#GERD: Giant Ethiopian dam promises greater flood control and water management

The idea of harnessing the Blue Nile’s potential for hydropower generation has a long history in Ethiopia, but neither the technology nor the financial resources existed back then to realize such an ambitious project. The modern conception of the GERD can be traced back to a series of studies and negotiations spanning several decades.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, for instance, the United States Bureau of Reclamation conducted a comprehensive study of the region and recommended several cascading dams along the Blue Nile for hydropower production. But the lack of financing stopped the implementation of such projects. Still, one of the proposed locations, called the border dam, corresponds to the current site of the GERD.

Unfortunately, controversy over the GERD project has overshadowed historical aspirations for collaborative water management among Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan in the Eastern Nile Basin. One attempt at collaboration that did come to fruition is the Cooperative Framework Agreement, which establishes principles for equitable and sustainable water use among some of the other Nile Basin countries.

The framework agreement, which officially went into effect in October 2024, after years of negotiations, was developed by the Nile Basin Initiative, an intergovernmental partnership of Nile Basin countries. This historic development establishes a permanent Nile River Basin Commission to coordinate transboundary water management, but Egypt and Sudan did not sign the agreement.

While the GERD will function as a non-water-consumptive hydroelectric dam that temporarily stores and releases water during power generation, Egypt and Sudan are concerned that this megaproject may jeopardize their water security. Consequently, although Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan have considered various joint projects for the use of Nile water, these efforts all failed, leading the Ethiopian government to build the GERD on its own.

Multifunctional improvements
In addition to its primary function of power generation, the GERD serves multiple crucial purposes. As a flood control measure, it will help regulate the Blue Nile’s flow, mitigating devastating floods in downstream countries, particularly Sudan.

The dam’s improved water management capabilities are expected to increase agricultural productivity through irrigation, benefiting the region as well. Economically, the GERD presents a significant opportunity for Ethiopia to increase its foreign currency earnings by exporting excess power, thus driving overall economic growth.

Perhaps most importantly, from a national perspective, the GERD stands as a symbol of Ethiopian pride and self-reliance, demonstrating the country’s ability to undertake and finance large-scale infrastructure projects independently. This marked a significant shift from reliance on foreign aid to self-driven development.

https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/issues/magazine-issue/article/2025/07/giant-ethiopian-dam-promises-greater-flood-control-and-water-management

#GERD: #Egyptian premier urges #Ethiopian counterpart to finalize agreement on Blue Nile mega-dam

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly called on his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed to finalize an agreement regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that guarantees "no harm to Egypt.”

Madbouly made the remarks during a press conference in Egypt broadcast late Wednesday by the Prime Minister’s office on Facebook.

His comment came in response to a question about his meeting with the Ethiopian prime minister at the BRICS economic summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 6-7.

"There was a group photo of heads of state and government on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. There were protocol arrangements, including handshakes with neighbors, and it happened that Egypt was seated next to Ethiopia and Iran. The photo was cropped to focus on the bilateral image between the Ethiopian and Egyptian prime ministers," Madbouly said.

"Egypt maintains relations with all countries worldwide and does not antagonize anyone. Our relations with all African countries are based on mutual respect. We have repeatedly confirmed that we are not against development in any country, but not at the expense of Egypt’s rights to Nile waters. This is a firm stance,” he added.

The meeting between the two prime ministers occurred amid a longstanding crisis between the countries over Ethiopia’s refusal to sign an agreement on filling and operating the dam.
http://v.aa.com.tr/3626639

Sensational sweeps: #Ethiopia in the women's 5000m at the 2005 World Championships

The 2005 World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland, holds particular significance in the history of sweeps. Not only were podium sweeps achieved in three events, but in two of those – the women’s 5000m and the men’s 200m – the top four spots were secured by athletes from the same nation: a feat never before achieved at the World Championships.

After leading an all-Ethiopian podium in the women’s 10,000m, Tirunesh Dibaba returned to head the first ever women’s World Championships 1-2-3-4 in the 5000m. At the age of 19, she became the first woman to complete the 5000m and 10,000m double.

As well as making history with its ‘foursweep’ and Tirunesh Dibaba double, the women’s 5000m featured one of the best rivalries in women’s international long-distance running. While notable Ethiopian women came before and after Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar, their legacies carry weight in the country today as thousands of young women began running after seeing their success on television or hearing about it on the radio.

