#Ethiopia: Ethiopia's #Digital ID Users Reach 15 Million

The number of citizens registered under #Ethiopia's #Digital #ID, Fayda, has reached 15 million, according to Yodahe Zemichael, Executive Director of the National ID Program.

He made the announcement during an opening speech at the #ID4Africa 2025 Annual Meeting currently taking place in #Addis_Abeba. He stated that the successful implementation of Fayda is not just about the numbers but also marks a critical milestone in building #Ethiopia’s digital infrastructure, which is essential for the country’s digital transformation journey.


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#Oromia, #Tigray regions Health Associations urge swift response to health workers’ demands amid ongoing strike

As the strike launched by health professionals enters its second week, health associations in the #Tigray and #Oromia regions have called for an immediate response to the demands raised by medical workers.

In a letter dated 18 May, 2025, the #Tigray Medical Association informed the Ministry of Health that while health professionals have long endured “numerous challenges,” the situation has now “exceeded their capacity to cope,” prompting them to raise their concerns at the national level.

The association criticized the government for failing to give appropriate attention and timely responses to the demands and rights of health professionals. Instead, it stated, “authorities in some parts of the country have responded with unjustified measures and pressure against those voicing concerns.”

Similarly, the #Oromia Physician Association, in a statement released on 19 May 2025, stressed the importance of “depoliticizing” the healthcare system, urging that it be organized based on inclusivity, professionalism, and modern standards. It also condemned the growing “political influence” over healthcare delivery.

The association’s statement warned that while the country’s economy may be struggling to meet all financial demands, it must at least guarantee healthcare professionals “a decent standard of living, ensuring they are not underfed, homeless, or deprived of medical care themselves.”

https://addisstandard.com/oromia-tigray-regions-health-associations-urge-swift-response-to-health-workers-demands-amid-ongoing-strike/

#US judge indicates deportations to #South_Sudan likely violated court order

A U.S. federal judge has said that reported deportations to South Sudan carried out by the Trump administration “may be contempt” of an existing court order that barred such removals. The comment came during a virtual hearing on Tuesday in Boston, where U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy asked government lawyers to account for migrants reportedly placed on a flight to South Sudan.

“Based on what I have been told, this seems like it may be contempt,” Murphy told Elianis Perez, a lawyer representing the U.S. Department of Justice. The judge indicated he could order the flight to return, pending confirmation of the migrants’ whereabouts.

Murphy had issued a preliminary injunction on April 18 prohibiting the deportation of migrants to countries that are not their own, including South Sudan. He said the migrants should have been given “an opportunity to explain why such a deportation will likely result in their persecution, torture, and/or death,” referencing their right to due process under the Fifth Amendment.

The emergency motion, filed by lawyers representing the deported individuals, alleged that a migrant from Myanmar—identified only as N.M.—was abruptly removed and put on a flight to South Sudan without access to translation or legal counsel.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/20/us-judge-indicates-deportations-to-south-sudan-likely-violated-court-order

#Somaliland and #Ethiopia hold high-level border security talks in Gabiley

Somaliland and Ethiopia held a high-level bilateral security meeting in the border city of Gabiley, aimed at strengthening regional stability, deepening cooperation, and enhancing joint security efforts along their shared frontier.

The meeting was led by senior officials from both sides. Representing Somaliland were Brigadier General Nimcaan Yusuf Gaaxnuug, Commander of the Somaliland National Army, and Brigadier General Abdirahman Abdillahi Hassan, Chief of the Somaliland Police Force, alongside senior military and police officers.

The Ethiopian delegation included Major General Tesfaye Ayelaw, the head of deployment for Ethiopia's national defense forces; General Abdi Ali Siyad, Commander of the Somali Regional State Police (DDS); Brigadier General Fiqadhu Sagaye..

https://www.horndiplomat.com/2025/05/somaliland-and-ethiopia-hold-high-level-border-security-talks-in-gabiley/

#Ethiopia: #AU rights body hears case accusing Ethiopian gov’t of ‘widespread’ rights violations during, after #Tigray war

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) on 14 May held a public hearing in a case brought by Legal Action Worldwide (#LAW) and partners, accusing the Ethiopian government of committing what they described as “widespread human rights violations” during the war in Tigray. LAW and its partners further claimed that these violations “have persisted” despite the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (#COHA) in November 2022.

