News: Former UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy cautioned #Ethiopia’s Gedion Timotheos over Red Sea tensions ahead of departure

The #UK Parliament has discussed recent tensions between Ethiopia and #Eritrea, with former Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is now deputy prime minister, reported to have had directly cautioned Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Gedion Timotheos, against “miscalculation” while urging dialogue with Eritrea.

In a debate on 16 September 2025, Gerard Anthony Lemos, Government Whip, said U.K’s former Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke to Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Gedion “in August, when he warned against the risk of miscalculation and encouraged dialogue with Eritrea. Similar points have been made to the Eritrean Government by our officials there.”

Read more:https://addisstandard.com/?p=52462

#Sudan: #UN relief chief welcomes progress towards three-month #truce

The UN relief chief Tom Fletcher has highlighted recent diplomatic progress made towards a three-month pause to the brutal fighting in Sudan between rival militaries.

“Welcome progress from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the US towards urgently needed 3-month humanitarian truce in Sudan,” Mr. Fletcher wrote on social media.

“We stand ready to deliver,” he added. “Safe, unhindered access is key.”

The joint statement made by the four countries comes amid Sudan’s spiralling crisis of violence, hunger and environmental disaster.

The joint statement, which Mr. Fletcher shared on X, called for a three-month truce “to enable the swift entry of humanitarian aid to all parts of Sudan, to lead immediately to a permanent ceasefire,” and to be followed by a nine-month transition process towards a civilian government.

The call for a pause to the fighting was one of the five principles laid out in the statement. The remaining principles included an end to external military support, the facilitation by all parties of humanitarian access, territorial integrity, and agreement that there is no military solution to the conflict.

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165879

News: #Ethiopia submits bid to host World athletics championships in 2029 or 2031

Ethiopia has formally submitted a bid to World Athletics to host the World Athletics Championships in either 2029 or 2031.

Government representatives and officials from the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (#EAF) attended the Observer Program in Tokyo, where they held discussions and exchanged experiences with delegations from other countries interested in hosting the event.

Meku Mohammed, State Minister for Sport Development at the Ministry of Culture and Sport, said the government is giving special attention and resources to the athletics sector. He noted that Ethiopia has worked to build its capacity by addressing existing challenges in sports facilities and constructing new stadiums. “The government is committed to restoring athletics to its former glory and vitality,” Meku stated.

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0247cPDLqHcbeeuYsx1m63RLBckambyjnPNs42MQCUF1YWeAgEzNHWBx6UdSztDPPUl

News: Nearly half of #Tigray’s children remain out of school as war’s impact persists

Nearly 1.2 million children, 46% of Tigray’s school-age population, are out of school this academic year, the regional Bureau of Education said, citing the incomplete implementation of the Pretoria peace deal and the war’s lasting social and economic toll.

According to the Bureau, 2.53 million students were expected to enroll across Tigray, but only 1.36 million have registered, leaving more than a million out of school.

In a statement shared with Addis Standard, the Tselemti Development Association revealed that schools in three districts of Tselemti, home to more than 250,000 people, have remained closed for six consecutive years since 2020 due to COVID-19 and the subsequent war. According to the association, prior to the conflict, more than 56,000 students were enrolled across 79 schools in the districts.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52472

#Sudan’s Burhan rejects #Quad ceasefire call, vows to keep fighting

Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on Thursday rejected a ceasefire proposal from the Quad group of nations, dismissing it as an external agenda that does not concern his government.

Speaking in Doha, Burhan said the Quad’s communiqué “does not concern us and we are not a party to it.” He added that he had informed the United States of Khartoum’s “categorical refusal” of any externally imposed agenda or solutions unacceptable to the Sudanese people.

The Quad, which comprises the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, called for a timeline to end the conflict last week. The proposal included a three-month humanitarian truce, a ceasefire, and a nine-month transition to civilian rule.

https://sudantribune.com/article305175/

#Opinion: Tiger on Paper, Symbolic in Reality: Why renewal of U.S. executive order fails to sway #Ethiopia

The administration of #US President Donald Trump recently extended the national emergency on Ethiopia for another year. The order was originally issued by President Biden in 2021 during the war in #Tigray, with the stated purpose of imposing sanctions on specific individuals in response to the humanitarian and human rights crisis. While many have welcomed the extension as a victory for accountability, Mulat Gebreslassie, the author of this opinion piece, argues otherwise. "Rather than being a potent tool that influences the Ethiopian government," he writes, "the renewal of the executive order largely remains a symbolic act."

