#Ethiopia: Over 24 hectares of forest burned in Eastern #Tigray; officials report no federal intervention despite appeal

A forest fire that crossed into Eastern Tigray from the #Afar region has burned more than 24 hectares of forest land, with local officials warning that the blaze “is still ongoing” and could spread further into the ecologically critical Desa’a forest if not contained in time.

Speaking to Tigrai Television, Hailay Gebramariam, Deputy Administrator of the Eastern Tigray Zone, said the fire had already “damaged over 24 hectares of forest” in Kala’amin Kebele of Atsbi district after crossing from Bermiti Kebele in Berahle district, Afar region. “The fire is still burning,” he said, warning that it “threatens to burn additional areas of the Desa’a forest.”

The Tigray Regional Disaster Risk Management Commission, in a letter addressed to the Federal Disaster Risk Management Commission, stated that “uncontrolled forest fires have occurred” and warned that “due to strong winds, the fire is rapidly spreading to other areas.” The Commission noted that “community mobilization and fire truck positioning” were “absolutely unsuitable and impossible,” and requested urgent coordination with federal ministries to support “helicopter spraying” efforts to bring the fire “under control.”

Despite this formal appeal, Gebru Kahsay, Deputy Head of the Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau, told Addis Standard that “there has been no response” from the federal government. “Currently, the public is trying to control the fire through cooperation,” he said. “There are hopes that the federal government will be able to help. So far, there has been no practical action.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51117

#UN peacekeeping chief warns that conflict in #Sudan is spilling into Central #African Republic

The conflict in Sudan is spilling across its southwestern border into Central African Republic, a country already battered by its own conflict with rebels, the United Nations peacekeeping chief warned Thursday.

Undersecretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the U.N. Security Council that the attack that killed a U.N. peacekeeper near the country's border with Sudan last Friday was carried out by “armed Sudanese elements.” His comments were the first identifying Sudanese armed fighters as responsible for the attack on the peacekeepers.


https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/peacekeeping-chief-warns-conflict-sudan-spilling-central-african-123261260

#Ethiopia: Drivers report worsening fuel shortage, long queues across regions as fuel subsidy removal sparks concerns

Drivers across multiple regions of Ethiopia have told Addis Standard that they are facing “severe diesel shortages,” with long queues and limited supply reported in cities across the #Amhara, #Oromia, and #Tigray regions.

In Bahir Dar, a driver who requested anonymity said his work has been interrupted by the fuel shortage. “I have been waiting in a long queue since morning to get diesel,” he said, adding that “the queue hasn’t decreased, not even slightly.” He further stated, “fuel is being sold on the black market at double the price,” and noted that shortages “have been widespread in the city for the past two years.”

In Adama, Oromia region, a driver named Jibril Ahmed told Addis Standard that “there is practically no gasoline” in the city. While diesel is available, he said, it comes with “similarly long queues.” He added, “today I went out to fill up with gasoline, waited in a long queue, and when my turn came, I was told there was none.” Jibril said the shortages have worsened recently, stating, “the past two weeks have been particularly difficult.”

Meanwhile in Tigray, the region’s Interim Administration Education Bureau warned of serious disruptions to student transport for the national 12th-grade examination. In a letter sent on June 26, the bureau said that “fuel shortages in the region are creating serious challenges,” particularly for “transporting students to examination centers and returning them to their families.” It cautioned that the shortage is “approaching complete unavailability,” and called on federal bodies “to coordinate” and ensure students are able to sit for the exam.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51131

#Somaliland’s President lands in #Doha, #Qatar for high-level security, investment talks

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro) has arrived in Doha, Qatar, for a historic official visit, the first of its kind by a Somaliland head of state.

Invited by the Qatari government, President Cirro is accompanied by a high-level delegation including key ministers and advisers. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties, with a focus on strategic talks covering regional security in the #Red_Sea and #Gulf_of_Aden, as well as economic cooperation in infrastructure, energy, and development.