After winning her first world 5000m noscript as a 17-year-old in Paris in 2003, Dibaba eyed the double in Helsinki. First up was the 10,000m final on 6 August, which she won ahead of her compatriots Berhane Adere and Ejegayehu Dibaba, Tirunesh’s older sister. Many, however, were more excited for her face off against Defar in the 5000m.

Meseret Defar wanted to claim the world noscript in her Olympic gold medal event, and Tirunesh wanted to become the first woman to prevail in both the 5000m – for which she had a wild card entry as the defending champion – and the 10,000m. https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-championships/tokyo25/news/series/podium-sweep-world-championships-ethiopia-5000m-2005

They fled war in #Ethiopia. Then #American bombs found them

In April, U.S.-made bombs destroyed a detention facility that held Ethiopian migrants in #Yemen, crushing bodies and shredding limbs. Amid official silence, the survivors are left wondering why.

The men awoke in the middle of the night to the roar of warplanes.

Fear was nothing new to Fanta Ali Ahmed, who was trapped with more than 100 migrants in a rickety prison. After civil war reached his home region of #Tigray in Ethiopia in 2020, he had fled along one of the world’s most dangerous smuggling routes.

He had hoped to reach #Saudi_Arabia, across the Red Sea. Instead, as he passed through Yemeni territory ruled by the Houthi militia, he was arrested and sent to a migrant detention center in northern Yemen.

For weeks in March and April of this year, he heard American airstrikes nearby, targeting Yemen in a campaign against the Houthis, who are backed by Iran. But this was the closest the planes had ever come.

Then multiple 250-pound bombs hit the prison on April 28, tearing through the roof, Mr. Fanta fell to the ground, he recalled. At first, he thought he was the only one hurt. He later realized that he was one of the luckier ones. Ten people close to him were killed, while others were left with limbs hanging by shredded skin, he said.

“The place and everyone in it were mangled,” said Mr. Fanta, 32, who survived with two broken legs and a broken arm. “I don’t know why America bombed us.”
More than two months after the attack, which killed at least 60 people and injured 65 more, according to health authorities in the Houthi-led government, few answers have emerged.

The Houthis blamed the United States, and an investigationby The New York Times found that at least three U.S.-made GBU-39 bombs — relatively small, guided munitions that are typically intended to reduce collateral damage — had been used, suggesting that the United States was likely to have carried out the bombing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/12/world/middleeast/ethiopia-yemen-american-bombs.html

#Opinion: Allegations of #TPLF faction's outreach to #Eritrea: Strategic disarray or desperation?

Since mid-2024, reports have surfaced alleging a series of meetings between some Tigrayan political and military figures and representatives of the Eritrean government. The TPLF has categorically denied these claims, asserting that neither the party nor the Tigrayan military has engaged in “secret contact with the Eritrean government.” Perhaps as an attempt to seize on the opportunities these allegations created, #Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister last week accused Eritrea of collaborating with a “faction of the TPLF” to launch coordinated attacks.

Considering the intensity of these allegations, Tsegazeab Kahsu, the author of this opinion piece, asks, “Why then would a faction of the TPLF—a movement forged in war and hardened through decades of ideological rivalry and battlefield bloodshed with Eritrea—now engage with the very regime that unleashed unspeakable atrocities against the Tigrayan people?” He contends that the answer lies not in “grand strategic realignment or any newfound pragmatism,” but rather in “political exhaustion, internal fragmentation, and institutional existentialism.”

The author elaborates that following the signing of the 2022 #Pretoria Peace Agreement, which formally ended the war, the TPLF—"once dominant within Ethiopia’s federal structure"—has devolved into "a regional actor grappling with lost legitimacy, popular resentment, and internal decay." This vacuum of purpose and coherence, Tsegazeab notes, resulted in a “strategic drift.” Amid this drift, he states, “Some of the TPLF faction now view Isaias’s Eritrea not through the lens of history, but as a potential tactical lever—a counterweight to increasing pressure from the Ethiopian federal government, rival Tigrayan factions, or even popular unrest.”

