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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
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
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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/
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/
Addis Standard
Murder of three aid workers in Tigray was “deliberate and targeted”: MSF finding - Addis Standard
Murder of three aid workers in Tigray was “deliberate and targeted”: MSF finding Addis Standard News -
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#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
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
Addis Standard
Between Past and Future: Professor Birhanu’s candid interview exposes cracks in Ethiopia’s education reform - Addis Standard
Between Past and Future: Professor Birhanu’s candid interview exposes cracks in Ethiopia’s education reform Addis Standard Opinion -
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#Ethiopia: #UN cautions half a million displaced civilians sheltered in #Amhara region face ‘acute shortage’ of humanitarian supplies
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says over 500,000 displaced civilians in Amhara region are facing “acute shortages” of food, shelter, water, healthcare, and protection. Most live within host communities, while makeshift camps like Debre Berhan and Jara shelter over 30,000 people combined under worsening conditions.
More than 88,000 people have been displaced from western Oromia alone since 2021. Many now live in overcrowded sites like China camp, where 900 people have been confined to a warehouse for over three years. Aid deliveries remain erratic and insufficient. “Food distributions are irregular,” the UN cautions, with some IDPs receiving aid only every few months.
Addis Standard’s repeatedly reported the appalling conditions in various IDP sites in Amhara region, including in Debre Berhan and Jara, where residents described “sleeping on tarpaulins” and receiving just 15kg of flour after months of delay. Despite government-led announcements of efforts of resettlement, many IDPs have remained trapped to camps.
The UN now cautions that the prolonged crisis, coupled with underfunded response, risks triggering deeper humanitarian crisis.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51417
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says over 500,000 displaced civilians in Amhara region are facing “acute shortages” of food, shelter, water, healthcare, and protection. Most live within host communities, while makeshift camps like Debre Berhan and Jara shelter over 30,000 people combined under worsening conditions.
More than 88,000 people have been displaced from western Oromia alone since 2021. Many now live in overcrowded sites like China camp, where 900 people have been confined to a warehouse for over three years. Aid deliveries remain erratic and insufficient. “Food distributions are irregular,” the UN cautions, with some IDPs receiving aid only every few months.
Addis Standard’s repeatedly reported the appalling conditions in various IDP sites in Amhara region, including in Debre Berhan and Jara, where residents described “sleeping on tarpaulins” and receiving just 15kg of flour after months of delay. Despite government-led announcements of efforts of resettlement, many IDPs have remained trapped to camps.
The UN now cautions that the prolonged crisis, coupled with underfunded response, risks triggering deeper humanitarian crisis.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51417
Addis Standard
UN cautions half a million displaced civilians sheltered in Amhara region face ‘acute shortage’ of humanitarian supplies - Addis…
UN cautions half a million displaced civilians sheltered in Amhara region face ‘acute shortage’ of humanitarian supplies Addis Standard News -
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40 Years After Live Aid, It’s Still Personal for Bob Geldof
On Oct. 23, 1984, Bob Geldof, the lead singer of the Irish rock band the Boomtown Rats, sat down at home in London to watch the evening news. It changed his life — and saved the lives of millions more.
The BBC ran a report on what it called a “biblical famine” in Ethiopia caused by drought and exacerbated by civil war. Searing images of emaciated and naked children were beamed for the first time into homes across Britain, and then around the world.
Geldof was incensed and horrified. How could this be happening in the 20th century? And what could he — an angry pop star — do about it?
On Sunday, it’s 40 years since Live Aid, two epic concerts held in London and Philadelphia that he helped organize in response to that question. They were arguably the most successful charity events in history, and have a claim to be among the best gigs ever, too.
Geldof persuaded many of the world’s most top artists at the time to play for free, including Queen, David Bowie, Madonna, the Who, Elton John, Tina Turner and Paul McCartney. The shows were seen by about 1.5 billion people in more than 150 countries and would go on to raise more than $140 million.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/arts/music/live-aid-bob-geldof-anniversary.html
On Oct. 23, 1984, Bob Geldof, the lead singer of the Irish rock band the Boomtown Rats, sat down at home in London to watch the evening news. It changed his life — and saved the lives of millions more.