The trip marks a major milestone in Somaliland’s broader foreign policy ambitions, as it seeks deeper diplomatic and economic engagement in the Gulf region, according to Somaliland's national broadcaster.

Meetings with senior Qatari officials are expected to pave the way for enhanced cooperation in both security and humanitarian sectors.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51141

#Ethiopia: Dr. Daniel Fentaneh charged with “inciting, mobilizing, and organizing” health workers’ strike; court grants five-day remand for investigation

Dr. Daniel Fentaneh, a gynecology and obstetrics resident at Bahir Dar University and an active participant in Ethiopia’s health professionals’ movement, appeared in court on Friday, 27 June, where police filed charges accusing him of “inciting, mobilizing, and organizing” a strike by healthcare workers that, according to court filings, resulted in the “loss of human life.”

A source close to the matter told Addis Standard that during the session, Dr. Daniel requested to be transferred from the 13th Police Station in Bahir Dar, where he had been held since his arrest, to Sebatamit Detention Center, reportedly stating that he was being detained “in a narrow room with 16 people.” The source added that during the same session, police asked the court for additional time to carry out their investigation. The court granted a five-day remand, the source said, allowing investigators to continue holding Dr. Daniel in custody.

Dr. Daniel, better known by his social media handle “Dr. Debol,” was arrested on Wednesday around 1:30 p.m. in Bahir Dar city by security forces. He was an active participant in the Ethiopian Health Professionals’ Movement through the Facebook platform “Dr. Debol,” which gained traction among health professionals and the public during the health workers’ strike that began on 13 May, demanding improved pay, better working conditions, and protection of professional rights.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51138

#Ethiopian Airlines flight makes emergency landing in #Mumbai; 7 passengers fall ill, one hospitalised

A Mumbai-bound Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa made an emergency landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 1:42 am on Friday after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner experienced a mid-air cabin depressurization.

The incident occurred aboard flight ET640, operated by aircraft ET-AXS, while cruising at 33,000 feet over the Arabian Sea. The aircraft underwent a rapid descent after the depressurization warning was triggered, according to data from Flightradar24.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/ethiopian-airlines-flight-makes-emergency-landing-in-mumbai-7-passengers-fall-ill-one-hospitalised/cid/2110379

#Op_ed: Breaking the cycle: Plea for peace, unity, and inclusive dialogue in #Tigray

Tigray stands at a perilous crossroads—threatened not by an external adversary, but by a deepening rift within its own leadership, writes Guanshe Hadgu in this op-ed, authored in collaboration with Human Rights First and the Solidarity of Tigreans for Independence and Liberty. The article traces the origin of the current crisis to internal divisions within the #TPLF that emerged in mid-2024. While tensions have somewhat eased following the appointment of Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede as interim president in April 2025, replacing Getachew Reda, the author stresses that the political discord has now fractured the very security forces that once fought side by side, being inflamed by “external actors.”

“The most dangerous threat now is the widening rift within Tigray’s leadership and the fragmentation of its security forces,” he writes, warning that “this internal discord is a looming crisis. Should it escalate, it won’t be a fight for freedom—it will be a fratricidal war, inflicting total, irreversible devastation.”

Guanshe stresses that the people of Tigray are unable to bear the weight of further violence. Beyond the political turmoil, he highlights the mounting social toll: soaring prices, collapsing public services, and hundreds of thousands of #IDPs living in uncertainty. In addition, school enrollment has plummeted to just 40% of eligible students, and women continue to endure grave injustices, including sexual violence and economic exploitation.

