Peace for #Ethiopia: What should follow #Blinken’s Visit?

A viable peace process must address humanitarian crisis, political conflict and atrocities all at once.

"A particular conundrum for U.S. and international policymakers is how to time, sequence and calibrate the restoration of economic assistance, including an Ethiopian return to the #AGOA trade opportunity, in tandem with the absolutely critical need to end and address human rights violations. Obviously, that problem becomes more acute when the atrocities have been so pronounced and widespread — and tragically, this has been the case in this war.

There is no simple answer here; there is a need for justice based on documentation, investigation, and fair processes. And there is a need for reconciliation that allows Ethiopians to find a way to live together in the future. It’s going to be a complex problem of management, which I think Secretary Blinken just signaled in his talks this week."

https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/03/peace-ethiopia-what-should-follow-blinkens-visit

#Ethiopia’s Jemal Yimer wins #LosAngeles Marathon

Jemal Yimer of Ethiopia won the men’s division of the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, while Stacy Ndiwa of Kenya took the women’s division.

Jemal Yimer completed the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) course through city streets in 2 hours, 13 minutes, 13.58 seconds.

Yemane Tsegay of Ethiopia was second in 2:14:06.95. Barnaba Kipkoech of Kenya was third in 2:14:27.36 on a cloudy day with temperatures near 60 degrees (15 Celsius).

The top American men’s finisher was Hosava Kretzmann of Prescott, Arizona, who was sixth. He ran his first marathon in 2:19:55.77.

https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-marathon-f54e57c764f44d82d8a7b8e40ef3f002

#Ethiopia: #WHO Ethiopia donates medical equipment and supplies worth over 1.3 Million USD

The handover was made during a meeting convened to review the two-year performance of the WHO-DFATD project on “ensuring functional health service in the context of COVID-19 in Ethiopia”.

The medical equipment and supplies were handed over with a view of enhancing the service delivery of primary healthcare units in #Amhara, #Oromia, #Sidama, Southern Nations and Nationalities (#SNNPR) and #Southwest Ethiopia regions as well as #DireDawa Administration.

State Minister of Health Dr. Dereje Dhuguma, and Acting Representative to WHO-Ethiopia, Dr. Nonhlanhla Dlamini handed over the donation certificates to senior officials of the respective health bureaus. The donated equipment and supplies include neonatal resuscitators, oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeters, autoclaves, centrifuges, freezers, adult and paediatric weighing scales, stadiometers and sphygmomanometers, infrared thermometers, and several kits, including reproductive health, obstetric, surgical and midwifery kits.

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/ethiopia/news/who-ethiopia-donates-medical-equipment-and-supplies-worth-over-13million-usd

Business: #Akobo Minerals announces start of core drilling at Gindibab, a new target in #Ethiopia

Akobo Minerals, the Scandinavian-based Ethiopian gold exploration and boutique mining company, today announced the start of core drilling on a new target at Gindibab, the mining company told #AddisStandard.

The core drilling at the Gingibil quartz vein swarm in the Gindibab area lies approximately six kms southeast of Akobo Minerals’ Segele gold mine, which will soon be producing the company’s first gold.

In December last year, AKobo Minerals announced that it has made a new gold discovery at Segele, in the Gambella region, along the Akobo River in south-western Ethiopia, which was “the third distinct style of gold mineralization in the area.”

According to the latest announcement of the core drilling at Gindibab by the company, early indications point to it being “the most exciting target so far within Akobo Minerals’ license area.

https://addisstandard.com/business-akobo-minerals-announces-start-of-core-drilling-at-gindibab-a-new-target-in-ethiopia/

#Kenya: Tear gas, arrests as Kenya opposition stages protests

Kenyan riot police fired tear gas Monday to disperse demonstrators gathered in Nairobi for a day of action called by the opposition to protest the country's punishing cost of living crisis, AFP correspondents said.

The government of President William Ruto has vowed to take a tough stance over the demonstrations, which opposition leader Raila Odinga vowed would go ahead despite not receiving police authorization.

Demonstrators also hurled rocks at anti-riot police outside government offices in the capital, while about two dozen people were arrested, including two opposition MPs, correspondents at the scene said.

