#Ethiopia: Foreign Ministry mourns deaths of over 60 #Ethiopians in maritime tragedy off #Yemeni coast

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed profound sorrow over the deaths of more than 60 Ethiopian nationals who perished in a maritime tragedy off the coast of Yemen.

In a statement issued Monday, the Ministry said it is working closely with international and regional partners to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the victims were among a group of migrants attempting to cross the Gulf of Aden when their vessel capsized near Yemen’s Abyan Governorate.

Extending condolences to the families of the deceased, the Ministry urged Ethiopian citizens to refrain from using irregular migration routes and instead seek overseas employment through legal and authorized channels.


https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1952440901470437769

Faced with #hardships at home, #Ethiopians risk dangerous seas for a better life elsewhere

The deadly shipwreck in waters off Yemen’s coast over the weekend is weighing heavily on the hearts of many in Ethiopia. Twelve migrants on the boat that carried 154 Ethiopians survived the tragedy — at least 68 died and 74 remain missing .

When Solomon Gebremichael heard about Sunday’s disaster, it brought back heartbreaking memories — he had lost a close friend and a brother to illegal migration years ago.

“I understand the pain all too well,” Gebremichael told The Associated Press at his home in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.

Although Ethiopia has been relatively stable since the war in the country's Tigray region ended in 2022 , youth unemployment is currently at over 20%, leading many to risk dangerous waters trying to reach the wealthy Gulf Arab countries , seeking a better life elsewhere.

Mesel Kindeya made the crossing in 2016 via the same sea route as the boat that capsized on Sunday, traveling without papers on harrowing journeys arranged by smugglers from Ethiopia to Saudi Arabia.


“We could barely breathe,” she remembers of her own sea crossing. “Speaking up could get us thrown overboard by smugglers. I deeply regret risking my life, thinking it would improve my situation.”
Kindeya made it to Saudi Arabia and worked as a maid for six months, before she was captured by authorities, and imprisoned for eight months. By the time she was deported back to Ethiopia, she had barely managed to earn back the initial cost of her journey.
“Despite the hardships of life, illegal immigration is just not a solution,” she says.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/08/04/ethiopia-yemen-migration-shipwreck/74892a0c-7163-11f0-84e0-485bb531abeb_story.html

#Ethiopia’s #Tigray Temptation

Only #America can prevent a new #War in the Horn of Africa

Over the past 20 months, as multiple wars have swept across the Middle East, the southern end of the Red Sea has become a source of international concern. In the early months of 2025 alone, the United States spent billions of dollars on a high-profile military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen, who have continued to attack international shipping in this crucial body of water in response to Israel’s war in Gaza. Yet regional and world powers have largely ignored a volatile crisis on the Red Sea’s other coast, along the Horn of Africa, that could soon erupt into a major conflagration.

If fighting breaks out between Ethiopia and Eritrea, Tigray will again be the main battleground, with potentially catastrophic consequences—for Tigray and for the entire Horn of Africa. Both sides have large, well-equipped armies and are prepared to inflict and absorb casualties on a vast scale. A conflict would tear up what remains of a fragile peace and security architecture in the region, and could draw in Somalia and Sudan in a regionwide vortex of violence. Further fueling instability is the rival meddling of leading Middle Eastern powers, with the United Arab Emirates supporting Ethiopia and Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey leaning toward Eritrea.

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ethiopia/ethiopias-tigray-temptation

#Foreign Ministry welcomes appointment of Girma Amente as #AU’s Permanent Representative to #UN Office, #WTO

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has welcomed the appointment of Girma Amente (PhD) as the African Union’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva.

In a statement issued on 04 August, the ministry commended the decision by Mahmoud Ali Youssef, African Union Commission Chairperson, describing the appointment as a reflection of the AU’s recognition of Ethiopia’s role in representing the continent on global platforms.

The ministry expressed full confidence in Girma Amente’s capacity to serve in the new position, citing his “extensive leadership experience.”

Girma served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture from January 2023 to August 2025.

#Tigray interim president warns #Simret Party against armed activity, urges political dialogue

Lt. Gen. Tadesse Worede, president of the Tigray Interim Administration, has cautioned the Simret Party, the newly formed political party led by Getachew Reda, PM Abiy Ahmed’s advisor on East African Affairs, against involvement in armed struggle, urging the group to commit to peaceful political engagement.

