#Israel-#Hamas war: Mixed feelings for #Gaza residents as truce starts

#Key_updates:

*Much-needed humanitarian aid begins entering Gaza from #Egypt

*Truce brings relief for families of 13 women, children to be freed from Gaza

*After seven weeks of war, Palestinians in bombarded Gaza welcome first truce agreed by Hamas and Israel with mixed feelings.

*Under the #Qatar-mediated deal for a four-day pause, 39 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and 13 captives in Gaza expected to be released in the coming hours, with aid trucks also crossing into Gaza.

*Gaza endures another night of heavy bombardment from air, land, and sea ahead of the start of the truce, while Israeli military raids continue across the occupied West Bank.

*More than 14,800 people killed in Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll from Hamas’s attacks stands at about 1,200. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/11/24/israel-hamas-war-live-israel-continues-gaza-attacks-ahead-of-truce

In-depth: Between Amity and Enmity: Teetering Ethio-Eritrea relations mount tension in the Horn

Tensions are mounting in the Horn of #Africa, with reports of increased troop movements and aircraft activity near the borders of #Ethiopia and #Eritrea. This has raised concerns over the possibility of a resurgence of hostilities in the area. The relationship between the two countries has experienced a significant transformation over the past few years, from animosity to cooperation.

The signing of the Declaration of Peace and Friendship Agreement in July 2018 marked a significant milestone in the relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea, as it put an end to their long-standing hostilities and ushered in a new era of peace. However, the peaceful relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia have ended following the #Pretoria Peace Agreement, sparking renewed risk of conflict. The exclusion of key parties involved in the #Tigray war has led to dissatisfaction and strained relations. Eritrea's refusal to withdraw troops from Tigray, fearing a TPLF resurgence, has further complicated the situation.

International affairs experts stress that the recent statement made by Prime Minister Abiy, expressing the desire for direct access to the #Red_Sea, has deteriorated the already strained relationship between the two countries. Reports suggest that both countries seem to be gearing up for a possible conflict, causing anxieties among regional players, foreign diplomats, and analysts.

https://addisstandard.com/between-amity-and-enmity-teetering-ethiopia-eritrea-relations-mount-tension-in-the-horn/

#Ethiopia: Global Oromo Interfaith Council urges resumption of peace talks in Ethiopia amidst stalled negotiations

The Global Oromo Interfaith Council (#GOIC) has called on the Ethiopian government and the Oromo Liberation Army (#OLA) to resume peace negotiations. The council expressed disappointment that recent talks in Tanzania did not yield results and encouraged both sides to persist in dialogue for the well-being of their people.

The #Dar_es_Salaam talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict in #Oromia stalled after two weeks due to disagreements over substantive issues.

GOIC stressed the critical importance of leveraging rational and constructive dialogue for peace during this pivotal moment in Ethiopia’s history.

https://addisstandard.com/news-global-oromo-interfaith-council-urges-resumption-of-peace-talks-in-ethiopia-amidst-stalled-negotiations/

#Ethiopia’s renewable energy sector hit by range of issues

Renewable energy academic Seife Ayele has identified several challenges facing the Ethiopian government's efforts to procure non-hydropower renewable energy projects. These issues include poor planning, unrealistic projects, and a lack of knowledge and expertise within the government and private sector. Seife's research, conducted with three other academics, found that the government's ambitious projects have not been successful, with several renewable energy projects failing to reach financial close.

Despite Ethiopia's abundant renewable energy resources, only half of the country's population has access to electricity. Seife suggests that fostering the domestic energy sector and implementing electricity sector reforms are necessary to address these challenges. He also believes that a "bold" green industrial policy is needed to increase the presence of solar energy in Ethiopia.

The research findings highlight the need for improvements in the Ethiopian energy sector and the importance of addressing the barriers to successful renewable energy projects. Seife's insights provide valuable information for policymakers and stakeholders working to expand access to renewable energy in Ethiopia.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/11/23/ethiopias-renewable-energy-sector-hit-by-range-of-issues/

#Ethiopia: #WHO Ethiopia and the Health Cluster are delivering the last mile in #Amhara

The World Health Organization (WHO) said it has achieved last mile delivery of 17, 8797 metric tons of emergency drug kits for over 95,000 vulnerable people conflict ravaged Amhara region.

Several organizations including the Red Cross and the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service Agency have been reporting disruption of vital medical supplies over the past weeks due to continued clashes.

WHO said emergency supplies for Cholera, Malaria and conflict related casualties’ management have been on the road for over a week and drivers never really had the certainty to reach their destination safely.