The article warns that turning to Isaias’s Eritrea for tactical advantage is a “reckless gamble,” emphasizing that “it is an opportunistic regime that thrives on chaos and disunity among its neighbors.” The author cautions that “President Isaias does not pursue alliances; he engineers dependencies,” stressing that “to believe that such a regime could ever be a reliable ally for a wounded and divided #Tigray is not just politically naïve—it is suicidal.”

https://addisstandard.com/allegations-of-tplf-factions-outreach-to-eritrea-strategic-disarray-or-desperation/

#Tigray: ‘A threat of renewed genocide is unacceptable’: Opposition leader condemns PM's warning of new war in Tigray

Alula Hailu, Chairperson of the opposition party Salsay Weyane Tigray, has strongly condemned recent remarks by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warning that any future war in Tigray would be “far more severe” than the last.

At a presser on Friday 11 July held in Mekelle, Alula said: “The Prime Minister threatens that if war breaks out again in Tigray, it will be far more severe than what it was before,” said Alula. “To say that this intense war will continue means there will be another round of genocide… For a leader entrusted with responsibility to speak in such a manner is utterly unacceptable.”

#Ethiopia: #Tigray opposition #Salsay_Weyane slams PM Abiy’s warning of renewed conflict, urges Tigray-wide dialogue

Tigray opposition party Salsay Weyane Tigray Chairman Alula Hailu has condemned Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent remarks warning of a potentially more devastating war in Tigray, calling it a threat of renewed mass atrocities.

In his speech to the House of Peoples’ Representatives on 3 July, PM Abiy warned of another round of war in Tigray and called on religious leaders to “act now” to prevent renewed conflict. “Start your work now to prevent Tigray from entering war; it will be worthless if you speak after it begins,” he said.

Tigrayan religious leaders responded by announcing a delegation to meet the PM, but also criticized the PM that his “assessment is disconnected from the lived experiences” of the people.

Birhane Atsbha, head of communications for Salsay Weyane, also weighed in during the presser on Friday, saying the federal government should address its grievances with the TPLF through legal means rather than issue broad threats affecting the entire Tigrayan population. “While Tigray’s constitutional territory remains unrecovered, while IDPs languish in camps, and while the people continue to suffer, it is highly irresponsible to threaten war simply over TPLF’s legal status,” Birhane said.

The party reiterated calls for a Tigray-wide national dialogue to resolve tensions. The party also criticized both the federal government and TPLF for failing to prioritize the region’s suffering population.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51388

#US demands clarity from allies on their role in potential war over #Taiwan, FT reports

The Pentagon is urging Japan and Australia to clarify what role they would play if the U.S. and China went to war over Taiwan, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.
Elbridge Colby, the U.S. under-secretary of defense for policy, has been pushing the matter during recent talks with defense officials of both countries, the report said, citing people familiar with the discussions.

According to the newspaper, the reported request caught both Tokyo and Canberra off guard, as the U.S. itself does not offer a blank cheque guarantee to defend Taiwan.

Colby said in an X post that the Department of Defense is focused on implementing the president's "America First" common sense agenda of restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength, which "includes by urging allies to step up their defense spending and other efforts related to our collective defense."

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-demands-clarity-allies-their-role-potential-war-over-taiwan-ft-reports-2025-07-12/

‘It’s always been some white dude’: how #Ethiopia became the world leader in uncovering the story of humankind

Housed in an unremarkable office block in the captial, the country’s national museum is home to the most extensive collection of the remains of modern humans’ ancestors – and a team of world-leading scholars.

When Berhane Asfaw was in California beginning his graduate studies into the origins of humanity, he realised all the fossils he was examining had come, like himself, from Ethiopia. They had been shipped to the US to be researched and pieced together.

Back then, in the early 1980s, the only Ethiopians working on archaeological digs in their own country were labourers, employed by foreigners.

“Because everything discovered in Ethiopia was exported, there was no chance for Ethiopians to study the items and develop expertise,” says Berhane, who returned home in the late 1980s as his country’s first palaeoanthropologist – a scientist who studies human evolution.

“You can’t train people if everything is taken to France, the US or Britain,” the 70-year-old says.

With his American colleagues, Berhane clawed together funding to establish a laboratory at the National Museum of Ethiopia to clean fossils clogged with rock-hard bits of sediment, a painstaking process that can take years. The laboratory could also produce perfect replicas of specimens for foreign researchers to take home.

“Once we had the lab organised, there was no need to export fossils. We could do everything in-house,” says Berhane.