“This is not just political—it’s a profound moral crisis,” he writes. The path forward, the author argues, lies in unity and collective responsibility: “Every citizen has a role. We must reject propaganda, question calls to violence, and educate our youth: civil war means devastation, not glory.” He concludes with a sense of urgency and hope: “Let this moment be remembered in history as the point when Tigray said, ‘Enough.’”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51155

#Kenya Executes Power Transit Trial from #Ethiopia to #Tanzania, Testing Regional Grid’s Strength

Kenya has completed a successful trial to transmit 50 megawatts of electricity from Ethiopia to Tanzania through its national grid, a key step in the region’s push for integrated power markets.

The electricity flowed through Kenya’s 400-kV Suswa–Isinya transmission line, operated by the state-owned Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO), which saw its load rise from 225 MW to 262 MW during the trial.
The test comes months after a December 2024 blackout that paralyzed much of Kenya and was blamed on a fault in the Kenya–Tanzania interconnection.

The corridor now connects Ethiopia to Tanzania through Kenya, forming one of the region’s most strategic transmission paths. The infrastructure was financed by the National Treasury along with development lenders including the World Bank, African Development Bank, French Development Agency, and European Investment Bank.

https://kenyanwallstreet.com/kenya-executes-power-transit-trial-from-ethiopia-to-tanzania-testing-regional-grids-strength/

#Ethiopia: #UN condemns killing of aid worker in #Amhara; calls for protection of aid personnel

The United Nations has condemned the killing of Mahelet Sitotaw Abera, a humanitarian worker who, according to the UN, was fatally wounded “during a crossfire between government forces and non-state armed groups” on 20 June in Angot District, North Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region.

In a statement released on 26 June, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ethiopia ad interim, Abibatou Wane-Fall, said Mahelet was “on duty supporting humanitarian data collection” when the incident occurred. She was working with the Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA), a local NGO. Wane-Fall added that she was “critically injured” around 10:00 a.m. and, despite being “quickly transported to Weldiya for urgent medical care,” she “succumbed to her injuries later that afternoon.”

Wane-Fall expressed her condolences to the victim’s family and humanitarian community, stating, “My deepest sympathies go to the family of the deceased and the entire humanitarian community in Ethiopia.” She stressed that “all feasible measures must be taken to protect civilians and those delivering critical humanitarian assistance,” and called for respect of humanitarian norms, underscoring that “the Humanitarian Code of Conduct must also be respected by all stakeholders.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51161

#Ethiopia's mining boom causes power outage

Ethiopia is seeing growing power supplу problems due to the countrу's crуptocurrencу mining boom. According to a recentlу published 2025 energу forecast for Ethiopia, electricitу consumption bу mining companies will exceed eight terawatt hours (TWh) this уear, equivalent to about З0% of total national demand.


The report was prepared bу the countrу’s Petroleum and Energу Authoritу, which questions whether such use is worthwhile. The crуptocurrencу mining boom began in 2022 after the National Bank of Ethiopia banned crуptocurrencу trading. Authorities saw mining operations as a waу to earn foreign currencу and develop digital infrastructure, but the huge energу consumption theу cause has led to debate about their effectiveness.


Despite Ethiopia’s manу goals and large-scale infrastructure programs, progress in electrifуing the countrу has been slow in recent уears. Almost 50% of the population lacks access to reliable electricitу, and onlу 22% have legal electricitу through a meter. Some 15 million households are still waiting to be connected to the grid.

https://happycoin.club/en/bum-majninga-v-efiopii-privyol-k-pereboyam-s-elektroenergiej/

Federal government admits peace in #Amhara ‘not fully secured’; warns of ‘threat of kidnapping’, ‘less than conducive’ conditions

The federal government of Ethiopia has admitted that peace in the war-torn Amhara region “has not been fully secured as the people desire,” and that civilian movement “has not been completely freed from the threat of kidnapping and looting.”

In a statement issued on 29 June, the Federal Government Communication Service also said that “children in the region have not fully returned to school” and added that development conditions remain “less than conducive.”

