#Australia-based #Askari paves way to secure gold-rich foothold in #Ethiopia

Askari Metals has wrapped up due diligence and is moving forward to buy 460 square kilometres of prime exploration ground near multi-million-ounce gold mines in Ethiopia’s famed Adola greenstone belt.

When the deal is sealed, Askari will walk away with a prime piece of gold real estate by unlocking a strategic foothold in the southern Arabian-Nubian Shield - a geological hot spot hosting some of the world’s largest undeveloped gold and copper deposits.

Under the terms of the acquisition, the company has agreed to take over 100 per cent of Rift Valley Metals, the current owners of the exploration grounds in exchange for $200,000 in cash and $200,000 in Askari shares, issued at the share price on the day of completion. Those shares will be held in voluntary escrow for 12 months

Two further milestone payments totalling $200,000 in cash and shares will be doled out based on the company picking up multiple rock chip samples of at least 3 grams per tonne (g/t) and 10 samples of more than 10g/t, together with a trench result of 10m grading 3g/t or more. A final payment of $150,000 in cash will be handed over 12 months after completion.

What makes this deal shine is its proximity to tier-1 gold mines. Askari’s five freshly acquired tenements - Sakaro, Sakaro West, Lega Dembi South, Megado and Wayu Boda - are parked right next door to Ethiopia’s only two operating gold mines, Lega Dembi and Sakaro, which have already coughed up multi-million ounces between them.

The Lega Dembi mine has produced 2.5 million ounces and still holds a current resource of 2.5M ounces, while Sakaro has more than 600,000 ounces at a blistering grade above 14g/t gold. The company’s Megado tenement, which sits a little further to the south, is only 30 kilometres north of the 17.7M-ounce Dawa-Okote gold project.

https://thewest.com.au/business/bulls-n-bears/askari-paves-way-to-secure-gold-rich-foothold-in-ethiopia-c-18778730

#US sanctions #Sudan after ruling #chemical_weapons used during civil war

The United States will impose sanctions on Sudan after determining that the country’s military used chemical weapons last year while fighting against paramilitary forces.

“The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations” under the Chemical Weapons Convention, US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement on Thursday.

Bruce said the US Congress has been notified of the State Department’s decision, and sanctions will be imposed around June 6.

They will include restrictions on US exports to Sudan and a block on access to US government lines of credit. Bruce’s statement did not include further details about when and where the chemical weapons were used by Sudanese government forces.

The New York Times reported in January that government forces had used chemical weapons on at least two occasions in remote parts of Sudan against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The report cited unnamed US officials who said the weapon may have been chlorine gas, which can lead to severe respiratory pain and death.

Sudan’s army and the RSF have been locked in a civil war since April 2023 following a power struggle between the two sides.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/23/us-sanctions-sudan-after-ruling-chemical-weapons-used-during-civil-war

#Assela Wind Farm starts feeding #Ethiopia’s grid with first turbine, full 100 MW capacity expected by end of 2025

The Assela Wind Farm has begun supplying electricity to Ethiopia’s national grid after its first turbine became operational, according to a statement issued on 22 May by the Royal Danish Embassy in Addis Abeba. The 100 MW project, located in the #Oromia region, is owned by Ethiopian Electric Power (#EEP) and fully financed through a grant from Danida Sustainable Infrastructure Finance (DSIF) and a loan from Danske Bank.

The Danish Embassy described the development as “a significant milestone,” noting that by the end of 2025, when all 29 turbines are operational, the facility will produce “over 300 GWh of clean and sustainable energy annually,” sufficient to meet the electricity needs of “more than 140,000 Ethiopian households.” Constructed by Siemens Gamesa, the Spanish-German wind technology firm, the project is also cited as part of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy to create “smart, clean and secure energy connections worldwide” through “public and private Team Europe partners.”

During a visit to the site, State Minister of Finance for Economic Cooperation, Semereta Sewasew, said the project “represents a major step in Ethiopia’s shift toward a resilient and diversified energy system,” adding that it reflects the country’s capacity to implement “technically advanced alternative energy solutions” through “blended finance, strong institutional coordination, and lasting partnerships.” Danish Ambassador Sune Krogstrup said the Assela project highlights “the robust partnership between Denmark and Ethiopia” and contributes to “enhancing Ethiopia’s energy system” by drawing on Denmark’s “extensive experience in wind energy and sustainable practices.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50375

#Ethiopia - ‘It is time to put people first’, #US Ambassador Ervin Massinga

The United States calls on the Ethiopian “federal government to immediately seize the use of drone strikes against its own people and facilitate resolutions.”

