearing on markets in the outskirts of Yabelo.

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“Retailers are even asked to buy flour that came through individual and group aid providers”, said one resident, adding that the issue has been lurking in the town, and he believes that most of the aid donations are highly likely to end up into the pockets of corrupted officials in charge of receiving the aid at the warehouses in Yabelo.

https://addisstandard.com/news-communities-in-drought-hit-borana-reel-amid-rising-aid-scandal-officials-refute-allegations/

#Ethiopia: Political parties oppose ongoing consultations on transitional justice policy options, urge priority for peace, national dialogue

Several leaders of opposition political parties who were invited to take part in the ongoing nationwide consultations on transitional justice policy options have walked out of a meeting on Friday 10 February, urging the government to give priority for peace and national political dialogue.

The consultation forums are being organized by the Ministry of Justice to engage various stakeholders in the formulation of a policy document that guides the transitional justice process that Ethiopia aspires to embark on.

Chairperson of the Sidama Federalist Party Elias Tesemma who took part in the consultation prepared for opposition political groups last week told #AddisStandard that “it is political problems that are trembling the country, and a consensus through national political dialogue should precede any attempt of ensuring transitional justice and reconciliation”

https://addisstandard.com/news-political-parties-oppose-ongoing-consultations-on-transitional-justice-policy-options-urge-priority-for-peace-national-dialogue/

Children in #Ethiopia’s #Tigray Region return to school, but trauma lingers

The more than two-year-long civil war in Ethiopia has left many children orphaned or separated from their families.

The psychological trauma lingers for these children.

https://www.voanews.com/a/children-in-ethiopia-tigray-region-return-to-school-but-trauma-lingers/7002509.html

#Ethiopia-#Israel - #Israeli teachers' racist WhatsApp chat caught by pupils

Israel's education minister has apologised to Ethiopian Israeli schoolgirls whose teachers mocked them in a WhatsApp group on a school trip.

The girls spotted the teachers messaging each other in a chat group they created called Black School Trip.

One of the girls filmed the chat over a teacher's shoulder, then shared it on social media, calling the teachers "a disgrace".

The teachers involved were suspended and the incident is being investigated.

There are about 150,000 citizens of Ethiopian origin in Israel, the first of whom arrived in sizeable numbers in a series of top secret Mossad-led operations in the 1980s.

The Ethiopian Jews' integration in Israel has been challenging, with the community suffering disproportionately high levels of unemployment and poverty as well as discrimination, although their situation has shown signs of improvement in recent years.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64919768

#Ethiopia: Rampant cash hoarding regress improved banking services in #Tigray, cash shortage persists after central bank dispensed 5 billion birr

By Mihret G Kristos

Banks in Tigray are facing cash shortage and therefore significantly limited the amount of money one can withdraw due to widespread cash hoarding after the central bank dispensed 5 billion birr to Tigray in February.

The decision had enabled banks to resume their much-needed services amidst growing complaints from residents who despite re-opening of banks in the region were unable to get services due to shortage of cash. The services however are short lived.

A bank manager at one of the private banks in Mekelle, capital of Tigray region, who asked not to be named, told Addis Standard that traders and the rich have withdrawn all their money in cash in the first two weeks after the central bank sent 5 billion birr cash to Tigray.

At the time, “we have been providing withdrawal services according to the central bank’s standard, allowing an individual to withdraw up to 50,000 birr cash per day. In the first two weeks branches have been withdrawing up to 30 million birr everyday” he said.

https://addisstandard.com/news-rampant-cash-hoarding-regress-improved-banking-services-in-tigray-cash-shortage-persists-after-central-bank-dispensed-5-billion-birr/

News: #SaudiArabia resumes #Ethiopian domestic workers recruitment after three years of deferment, recruitment fee limits at $1,840

Addis Abeba: Saudi Arabia has announced the reopening of doors for domestic workers after three years long of deferment, limiting the recruitment fee for domestic agencies to 1,840 USD. The Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development (MHRSD) has issued a warning that organizations and agencies that are authorized to hire domestic workers in the nation must adhere to the established payment ceiling.

The payment ceiling set for #Ethiopia is very low compared to other countries.

The decision fits with the Ministry's ongoing efforts to organize and regulate recruitment market prices as well as monitor and manage their implementation to guarantee the caliber of the services provided.

A year ago, #AddisStandard received several reports of detainees held in inhumane conditions in Saudi Arabia prisons. Ethiopians detained in Saudi Arabia’s prisons revealed that a crackdown on illegal, as well as legit, migrants targeted many Ethiopians. Nursing mothers, infants, and pregnant women were suffering in the prison without sufficient food, medicine, and a proper place to sleep, and urged the government to intervene, according to the detainees; complaining about Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) officials abandoning their responsibilities and ignoring their pleas.

