#Ethiopia: PM Abiy confirms #GERD inauguration in September, invites #Egypt, #Sudan, and all Nile Basin countries to attend

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed confirmed today that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will be inaugurated in September following the end of the current rainy season, and extended a formal invitation to Egypt, Sudan, and all Nile Basin countriesto attend the ceremony.

Speaking during a question-and-answer session with members of parliament, the Prime Minister said, “Because Parliament is the highest organ, I am extending an invitation in front of this Parliament for Egypt, Sudan, and all Nile Basin countries to join in the inauguration.”

Reaffirming Ethiopia’s position, Prime Minister Abiy emphasized that the GERD will not cause harm to downstream nations. The Aswan Dam has not lost a single liter of water, he said, adding that Ethiopia has “no desire for either Egypt or Sudan to be harmed.”

PM Abiy says #Ethiopia to begin supplying domestically produced gas for first time as export ambition shift to domestic consumption

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that Ethiopia will soon begin supplying domestically produced natural gas to the market for the first time.

The government has partnered with private companies to develop gas resources in the Somali Regional State’s Ogaden Basin, where Ethiopia received its first gas reserves certificate confirming the presence of seven trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas.

PM Abiy said today that the first phase of production has been completed and is expected to be “inaugurated soon.”

The Ogaden oil and gas exploration has been facing criticisms for years, including from the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) over lack of transparency, public safety and the renewed engagement with Chinese company Poly-GCL. The group recently denounced a meeting held between the Chinese company Poly-GCL and local Somali region officials, calling it an attempt to “plunder Somali resources” while ignoring the political rights of the Somali people.

Today’s announcement by PM Abiy also came as a recent report revealed that Ethiopia has abandoned its earlier ambitious plan to export natural gas through a pipeline to Djibouti, a project halted mainly due to funding shortages and delays. Instead, the government is now prioritizing domestic utilization of its gas reserves, focusing on fertilizer production and electricity generation to boost local development.

This pivot aligns with recent news that of a $3 billion agreement with Dangote Industries to build a large fertilizer plant in the Somali Region. Prime Minister Abiy said the inauguration of a new fertilizer factory will be held after 40 months.

https://addisstandard.com/pm-abiy-says-ethiopia-to-begin-supplying-domestically-produced-gas-for-first-time-as-export-ambition-shift-to-domestic-consumption/

#Ethiopia: PM Abiy likens economic reform challenges to painful chemotherapy treatment

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed compared the challenges facing the ongoing economic reform his administration started in the summer of 2024 to battling cancer that cannot be cured with just painkillers.

“When this reform started, I said it would be painful. It’s a disease like a cancer. We cannot treat cancer with painkillers,” he said addressing lawmakers.

He explained that just as chemotherapy is itself a harsh treatment but necessary for cure, so too is the reform an exhausting ordeal that tests resilience.

“A person who believes this [treatment] and endures the difficult treatment does so with the thought that they will find a cure after that terrible and exhausting ordeal.”

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#Ethiopia: PM Abiy repeats pursuit of sea access peacefully, dismisses war specters with #Eritrea

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed repeated that Ethiopia’s pursuit of access to the sea will only be through peaceful means, while emphasizing the country’s sovereign right to this vital goal.

“Our desire is to sow good seeds. We want access to sea based on the principle of mutual benefit, not by force,” he told parliamentarians, stressing the need for cooperation and respect for neighbors’ sovereignty.

Addressing concerns over possible conflict with Eritrea, PM Abiy dismissed fears of war, saying, “We do not desire any conflict on our part; they should also do the same.”

He also highlighted Ethiopia’s capacity to defend itself while underscoring “seven years” of peaceful relations with neighboring countries.

The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid rising diplomatic tensions. Last week Eritrea accused Ethiopia of provocative actions and military posturing.

Despite the rhetoric, PM Abiy stressed Ethiopia’s commitment to peace and shared growth: “We want to live in peace with all our neighbors. However, if there is anything that threatens our peace, Ethiopia has sufficient capacity to defend itself.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51246

#Ethiopia: PM Abiy tells religious leaders, stakeholders to ‘act now’ to prevent war in #Tigray; warns it will be ‘worthless after conflict begins”

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today issued a call to all religious leaders across Ethiopia to immediately intervene to prevent the escalation of conflict in Tigray, warning that any efforts to speak after war breaks out would be futile.

Speaking during the 42th regular session of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, PM Abiy responded to questions from parliamentarians on the current tensions in the war-torn Tigray region, urging, “you have no other work. Immediately start your work now to prevent Tigray from entering conflict, from entering war; it will be worthless if you speak after it begins.”