In a statement issued this mroning, the U.S. also called on groups involved in Ethiopia’s ongoing armed conflicts, specifically addressing the #Fano militia in the #Amhara region, and the Oromo Liberation Army (#OLA) in the #Oromia region, to pursue peace and stability.

Addressing the Fano, the US calls on the groups “to come forward with realistic and peaceful objectives,” while it calls on OLA “to advance negotiations” to end the six-years long conflict in the region.

In a message highlighting the importance of prioritizing the needs of civilians, the U.S. said: “It is time to put people first by implementing lasting solutions to Ethiopia’s internal conflicts, enabling internally displaced persons to return home, ensuring children can attend school and access healthcare, and ending lawlessness that masquerades as part of armed struggle.”

“It is time to pursue peace and stability.”

#Ethiopia: Federal Police detain 47 health workers accusing them of 'coordinating illegal strikes’, 'endangering patients’ lives' as nationwide strike enters second week

The Ethiopian Federal Police announced the arrest of 47 healthcare professionals whom it accused of exploiting recent “salary and benefits” demands in the health sector as a “cover” to coordinate what it described as “illegal strikes” and acts that “endanger patients’ lives.” The announcement comes as a nationwide strike by health professionals, now in its second week, continues over long-standing grievances related to pay, working conditions, and workplace protections.

In a statement issued on Friday, the police alleged the detainees were involved in “conducting illegal strikes,” and “inciting others to stop working,” while “endangering patients’ lives by exposing them to death and danger.” It further claimed that the suspects “used the legitimate demands raised by healthcare professionals” to align themselves with “forces working to create chaos in the country.” Authorities also accused the group of establishing “strike networks” in health facilities and of bringing “non-health professionals” into hospitals, who allegedly “wore white coats” and “created disturbances.”

The statement went on to say that “false rumors” had been spread during the walkouts, disrupting “the peaceful conduct of medical work,” including at government teaching hospitals. It accused the detainees of “intimidating” and “threatening” colleagues who opted not to join the strike and warned that “halting healthcare services in a manner that endangers citizens’ lives” constitutes “criminal behavior.” While asserting it would “continue legal measures” against individuals it labeled as “elements working to spread chaos,” the police also said it would “provide necessary protection” to those continuing to work.

https://addisstandard.com/federal-police-detain-47-health-workers-accused-of-coordinating-illegal-strikes-endangering-patients-lives-as-nationwide-strike-enters-second-week/

#Ethiopia: #IMF says board on track to weigh third review of Ethiopia deal in time

The International Monetary Fund expects its board to consider the third review of Ethiopia's $3.4 billion programme "within the set out timeline," a spokesperson said, a key step for the country to advance its programme and receive cash from the fund.

"We anticipate that the IMF Executive Board will consider the third review this summer, consistent with original review schedule," IMF Spokesperson Julie Kozack told Reuters. She did not comment on the status of the staff level agreement.

Staff from the IMF visited the country in mid-April for an assessment, and Ethiopia's government said it expected a staff-level agreement to be announced "within days," but that announcement has not yet been issued.

The projected approval by the board in June will trigger the release of a 191.70 SDR loan tranche (about $265 million) to the government, to support the East African nation's sprawling macroeconomic reforms programme. The reforms were a prerequisite for the IMF programme, which was secured at the end of last July, allowing Ethiopia to proceed with its external debt restructuring under the G20'S Common Framework initiative.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/imf-says-board-track-weigh-third-review-ethiopia-deal-time-2025-05-23/

#Somalia: President Mohamud’s new party could centralize power, critics warn

Somalia President Mohamud’s new Justice and Solidarity Party (#JSP) sparks criticism, with fears it could destabilize upcoming elections.

The backlash was swift after Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched his new Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) at a meeting with opposition leaders.
Ahmed Mohamed Islam ‘Madobe’, the leader of #Jubbaland, told journalists: “The JSP closely resembles the political party of former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, who ruled Somalia for 21 years through the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party [SRSP].”

His remarks echo wider concerns among Somali political figures. Former presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, along with former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire, have urged President Mohamud to reconsider his decision.

Khaire said the president was expected to convene a national forum to unite federal and regional governments, alongside opposition politicians, against terrorism. According to him, the goal was to resolve political conflicts - not to create political controversy.