The author explains that Executive Order (EO) 14046 was intended to address “widespread violence, atrocities, and serious human rights abuse, including those involving ethnic-based violence, rape … and obstruction of humanitarian operations.” Although extended twice by the Biden administration and most recently by President Trump, Mulat contends that "the order has had little effect" on Ethiopia’s leadership because its primary targets have been Eritrean entities, such as the #Eritrean Defense Forces and the ruling party.

He emphasizes that, by design, the order is limited; it freezes assets and revokes visas for selected individuals but "does not sanction the Ethiopian government itself." This narrow scope, the author argues, renders it "ineffective." The lack of leverage, Mulat adds, is also evident in the "stalled Pretoria Peace Agreement," where key provisions—such as the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (#DDR) of Tigrayan forces; the complete withdrawal of non-ENDF troops, including Eritrean forces; and the return of internally displaced persons (#IDPs) to Western Tigray—"remain unfulfilled."

In conclusion, the author states that the executive order is a "paper tiger whose bark is heard much louder in #Asmara than in the corridors of power in Ethiopia." While it signals “ongoing U.S. concern,” he contends that Executive Order 14046 does little “to pressure the Ethiopian government or enforce lasting peace.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52469

News: #Ethiopia’s debt ‘unsustainable,’ World Bank–IMF warn as country remains in debt distress

Addis Abeba – A new joint #World Bank–#IMF assessment has delivered a stark warning on Ethiopia’s economic outlook, declaring the country’s external debt “unsustainable” and confirming that the government is already in debt distress.

The report, approved by senior officials from both institutions, said: “Ethiopia’s debt is assessed to be unsustainable, mainly due to protracted breaches of exports-related external debt indicators and is based on a weak Debt Carrying Capacity.” It added that the country has been in debt distress since it missed a Eurobond interest payment in December 2023.

The assessment highlights that Ethiopia’s repayment risks are aggravated by “bunching of debt service in the near to medium term” and by the sharp decline in external financing during and after the Tigray war.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52476

#Breaking: PM Abiy appoints #Eyob_Tekalign Governor of National Bank of #Ethiopia

Addis Abeba –Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has appointed Eyob Tekalign (PhD) as the new Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, effective today.

Eyob most recently served as State Minister at the Ministry of Finance and earlier headed the National Planning Commission. With more than 18 years of experience, he has held senior roles across public, private, supranational, multinational, and academic institutions, contributing to Ethiopia’s economic and social development.

He succeeds Mamo Mihretu, whose departure after seven years in economic leadership roles came as a surprise to many within Ethiopia’s financial and government circles. Mamo said he is leaving government service to pursue other professional opportunities.

A former World Bank staffer, Mamo first joined the Office of the Prime Minister as senior policy advisor and later served as Ethiopia’s chief trade negotiator at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

PM Abiy appoints #Enatalem_Melese Head of Government #Communication Service with ministerial portfolio

Prime Minister #Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has appointed Enatalem Melese as Head of the Government Communication Service with a ministerial portfolio. She replaces outgoing Minister of Communication Legesse Tulu(PhD), who held the position from October 2021 until September.

Enatalem previously served as Head of the Addis Abeba City Administration communication office.

Analysis: From #classrooms to #military camps: Years of conflict in #Oromia push millions of children out of school

Addis Standard spoke with community members in the Ada’a Berga district of West Shewa, the Nejo district of West Wollega, and the Kuyyu and Yaya Gulale districts of North Shewa, who said persistent violence has forced schools to shut down, leaving children without access to education.

Last August, the BBC reported that insecurity in North Shewa, Oromia, has left more than 67,000 students out of school. A resident of Dire Dala town told BBC that many families, losing hope, have kept their children at home or married them off, leaving students’ education severely disrupted.

Analysis by Addis Standard in 2024 revealed that Western Oromia, once a center of academic excellence producing numerous students who enhanced Ethiopia’s international reputation, has seen its legacy of intellectual achievement shattered by years of relentless conflict.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52484

#AS_Editorial: #Ethiopia’s education crisis – A broken system cannot be fixed with pass-fail verdicts

Ethiopia has just concluded another round of its national Grade 12 school-leaving examinations result announcements, and once again, the country is caught in the grip of numbers.

But the decline is not simply the result of stricter exam monitoring or an alleged crackdown on cheating. It reflects the erosion of Ethiopia’s education system under the combined weight of conflict, displacement, and a crumbling infrastructure.

