#Ethiopia: Over 11,000 displaced by armed violence in Oromia–Benishangul border areas; humanitarian agencies warn of escalating tensions


More than 11,000 people have been displaced in recent days due to armed violence in the border areas of Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz regions, according to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and its partners.

In its latest situation report, DG ECHO stated that the displacement was triggered by armed conflict “fuelled by political and ethnic divisions,” which it said is continuing to escalate along the regional border.

According to DG ECHO, an estimated 5,500 people were displaced from Harowata kebele, located in Sasiga district of the Oromia region. The agency noted that the affected civilians are “now sheltering in government buildings.”

https://addisstandard.com/over-11000-displaced-by-armed-violence-in-oromia-benishangul-border-areas-humanitarian-agencies-warn-of-escalating-tensions/

#Turkana leaders demand action after killings by #Ethiopian militia

Turkana leaders have condemned the recent killings of four locals by suspected Ethiopian militia, urging the national government to take urgent action to protect Kenyan citizens along the porous border.

This incident has reignited grievances over the government's failure to secure border communities. Senator James Lomenen, Turkana North MP Paul Nabuin, and former Cabinet Secretary John Munyes spoke out during the burial of two brothers killed in the attack in Natira village.

Their deaths have sparked anger and frustration across Turkana County, a region struggling with insecurity.

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/north-eastern/article/2001521133/turkana-leaders-demand-action-after-killings-by-ethiopian-militia

#Ethiopia: Ethiopian Airlines Marks 50 Years of Service to Kigali

Ethiopian Airlines has celebrated the 50th anniversary of its inaugural flight to Kigali, Rwanda. Launched in 1975, the Addis Abeba–Kigali route has been instrumental in forging stronger diplomatic, economic, and cultural links between the two nations, according to the statement issued marking the anniversary.

Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, noted that the milestone reflects half a century of steadfast commitment. “We are excited to reach such a milestone. Over 50 years of service to Kigali, we have expanded both our passenger and cargo operations, with increased frequencies for the benefit of our customers. This marks another demonstration of Ethiopian Airlines' commitment to serving the people of Africa,” he said.

The airline said that it operates 21 weekly passenger flights and three dedicated cargo services to Kigali, offering seamless connections to its extensive global network of over 145 destinations across 5 continents.

#Op_ed: Silencing Dissent: Criminalization of freedom of speech in #Ethiopia’s #Somali region

Recently, four journalists and activists—Abdi Mohamed Barud, Mohamed Aden Hassan, Ahmed Abdi Omar, and Ibrahim Abduqadir—were arrested in the Somali Regional State. In May 2025, the Fafen Zone High Court in Jigjiga sentenced three of them to prison terms ranging from 18 months to three years. While regional authorities claim the men were sentenced for "inciting public unrest" and "provoking social disorder," Hirsi Abdulkadir Mohamed, the author of this op-ed, argues that these charges are merely a pretext to silence and suppress dissent. He writes, “These four young men committed no crime but refused to conform to the sterile silence expected of citizens. Their ‘weapon’ was a Facebook post. Their ‘threat’ was the truth.”


The author states, “When Mustafe Muhumed Omar rose to power, many hailed him as a reformer—an antidote to the scars of authoritarian rule. That hopeful language has now become hollow ritual. Journalists are harassed, human rights defenders are threatened, and youth activists are imprisoned for daring to dream differently.”

According to him, the imprisonment of these journalists is not an isolated case: “It is the loudest yet in a symphony of silence imposed by the administration allergic to scrutiny.” Hirsi calls for the immediate reversal of the sentences and a return to democratic principles, emphasizing that “Freedom of expression is not an optional principle—it is the lifeblood of a resilient society.”


The author emphasizes that the Somali Regional State is at a pivotal historical juncture, where "one path leads towards inclusivity, transparency, and justice," while the other "leads to fear, despotism, and decay." He concludes with a message: "History will not be kind to those who criminalize conscience. But it may still be generous to those who correct courses before it’s too late.” https://addisstandard.com/?p=50754

#Egypt, #Saudi_Arabia to construct $4 billion worth bridge connecting #Africa, #Asia across #Red_Sea

In a landmark development that promises to redefine intercontinental connectivity, the governments of Saudi Arabia and Egypt have finalized plans for the construction of a monumental bridge that will connect Africa and Asia across the Red Sea. With an estimated cost of $4 billion, the project, unofficially dubbed the “Moses Bridge,” is set to become a cornerstone of regional development, strategic infrastructure, and diplomatic cooperation.

