#NewsAlert: #UN experts warn nearly a year after ceasefire, atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, continue in #Ethiopia

“Violent confrontations are now at a near-national scale, with alarming reports of violations against civilians in the #Amhara region and on-going atrocities in #Tigray,” Othman said. “The situation in #Oromia, #Amhara and other parts of the country – including ongoing patterns of violations, entrenched impunity, and increasing securitization of the state – bear hallmarked risks of further atrocities and crimes.”

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“The need for a credible, inclusive, and meaningful process of truth, justice, reconciliation and healing has never been more urgent,” Coomaraswamy added.

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The report notes the Government of Ethiopia has failed to effectively prevent or investigate violations and has instead initiated a flawed transitional justice consultation process where victims remain overlooked. Earlier this year, the Federal Government released its draft “Ethiopia Policy Options for Transitional Justice,” launching a series of consultations on a potential domestic transitional justice process. The Commission, however, found that the process has been rushed to meet an arbitrary deadline set by the Government, and has not sufficiently engaged victims in many areas, including Ethiopian refugees living in neighboring countries.

https://addisstandard.com/newsalert-un-experts-warn-nearly-a-year-after-ceasefire-atrocities-including-war-crimes-and-crimes-against-humanity-continue-in-ethiopia/

#NewsAlert- #Ethiopia

“While the signing of the agreement may have mostly silenced the guns, it has not resolved the conflict in the north of the country, in particular in #Tigray, nor has it brought about any comprehensive peace,” International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia Chair Mohamed Chande Othman said. “The situation in #Ethiopia remains extremely grave.”

“Violent confrontations are now at a near-national scale, with alarming reports of violations against civilians in the #Amhara region and on-going atrocities in #Tigray,” Othman said. “The situation in #Oromia, Amhara and other parts of the country – including ongoing patterns of violations, entrenched impunity, and increasing securitization of the state – bear hallmarked risks of further atrocities and crimes.”

Video: The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on #Ethiopia

Comments by Commission member Radhika Coomaraswamy and Commission Chair Mohamed Chande Othman on:

*The dangers of #atrocity crimes recurrence in Ethiopia

*#Impunity being directly related to the recurrence of atrocity crimes and of the primary drivers of the conflicts; and

*A warning to the international community on why they "should be wary" of the concept of quasi-voluntary compliance, to investigate atrocities because “nothing is really occurring at the domestic level” and therefore the risk factor for atrocity crimes to reoccur.

#Ethiopia - #UNESCO grants world heritage status to Bale Mountains National Park, Gedeo Cultural Landscape

Bale Mountains National Park has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site today, becoming the second Ethiopian natural heritage site to receive the designation following the Semien Mountains National Park.

Earlier, the innoscription of the Gedeo Cultural Landscape to the World Heritage list was announced at the ongoing session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ethiopia has now 11 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 9 cultural and two natural.

https://addisstandard.com/asdailyscoop-unesco-grants-world-heritage-status-to-bale-mountains-national-park-gedeo-cultural-landscape/

#Ethiopia: European Investment Bank gives #WHO €1 million to assist primary healthcare system in Ethiopia

Earlier this year, President of the European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer, joined Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO alongside the European Commission and fellow heads of multilateral development banks to launch a new health impact platform to improve health system resilience with a focus on primary healthcare in Sub-Saharan African countries.

Leyla Traoré, the Head of the EIB Representative Office in Ethiopia said that access to quality healthcare is very important to a fast-growing economy like Ethiopia’s because it reduces the disease burden and improves health outcomes. This in turn leads to increased productivity and economic growth of the nation.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=37863

EEP confirms 25 MW at Aluto Langano geothermal project in #Ethiopia

State-owned Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) has announced the successful completion of drilling and testing on six out of ten planned wells at the #Aluto_Langano geothermal project. According to officials, the remaining four wells will be tested by December 2023. Additionally, a deal has been made with the World Bank to dig four more wells, and the entire project is expected to be fully completed by September 2024.

The project has faced some delays since drilling commenced in 2021. Ethiopian Electric Power has confirmed the production of approximately 25 MW of power from the six wells that have been drilled and tested thus far. The estimated overall investment for this project is $143 million, with $24 million of funding provided through grants and loans from the World Bank.

The Aluto Langano site was previously a geothermal power plant that has been non-operational for several years. However, this new project aims to generate 70 MW of electricity in two phases. The first phase is currently in development and the second phase is set to commence later.

https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/eep-confirms-25-mw-at-aluto-langano-geothermal-project-in-ethiopia/

#UN experts: conflict in #Ethiopia left over 10,000 survivors of sexual violence

Despite a peace accord signed almost a year ago, experts backed by the U.N. have found that war crimes in Ethiopia continue, particularly in the northern #Tigray region. The violence has resulted in at least 10,000 cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence, predominantly impacting women and girls.

These human rights experts have also warned that the violence could spread further, leading to more "atrocity crimes" and jeopardizing security across East #Africa.

The uncertain future of the investigating team comes as the U.N. human rights council will decide in the coming weeks whether to extend their mandate.

https://www.voanews.com/a/un-experts-conflict-in-ethiopia-left-over-10-000-survivors-of-sexual-violence-/7273726.html

#EU temporarily holds back food aid in #Somalia after #UN finds widespread theft

The European Union (EU) has temporarily halted funding for the World Food Programme (WFP) in Somalia following a UN investigation that revealed widespread theft and misuse of aid. Last year, the European Commission provided over $7 million in aid to the WFP’s operations in Somalia, though this is a fraction of the $1 billion in donations that the #WFP received. It is uncertain if any EU member states will also suspend aid.