In an interview with local media, Lt. Gen. Tadesse confirmed reports that the Simret Party is preparing to open offices in Tigray, stating that no formal request has been received. “If they complete the required procedures with the election board, they can proceed,” he said.

However, he expressed concern over the party’s alleged ties to armed groups in Afar, warning, “They must not act as spoilers.” Citing a recent deadly clash near the border, Lt. Gen. Tadesse called for political dialogue and restraint and called on federal and regional actors to support efforts to resolve tensions through peaceful means.

#Ethiopian Airlines #denies claims of proposed wet-lease agreement with #Russian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines has firmly denied reports alleging that it has entered into an agreement to lease aircraft or spare parts to a Russian airline, calling the claims “completely false.”

Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, dismissed the allegations during a press briefing held earlier today at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Abeba, where he presented the company’s performance for the 2024/2025 Ethiopian fiscal year.

Recent media reports claimed that a Russian delegation led by Trade Commissioner Yaroslav V. Tarasyuk met with Ethiopia's Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) on 29 July to propose wet-leasing aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines and collaborating on aircraft maintenance.

Citing Ethiopia’s Boeing-accredited Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities, the media reports claimed that the Russian delegation also expressed interest in supplying Russian-made navigational equipment, expanding MRO facilities in Ethiopia, and finalizing a new bilateral air transport agreement.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51663

#Op_ed: From #Tigray to #Gaza: Rising use of aid blockades as war strategy, global response under scrutiny

“Food is back on the battlefield, and food security is no longer just a humanitarian issue: it is now a systematic, political, and strategic problem,” writes Emanuele Rossi, the author of this op-ed. He highlights how the increasing use of aid blockades as a wartime strategy is causing global alarm, noting that global leaders and humanitarian agencies at the recent #UN Food Systems Summit in #Addis_Abeba warned that this alarming trend threatens both peace and human dignity.

The author cites the war in Tigray, which ended in 2022, as one telling example. He recalls how the international community repeatedly raised concerns over the blockade of humanitarian assistance, which placed well over five million people at risk. According to Rossi, this is far from an isolated incident. He notes that #Russia has been accused of employing starvation as a weapon in the besieged Ukrainian city of #Mariupol, while similar strategies have been documented in #Syria, #South_Sudan, and #Yemen.

Furthermore, Rossi contends, “The link between conflict and hunger is currently most visible in Gaza.” He refers to a recent warning by the World Health Organization (#WHO) that the risk of famine in Gaza is rising due to the “deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid.” The report reveals that the entire population of 2.1 million people is suffering from “prolonged food shortages,” with nearly half a million facing “catastrophic levels of hunger, acute malnutrition, starvation, illness, and death.”

The author emphasizes that “food is a right, not a privilege,” arguing that as hunger is increasingly used as an instrument of war and political leverage, the global community must confront it as both a moral responsibility and a geopolitical priority. Rossi concludes by stating, "Ensuring the right to food is a collective duty, central to the future stability of the global order."

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51660

#Ethiopia appoints new Ambassador to #Somalia after nearly a year of diplomatic rift

Ethiopia has appointed Suleiman Dedefo Woshe as its new ambassador to Somalia, nearly a year after a diplomatic fallout led to a freeze in ambassadorial-level ties. Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, received Ambassador Suleiman's credentials during a ceremony in Mogadishu, signaling a renewed diplomatic cooperation between the Horn of Africa neighboring countries.

The appointment follows a period of strained relations that began in October 2024, when Somalia expelled an Ethiopian diplomat for allegedly violating diplomatic norms and later ousted Ethiopia’s then-ambassador. The fallout was further exacerbated by Ethiopia’s MoU with Somaliland, which Somalia saw as a violation of its sovereignty.

Although Turkish-brokered talks to defuse the tensions produced the “Ankara Declaration” in December 2024, efforts to bring about concrete results have since faltered, with no progress reported since April 2025.


https://addisstandard.com/?p=51669

#Ethiopian Airlines reports $7.6B revenue, confirms #frozen funds in #Eritrea remain inaccessible

Ethiopian Airlines transported more than 19 million domestic and international passengers and earned 7.6 billion USD in revenue during the 2024/2025 Ethiopian budget year, marking an 8 % increase from the previous year, CEO Mesfin Tasew announced today

The CEO admitted that multiple regional and global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East, Sudan, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as having significantly disrupted airline operations over the past year. He also cited U.S. government regulations as a growing challenge to air transport services.