The Prime Minister also called on investors, diplomats, scholars, and embassies to play proactive roles in averting conflict. “Because if it starts, it will not be what we knew before; things will deteriorate,” he cautioned.

https://addisstandard.com/pm-abiy-tells-religious-leaders-stakeholders-to-act-now-to-prevent-war-in-tigray-warns-it-will-be-worthless-after-conflict-begins/?amp=1

#Ethiopia: #AfDB approves $50M trade finance guarantee to boost SMEs, local corporates via #Awash_Bank

The African Development Bank has approved a $50 million Trade Finance Transaction Guarantee Facility to support Awash Bank’s trade finance operations in Ethiopia.

In a statement sent to Addis Standard, the Bank said the facility aims to boost access to import financing for SMEs and local corporates while strengthening intra-African trade. “Trade finance is an important driver of economic growth,” said Lamin Drammeh, AfDB’s Head of Trade Finance. “We are delighted to work with Awash, a strong partner with deep knowledge and networks in Ethiopia.”

Awash Bank CEO Tsehay Shiferaw said the AfDB facility will ease the need for cash collateral and boost liquidity. “It will enable us to support more trade clients and strengthen our relationships with international and African confirming banks,” he said.

Just days ago, Awash Bank announced it has generated over 22 billion birr in pre-tax, unaudited profit for the 2024/25 fiscal year. The bank recorded a 77% growth in total income, reaching 64 billion birr.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51257

Analysis: Calls for peace, restrain echo as intra-faction rifts threaten Tigray’s fragile peace

As internal rifts deepen in Tigray, civil society organizations have issued a public campaign under the banner “Peace and Dialogue”, urging an end to escalating tensions.

In a joint statement, groups including Solidarity of Tigrayans for Independence and Liberty and Voice for Democracy and Social Justice cautioned that the region risks sliding back into an intra-factional conflict if dialogue is not prioritized. “Let us all refrain from inflammatory speech, condemn those who incite such speech, and deny them recognition and attention,” the groups pleaded.

Opposition party Salsay Weyane Tigray echoed the alarm, calling the current moment “a path of mutual destruction.” The party urged all political actors to urgently return to “civilized dialogue” and warned that Tigray “cannot find a solution through violence.” Leake Zegeye of Solidarity of Tigrayans emphasized to Addis Standard, “Our recommendation is dialogue. That is the only way differences can be settled amicably.”

His remarks follow reports of a new armed group, Tigray Peace Force, entering the region from Afar under the command of Brig. Gen. Gebreegzabher Beyene. This week saw an incident in and around Sen’ale Tabia in the Wajerat district, in southern Tigray, where tensions were reported between Tigrayan forces and armed forces affiliated with the Tigray Peace Force, prompting the call from the civil society groups.

Last week, Lt. Gen. Fiseha Kidanu, Head of the Tigray Security Bureau, during his address at the Tigray Martyrs’ Memorial Day in Asgede, northwestern Tigray called on the forces in Afar to return home. He accused, “the Ethiopian government is supporting forces in Afar, Amhara and in Tselemti parts of Tigray to incite conflict between each other.”

However, speaking in parliament today, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed distanced the federal government and urged all stakeholders to “act now”. He warned that “it will be worthless if you speak after it begins.”
https://addisstandard.com/calls-for-peace-retrain-echo-as-intra-faction-rifts-threaten-tigrays-fragile-peace/

#Ethiopia: Parliament approves record 1.93 trillion birr budget for 2025/26

Yesterday, parliament approved a record 1.93 trillion birr budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year, earmarking 1.183 trillion birr for recurrent expenditures, 415.2 billion for capital projects, 314.6 billion for regional subsidies, and 14 billion for SDGs. However, a recent commentary published by Addis Standard argues that beneath the headline figure lies a “notable shift in fiscal priorities,” with recurrent spending now accounting for 61.4% of the total budget—nearly double its 26.2% share from seven years ago.

In contrast, allocations for regional subsidies have dropped significantly to 16.3% from 39.4%, while capital expenditure has declined from 32.7% to 21.6%. According to the commentary, this shift reflects “a growing prioritization of administrative and operational expenditures at the direct expense of development-oriented investments.”

Follow the link to read the full commentary.

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

#Trump to host five #African leaders next week to discuss 'commercial opportunities'

U.S. President Donald Trump will host leaders from five African nations in Washington next week to discuss "commercial opportunities," a White House official said on Wednesday.

Trump will host leaders from #Gabon, #Guinea_Bissau, #Liberia, #Mauritania and #Senegal for a discussion and lunch at the White House on July 9, the official said.