But the national discourse remains fixated on exam pass rates. Berhanu Nega, the minister of education, frames small statistical improvements as triumphs.
Such statements deflect from a systemic collapse that neither ‘hard work’ nor crackdown on cheating can solve; a collapse about which neither he nor those above him choose to speak honestly.

This publication urges, once more, why Ethiopia should look beyond the tyranny of exams.

Read here: https://addisstandard.com/?p=52482

#Ethnically-driven killings in #Sudan's war have jumped this year, #UN says

Sudan has seen a significant rise in civilian killings during the first half of this year due to growing ethnic violence, largely in the western region of Darfur, the U.N. human rights office said on Friday.

The conflict that erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has unleashed waves of ethnically-driven killings, caused mass displacement and created what the U.N. has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

At least 990 civilians were killed in summary executions in the first half of the year, the report found, with the number between February and April tripling.

That was driven mainly by a surge in Khartoum after the army and allied fighters in late March recaptured the city previously controlled by the RSF, the OHCHR said.

"One witness who observed SAF search operations in civilian neighbourhoods in East Nile, Khartoum between March and April, said that he saw children as young as 14 or 15 years of age, accused of being RSF members, summarily killed," OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said.

"Every day we are receiving more reports of horrors on the ground," OHCHR Sudan representative Li Fung told reporters in Geneva.

Fung said ethnicity was a motivating factor for violence, which she described as very concerning.

She explained that certain ethnic communities were being targeted because they are associated with the leadership of the SAF and RSF, building upon decades of discrimination and division between different groups and identities in the diverse nation.


https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/significant-rise-civilian-killings-sudan-conflict-this-year-says-un-human-rights-2025-09-19/

News: #Sheger FM says journalists remain in custody for 17 days despite court-ordered bail

Addis Abeba – Two journalists from Sheger FM Radio, editor Tigist Zerihun and reporter Mintamr Tsegaw, have remained in Federal Police custody for 17 days despite a court order granting their release on bail, the station said.

Following the arrests, police requested a 14-day extension to pursue investigations. The court granted nine days. At the subsequent hearing, police sought further time for forensic analysis, financial transaction reviews, and other inquiries. After hearing arguments from both sides, the Lideta Division of the Federal High Court’s First Bench for extended detention hearings ordered the release of the journalists on bail set at 50,000 birr.

Court documents show that all required procedures were finalized and submitted to the Federal Police Crime Investigation Department on 17 September 2025.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52497

#Somali, #Chinese defense ministers hold first high-level talks in Decades

Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun met with Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallin Fiqi in Beijing on Friday on the sidelines of the Xiangshan International Defense Forum, marking the first ministerial-level meeting between the two countries in nearly 40 years.

Minister Fiqi highlighted Somalia’s security gains, noting that government forces have liberated large areas from al-Shabaab and taken steps to stabilize key regions. Admiral Dong praised Somalia’s progress, calling it “a step of hope and stability” toward rebuilding national defense institutions.

The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in regional security, counterterrorism, support for the AU mission in Somalia and the development of the Somali National Army. Both ministers emphasized the importance of strengthening ties to promote peace and stability in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa.

The Xiangshan Forum, held at the Beijing International Convention Center under the theme “Upholding International Order and Promoting Peaceful Development,” has drawn representatives from more than 100 countries and international organizations, solidifying its status as a major platform for global security dialogue.

https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2025/Sept/202991/somali_chinese_defense_ministers_hold_first_high_level_talks_in_decades.aspx

#Ethiopia: Authorities freeze bank accounts of 123 suspects over ‘illicit foreign currency’ activities

Addis Abeba – The Financial Intelligence Service (#FIS) has announced the freezing of bank accounts belonging to 123 individuals suspected of engaging in illicit foreign currency activities.

In a statement issued yesterday 19 September 2025, FIS said the measure is part of an intensified crackdown on parallel foreign exchange markets that bypass the formal banking system. The service added that monitoring has been expanded to identify additional suspects.

According to the statement, the financial transactions of the 123 individuals were suspended “to ensure accountability” for their alleged involvement in black market dealings. FIS noted that Ethiopia’s recent macroeconomic reforms have contributed to a significant increase in legal foreign exchange services, describing the development as “highly commendable.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52499

#Ethiopia: Five political parties form coalition ahead of national elections

Five political parties have announced the formation of a coalition framework aimed at enabling joint political activity. The parties include the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (#EPRP), #Enat Party, Ethiopian National Unity Party, #Amhara Ghionians Movement, and One Ethiopia Democracy Party.

