#Breaking: Army officers say they are taking power in #Gabon

Army officers have appeared on national television in Gabon to say they have taken power.

They said they were annulling the results of Saturday's election, in which President Ali Bongo was declared the winner.

The electoral commission said Mr Bongo had won just under two-thirds of the votes in an election the opposition argued was fraudulent.
His overthrow would end his family's 53-year hold on power in Gabon.
Twelve soldiers appeared on television announcing they were cancelling the results of the election and dissolving "all the institutions of the republic".

One of the soldiers said on TV channel Gabon 24: "We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime."

This, he added, was down to "irresponsible, unpredictable governance resulting in a continuing deterioration in social cohesion that risks leading the country into chaos".
Mr Bongo came to power when his father Omar died in 2009.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66654965

Ten killed in renewed violence in #Ethiopia’s Amhara region

Fighting has flared up again in some areas in Ethiopia’s restive Amhara region after a week of relative calm, with at least 10 civilian deaths reported.

Residents in the Amhara city of #Debre_Tabor have told the BBC that fighting between local militias and government troops began over the weekend and continued until Monday morning.

According to witnesses, the city’s main hospital sustained damage after it was hit by heavy artillery. A doctor at the hospital said that at least five people who were visiting patients and more than 20 civilians, who were moving near the facility, were wounded.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-66390790

#BRICS expansion: The group is getting stronger

The 15th BRICS summit held in #South_Africa attracted great interest from the global community. During the summit, it was announced that #Argentina, #UAE, #Ethiopia, #Iran, #Egypt, and #Saudi_Arabia will join the group as full members from January 1, 2024, expanding the number of BRICS countries to 11.

Discussions on the creation of a new common currency and the reform of the international monetary system were also highlighted.

The summit showcased a clear divergence between the world represented by the West and the world represented by BRICS, with #China and #Russia as dominant poles.

https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2023/08/29/brics-expansion-the-group-is-getting-stronger/

#Ethiopia: Dashen Bank secures $40 million loan to drive agricultural exports

#Dashen_Bank has secured a $40 million loan from #British International Investment and FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank.

The loan is expected to support agricultural exports and provide access to foreign exchange.

https://addisstandard.com/news-dashen-bank-secures-40-million-loan-to-drive-agricultural-exports/

#Ethiopia: Growing number of women and girls migrating via perilous eastern route

Although the majority of those taking the Eastern Route are men, the number of women has doubled over the past two years, from 53,000 in 2021 to 106,700 in 2022.

Yasmine, a 14-year-old #Ethiopian girl, left home due to problems in her family, hoping to find a better life somewhere else. She fell victim to traffickers who held her captive in a house in #Las_Anod for more than five months, as her family could not pay the ransom to secure her release. Smugglers and traffickers frequently use force and threats to extort money from migrants in cities of transit.

Eventually, her captors grew tired of her. “They let me go when I fell ill and they could no longer use me,” she explains.

A passerby found her in the city of Burao as she was trying to return to Ethiopia by foot. He took her to a charitable organization that helps migrants in distress.

https://storyteller.iom.int/stories/growing-number-women-and-girls-migrating-perilous-eastern-route

News: #Ethiopia moves closer to securing $300 million #WB loan for rural connectivity project

The Ethiopian government has initiated a study to secure a $300 million loan from the World Bank for its "Rural Connectivity for Food Security" project.

The study is expected to be finished by March 2024, with implementation set to begin in April 2024.

The project aims to construct 108,797 kilometers of rural roads to improve market access for farmers.

https://addisstandard.com/news-ethiopia-moves-closer-to-securing-300-million-wb-loan-for-rural-connectivity-project/

The #US has called for inclusive, transparent, and credible transitional justice efforts in #Ethiopia.

During a briefing on "Anticipating Justice and Accountability Around the World" at the Foreign Press Center, the US ambassador for Global Criminal Justice, Beth Van Schaack, reiterated the US’s commitment to ensure justice for the crimes committed in #Tigray, #Amhara, and #Afar regions during the two-year war.

#Ethiopia: Police investigating tragic killing of 9-year-old girl in #Jigjiga, #Somali_region

Police in Jigjiga are investigating the brutal murder of 9-year-old Fatuma Ugaas, who was raped and hanged inside her home.

Her body was found with signs of sexual assault, and four men are in custody.

https://addisstandard.com/news-police-investigating-tragic-killing-of-9-year-old-girl-in-jigjiga-somali-region/

#Ethiopia: Fighting recommences in several cities of #Amhara region after days of normalcy

Renewed clashes in Amhara region result in multiple fatalities and injuries, with gunfire and heavy artillery reported in several cities.

Hospitals in the affected areas are facing shortages of supplies and blood reserves.