"President Trump believes that African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities which benefit both the American people and our African partners," the official said, referring to the reasons why the meeting was arranged.

Africa Intelligence and Semafor reported earlier that the Trump administration would hold a summit for the five countries in Washington from July 9-11.

On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. was abandoning what he called a charity-based foreign aid model and will favor those nations that demonstrate "both the ability and willingness to help themselves."

U.S. envoys in Africa will be rated on commercial deals struck, African Affairs senior bureau official Troy Fitrel said in May, describing it as the new strategy for support on the continent.

The Trump administration has axed swaths of U.S. foreign aid for Africa as part of a plan to curb spending it considers wasteful and not aligned with Trump's "America First" policies. It says it wants to focus on trade and investment and to drive mutual prosperity.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/first-trump-africa-summit-be-held-next-week-semafor-reports-2025-07-02/

#USAID officially closes, attracting condemnation from Obama and Bush

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has officially closed its doors after President Donald Trump gradually dismantled the agency over its allegedly wasteful spending.

More than 80% of all the agency's programmes were cancelled as of March, and on Tuesday the remainder were formally absorbed by the state department.

The shuttering of USAID - which administered aid for the US government, the world's largest such provider - has been newly criticised by former Presidents Barack Obama and George W Bush.

These aid cuts could cause more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to a warning published by researchers in the Lancet medical journal.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c307zq8ppj6o

#Ethiopia: South Korea donates 12,000 MT of rice to WFP Ethiopia amid critical funding gaps

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received 12,000 metric tons of rice from the government of South Korea to support refugee and relief operations in Ethiopia’s Afar and Somali regions. The donation comes amid a deepening funding shortfall that continues to disrupt WFP’s humanitarian activities across the country.

According to WFP, the rice shipment will help provide urgently needed food assistance to an estimated 400,000 vulnerable people in the Somali region and 330,000 refugees hosted in camps across the Afar and Somali regions.

WFP has been struggling to sustain operations in Ethiopia due to mounting funding constraints. In May, the agency warned of a looming pipeline break by June and announced the closure of its field office in Shire, northwestern Tigray a major hub for humanitarian operations and home to one of the largest internally displaced populations in the region.

https://addisstandard.com/south-korea-donates-12000mt-of-rice-to-wfp-ethiopia-amid-critical-funding-gaps/

#South_Sudan: Supreme Court clears deportations to conflict-ridden South Sudan

The Supreme Court on Thursday reinforced its order allowing the #Trump administration to deport migrants to countries other than their own without a “meaningful opportunity” to raise fear-based claims of torture.

The court’s action clears the way for the deportation of eight men being held in a makeshift detention center at a U.S. naval base in East Africa to conflict-ridden South Sudan. Their fate was unclear after the justices initially gave the go-ahead in late June for Trump officials to deport immigrants to third countries where they have no connection.

The administration’s top advocate at the court asked the justices to quickly clarify their earlier ruling that temporarily halted a judge’s order requiring the government to provide migrants more time to raise concerns about being sent to war-torn countries.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/07/03/supreme-court-deportations-south-sudan/

#Ethiopia agrees $1 billion financing deal with World Bank

Ethiopia said on Friday that it had signed a $1 billion financing agreement with the World Bank to support its economic reform programme and boost growth.

The money will bolster government efforts to ensure financial sector stability, enhance trade competitiveness and strengthen domestic resource mobilization, Ethiopia's finance ministry said in a post on Facebook.

The World Bank said in a statement that the financing comprised a $650 million grant and a $350 million concessional loan.

It said that subject to board approval and resource availability, the World Bank Group's International Development Association expects to give Ethiopia roughly $5 billion in new financing over the next three fiscal years.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ethiopia-says-it-agrees-1-billion-financing-deal-with-world-bank-2025-07-04/

#Ethiopia accuses #Eritrea, #TPLF faction, and armed groups of plotting rainy season ‘major offensive’, decries ‘territorial occupation’

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, a faction of the TPLF, and allied armed groups of plotting a “major offensive” during the upcoming rainy season. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos condemned Eritrea’s “territorial occupation,” “repeated provocations,” and support for subversive groups, calling these actions a clear violation of international law.

Gedion warned that Eritrea’s alleged destabilizing activities threaten to unravel the fragile peace in the Horn of Africa, despite Ethiopia’s restraint and continued diplomatic outreach.

Gedion’s letter discusses about “Ethiopia’s efforts” at normalization following the 2018 peace declaration and its commitment to peace after the 2022 Pretoria Agreement that ended the brutal war in Tigray. However, the Foreign Minister accused Eritrea of reversing course - blocking flights, freezing assets, and backing armed proxies.