Housed in an unremarkable grey office block in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Abeba, his lab is now home to the world’s most extensive collection of the remains of modern humans’ ancestors: about 1,600 fossils representing 13 of more than 20 confirmed species of early humans. They are stored in a series of bullet-proof safes.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/jul/14/history-of-humanity-ethiopia-museum-paleoanthropology-trove-hominin-fossils

#Boeing reaches settlement with #Kenyan-#Canadian man whose family perished in #Ethiopian Airlines crash


American aircraft manufacturer Boeing has reached a confidential settlement with Paul Njoroge, a Canadian man of Kenyan descent, whose wife and three young children were among 157 people killed in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash.

The deal, announced on Friday, averted what would have been the first jury trial in the United States linked to the disaster that led to a worldwide grounding of Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

Njoroge, 41, had filed a lawsuit in the #US District Court in Chicago seeking millions of dollars in damages for the emotional toll and immense personal loss caused by the crash of Flight 302.

His family, wife Carolyne, 6-year-old Ryan, 4-year-old Kellie, and 9-month-old Rubi, were en route to Kenya when the plane went down shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport. His mother-in-law, who was also on board, died in the tragedy and is the subject of a separate legal claim.

https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/headlines/178695/boeing-reaches-settlement-with-kenyan-canadian-man-whose-family-perished-in-ethiopian-airlines-crash

#Ethiopia seeks to trade in currencies other than #USD

The Ethiopian Ministry of Finance said Friday that the East African country is working on measures to allow it to trade in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, and that there are countries with which it has reached agreements in this regard at various times.

The ministry said that the decision aims to strengthen Ethiopia’s trade and investment ties with various countries, maintain trade balance, and prevent the negative impact of dependence on a single currency.

Ethiopia has reached agreements with countries such as the United Arab Emirates to allow them to trade in their currencies, said State Minister of Finance Eyob Tekalign on Friday.

Eyob said that the government is working on ways to trade in currencies other than the U.S. dollar in order to facilitate trade and investment cooperation in a way that protects Ethiopia’s interests.

https://africa.cgtn.com/ethiopia-seeks-to-trade-in-currencies-other-than-usd/

#Op_ed: Three Years of #Somalia’s ‘Total War’: How #Mogadishu’s Al-Shabaab offensive unraveled

In August 2022, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia initiated a "total war" against #Al_Shabaab, a declaration aimed at ending the "endless mourning" caused by militant aggression. Nearly three years later, however, Adam Daud Ahmed argues in this op-ed that the situation has taken a dramatically different turn. He emphasizes that “what began as a bold promise to restore national sovereignty has exposed deep flaws in Mogadishu’s leadership and security infrastructure.”

The author explains that grassroots clan militias, particularly the #Hawadle, generated initial battlefield momentum by dislodging Al-Shabaab from long-held checkpoints. This, he argues, offered a rare and crucial opening for the federal government to consolidate control. Instead, Mogadishu “appropriated the narrative without committing adequate territorial holding forces, initiating meaningful clan reconciliation efforts, or establishing effective governance structures.” Ahmed substantiates this failure by noting that “by 2024, all areas recaptured by Hawadle fighters had fallen back to Al-Shabaab, a clear sign of the government's inability to turn tactical wins into lasting strategic success.”

The human and material costs of the offensive, according to the article, have been devastating. Somalia has lost over 3,700 regular troops and 2,000 Macawisleey fighters, with more than 9,600 wounded. Exacerbating these losses, Ahmed highlights the frequent turnover in security leadership, driven by “clan arithmetic governance,” which he states “resulted in at least four major offensives collapsing mid-campaign.”

The author stresses that Somalia now stands "on the brink," highlighting the harsh truth of the situation: "Al-Shabaab is not simply enduring—it is gaining ground." He cautions that without a comprehensive strategic overhaul, “preventing the fall of Mogadishu may prove increasingly difficult.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51391

#BIT Mining completes second phase of acquisition in #Ethiopia

BIT Mining Limited, a leading technology-driven cryptocurrency asset company, today announced the completion of the second phase of its previously announced acquisition of crypto mining data centers and Bitcoin mining machines in Ethiopia.

On December 3, 2024, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire cryptocurrency mining data centers in Ethiopia. Following the successful completion of the first phase of the acquisition on December 9, 2024, the Company issued an additional 45,278,600 Class A ordinary shares today in exchange for the remaining data centers, along with corresponding deployment of Bitcoin mining machines. Upon completion of the second phase of the acquisition, the total power capacity of the data centers amounted to 51 megawatts.