Read more: https://twitter.com/addisstandard/status/1728301875487735998

#Ethiopia's drought-stricken #Tigray region records over 40 hunger deaths

*#Irish ambassador emphasizes need for food support to internally displaced persons in war-ravaged Tigray

***
Ethiopia's northern Tigray region reported 46 deaths from hunger Thursday as it grappled with a drought.

In a statement to local media, Tigray’s Disaster Risk Management office confirmed the deaths, noting there are also reports of isolated cases in various parts of Tigray.

#Ireland’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Nicola Brennan, visited the region on Thursday, where she underscored the urgent need for humanitarian aid, particularly focusing on providing essential sustenance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have endured the brunt of the prolonged civil conflict.

"We witnessed the conditions that they are living in and the challenges that they are facing. The IDPs are in a very difficult situation because their needs are great in terms of shelter and in terms of food support," she said.

"With the IDPs in particular, their critical need at the moment is food, and that was one of their key requests. It was more food availability and distribution, and we are pleased to know food aid distribution in Tigray will begin again soon," added Brennan, who was speaking to reporters after a meeting with Tigray's interim President Getachew Reda.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/ethiopias-drought-stricken-tigray-region-records-over-40-hunger-deaths/3063215

#Ethiopia: Armed group renews commitment to negotiation amid escalating hostilities across #Oromia

The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) expressed commitment to peace and dialogue after the collapse of the second round of talks between the armed group and Ethiopian government earlier this week.

Reports of escalating hostilities including drone strikes have emerged following the conclusion of the talks without agreement.

OLA’s latest expression of commitment to peace came in the backdrop of calls for the continuation of efforts to resolve the five-year long conflict in Oromia through negotiations.

https://addisstandard.com/asdailyscoop-armed-group-renews-commitment-to-negotiation-amid-escalating-hostilities-across-oromia/

#Op-Ed: From nonviolent social movements to armed conflicts: How #Abiy’s rule pushed youths from the city to the bush in #Amhara and #Oromia

Underlying the ongoing armed insurgencies and violent conflicts both in Oromia and Amhara regions, is a wave of polarized politics caused by the incumbent PM, argues Milkessa Gemechu.


The PM systematically sidelined the democratization demands of the two most popular youth movements that ascended him to power in 2018, and chose to crackdown against the movements one after the other, forcing the youths to consider as the last resort, armed insurgency, he writes.

The author further explains how the birth of the Prosperity Party in 2019, was instrumental for PM Abiy to break the mighty alliance between the Oromo youths (Qeerroo) and Amhara youths (Fanno).

https://addisstandard.com/op-ed-from-nonviolent-social-movements-to-armed-conflicts-how-abiys-rule-pushed-youths-from-the-city-to-the-bush-in-amhara-and-oromia/

#Ethiopia grants #education opportunities for 168,000 #Refugees

The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with humanitarian and development organizations, has provided education opportunities for 168, 269 refugee students across the country.

The students have been enrolled in 65 pre-primary, 53 primary and 11 secondary schools, and upon completing 12th grade, students who scored entrance marks will be allowed to join universities, according to the Ethiopian Press Agency.

The ministry said the refugee students are attending schools near their camps with students from the host community whereas, pupils from the host community also attend schools built for refugees, which created an opportunity for them to experience language and cultural exchange, as well as foster solidarity.

Ethiopia is home to an estimated 927, 300 refugees most of whom are from Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and a few from other countries.

Photo: UNICEF
https://press.et/?p=114423

#Ethiopia: Human Bridge provides over 15 million birr worth of medical supplies to #Ataye Hospital

Local humanitarian organization, #Human_Bridge, has extended its support to Ataye Hospital in the #Amhara region by providing it with medical supplies valued at more than 15 million birr. The aid package consists of over 50 essential resources, including laboratory and ultrasound equipment.

Wesen Asafw, the manager of Ataye Hospital, acknowledged the positive impact of the recent assistance and emphasized that the facility still requires further medical supplies. Asafw appealed to potential partners to lend their support to bridge the existing gaps.

Last week, Addis Standard reported on the severity of the consequences, highlighting acute shortages of medical provisions in hospitals throughout the Amhara region.

Please follow the link to read the full article.

https://addisstandard.com/news-clashes-disrupt-vital-medical-supplies-in-amhara-region-leaving-hospitals-in-distress/

Raped during #Ethiopia’s war, survivors now rejected by their families

Shila, a survivor of sexual enslavement during Ethiopia's civil war, gave birth to a son fathered by an attacker. After three years, her husband returned, and she feared he would reject her. Like her, more than 100,000 women may have been raped during the conflict, and countless women who gave birth as a result are struggling with a hidden agony, often ostracized by their families.