Eritrean forces fought alongside Ethiopian forces in the war in Tigray and stand accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. A newly released report also presented detailed evidence indicating that Eritrea’s leaders actively planned and prepared for the war well before hostilities erupted.

With diplomatic relations already cooling off in post-Pretoria, Ethiopia is now directly accusing Eritrea of using the war as “an opportunity to weaken Ethiopia,” and that it “began to adopt an increasingly hostile posture,” following the signing of the Pretoria agreement.

Last week Eritrea dismissed the allegations as a “transparent ploy” and accused Ethiopia of saber-rattling and seeking access to Eritrean ports by force.

Despite these accusations, on Thursday, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reaffirmed to lawmakers Ethiopia’s peaceful pursuit of sea access while rejecting claims of imminent war with Eritrean

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51271

#AS_Editorial: No exit through war - #Ethiopia and #Eritrea must step back from the brink

Seven years ago, this publication warned against romanticized quick fixes to the Ethiopia–Eritrea stalemate. We cautioned that gestures lacking concrete implementation, transparency, and restraint would fail to end the two-decade “no-war, no-peace” deadlock.

In a stark warning, we repeat the message, and urge Ethiopia and Eritrea to step back from the brink of renewed conflict. There is no exit through war.

We argue that the wounds of the war in Tigray remain raw and that marching toward another one while these wounds continue to fester is both morally indefensible and strategically reckless.

The path forward is a step backward. There is a need for urgent and full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement, including verifiable withdrawal of Eritrean and Amhara forces from Tigray, disarmament, and transparent AU-led monitoring.

Moreover, the 2018 détente between Ethiopia and Eritrea must be fully declassified. Any undisclosed annexes or implementation frameworks, particularly those related to port usage, military cooperation, or Ethiopia’s acceptance of the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission ruling, must be made public. Only transparency can build the trust essential to avoiding further escalation.

At the same time, Ethiopia must exhaust all peaceful means to settle internal armed conflicts. It must resolve its crises with the OLA, Fano, and other armed actors, and avoid diverting national attention to external confrontation.

To the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea, we say: war over access to the Red Sea, or the intransigence claims of its sovereignty, will not make your respective countries freer, safer, prosperous, or stronger. It will make both poorer, weaker, and more isolated.

History will not forgive leaders who drag their nations into yet another devastating war. Nor will their people. The time to step back is now.

https://addisstandard.com/editorial-no-exit-through-war-ethiopia-and-eritrea-must-step-back-from-the-brink/

#Opinion: Beyond the Applause: Binary framing of dark past, renewed present overshadows real reform in #Somali region

The Somali Regional State in #Ethiopia has made strides in political stability, particularly following the 2018 peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (#ONLF). However, Hussien Mohamed Yusuf, the author of this opinion piece, argues that regional leaders often frame this progress under the slogan “after the change,” presenting a stark dichotomy between “a dark past and a supposedly reformed present.” This binary framing, according to him, risks oversimplifying a complex political transition and deflects attention from the pressing realities of governance today.

While acknowledging the validity of highlighting past abuses, such as those epitomized by “Jeel Ogaden,” the author contends that instead of focusing on the cessation of such practices, the administration ought to demonstrate "what is being built in its place." This, he writes, entails “proving expanded civic freedoms, effective checks and balances, and improved public services, justice, and inclusive development.”

The author points out that recent arrests of journalists and activists raise concerns regarding the “contraction of civic space.” He states, “If the region is indeed moving ‘after the change,’ then the hallmarks of such change must include respect for dissent, the protection of free expression, and an embrace of participatory governance.” Yusuf further elaborates, “Constructive criticism is not an attack—it is a cornerstone of democratic governance."

He asserts that the region needs "transformation, not triumphalism." The author concludes with the message that “Leadership must evolve from reactive posturing to proactive planning,” adding that “This requires embracing constructive accountability—an approach that acknowledges past injustices without exploiting them, that celebrates achievements without exaggeration, and that responds to current challenges with humility and resolve.”


https://addisstandard.com/beyond-the-applause-binary-framing-of-dark-past-renewed-present-overshadows-real-reform-in-somali-region/

News: #UN rejects #Eritrea’s attempt to end Special Rapporteur; #Ethiopia among countries to vote in favor

The UN Human Rights Council has on Friday voted to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea, rejecting Eritrea’s push to terminate international scrutiny.

Ethiopia was among 25 countries that voted to renew the mandate, dealing a blow to Asmara’s claim that rights abuses are not systemic. Rights groups, including HRW, welcomed the decision, warning that Eritrea’s persistent deflection and denial only underscore the urgency for continued monitoring.