In a statement issued after the hearing, LAW said the session marked “growing international recognition” of alleged grave abuses, including “mass killings and sexual violence,” along with forced displacement, famine, and a prolonged communication blackout. The organization said the hearing provided a platform where “survivors’ voices were finally heard on an international stage.”

The case follows a 2022 submission led by LAW, together with the Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU) and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, representing survivors of the war that began in November 2020. The statement recalled that the ACHPR had issued provisional measures in October 2022, urging the Ethiopian government to “cease extrajudicial killing, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and targeting of humanitarian aid workers,” but claimed “Ethiopia has so far failed to comply,” with abuses reportedly continuing “even after the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA).”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50312

#Sudan rebels entirely pushed out of #Khartoum state, army says

Sudan’s army said it has “completely” expelled the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (#RSF) from Khartoum state, marking what it described as a significant military gain in the nearly two-year war. In a statement carried by the state-run Sudan News Agency, the military claimed “Khartoum State is completely free of rebels.” The announcement follows the army's earlier recapture of Khartoum city, including the presidential palace.

Despite the military's claim, fighting was reported Tuesday in Omdurman, a major city within Khartoum state, raising questions about the extent of army control. On Monday, the military said it had launched a “large-scale offensive” in Omdurman, according to AFP. The RSF has not responded publicly to the army’s latest claims.

The conflict has displaced Sudan’s political centre, with military leadership relocating to Port Sudan after the RSF seized much of the capital. Though previously considered relatively secure, Port Sudan came under drone attack earlier this month, which the army blamed on the RSF.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwynn0vy3n4o

#Ethiopia: State Minister warns striking health professionals; says holding license may be “difficult” if they fail to return to work

Dereje Duguma, State Minister of Health, issued a warning on national television on Tuesday to health professionals engaged in an ongoing nationwide strike, cautioning that “it will be difficult for them to continue holding their professional licenses” unless they return to work.

Dereje said health services should not be interrupted “even for a second,” and cited international standards, national laws, and professional ethics. He said the Ministry had received reports that, in some facilities, professionals had “left patients in emergency departments” and “abandoned mothers in labor,” calling it “a mistake that should never happen.”

He noted that “some professionals have returned” after consultations, but said “many, especially residents and those in training,” remain absent.

Watch!

News: #Ethiopia Rights Commission cautions responses to healthcare workers’ trikes ‘must not lead to rights violations’, urges dialogue

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) cautioned that that responses to the ongoing nationwide walkouts, launched after the government failed to respond to a 12-point demand submitted on 11 April, “must not lead to human rights violations” and urged dialogue to resolve the situation.

EHRC Chief Commissioner Berhanu Adelo underscored the dual challenge posed by the strike: “Strikes in the health sector can negatively impact the community’s right to health and life. However, any administrative or legal action taken in response must comply with human rights standards.”

The situation highlights the urgent need for a prompt and appropriate resolution, the Commission said adding that it is currently monitoring the actions taken by both the government and healthcare professionals following the expiration of the 30-day deadline set by medical professionals.

Since then, a widespread strike has unfolded. Government responses to the healthcare workers have varied, ranging from arrests and intimidation to forced evictions from university dormitories in multiple locations, according to reports by Addis Standard.

Despite these mounting evidence however, government messaging has been either dismissive or threatening. On Monday, Health Minister Dr. Mekdes Daba claimed that healthcare services were “continuing without interruption,” while on Tuesday, State Minister Dereje Duguma threatened the striking professionals with “license revocation.”