The UN expresses concerns over the escalating situation, while the command post assures a return to normalcy.

https://addisstandard.com/news-fighting-recommences-in-several-cities-of-amhara-region-after-days-of-normalcy/

Bereaved families from #Ethiopian community rally for boy killed in hit-and-run

Hundreds of protesters in #Tel_Aviv gathered to express their anger over law enforcement's handling of a hit-and-run case that resulted in the death of a young boy.

Led by members of the Ethiopian community, the protesters accused authorities of racism and leniency towards the driver.

The demonstration turned violent, with some activists breaking through police barriers and throwing projectiles.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/bereaved-families-from-ethiopian-community-rally-for-boy-killed-in-hit-and-run/

#Ethiopia- #SouthSudan is in talks with #Kenya and #Ethiopia to truck oil to the coast for export, which would mitigate the risk of depending on pipelines running through war-plagued #Sudan

The African nation relies on oil shipments to fund state coffers. South Sudan President Salva Kiir discussed the transport alternative with his Kenyan counterpart during an Aug. 19 meeting, Deputy Finance Minister Agok Makur said in an interview

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-30/south-sudan-in-talks-to-bypass-conflict-by-trucking-oil-exports

#Safaricom’s mobile money rollout in #Ethiopia marks moment for ‘last frontier’

“By the end of #September we will fully launch M-Pesa here. We have been building technology, created products, and will have M-Pesa integrated with more banks — the opportunity is massive,” Peter Ndegwa, chief executive of Safaricom said.

***
Ndegwa added that Safaricom made a bet “on the future of the country” when it secured the telecoms licence in 2021 at the peak of a brutal two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia, which ended with a peace deal in November last year.

“We knew that the political conflict had to be resolved or settled before the economic transformation was accelerated,” Ndegwa added. Since starting operations last year, the Kenya-based company has attracted more than 5mn mobile phone customers in Ethiopia. Its green billboards are almost as ubiquitous in Addis Abeba as they have been in Nairobi for the past three decades.

https://www.ft.com/content/09229ea0-aa7b-4121-b5c5-9cff60cae11f

One in four people in #Somalia have now fled their homes

Somalia's displacement crisis has hit record levels, with a quarter of the population now displaced by drought and conflict, according to Islamic Relief. Over 4.3 million people are internally displaced within Somalia, the highest figure ever recorded in the country.

The city of #Baidoa, in the southwest bay region, is one of the main centers of the displacement crisis. Vast camps encircle the city and stretch for miles. Although there are officially 740,065 people in these camps, aid workers believe the numbers could be even higher as many are unverified and unrecorded.

The drought in Somalia has killed people, livestock, and crops, leading to increased food prices and widespread destitution. As many as 43,000 people are estimated to have died in the drought last year, with half of the deaths being children under five years old. Half of Somalia's population is currently facing food insecurity, and close to 1.8 million children are suffering from malnutrition.

https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/one-in-four-people-in-somalia-have-now-fled-their-homes/#:~:text=A%20quarter%20of%20all%20people,displacement%20crisis%20hits%20record%20levels.

#Ethiopia: Police detain seven bishops spearheading “Oromia Orthodox Synod” in #Bishoftu

The police in Bishoftu have detained seven Orthodox bishops who were part of the movement to establish the "Oromia Orthodox Synod".

They were arrested along with their aides and are currently held in police custody.

https://addisstandard.com/news-police-detain-seven-bishops-spearheading-oromia-orthodox-synod-in-bishoftu/

Farmers in #Amhara region face setback as fertilizer distribution disruptions compound amidst reignited conflict

Farmers in the Amhara region are facing setbacks as over 20,000 quintals of fertilizer have been stolen amidst the escalating conflict between the government and non-state militia, Fano.

Regional authorities have grounded 81 trucks loaded with over 32,000 quintals of fertilizer to prevent further theft.

The delayed application of fertilizer is already jeopardizing the expected yield.

https://addisstandard.com/news-farmers-in-amhara-region-face-setback-as-fertilizer-distribution-disruptions-compound-amidst-reignited-conflict/

#Ethiopia: Gov’t decision resuscitates feud over city ownership, incites six-month long unrest in Southern #Oromia

The #Guji_Zone in southern #Oromia has been facing unrest for the past six months, exacerbating an already volatile security situation in the area due to conflict between the Oromo Liberation Army and government forces.

Protests ensued after the Oromia regional government announced the formation of the East #Borana_Zone, incorporating 10 districts from surrounding zones. The restructuring was intended to boost development opportunities, address security concerns, and curb corruption, but residents and officials oppose the decision, citing lack of public consultation and a top-down approach.

The protests have severely strained the local economy and pushed residents to the brink.

https://addisstandard.com/analysis-govt-decision-resuscitates-feud-over-city-ownership-incites-six-month-long-unrest-in-southern-oromia/