"While we continue to make progress in our crypto mining operations, we have strategically shifted our focus to actively explore opportunities within the Solana ecosystem," remarked Mr. Xianfeng Yang, CEO of BIT Mining, "This move reflects our commitment to capturing broader market potential and aligning with emerging trends that can drive long-term value and growth for the Company."

https://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-newswire/20250714cn29373/bit-mining-completes-second-phase-of-acquisition-in-ethiopia

Analysis: #Tigray Court hands life sentences in public killing of Zewdu Haftu, but justice system faces continued scrutiny

Nearly two years after the killing of 32-year-old Zewdu Haftu in Mekelle, two men — Yared Gebresellase and Angesom Hailemariam — have been sentenced to life in prison without parole by the $Mekelle High Court. The court cited “extreme cruelty” in the August 2023 attack, during which Zewdu was dragged and fatally crushed under a vehicle after resisting an apparent sexual assault.

The case, which sparked public outrage and a grassroots movement against gender-based violence in Tigray, faced repeated delays and allegations of interference by powerful political and security actors. Zewdu’s sister, Birtukan Haftu, told Addis Standard, “The ruling may be legally correct, but… they dragged her and crushed her to death. We have no power—only our prayers.”

Women’s rights groups welcomed the verdict but say the justice system must change. “Zewdu’s death was the death of all of us women,” said Meseret Hadush of Hiywet Charity. Rights groups are calling for accountability beyond convictions, including investigations into those who allegedly obstructed justice.

https://addisstandard.com/analysis-tigray-court-hands-life-sentences-in-public-killing-of-zewdu-haftu-but-justice-system-faces-continued-scrutiny/

#Tigray: “…no longer who we were yesterday…” Bir. Gen. Haileslassie Girmay

In what appears to be a pointed response to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent remarks on the potential for renewed conflict in the Tigray region, Brigadier General Haileslassie Girmay, a senior commander of Tigrayan forces, said that Tigray is no longer what it once was.

Speaking at a celebration organized by Core 423 in Adwa city, Central Tigray, over the weekend, the commander said that the people of Tigray have undergone a transformation since the war that is marked by the emergence of youth who “fought to ensure the survival of what is theirs,” and a renewed determination to defend the region against future aggression.

The General also hinted at a shift in political dynamics. “Those who fought against us yesterday may stand beside us today. If not allies, they are no longer our enemies.”

#Ethiopia: Six-month-old, six members of one family among 16 killed in latest attack in #West_Shewa; residents blame 'Fano' militants

Sixteen civilians, including a six-month-old infant and an elderly man, were killed in a deadly attack by armed assailants in Kondala locality, Nono district of West Shewa Zone, #Oromia region, on Thursday, 11 July. Residents who spoke to Addis Standard blamed militants identifying themselves as “Fano” for the assault, which began around 7:30 p.m.

A resident who lost a relative in the attack said, “It was carried out by Fano militants who came from the south. While we were at home, we heard gunshots. My family member, Abdo Aliyi, ran out to help but was shot and killed at the gate.”

According to multiple witnesses, 14 people were killed on the spot, including members of three families and six members of a single household. Five others who were wounded were taken to Waliso Hospital, and two later died from their injuries, raising the death toll to 16.

“Fourteen people were killed on the spot, including a six-month-old infant and an elderly person estimated to be between 60 and 65 years old,” a second resident told Addis Standard, adding that the attackers, estimated at around 70, were heavily armed and originated near the border of Nono district and the Central Ethiopia region.

Inspector Mohammed Aba Meca, head of police in Nono district, confirmed the attack and said the perpetrators came from the neighboring Gurage Zone. “At the time of the attack, security forces had been deployed elsewhere,” he said, adding that the suspects fled to Abishege district and have not yet been apprehended.

The assault marks the latest in similar attacks in the area, including a 2024 killing during a wedding and a 2022 assault that killed four members of one family.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51405

M-PESA #Ethiopia and #Awash_Bank unveil mobile overdraft to boost financial inclusion

In a move aimed at expanding access to credit and accelerating financial inclusion, M-PESA Ethiopia, the mobile money platform operated by Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia, has partnered with Awash Bank to launch a new mobile overdraft service named “Errif be M-PESA.”

