Equity bank holds talks to enter #Ethiopia’s banking sector

Equity Bank Group has taken a major step toward expanding into Ethiopia after its Chief executive, James Mwangi (PhD), held talks with Zeleke Temesgen (PhD), Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) Commissioner, on Friday, according to Kenyan media.

Temesgen said the commission is ready to provide the necessary cooperation and support to facilitate the bank’s entry into the country’s financial sector. Mwangi added that Equity Bank had long planned to enter Ethiopia and that the government’s decision to open the financial sector to foreign investors created a favorable opportunity.

Headquartered in #Nairobi, Equity is among the largest banks in East and Central Africa by customer base and assets, with operations in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Tanzania.

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0WhL3zgmTUyB5w3ycF5Ro9pCTCeXVQPWBvg3WLs1CL7MoAV6h5DboKRqkTjcTLsiQl

News: GSTS calls urgent international action over escalating human rights violations in #Tigray

#Mekelle – The Global Society of Tigray Scholars and Professionals (#GSTS) has issued a strong appeal to the United Nations, African Union, diplomatic missions, and international human rights organizations, warning of what it described as “grave and escalating human rights violations” in Tigray.

In a statement issued on 13 September 2025, GSTS said the violations have intensified following the March 2025 overthrow of the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) by a TPLF faction backed by military commanders. It stressed that the opportunity for peace, recovery, stability, and democratic transition under the TIA, led by President Tadesse Werede, has steadily deteriorated.

The group cited forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, unlawful removals from office, intimidation, and the suppression of local self-administration......

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52400

#Deadly attacks, collapsing services push #Sudan closer to catastrophe

According to local reports, heavy shelling and assaults late last week in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, killed at least six civilians and injured scores more, triggering fresh displacement from the already besieged city.

Humanitarians warn that essential services are breaking down. Water trucking to the only functioning hospital was suspended over the weekend and community kitchens shut down after running out of food.

Without urgent support, they warn that the most vulnerable people could face severe hunger within days.

Across Darfur, hospitals remain under immense strain.

Nearly 100 wounded people, including women and children, were admitted to medical facilities in a single day last week, with several pronounced dead on arrival, according to reports from the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF – Doctors Without Borders).

Survivors who managed to escape El Fasher described “unbearable” conditions in the city, which has endured more than a year of siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied groups

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165854

#UAE mediates #Somali government, #Puntland and #Jubaland leaders to resolve political rift

Reports from the United Arab Emirates indicate ongoing efforts to bring together Somalia’s Federal Government and the leaders of the Puntland and Jubaland regional states to resolve a longstanding political dispute.

The presidents of Jubaland and Puntland, Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) and Said Abdullahi Deni, are currently in the UAE holding separate meetings with senior Emirati officials.

The UAE is playing a mediating role in the talks, aiming to broker a lasting solution to the conflict that has persisted for several years.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Somalia’s Federal President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is expected to visit the UAE after concluding his participation in the Islamic and Arab countries summit in Qatar.

The disagreement centers on issues including constitutional reforms, electoral processes, and the management of state institutions.

https://shabellemedia.com/uae-mediates-somali-government-puntland-and-jubaland-leaders-to-resolve-political-rift/

#UN inquiry finds #Israel’s war on #Gaza to be genocide

A United Nations inquiry has found that Israel’s war on Gaza is a genocide, a landmark moment after nearly two years of war.

Navi Pillay, chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, made the announcement of the UN inquiry to Al Jazeera on Tuesday.

“We’ve identified the president [Isaac Herzog], the Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and the former minister of defence [Yoav Gallant] based on their statements and the orders that they’ve given,” Pillay said in an interview.

“Because these three individuals were agents of the state, under the law, the state is held responsible. So we say it’s [the] state of Israel that has committed genocide,” she added.

According to the report, the Commission found that along with the statements made by the Israeli officials, there was “circumstantial evidence” that led to their findings of genocidal intent.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/16/first-head-of-united-nations-body-declares-israels-gaza-war-a-genocide

#Ethiopia, AfDB sign $400,000 grant to establish public disclosure platform, diversify capital market products

Addis Abeba – The #African Development Bank (#AfDB) Group has signed a $400,000 grant agreement with the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) to establish a public disclosure platform and roll out new financial products, including exchange traded funds (ETFs), sukuks, and green bonds at the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX).

