#IMF backs #Ethiopia’s tax reforms to boost revenue amid economic challenges; warns inflation could hit 25% after mid-2025

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed support for Ethiopia’s ongoing tax reforms, aimed at increasing government revenue by closing corporate tax loopholes and streamlining exemptions. In its latest country report, released on 29 January 2025, the IMF stated that the government is “finalizing a directive to streamline and eliminate tax exemptions for imported intermediate inputs for new local and foreign investments.” The report further highlighted that tax policy assessments are “progressing as planned,” with a focus on “closing gaps in the corporate income tax regime” and “streamlining the presumptive tax system for small and unincorporated businesses.”

Additionally, the IMF warned that inflation could rise to approximately 25% between mid- and late 2025 before gradually declining to single-digit levels by 2028. While headline inflation dropped to 17% in November 2024 from 19% in September, the report noted that “socio-economic conditions remain challenging,” citing “high inflation, food insecurity in certain regions, ongoing conflict, and displacement affecting millions of people.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48228

#Ethiopia: Parliament appoints Berhanu Adelo as new Chief of Ethiopian Human Rights Commission

The House of People's Representatives appointed Berhanu Adelo as Chief Commissioner of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (#EHRC) on January 30, 2025, filling the position left vacant since Daniel Bekele (PhD) stepped down in July 2024. Berhanu, who previously served as Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Director General of the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office, was also a member of parliament following the 2005 general election. He holds a law degree from the Civil Service University and a master’s in international human rights from India.

Daniel Bekele (PhD), who led EHRC since 2019, left office on July 5, 2024, upon the "completion of his tenure." His tenure saw the release of several key reports, including a 130-page National Inquiry report on systemic human rights violations. Rakeb Melese, the Deputy Commissioner, had been serving as Acting Chief Commissioner until Berhanu’s appointment.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48232

#Ethiopia: Federal Court sentences senior clergyman to 5 years in prison, 10,000 Birr fine for attempting to withdraw over $6M from #AU account

The Federal High Court Lideta Branch has sentenced Kesis Belay Mekonnen, a senior Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (#EOTC) clergyman, to five years in prison and a 10,000 Birr fine for his role in an attempted financial fraud targeting the African Union (AU). Two co-defendants, Eyasu Endale and Bereket Mulatu, received three years and three months in prison, with a 3,000 Birr fine each.

The case involved allegations that Kesis Belay Mekonnen and four others attempted to withdraw over $6 million from an AU account at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. The AU stated that “a series of Payment Transfer Orders were submitted” at its headquarters branch in #Addis_Abeba by “an individual who is not an employee of the African Union.” The court found the defendants guilty of a “coordinated and organized criminal act” and ordered their sentences to be enforced by the Addis Abeba Correctional Facility.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48238

#IMF Chief to make first visit to #Ethiopia, amid ongoing economic reforms

The Ministry of Finance announced that Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will make a two-day working visit to Ethiopia from February 8 to 9, 2025. According to the Ministry, she will hold discussions with senior Ethiopian government officials, marking her first visit to the country since taking office in 2019. Her visit comes as Ethiopia implements major macroeconomic reforms, including a shift to a market-based foreign exchange regimeand tax adjustments aimed at increasing revenue.

The Ministry stated that Georgieva's agenda includes meetings with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other high-ranking officials to review Ethiopia’s "economic development, key policy priorities, and ongoing reforms."

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48244

#Ethiopia: Muslim students at #Dilla University resume studies after agreement lifts niqab ban

Forty-four Muslim female students at Dilla University, who had been barred from campus for wearing the niqab, have resumed their studies after “an agreement reached with the university administration.” The students had been unable to access education, food, and dormitory facilities for over a week, with some seeking shelter in mosques for more than five days. However, an agreement reached on 27 January allowed them to attend classes while wearing the niqab.

Nuredin Abdelah, Chairman of the Dilla University Muslim Students Association, confirmed the development, stating that the students had been banned for about 10 days. “We tried to resolve it internally but weren’t successful,” he said. Following a statement from the Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, “they invited us for discussion,” which led to a decision for the students to return to classes on Tuesday.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48248

#Ethiopia saves $1 billion annually as wheat imports halt, state minister says

Melese Mekonen (PhD), State Minister for Agriculture and Horticulture Development, said Ethiopia has not imported wheat for the past four years, attributing it to increased domestic production. "It has been four years since we stopped importing wheat," he said, adding that with local production meeting demand, "the government has saved the $1 billion spent annually on wheat imports."