“The country is in a challenging situation and faces serious obstacles,” Khaire tells The Africa Report.
In contrast to Khaire’s concerns, President Mohamud emphasized that the party intends to finalize the provisional constitution to build a complete government structure backed by a strong judiciary.
https://www.theafricareport.com/384358/somalia-president-mohamuds-new-party-could-centralise-power-critics-warn/

#Ethiopia: #Amnesty urges talks with striking health professionals; warns ongoing work stoppage “severely restricted ” healthcare access

Amnesty International has urged Ethiopian authorities to “urgently engage in negotiations” with healthcare professionals participating in a nationwide strike and to “unconditionally release those detained,” cautioning that the ongoing work stoppage has “severely restricted patients’ right to access healthcare” across the country.

In a statement released Friday, the rights group said the strike—now in its second week—has led to “massive disruption to the provision of much-needed healthcare services.” Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said both parties “must engage collectively and constructively in negotiations,” warning that the government “must not further prolong the crisis.”

Amnesty reported that 212 healthcare professionals have been arrested since the strike began, citing accounts from family members and lawyers who said detainees were taken without explanation and their homes searched “without presenting a search warrant,” ostensibly in a “search for weapons and explosives,” though only electronic devices were seized. The group also called for an “end [to] harassment and intimidation against the medics,” and restated its demand for the “unconditional release” of those detained in connection with the strike.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50387

#South_Sudan refugees in #Ethiopia face ‘health catastrophe’, charity warns

Thousands of South Sudanese refugees are facing a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, with Médecins Sans Frontières (#MSF) warning of an imminent “public health catastrophe” due to the spread of cholera and widespread malnutrition in overcrowded camps along the border.

In a statement released on Friday, the international medical organisation said the local health system is “overwhelmed and unable to cope with the needs of tens of thousands of new arrivals.” MSF reported treating more than 1,200 cholera patients and warned that “the disease can be deadly in up to 20 percent of cases if untreated.” It added that over 40 percent of malaria tests have returned positive, while “nearly 7 percent of children under five suffer from severe acute malnutrition.”

The recent wave of displacement follows intensified fighting in South Sudan between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and factions aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar, who was placed under house arrest in March. MSF said between 35,000 and 85,000 refugees have crossed into Mattar, a border town in western Ethiopia, since the latest clashes began.

“Shelter, water and medical care are severely lacking in Mattar,” the organisation said, urging warring parties to guarantee humanitarian access and calling on international donors for increased support. Since February, MSF said it has received more than 200 people with war injuries in its clinics.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/23/south-sudan-refugees-in-ethiopia-face-health-catastrophe-charity-warns

#Op_ed: Shattered Peace, Silenced Justice: Absence of accountability fuels #Ethiopia’s cycle of violence

Since 2018, Ethiopia has spiraled into a brutal cycle of violence—marked by state repression, insurgent attacks, extrajudicial killings, mass displacement, and abductions for ransom, writes Siyum Adugna Mamo, the author of this op-ed. What truly stands out amid the chaos, he notes, is the “complete lack of accountability.”

He recalls how hope briefly flickered when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed invited exiled rebel groups like the Oromo Liberation Front (#OLF) to return in 2018—only for the “rushed peace deal to collapse.” The author goes on to recount how the self-claimed OLF’s armed wing, the Oromo Liberation Army (#OLA), even briefly joined military camps before fighting broke out, particularly in Western Oromia. He also highlights the “unimaginable suffering” caused by the war in #Tigray and the added turmoil in #Amhara, where the government’s attempt to disarm local militias sparked fierce clashes with #Fano.

“The federal government’s provocation and the state’s militarized response have exacerbated tensions,” Siyum writes. He accuses insurgent groups too, implicating them for "killings, abductions, and attacks on civilians,” which, he says, “deepened the retaliatory nature of the conflict.” Yet, Siyum asserts, “mechanisms to hold them accountable remain nonexistent.”

The author also expresses concern over the international community’s inaction, which he says has been limited to “issuing statements” and offering “occasional and weak condemnations.” Siyum stresses that “without tangible measures to address past and ongoing atrocities, the cycle of violence will persist,” trapping innocent civilians in a sequence of repression and conflict. “The pursuit of justice is not merely a moral imperative but a foundational requirement for sustainable peace in the country,” he concludes.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50398

#Ethiopian health professionals set four preconditions before negotiations with Health Ministry; no agreement reached in preliminary talks

Members of the Ethiopian Health Professionals Movement (#EHPM), in preliminary talks with the Ministry of Health, have laid out four preconditions before entering formal negotiations, including the “release of detained colleagues” and the reversal of what they described as “punitive measures taken across hospitals” in relation to their ongoing strike.