The statement followed demonstrations held on 28 June in several parts of the Amhara region under the slogan “Peace for all; all for peace.” According to the government, the protests were organized so that the public could “make their grievances clearly heard,” and it acknowledged that while “relative peace prevails,” the security situation “has not been fully secured as the people desire.”

https://addisstandard.com/federal-government-admits-peace-in-amhara-not-fully-secured-warns-of-threat-of-kidnapping-less-than-conducive-conditions/

#WFP warns #Sudan refugees face rising hunger as food aid faces major cuts

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that millions of Sudanese refugees who have fled to neighboring countries risk plunging deeper into hunger and malnutrition as critical funding shortages force drastic cuts to life-saving food assistance.

Since the conflict erupted in Sudan in April 2023, more than 4 million people have fled to neighboring countries in search of food, shelter, and safety—with families often arriving traumatized, malnourished, and with little more than the clothes on their backs.

WFP quickly mobilized to provide emergency assistance to refugees escaping to seven neighboring countries. Food and cash, hot meals, and nutrition support have been provided in the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan, and Uganda.

Read more at
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1939684560955998685?t=b7AVvzfXL2tCRKBHbGvdsQ&s=19

#Ethiopia: #Eritrean leaders orchestrated industrial-scale looting operations in #Tigray, alongside atrocities: new report

A new report by The Sentry has detailed evidence implicating Eritrean leaders in the premeditated planning of the devastating war in Tigray and in orchestrating what it calls “industrial-scale looting” during and after the war.

The Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) are also accused of trafficking gold, antiquities, and even human beings while committing atrocities including gang rape, torture, and mutilation. “The EDF were responsible at the highest levels for systematic looting and cross-border war profiteering amid a campaign of extreme brutality,” said Charles Cater, Director of Investigations at The Sentry.

“By 2024, the situation in Tigray had changed irrevocably. With parts of Tigray still under the control of the EDF, including multiple areas officially licensed for exploration by the federal government's Ministry of Mining in 2023 and 2024, competition over gold had grown increasingly complex and violent. According to the Tigray Land and Mining Bureau, an estimated $75-80 million worth of gold was being produced and diverted to the black market annually,” the report said.

The report also warns that Eritrea is now “rebuilding its military, bolstering its defenses, and continuing to destabilize its neighbors.”

John Prendergast, Co-Founder of The Sentry, warned that “Tigray is on the precipice of another – preventable - armed conflict.” He urged urgent international action, stating, “Mediation should be complemented with the threat and imposition of targeted network sanctions on those responsible for escalating the crisis and those who have profited from it.”

The report calls on the UN Security Council and key states to act swiftly to prevent renewed war and hold perpetrators accountable.
https://addisstandard.com/eritrean-leaders-orchestrated-industrial-scale-looting-operations-in-tigray-alongside-atrocities-new-report/

#Ethiopia: Human Rights First alleges "arbitrary arrests" targeting #Tigrayan youths in #Addis_Abeba

Human Rights First, a local rights organization, has alleged that authorities in Addis Abeba are carrying out “arbitrary arrests” targeting Tigrayan youths “solely based on their identity,” without formal charges or court appearances. Tesfalem Berehe, the group’s director, told Addis Standard that the organization was “contacted directly by victims and their families” after initially observing reports “circulating on social media.” He said that through interviews with former detainees, “a deeply concerning pattern emerged.”

According to Tesfalem, many remain in detention in several areas across the capital, including Hana Mariam in Kotebe Sub-City, Kality, Nifas Silk Lafto, Merkato, and Teklehaymanot in Addis Ketema Sub-City. A former detainee who spoke to Addis Standard said he was arrested on 21 June near Mekane Selam Kindergarten in Piassa, after police checked his ID and said his father’s name “sounded Tigrayan.” He said he was held with others, some of whom were “drivers who had been stopped and taken from their vehicles.”