Megabe Beluy Abraham Teklehaimanot, chair of the EPRP, told Addis Standard that the coalition emerged after four years of discussions among the parties and agreement on common issues. He said the framework will prioritize “core national matters” and added: “By recognizing the challenging conditions, this coalition will present itself as a strong and competitive force in the upcoming national elections.”

He further explained that during the elections, the coalition will seek to create a genuine political space by involving the public and engaging international stakeholders.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52504

#Opinion: #Ethiopia, #Jubaland, and emerging security challenge in #Gedo

Recent reports suggest that #Egypt may soon deploy military personnel to the Gedo Zone in #Somalia's Jubaland State. The author of this opinion piece argues that while this could be seen as support for Somalia's fight against terrorism, “the choice of location, the timing, and the wider political context raise serious concerns about its potential implications for the Horn of Africa.” He states that this potential move might be regarded as "geopolitical positioning, with Ethiopia at the center of the equation," designed to undermine Ethiopia's security, which is intrinsically linked to the stability of Jubaland.

The author emphasizes that "external interference in Gedo is more than a local issue; it is a regional security concern with potentially destabilizing consequences." He questions if Somalia's Federal Government understands that the "pursuit of distant alliances [outweighs] the value of stable relations with neighbors who share borders, history, and sacrifices." Instead, the article calls for a focus on strengthening ties with neighbors and "building consensus among federal member states," noting that this is "the only viable path toward a functioning Somali state."

The author contends that regional peace depends on internal stability and cooperation, and that the alternative is a "cycle of mistrust, external interference, and renewed instability."

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52494

#Ethiopia: PM Abiy promotes dozens of senior officers in major army reshuffle

Today's reshuffle marks one of the most extensive promotions within the #ENDF in recent years, expanding the army leadership pool at a time when Ethiopia continues facing evolving security challenges due in large part to the ongoing insurgencies in #Oromia and #Amhara regions, and renewed regional tensions over access to the #Red_Sea.

Read full story here: https://addisstandard.com/?p=52509

#Britain, #Canada and #Australia formally recognize a #Palestinian state, deepening #Israel’s isolation

Britain, Canada and Australia announced formal recognition of the state of Palestine on Sunday, in an attempt to pile pressure on Israel as it presses on with its campaign in Gaza despite international outrage.

The three – all strong allies of Israel for decades – also expressed deep frustration at the lack of progress towards a two-state solution.

Later on Sunday, Portugal announced that it too had formally recognized a Palestinian state, adding that a two-state solution was the “only path to a just and lasting peace.”

France and several other countries are expected to follow suit at the United Nations General Assembly this week, deepening Israel’s isolation and putting them at odds with Israel’s key partner, the United States.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that “there will be no Palestinian state.”

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/21/world/palestinian-state-uk-canada-australia-intl

#Kenya urges #EU to prioritise war against Al Shabaab

Kenya has urged #Cyprus to prioritize the fight against Al Shabaab when it assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026.

Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi warned that waning international attention on Somalia could undermine regional security gains.

“There is growing international fatigue because of other conflicts and a shift in focus. The international community’s support has depreciated significantly, and countries like Kenya have been left to carry the heavy load in this fight,” Mudavadi said.

Kenya currently deploys about 3,000 troops in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Mudavadi cautioned that a Kenyan withdrawal could create a dangerous security vacuum few international players are prepared to fill.

https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2025/Sept/203013/kenya_urges_eu_to_prioritise_war_against_al_shabaab.aspx

#Ethiopia: HRW warns surge in journalist arrests threatens press freedom ahead of 2026 elections

Human Rights Watch (#HRW) has expressed alarm over a sharp rise in arrests of journalists and media professionals in Ethiopia since August 2025, warning that the crackdown undermines press freedom in the lead-up to the country’s 2026 national elections.

The rights watchdog said at least six media workers have been arbitrarily detained, some held incommunicado or without charge, describing the arrests as “renewed efforts by the government to suppress independent reporting.”

“The Ethiopian authorities’ renewed efforts to muzzle independent reporting are all about preventing public scrutiny of the government,” said Laetitia Bader, HRW’s deputy Africa director. “The authorities should stop targeting journalists and media workers and immediately release those unjustly detained for their work.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52526