African Development Bank to finance $500 million of #Ethiopia's new airport

The African Development Bank will contribute $500 million towards the financing of a new airport in Ethiopia - which is expected to be Africa's largest when completed in 2029 - it said on Monday.

State-owned Ethiopian Airlines has signed an agreement for the design of the four-runway airport near the town of Bishoftu, around 45 km (28 miles) southeast of the capital Addis Abeba. The airline has said it will provide 20% of the funding for the $10 billion project and the rest will come from creditors.

"The bank has itself earmarked up to $500 million, subject to board approval, to anchor the funding of this transformational regional integration project," the development bank said in a statement.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/african-development-bank-finance-500-million-ethiopias-new-airport-2025-08-11/

#Op_ed: Who can stop #Ethiopia’s revolving door of injustices?

In this op-ed, Deprose Muchena, the former Senior Director of Regional Human Rights Impact at Amnesty International, reflects on Ethiopia’s enduring cycle of injustice. He recalls joining Amnesty in 2014, when youth-led protests in #Oromia called for justice and equality—demands later “dashed” by the government.

He details how Ethiopia descended in 2020 into a devastating war in #Tigray, described as "one of the worst atrocities of the 21st century," characterized by "mass killings, mass displacements, sexual violence, and unmatched polarization." The author underscores the international community’s failure to act, attributing it in part to the divisive influence of big tech and a deeply fractured global political order that “was failing to deliver on commitments embodied in the #UN Charter.” He further notes that Ethiopian authorities invoked the slogan “African solutions to African problems” to deflect international pressure, effectively “drowning out victims’ pleas for justice and accountability.”

The article draws attention to what it calls a “revolving door of impunity,” where new conflicts erupt before previous ones are meaningfully addressed. Muchena points out that even as conflict escalated in the #Amhara region, promised transitional justice mechanisms "remain on paper to date." He emphasizes that "no one has more power to stop atrocities and the culture of impunity than the ordinary Ethiopians," who require support to foster a society upholding the principle that "no one is safe until everyone is safe."

The author states that "Solidarity is indeed the most valued currency of the oppressed," but highlights that “it is becoming increasingly scarce,” requiring “leadership, investment, and a genuine commitment to making difficult decisions. ”An empowered society that honors justice is possible in Ethiopia,” he concludes, but only if “solidarity transcends borders” and “agency is returned to the people.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51838

#Ethiopia: #Addis_Abeba Police detain five over alleged #TikTok-based ‘security threats’ broadcast, seek ‘one fugitive’

The Addis Abeba Police said it has detained five individuals accused of using the social media platform TikTok to organize activities aimed at “disrupting the peace” and “creating a security threat” in the capital.

Police identified the detainees as Kirubel Melaku, Ahmed Shahir, Mihi’el Abiy, Bereket Daniel, and Abiyu Degarege, and said they were apprehended following monitoring of social media activities and tips from the public. The suspects are alleged to have spread messages with the intent to “endanger public safety.”

Read more: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1955233843138416871

#Ezema says ruling party ‘sidesteps’ own failures, asks it to embrace accountability, address failures in #Pretoria_agreement

The Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice Party (Ezema) has criticized the ruling party’s latest statement on Ethiopia’s political and security situation, accusing the ruling party of “sidestepping” its own failures and showing “a low level of commitment to accountability.”

In its statement last week, the Prosperity Party (PP) has accused what it termed “historical enemies” and “internal traitors” of mounting a renewed and coordinated campaign to destabilize Ethiopia.

In a response issued today, Ezema said the Prosperity Party’s portrayal of its role in ending the war in the Tigray region and signing the Pretoria Agreement ignored the “collective contribution” of Ethiopians and the governing party’s shortcomings in fulfilling the accord’s provisions.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51842

#Sudan: Dozens killed in attack on #Sudan camp for people who had fled war

At least 40 people have been killed in an attack on a camp for displaced people in Sudan's western Darfur region, according to an aid group that works there.

The Abu Shouk Emergency Response Room said Monday's assault was carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The resistance committee in nearby el-Fasher city, made up of local citizens and activists, also reported this.