A survey of over 5,000 women in #Tigray found that nearly 8% said they had been raped, with more than two-thirds reporting gang rape. Many women are rejected by their husbands and families, and some are even told by religious leaders that they were raped because God did not love them.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/26/ethiopia-tigray-rape-survivors-stigma/

Subsidiary of #Egypt-listed mining #ASCOM sells stake in #gold project in #Ethiopia for around $100 mln

APM Investment Holdings, a subsidiary of the Egyptian ASEC Company for Mining (ASCOM), sold 35 percent of its share in #Kurmuk Gold Project in Ethiopia to Allied Gold Corporation (AGC), a #Canadian company, for a total of $99.6 million, according to a bourse filing on Sunday.

The deal’s value includes issuing 11.5 million shares for APM in AGC with a total market value of $34.6 million.

AGC will also pay $65 million to APM in three installments starting on 30 September 2024.

In 2017, ASCOM, which is a private company, sold 64.46 percent of its shares in Ethiopian subsidiary APM Ethiopia to AGC for $14.5 million. https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/512921.aspx

#Ethiopia: National Movement of Amhara calls for peace talks amid ongoing conflict in #Amhara region

The National Movement of Amhara (#NaMA) has called for peace talks in the ongoing conflict in the Amhara region. The party urged the government to address the demands of the Amhara people, declare a ceasefire, and engage in inclusive negotiations involving religious leaders, elders, and scholars. NaMA also emphasized the need for an impartial investigation into human rights violations during the conflict.

The #UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (#OHCHR) reported drone strikes by Ethiopian government forces resulting in civilian deaths, raising concerns about human rights abuses. The International Crisis Group also called for peace talks to address the escalating conflict.

However, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (#ENDF) announced that some "anti-peace forces" in the Amhara region had surrendered, signaling a shift towards peace and stability. The call for peace talks continues amidst ongoing clashes and security concerns.

https://addisstandard.com/news-national-movement-of-amhara-calls-for-peace-talks-amid-ongoing-conflict-in-amhara-region/

#Ethiopia finalizes banking liberalization rules as foreign currency challenges mount

Outside investors have long eyed opportunities in Ethiopia - Africa’s second-most populous country - especially within its financial sector. Mamo Mihretu, governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, speaks with John Everington about progress on the country’s debt restructuring talks, the fight against inflation and plans to encourage foreign investment in the country.

Excerpts:

Q: Ethiopia has suffered from hard currency shortages for a while now. How are foreign currency reserves at the moment?

A: We are comfortable, and the recent announcement of debt-service suspension will help. We’re working to support export-oriented companies as well as foreign direct investment by relaxing regulations; we are also re-engaging with multiple external partners. In any case, we’re more or less current on our debt servicing obligations, and the program we’re hoping to agree with the #IMF will help even further in building up our foreign exchange reserves.

Read the full Interview here: #Ethiopia finalizes banking liberalization rules as foreign currency challenges mount

Outside investors have long eyed opportunities in Ethiopia - Africa’s second-most populous country - especially within its financial sector. Mamo Mihretu, governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, speaks with John Everington about progress on the country’s debt restructuring talks, the fight against inflation and plans to encourage foreign investment in the country.

Excerpts:

Q: Ethiopia has suffered from hard currency shortages for a while now. How are foreign currency reserves at the moment?

A: We are comfortable, and the recent announcement of debt-service suspension will help. We’re working to support export-oriented companies as well as foreign direct investment by relaxing regulations; we are also re-engaging with multiple external partners. In any case, we’re more or less current on our debt servicing obligations, and the program we’re hoping to agree with the #IMF will help even further in building up our foreign exchange reserves.

Read the full Interview here: #Ethiopia finalizes banking liberalization rules as foreign currency challenges mount

Outside investors have long eyed opportunities in Ethiopia - Africa’s second-most populous country - especially within its financial sector. Mamo Mihretu, governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, speaks with John Everington about progress on the country’s debt restructuring talks, the fight against inflation and plans to encourage foreign investment in the country.

Excerpts:

Q: Ethiopia has suffered from hard currency shortages for a while now. How are foreign currency reserves at the moment?

A: We are comfortable, and the recent announcement of debt-service suspension will help. We’re working to support export-oriented companies as well as foreign direct investment by relaxing regulations; we are also re-engaging with multiple external partners. In any case, we’re more or less current on our debt servicing obligations, and the program we’re hoping to agree with the #IMF will help even further in building up our foreign exchange reserves.

Read the full Interview here: https://www.thebanker.com/Ethiopia-finalises-banking-liberalisation-rules-as-foreign-currency-challenges-mount-1701086206