The grant will support the Ethiopia Capital Market Development Support Project and is provided through the bank’s Capital Markets Development Trust Fund (CMDTF). According to AfDB, the initiative builds on its previous assistance to Ethiopia, including support for the drafting of the country’s capital market legal framework in 2021.

The planned disclosure platform is expected to enhance transparency....

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#Arab_League contemplates forming joint military force

The Arab League of Nations is mulling forming a joint military force due to growing concerns over security within the Middle East and the Horn of Africa as it seeks to assert authority by pushing for trade and investment.

Egypt first tabled the proposal, a senior member of the union, which suggested a move to establish a joint Arab military force, comprising land, sea, air, and special forces with a central command, similar to the US Africa Command.

Funding and equipment would be contributed by all Arab League member states, aiming for rapid defense and strike capabilities amid global conflicts, according to a report by UAE-based The National, a move that could enhance the member states' response to disasters in the region.

https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/world/arab-league-contemplate-forming-joint-military-force

#Ethiopia: EHRC reports female students subjected to harassment, intimidation and sexual abuse in schools by teachers and peers

Addis Abeba – The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (#EHRC) has reported that female students in schools are subjected to threats, intimidation, and sexual harassment, with perpetrators identified as both teachers and fellow students.

In its latest monitoring, the commission confirmed these violations, particularly in the #Amhara and #Oromia regions. It also noted that some schools impose punishments causing physical and psychological harm, while ongoing conflicts between armed groups and government forces have further endangered students in these regions.

The findings stem from EHRC’s monitoring of public and private schools in the Addis Abeba, #Afar, Amhara, #Gambella, Oromia, and Southern Ethiopia regions. The assessment examined “the conduciveness of schools for students and the state of student human rights protection.” On 2 September 2025.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=52418

Grade 12 exam participation sees yearly decline

Despite an increase in the number of #students passing the national exam, the total number of students taking the exam has sharply declined over the years.

In the 2025 Grade 12 exam, 581,905 students sat for the examination, of whom 48,929, or 8.4 percent, passed. This figure is significantly lower than in previous years. In 2022, 896,520 students took the exam, highlighting a continuing downward trend that is not limited to 12th-grade education.

According to a #UNICEF report, more than nine million children nationwide are out of school due to conflict, displacement, and natural disasters. The report also noted that over 6,000 schools remain closed, while more than 10,000 have been damaged or destroyed.

The report further highlights that the highest numbers of out-of-school children are in the #Amhara (4.4 million), #Oromia (3.2 million), and #Tigray (1.2 million) regions.

#Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre rules out Presidential bid, reaffirms loyalty to President Mohamud

Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre has affirmed that he will not run for president of Somalia, making clear that he will never compete against #President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who appointed him.

“I will not compete with the president who appointed me. I tell everyone, and that is obvious. If he does not run for president, I will look into it,” Prime Minister Hamse said during a question-and-answer program on Monday night, marking three years since his appointment.

The Prime Minister noted that he and President Mohamud have been close friends for more than 20 years, emphasizing that their bond goes beyond politics. He said their cooperation over the past three years has been built on mutual respect and trust.

https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2025/Sept/202939/somali_prime_minister_hamse_abdi_barre_rules_out_presidential_bid_reaffirms_loyalty_to_president_mohamud.aspx

#Amhara Regional Security Council says it has set direction to transition from ‘relative to comprehensive peace’

The Amhara Regional Security Council has announced that a strategic direction has been set to transition the region’s "relative peace into comprehensive & lasting peace"

According to the Amhara Regional Police, the announcement followed an evaluation of the region’s security situation. Mengesha Fentahun (PhD), head of the Amhara Regional Communication Bureau, said the region’s security challenges are gradually improving. “Militants who were previously in hiding have accepted the peace process, are undergoing training, and are reintegrating into their communities,” Mengesha said.

He added that the Security Council reviewed rehabilitation efforts for militants who opted for the peace process and confirmed that these efforts would be strengthened. Mengesha noted that special focus will be placed on enhancing education & development initiatives across the region.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52422

Op-ed: The Unfinished #GERD: Meles and value creation

The author of this must-read op-ed argues that #GERD was #Meles_Zenawi’s bold vision for Ethiopia: a shift from the Ethiopian state’s long history of predation, where “power was synonyms with plunder that often ended in ruin, and “to rule meant to extract tribute, labor and life from the peasantry that continued to survive on the edge of life”, to a politics of value creation.