The new service allows eligible M-PESA users, those active on the platform for at least 90 days, to access overdraft credit directly via their mobile phones. Customers will be able to complete essential transactions such as airtime purchases, bill payments, and merchant services even when their M-PESA wallet balance is insufficient.

The partnership brings together two key players in Ethiopia’s financial and telecommunications sectors. Awash Bank,one of the country’s oldest private banks, is contributing its experience in digital banking to the initiative, while Safaricom Ethiopia, which launched M-PESA in 2023, continues to broaden its mobile money services as it seeks to build a comprehensive digital financial ecosystem.

In a joint statement, M-PESA Ethiopia described the initiative as a strategic collaboration aligned with both institutions' vision to deliver “accessible, secure, and inclusive financial services” across the country.
https://techafricanews.com/2025/07/14/m-pesa-ethiopia-and-awash-bank-unveil-mobile-overdraft-to-boost-financial-inclusion/

Fact: The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD) is entirely funded by the people of #Ethiopia through public contributions and domestic resources. It poses no threat to #Egypt’s water security.

Despite this, U.S. President Donald Trump has once again made misleading claims about the dam. During a meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on 14 July, President Trump falsely stated that he thinks the “U.S. funded the dam” and described it as a threat to Egypt’s water supply.

This follows similar remarks made in June, where the President wrongly asserted the U.S. financed the dam and that it “substantially” reduces the flow of water into the Nile.

Addis Standard believes that, if left unchallenged, such repeated claims risk fueling unnecessary regional tensions. We call on the Ethiopian government to intensify its diplomatic engagement with the United States to address and correct these misleading narratives. AS

News: Murder of three aid workers in #Tigray was “deliberate and targeted”: #MSF finding

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has concluded that the killing of its three staff members, María Hernández Matas, Tedros Gebremariam Gebremichael, and Yohannes Halefom Reda, in central Tigray on 24 June 2021 was a “deliberate and targeted attack,” confirming the presence of an Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) convoy in the area at the time of the killing.

In a report released today following a lengthy internal review, MSF Spain President Paula Gil stated, “This was not the result of crossfire, nor was it a tragic mistake. Our colleagues were killed in what can only be described as a deliberate attack.”

The three humanitarian workers were travelling in a clearly marked MSF vehicle near Abi Adi when they were intercepted and shot multiple times at close range. Their bodies were later found up to 400 meters from their bullet-riddled and burned vehicle.

https://addisstandard.com/murder-of-three-aid-workers-in-tigray-by-ethiopian-army-was-deliberate-and-targeted-msf-finding/

#Opinion: Between Past and Future: Professor Birhanu’s candid interview exposes cracks in #Ethiopia’s education reform

In this opinion piece, Mohamad Abdullahi reflects on a recent interview aired by the state-owned broadcaster, in which Education Minister Professor Birhanu Nega offered a rare and “candid” assessment of Ethiopia’s education system. During the discussion, the minister addressed enduring challenges within the sector and provided an assessment of the impact of education reforms implemented over the past four years.

One of the more controversial topics discussed was the national university exit exam. Questions were raised about the fairness of the assessment, particularly in light of the fact that more than 2.3 million students have failed the exam in the past three years. The debate also extended to the issue of accountability—specifically, who should be held responsible for the significant public resources expended and what has been described as the “moral bankruptcy” of students who failed. In his response, Professor Birhanu firmly stated that the previous education system "had failed in its fundamental goals in enriching university students," specifically criticizing universities for "unregulated academic progression, exam fraud, and unreliable assessment practices."

The author finds some of Professor Birhanu’s remarks toward the academic community as “dismissive and unduly accusatory,” criticizing that “such statements not only undermine the credibility of existing institutions but also have the potential to demoralize dedicated professionals working under already challenging conditions.”

He also reflects on Professor Birhanu’s admission that ongoing education reforms have yet to yield significant results, quoting the minister as saying, “The reform process requires at least six more years to bear fruit.” This acknowledgment, Mohamad argues, raises an important question: “What were the original objectives and benchmarks if four years have produced no measurable progress?” He contends that reforms are too often implemented “without a clear understanding of the systemic issues they are meant to address,” emphasizing that “the Ministry has yet to publicly present a well-defined diagnosis of the deep-rooted problems that continue to undermine the effectiveness of Ethiopia’s education system.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51408