The decision to suspend aid was made after the UN investigation found that landowners, local authorities, security forces, and humanitarian workers were involved in stealing aid intended for vulnerable individuals. The aid will be restored once the WFP meets certain conditions, such as vetting partners on the ground.

The EU is actively working with the WFP to address these issues but has not suspended aid at this stage. The US is the largest humanitarian donor in Somalia, contributing over half of the $2.2 billion in funding for the humanitarian response last year. The WFP and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) suspended food aid to neighboring Ethiopia’s #Tigray region three months ago due to widespread diversion of donations.

https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-temporarily-holds-back-food-aid-somalia-after-un-records-widespread-theft-2023-09-18/#:~:text=UNITED%20NATIONS%2FNAIROBI%2FGENEVA%2C,aid%20meant%20to%20avert%20famine.

Op-ed: The quest for regional nation-statehood in #Ethiopia’s defunct #SNNP Region: The gap between constitutional principles and praxis

The idea of restructuring the reminders of the SNNP into South West Ethiopia, Southern Ethiopia, and Central Ethiopia regions was engineered by the central PP authorities against the constitutional demands of national groups. From naming the nomenclatures of these regions to the implementations, it is a typical geographic cluster administration determined in a top-down process, writes Milkessa.

At the center of the nationalities' questions to establish national-regional states are the issues of official language, national identity survival, representation and political autonomy, cultural freedom and preservation, access to federal resources and socio-economic development (related to budgets sharing), and others—in short, self-determination.

https://addisstandard.com/op-ed-the-quest-for-regional-nation-statehood-in-ethiopias-defunct-snnp-region-the-gap-between-constitutional-principles-and-praxis/

#Ethiopia: #Gilat secures contract from #Ethio_Telecom of Ethiopia

SkyEdge II-c and hundreds of Gilat’s VSATs to enable enhanced satellite-based 4G cellular backhaul capabilities and enterprise communications.

Gilat Satellite Networks has received a contract for satellite network modernisation at Ethio Telecom of Ethiopia.

Gilat’s SkyEdge II-c with hundreds of Capricorn and Gemini VSATs will be used to enable enhanced satellite-based 4G cellular backhaul capabilities and enterprise communications for remote regions of the country.

Yossi Gal, Vice President of Regional Sales at Gilat, added: “We’re proud to be working with Ethio Telecom, one of Africa’s most innovative pioneering telecom companies. We value our long partnership with Ethio Telecom and are happy to be working with them, with the latest in satellite communications technology, to enable the highest levels of connectivity all across the nation.” https://satelliteprome.com/news/gilat-secures-contract-from-ethio-telecom-of-ethiopia/

News: Floods displace thousands in #Gambella, regional gov’t calls for relief

Thousands displaced as heavy flooding in #Ethiopia's Gambella region causes extensive property damage.

Overflowing rivers impact nine districts, prompting calls for government and NGO support.

Last year, 79,631 people were affected by flooding in the area.

https://addisstandard.com/news-floods-displace-thousands-in-gambella-regional-govt-calls-for-relief/

Meet Ezedin Kamil:

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Watch his journey unfold.

#Ethiopia’s Credit Risk Ratchets Higher After #Moody’s Downgrade

*Country’s sovereign risk premium has reached record levels

*Moody’s expects losses for Ethiopia private sector creditors

Ethiopia’s sovereign-risk premium has hit a record high after last week’s downgrade deeper into #junk by #Moody’s Investors Service.

The extra yield investors demand to own Ethiopia’s dollar debt has widened to a spread of 4,089 basis points over Treasuries, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. data. The spread had narrowed at the start of the year. Bonds trading with a spread of more than 1,000 basis points are viewed as distressed by credit markets.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-19/ethiopia-s-credit-risk-ratchets-higher-after-moody-s-downgrade?utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-africa&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=africa#xj4y7vzkg

#Ethiopia makes Fayda the main credential for civil servants

Ethiopia’s National Identity Program (NIDP) has partnered with the country’s Federal Civil Service Commission to introduce the Fayda Digital ID as the main identification credential for all civil servants. The move aims to bring innovation, transparency, and security to the management of human resources within the civil service.

By using the digital ID as the primary proof of identification, administrative processes will be expedited, eliminating red tape, time wastage, and potential financial costs. Civil servants in Addis Abeba are currently being called upon to enroll for the digital ID at banks or NIDP registration centers.

This partnership is considered a monumental step in Ethiopia’s digital transformation efforts and underscores the government’s commitment to creating an efficient civil service. Other African countries such as Equatorial Guinea and Ghana have also made biometric digital ID compulsory in the fight against civil service fraud.

https://www.biometricupdate.com/202309/ethiopia-makes-fayda-the-main-credential-for-civil-servants

Turkana, Ethiopian communities make peace after feud over theft of guns

Members of the #Turkana community and the #Nyangatom community in #Ethiopia have resolved their recent dispute over stolen guns and have pledged to maintain peace. Tensions began when a gun belonging to a Kenyan National Police Reservist went missing, followed by the theft of a gun belonging to a herder from Nyangatom. However, police officers from both countries held a meeting at the border, urging residents to embrace peace.

The two communities responded by promising to live peacefully and protect their harmonious relationship. In 2009, an attack along the #Kenya-Ethiopia border resulted in the deaths of over 40 individuals, but the communities made peace after that incident.

Dialogue and cooperation between community elders and authorities are ongoing to ease tensions. Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai has invited the Nyangatom community to the forthcoming Turkana cultural festival, aiming to further strengthen peace between the two communities.

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/north-eastern/article/2001481821/turkana-ethiopian-communities-make-peace-after-feud-over-theft-of-guns