“Despite these challenges, the global air transport industry managed to serve 5 billion customers,” he said, adding that Ethiopian Airlines delivered a comparatively strong performance.

Addressing the unresolved issue of Ethiopian Airlines’ frozen bank account in Eritrea, which led to the suspension of flights to Asmara in September last year, the CEO confirmed that the seized funds remain unrecovered.

“We pursued legal measures to recover the money through the courts, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Therefore, the issue is a political decision,” he said.


https://addisstandard.com/?p=51672

#Askari complete #technical due diligence at #Ethiopia project

Askari Metals has completed technical due diligence on the Nejo gold and copper project, in Ethiopia, a key condition precedent for settlement of the acquisition, subject to shareholder approval.

The company has finalised a regional exploration programme at the Guji-Gudeya and Guliso gold trends, including design of soil and rock sampling and geological mapping ahead of maiden drilling campaign.

“We are pleased that the technical due diligence has been successfully concluded at our Nejo project.

“Our on-site due diligence was focused on the drill-ready targets of Guji, Komto 1 and Komto 2 validating and verifying historical drilling and trenching along the highly prospective Guji-Gudeya gold trend,” executive director Gino D’Anna explains.

https://www.miningweekly.com/article/askari-complete-technical-due-diligence-at-ethiopia-project-2025-08-05

#Egypt renews ‘water security’ fears in #Uganda as #Ethiopia readies to inaugurate Renaissance Dam

Egypt has renewed its diplomatic offensive over the Nile River by dispatching senior officials to Uganda, raising concerns over its “existential” water security ahead of Ethiopia’s planned inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD) in September.

Despite Ethiopia’s repeated assurances that the GERD supports regional development and poses no harm to downstream countries, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Minister of Water Hani Sewilam warned of “unilateral actions” and vowed to pursue “all measures” under international law to safeguard “Egypt’s water security.”

The Egyptian high-level delegation visit to Uganda comes less than a week after a series of another high-level lobby in Washington D.C. and amid Cairo’s continued refusal to join the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), the only legally binding framework negotiated by Nile Basin states to govern equitable water use.

Ethiopia’s Water Minister Habtamu Itefa highlighted Egypt’s contradictory and obstructionist stance in February this year, revealing its attempts to block a ministerial visit to the GERD during a Nile Basin Initiative meeting in Addis Abeba. “This showed who stands for cooperation and who stands against progress,” Habtamu said.

In July Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that the GERD’s official inauguration would be held in September 2025 and extended formal invitations to Egypt, Sudan, and all Nile Basin countries.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51678

Over 5,000 displaced as #Awash River #floods hit Southwest Shewa; 2,400 hectares of crops destroyed

Torrential rainfall over the weekend triggered severe flooding along the Awash River in Ilu and Sebeta Hawas districts of the Southwest Shewa Zone, Oromia region, displacing more than 5,000 people and damaging over 2,400 hectares of farmland, local officials told Addis Standard.

Tadele Tesfaye, chief administrator of Ilu district, said the Awash River overflowed at four points on Saturday night, inundating two kebeles - Werarso Kelina and Mulo Sexayie - and forcing residents to evacuate.

In Sebeta Hawas district, Ashenafi Nuguse, the district’s chief administrator, said the river overflowed into Awash Balloo kebele, displacing 240 households and damaging both crops and livestock. Remaining residents are reportedly living in fear of further flooding.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51681

‘#Geography should never define #destiny’: António Guterres

Secretary-General of the United Nations said this at the Opening of the 'Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3)' in Awaza on 05 August.

Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), representing 7% of the world’s population but only 1% of global trade, face systemic marginalization due to geographic isolation, high transport costs, and economic dependency on raw commodity exports, he said.

The UN called for “a new decade of ambition” under the Awaza Program of Action to tackle the structural inequalities deepened by conflict, debt, climate change, and outdated global financial systems.

#Ethiopian #Israelis bear heavy burden in #Gaza war: ‘These are everyone’s sons’

Ethiopian Israelis make up a disproportionately high number of fallen soldiers, driven by a deep-rooted cultural sense of duty and patriotism.