At key hospitals like Black Lion and Menelik II in the capital Addis Abeba, services remain severely affected, with ICU patients lacking adequate care. Medical associations in Tigray and Oromia have condemned the government’s stance, calling for the immediate release of detained colleagues, protection of the right to protest, and systemic reform.

The EHRC is now urging dialogue and accountability, warning that repression is not a viable substitute for engagement.

https://addisstandard.com/ethiopia-rights-commission-confirms-reports-of-intimidation-arrests-after-healthcare-workers-stage-widespread-strikes-urges-dialogue/

#Ethiopia: Dr. Mahlet, eight others charged with “inciting riot and unrest” amid ongoing nationwide health workers’ strike

Authorities have charged nine individuals, including anatomic pathologist Dr. Mahlet Gush, with “inciting riot and unrest” and “collaborating with anti-peace forces,” in connection with the ongoing nationwide strike by health professionals. Dr. Mahlet was taken from her residence in Addis Abeba by individuals identified by her family as “one in Addis Abeba Police uniform and four in civilian clothes” without a court summons on Monday, 19 May.

A family member who spoke to Addis Standard on condition of anonymity said “only the housemaid was at home” when security personnel entered the Bashawelde Condominium unit around 11:00 a.m. The individual stated that “they took her two mobile phones immediately,” and that her “whereabouts remained unknown for several hours.” The family eventually located her at the Addis Abeba Police Commission, where officers reportedly requested “food and warm clothing.” A subsequent search of her home resulted in the seizure of “two of her personal laptops.”

Dr. Mahlet appeared before the Federal High Court, Arada Division, on Wednesday, 21 May, alongside eight co-defendants. Prosecutors filed charges that included “inciting riot and unrest” and causing patient deaths due to a “work stoppage strike.” However, her family rejected the allegation, stating that “Dr. Mahlet has not been working at Vision, the private clinic where she was previously employed, for one year and eight months,” and since giving birth “she has not been engaged in clinical activities.”

Dr. Mahlet’s arrest followed her interview with BBC Focus on Africa, in which she commented on the challenges facing Ethiopia’s healthcare system and the context behind the ongoing strike. She said, “There is an insufficient resource health system in our country.” She also noted that health workers are struggling to meet basic needs, citing difficulties with “housing rental payment and transportation.” She described the strike as “a spontaneous occurrence” and said salaries had not kept up with rising costs, making it difficult to “afford to live like this anymore.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50324

Top al-Shabaab leader among 45 terrorists killed in military operations in #Somalia

Somali security forces have killed 45 members of the al-Shabaab armed group during coordinated operations in the Hiran and Lower Shabelle regions, according to a statement issued by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (#NISA) on Wednesday. Among those killed was a senior operative accused of orchestrating mortar attacks in Mogadishu since 2023.

In its statement, NISA said six airstrikes were conducted from Tuesday afternoon to early Wednesday in the El-Hareeri area of Hiran, killing 45 “Khawarij fighters, including both leaders and militiamen.” The Somali government uses the term “Khawarij” to refer to al-Shabaab, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Ahmed Mohamud, a security official in the region, told Anadolu over the phone that intelligence services “used unmanned aerial vehicles to strike a location where the group and its top operatives were hiding.”

NISA said those killed included al-Shabaab’s “top leader, who has been responsible for mortar attacks in Mogadishu since 2023.” He was killed “during a planned operation near Sabib in the Lower Shabelle region.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/top-al-shabaab-leader-among-45-terrorists-killed-in-military-operations-in-somalia/3575343

#Ethiopia, #South_Sudan military officials pledge joint efforts against ‘illegal elements’ in border areas

Senior military officials from Ethiopia and South Sudan have reiterated their commitment to joint security efforts along their shared border, targeting what they described as “illegal elements,” including contraband networks. The agreement was reached during a bilateral consultation forum held in Pagak, a border area between Ethiopia’s Gambella region and South Sudan.

