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Addis Standard
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An independent Ethiopia based online media focusing on current affairs. Original content+daily gist of media monitoring
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National Dialogue Commission urges renewed efforts to bring #Tigray actors, armed groups into process

The #Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission has renewed calls for the participation of political actors and armed groups in the Tigray region, warning that their continued absence poses a significant challenge to the national dialogue process.

In a consultative meeting held on 02 December with representatives of religious institutions and civic organizations in Addis Abeba, Chief Commissioner Professor Mesfin Araya underscored the “unique credibility and influence” these institutions hold within communities. He said their involvement is critical in addressing existing obstacles, particularly the reluctance of key stakeholders in Tigray to join the dialogue.

Professor Mesfin urged civic and religious institutions to use their outreach to encourage political actors and armed groups that have yet to participate, stressing that inclusion of their ...

https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1996862876942770438?s=20
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News Analysis: Claims of ‘peace agreement’ between #Amhara region and dismissed Fano member face scrutiny as #AU, #IGAD statements lend credence to signing

A cascade of contradictory statements and political responses followed the announcement on 4 December 2025 of a “peace agreement” said to have been signed between the Amhara Regional Government and Masresha Setie, who emerged as a dismissed members of the Amhara Fano People’s Organization (#AFPO).

On 4 December, state media reported that “a peace agreement” had been signed between the Amhara Regional Government and the Amhara Fano People’s Organization. Officials said the deal was part of “the region’s broader push to end armed confrontation” & establish “continued peaceful relief for the public.”

Hours later, AFPO issued another statement categorically rejecting the reported agreement. The group said it “has not signed an agreement with the regime it is defeating militarily,” calling the announcement...

Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=53961
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#Kenya signs landmark health deal with #US despite data fears

Kenya has signed a historic five-year health agreement with the US, the first such pact since Donald Trump's administration overhauled its foreign aid program.

The $2.5bn (£1.9bn) deal is aimed at combating infectious diseases in Kenya, with similar agreements expected to be rolled out in other African countries aligned with Trump's broader foreign policy goals.

The government-to-government deal aims to boost transparency and accountability but has raised fears it could give the US real-time access to critical health databases, including sensitive patient information.
Kenya's Health Minister Aden Duale sought to allay such fears, saying "only de-identified, aggregated data" would be shared.

On his first day in office in January, Trump announced a freeze on foreign aid as part of a government spending review, dismantled the #USAID and cut billions in aid to poorer countries.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0r9vq5vv4no
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#Ethiopia: Fed. Court sentences former State Minister Taye Dendea to seven years; defense says trial proceeded without key witnesses #PM_Abiy, Mayor Adanech

The #Lideta Federal High Court today sentenced former Deputy Minister of Peace Taye Dendea to seven years and two months in prison, along with a five-thousand-birr fine, his lawyer told Addis Standard.

According to Abera Nigus, Taye’s attorney, the sentence was handed down on 05 December, 2025, after the court found him guilty on 12 November, 2025, of the charge of “possessing an unlicensed firearm.”

Abera told Addis Standard that the defense submitted 13 mitigation points to reduce the sentence, of which the court accepted 12. He added that today’s sentencing decision took those mitigating arguments into consideration. The prosecutor’s request to increase the sentence was rejected by the court.

Abera also said they plan to appeal the ruling. He argued that the sentence was delivered “without hearing all the ...

https://addisstandard.com/?p=53966
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#Ethiopia: EFFORT urges federal government to lift mass freezing of member companies’ bank accounts

The Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of #Tigray (#EFFORT) has urged the federal government to immediately reverse a directive that led to the freezing of bank accounts belonging to all companies under the conglomerate, warning that the measure risks deepening Tigray’s already fragile economic recovery.

In a statement issued on Thursday, EFFORT’s Board of Directors said banks were instructed to suspend the accounts of its member companies effective 03 December, noting that the action was carried out “in bulk” & without prior financial investigation. The Board described the suspension as illegal and cautioned that it could derail ongoing post-war reconstruction efforts.

“This action will undermine efforts to recover from the damage caused by the war,” the statement said.