"We will be here until they run out of tear gas," said one protester, Markings Nyamweya, 27.

https://www.voanews.com/a/tear-gas-arrests-as-kenya-opposition-stages-protests/7012658.html

News: Congress for #Somali Cause firmly urges PM Abiy Ahmed to recant his statement on “Karamara Victory”

The Congress for Somali Cause (CSC) has urged Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to recant his statement in which he mentioned “Karamara Victory” during the launching ceremony of his third book ‘Generation Medemer’ on March 18, 2023.

The statement by the congress claims that Karamara is not a place of victory over Somalis or a site of celebration, instead, it is remembered as the “tragic execution” of Somali notables in #Jigjiga, including Sultan Dheeg Heebaan, Sultan Ali Hussein, Sultan Odowaa, Ugaas Rooble Doodi, Mohmed Yusuf Qiiq, and 80 others.

The Congress has fiercely censured the statement and insisted that PM Abiy should apologize for any offense he may have caused labeling his statement as offending and insensitive as it ignores the “tragic history” of Karamara and attempts to further denigrate and humiliate Somalis in Ethiopia.

https://addisstandard.com/news-congress-for-somali-cause-firmly-urge-pm-abiy-ahmed-to-recant-his-statement-on-karamara-victory/

News: #Tigray asks federal govt to enforce withdrawal of #Amhara forces after rally in occupied Southern Tigray

Authorities in Tigray have asked the federal government of Ethiopia to work on and enforce the withdrawal of the Amhara armed forces from the Tigray Regional State territories, after a pro-Amhara ownership demonstration was held on Sunday 18 March in Alamata town, in Southern Tigray, which is under the occupation of Amhara forces.

In a statement released through its communication bureau the regional government asked for Amhara forces to withdraw as soon as possible, and called on the African Union (AU) and the international community to take meaningful action against atrocities committed in those areas on civilians.

“Yesterday 19 March 2023, an unacceptable demonstration was held in Alamata town by transporting a large number of people from various parts of Amhara Region, especially from Guba-Lafto, Woldiya and Raya Kobo districts,” the statement underlined. https://addisstandard.com/news-tigray-asks-federal-govt-to-enforce-withdrawal-of-amhara-forces-after-rally-in-occupied-southern-tigray/

News: #konso Zone in need of urgent assistance as drought devastates thousands

Urgent attention to the people of Konso who are exposed to severe damage due to drought, requested Solomon Soka, member of the House of Representatives for Konso Nation and director general of Information Network Security Administration (INSA).

Residents in the area are subjected to severe and devastating drought and displacement caused by a natural disaster, resulting in a lack of rain, which challenged their hard work and livelihood, according to Konso Zone government communication directorate.

The area has not received sufficient precipitation for over four consecutive years.

The lack of food and fodder is killing people and animals on daily basis. The issue continues to be concerning despite the assistance being provided by the zonal safety-net development program and other partners. A month ago, regional authorities in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s (#SNNP) regional state warned that the persistent drought in the Konso zone has threatened the lives of many.

https://addisstandard.com/news-konso-zone-in-need-of-urgent-drought-assistance-as-residents-reach-devastating-condition/

News: Lawmakers from #Oromia urge #AU to “intervene and negotiate” to end conflict in Oromia, repeat call for warring parties

Ethiopian members of the national parliament who are elected from Oromia regional state, sent a letter to the African Union suggesting the continental body to “intervene and negotiate to reach an agreement” to resolve the war in Oromia that has been going on for almost five years between the Oromo Liberation Army and the Ethiopian government.

In a letter addressed to the AU, a copy of which is seen by #AddisStandard, the MPs said they would like to see a peaceful resolution between the warring parties.

Expressing their happiness over the AU brokered cessation of hostilities between the federal government and the TPLF, the lawmakers said they are “deeply saddened that [the] African Union underestimated the fighting that has claimed many lives in Oromia region of Ethiopia for more than four years.”