El-Fasher, which came under intense attack as well, is the last major foothold in Darfur for the army and its allies, which have been fighting the paramilitary RSF in the two-year civil war.

The conflict has triggered a humanitarian crisis with the UN warning that families trapped in the besieged city faced starvation.

Sudanese media reported that the camp was caught in the crossfire of the fighting in el-Fasher.


https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c890dx9vk8do

#Analysis: #Oromia demands full stake over mining licenses, compliance; Hong Kong Xingxu Mining, several others face ‘revocation of non-compliant licenses’

The Oromia Mineral Development Authority (#OMDA) has moved to take full control over mining license issuance, renewal, and revocation within the region, in a sweeping policy shift outlined in an August 5 letter to the Federal Ministry of Mines. In July, Addis Standard reported on the contested renewal of three exploration licenses held by Hong Kong Xingxu Mining in West Wollega Zone.

The letter, seen by Addis Standard, placed fifteen companies, including Hong Kong Xingxu, under “revocation of non-compliant licenses.” Despite that, Australian based Askari Metals, which insisted to have acquired Hong Kong Xingxu says it has secured assurances that it can deploy capital and resources for exploration activities, a claim that carries potential legal action if it “continues to disseminate misleading and incorrect information,” according to a senior official.

Dozens more mining companies have also been flagged for suspension or subjected to new requirements for regional endorsement. Effective immediately, no mining license can be granted or renewed in Oromia without OMDA’s prior clearance, and any issued without it will be deemed unauthorized.

The decision has ignited debate over the constitutional balance of power between federal and regional authorities in Ethiopia’s mining sector. Industry experts caution the move could improve local oversight but also introduce new bureaucratic hurdles for investors.

OMDA says the measures are part of a broader legal reform plan aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and equitable development while asserting Oromia’s constitutional rights over its natural resources.

Read more….

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51845

#Egypt says will not give up its water rights amid #Nile_dam dispute with #Ethiopia

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi rejected any unilateral actions on the Nile River, warning that anyone who believes Egypt will overlook its water rights “is mistaken.”

Addressing a joint press conference in Cairo with his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, Sisi said the combined annual water flow from the White and Blue Nile, tributaries of the Nile River, is approximately 1,600 billion cubic meters, much of which is lost through forests, swamps, evaporation, and groundwater.

“Only a minor portion of water reaches the Nile, and that Egypt and Sudan together receive about 85 billion cubic meters - only around 4 percent of the total,” he added.

The Egyptian leader stressed that abandoning this share of water “would effectively mean relinquishing Egypt’s very life,” as the country lacks alternative water resources and receives minimal rainfall.

Sisi said while Egypt welcomes the development benefits of Nile waters for sister countries – whether in agriculture, electricity production, or general development, “such growth must not diminish the amount of water reaching Egypt.”

He framed the Nile water issue within a broader pressure campaign aimed at Egypt to advance unrelated objectives.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/egypt-says-will-not-give-up-its-water-rights-amid-nile-dam-dispute-with-ethiopia/3657530

#AU urges permanent ceasefire, full implementation of revitalized peace accord in #South_Sudan

The African Union (AU) on Tuesday called for a permanent ceasefire and full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan following a three-day field mission to Juba, the country's capital.

The delegation, comprising representatives of 15 members of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), engaged with South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and other political leaders on the ongoing implementation of the revitalized peace accord as well as the December 2026 elections, which will end the transition period in the conflict-hit country.

"The council stressed the need to ensure the full implementation of the remaining tasks in the revitalized agreement, and called for a permanent ceasefire and protection of civilians and humanitarian workers," the AUPSC said in a statement.

Commending the commitment expressed by South Sudanese political leaders for the completion of the transition process, the council called for "an inclusive political high-level dialogue among the political leaders for an amicable resolution of the current political situation in the country."

