#Op_ed: Weaponized Rape in #Tigray: Call for global justice against war crimes, crimes against humanity and atrocities

In this op-ed, Batseba Seifu, a human rights advocate, sheds light on the weaponization of sexual violence during the Tigray war, emphasizing its continued prevalence despite the signing of the Pretoria peace agreement in 2022. The author highlights that the atrocities committed, including widespread sexual violence against women, girls, and men, represent a deliberate strategy aimed at inflicting maximum suffering and dismantling the social fabric of Tigrayan society. She underscores the need for justice and accountability for these crimes, which remain unaddressed.

The author draws on reports from organizations such as Physicians for Human Rights and Amnesty International, detailing the systematic use of sexual violence and its devastating impact on survivors and their communities. The op-ed highlights that over 120,000 cases of gender-based violence have been documented, though the actual figures are believed to be significantly higher. The author emphasizes that these acts are not incidental but were employed as a deliberate tactic during the war.

Batseba also points to the failure of Ethiopian national laws and international legal frameworks in addressing these atrocities. She calls for urgent action, including independent investigations, medical and psychological support for survivors, and efforts to combat the stigma associated with sexual violence.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48160

#Ethiopia: Residents of #Jimma forgo compensation for over 14,000 demolished homes, Prime Minister says

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed commended residents of Jimma city for waiving compensation after over 14,000 homes were demolished as part of the redevelopment under the "Gebeta Le'Hager" (Dine for Ethiopia) initiative. Launched in May 2019, the initiative seeks to develop major natural attractions and boost Ethiopia's tourism sector.

During an evaluation visit to Jimma, PM Abiy praised the residents, stating, "What amazed me in Jimma is that at least 14 to 15 thousand houses have been demolished. The people of Jimma did not ask for compensation." He highlighted the community's willingness to support the project despite significant personal losses.

The Prime Minister also noted that the redevelopment affected thousands of graves and mosques.

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#Ethiopia: Protesters in #Tigray's Wukro town accuse security forces of violent crackdown over opposition to Interim Admin dissolution, restructuring

Protesters in Wukro town, Tigray Regional State, accused local security forces of violently suppressing demonstrations against a call by senior Tigray military leaders to dissolve and restructure the region’s interim administration. The protests, which began on January 26, 2025, saw demonstrators split between supporting and opposing the military's decision.

Protesters opposing the decision alleged they were "brutally beaten," with three individuals reportedly injured and detained before being released the same day. Yonas Hailu, Deputy Administrator of Tigray’s Eastern Zone, confirmed the violence, stating, “Several youths were severely beaten, and three people were injured during the clashes,” while alleging that “those supporting the decision were allowed to protest freely.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48180

#Ethiopian Red Cross opens nation’s first humanitarian school

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society inaugurated the nation’s first humanitarian school on January 27, 2025, at a ceremony held at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel. The school aims to “build a just, peaceful, and inclusive society” by fostering leaders who are “grounded in creativity, research, and education.”

Abera Tola, President of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, described the school as “a memorial for the victims of the war” in #Tigray. He emphasized its broader mission, saying it seeks to address “hearts wounded by war through education” and to promote “humanity and respect for individual dignity.” The school, located in Saris Aday Abeba, offers a one-year diploma program across two semesters, with nine specialized modules developed in collaboration with universities and other institutions.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48185

#Finnish minister's #Somalia visit sparks deportation policy debate

Finnish Interior Minister Meri Rantanen visited Somalia on January 21 to discuss deportation agreements for Somali asylum seekers, a move critics say reflects the Finns Party's political priorities ahead of Finland’s April municipal and county elections. The visit included meetings with Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and Minister of Internal Security Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail, focusing on security cooperation and return arrangements.

Rantanen emphasised the importance of establishing "effective return mechanisms for Somali nationals denied residency" and highlighted Somalia’s role in regional counter-terrorism. She acknowledged the contributions of Somali security forces in stabilising the region, stating that Finland "appreciates the long-standing cooperation" with Somalia.