MHRSD has issued instructions governing the transfer of domestic workers’ sponsorship and rules for recruiting and presentation of labor services with the aim of strengthening the contractual connection and increasing market attractiveness.

Editor's Note: This story is edited to correct the $1,840 recruitment fee which was reported as wage limit.


https://addisstandard.com/news-saudi-arabia-resumes-domestic-workers-recruitment-after-three-years-of-deferment-wage-labor-limits-at-1840/

News: Security, Intelligence Task Force accuses “some foreign nationals” of alleged dollar laundering and counterfeit

The Ethiopian Joint Security and Intelligence Task Force accused “some foreign nationals” who enter the country using tourist visas and other legal means, are engaged in weakening #Ethiopia’s economy by “printing counterfeit dollars” using rented hotel and guest rooms as their basis. Without mentioning the nationalities of the said foreign nationals, the Joint Task Force said that some of these suspects are “detained and being investigated.” It also accused suspected of “using drugs.”

The Joint Task Force said that in an operation it conducted in different parts of Addis Abeba city on Saturday 11 March, five individuals suspected of “illegal dollar circulation”, “counterfeit dollar printing”, and “illicit weapons circulation” have been detained and are being investigated. However, it didn’t clarify if all the five suspects were foreign nationals.

https://addisstandard.com/news-security-intelligence-task-force-accuses-some-foreign-nationals-of-alleged-dollar-laundering-and-counterfeit/

#Ethiopia: Newly established #Gurage opposition party complains detention of its leaders, undue pressure from gov’t

The newly established Gurage opposition political party, Gurage Unity and Justice Party (#GOGOT) has said security forces detained 12 leaders and officials of the party on Monday as part of continued pressure from the government since its establishment.

The party received its temporary license from the Ethiopian National Election Board (NEBE) only three months ago.

Mohammed Abrar, the party’s communication officer, told #AddisStandard on Tuesday, that out of the 12 leaders and officials, 10 have been released while Jefar Temam and Remedan Nurgeta still remain behind bars and they have not yet appeared in court.

According to Mohammed the leaders and officials were arrested while they were returning home after attending the party’s general assembly which was held yesterday at Wabi Shebele Hotel in Addis Abeba.

https://addisstandard.com/new-newly-established-gurage-opposition-party-complains-detention-of-its-leaders-undue-pressure-from-govt/

News: #US announces allocating nearly $2 m to support independent investigations of human rights atrocities as #Blinken arrives in #AddisAbeba

The US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) has announced the billing of 1.975 million USD to support independent investigations of human rights atrocities and justice and accountability processes for alleged atrocities “committed by all sides” in Ethiopia’s two years war.

The announcement followed United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s arrival in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia late at night on Tuesday.

Bilinken’s visit is the first high-ranking visit by a US official to Ethiopia since the outbreak of the war in November 2020, when the US-Ethiopian relationship began to deteriorate due mostly to ,the war’s atrocities against civilians in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions and the US’ repeated calls for early cessation of hostilities, which the Ethiopian government rejected for nearly two years.

But it is not clear if the US’ allocation of the fund to support independent investigations will be extended to support #ICHREE’s ongoing works.

https://addisstandard.com/news-us-announces-allocating-nearly-2-m-to-support-independent-investigations-of-human-rights-atrocities-as-blinken-arrives-in-addis-abeba/

#Blinken meets #Ethiopian leaders to repair ties damaged by war

#US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Ethiopia's foreign minister in Addis Abeba on Wednesday, as their two governments look to repair relations strained by the two-year civil war in the Tigray region.

Blinken, who began his talks with Demeke Mekonnen with a coffee ceremony, was also due to meet Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and leaders of the Tigray forces that battled the federal government in the war in the northern region.
"There is a lot to be done. Probably the most important thing is to deepen the peace that has taken hold in the north," Blinken told reporters.

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#Eritrean troops remain in several border areas while militia from the Amhara region, which neighbours Tigray, occupy large areas of territory in ...western and southern #Tigray, humanitarian workers said.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/blinken-meet-ethiopian-government-leaders-repair-ties-2023-03-15/

Advocates call on Blinken to demand accountability for atrocities in #Ethiopia

Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch [#HRW], said that Abiy is hoping to secure economic aid and a pledge of "normalized relations" from Blinken, although the country is still not at peace.

"There is a cessation of hostilities agreement, which has, in fact, brought some relief to the suffering of the people of Ethiopia. Particularly in the north, in the #Tigray region," Yager told VOA. "Some aid can get through, communications are flowing, fuel prices are down, food prices are down, all of this is very positive."

But despite gains made since the peace deal, human rights advocates say there's more work ahead.