In a report released on 30 June, the organization cited multiple cases, including “a minibus driver who was arrested on suspicion of being Eritrean,” despite, it said, “providing proof of Ethiopian citizenship.” The driver, according to the group, was released after five days when his employer intervened. Human Rights First stated that “many of those detained are among the more than 56,000 young people who have fled the Tigray region this year,” and warned that Tigrayan youths in the capital face “growing risks of detention.”

Tesfalem said the arrests “violate domestic and international legal standards” and called for “the immediate release of those detained without charge.” The organization urged authorities to “halt the arbitrary arrests” and “end the ethnic profiling of Tigrayans.” Attempts to get a response from the Addis Abeba Police Commission were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51177

#Ethiopia: Rusted screws, metal spikes and plastic rubbish: the horrific sexual violence used against #Tigray’s women

For two years, Tseneat carried her rape inside her. The agony never faded. It attacked her from the inside out. The remnants of the attack stayed in Tseneat’s womb – not as a memory or metaphor, but a set of physical objects:

Eight rusted screws. A steel pair of nail clippers. A note, written in ballpoint pen and wrapped in plastic.

“Sons of Eritrea, we are brave,” the note reads. “We have committed ourselves to this, and we will continue doing it. We will make Tigrayan females infertile.”

The objects, revealed by X-ray and surgically extracted by doctors more than two years later, were forced inside Tseneat as she lay unconscious after being gang-raped by six soldiers.

She is one of tens of thousands of Tigrayan women subjected to the most extreme forms of sexual violence, in attacks designed to destroy their fertility. Medical records and X-rays obtained by the Guardian and reviewed by independent medical specialists show a pattern of cases where women have had foreign bodies forced into their reproductive organs, including nails, screws, plastic rubbish, sand, gravel and letters.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/jun/30/sexual-violence-tigray-women-abuse-gang-rape-ethiopia-eritrea

#Ethiopia: Amnesty calls for ‘immediate and unconditional’ release of Dr. Daniel Fentaneh; warns of ‘disturbing trend’ of repression

Amnesty International has called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of Dr. Daniel Fentaneh, a gynecology and obstetrics resident at Bahir Dar University and an active participant in Ethiopia’s health professionals’ movement, describing his arrest as “arbitrary” and part of a “disturbing trend” of repression.

In a statement issued on 30 June, Amnesty said it is “deeply concerned about the arbitrary arrest and detention” of Dr. Daniel, who was detained on 25 June in Bahir Dar. The rights group stated that his arrest “exemplifies the frequent disregard for the rule of law by Ethiopian authorities who suppress individual freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.”

https://addisstandard.com/amnesty-calls-for-immediate-and-unconditional-release-of-dr-daniel-fentaneh-warns-of-disturbing-trend-of-repression/

#Commentary: Deciphering #Ethiopia’s 1.93 Trillion Birr Budget: Giant leap in recurrent spending, retreat from development funding

On 10 June, 2025, Finance Minister Ahmed Shide presented the government’s proposed budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year to lawmakers, outlining a record 1.93 trillion birr in planned spending. Yet, behind the headline figure lies a significant shift in fiscal priorities, argues Samson Hailu, the author of this commentary. He explains that while the budget represents a 60% nominal increase from the previous year’s 1.25 trillion birr, it heavily prioritizes recurrent spending—expenditures such as salaries and routine operational costs—which now account for a substantial 61.4% of the total budget. This percentage is more than double its share of 26.2% just seven years ago.

In stark contrast, the share of regional subsidies has dropped from 39.4% to 16.3% over the same period. Meanwhile, capital expenditure—crucial for long-term economic growth—has steadily declined, falling from 32.7% in 2018/19 to 21.6% in the proposed 2025/26 budget. The author contends that this major shift reflects “a growing prioritization of administrative and operational expenditures at the direct expense of development-oriented investments.”