EFFORT warned that the measure could force tens of thousands of employees out of work, creating....

https://addisstandard.com/?p=53970
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News: M-PESA #Ethiopia says users registered with 09 numbers blocked from app access, unable to move funds

M-#PESA Ethiopia has disclosed that customers who registered for its newly launched “M-PESA for All” (M-PESA LeHulum) service using phone numbers beginning with the 09 prefix have been blocked from accessing the platform, preventing them from logging into the application or moving their money.

In a statement issued today, the company said: “customers who voluntarily registered with their 09 numbers to use the application are blocked from accessing the service using #Ethio_Telecom data, and are unable to log into the application or move their money.”

The company did not specify when the disruption began but said the issue exclusively affects users connecting to the service through Ethio Telecom’s mobile data network.

M-PESA Ethiopia noted that it holds a Payment Instrument Issuer License from the National Bank of Ethiopia and the required authorization from the ...

https://addisstandard.com/?p=53973
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#Ethiopia suspends licenses of 22 sports-betting firms amid 100 billion birr embezzlement probe

The Ethiopian Lottery Service has suspended the licenses of 22 sports-betting companies as part of a sweeping investigation into alleged large-scale embezzlement, tax evasion, and illicit financial schemes under review by national security authorities.

In a statement issued on 04 December, the Ethiopian Lottery said the suspension followed information received from the National Intelligence and Security Service (#NISS).

It noted that the action was taken in line with the relevant proclamation, which allows authorities to revoke or suspend a license if it is used to commit criminal acts that undermine public peace or national security, or involve fraud, as well as under provisions of the Sports Betting License Directive.

The suspended licenses will remain inactive until the ongoing criminal investigation concludes, the agency said, .....

https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1996957401275134248?s=20
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News: #Tigray business community calls on federal government to suspend income tax enforcement amid severe regional economic strain

Tigray business community has called for the immediate suspension of the Income Tax Amendment Proclamation 1395/2017, arguing that the measure does not reflect the current economic realities in the region.

The Tigray Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Tigray Sector Associations Council, in a briefing to reporters on Thursday in #Mekelle, said the proclamation is incompatible with the post-war economic conditions confronting traders and enterprises across the region.

Thomas Wasihun, Board Member of the Tigray Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Chamber’s Vice President, Tsegay Hadgu, stressed that the amendment was enacted and enforced without considering the severe losses businesses sustained during the war, the significant rise in loan interest rates, and the absence of meaningful federal measures to address these challenges...

https://addisstandard.com/?p=53977
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43 children among 79 civilians killed in paramilitary# RSF drone attack in #Sudan's South Kordofan

At least 79 civilians, including 43 children, were killed and 38 others injured in a drone strike carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in South Kordofan, Sudanese authorities said.

In a statement, the South Kordofan state government said four women were among the victims in Thursday’s attack on the city of Kalogi in western Sudan.

It said the drone fired four missiles into a kindergarten, a hospital and densely populated residential areas, describing the incident as a "heinous crime" committed by the RSF-allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).

Authorities had initially reported eight fatalities, including six children and a teacher, before the death toll climbed to 79.


https://www.trtworld.com/article/e33c41bc9b7d
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In #Ethiopia, an unfinished peace risks betraying the people of #Tigray and the broader region

The Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (#TPLF) signed the Pretoria Agreement three years ago, at least silencing the guns in the Tigray Region following two years of brutal war.

It remains on record as one of the world’s deadliest conflicts of the 21st century, with an estimated 600,000 civilians killed in a region occupied by only 6 million people.

But a confluence of factors threatens to reignite the conflict and potentially destabilize the wider region: the Ethiopian government’s failure to fully implement the agreement, a lack of justice and accountability, and a split within Tigray’s leadership, one faction backing the government in Addis Ababa and the other siding with leaders in neighboring Eritrea who had supported Addis during the war.

To prevent further deterioration, regional and international...

https://www.justsecurity.org/125778/ethiopia-unfinished-peace-tigray-region/
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#Ethiopia, #China discuss expanding Chinese language education in Ethiopian schools

Ethiopia and China have held talks on expanding Chinese language education within Ethiopia’s schooling system, the Ministry of Education said.

Ethiopian Minister of Education, Professor #Berhanu_Nega, met a Chinese delegation led by Yu Yunfeng, Director General of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (#CLEC) under China’s Ministry of Education, at his office on 5 December.

The discussion focused on strengthening educational cooperation between the two #BRICS member states.