The BBC ran a report on what it called a “biblical famine” in Ethiopia caused by drought and exacerbated by civil war. Searing images of emaciated and naked children were beamed for the first time into homes across Britain, and then around the world.
Geldof was incensed and horrified. How could this be happening in the 20th century? And what could he — an angry pop star — do about it?
On Sunday, it’s 40 years since Live Aid, two epic concerts held in London and Philadelphia that he helped organize in response to that question. They were arguably the most successful charity events in history, and have a claim to be among the best gigs ever, too.
Geldof persuaded many of the world’s most top artists at the time to play for free, including Queen, David Bowie, Madonna, the Who, Elton John, Tina Turner and Paul McCartney. The shows were seen by about 1.5 billion people in more than 150 countries and would go on to raise more than $140 million.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/arts/music/live-aid-bob-geldof-anniversary.html
NY Times
40 Years After Live Aid, It’s Still Personal for Bob Geldof
The rock star-turned-activist reflects on the 1985 benefit concert and why it could not happen now.
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News: #Ethiopia-based anti-#Eritrea political, insurgent group holds public meeting in #Semera, calls for self-determination of #Afar people
The Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO), an Ethiopian-based political and insurgent group opposing Eritrea’s ruling regime, held a public conference in Semera-Logia city, the capital city of Afar Region, on 13 July.
The “Red Sea Afar People’s General Conference,” organized with support from affiliated youth, women, and civic associations, concluded with RSADO renewing its commitment to what it described as a “political and military struggle” against the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) regime in Eritrea. The group vowed to continue its efforts until the Red Sea Afar people’s right to self-determination, including the option of secession, is secured.
The event took place amid heightened tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with RSADO warning that current escalations risk turning Afar-inhabited border areas into active conflict zones, displacing civilians and worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation.
In 2023 Addis Standard reported that the Eritrean Afar National Congress urged the Ethiopia government to support their territorial claims. The was shortly after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed floated the idea of gaining access to the Red Sea.
The role of Afar people, who straddle the borders of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti, is since being widely discussed.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51421
The Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (RSADO), an Ethiopian-based political and insurgent group opposing Eritrea’s ruling regime, held a public conference in Semera-Logia city, the capital city of Afar Region, on 13 July.
The “Red Sea Afar People’s General Conference,” organized with support from affiliated youth, women, and civic associations, concluded with RSADO renewing its commitment to what it described as a “political and military struggle” against the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) regime in Eritrea. The group vowed to continue its efforts until the Red Sea Afar people’s right to self-determination, including the option of secession, is secured.
The event took place amid heightened tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with RSADO warning that current escalations risk turning Afar-inhabited border areas into active conflict zones, displacing civilians and worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation.
In 2023 Addis Standard reported that the Eritrean Afar National Congress urged the Ethiopia government to support their territorial claims. The was shortly after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed floated the idea of gaining access to the Red Sea.
The role of Afar people, who straddle the borders of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti, is since being widely discussed.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51421
Addis Standard
Ethiopia-based, anti-Eritrea regime Afar group holds conference in Semera, renews struggle - Addis Standard
Ethiopia-based, anti-Eritrea regime Afar group holds conference in Semera, renews struggle Addis Standard News -
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What’s behind the mass arrests of #Ethiopian doctors?
An underground, online collective of doctors known as the Ethiopian Health Professionals Movement (EHPM) launched the strike following the Ethiopian government’s refusal to address a list of twelve grievances related to poor pay, exploitative working conditions, and safety concerns by a May 19 deadline.
Doctors were hauled to court on trumped-up charges that included collaborating with foreign forces to “wreak havoc” in Ethiopia.
Dr. Daniel was the 149th arrest of a medical professional in Ethiopia since May, according to an online database set up by the EHPM. Among those charged is Dr. Mahlet Guesh, a pathologist. She was detained on May 19, days after giving an interview to the BBC, in which she explained that the monthly salary of pathologists in the breakaway region of Somaliland equalled the combined wages of twenty Ethiopian MDs. She spent just over three weeks behind bars.
Throughout the strike, the EHPM’s social media pages posted updates and documented police intimidation for hundreds of thousands of followers.