He identifies several key drivers behind the expansion of recurrent spending over the past seven years. These include rising defense costs, inflationary pressures—particularly on public sector wages—and increasing debt service obligations, among others. While these expenses might be "necessary to address urgent short-term pressures," Samson argues, they come at the cost of “deferring critical investments.” A budget dominated by such spending, he warns, can “impede the development of essential infrastructure, limit advancements in technology, and restrict the expansion of key sectors such as education and health.” He also cautions that the current fiscal imbalance could pose serious risks to the country’s future, noting, “A high recurrent budget reduces fiscal flexibility and crowds out private sector growth.”

To address this fiscal imbalance, the author underscores the necessity for bold policy choices. These include peaceful conflict resolution, efficient management of the public sector wage bill, increased allocation of funds toward new infrastructure projects, and implementing reforms to enhance private sector access to credit.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51185

#Dangote to establish #fertilizer plant in #Ethiopia

Ethiopia has reached a major agreement with Dangote Industries to establish a large-scale fertilizer plant in the Somali Regional State.

The $3 billion project aims to stabilize local supply chains and enhance agricultural productivity, which has been disrupted in recent years due to fertilizer shortages.

The proposed facility will produce urea and nitrogen-based fertilizers for both domestic use and export. It will be located near the Ethiopia-Djibouti logistics corridor, providing easier access to ports for both raw material imports and fertilizer exports.

This project aligned with Ethiopia’s goal of decentralizing industrial activity and attracting investment to historically underserved regions.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/dangote-to-establish-fertiliser-plant-in-ethiopia/

#Ethiopia eyes $3.5B debt relief as restructuring talks advance, hints at repayments resumption in 2026

Ethiopia is eying $3.5 billion debt relief as a result of debt restructuring negotiations with creditor countries, which has advanced in recent months, Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide told lawmakers on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Ahmed Shide told lawmakers that negotiations with official creditors are nearing completion, and a deal “will be signed soon”.

However, he cautioned that even with the expected restructuring, the actual payments Ethiopia will make on its external debt “will increase”, as the country prepares to resume debt repayments starting next year under revised terms.

Ethiopia has been restructuring $12.4 billion in external debt under the G20’s Common Framework since 2021. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance announced that an agreement in principle had been reached with official creditors to restructure $8.4 billion of the country’s $12.4 billion external debt.

If concluded, the anticipated $3.5 billion debt relief marks a turning point in Ethiopia’s macroeconomic reform program, which began in July 2024.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51196

#Nairobi Railway City project gets boost under renewed #UK-#Kenya deal

Kenya and the United Kingdom have renewed their strategic partnership, setting the momentum for more bilateral trade and investment.

The pact, which succeeds the 2020-2025 framework, is also expected to deliver growth in Information and Communication Technology.

It will also cement the two countries’ joint responses to global and regional peace and security challenges.

This follows a Tuesday meeting between President William Ruto and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom at 10 Downing Street in London.

President Ruto said the partnership will double Kenya-UK trade volumes in the next five years.

“This will be transformative; it will improve mobility, stimulate growth and foster prosperity in the Nairobi Metropolitan.”

He said the financing framework for the project was being finalized, with Kenya undertaking to provide counterpart funding.

https://www.citizen.digital/news/nairobi-railway-city-project-gets-boost-under-renewed-uk-kenya-deal-n365551

#Ethiopia: Lawmakers approve landmark law allowing foreigners to own homes with $150,000 investment threshold

The House of People’s Representatives has approved a landmark proclamation allowing foreign nationals to own immovable residential property in Ethiopia, marking a major policy shift aimed at “attracting foreign investment” and “boosting the housing sector”.

Regardless, some lawmakers voiced concern that the threshold might be “too low,” potentially opening the door to “uncontrolled influx” of foreign nationals.

The new law sets a minimum investment threshold of $150,000 and permits ownership of residences, but not the land itself, in an attempt to maintain Ethiopia’s constitutional principle that land remains collectively owned by the people and government. Foreign ownership is limited to the investor and their immediate family, with regional states responsible for enforcement outside the capital.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51200