Finland has temporarily suspended bilateral development aid to Somalia, citing the lack of progress on deportation agreements. The Finnish government has tied future funding decisions to Somalia’s cooperation on returns, a move that has drawn criticism for politicising aid.

https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/26026-finnish-minister-s-somalia-visit-sparks-deportation-policy-debate.html

#Ethiopia: #Axum District Court orders detention of school officials for defying ruling suspending hijab ban

The Axum District Court has ordered the detention of school officials who allegedly defied its ruling suspending a ban on female Muslim students wearing hijabs. The court accused the officials of violating a legal order, which it said "undermines the court’s authority," and warned that such actions could result in "moral and human rights violations against Muslim students."

This ruling follows a 14 January 2025 court decision that suspended the controversial hijab ban, which had sparked protests among Muslim students. The case, brought by the Tigray Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, claims the schools' actions violated students' constitutional rights to education and religious freedom.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48190

#Sudan army chief visits Khartoum army headquarters, vows to defeat #RSF

Sudanese Army Chief General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan visited the army’s strategic headquarters in Khartoum for the first time since government forces reportedly broke a months-long siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Speaking to troops, Al-Burhan commended the “resilience and sacrifices” of soldiers defending the General Command, vowing to “eradicate” the RSF and pursue its fighters “in every corner of Sudan.” He also highlighted the military’s operations in cities like Omdurman, Bahri, and El Fasher, where heavy fighting has been reported in recent days.

The army announced on Friday it had lifted the RSF blockade on parts of Khartoum, claiming it was a turning point in the nearly two-year-long war. However, the RSF dismissed these claims as “propaganda” intended to bolster army morale.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250127-sudan-army-chief-visits-khartoum-army-headquarters-vows-to-defeat-rsf-paramilitary/

#Ethiopia: #Amhara Education Bureau extends student registration to March 9, cites “security concerns,” low enrollment

The Amhara Regional State Education Bureau has extended the student registration deadline for the current academic year to 09 March 2025, citing “security challenges” and lower-than-expected enrollment. Eyerus Mengistu, Deputy Head of the Bureau, explained during a review meeting in Kombolcha that the extension aims to accommodate students affected by disruptions, noting that “registration will remain open under unique circumstances” until the new deadline.

Of the 7 million students initially expected to enroll, only 2.3 million have returned to school, while over 400,000 registered students are yet to report to their respective schools. Eyerus added that “security challenges” have disrupted education across the region, leaving over 4 million children unable to register. The academic year has been extended until July, with efforts to support late-enrolling students and address critical gaps in infrastructure and resources, the bureau reported.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48195

#Ethiopia: Transport Minister calls for end to checkpoint fees, cites impact on inflation and economy

Alemu Sime, Minister of Transport and Logistics, has called for an end to fees collected at checkpoints, stating that such practices are slowing the economy and worsening inflation. He explained that these fees are added to the cost of goods, ultimately increasing prices for consumers, particularly poor urban residents and farmers. “This cost increase ultimately trickles down to poor urban residents and further burdens farmers,” he remarked.

Alemu urged communities in kebeles, cities, and districts to stop setting up checkpoints, highlighting their role in fueling inflation. “The payments you collect are adding to the problem of inflation. Understand this and refrain from establishing checkpoints,” he said.

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#Ethiopia: Twenty Karrayyu Gadaa leaders, community elders released after three weeks of detention

Twenty Karrayyu Gadaa leaders and community elders, detained and missing for 21 days, were released on Sunday, January 26, 2025, according to family members who spoke to Addis Standard. The elders, arrested in the #Fentale district, East Shewa Zone, #Oromia region, on January 6, were held at a military camp near #Awash_Arba before their release.

A relative of one of the detainees revealed they were kept in “a compound with detention facilities inside the ENDF residential area” and added, “No one had communicated with them or explained the reason for their arrest.” Another family member expressed relief, saying, “Thanks be to Waaqa [God], they returned home safely.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48200

#Somalia FM: We are under pressure to block #Egyptian troops

Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the country has faced “pressure to block Egypt” from joining the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (#AUSSOM), without specifying the source of the pressure. Speaking at a press conference, he said “many external forces” have pushed against Egypt’s involvement but reaffirmed that Somalia remains committed to its agreements.

“We have an active agreement with the Egyptian military,” Fiqi said, referring to a 2024 pact between the two countries. “It’s on this basis that they shall help us in execution of the responsibilities,” he added, without disclosing when the troops are expected to arrive. He also said Egypt has already provided weapons to the Somali National Army (SNA).