“I have a dream… to turn the waters of all our rivers into oil - an inexhaustible source of clean energy, powerful enough to fuel industries, to bring light to every home, and to give hope to every young generation…” Meles told Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild.

Yet, upon completion, GERD’s meaning has become a scarcity to scramble over, it is being absorbed into the logic of predation, its essence betrayed and reduced to “a trophy and spectacle of incumbency.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52421

#Ethiopia to reshape universities with new specialization reform

Prof. Berhanu Nega, Minister of Education, said the government is reforming higher education to address long-standing shortcomings caused by politicization and lack of focus in universities.

Speaking on the legacy of the Civil Service University, Prof. Berhanu noted that institutions meant to produce capable public servants were hindered by "political influence and a system that prioritized quantity over quality."

He emphasized that the country’s 47 public universities have traditionally offered all fields of study without adequate capacity, resulting in weak outcomes. The new reform directs universities to specialize based on their location and strengths, with the aim of producing highly skilled graduates in critical areas of national development.

Watch!

#South_Sudan’s leaders engage in ‘systematic looting’ in poor nation: #UN

United Nations investigators have accused South Sudanese authorities of plundering one of the world’s youngest and most impoverished nations’ wealth of billions of dollars in public funds stolen as the majority of the country deals with a deepening food crisis.

In a report made public on Tuesday, the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan says authorities allegedly used several schemes to divert significant amounts of money from public revenue since the country’s independence in 2011.

“The country has been captured by a predatory elite that has institutionalised the systematic looting of the nation’s wealth for private gain,” said the commission, according to the Reuters news agency.

“While a small group of powerful actors pillage and loot the country’s wealth and resources, enriching themselves, the state has effectively abdicated its sovereign responsibilities to its population, outsourcing critical services — such as the provision of food, health care, and education to international donors,” the report says.

“Corruption is killing South Sudanese,” it adds.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/16/south-sudans-leaders-engage-in-systematic-looting-in-poor-nation-un

News: One killed, more than 2,000 cattle looted in #Dasenech district attack allegedly carried out by "attackers from Kenya’s Turkana”

Residents of Herum locality, in the Dasenech district of the South #Omo Zone, Southern #Ethiopia Regional State, told Addis Standard that one person was killed and more than 2,000 cattle were looted in an attack allegedly carried out by “attackers from #Kenya’s Turkana.”

A local resident, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said the attack occurred on Saturday, 13 September, 2025. The resident explained that herders had taken their cattle to graze in an area called “Irom” when, around 1:00 p.m., "armed individuals from Turkana" attacked, killing one person and taking away more than 2,000 cattle.
The same sources noted that the attackers had also attempted a similar raid last Monday but were repelled by local security forces.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52433

News: #Amhara education bureau says only 21% of expected high school students registered

The Amhara Regional Education Bureau has announced that only 21% of the expected high school students have registered so far, despite the official start of student registration on 25 August 2025.

The region aimed to enroll a total of 7.4 million students for the new academic year. However, officials confirmed that by 12 September fewer than three million students had registered.

Mulunesh Desie (PhD), head of the Amhara Regional Education Bureau, stated, “Our registration plan is to enroll around 7.4 million students to make up for the learning losses from last year and the year before. As of September 12, close to 2.9 million students have been registered.”

She noted that the low turnout is especially evident among high school students. “It’s a trend that high school students do not register early. Only 21% have registered so far,” she told the regional broadcaster.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52441

#Commentary: Emergent Diplomacy in Horn of Africa: #Ethiopia, #Somaliland, and contest for sovereignty in multipolar order

The Horn of #Africa presents a paradox, Gulaid Yusuf Idaan, the author of this commentary, argues: it's simultaneously “one of the world’s most fragile regions and one of its most strategically indispensable.” Despite facing chronic instability, famine, and weak governance, its location along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait makes it crucial for global trade and energy security. With nearly one-tenth of global maritime commerce passing through its waters, the author emphasizes that the Horn has become "a focal point of multipolar rivalry."

Idaan underscores that the region has become a stage where Western powers, #China, #Russia, Gulf states, and #Turkey compete for influence, with #Djibouti emerging as the world’s most militarized state. Within this landscape, he highlights three interconnected developments that are reshaping the regional order: “Somaliland’s campaign for recognition, Ethiopia’s maritime ambitions, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD).”