Dr. Emebet (a pseudonym for safety reasons), a movement coordinator, told Global Voices that the labor strike was a spontaneous uprising.
https://globalvoices.org/2025/07/15/whats-behind-the-mass-arrests-of-ethiopian-doctors/
An underground, online collective of doctors known as the Ethiopian Health Professionals Movement (EHPM) launched the strike following the Ethiopian government’s refusal to address a list of twelve grievances related to poor pay, exploitative working conditions, and safety concerns by a May 19 deadline.
Doctors were hauled to court on trumped-up charges that included collaborating with foreign forces to “wreak havoc” in Ethiopia.
Dr. Daniel was the 149th arrest of a medical professional in Ethiopia since May, according to an online database set up by the EHPM. Among those charged is Dr. Mahlet Guesh, a pathologist. She was detained on May 19, days after giving an interview to the BBC, in which she explained that the monthly salary of pathologists in the breakaway region of Somaliland equalled the combined wages of twenty Ethiopian MDs. She spent just over three weeks behind bars.
Throughout the strike, the EHPM’s social media pages posted updates and documented police intimidation for hundreds of thousands of followers.
Dr. Emebet (a pseudonym for safety reasons), a movement coordinator, told Global Voices that the labor strike was a spontaneous uprising.
https://globalvoices.org/2025/07/15/whats-behind-the-mass-arrests-of-ethiopian-doctors/
Global Voices
What’s behind the mass arrests of Ethiopian doctors?
Last year, a report by Human Rights Watch outlined a systemic pattern of abuse and killings of health professionals in the country’s northwestern Amhara region.
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#Egypt praises Donald Trump's offer to solve #Ethiopia Nile row, fears quid pro quo
Egyptian observers have welcomed remarks made by #US President Donald Trump about his desire to broker a negotiated settlement of the dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the latter's construction of a massive dam on the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the Nile River, Egypt's principal source of freshwater.
Speaking during a meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday, the US president emphasised the importance of the Nile River's water for Egypt.
"I think if I am Egypt, I want to have water in the Nile, and we are working on that," President Trump said.
In late June, he claimed that previous administrations had financed the Ethiopian dam project, criticising it for blocking the flow of the Nile River's waters to Egypt.
https://www.newarab.com/news/egypt-praises-trump-ethiopia-nile-row-offer-fears-quid-pro-quo
Egyptian observers have welcomed remarks made by #US President Donald Trump about his desire to broker a negotiated settlement of the dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the latter's construction of a massive dam on the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the Nile River, Egypt's principal source of freshwater.
Speaking during a meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday, the US president emphasised the importance of the Nile River's water for Egypt.
"I think if I am Egypt, I want to have water in the Nile, and we are working on that," President Trump said.
In late June, he claimed that previous administrations had financed the Ethiopian dam project, criticising it for blocking the flow of the Nile River's waters to Egypt.
https://www.newarab.com/news/egypt-praises-trump-ethiopia-nile-row-offer-fears-quid-pro-quo
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'Soldiers found us and told us to undress': In #Ethiopia, silence surrounds #Tigray war's mass rapes
During the war in Tigray, in Ethiopia, 120,000 women were victims of rape. More than two and a half years since the end of the conflict, many survivors are still trying to overcome their trauma, with justice yet to be served.
Nigist pulled out three beige linen patterns from a black plastic bag. Smiling broadly, she settled in front of a sewing machine. Her foot pressed the pedal, driving the needle to trace a white thread. "This is a skirt for a child. Just a few more hours of work, and it will be finished," she said, never taking her eyes off the small metal tip. The 17-year-old hails from western Tigray, a region of Ethiopia that rebelled against the central government. One morning in June 2023, she passed through the black gate of the Hiwyet center, whose name means "healing" in Tigrinya. "I had been on the road for months," she recounted with difficulty. "When I arrived, I was almost unable to speak, because of what happened to me along the way."
When armed men invaded her village in the Kafta Humera area of eastern Tigray, Nigist fled with other teenage girls. "We hid in a small wood, but soldiers found us. They told us to undress, but I resisted, I didn't want to. That's when they started hitting me, tearing off my clothes. I was raped by several of them. Then I fainted."
