#Ethiopia: Journalist Tesfalem released from detention

Prominent journalist Tesfalem Waldyes, founder and editor-in-chief of “Ethiopia Insider”, has been released from police custody today, after several days of detention despite three separate court rulings granting him bail.
Tesfalem was arrested on 8 June over allegations of “disseminating false information” linked to unrest at a football match, charges he firmly denies.

Haq Media and Communication, publisher of “Ethiopia Insider”, confirmed his release and expressed deep appreciation to colleagues, supporters, and rights organizations who stood by him.

CPJ and Amnesty International had condemned his detention as unlawful and part of a broader pattern of targeting journalists.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday that Tesfalem “has faced repeated harassment by the authorities” and was being held “despite a court order to release him on bail.” It noted that “Ethiopian authorities have been detaining the renowned journalist since Sunday on allegations of ‘dissemination false information.’”

The rights group added that “Ethiopia’s police have long flouted court orders to release someone on bail, particularly when it comes to high-profile detainees.” It further stated that “the police also have a notorious reputation for investigating journalists under provisions of Ethiopia’s 2020 Hate Speech and Disinformation Prevention and Suppression Proclamation,” calling the law’s definition of “disinformation” overly broad and prone to abuse.

https://addisstandard.com/journalist-tesfalem-released-from-detention/

#Somalia lifts ban on #Taiwanese passports

The Federal Government of Somalia has lifted a ban on the use of Taiwanese passports, reversing a measure introduced in April.

The initial ban, imposed in April, was justified by Somali authorities as a response to what they described as Taiwan’s "interference in internal affairs" due to its ties with Somaliland. Somalia considers Somaliland part of its territory, while Taiwan maintains informal ties with #Somaliland.

The United States had previously expressed concern over the ban, describing it as indicative of Somalia’s closer alignment with Beijing.

A U.S. State Department official, speaking before the U.S. Senate, said the decision was noted. “I am pleased that the Somali government has reversed its passport ban and resumed recognition of Taiwan’s travel documents,” the official said.

https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-lifts-ban-on-taiwanese-passports-amid-u-s-pressure-and-geopolitical-tensions-with-china

Lone #India plane crash survivor recounts miracle escape

The lone survivor of 242 people aboard a London-bound passenger plane that crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad said Friday how even he was struggling to explain how he miraculously walked out alive from the fireball explosion.

"Everything happened in front of me, and even I couldn't believe how I managed to come out alive from that," British citizen Vishwash Kumar Ramesh said from his hospital bed on Friday, speaking in Hindi to national broadcaster DD News.

The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane, which was full of fuel as it took off for a long-haul flight to London, exploded into a burst of orange flame on Thursday afternoon just after taking off.

Ramesh - who was in seat 11A according to media reports - was the only one aboard the plane not to be killed, with at least 24 others killed on the ground.

His brother was also on the same flight, his family in Britain told reporters.

"Within a minute after takeoff, suddenly... it felt like something got stuck... I realized something had happened, and then suddenly the plane's green and white lights turned on," Ramesh said.

"After that, the plane seemed to speed up, heading straight towards what turned out to be a hostel of a hospital. Everything was visible in front of my eyes when the crash happened."

https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20250613-lone-india-plane-crash-survivor-recounts-miracle-escape

#Ethiopia: IDPs at Bakelo and Jara camps in #Amhara report prolonged aid delays, deteriorating shelter conditions

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Bakelo and Jara camps in the Amhara region say they are facing worsening humanitarian conditions, citing irregular food aid, deteriorating shelter, and lack of essential non-food items. A man at Bakelo told Addis Standard that food distributions arrive “every two months at best,” but “sometimes it takes four,” adding that flour is the only item provided, with oil and other supplies no longer included. “We don’t have proper shelter,” he said, describing how families sleep on tarpaulins while pregnant women and children endure the harsh conditions.

In Jara camp, another displaced man said he receives “15 kilograms of maize, 1.5 kilograms of peas, and 0.45 liters of oil per month,” which he said is not enough once expenses for grinding and basic necessities are deducted. He said shelters initially intended to last six months are now in use for three years, with many fearing collapse during rains. “We redirect the water with mats, but even those are worn out now,” he said, adding that water access is also irregular.