He stated that Ethiopia cultivated 3.4 million hectares of wheat using irrigation this year and plans to expand by an additional 300,000 to 500,000 hectares in autumn, targeting a total production of 340 million quintals.

According to Melese, wheat is now grown in three seasons—regular harvest, irrigation, and autumn—strengthening self-sufficiency. "With surplus production, Ethiopia began exporting wheat two years ago," he said, describing it as "significant progress in agricultural development over the past six years."

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Fact-checkers in #Ethiopia take on disinformation amid rising tensions

As tensions between Ethiopia and #Somalia heightened last year, social media platforms saw a surge in misinformation, including a video falsely claiming to show Egyptian troops training in Somalia. The footage, which garnered 34,000 views on X, was later debunked by fact-checkers who verified it was old and unrelated to current events.

The spread of false or misleading content remains a global issue, with research indicating that disinformation is used to "inflame tensions," "create confusion" and "weaken trust in institutions." However, efforts to combat misinformation face challenges, especially with Meta's recent decision to shut down certain fact-checking tools, including CrowdTangle, and its plan to phase out Facebook’s fact-checking program in the U.S.

In Ethiopia, fact-checking organizations such as HaqCheck continue their efforts to train specialists and journalists in identifying and countering misinformation. Netsanet Tesfaye, a communications expert, said he sought additional training after witnessing how "deep fake or AI-generated" content was being used to mislead the public. HaqCheck’s lead fact-checker, Kirubel Tesfaye, emphasized that social media is often used to "manipulate" speeches by government officials and spread misleading narratives related to internal conflicts and diplomatic disputes.

Fact-checkers in Ethiopia rely on various digital tools, such as reverse image searches and verification software, to assess the credibility of online content. However, with Meta discontinuing some monitoring tools, organizations like HaqCheck have had to adapt. "Now we've reverted to manual monitoring, using keywords," Kirubel said. Beyond debunking misinformation, HaqCheck also publishes fact-checked reports across different media platforms to ensure accurate information reaches the public.

https://www.voanews.com/a/fact-checkers-in-ethiopia-take-on-disinformation-amid-rising-tensions/7956133.html

#Ethiopian Medical Association reports doctors’ imprisonment over unpaid wages, calls for urgent action ahead of conference

The Ethiopian Medical Association (#EMA) has expressed concern that doctors in some regions have been imprisoned for demanding unpaid wages, warning that health professionals are working under “many pressures” while their concerns remain unresolved. In a statement ahead of its 61st Annual Medical Conference and International Health Exhibition, set for February 14–15, 2025, in #Addis_Abeba, the EMA said that despite doctors continuing their work under difficult conditions, this has been a year when “doctors have faced non-payment for their duty work,” with some even facing imprisonment for seeking their salaries.

The association also pointed to increasing unemployment among doctors and warned that some “who need urgent medical care due to various illnesses are losing their lives because they cannot receive proper treatment quickly.” While it acknowledged engaging with officials on these issues, the EMA emphasized that “given the magnitude of the problem, it still requires practical responses from many stakeholders.” The upcoming conference is expected to facilitate discussions on challenges faced by “not only doctors but all health professionals,” bringing together experts, government representatives, and over 400 medical professionals.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48260

#Puntland forces advance against #ISIS, target key strongholds

Puntland forces have launched the second phase of Operation Hilaac in the Bari region, aiming to push ISIS militants from their remaining strongholds, authorities said. The operation, which began in the Al-Miskaad mountains, has led to the capture of Turmasaale, a location described as strategic.

Ahmed Abdullahi Sheikh, a brigadier general and former Somali military commander, said the loss of Turmasaale was a setback for ISIS as it served as a supply route. “This is where they were coordinating both attacks… but also getting their resupply,” he said. He noted that both sides suffered casualties.

