#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/

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#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

1,200 refugee children die in conflict-ridden #Sudan: #UN

More than 1,200 refugee children have died in Sudan due to a measles outbreak and malnutrition, according to the UN refugee agency. The deadly combination has affected nine camps in the White Nile state.

Over 3,100 suspected cases have been reported, along with outbreaks of cholera, dengue, and malaria in other parts of the country. Sudan has been plagued by clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April, resulting in thousands of deaths and over 5.25 million displaced people.

The UN agency has called for an end to the fighting and urgent assistance.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/1-200-refugee-children-die-in-conflict-ridden-sudan-un/2995878

#Somalia-#Ethiopia: Gov't forces and Ethiopian forces jointly kill 55 AS fighters in a counter-attack

An official of the federal govt forces operating in #Huddur district of #Bakool region said that the Ethiopian forces with the support of the Somali government forces have killed more than 55 members of the Al-Shabaab group.

The killings came after the coalition forces launched a counterattack against the al-Shabaab fighters, which attacked Ethiopian troops in the Bakool region of South West Somalia on Sunday.

Losses have been inflicted on the Ethiopian forces in an ambush by Al-Shabaab fighters on a convoy of Ethiopian troops as part of the African Union Mission in AMISOM, while they were on their way to Wajid district in Bakool region. https://mustaqbalmedia.net/en/somalia-government-forces-and-ethiopian-forces-jointly-kill-55-as-fighters-in-a-counter-attack/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=somalia-government-forces-and-ethiopian-forces-jointly-kill-55-as-fighters-in-a-counter-attack

News: #Ethiopian army says Al-Shabaab attempted attack “completely thwarted”

This is the first official statement by the Ethiopian army since reports of attacks by Al-Shabaab against Ethiopian forces over the weekend, which resulted in causalities. “Al-Shabaab planned to attack the Ethiopian Defense Forces at a place called Robdirre inside #Somalia, but the plan was completely thwarted by our defense forces,” the army said, but mentions no causalities.

According to Colonel Faysa Ayele, Al-Shabaab forces "deployed three explosive-laden vehicles and 12 explosive-armed militants, as well as more than 450 of their members, but they were destroyed by the defense forces in the area."

https://addisstandard.com/?p=37895

#Ethiopia: Rights body reports death of three people from infectious disease at detention facility

Following the outbreak of the infectious disease identified as "relapsing fever" in the detention center, which was caused by the spread of lice, 190 of the people who were at the center were taken to Tirunesh Beijing Hospital for treatment and received medical care at the hospital, EHRC said.

At times the facility holds “thousands”, in conditions the rights commission described that lack “hygiene” and “personal sanitary” as well as the proper infrastructure suitable for the intended purpose.

The lack of complete sanitary facilities and the provision of water for personal hygiene, lack of beds, mattresses and clothes, lack of enough air and sunlight in the center are some of the major problems endured by the homeless detainees, which include the elderly, children, women and disabled individuals.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=37911

Market engagement propels Ethiopian farmers to success

A new report has revealed that a market-driven approach to tackling poverty in rural #Ethiopia is proving successful. The report, noscriptd "Strengthening Agricultural Market Systems," details how the project, funded by the #Swedish International Development Agency and implemented by Farm Africa, #ORDA, and Mercy Corps, has helped smallholder farmers in the #Amhara region gain access to buyers and suppliers, resulting in thriving farming businesses.

Innovative solutions were developed to connect farmers to input and output markets, increase productivity, provide access to finance, and conserve natural resources. As a result, average net profits for some crops have increased by over 300% in just two years.

The project also addressed issues such as lack of access to farming inputs, declining yields, and ineffective output markets through various interventions. Additionally, efforts were made to provide sharia-compliant financial services and restore degraded land.

https://www.farmafrica.org/latest/news/post/1063-market-engagement-propels-ethiopian-farmers-to-success

Commentary: The cascading economic effects in #Ethiopia of the prolonged #Russia-#Ukraine crisis

With Ethiopia already having internal economic problems, the prolonged Russia/Ukraine war will negatively impact the country, writes Henok Fasil (PhD) in this commentary.

The adverse economic impacts that the conflict will have on Ethiopia are hugely related to imports.

With the war’s onset Ethiopia saw a drastic increase in the prices of sunflower oil and wheat commodities, among other imports from the warring countries.

https://addisstandard.com/commentary-the-cascading-economic-effects-in-ethiopia-of-the-prolonged-russia-ukraine-crisis/