#Egypt identifies military bases in #Somalia ahead of troop deployment

The Egyptian Defence Forces have identified various Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Somalia ahead of the deployment of its troops, who will be serving in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), as African countries assist in the state-building process.

Several key towns were identified by the technical committee of the Egyptian army, which visited the Horn of Africa nation last week, as part of its evaluation of the environment, climate, and community interaction for the Egyptian forces.

According to multiple sources, the Egyptian forces will be stationed in Bal'ad, Jowhar, Burane, and Mahaday currently manned by Burundian peacekeepers operating in the Middle Shabelle region.

https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/egypt-identifies-military-bases-in-somalia-ahead-of-troop-deployment

Leaked documents expose Chinese firm’s role in exporting internet censorship technology to #Ethiopia, #Myanmar, #Pakistan and #Kazakhstan

A major leak of more than 100,000 internal documents has revealed that Chinese company Geedge Networks has been exporting internet censorship technology, modeled after China’s “Great Firewall,” to the governments of Ethiopia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Kazakhstan, according to Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail.

The documents show that Geedge has played a central role in developing and deploying advanced surveillance and filtering tools for its client states.

In Ethiopia, Geedge has reportedly partnered with internet service providers such as Safaricom to implement government censorship directives.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-leaked-files-show-a-chinese-company-is-exporting-the-great-firewalls/

#Ruto, #Kiir praise Ethiopia’s new dam, pledge electricity import agreements

#Ethiopia on Tuesday inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD), Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, which officials say will strengthen the economy, ease recurrent power outages, and accelerate the country’s transition to electric mobility following its recent ban on gasoline-powered vehicle imports.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hailed the GERD as a landmark achievement, describing it as proof of “what Africans are capable of accomplishing.” The launch ceremony, attended by dozens of African heads of state and government, underscored regional interest in Ethiopia’s growing role as a power exporter, the Associated Press reported.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir announced that his government is finalizing an agreement to import electricity generated from the GERD.
https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-grand-renaissance-dam-inauguration-12ae4fcb39169cd077c538c7c112c6fd

#Somali President discusses #AUSSOM financing with regional leaders in Ethiopia

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, participated in a high-level meeting in #Guba, Ethiopia, focused on financing the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

According to Villa Somalia the discussion emphasized the need for sustained support to the Somali National Army and AUSSOM in consolidating recent gains against international terrorism and in advancing regional peace and stability.

Also present at the meeting were President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of #Djibouti, President William Ruto of #Kenya, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of $Ethiopia, and the Chairperson of the #African Union Commission.

It was reported in February that funding for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) remains uncertain as delays in implementing a UN-AU cost-sharing mechanism raise concerns over financial sustainability.

#Ethiopia, #EU sign €120 million RISED initiative to boost clean energy and digital transitions

Addis Abeba- Ethiopia and the European Union have signed a €120 million agreement under the Global Gateway RISED (Renewable, Integrated, Sustainable Energy, and Digitalization) initiative on the sidelines of the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) in Addis Abeba, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The program, co-funded by the European Union, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and Ethiopian Electric Power (#EEP), aims to strengthen and modernize Ethiopia’s electricity grid, expand renewable energy integration, and improve digital connectivity. It is expected to provide electricity access to 4 million people, extend mobile broadband to 12 million, cut power outages by half, and avoid 150,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually by 2030.

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0BWNBnenXbKfh2Juzke6SxYXha7Nq9HTEDshZfhw7DWkfjgG4Y18rhEQm24ka1GbAl

#Opinion: #Namummaa: Reviving humanity through #Oromo wisdom

In a world brimming with extraordinary possibility yet shadowed by profound peril, we find ourselves asking: What does it mean to be human? For Berhanu Workneh, the author of this opinion piece, this is not abstract but lived experience, rooted in his childhood in the #Betcho district of the #Oromia region, where Namummaa was practiced daily. He writes, "At its heart, Namummaa means being fully human—not just in isolation, nor just in relationship to others, but through the integration of self-realization, social harmony, and moral alignment with the natural world."