A few hours later, villagers took care of Nigist. "I washed myself in the river and they gave me clothes, because I had nothing left," she explained. "Then I fled to Mekele, and it was in the camp for displaced people that I heard about the Hiwyet center."
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2025/07/16/soldiers-found-us-and-told-us-to-undress-in-ethiopia-silence-surrounds-tigray-war-s-mass-rapes_6743416_124.html
During the war in Tigray, in Ethiopia, 120,000 women were victims of rape. More than two and a half years since the end of the conflict, many survivors are still trying to overcome their trauma, with justice yet to be served.
Nigist pulled out three beige linen patterns from a black plastic bag. Smiling broadly, she settled in front of a sewing machine. Her foot pressed the pedal, driving the needle to trace a white thread. "This is a skirt for a child. Just a few more hours of work, and it will be finished," she said, never taking her eyes off the small metal tip. The 17-year-old hails from western Tigray, a region of Ethiopia that rebelled against the central government. One morning in June 2023, she passed through the black gate of the Hiwyet center, whose name means "healing" in Tigrinya. "I had been on the road for months," she recounted with difficulty. "When I arrived, I was almost unable to speak, because of what happened to me along the way."
When armed men invaded her village in the Kafta Humera area of eastern Tigray, Nigist fled with other teenage girls. "We hid in a small wood, but soldiers found us. They told us to undress, but I resisted, I didn't want to. That's when they started hitting me, tearing off my clothes. I was raped by several of them. Then I fainted."
A few hours later, villagers took care of Nigist. "I washed myself in the river and they gave me clothes, because I had nothing left," she explained. "Then I fled to Mekele, and it was in the camp for displaced people that I heard about the Hiwyet center."
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2025/07/16/soldiers-found-us-and-told-us-to-undress-in-ethiopia-silence-surrounds-tigray-war-s-mass-rapes_6743416_124.html
Le Monde.fr
'Soldiers found us and told us to undress': In Ethiopia, silence shrouds Tigray war's mass rapes
During the war in Tigray, in Ethiopia, 120,000 women were victims of rape. More than two and a half years since the end of the conflict, many survivors are still trying to overcome their trauma, with justice yet to be served.
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#In_Pictures: A joint delegation of religious leaders from Addis Abeba arrived in Mekelle this morning, where they were joined by counterparts from the Tigray region. The joint delegation held discussions with Lieutenant General Tadesse Worede, President of the Tigray Interim Administration.
The visit comes in response to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent appeal for religious leaders across Ethiopia to act swiftly to prevent a renewed outbreak of conflict in Tigray. The Prime Minister cautioned that mediation efforts after the onset of war would be “futile,” emphasizing the urgency of early intervention.
Pictures: Tigrai TV
Read the background here: https://addisstandard.com/?p=51249
The visit comes in response to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent appeal for religious leaders across Ethiopia to act swiftly to prevent a renewed outbreak of conflict in Tigray. The Prime Minister cautioned that mediation efforts after the onset of war would be “futile,” emphasizing the urgency of early intervention.
Pictures: Tigrai TV
Read the background here: https://addisstandard.com/?p=51249
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Analysis: #IMF cautions #Ethiopia’s economic reform faces headwinds amid falling aid and security risks
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned that Ethiopia’s $3.4 billion reform program is under increasing threat due to declining foreign aid, fragile security conditions, and renewed pressures in the parallel currency market.
Despite commending the government for tough reforms, including subsidy cuts, tax restructuring, and tighter monetary policy, the IMF stressed that “downside risks remain elevated,” citing weak exports, stalled privatization, and falling foreign direct investment.
“The outlook remains subject to downside risks given security challenges and declining donor support,” said Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke.
The IMF flagged serious humanitarian implications tied to shrinking donor assistance, noting foreign aid has dropped from 12% of GDP a decade ago to below 4%.
With one in five Ethiopians expected to need humanitarian assistance in 2025 and the UN response plan underfunded, the IMF called for stronger shock-response systems.
On macroeconomic stability, the IMF pointed to persistent distortions in the foreign exchange market and a weak export base as key vulnerabilities. It also raised concerns about debt sustainability, warning that “policy slippages or delays in reform implementation in response to social pressures” could derail recovery efforts.