Lieutenant General Zewdu Belay, Chief of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (#ENDF) Central Command, was quoted by state media as saying that joint measures are being taken to “strengthen peace and security” in the border zone, with a particular focus on “preventing contraband activities” and promoting “community cooperation.” He also emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to “ensure lasting peace” and maintain “the long-standing brotherhood” between the two nations.

Brigadier General Wal Ding of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) Pagak Command stated that the security relationship between the two countries “spans many years,” and stressed that their defense forces would “work in cooperation” to preserve what he called “joint peace.” Forum participants also reportedly underscored the need to “jointly prevent illegal elements” and “hold lawbreakers legally accountable.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50355

#Op_ed: Gender Equality on Trial: How #Ethiopia’s law schools stumble over inclusion as recent moot court misstep exposes systemic fault lines

Female students’ academic achievement shouldn’t spark resentment or fear—it’s a testament to resilience in the face of real challenges, writes Halifet Ayemohammed Yusuf in this op-ed. Yet, she notes, “Society seems more comfortable with the idea of women’s empowerment, so long as they do not surpass men.” To make her point, she references a recent incident at the 9th National Moot Court Competition, held from 16–18 May, 2025, at Mizan Tepi University. There, the team from Dire Dawa University was penalized—not for poor performance, but for “fielding an all-female team.”

The punishment? A two-year ban for the university, their coach, and the students involved. What makes this even more concerning, as Halifet points out, is the team had already passed the initial round, and the organizers knew they were all-female from the start. She argues that "penalizing the team at a late stage, without prior warning, undermines fairness," stressing that "the issue should have been addressed at registration or an earlier stage, giving the team a chance to comply with the rules."

The author brings up another contradiction: all-female teams have competed—and won—in the previous competitions. Teams from Jimma, #Hawassa, and even #Dire_Dawa itself have taken home trophies with women-led squads. So now, she asks, “It is unclear if the current shift to exclude and penalize an all-female team stems from the fear that they might win, as they have consistently proven their competence by achieving victories, despite being underrepresented in competitions.”

Halifet also pushes back against a misconception—that affirmative action is a “privilege” for women rather than a necessary step toward equity. “This misperception becomes painfully evident,” she writes, “when qualified women succeed and their achievements are frequently undermined, attributed not to merit but to supposed special treatment.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50360

News: #Tigray Interim Admin vows to crackdown against threats to judicial independence

In response to threats to judicial independence, the Interim Administration of the Tigray region has vowed to restore law and order following a disruption at the Mekelle City Central Court on 16 May.

The courtroom riot, which interrupted the high-profile murder trial of Zewdu Haftu, killed in August 2023, prompted all courts in the city’s eight zones to suspend operations citing security concerns. Condemning the incident as “a direct attack on the judicial and justice system in Tigray,” the administration pledged to investigate those responsible and “make the results public.

The incident in Mekelle occurred amid rising concerns over threats to the safety of judges, especially those presiding over cases of sexual violence and murder against women.

In April 2025 Addis Standard reported about mounting interference in judicial proceedings. “These pressures must stop immediately,” the Tigray Judges Association said at the time, highlighting threats from both internal institutions and public influence.

The Association specifically criticized the regional Women’s Bureau for undermining a court decision in the Lydia Alem murder case, warning that such interference “prevents judges from working independently and impartially.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=50367

Research shows #Ethiopian educators, health workers face shrinking incomes, eye career exit

A new study by ActionAid, “The Human Cost of Public Sector Cuts in Africa,” indicates that a significant number of Ethiopian teachers and health workers are experiencing reduced earnings, constrained working conditions, and limited access to professional development, with many expressing an intention to leave their fields.

According to the study, school budgets in Ethiopia have been reduced by 50% over the past five years. All surveyed teachers reported shortages of essential learning materials, including school furniture and textbooks, and over 80% said they routinely share limited resources with colleagues.

The report also notes that 91% of teachers cited worsening working conditions, while 96% said they had not received professional training in the past three to five years.

Read more: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1925543905509925342