First proposed in 1988 and publicly revived by King Salman of Saudi Arabia in 2016, the bridge will span the Strait of Tiran, connecting Ras Hamid on the Saudi Arabian coast to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

https://www.xtrafrica.com/news/egypt-and-saudi-arabia-to-construct-bridge-from-africa-to-asia

News: PM Abiy accuses ‘some media’ outlets of prioritizing self-interest over ‘national interest’

In a nationally broadcast interview, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accused “some” Ethiopian media outlets, accusing them of “working to serve their own interests than putting national interest first.”

“Media is like fire - it can either destroy or build,” he said, adding that “there is no such thing as an independent media in the world.” He warned that certain outlets are “misleading the public by spreading false information and fabricated news.”

These talking points were revisited during a panel discussion held on 7 June where officials from the Government Communication Service accused commercial media, which constitutes independent media, of sidelining national agendas. State Minister Tesfahun Gobezay said, “Some media do not report on national matters with sufficient depth or accuracy,” adding that a fear of losing audience share was leading to underreporting of positive developments. He acknowledged government gaps in access to information but blamed “unbalanced” reporting for fueling institutional reluctance to share data.

These developments come amid growing international concern over Ethiopia’s media climate. Ethiopia now ranks 145th out of 180 countries on the 2025 World Press Freedom Index - its lowest ever. Earlier this year, 14 diplomatic missions based in the capital expressed concerns over “significant pressure” on freedom of expression and called for greater protections for journalists.

A recent legal amendment to the media law has shifted the power to nominate Ethiopia’s media regulator from Parliament to the Prime Minister, prompting warnings from civil society about increased executive control.


https://addisstandard.com/pm-abiy-accuses-some-media-outlets-of-prioritizing-self-interest-over-national-interest/?amp=1

#Ethiopia: #Tigray Journalists Association calls for release of "TBS Television" cameramen detained in #Axum

The Tigray Journalists Association has called for the immediate release of two Tigray Broadcasting Service (TBS) television cameramen who were on a trip to Axum to film.

In a statement issued yesterday, the association said that "journalists have the right to freedom of movement and information and that the arrest of the cameramen violates that right."

According to the statement, the two cameramen from the Tigrinya-language television station had traveled to Aksum to report on issues related to good governance in the area, and upon their arrival, they were detained by local authorities.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CLMXwV6se/

#Kenya, #Ethiopia agree to build cross-border infrastructure

Kenya and Ethiopia have agreed to work on cross-border infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing bilateral trade.

At a meeting in Addis Abeba on June 5 as part of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HOAGDP), the two countries agreed on transformative programs to improve the movement of goods, people, and digital services across the Ethiopian-Kenyan border.

Ethiopia and Kenya agreed to support the construction of two bridges across the River Dawa (Rhamu and Suftu), as a passage of hope that will not only carry vehicles but also convey the aspiration of underserved communities to access healthcare, education, and markets. “The main objectives are to enhance infrastructural connectivity, socio-economic development, trade facilitation, and cross-border development between Ethiopia and Kenya,” says the joint communique.

These measures are seen as a demonstration of Igad’s commitment to operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement through strengthening seamless trade between Ethiopia and Kenya by reducing border-crossing times, reducing transport costs and making regional goods more competitive in international markets.

Subsequently, Kenya and Ethiopia will finalize the draft bilateral agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance on Customs matters and other enabling legal frameworks at the earliest opportunity.

The two agreed on the location for a one-stop border post at Rhamu, a trade facilitation center at Suftu, access roads and bridges at Rhamu and Suftu, and optic fiber “meet me” points.
https://www.zawya.com/en/economy/africa/kenya-ethiopia-agree-to-build-cross-border-infrastructure-cikshyvu

#Ethiopia: #OLF regains access to its #Finfinne HQ after four-year forced closure

The #Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) has regained access to its headquarters in Finfinne (Addis Abeba) after more than four years of forced closure.

The handover was conducted in the presence of representatives from the Addis Abeba Branch of the Joint Council of Political Parties. OLF thanked the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and the Joint Council for facilitating the return, calling it “a significant step forward.”

The party had been locked out of its headquarters since August 2020, following a police raid and the controversial removal of its leadership. This came amid a broader crackdown on OLF leaders, including the house arrest of Chairman Dawud Ibssa after the assassination of prominent Oromo artist Hachalu Hundessa. Several senior members of the party were also detained in defiance of court orders, leaving the party politically paralyzed at the time of their release last year.

OLF Public Relations Officer Lemmi Gemmechu to Addis Standard that while the office had been inaccessible, the party never relinquished its claim. Although the party regained access to its HQ, more than 200 of its offices nationwide remained closed.