In a similar call addressed to the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the House of People’s Representatives (HoPR) and the Ruling Prosperity Party, the lawmakers made the call for peace end of the conflict.

https://addisstandard.com/news-lawmakers-from-oromia-urge-au-to-intervene-and-negotiate-to-end-conflict-in-oromia-repeat-call-for-warring-parties/

#NewsAlert: US determines #Ethiopian, #Eritrean and #Amhara forces committed crimes against humanity in Tigray; war crimes committed by all sides

Announcing the release of the 2022 Human Rights Report, the U.S. said it has determined that members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Eritrean Forces and Amhara forces have committed “crimes against community” in the Tigray region, whereas all sides have committed “war crimes” Ethiopia’s two years war that started in Tigray and spread to Amhara and Afar regions.

“Many of these crimes were not random, or a mere byproduct of war, they were calculated and deliberate,” Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said while announcing the report.

“After the department’s careful review of the law and the facts, I have determined that members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Eritrean Defense Forces, Tigray People’s Liberation Front forces, and Amhara forces committed war crimes during the conflict in northern Ethiopia,” Blinken said explaining that all sides have committed war crimes.

“members of the Amhara forces also committed the crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer and committed ethnic cleansing in western Tigray.”

https://addisstandard.com/newsalert-us-determines-ethiopian-eritrean-and-amhara-forces-committed-crimes-against-humanity-in-tigray-war-crimes-committed-by-all-sides/

News: #Ethiopia dismisses #US atrocities determination as “untimely”, “selective”, and “inflammatory”; says it “unfairly apportions blame”

The Ethiopian government has dismissed a report by the US State Department determining atrocities committed in Ethiopia’s two years war that started in the #Tigray region and spread to #Amhara and #Afar regions as “untimely”, “selective”, and “inflammatory”; it also rejected it saying the report “unfairly apportions blame”.

In a statement released through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia has rejected the determination as “untimely”, “selective”, and “inflammatory” and said “it unfairly apportions blame among different parties in the conflict,” and said that it “does not accept blanket condemnation.”

“For no apparent reason, the statement appears to exonerate one party from certain allegations of human rights violations such as rape and other forms of sexual violence despite the clear and overwhelming evidence about its culpability,” the Ministry further said.

It also said that the determination was “untimely” as it came “shortly after the launching of national consultations on options for a transitional justice policy. One of the pillars of transitional justice policy is accountability.”

https://addisstandard.com/news-ethiopia-dismisses-us-atrocities-determination-as-untimely-selective-and-inflammatory-says-it-unfairly-apportions-blame/

#Analysis: Amid soaring price and chronic shortage, #Ethiopia’s staple grain becomes latest political boiling point

By Natnael Fite

Ethiopia’s capital city Addis Abeba is hit by unprecedented price hike coupled with chronic shortage of Teff, Ethiopia’s staple grain. But for political actors and activists supporting and opposing the ruling Prosperity Party (PP), the issue is not a mere supply-demand market malfunction. Critiques of the ruling Oromo Prosperity Party have overcrowded several media outlets crying foul about Amhara Teff farmers and traders being “systematically sidelined” from the market system in Addis Abeba, whereas officials of the ruling party itself blame “economic sabotage” for the crisis.

In the midst of the heated debate is the undeniably soaring price of Teff that has seen significant rise over the past few weeks alone. A quintal of Teff, which was sold between 5,000 to 5,500 birr two weeks ago is now traded between 8,000 to 10,000 birr in the capital Addis Abeba, sending residents in frantic search for the grain which is mainly used make Injera, the pancake like flatbread staple food among majority of Ethiopians.

A must read analysis

https://addisstandard.com/analysis-amid-soaring-price-and-chronic-shortage-ethiopias-staple-grain-became-latest-political-boiling-point/

Report: 43,000 died in 2022 #Somalia droughts

Droughts in Somalia may have killed an estimated 43,000 people last year, a new report by the Somali government and United Nations said.

The report released Monday said half of the drought-related deaths may have occurred among children under the age of 5.

The highest death rates were estimated to have occurred in south central Somalia, including the Bay, Bakool and Banadir regions — the current epicenter of the drought according to the report — which presents retrospective estimates of mortality across Somalia from January to December 2022.

https://www.voanews.com/a/report-43-000-died-in-2022-somalia-droughts-/7013766.html

#Somaliland- #Ethiopia: president receives diplomatic credentials from new Ethiopian Ambassador

Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi, yesterday at the Presidential Complex, received the credentials of the new Ambassador of the Federal Government of Ethiopia to the Republic of Somaliland, Amb. Delil Kedir Bushra.