While Ethiopian officials remain optimistic, projecting 8.4% growth in 2024/25 and improved performance in key sectors, the IMF urged continued reforms and targeted safety nets to protect vulnerable populations and stabilize the economy.
https://addisstandard.com/imf-cautions-ethiopias-economic-reform-faces-headwinds-amid-falling-aid-security-risks/
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned that Ethiopia’s $3.4 billion reform program is under increasing threat due to declining foreign aid, fragile security conditions, and renewed pressures in the parallel currency market.
Despite commending the government for tough reforms, including subsidy cuts, tax restructuring, and tighter monetary policy, the IMF stressed that “downside risks remain elevated,” citing weak exports, stalled privatization, and falling foreign direct investment.
“The outlook remains subject to downside risks given security challenges and declining donor support,” said Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke.
The IMF flagged serious humanitarian implications tied to shrinking donor assistance, noting foreign aid has dropped from 12% of GDP a decade ago to below 4%.
With one in five Ethiopians expected to need humanitarian assistance in 2025 and the UN response plan underfunded, the IMF called for stronger shock-response systems.
On macroeconomic stability, the IMF pointed to persistent distortions in the foreign exchange market and a weak export base as key vulnerabilities. It also raised concerns about debt sustainability, warning that “policy slippages or delays in reform implementation in response to social pressures” could derail recovery efforts.
While Ethiopian officials remain optimistic, projecting 8.4% growth in 2024/25 and improved performance in key sectors, the IMF urged continued reforms and targeted safety nets to protect vulnerable populations and stabilize the economy.
https://addisstandard.com/imf-cautions-ethiopias-economic-reform-faces-headwinds-amid-falling-aid-security-risks/
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#Ethiopian Militias Raid #Sudan Border Villages: Farmers,Activists
Sudanese farmers and activists said Monday that Ethiopian militias had conducted cross-border raids on agricultural villages, disrupting the sowing season in a country already at war and suffering a dire hunger crisis.
For decades, both Ethiopia and its neighbor, Sudan, have claimed the fertile border region of Al-Fashaga, and in recent days, several villages in the contested area have come under attack.
Farmers told AFP that militias entered villages along the border, opened fire with automatic weapons, and looted livestock and farming equipment before retreating back into Ethiopian territory.
“They attacked us yesterday (Sunday) while we were working in the fields,” said a 29-year-old farmer from Wad Kouli, a village about 11 kilometers (7 miles) from the Ethiopian border.
https://thedefensepost.com/2025/07/16/ethiopian-militias-sudan-border/
Sudanese farmers and activists said Monday that Ethiopian militias had conducted cross-border raids on agricultural villages, disrupting the sowing season in a country already at war and suffering a dire hunger crisis.
For decades, both Ethiopia and its neighbor, Sudan, have claimed the fertile border region of Al-Fashaga, and in recent days, several villages in the contested area have come under attack.
Farmers told AFP that militias entered villages along the border, opened fire with automatic weapons, and looted livestock and farming equipment before retreating back into Ethiopian territory.
“They attacked us yesterday (Sunday) while we were working in the fields,” said a 29-year-old farmer from Wad Kouli, a village about 11 kilometers (7 miles) from the Ethiopian border.
https://thedefensepost.com/2025/07/16/ethiopian-militias-sudan-border/
The Defense Post
Ethiopian Militias Raid Sudan Border Villages: Farmers, Activists
Sudanese farmers and activists said that Ethiopian militias had conducted cross-border raids on agricultural villages.
Over eight killed, including three children, in 'brutal attack' allegedly carried out by Fano militants in Central Gondar
More than eight people, including three children, were killed, and six others were abducted in an attack allegedly carried out by “Fano militants.” According to residents and officials from the Chilga district, the attack took place on Monday, July 14, in Godo Kebele, Chilga district, Central Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region. Several homes were reportedly set on fire by the attackers.
A resident, who asked not to be named for their safety, told Addis Standard that the attack took place Monday, starting around 6:00 AM and continuing until about 10:00 AM. The resident blamed “Fano militants” for the attack, stating that eight people were killed. The resident said the attackers came from the neighboring Sharda Kebele and described the incident as “horrific.”