According to Fiqi, Egypt’s role will include “qualifying, restructuring, and training” the Somali National Army. Egypt had earlier declared its willingness to deploy troops, saying they would support the “brotherly nation” in addressing security challenges.

#Ethiopia has previously raised concerns about Egypt’s deployment of troops in Somalia’s security efforts, with observers linking Ethiopia’s position to tensions between the two countries over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-fm-we-are-under-pressure-to-block-egyptian-troops

#Ethiopia: Amnesty International urges action over ‘mass arbitrary detention’ in #Amhara, marks four months since arrests

Amnesty International has called for urgent international action over what it described as “a state-led campaign” of mass arbitrary detentions in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where thousands have been held “without charges for four months.” The rights group said Ethiopian forces and Amhara regional security “rounded up thousands” on September 28, 2024, transferring them to detention centers in different locations.

Marking four months since the arrests began, Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said the “international silence” on the detentions is “beyond shameful.” Amnesty urged Ethiopian authorities to “immediately release everyone who is being arbitrarily held or charge them with internationally recognized crimes.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48206

#Ethiopia to require digital ID for school registration, integration expands

Ethiopia’s digital ID system, #Fayda, will be required for school registration starting next academic year, authorities announced. The move is part of a broader effort to integrate the ID into public services under the government’s digital transformation strategy.

Yonas Alemayehu, Director General of the #Addis_Abeba Civil Registration & Resident Services Agency, said the initiative will be implemented in collaboration with schools. “Until now, registration in schools has been done essentially by presenting a child’s birth certificate,” he said, explaining that “the new plan, premised on a government ordinance, allows for children above the age of five to be enrolled and issued a biometric digital ID.” He added that “21 of the 116 districts have already been digitized.”

The expansion aligns with the government’s broader push to integrate Fayda into various sectors. Since its launch in 2022, it has been made mandatory for public servants, the tax system, government procurements, banking transactions, and domestic flights. Yodahe Zemichael, Executive Director of the Ethiopia National ID Program (NIDP), is quoted as explaining “the importance of the ID in the school milieu.”

Authorities plan to issue Fayda to 90 million people by 2030. Currently, over 11.4 million have obtained the ID, which is designed to complement the Kebele ID system by providing a more secure, centralized, and inclusive identification solution.

https://www.biometricupdate.com/202501/school-registration-adds-up-to-expanding-use-cases-of-ethiopias-digital-id

Three #Ethiopians killed in #Somalia’s #Puntland, several reportedly detained over alleged ISIS links

Three Ethiopian nationals were killed in Somalia’s Puntland region amid accusations of “links to the terrorist group Islamic State (#ISIS),” while several others have reportedly been detained, residents told Addis Standard. The violence, which began on 26 January, saw one Ethiopian killed by security forces, followed by the deaths of two others who were allegedly “beaten by the public” in Bosaso the next day. Ethiopian residents reported a surge in “arbitrary arrests, beatings, and looting” targeting Ethiopian migrants and refugees in Garowe and Bosaso.

A Puntland resident, who requested anonymity, said the killings were tied to allegations that Ethiopians were “involved with the terrorist group ISIS [known locally as Da’ish].” However, he questioned the sweeping crackdown, stating, “There may be Ethiopians involved, but punishing all Ethiopians under the pretext that a few individuals are linked to this group is not justified.” Another Ethiopian resident linked the crackdown to “growing resentment” against Ethiopians following Ethiopia’s maritime memorandum of understanding (MoU) with #Somaliland, adding that similar violence erupted after the deal was signed.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48210

#ICC to seek arrest warrants over #Sudan’s West Darfur atrocities, prosecutor says

The International Criminal Court (ICC) will seek arrest warrants for individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Sudan’s West #Darfur region, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan told the United Nations Security Council on Monday. He described an escalating pattern of violence, including mass killings, targeted attacks on civilians, and sexual violence.

Khan told the council that “criminality is accelerating in Darfur” and highlighted concerns over sexual violence. “Civilians are being targeted, women and girls are subjected to sexual violence, and entire communities are left in destruction,” he said. He characterized the situation as a “hard-edged analysis based on verified evidence.”