The article explains that Somaliland has reframed the pursuit of recognition from an issue of self-determination to one of international security, gaining traction in #US politics through the Somaliland Partnership Act and subsequent legislative efforts. The author argues that, “Whether or not recognition ultimately materializes, the very possibility ensures Somaliland’s continued centrality in regional diplomacy.” At the same time, the MoU Ethiopia signed with Somaliland represents a bold move to turn "geographic dependency into bargaining power." Furthermore, the GERD has become both a symbol of Ethiopian nationalism and a challenge to #Egypt’s historic control of the #Nile. By linking upstream control of the river with downstream maritime access, Ethiopia is advancing what Idaan describes as a “two waters” strategy, designed to turn structural vulnerabilities into sovereign leverage.

The author states that the Horn now operates as a “laboratory of 21st-century diplomacy,” where sovereignty, recognition, and resources intersect with global rivalries. Its fragile waters, he adds, are “shaping not just regional futures but the multipolar order itself.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52437

#Ethiopia: “If there is any Ethiopian who believes that Ethiopia will forever remain a geographic prisoner, that person is a dead one,” PM Abiy

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has reiterated his government’s position that Ethiopia “must be relieved from the shuttered doors and the isolation” that he believes has contributed to its poverty. He made the remarks at the inauguration of his latest book, Medemer, on Tuesday night.

“It is not wise to assume that a country as large as Ethiopia should be handed to our children while encapsulated,” Abiy said while ruling out the prospects of “conflict and war.”

However, he said that Ethiopians should not believe in the notion that Ethiopia will remain "a geographic prisoner."

Watch.

#UN envoy says working to influence countries with a role in #Sudan crisis

The UN’s personal envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, said on Tuesday he is working to influence the positions of countries involved in the nation’s crisis.

The statement comes as Sudan’s army accuses the United Arab Emirates of backing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), while the army reportedly receives support from Iran and Egypt.

“We are working to influence the international positions that have a role in the ordeal of the Sudanese people,” Lamamra told journalists after meeting with the Forces for Freedom and Change-Democratic Bloc (FFC-DB), a key ally of the army.

He said he discussed with the bloc the UN’s efforts to protect civilians and speed up a resolution to the conflict.

“We must exert more effort so that the third year of the war’s outbreak does not become normalised,” Lamamra added. “We must bring about a qualitative leap on the ground to put an end to the suffering of the Sudanese people.”

https://sudantribune.com/article305100/

#Cuban Friendship Institute delegation paid tribute to Cubans who died in #Ethiopia

A delegation led by Fernando González, president of the Cuban Friendship Institute (ICAP), has paid tribute to 163 Cuban combatants who died defending Ethiopia’s sovereignty during the Ogaden conflict.

ICAP's Africa director, Yahimi Rodriguez, members of Cuba's diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa, and representatives of solidarity associations accompanied González. The delegation laid floral wreaths before two murals displaying portraits of the fallen, inscribed on bronze plaques.

The ceremony, held at the Ethiopia–Cuba Friendship Park, took place in an atmosphere of solemnity and respect. It commemorated the Cubans who lost their lives on 5 March 1978 in the Ogaden Desert, an event described as having cemented the bond of solidarity between Ethiopia and Cuba, according to Prensa Latina.

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#Ethiopia records over 76,000 arrivals fleeing #Sudan conflict, UNHCR

Ethiopia has continued to receive thousands of people fleeing the conflict in Sudan, according to the UN Refugee Agency (#UNHCR). The arrivals include Sudanese nationals, Ethiopian refugee returnees, and other groups seeking international protection.

The UNHCR, in its latest report noscriptd Population Movement from Sudan to Ethiopia released on 16 September 2025, stated that as of 31 August 2025, a total of 76,052 people in need of international protection had entered Ethiopia since the outbreak of fighting in Sudan on 15 April 2023.

The arrivals in 2025 alone reached 8,268, the report said. The nationality breakdown includes 45,118 Sudanese, 20,226 Ethiopian refugee returnees, 8,284 #Eritreans, and 2,424 individuals of other nationalities.

The Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), in collaboration with UNHCR, continues to screen and register new arrivals at multiple border entry points between Sudan and Ethiopia.