The Chilga District Administration Council issued a statement Monday confirming the incident and attributing the attack to “extremist groups organized under the guise of Fano, who do not represent the Amhara people.” The district council stated that the assailants carried out “brutal killings of innocent farmers, vulnerable elderly, and children, as well as looting of property.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51435
More than eight people, including three children, were killed, and six others were abducted in an attack allegedly carried out by “Fano militants.” According to residents and officials from the Chilga district, the attack took place on Monday, July 14, in Godo Kebele, Chilga district, Central Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region. Several homes were reportedly set on fire by the attackers.
A resident, who asked not to be named for their safety, told Addis Standard that the attack took place Monday, starting around 6:00 AM and continuing until about 10:00 AM. The resident blamed “Fano militants” for the attack, stating that eight people were killed. The resident said the attackers came from the neighboring Sharda Kebele and described the incident as “horrific.”
The Chilga District Administration Council issued a statement Monday confirming the incident and attributing the attack to “extremist groups organized under the guise of Fano, who do not represent the Amhara people.” The district council stated that the assailants carried out “brutal killings of innocent farmers, vulnerable elderly, and children, as well as looting of property.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51435
Addis Standard
Over eight killed, including three children, in 'brutal attack' allegedly carried out by Fano militants in Central Gondar - Addis…
Over eight killed, including three children, in 'brutal attack' allegedly carried out by Fano militants in Central Gondar Addis Standard News -
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#News_Analysis: First major sign of #ISIS in #Ethiopia as intelligence claims capturing 82 alleged operatives trained in #Puntland
Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) says it has arrested 82 individuals accused of being affiliated with ISIS, marking the country’s most significant admission yet of the extremist group’s presence within its borders.
The suspects, many allegedly trained in Puntland, Somalia, were detained in a sweeping security operation across several cities and towns in various regional states including #Oromia, #Amhara, #Somali, and the capital #Addis_Abeba.
NISS claims the individuals were working to establish sleeper cells, coordinate attacks, and disseminate extremist propaganda, with some linked to ISIS’s global media and financing networks.
In April, Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Birhanu Jula told members of parliament that Ethiopian “traitors” were collaborating with terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Shabaab but declined to provide further details.
NISS’s announcement yesterday coincided with the designation by the U.S.-led Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC) of three ISIS facilitators operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, and South Africa.
If confirmed, NISS’s latest claims, combined with past Al-Shabaab incursions and convictions of dozens of operatives in Ethiopia, signal a new phase in its internal security dynamics.
While ISIS activity had largely been considered external, the NISS announcement suggests an expanded and potentially entrenched network on Ethiopian soil, raising concerns about border vulnerabilities, and the dual threat posed by both ISIS and Al-Shabaab to national and regional stability.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51450
Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) says it has arrested 82 individuals accused of being affiliated with ISIS, marking the country’s most significant admission yet of the extremist group’s presence within its borders.
The suspects, many allegedly trained in Puntland, Somalia, were detained in a sweeping security operation across several cities and towns in various regional states including #Oromia, #Amhara, #Somali, and the capital #Addis_Abeba.
NISS claims the individuals were working to establish sleeper cells, coordinate attacks, and disseminate extremist propaganda, with some linked to ISIS’s global media and financing networks.
In April, Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Birhanu Jula told members of parliament that Ethiopian “traitors” were collaborating with terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Shabaab but declined to provide further details.
NISS’s announcement yesterday coincided with the designation by the U.S.-led Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC) of three ISIS facilitators operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, and South Africa.
If confirmed, NISS’s latest claims, combined with past Al-Shabaab incursions and convictions of dozens of operatives in Ethiopia, signal a new phase in its internal security dynamics.
While ISIS activity had largely been considered external, the NISS announcement suggests an expanded and potentially entrenched network on Ethiopian soil, raising concerns about border vulnerabilities, and the dual threat posed by both ISIS and Al-Shabaab to national and regional stability.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51450
Addis Standard
First major sign of ISIS in Ethiopia as intelligence claims capturing 82 alleged operatives trained in Puntland - Addis Standard
First major sign of ISIS in Ethiopia as intelligence claims capturing 82 alleged operatives trained in Puntland Addis Standard News Analysis -
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#Israel attacks #Syria’s #Damascus amid fighting in Suwayda
The Israeli military has launched airstrikes targeting the Syrian Defense Ministry in Damascus, as well as an area near the presidential palace.