An opinion piece published in The Jerusalem Post highlighted that roughly 90% of Israeli men of Ethiopian descent enlist in the IDF, and about half of them serve in combat roles. Among women, the enlistment rate is around 70% — both figures are significantly higher than the national average.

A proud Ethiopian Israeli, Oriya had one goal: to give back to his country, his father, Eyov Goshen, said.

“The young people in our community choose to be in combat,” Goshen said. “We respect the young people who choose to fight for the country.”

This sense of duty is deeply rooted in Ethiopian culture, explained Shmuel Legesse, an international educator and community activist of Ethiopian descent.

“According to our culture, it is heroic to join the army and die for your country,” Legesse said.

But Legesse also believes the contributions and sacrifices of Ethiopian Israeli soldiers are too often overlooked.

“When we fall in battle, the world remains silent,” he said, expressing frustration that his community is still depreciated. “I don’t feel like enough has been done to recognize our community’s contribution. It is not identified, counted, or given enough attention by the media or the government. The individuals who lost their loved ones are not supported or assisted enough.”

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rk68ot1uee

#KEFI #Gold and #Copper completes early works at Tulu Kapi

KEFI Gold and Copper has completed the early works required to enable the full launch of construction at its Tulu Kapi gold project in Ethiopia.

Inspections by the relevant independent certifiers, security, community and site preparations are considered all in order for full project launch.

The company has also updated its finance plan and financial model, and the full financing is expected to close next month.

The project finance plan and financial model are now undergoing final review and certification for inclusion in the final definitive documentation for signing.

Subject to final approvals, the updated finance plan remains consistent with recent guidance presented at the KEFI AGM.

This specified that total development capital required is approximately US$420 million, including the mining fleet. This is expected to be funded through approximately US$110 million in contractor funding, US$240 million in bank debt, and around US$70 million in additional equity risk capital.

The required equity risk capital of approximately US$70 million includes around US$10 million which has already been spent, with the balance assembled at the subsidiary level and now being refined and finalised against the final budgets and consequential Financial Model.

Board meetings for KEFI, KME and TKGM - the joint Board of KEFI and the Ethiopian Sovereign Fund, Federal Ministry of Finance and the Oromia Regional Government - are scheduled in sequence during August 2025 for signing all documents. Other parties are expected then to proceed to countersign according to their respective board schedules.

https://www.voxmarkets.co.uk/articles/kefi-gold-and-copper-completes-early-works-at-tulu-kapi-7d29d8c/

#Windstorm displaces 26,000 in Afdera; #flood risks heighten climate crisis fears

A windstorm that struck Afdera Town in Ethiopia’s Afar Region on 15 July displaced nearly 26,000 people, destroyed more than 2,500 homes, and left thousands without shelter, food, or clean water, according to CARE Ethiopia.

Located in the Danakil Depression, Afdera suffered extensive damage to public infrastructure, with one fatality reported. CARE warned that the disaster underscores how climate change is disproportionately affecting remote and vulnerable communities.

“There is nothing left to eat and nowhere to sleep,” said Asiya Mahamoda, a mother of six whose home was destroyed.

CARE Ethiopia has called for urgent humanitarian support and long-term investment in community resilience. Meanwhile, forecasts indicate above-average rainfall through September, with up to 300,000 people at risk of flooding across the country.

According to the latest update by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) acute food insecurity remains widespread across Ethiopia, driven by a combination of weather-related shocks, failed seasonal rains, and the lingering impacts of conflict.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51689

Thousands in #Sudan’s besieged el-Fasher at ‘risk of #starvation’, #UN warns

North Darfur’s capital has been under RSF siege for more than a year with key roads blocked and supplies running out.

Thousands of families trapped in the besieged city of el-Fasher in western Sudan are at “risk of starvation”, the World Food Programme (WFP) warns as the country’s brutal civil war rages well into its third year.

Since May last year, el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, has been under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been at war with the government-aligned Sudanese armed forces (SAF) since April 2023.

The RSF has encircled the city, blocking all major roads and trapping hundreds of thousands of civilians, who have dwindling food supplies and limited humanitarian access.

“Everyone in el-Fasher is facing a daily struggle to survive,” said Eric Perdison, the WFP’s regional director for East and Southern Africa.