The renewed mandate comes amid fresh evidence of widespread abuses. In his June report, the Special Rapporteur detailed arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and indefinite military connoscription, practices widely described as “systematic and widespread.”

The report also highlighted that Eritrean forces continue to operate in parts of Tigray, committing violations with impunity nearly two years after the Pretoria Agreement was signed to end the war.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51286

#Ethiopia: #Bahir_Dar high court grants extended remand, investigation period in case of Dr. Daniel Fentahun

The Bahir Dar High Court in the #Amhara region has granted an additional 5-day remand and investigation period in the case of Dr. Daniel Fentahun, a prominent gynecology and obstetrics resident at Bahir Dar University accused of leading a strike by healthcare workers.

Dr. Daniel, widely known as “Dr. Debol,” was detained on 25 June and has since been charged with “inciting, mobilizing, and organizing” a protest that authorities allege caused “loss of life.”

At his latest court appearance on 3 July, police requested more time, citing “pending matters requiring clarification.” The court adjourned the case to 10 July. Family members told Addis Standard they are “confused” by the charges, describing Dr. Daniel as a “hopeful” and “dedicated” professional who had long been working to support Ethiopia’s healthcare system.

Dr. Daniel is a key voice in the #HealthWorkersMatter movement, which began in May demanding better pay and working conditions.

His arrest came days after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accused unnamed actors of hijacking the health workers’ strike, stating that the movement had been “overtaken by political opportunists.” Other health professionals have also been detained in connection with the strike. Some have since been released.

Amnesty International has called his arrest “arbitrary” and part of a “disturbing trend” of repression.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51290

From #Germany, 'war influencers' incite violence in #Somalia

Somali influencers used social media to spread radical content, urge violence, raise cash for arms and glorify war in Somalia - all from Germany, a joint investigation by DW and German public broadcaster ARD found.

Ayub Abdirizak - or "Kabtan Ayub," as he is known to his social media followers - can easily reach hundreds of thousands of people with his posts on TikTok and Facebook. His messages often carry a blend of hatred for rival clans in Somalia and incitement to violence against them.

And he built his social media career in Germany, where he arrived in 2017 and remained for about seven years, operating under the radar of authorities while encouraging bloodshed back home.

"Take the guns and fight," Ayub urges his followers in a video he posted in late 2022. Offering what he calls practical advice from personal experience, he tells fighters to climb tall buildings to spot enemies at a distance. "Shoot any person on the highway once you see they are wearing a military uniform," he says. And it's not just the military who is the enemy in this scenario, Ayub tells his audience: People who refuse to let them enter buildings to take their rooftop positions should be "shot on the forehead" and left with a "bullet mark on his face."

As now uncovered by DW's investigative team in collaboration with the German public broadcaster ARD, German authorities eventually took notice of Ayub's efforts at incitement. We set out to trace his path - and study the destructive influence he wields. The investigation also examined the reach of another war influencer who continues to use Germany as a haven to call for violence back in Somalia.

https://www.dw.com/en/somalia-germany-war-influencers-violence-social-media-facebook-tiktok/a-73137140

#Sudanese official accuses #Ethiopian militias of making new border incursions

Ethiopian militias backed by their country’s army have made new incursions into fertile Sudanese farmland, blocking local farmers from their fields and exploiting a security vacuum caused by Sudan’s internal war, a senior Sudanese official said.

“There is a new incursion by Ethiopian militias into the same lands that were previously recovered by the army,” Mubarak Al-Nour, VP of the Eastern Sudan Coordination Committee, told the local Sudan Tribune news outlet. He called on Sudan’s Sovereign Council and military to take “necessary measures” to protect the border and re-establish state control, according to the report.

Al-Nour said Ethiopian farmers were actively clearing land under the protection of the Ethiopian army after expelling their Sudanese counterparts. He warned the moves coincide with the start of the rainy season and could jeopardize the area’s agricultural output.

https://sudantribune.com/article302566/

‘‘#China ready to promote flagship Belt and Road project, boost trade, investment with #Ethiopia ’’ Premier Li

#China stands ready to work with #Ethiopia to promote the sustainable development of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, a flagship project of the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and expand bilateral trade and investment, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday.

China will, as always, support Ethiopia in independently exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, work with Ethiopia to deepen cooperation in infrastructure, new energy vehicles, green industries, e-commerce and artificial intelligence, and intensify exchanges in tourism, youth, education and other fields, Li said.

https://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2025-07/06/content_117964598.shtml