"It is not all sunshine and roses," Yager added. "There are still abuses happening throughout, not just the Tigray region, but in other parts of the country."

Kate Hixon, Africa advocacy director at #Amnesty International USA, argued that Blinken should center all his engagements with the government of Ethiopia around human rights.

"There still needs to be improved access throughout the country for humanitarian actors and human rights monitors," Hixon said. "We also still need to see more commitment on justice and accountability and would really like for Secretary Blinken to push that."

"Ethiopia has been backsliding on democracy and freedoms across the country, and abuses are still continuing in some of those same places where the worst suffering has happened. So, we are seeing detentions, killings, sexual violence." https://www.voanews.com/a/advocates-call-on-blinken-to-demand-accountability-for-atrocities-in-ethiopia/7005879.html

Commentary- #Blinken needs to pressure both parties of the #Pretoria agreement

By Mersea Kidan

"The agreement of permanent cessation of hostilities signed in Pretoria by Abiy Ahmed’s administration and the #Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (#TPLF) ignited a glimmer of hope that the siege imposed on Tigray may end and peace may come to Tigray and to Ethiopia. Albeit meager improvements in access to food aid and basic services, Tigray remains to be under siege four months after the signing of the Pretoria agreement. More than three million IDPs cannot return home because their homes are occupied by Amhara militias and Eritrean troops, land transportation is blocked, air transport is limited, basic services like telecommunication and electrical power are intermittent. Even though the arresting of Tigrayans and ethnic profiling has declined, more than seventeen thousand officers of Tigrayan ethnicity are still languishing in concentration camps, many Tigrayans arrested because of their ethnicity remain in prisons."

https://addisstandard.com/commentary-blinken-needs-to-pressure-both-parties-of-the-pretoria-agreement/

#Ethiopia: Blinken expresses “concerns about situation in #Oromia”, need for resolution through dialogue; announces $331 m in new humanitarian assistance

In his first visit to Ethiopia, and subsequent meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken “expressed concerns about the situation in Oromia and the need for a resolution through dialogue.”

This is the second time in as many weeks that Secretary Bliken made official call to end the ongoing military violence in Oromia. In late January this year, Blinken said he had “discussed the need to bring an end to ongoing instability in the Oromia region” during a phone call with PM Abiy.

It comes as several stakeholders continue attempting to push for a peaceful resolution to end the five years military violence in Oromia involving federal and regional forces on the one had, and members of the Oromo Liberation Army (#OLA), often referred to as “Shene” by the government, on the other hand.

https://addisstandard.com/news-blinken-expresses-concerns-about-situation-in-oromia-need-for-resolution-through-dialogue-announces-331-m-in-new-humanitarian-assistance/

#Ethiopia: Five #FinTech companies in #Ethiopia diversifying #Africa’s digital finance

The FinTech industry in Ethiopia has undergone some considerable changes in recent years due to new regulatory changes introduced by the Ethiopian government. In March 2020, the National Bank of Ethiopia issued a new Directive on issuers of payment services, allowing local non-banks, including mobile network operators to offer mobile money services.

While Ethiopia’s FinTech ecosystem is still quite small-scale, the government’s supportive reforms towards promoting a digital economy and favourable market conditions have led to growth in the sector. Here are five FinTech companies in Ethiopia to watch out for: https://ibsintelligence.com/ibsi-news/5-fintech-companies-in-ethiopia-diversifying-africas-digital-finance/

News: Blinken trades carefully on #Ethiopia war atrocities extent; optimistic on peace, drop in rights abuses

His emphasis was rather on his optimism that the Pretoria Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) was contributing to a decline in these atrocities, and further remarked that both parties to the agreement “acknowledged the atrocities committed and the devastating impact that they’ve had.”

Testifying before Congress in March 2021, Blinken became the first high ranking US official to acknowledge and condemn what happened in Western Tigray, which is still under the control of forces from neighboring Amhara region, constituted an act of “ethnic cleansing.” His remarks confirmed several other reports by international media and human rights organizations made before and after his testimony to the Congress, and were reaffirmed by the State Department itself a year later in April 2022 in which the State Department acknowledged ajoint report by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Fast forward, citing three U.S. officials “familiar with the matter”, Foreign Policy magazine published a report shortly before Blinken’s travel to Ethiopia that “the State Department drafted a declaration in 2021 that the Ethiopian government’s atrocities in Tigray constituted a genocide… but it never released the declaration.”

During his press engagement on Wednesday, #AddisStandard asked Secretary Blinken on why the report was shelved and if there was any plan to release it to the public.

https://addisstandard.com/news-blinken-trades-carefully-on-ethiopia-war-atrocities-extent-optimistic-on-peace-drop-in-rights-abuses/