A member of EHPM, speaking anonymously to Addis Standard, stated the meeting focused on establishing “ground rules” for future discussions. He noted that “there was no agreement made with them” and emphasized that “the Board wasn’t present at the meeting,” only a board-approved group. He added that although there was a “willingness for dialogue from the Ministry of Health,” the Ministry was “not ready to solve the actual 12 questions we raised” and had “failed to fulfill the preconditions.”

According to the source, present at the meeting from the Ministry of Health were Minister Dr. Mekdes Daba, State Ministers Frehiwot Abebe and Dr. Dereje Duguma, among others. Representatives of the EHPM also participated in the virtual discussion, which aimed to explore conditions for potential formal negotiations.

The member also revealed that a separate conversation with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (#EHRC) showed some promise. “We have agreed to some extent with the Commission,” he said, after the EHRC proposed to “mediate with the Ministry of Health.” Still, he cautioned that “success hasn’t yet been determined,” and stated the group would not move forward with negotiations “unless the preconditions are met.” These include the “immediate release” of detained health professionals, reversal of disciplinary actions, return of residents to dormitories, and continuation of the “partial strike” without interference.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50401

#Djibouti’s President accuses #UAE of using African investments as military cover

President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti has issued a sharp rebuke of the United Arab Emirates, accusing the Gulf state of leveraging its multibillion-dollar investments in Africa as a veil for military expansion.

In a recent interview with Radio France Internationale, President Guelleh characterized the UAE’s $110 billion investment campaign across the continent as a strategic maneuver to extend military reach under the guise of economic development.
“The Emiratis are deeply destabilising for the region,” he said.

The President’s remarks signal growing unease in parts of Africa over the dual-use nature of foreign investments, particularly in critical infrastructure sectors such as ports, logistics, and telecommunications.
“These investments are not purely economic ventures,” he said. “They are intertwined with military objectives that risk compromising the sovereignty and stability of African nations.”

He revealed that Djibouti had previously denied a request from the UAE to establish a military base on its territory.
Following the rejection, he said, the UAE redirected its efforts to neighboring countries, seeking strategic footholds along key maritime routes.

Djibouti, situated at the mouth of the Red Sea, hosts military bases from several global powers, including the United States, France, China, and Japan.

https://www.alleastafrica.com/djiboutis-president-accuses-uae-of-using-african-investments-as-military-cover/

#Ethiopia confirms Mpox case in 27-day-old infant in #Moyale, #Oromia

A confirmed case of Mpox has been detected in Moyale town, Oromia region, involving a 27-day-old infant, according to a joint statement issued on Sunday by the Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (#EPHI). The laboratory-confirmed case was identified through tests on samples collected from individuals suspected of infection. The statement noted that the infant’s mother had also been “exposed to the virus” and both are currently under “appropriate medical care and monitoring” in an isolation facility, with “no serious health complications” reported as of now.

The statement added that the infant’s father had recently traveled to a neighboring country, and that an investigation has been launched to “identify the areas he visited as well as individuals who had close contact” with him. It also noted that preventive measures have been ongoing since the onset of the outbreak in parts of the continent, including the activation of an Emergency Coordination Center and preparation of treatment facilities. In collaboration with Africa CDC and the World Health Organization, the statement said efforts to “prevent and control the disease” are being strengthened, while urging those showing symptoms such as “rash, cough, fever, headache, fatigue, or back pain” to “immediately visit a health facility.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50416

#Kenya's government to sell more of its stake in #Safaricom, finance minister says

Kenya's government plans to sell more of its shareholding in telecom operator Safaricom (SCOM.NR), opens new tab, Finance Minister John Mbadi was cited as saying in Kenyan newspaper Business Daily on Monday.

The government aims to raise 149 billion shillings ($1.16 billion) in the 2025/26 financial year through the sale of stakes in companies it has share in, including selling more of its ownership of Safaricom, Mbadi told the Business Daily in an interview.

At present, the government owns a 35% stake in the operator after it sold a 25% stake in it via an initial public offering in 2008.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenyas-government-sell-more-its-stake-safaricom-finance-minister-says-2025-05-26/