The author explains that Namummaa is a way of life that balances individual potential with a responsibility to others and to the natural world. Unlike ideologies that favor either individualism or collectivism, this philosophy "holds both in dynamic balance." Berhanu highlights that this wisdom is embodied in the #Gadaa system, a democratic Oromo governance model that is guided by #Saffuu—a moral code promoting respect and responsibility to all life.

To make this ancient wisdom relevant today, the author proposes #Michuu_Namummaa, a regenerative framework with three dimensions. The first, Essence, encourages us to honor our humanity while treating others and nature with dignity. The second, Living, focuses on nurturing both individual excellence and community harmony. The third dimension, Excellence, calls for "regenerative leadership—leaders who heal, not harm, and who create, not conquer."

Berhanu emphasizes that Michuu Namummaa is not merely a framework; "it is a call to recenter the human being within all our systems, to reclaim morality not as dogma but as a generative responsibility, and to live in a manner worthy of our highest human potential—while fostering societies in which all can flourish.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52372

Lemma Megerssa congratulates #Ethiopia on GERD completion, urges end to conflicts and pleads for peace

Former Defense Minister and ex-President of #Oromia Regional State, #Lemma Megerssa, has extended his congratulations to Ethiopians on the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD), while simultaneously issuing a heartfelt call for peace.

In a letter verified by Addis Standard dated 09 September 2025, Lemma hailed the GERD as “a historic dam where every Ethiopian, from young to old, from poor to rich, has left their mark by contributing what they could to its construction. It is a symbol of our unity.”

Lemma, a former close ally of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, urged Ethiopians to safeguard this unity as the foundation for future victories: “all Ethiopians must realize that our unity is always the foundation of our victory.....”

However, alongside his words of celebration, he issued a sobering reminder of the country’s ongoing conflict-related challenges.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52377

“A dream realized”: Pietro Salini celebrates #GERD completion

Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild (formerly Salini Impregilo), hailed the Grand #Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as “a miracle” and a dream realized after 15 years. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, he praised Ethiopia’s resilience in completing the project “against all difficulties, opponents, and challenges” with its own resources.

The dam will triple Ethiopia’s power supply, connect more than 35 million people to electricity, and allow the country to export energy to neighbors strengthening regional peace and development.

Paying tribute to the 33 workers who lost their lives, Salini highlighted the contribution of over 10,000 workers and 25,000 trained technicians and engineers, calling the dam a national and regional triumph. “It was their dam,” he said, underscoring Ethiopia’s determination to complete the project with its own resources.

#Ethiopia: Team #JAKENN and #Addis_Standard publications extend our warm wishes to all Ethiopians who are celebrating the New Year tomorrow.

May the year 2018 be a year of health and peace!

መልካም አዲስ ዓመት!

Ayyaana Qaammee Garii!

ርሑስ ሓድሽ ዓመት!

#South_Sudan VP Machar charged with treason and murder, suspended by president

South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar has been charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity for his alleged involvement in attacks by an ethnic militia against federal forces in March, the justice minister said on Thursday.

Hours after the minister's announcement, President Salva Kiir suspended Machar from his post, a decree read on state radio said, without giving more details.

The charges against Machar and his suspension escalate a feud between the country's two main political camps - the other led by Kiir - which faced off in a 2013-2018 civil war in which an estimated 400,000 people died.

Kiir also suspended Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, who was charged alongside Machar, the decree said.

Machar has been under house arrest since March in connection with attacks by the White Army militia in the northeastern town of Nasir.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-sudan-vp-machar-charged-with-treason-murder-suspended-by-president-2025-09-11/

News: #Ethiopia’s EV drive gains momentum despite power, infrastructure challenges

Ethiopians are increasingly turning to electric vehicles (#EVs) as part of the country’s green transition, despite persistent challenges in infrastructure and power supply.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Africa accounted for just one percent of global EV sales in 2024, but Ethiopia is attempting to shift the trend. In what officials described as a world first, the government last year banned the import of petrol and diesel cars, citing both environmental ambitions and the need to reduce reliance on costly fuel imports.