The AUPSC reaffirmed its "continued dedication to support South Sudan to end the conflict and ensure a successful completion of the transition period," expressing its unwavering support to South Sudan toward the organization of the December 2026 elections.

https://english.news.cn/africa/20250813/dc1db3842cbb4a81866a6b2c8cdc6d4a/c.html

#US. mum on secret Burhan talks as other sources confirm meeting

The U.S. State Department on Tuesday declined to comment on reports of a secret meeting in Switzerland between Sudanese leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and a U.S. advisor, even as other government and media sources confirmed the high-stakes talks took place.

A high-level State Department diplomatic source, who declined to confirm or deny the meeting took place, told Sudan Tribune that Washington continues to engage with Sudanese parties through multiple channels.

“I will not get into the details of those discussions,” the source said, adding that the U.S. is “committed to supporting a dialogue that leads to peace and ends the suffering of the Sudanese people.”

However, Agence France-Presse (AFP), citing two Sudanese government sources, reported that Burhan and senior U.S. adviser Massaad Boulos met for three hours on Monday to discuss a U.S. peace plan, including a proposal for a comprehensive ceasefire.

https://sudantribune.com/article303878/

#Ethiopia repatriates over 200 irregular #migrants from #Malawi

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced today that 210 Ethiopian nationals have been repatriated from Malawi after enduring prolonged detention.

According to a statement released today, the return took place between 7 and 13 August 2025, coordinated through the joint efforts of Ethiopian Airlines, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Ethiopia’s embassy in Dar es Salaam.

MoFA said the group had been attempting to reach South Africa via irregular migration routes, paying significant sums to human trafficking networks. They reportedly exited Ethiopia through Moyale, transited Kenya and Tanzania, and were intercepted by Malawian security forces before reaching their destination. Many were held in detention centers for extended periods prior to their release.

https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1955548656590819482

#Ethiopia: Extrajudicial #killings, torture, mass detentions: U.S. 2024 report paints grim picture on Ethiopia’s record

The U.S. Department of State’s 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Ethiopia has delivered a stark assessment of the country’s human rights situation, detailing widespread abuses by state and non-state actors in the context of ongoing conflicts in different parts of the country.

The report cites “widespread killings of civilians, mass forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, rape and other forms of violence against women and girls, looting, and destruction of property” committed by Amhara militias and allied groups in western Tigray. It also documents “widespread unlawful killings of civilians and government officials” in the Amhara and Oromia regions and other areas, attributing responsibility to the Oromo Liberation Army (#OLA) and Amhara #Fano militia.


Read more...
https://addisstandard.com/?p=51857

#Commentary: From #GERD to #Red_Sea: #Ethiopia’s strategic future amid regional power politics, U.S. pressure

Financed entirely by the Ethiopian people, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is scheduled for inauguration in September 2025. Gulaid Yusuf Idaan, the author of this commentary, contends that the dam has recently become a "complex geopolitical flashpoint," noting that #Egypt continues vigorous lobbying against the GERD, framing it as an "existential concern," despite technical assessments confirming it poses "no threat to Egypt's water security." He also highlights how President Donald Trump's "repeated false remarks" claiming the #United_States funded the dam have further escalated tensions.

The author explains that Egypt historically dominated Nile politics through "the sophisticated use of coercive, bargaining, and ideational power." Despite an invitation to the inauguration, he states Egypt "continues to securitize the GERD," portraying it as "a direct threat to both its national security and water security," intensifying lobbying efforts by dispatching officials to Uganda. Furthermore, Idaan underscores that Trump’s repeated misinformation—“falsely” claiming “Ethiopia built a dam with United States money, largely”—undermined African-led negotiations and emboldened “hawkish elements within Egyptian politics.” He adds that Washington’s actions, driven by transactional foreign policy goals in the Middle East and North #Africa, transformed the GERD into a "geopolitical bargaining chip."

According to the article, Ethiopia’s regional ambitions extend well beyond the GERD, with securing access to the Red Sea emerging as a central arena. It also highlights growing opposition from regional actors, including Egypt and #Somalia, which have expressed “varying degrees of unease, if not outright hostility” toward Ethiopia’s pursuit of a maritime outlet.