According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, which cited the Health Ministry, the attacks killed one person and wounded 18 others.
The strikes came just hours after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned the Syrian government to withdraw from Suwayda, where intense fighting has recently broken out with members of Syria’s Druze minority.
Following the strikes, Katz shared a video of a Syrian news presenter taking cover after a massive explosion erupted behind her, captioning it, “The heavy blows have started.”
Ammar Kahf, executive director of Omran Center for Strategic Studies, says Israel is seeking to cause “havoc and chaos” in Syria to destabilize the new government after its major bombardment.
https://aje.io/oy4iku
The Israeli military has launched airstrikes targeting the Syrian Defense Ministry in Damascus, as well as an area near the presidential palace.
According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, which cited the Health Ministry, the attacks killed one person and wounded 18 others.
The strikes came just hours after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned the Syrian government to withdraw from Suwayda, where intense fighting has recently broken out with members of Syria’s Druze minority.
Following the strikes, Katz shared a video of a Syrian news presenter taking cover after a massive explosion erupted behind her, captioning it, “The heavy blows have started.”
Ammar Kahf, executive director of Omran Center for Strategic Studies, says Israel is seeking to cause “havoc and chaos” in Syria to destabilize the new government after its major bombardment.
https://aje.io/oy4iku
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News: Six IDPs die of cholera in Fentale, Oromia, as humanitarian crisis deepens; zonal health official denies fatalities
Six internally displaced people (IDPs) have died of cholera in the Banti and Ilala kebeles of the Fentale district, East Shewa Zone of the Oromia region, amid a growing humanitarian crisis. The district official blamed the deaths on a critical shortage of clean drinking water and warned of a sharp decline in humanitarian assistance reaching the area. However, zonal officials refuted the casualties while confirming the cholera outbreak in the area with 150 recorded cases.
Mohammed Asabot, Deputy District Administrator and Head of the Agriculture Office in Fentale, told Addis Standard that the six deceased had been residing in Banti and Ilala kebeles after being displaced by a series of earth tremors. He said they fell ill after consuming rainwater collected during the recent rainy season, due to the absence of clean drinking water. Three of the victims were from Banti Kebele, while the remaining three were from Ilala Kebele.
Jima Fentale, one of the displaced persons currently living in Ilala Kebele, said he and others who fled from the slopes of Mount Fentale are now sheltering along the asphalt road between Metehara and Addis Abeba. He said they are exposed to the scorching sun and nighttime cold, while livestock have died from ashes rising from the mountain. Jima confirmed to Addis Standard that he is aware of the death of two people in his area due to cholera.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51457
Six internally displaced people (IDPs) have died of cholera in the Banti and Ilala kebeles of the Fentale district, East Shewa Zone of the Oromia region, amid a growing humanitarian crisis. The district official blamed the deaths on a critical shortage of clean drinking water and warned of a sharp decline in humanitarian assistance reaching the area. However, zonal officials refuted the casualties while confirming the cholera outbreak in the area with 150 recorded cases.
Mohammed Asabot, Deputy District Administrator and Head of the Agriculture Office in Fentale, told Addis Standard that the six deceased had been residing in Banti and Ilala kebeles after being displaced by a series of earth tremors. He said they fell ill after consuming rainwater collected during the recent rainy season, due to the absence of clean drinking water. Three of the victims were from Banti Kebele, while the remaining three were from Ilala Kebele.
Jima Fentale, one of the displaced persons currently living in Ilala Kebele, said he and others who fled from the slopes of Mount Fentale are now sheltering along the asphalt road between Metehara and Addis Abeba. He said they are exposed to the scorching sun and nighttime cold, while livestock have died from ashes rising from the mountain. Jima confirmed to Addis Standard that he is aware of the death of two people in his area due to cholera.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51457
Addis Standard
Six IDPs die of Cholera in Fentale, Oromia, as humanitarian crisis deepens; zonal health official denies fatalities - Addis Standard
Six IDPs die of Cholera in Fentale, Oromia, as humanitarian crisis deepens; zonal health official denies fatalities Addis Standard News -
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