The policy has been welcomed by many, yet it has also exposed shortcomings in Ethiopia’s capacity to sustain a rapid transition.

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid032aVQTdK85VLA9YSxx4XaYu4krwACNrcqf5bd9PVJothPmwWVm33iMmyysuRbkjs2l

#Mogadishu ‘never been more secure’ in last decade than today, says #Somalia’s deputy premier

The Somali capital of Mogadishu has never been more secure in the last decade than today, despite its forces still fighting terrorists, said the East African country’s deputy prime minister.

Speaking with Anadolu, Salah Ahmed Jama said the number of incidents in the country has significantly decreased, and Mogadishu's security has greatly improved despite the fight against the al-Shabaab terrorist organization.

“But the challenge remains. The Somali armed forces and security forces at various levels, in collaboration with our international partners, from the Americans, Türkiye, the African Union, and many others, are certainly improving the security of the country,” Jama said, adding: “And the Somali people have shown a great deal of resilience and strength in fighting off one of the most potent terrorist groups in the world.”

He noted that the long-debated direct election system based on the principle of “one person, one vote” is one of the goals long desired by the Somali people.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/mogadishu-never-been-more-secure-in-last-decade-than-today-says-somalia-s-deputy-premier/3685128

#South_Sudan to repatriate 27 prisoners held in #Ethiopia

South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is working with Ethiopian authorities to repatriate 27 nationals detained at Muzan Prison in Addis Abeba.

Speaking at the ministry’s weekly media briefing, spokesperson Amb. Apuk Ayuel Mayen said the detainees are cattle herders from Eastern Equatoria State who unintentionally crossed the international border. “The ministry is coordinating the safe return of 27 youth from Eastern Equatoria State who are currently detained in Muzan prison in Ethiopia,” Apuk stated.

“They were cattle herders, so they were armed. And they faced detention on the other side. And so, through our embassy in Addis Ababa, we are negotiating with the government of Ethiopia for their release,” she added.

https://www.sudanspost.com/south-sudan-to-repatriate-27-prisoners-held-in-ethiopia/

#Opinion: Managing Scarcity, Dreaming Abundance: #Ethiopia’s struggle to rise beyond survival

Every society defines its challenges through the lens of either scarcity or abundance, writes Eyob Yohannes, the author of this opinion piece. In Ethiopia, he notes, the struggle is defined by scarcity and survival, with pressing issues such as inflation, food insecurity, and conflict dominating public life. By contrast, problems in Western nations—shaped by conditions of abundance—often revolve around climate ethics, gender identity, and animal rights, concerns that emerge only once survival is secured.

The author contends that although initiatives such as Unity Park, the Green Legacy campaign, the Museum of Art and Science, and the Corridor Development Project are “controversial” with domestic institutions “mirroring this tension,” they represent an effort to expand Ethiopia’s imagination toward “what could be” and to “shift the narrative away from survival into abundance.” However, Eyob states that Ethiopia’s ability to redefine its challenges is not determined internally alone. Western institutions—the #IMF, #World_Bank, and donor governments—reinforce scarcity through loans, debt conditions, and sanctions. “In this way, Western institutions become curators of Ethiopia’s problems—deciding what the government must prioritize and ensuring that survival concerns remain permanently on the table.”

The author argues that despite their flaws, the current administration's projects are "attempts to bridge this gap." He emphasizes, however, that "unless Ethiopia gains structural independence from Western financial constraints and reforms its institutions to think beyond crisis management, imagination will collapse under the weight of survival." Eyob concludes, “If survival chains us to the present, imagination is the bridge to a future worth inhabiting.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52382

#US launches 76th #Somalia strike of 2025, targeting #ISIS in #Puntland’s Golis Mountains

U.S. Africa Command said it carried out an airstrike against ISIS-Somalia in Puntland’s Golis Mountains on Sept. 10, in coordination with Somalia’s federal government.