Responding to the concerns, Abebaw Mesele, head of the North Shewa Zone Disaster Prevention and Food Security Office, said food aid to Bakelo “has not been interrupted,” but acknowledged that agencies providing non-food items are now absent, leading to a “gap in shelter and similar needs.” An April 2025 report by the Ethiopia Emergency Shelter & NFI Cluster described the conditions in Jara and other centers as “severely deteriorating,” noting that many families live in “damaged structures” with limited support and no clear path to return or resettlement.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50871

Trump tells #Iran to do deal now after #Israel blasts nuclear and military targets

U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iran to "make a deal" after Israel launched a series of strikes across Iran on Friday, targeting nuclear facilities, missile factories, and senior military figures. The Israeli government said the offensive was aimed at preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

In an interview with ABC News, Trump said, “We gave them a chance and they didn’t take it … They got hit about as hard as you're going to get hit. And there's more to come. A lot more.” He added on Truth Social, “Two months ago I gave Iran a 60-day ultimatum to ‘make a deal’ … Today is day 61 … Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!”

The Israeli military said the operation, named Iron Resolve, involved 200 fighter jets striking over 100 targets, including Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz. Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said the attack also hit missile infrastructure and air defences, and that more targets remained. Iranian authorities confirmed the deaths of Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Revolutionary Guards commander Hossein Salami, and head of the Guards’ aerospace force Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iran said six nuclear scientists were also killed.

In a televised message, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged the public to stand by the government and said a “powerful response will make Israel regret its foolish act.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of having “unleashed its wicked and bloody” hand and vowed it would face “a bitter fate.” Iran’s armed forces spokesperson blamed the U.S. for supporting the attack, but U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. “had not been involved” and that Israel had acted unilaterally “in self-defence.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-it-strikes-iran-amid-nuclear-tensions-2025-06-13/

#Iran launches ballistic missiles at #Israel, as Supreme Leader vows to 'inflict heavy blows'

Iran launches ballistic missiles at Israel as its supreme leader vows to "inflict heavy blows" in retaliation for Israel's overnight strikes.

The BBC's Ione Wells reports hearing an explosion in Jerusalem as black smoke has been seen rising over Tel Aviv's skyline.

Earlier today, the IDF said Revolutionary Guard chief Hossein Salami and other senior military figures were assassinated, while Iran says six scientists have also been killed. US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to make a deal on its nuclear programme, warning of "even more brutal" Israeli attacks – Iran accuses the US of supporting Israel's strikes, which the US denies.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c93ydeqyq71t

#UN commission warns #South_Sudan's peace deal at risk of collapse amid renewed violence

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has warned that the country’s 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement is at “serious risk” of collapse due to renewed violence, political repression, and violations of the deal’s terms, urging urgent regional intervention to avert a return to civil war.

“South Sudan’s peace agreement is in crisis,” said Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission. She cautioned that “the renewed violence is pushing the Revitalized Peace Agreement to the brink of irrelevance,” and warned it threatens “a total collapse,” which could further fragment the country.

The commission’s statement cited military operations by the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF), including recent airstrikes on civilian areas, leading to “widespread casualties and displacement.” It added that Ugandan forces were reportedly backing SSPDF campaigns and that “new military recruitment campaigns” are defying key security provisions of the peace deal. Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernandez remarked, “The world cannot remain as bystander while civilians are bombed, and opposition voices are silenced. The time for passive diplomacy is over – these senseless attacks must stop.”

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/un-commission-warns-south-sudans-peace-deal-at-risk-of-collapse-amid-renewed-violence/3596827

Caucus of #Ethiopian Opposition Parties says “no conducive conditions” for #NEBE to hold 7th national election

The Caucus of Ethiopian Opposition Parties, a coalition of six opposition parties, said there are “no conducive conditions” for the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) to conduct the 7th national election, accusing the electoral body of “partisanship” and claiming it operates with “subservience to the ruling party.”

In a statement issued on 09 June, the Caucus said NEBE is reportedly preparing for the election while “on the verge of replacing three (60%) of its existing leadership.” It argued that such changes, when combined with “the current political instability, pervasive conflict and war, a complex and multifaceted reality, and new regional administrative structures,” render the conditions unsuitable for a fair election.