“People’s coping mechanisms have been completely exhausted by over two years of war. Without immediate and sustained access, lives will be lost.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/5/thousands-in-sudans-besieged-el-fasher-at-risk-of-starvation-un-warns

New #AFRICOM chief says #US engagement with #Somaliland ‘in our interest’

The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee, Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, to lead United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), as the Pentagon and Congress signal growing interest in expanding ties with Somaliland.

Anderson, 54, was confirmed by unanimous voice vote on July 31 before lawmakers adjourned for the summer recess. He becomes the first U.S. Air Force officer to lead AFRICOM since its founding in 2007, breaking a pattern of Army and Marine appointments.

According to The Africa Report, with the Pentagon looking to deepen its partnership with Somaliland, he went to give proponents of independents some reason for optimism. “I think it’s in our interest to have some level of engagement in that region,” Anderson said. “Whether that’s with the federal government or the member states, I think that’s something I would have to assess if confirmed.”

His comments come as U.S. policy appears to be shifting. In its Fiscal Year 2026 budget, the U.S. Congress directed the Secretary of State to explore avenues for deeper bilateral cooperation with Somaliland.

According to the House Appropriations Committee report for H.R. 4779, the State Department is required to submit a report within 120 days of enactment outlining potential areas of engagement - including security, diplomacy, trade, and development.

Somaliland, which regained its statehood from Somalia in 1991 but remains unrecognized internationally, has emerged as a potential U.S. partner amid growing global competition in the Red Sea region.

Somaliland President Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi “Irro” is expected to travel to Washington, D.C. in the coming weeks for high-level meetings with U.S. officials. Talks are expected to cover possible U.S. access to Somaliland’s Red Sea port of Berbera, use of military facilities, and cooperation in developing critical mineral resources.
https://www.horndiplomat.com/2025/08/new-africom-chief-backs-deeper-u-s-ties-with-somaliland/

Humanitarian aid cuts cripple #Gambella #refugee camps amid rising #malnutrition, #malaria

Refugee camps in Ethiopia’s Gambella region are facing a deepening humanitarian crisis following significant international aid cuts that have crippled essential services, including food distribution, health care, and disease prevention.

The region, which hosts more than 395,000 refugees—mostly from South Sudan across seven camps—is witnessing a surge in child malnutrition, malaria cases, and patient admissions, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which has operated in Kule refugee camp for over a decade.

The sharp decline in humanitarian assistance, driven by global funding reductions from key donors such as USAID, has already forced the suspension of nutrition programs in four of the seven camps, placing an estimated 80,000 children under five at risk of life-threatening malnutrition.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51694

#Drought claims more than 20 people in #Kolla_Tembien signaling deepening humanitarian crisis in war-torn #Tigray

At least 22 people have died and more than 27,000 livestock have perished in Kolla Tembien, Central Tigray, as a severe drought grips the war-affected region, local officials told Addis Standard. The worsening toll reflects a deepening humanitarian emergency unfolding in an area still reeling from the impact of the two-year devastating war.

Farmers report withered sesame fields and widespread crop failure, while health workers warn of growing cases of acute malnutrition, especially among children and the elderly. “People are already dying. We are helpless without urgent support,” said Goitom Gebrehaweria,a local administrator in Yaqer, highlighting the urgent need for food and water relief.

Despite appeals from local officials and a commitment from the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (TIRA) to dispatch aid following an emergency cabinet meeting on 04 August, no assistance has reached the district. The crisis in Kolla Tembien compounded by the two-year devastating war, displacement, and political fragmentation that have left Tigray dangerously vulnerable to climate shocks.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51697

Two #Ghanaian ministers die in #helicopter crash, along with six others

Ghana's ministers of defence and environment have died in a military helicopter crash in the central Ashanti region, along with six other people, a government spokesperson says.

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah told a press conference that Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, 50, had been killed in the crash, which he described as a "national tragedy".

Earlier, the Ghana Armed Forces said the aircraft, which was carrying three crew and five passengers, had gone "off the radar".

It had taken off from the capital, Accra, at 09:12 local time (and GMT) and was heading to the gold-mining town of Obuasi for a national event.

The authorities have not confirmed the cause of the crash.

The chief of staff has directed the country's flags to fly at half-mast.

He extended condolences to "the servicemen who died in service to the country," on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the government.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8zjxwgj9jo