The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, when fighting erupted between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Darfur, which witnessed genocide and war crimes two decades ago, has once again become a focal point of violence. Khan said the current crisis bears “very clear echoes” of the violence in 2003, stating that the “same communities” are suffering under similar conditions.

https://www.euronews.com/2025/01/28/icc-to-pursue-arrest-warrants-over-atrocities-in-sudans-west-darfur-region

#Op_ed: Human Rights Under Siege: How security forces in #Oromia fuel terror, fear to control residents through lawlessness

In this op-ed, Terje Østebø, a professor at the Center for African Studies and the Department of Religion at the University of Florida, argues that the human rights situation in #Ethiopia is “not only significantly worse” than in previous years, but that the “reasons, motivations, and nature of human rights violations are new and quite unprecedented.” The op-ed states that security forces, local militias, and government-aligned institutions operate with impunity, engaging in extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and financial extortion. The author highlights a pattern of abuses reported on social media, which he asserts “confirm findings from my own recent research on human rights violations in Oromia.” The piece contends that “control is, in other words, maintained through lawlessness, and security is preserved through insecurity.”

The op-ed examines the role of Koree Nageenyaa, a security committee that, according to a Reuters investigation, is responsible for extrajudicial killings in Oromia. The author asserts that the committee is not just a regional entity but is “replicated at zonal and district levels throughout Oromia, working in parallel to institutions like the Bulchiinsaa Nageenyaa.”

The piece states that these structures allow government forces to operate beyond public scrutiny, with security officials arbitrarily labeling individuals as supporters of the Oromo Liberation Army (#OLA) as a means to extract money. According to the op-ed, enforced military connoscriptions, including of underage boys, have become widespread, with families forced to pay ransoms ranging “from 100,000 to 500,000 birr” for the release of detained children.

The op-ed concludes that the Ethiopian government has failed to maintain institutional control, allowing security forces and local militias to act with autonomy. The author argues that “corruption is what is creating this; everyone is struggling to survive,” adding that local authorities have turned taxation and law enforcement into mechanisms of extortion.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48188

Plane crash in #South_Sudan kills 20 oil workers

A small aircraft carrying oil workers crashed on takeoff from an oilfield airport in South Sudan’s Unity State on Wednesday, killing 20 people, according to Gatwech Bipal, the region’s information minister. The plane was en route to the capital, #Juba, when it went down, Bipal said.

The passengers were oil workers of the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), a consortium that includes #China National Petroleum Corporation and state-owned Nile Petroleum Corporation, he added. Among the victims were two Chinese nationals and one Indian.

President Salva Kiir stated that engineers and technical staff were among those killed and pledged a “thorough and swift investigation” into the cause of the crash. Bipal did not provide additional details on the circumstances. While initial reports put the death toll at 18, Bipal told Reuters that two survivors later died. One person survived.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/plane-crash-south-sudans-unity-state-kills-18-uns-radio-miraya-reports-2025-01-29/

#American_Airlines jet and #US Army helicopter collide, crash in Washington DC

An American Airlines flight carrying 60 passengers and four crew members crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with a military helicopter near #Washington DC’s Ronald Reagan National Airport, officials said. Emergency teams, including boats and divers, are searching for survivors.

The Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet was approaching the runway at around 21:00 EST (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday when it struck a US Army Black Hawk helicopter that had taken off from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, a defense official said. The impact caused the plane to break apart in the river. The helicopter was carrying three US Army soldiers at the time of the crash.

US President Donald Trump said he had been "fully briefed on the terrible accident," adding, "Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise."

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79d7y0l03po

#Puntland police deny killing of #Ethiopian nationals, confirm “minor” incident

Puntland police have dismissed reports that Ethiopian nationals were killed in the region, calling the claims “false.” However, they acknowledged a “minor incident” involving stone-throwing at immigrants and stated that those responsible were “in custody.”

The denial comes as Ethiopian residents in Puntland told Addis Standard that three Ethiopian nationals were killed in separate incidents, allegedly over suspected links to ISIS. Witnesses reported that one Ethiopian was killed by security forces on 26 January, while two others were “beaten by the public” and killed in Bosaso the next day.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48224