The strike marked the 76th U.S. strike in Somalia this year, the highest annual total on record.

AFRICOM described the target area as the Golis (also known as Al-Madow) range in northeastern Somalia, a rugged stronghold where the faction has used caves and steep terrain to shelter fighters and stage operations. The geography has made the area a recurring focus of air and partner-ground actions.

The disclosure came a day after the command announced a Sept. 9 strike against al-Shabaab in Lower Shabelle. The tempo of operations highlights a dual-front campaign: U.S. strikes are hitting al-Shabaab in southern Somalia while simultaneously backing Somali and Puntland forces against ISIS-Somalia in the northeast.

https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2025/Sept/202894/u_s_launches_76th_somalia_strike_of_2025_targeting_isis_in_puntland_s_golis_mountains.aspx

News: #Bishoftu International Airport set to start international flights by 2030

Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, said that the new Bishoftu International Airport is expected to commence international flight operations by 2030, after the completion of construction in five years.

Mesfin noted that preparations for the project were finalized to start the construction in the 2018 #Ethiopian fiscal year. He added that housing construction for the relocation of farmers displaced by the project is being finalized.

“The new airport will have a modern terminal and will be on par with the world’s largest airports,” Mesfin said, as quoted by state media.

Addis Standard reported earlier that the African Development Bank (AfDB) signed an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines on 11 August 2025 to help secure $8 billion of the estimated $10 billion required to build the airport.....

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0tuu1y2KsxNMmFMYrucwPvWjzrVgPKMhDqmcexSSJ1ZCkgUStpfaZMBDpQXwTV8BFl

#Ethiopia: Education Ministry warns parents, guardians of legal consequences as over 7 million children remain out of school

Addis Abeba - The Ministry of Education has cautioned parents and guardians of legal repercussions for failing to send children to school, as #Ethiopia prepares to open the 2025/2026 academic year on Monday with more than seven million children still out of school nationwide.

Dawit Azene, head of the Ministry’s Education Programs and System Improvement Desk, urged parents, guardians, communities, and stakeholders to ensure that children of school-going age attend classes. He stressed that primary education is free and compulsory under the education law, adding that failure to send children to school is punishable by law, according to state media.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52385

News: Trump admin renews Biden-era national emergency on #Ethiopia crisis, regional instability

The administration of #US President Donald #Trump has extended the national emergency on Ethiopia for another year, citing persistent threats to peace and stability in the country and the wider Horn of Africa region.

The national emergency was first declared on 17 September 2021 by former President Joe #Biden under Executive Order 14046.

“The situation in and in relation to northern Ethiopia, which has been marked by activities that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Ethiopia and the greater Horn of Africa region, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” the White House said in a notice issued on Wednesday.

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0popVTD1C7S1MVkp6BMQT8iw4Pn5Bj4f5MYhjRx5Z5yxcNXxpByxRi8EYvaKPeKW5l

Long-range 'kamikaze' drones seen near #RSF base could worsen conflict in #Sudan

More than a dozen long-range kamikaze drones seen near an airport controlled by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces during a major air assault on army territory in May indicate the paramilitaries have new weapons that could alter the course of the war.

The conflict between the RSF and Sudan's army has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis over the past two-and-a-half years, drawing in myriad foreign interests, and threatening to fragment the strategic Red Sea country, a major gold producer.

Images and analyses shared by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab and verified by Reuters showed 13 "delta-wing" drones alongside launching gear near Nyala airport in Sudan's western Darfur region on May 6 this year.

Such drones, which are designed to crash into their targets, typically have a range of about 2,000 km (1,200 miles), a range that would reach anywhere in Sudan and far further than any other models the RSF was previously known to possess.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/long-range-kamikaze-drones-seen-near-rsf-base-could-worsen-conflict-sudan-2025-09-12/