The author argues that Ethiopia is currently at a “crucial strategic juncture” as it pursues its "two waters policy," which aims to “maximize sustainable use of the Nile and secure access to the Red Sea.” He outlines two paths: the first involves maintaining cautious diplomacy by "avoiding bold moves"; the second is "strategic realignment" through leveraging its MoU with #Somaliland to potentially "unlock a rare geopolitical opportunity."

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51851

Museveni says #Nile talks should move beyond ‘focusing solely on historical rights’

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has called on Nile Basin countries to reframe negotiations over the river’s future, arguing that discussions should move past entrenched positions based on historical claims. In a message on his X posted during his three-day visit to Egypt, Museveni said talks with Egyptian officials focused on “the future of the Nile.”

“We must approach the issue of the Nile with a broad perspective,” Museveni said, adding that “sometimes, the challenge lies in our approach.” He added: “Rather than focusing solely on historical rights, we should consider the global needs of all Nile Basin countries.”

Museveni said the collective priority should be “prosperity for all, access to electricity for all, irrigation for all, and clean drinking water for all.” Embedding these goals into a shared framework, he noted, would allow countries “to employ the most scientific and fair methods to achieve them.”

#Dasenech, #Turkana communities mark #reconciliation with return of livestock after recent deadly border clashes

A symbolic gesture intended to ease recurring cross-border tensions between #Ethiopia’s Dasenech and #Kenya’s Turkana pastoralist communities this week saw the return of livestock seized during recent recurring clashes

On 10 August, the Dasenech community returned livestock seized during earlier clashes to the Turkana community in a handover ceremony attended by senior government officials, security forces, and community representatives from both countries.

The move followed a series of high-level meetings aimed at “preventing social and economic harm from disputes over shared natural resources”, according to the Dasenech district communication bureau. “Officials urged both sides to strengthen traditional practices of returning lost animals and deepen cross-border cooperation to ensure stability.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=51864

#South_Sudan rejects reports of plan to resettle #Palestinians from #Gaza

South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has firmly denied recent media claims that the government is engaged in talks with #Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza in the country.

In a statement issued Wednesday, 13 August, the ministry described the reports as “baseless” and said they do not represent “the official position or policy of the Government of South Sudan.” It urged media outlets to “exercise due diligence” and verify information through official channels before publication.

The denial comes after multiple outlets in the past 24 hours reported that Israel is in discussions with South Sudan over the possible relocation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip - part of what the reports described as a broader Israeli effort to facilitate mass emigration from the territory, devastated by a 22-month military offensive against Hamas.

Photo: AP/Jehad Alshrafi

#Ethiopia: Over 3,000 armed men lay down arms in a single zone in #Amhara region in #July alone, officials claim

Authorities in Amhara regional state claim more than 3,000 armed individuals have disarmed in just one month in the North Shoa Zone alone.

Yidesetu Kefetew, head of the North Shoa Zone peace and security office, told state media that 3,155 former combatants “accepted the peace call, disarmed, and returned to normal life” in July.

He said the individuals had been active in areas where “extremist groups” had been operating, though he did not name the groups or explain what led to such a surge in surrenders.

According to Yidesetu, many of those who laid down arms expressed regret for acts that disrupted community life, including “destroying government and public institutions, blocking roads, preventing children from attending school, obstructing access to health services, and hindering the provision of public services.”

https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1955637922599776731

#Sudan: #UN rejects #RSF plans to form rival government in #Sudan

The UN Security Council on Wednesday rejected plans by Sudan’s paramilitary group to establish a rival government in areas it controls, warning that the move threatens the country’s territorial integrity and risks further exacerbating the ongoing civil war.

The strongly worded statement by the UN’s most powerful body "unequivocally reaffirmed" its unwavering commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty, independence and unity. Any steps to undermine these principles "threaten not only the future of Sudan but also the peace and stability of the broader region," the statement said.

The 15-member council said the announcement by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces also risks "fragmenting the country and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation."


https://www.newarab.com/news/un-rejects-rsf-plans-form-rival-government-sudan