Prior to the start, President Bihi gave a warm welcome to the Ethiopian Ambassador, as it is his first time in the Republic of Somaliland. During the meeting, they also discussed strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries and cooperating on security issues in the Horn of Africa.

https://www.horndiplomat.com/2023/03/21/somaliland-president-receives-diplomatic-credentials-from-new-ethiopian-ambassador/

News: Senior Karrayyu Gadaa leader and survivor of 2021 massacre gunned down in latest clashes, residents suffering persistent violence, drought

Hawas Mato Borra, a senior member of the Karrayyu Michile Gadaa leaders in the #Fantaalle district of East Shoa zone, in #Oromia regional state, has been gunned down in the latest clashes last week, residents told Addis Standard.

Abba Gadaa Hawas was the last remaining survivor of the massacre of 14 Gadaa leaders, who were executed by members of the Oromia regional state police in December 2021.

A resident who asked to be anonymous for safety reasons told Addis Standard Hawas Mato Borra, in his early fifties, was shot by armed groups he described as #Amhara militants on 12 March and died of his injuries two days later.

According to the resident, Hawas was herding cattle at a place called Kaarra, the same place from where the deceased Abba Gadaas were captured, when gunmen from the neighboring Amhara region launched an attack. https://addisstandard.com/news-senior-karrayyu-gadaa-leader-survivor-of-2021-massacre-gunned-down-in-latest-clashes-residents-suffering-persistent-violence-drought/

#NewsAlert: Ethiopian Parliament de-lists #TPLF from terrorist designation

Members of the Ethiopian House of Peoples Representatives (#HoPR) today de-listed the terrorist designation. The Parliament approved the decision “by majority vote.”

On May 05 2021 that members of the HoPR designated the TPLF, along with and “Shene” (a term the government uses to refer to the armed group Oromo Liberation Army – OLA), as terrorist groups citing Articles 18 and 19 of Proclamation No. 1176/2020 on the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Crimes. The Parliament’s decision followed an earlier decision on May 01 by the Council of Ministers that approved the resolution to designate the groups as terrorist organizations.

But the de-listing became one of the key points included in the AU brokered agreement for Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) signed between the federal government and representatives of the TPLF on November 02 last year. The agreement stipulates that as part of the implementation of the CoHA the federal government should “facilitate the lifting of the terrorist designation of the TPLF by the House of People’s Representatives.”

Today’s decision to lift the designation came just days after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken paid an official visit to Ethiopia to push for the full implementation of the agreement. https://addisstandard.com/newsalert-ethiopian-parliament-de-lists-tplf-from-terrorist-designation/

The April 2023 Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable: Time for meaningful debt restructuring

By David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group

"#Ethiopia’s implementation of the peace agreement creates an opportunity for the international community to support much-needed economic reforms. Another important step is a prompt agreement with the IMF. This could help to unlock an agreement under the Common Framework which will put the country back on a path of debt sustainability."

https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/april-2023-global-sovereign-debt-roundtable-time-meaningful-debt-restructuring?cid=SHR_BlogSiteShare_EN_EXT

News: As hundreds of thousands flee #Somalia to #Ethiopia, #UN, partners appeal for $116 m urgent funding

Since hostilities erupted last month in the city of #Laascaanood, in the #Sool region, Somalia, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced within Somalia and close to 100,000 are estimated to have crossed the border into Ethiopia to escape violence.

Most of the new arrivals in Ethiopia are women, children, older people and people with specific needs, who arrive with nothing, scared and hungry. Among them are a high number of unaccompanied and separated children, which heightens protection concerns.

The humanitarian situation on the ground is dire, with moderate acute malnutrition observed in many children under five and in pregnant and nursing mothers. There is a high risk of disease outbreaks with worrying reports of measles cases in the area.

“The #Ethiopian Government and local communities have generously welcomed the refugees, extending any help they can, but with the continuing arrivals, resources are already severely overstretched,” said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, UNHCR’s Regional Director https://addisstandard.com/news-as-hundreds-of-thousands-flee-somalia-to-ethiopia-un-partners-appeal-for-116-m-urgent-funding/