“The reopening of our offices is tied to a fundamental democratic right, the right to assembly,” Lemmi said.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50777

#Ethiopia refused to negotiate with Mubarak’s regime over water, believing no one could stop its projects on the #Nile – British Documents

#Ethiopia refused to negotiate with Hosni Mubarak’s regime over the Nile water issue, believing that no one could stop it from pursuing its projects on the river’s source, according to declassified British documents.

Documents obtained by MEMO from the National Archives show that the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) believed that, despite improvements in #Egypt-Ethiopia relations at the time, Egypt “had not been able to convince the Ethiopians to engage in dialogue” over Nile water issues.

During a meeting with Anthony Gregory Shapland, head of the FCO’s Middle East Research Department, experts from MacDonald & Partners Company explained that Ethiopian officials often claimed a lack of expertise to defend their interests. However, water and politics expert Terry Evans dismissed this claim, asserting that Ethiopia had access to capable and honest expertise. His dealings with Ethiopian counterparts led him to conclude that “they were too clever to be deceived.” According to Evans, Ethiopia saw no reason to engage in talks, believing that “there was nothing anyone could do to damage their hydrological interests or to prevent them from doing what they wanted on the Blue Nile”, the source of over 85 percent of the Nile’s water flow to Egypt.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250609-ethiopia-refused-to-negotiate-with-mubaraks-regime-over-water-believing-no-one-could-stop-its-projects-on-the-nile-british-documents/

#Etihad and #Ethiopian Airlines activate codeshare agreement

Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines have activated their codeshare agreement, strengthening connectivity between #Africa and #Asia, #Australia, and the Middle East.

The bilateral partnership enhances global travel opportunities for guests, with seats available to book now. Ethiopian will start services from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi (AUH) on 15 July, and Etihad Airways introducing daily flights to Addis Ababa starting 8 October.

This is the first step ahead of implementation of the groundbreaking Joint Venture agreed between Etihad and Ethiopian in March 2025 unlocking greater travel opportunities for passengers across both networks.

The codeshare lets guests simplify their journeys by making a single booking with one check-in process at the start and the added convenience of having their baggage transferred to their final destination.

https://www.timesaerospace.aero/news/air-transport/etihad-and-ethiopian-airlines-activate-codeshare-agreement

#Fertilizer Price #Hike Sparks Concern Among Farmers in Amhara Region

Farmers in Ethiopia’s Amhara region have voiced concerns that a sharp increase in fertilizer prices could lead to reduced agricultural production in the upcoming farming season, according to a report by Deutsche Welle. The regional agriculture bureau acknowledged the global price surge and noted that the government has introduced subsidies to help ease the burden.

According to the report, farmers fear that the rising cost of fertilizer will negatively impact the cultivation of major food crops. One farmer from the Achefer district in the North Gojjam Zone told DW that while he used to purchase up to eight quintals of fertilizer, he can now only afford two quintals, leaving much of his farmland uncultivated.

https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1932364127206342826?t=Hp1Q6Z47YF8BqIFvzH37uA&s=19

#Ethiopia: Protests planned to demand return of displaced #Tigrayans before fifth rainy season in tents

Protests are planned to take place in Mekelle and Geneva next week, from June 18-20, 2025, under the rallying cry "Enough of Spending Rainy Seasons in Tents."

Spearheaded by the Tsilal Western Tigray Civil Society, the protest demonstrations are expected to center their messages to demand the urgent return of hundreds of thousands displaced Tigrayans who remained scattered as IDPs and refugees for a fifth rainy season in temporary shelters. Organizers said the goal is to pressure both signatories and brokers of the Pretoria Agreement, including the Ethiopian federal government and the international community, to facilitate their safe return before winter.

The planned protests build on a similar demonstration held in January across various Tigrayan cities and towns, where participants chanted slogans like "Return us to our homes" and highlighted the dire conditions faced by displaced persons, including hunger, lack of medical care, and inadequate aid. Despite pledges from the Tigray interim administration to prioritize IDP return, including President Tadesse's acknowledgement of the crisis and failure of previous return efforts due to poor security, displaced Tigrayans remain in 99 makeshift camps.

The humanitarian situation is particularly severe in camps located in Adwa, Adigrat, Shire, and Axum, with reports of rising hunger-related deaths, especially among vulnerable groups. Wolay Berhe, IDP coordinator in Shire, reported nearly 300 deaths in one center over three months due to hunger and lack of medical care.

While a small group of IDPs were returned to Tselemti in July last year, subsequent reports by Addis Standard revealed many were re-displaced due to a lack of promised support.