Read more: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1933786420226728129

#US Congressman Scott Perry introduces “Republic of Somaliland Independence Act”

Today, Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10) introduced the Republic of Somaliland Independence Act, legislation formally recognizing Somaliland as a separate, independent nation. The bill redirects U.S. foreign policy to align with a new, stable and self-governing partner in a region of increasing strategic importance to the United States.

“For more than three decades, Somaliland demonstrated the kind of governance, stability, and cooperation that America should support,” said Congressman Perry. “Foreign adversaries are on the march in Africa and around the globe, and it’s in our national interest to strengthen relationships with reliable partners who share our values and contribute to our security – whenever and wherever possible.”

Somaliland straddles key global shipping routes located along the Gulf of Aden near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Currently, the government and political system of Somaliland already operates independently of Mogadishu, the unstable, conflict-ridden and fractured capitol city of Somalia. Somalia’s meritless claims over Somaliland hinder the United States’ ability to forge deeper diplomatic ties with Somaliland, a responsible partner nation that maintains internal order, conducts democratic elections, and actively counters piracy and extremism.

https://www.horndiplomat.com/2025/06/congressman-scott-perry-introduces-republic-of-somaliland-independence-act/

Senior #Kenyan policeman arrested over blogger's killing

The head of the main police station in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, has been detained over the killing of a young blogger in police custody, independent investigators say.

As well as Officer Commanding Station Samson Talam, another policeman, PC James Mukhwan, plus a technician accused of disabling the station's CCTV, have also been arrested.

Albert Ojwang's death sparked protests after doctors refuted a police claim he had died from self-inflicted injuries caused by hitting his head on a cell wall. Instead they concluded that it was likely the result of an assault.

At least 23 people have been questioned and five others removed from active duty while an independent investigation takes place.

Mr Ojwang, 31, died in police custody last weekend after he was arrested over a post on X that was allegedly critical of Deputy Inspector-General of Police Eliud Lagat.

In an initial statement, police said Mr Ojwang was found unconscious in his cell and rushed him to a city hospital, where he succumbed to head injuries allegedly sustained from banging his head against the wall.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq54vl9wl77o

Editorial - The case for immediate peace: Why Ethiopia needs a united call for peace now more than ever

Despite repeated assurances from Ethiopia’s political and military elite, the country stands at a critical inflection point. Sporadic conflicts in Oromia and the Amhara region, and the continued use of military force continue to persist, and the potential unraveling of the Pretoria peace agreement is real. All of them have pushed the country to the edge.

As this publication warned in its December 2023 editorial, ending these wars is not a matter of political preference, it is a matter of national survival. Nearly two years later, the question now is not whether peace is necessary, but whether there is enough collective will to demand and build it.


https://addisstandard.com/editorial-the-case-for-immediate-peace-why-ethiopia-needs-a-united-call-for-peace-now-more-than-ever/

#Ethiopia among 36 countries facing possible #US travel ban; memo cites visa overstays, document reliability

Ethiopia is among 36 countries under consideration for new U.S. travel restrictions, according to an internal State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post. The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, outlines a 60-day deadline for the listed countries to meet a set of benchmarks or face full or partial entry bans. The document is part of what would be a significant expansion of the Trump administration’s immigration policy, building on a travel ban issued earlier this month.

The proposed list includes 25 African nations—among them Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, Djibouti, and Ghana—as well as countries in the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific. According to the memo, some of the countries have “no competent or cooperative central government authority to produce reliable identity documents,” while others are cited for “widespread government fraud” or for having high numbers of citizens who “overstayed their visas” in the U.S.

Other justifications for inclusion include the sale of citizenship without residency requirements and allegations of individuals from certain countries engaging in “antisemitic and anti-American activity in the United States.” The memo also noted that countries willing to accept third-country nationals deported from the U.S. or to enter “safe third country” agreements may be able to address the concerns raised.

If implemented, the expanded list would add to a June 4 proclamation that fully restricted entry from Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan, and partially restricted entry from Burundi and Togo. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, have condemned the move as discriminatory, citing the high number of African and Caribbean countries affected. The Trump administration has not commented publicly on the memo.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/06/14/trump-travel-ban-expansion/