Said Abdullahi Deni, President of Puntland, announced the new phase of the offensive after what he called significant gains in the first phase, including the capture of several areas and key bases. Local troops are now targeting Dhaadaar village, described as a major ISIS stronghold in the region.

https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/puntland/somalia-puntland-forces-shall-defeat-isis-militants-army-officer

#Op_ed: #Ethiopia’s High-Stakes Game: Navigating fragility amid #Somalia’s diplomatic maneuvers, #Egypt’s military presence

In this op-ed, Mohamud A. Ahmed, a columnist, political analyst, and researcher at Greenlight Advisors Group, Somali Regional State, examines Somalia’s geopolitical positioning and its implications for Ethiopia and the wider Horn of Africa. The author argues that Somalia is "at the intersection of domestic fragility and external exploitation, with its sovereignty increasingly compromised by geopolitical maneuvers from regional powers." He warns that "Somalia risks being reduced to a pawn in the Horn of Africa’s high-stakes chessboard, with far-reaching implications for Ethiopia’s stability and the region at large."

The op-ed claims that Egypt’s proposed involvement in Somalia under the guise of counterterrorism is part of a larger strategic move. The author asserts, "Egypt’s proposed involvement in the African Union Somalia Transition Mission (#AUSSOM) under the pretense of counterterrorism support cloaks a deeper, more strategic agenda." He suggests that Egypt is leveraging Somalia’s fragility to establish a presence close to Ethiopia, warning that "By embedding itself in Somalia’s fragile security architecture, Egypt seeks to establish a foothold perilously close to Ethiopia’s borders, leveraging Somalia as a potential pressure point in future confrontations."

The author addresses concerns about President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s diplomatic approach, particularly his engagement with conflicting regional powers. He writes, "Critics argue that his strategy of seeking to align with divergent, and at times conflicting, regional interests risks alienating key stakeholders, both domestically and internationally." The piece notes that this approach has led to internal divisions, particularly regarding constitutional amendments, which have been "outright rejected" by two major states within Somalia’s federal framework.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48253

#Ethiopian migrant held for ransom in #Libya released after family pays 700,000 birr ransom

Nehima Jemal, an Ethiopian migrant who was held captive and put up for a “slavery auction” in Libya, has been released after her family paid a ransom of 700,000 birr, she told the BBC. Nehima, whose photos and videos circulated on social media showing her bound and gagged, said her captors freed her two days ago after receiving the payment. “There were many people detained where I was, but only a few whose families had money paid for them were released,” she said, adding that she remains in Libya and is uncertain about her future.

Refugees in Libya, a group monitoring migrant conditions, previously reported that Nehima and others were detained in Kufra, an area under armed group control. The organization said traffickers had demanded $6,000 for her release, with her family receiving videos showing her mistreatment. Nehima’s sister, Iftu Jemal, said she left Ethiopia eight months ago, dropping out of school to migrate. “They sent us photos and videos showing her being tortured,” Iftu said, adding that Nehima had warned them, “They will kill me if you don’t send money.” Despite her ordeal, Nehima does not plan to return home but warned others against taking the journey. "There is sickness on the road, there is death. Many of my friends died on the way."

https://addisstandard.com/?p=48273

#Ethiopia: "Various forms of evidence can be used to prove asset legality"- Hanna Arayaselassie, Minister of Justice

Hanna Arayaselassie, Minister of Justice, has stated that courts—not the executive branch—will have the authority to decide asset recovery cases under the newly approved proclamation, which grants the government the power to seize assets acquired through undeclared income.

"The proclamation allows for various forms of proof," Hanna said, explaining that testimonies and other supporting evidence could be used to establish legitimacy. She added that the law "ensures judicial oversight" and seeks to resolve previous legal ambiguities while upholding constitutional property rights.

The asset recovery bill, approved by parliament on 9 January 2025, grants the government the power to seize assets acquired through undeclared income, with retroactive enforcement for up to ten years. Hanna stressed that its implementation would be handled cautiously to ensure due process.

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#Sudan’s paramilitary #RSF leader admits setbacks as army advances in #Khartoum

Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, commander of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), on Friday acknowledged battlefield losses as the army made advances in Khartoum.

In a recorded video, Hemedti urged his fighters to focus on "future gains" rather than the areas "recently retaken by the army." He told his forces not to dwell on the loss of "the General Command (in central Khartoum), the Signal Corps (in Bahri), Jili town (north of Khartoum), or Wad Madani (capital of Al-Jazira state)."

Hemedti claimed his forces could "drive the army out of Khartoum again, as they had done before." His remarks came as the army broke the RSF siege on key military sites, retook much of Bahri, and regained control of Umm Ruwaba in North Kordofan.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/sudan-s-paramilitary-rsf-leader-admits-setbacks-as-army-advances-in-khartoum/3468035