This ongoing crisis is particularly severe in Western Tigray where crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing have been documented during the two-year brutal war in the region.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50786

Aid cuts put vital work to protect millions in #Ethiopia from #climate crisis at risk

Anticipatory Action is a programme of activities that is designed to foster resilience and help communities deal with the financial “shock” of extreme climate events, by supporting people before disaster strikes, and avoiding the need to provide emergency humanitarian aid at a later point.

The threat to funding comes as the effects of the climate crisis becomes ever more severely-felt in Ethiopia. Rainfall is becoming more erratic, and droughts more severe, with the 2020 to 2023 Horn of Africa drought leading to 20 million people experiencing acute food insecurity, and 13m livestock dying across Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia.

However, due to aid cuts, agencies in charge of distributing money are having to focus on emergency humanitarian aid over programmes like Anticipatory Action or other activities that prioritise longer-term climate resilience.

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/aid-trump-us-uk-ethiopia-climate-weather-b2751865.html

#Ethiopia: Police detain prominent Ethiopian journalist, #Tesfalem_Waldyes, again; accuse him of ‘disseminating false information’

Tesfalem Waldyes, a prominent journalist and editor-in-chief of "Ethiopia Insider," was arrested by plainclothes security forces on Sunday, June 8th, in Addis Abeba. The police accused of "disseminating false information."

He was detained at the Gion Hotel and spent the night in a police station before being transferred on Monday and appearing in court today. The court granted him release on 15,000-birr bail, but as of reporting, he remains in custody, as police verbally contested the bail and have not formally appealed or signed his release letter despite all fees being paid by Hak Media and Communication.

This is not Tesfalem's first encounter with authorities; he was previously detained in October 2021 after covering the Irreecha Hora Finfinnee festival and posting a video of Oromo youth protests.

A well-known independent journalist, he was also arrested and charged with terrorism in 2014 and was later acquitted, leading to a life in exile before he returned to Ethiopia in 2020 where he co-founded “Ethiopia Insider”.

Tesfalem's repeated detention comes amid a concerning decline in press freedom in Ethiopia. The 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Ethiopia 145th out of 180 countries, placing it in the "very serious" category for the first time. This downward trend highlights the growing challenge to media freedom in Ethiopia.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=50794

#Sudan accuses #Libyan force of border attack, blames #UAE for 'sponsoring aggression'

Sudan’s government has accused forces loyal to Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar of joining the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a cross-border assault, calling it a “flagrant aggression” allegedly “sponsored by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).”

In separate statements, the Sudanese army and Foreign Ministry condemned what they described as a coordinated assault in the tri-border area between Sudan, Libya, and Egypt. The army claimed RSF fighters, “supported by Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan forces,” attempted to “seize the area,” calling the involvement of the Libyan faction an “unprecedented” violation of international law and part of a broader “international and regional conspiracy.”

The Foreign Ministry called the incident a “dangerous escalation” and said it was backed by “the Abu Dhabi regime.” It alleged the border with Libya had become a “main crossing for weapons and mercenaries… with UAE funding and coordination from Haftar’s forces.” It also criticised what it described as the “leniency of the Security Council and Western powers,” saying it had encouraged further regional involvement in the war.

https://sudantribune.com/article301781/

#Ethiopia: Landlocked African nation set to complete major naval facility with #Russian support

Ethiopia is set to complete construction of its new Navy Headquarters in the capital, Addis Abeba, marking a step in its ambitions to reestablish a national naval force, despite being landlocked for over three decades.

The 3-hectare site boasts a four-story complex that will house administrative offices, a medical clinic, meeting halls, sports facilities, and other support infrastructure, with the project on track for completion as scheduled.
This development is part of Ethiopia's broader strategy to reassert itself as a regional power in the Horn of Africa.

Despite being landlocked since Eritrea's independence in 1993, Ethiopian authorities argue that maritime capabilities are crucial for safeguarding trade routes, responding to global maritime threats, and ensuring access to international waters via allied ports in Djibouti and Sudan.

In March 2025, Ethiopia signed a cooperation agreement with the Russian government to support naval development and training.

This deal follows the collapse of a previous naval partnership with France, which was initiated in 2018 after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced plans to revive the country's naval forces.

The Russo-Ethiopian partnership was forged during a high-level visit by Russian Deputy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Vorobyev to Ethiopian naval facilities and a training center in Bishoftu, where he pledged Moscow's support for training personnel and enhancing Ethiopia's naval capabilities.

This development unfolds against the backdrop of growing Russian military engagement across Africa. Beyond Ethiopia, Moscow has been expanding its presence in countries like Mali, supplying heavy armored vehicles and reportedly building up military infrastructure.

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/landlocked-african-nation-set-to-complete-major-naval-facility-with-russian-support/16jphby