Yu highlighted the longstanding ties between the two nations, describing Ethiopia as “China’s strategic partner,” according to the Ministry. He said China seeks to expand Chinese language teaching beyond the limited programs currently offered in select universities.

“This would not only enable citizens to learn multiple languages but would also significantly contribute to ....

https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1997213512213401660?s=20
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News: #Ethiopia to begin Marburg vaccination next week as 2,500 U.S.-backed doses arrive

Ethiopia will begin administering an experimental Marburg virus vaccine on 8 December after receiving 2,500 doses supported by the #US government, the Ministry of Health announced.

U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia #Ervin_Massinga formally handed over the vaccines to the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service.

Minister of Health Dr. Mekdes Daba said the doses will be used following a rapid Phase 2 clinical trial led by the Armauer Hansen Research Institute, which will collaborate with the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority for monitoring and oversight.

Dr. Mekdes added that frontline health professionals and highly exposed communities will be prioritized during the initial rollout.

Meanwhile, the #South_Ethiopia Regional Health Bureau said it is conducting house-to-house activities in outbreak-affected areas and reported progress in mitigating ...

https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1997225593046184395?s=20
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#Olympian and other #Eritreans freed after 18 years without trial, relatives tell the BBC

Thirteen people held for more than 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been released from a notorious military prison, relatives of the detainees have told the BBC.

Among those freed were several prominent figures, including 69-year-old Olympian cyclist and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.

They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, known for its harsh conditions and where many of the inmates are believed to be political prisoners.

An unnamed source who was once detained in Mai Serwa told the BBC the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an assassination attempt on Col Simon Gebredingil, a senior internal security officer in President Isaias Afwerki's government.

Around 30 people were initially detained, according to the source. Some have been released over the years, but about 20 remained in custody.

Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 ...

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2500jkd41o
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#Benin government says it has ‘foiled’ #coup attempt, arrests dozens of soldiers

Benin's government said the government had thwarted an attempted coup, just hours after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon.

Military and security sources said on Sunday that around a dozen soldiers had been arrested, including those behind the coup bid.

The west Africa region has experienced a number of coups in recent years, including in Benin's northern neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Guinea and, most recently, Guinea-Bissau.

Talon is due to hand over power in April next year after 10 years in office marked by solid economic growth but also a surge in militant violence.

Early on Sunday, soldiers calling themselves the "Military Committee for Refoundation" (CMR), announced on state television that they had met and decided that "Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic".

Shortly after the announcement however, a source close to Talon told AFP the president was safe and condemned the coup plotters as "a small group of people who only control the television".

"The regular army is regaining control. The city (Cotonou) and the country are completely secure," said the source.

Benin's Interior Minister Alassane Seidou described the soldiers' announcement as "a mutiny" aimed at "destabilising the country and its institutions".

"Faced with this situation, the Beninese Armed Forces and their leadership maintained control of the situation and foiled the attempt," he added.

https://www.trtworld.com/article/b707149d9098
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#Somaliland denies #Somalia talks, accuses Mogadishu of interference

Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied reports suggesting renewed dialogue with Somalia, saying the negotiation track remains fully suspended and no discussions are underway.

In a statement posted on its official X account, the ministry said “there are no ongoing talks with Somalia”, adding that the government had formally halted the dialogue earlier this year following what it described as “Somalia’s blatant interference in Somaliland’s internal affairs.”

Somaliland government said it has “never been part of the federal system created in Somalia after 2012” and continues to operate with its own soverei
The ministry stressed that the previous dialogue initiative, launched more than a decade ago, had been permanently stopped. “The dialogue process has formally ceased. No official has the authority to distort this fact ...

https://www.horndiplomat.com/2025/12/somaliland-denies-somalia-talks-accuses-mogadishu-of-interference/
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In Pictures—Ethiopia marks 20th Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day under theme ‘Democratic Consensus for Shared National Unity’

The 20th edition of Ethiopia’s Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day celebration is underway today in Hosaena city of the Central Ethiopia Region, where thousands of attendees have gathered at Abuye Ersam Memorial Stadium for the national closing ceremony, observed this year as “Ethiopians’ Day.”

This year’s celebration has been underway since 4 December 2025, featuring a series of cultural and political events staged under various themes. The festivities culminate today with the central motto, “Democratic Consensus for Shared National Unity.”

Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Day is observed annually on 8 December, marking the day the FDRE Constitution was ratified.
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