The writer, Melaku Tsegaw, says although the current state of Ethio-Eritrea relation is good, as claimed by the leadership of both countries, there are still issues that need clarification.
Road map for the next step is unclear, according to the writer. However, both countries have disclosed recently that they are working on detailed implementation agreements and that they will establish a joint committee to oversee the agreements.
In terms of third party intervention, apart from the involvement of Gulf countries, the writer sees the Russian presence in Eritrea’s military posture and in the region’s geopolitics.
Take a listen from the audio file below (in Amharic).
Shimeles Abdissa got a Camel as gifts. Photo credit: EBC
Somali-Oromo “people to people” forum sought intended to reconcile the two communities. Lencho Letta, among others, who is leading ODF joined Oromo region president’s entourage in his trip to Somali region
borkena August 7, 2019
Mustafa Mohoumed Omer, acting president of Somali regional state, led over 100 people from Somali regional state to Bahir Dar, capital of Amhara regional state, in mid-July.
Apparently, he was invited by Amhara regional state authorities with an objective to foster what they call “people to people relation” – a political jargon coined and used by members of the ruling coalition, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
In a speech to Amhara regional state council, he said that “we [seemingly a reference to the ethnic Somali party he is leading] do not accept the narrative that paints Amhara people as an oppressor, not out of a motive to gain political gains but because it is fundamentally wrong.”
And this week, he received hundreds of “delegates”, as they call them, from Oromo regional state led by the acting president, Shimeles Abdissa, in Somali region.
Hosting the delegates turned out to be two days long event which featured prominent Oromo singers like Ali Bira who led a delegation to the capital of Somaliland, Hargeisa, soon after the end of the event in the Somali region of Ethiopia.
Ahmed M. ciidle, seemingly an activist for Somaliland tweeted as follows :
Apart from musicians, Lencho Letta, one of the pioneers of Oromo radical ethnic nationalism and currently leader of Oromo Democratic Front, was in the entourage. He told Voice of America Amharic Service, “The two people should not have been in conflict. It was due to the plot of other forces.” He also said mentioned the bloodshed between the two people and internal displacement. “Now we are transitioning to a better relationship. This morning meeting was a very good one,” he added citing the meeting between the delegates and Somali authorities on August 5.
Regional authorities of Oromo regional state claimed in the past that more than one million people had been displaced due to what they called “border conflict” between ethnic Somali and Oromo in 2017.
This is the second round of “people to people” engagement between ethnic Oromo and ethnic Somali regional state. Oromo regional state leaders led a delegation when Abdi Illiey was the region’s president. He is currently in prison in Addis Ababa.
Two days events were organized in three towns – Jijiga, Degahabour, and Togowuchale.
Dressed in Somali attire and wearing Taqiyah cap, Shimelis Abdissa, Oromo regional state president, said the conflict between the two people was the works of small “satans” and he said “Allah protect us from these small satans.” He got Camel as a gift from the regional state.
Mustafa Mohammed Omar on his part said that the costly conflict between the two people was the work of other forces and intervention.
What exactly is the purpose of the “people to people”?
Awol Kassim Allo is a London based ethnic Oromo activists and it seems that he was part of the Oromo regional state entourage to the Somali region.
Describing the purpose of Somali-Oromo “people to people” engagement, he wrote “While this event was primarily about the Somali and the Oromo people, it was also equally about the Ethiopian state and the rest of the Ethiopian public…It was about Ethiopia & the vision of the two communities for a new Ethiopia – the desire to realize, together with others, a substantively democratic & genuinely multinational federation.”
Some political observers with EPRDF political view tend to see “people to people” forums as a way of fixing the mess which was created by emphasizing ethnic-politics at the expense of Ethiopian identity.
Other critical observers see them as a window dressing measures that are not capable of resolving ethnic radicalism that is ravaging the country, not to mention the skeptical view which sees ethnic such alliances as plots to disintegrate the country or the Ethiopian empire as radical Oromo nationalists call it.
Prison authorities in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa dismissed The Ethiopian Reporter news coverage regarding foiled plot to help former somali region president Abdi Illey as “entirely false” news.
Abdi Illey ,former president of Ethiopia-Somali region
borkena August 7, 2019
On August 7, 2019, The Ethiopian Reporter reported on its Amharic page that individuals who planned to help former Somali region president, Abdi Illey, were arrested.
The Reporter cited what it called “its sources” to report that the incident happened on Monday, August 5, 2019, and the plan was to help Abdi Illey escape as he was returning to prison from a court hearing in the capital Addis Ababa.
Unidentified individuals ( did not specify number) parked a vehicle near the entrance of Kaliti prison in the outskirts of Addis Ababa and that they resisted traffic police order to move their cars from where it was parked, according to the report by the Ethiopian Reporter.
In the ensuing moment, there was an exchange of fire as the police wanted to search the car and one person was killed – not specified again whether the person killed was from the side of law enforcement bodies or the suspects.
Furthermore, the report added that the individuals rented a house in the neighborhood of Kaliti prison.
The government claims the fake news. According to Wazema radio which cited Ethio FM 107.8, there was no attempt to help former Somali region president escape from prison. The FM station also said, as reported by Wazema, the gunfire incident is related to attempt to capture an individual who is identified as Tamrat Bekele Tolla who is said to be a suspect who opened fire on police officers and wounded one.
Similarly, Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) reported on Wednesday that the head of the prison administration told ESAT that the news about the attempt to help Abdi Illey escape from prison is entirely false.
Abdi Illey is charged in connection with killings of dozens of people, internal displacement of residents and burning churches, among other things, in early 2018.
About 600 Ethiopians are arrested in Johannesburg, in South Africa, after a clash between law enforcement bodies and foreigners engaged in small business activities.
DW Amharic service reported on Thursday that eyewitnesses in the city said that properties of Ethiopian businesses have been looted and women of Ethiopian descent have been beaten after South African police launched what it called campaign on “illegal business” and counterfeit products.
“Yesterday, policemen from five or six divisions came to GP saying that they have an operation. Then they started to arrest any habesha they see. Whether you show them residence permit or migrant paper, they say no and take you to prison,” Firku Sakata told DW Amharic. He also confirmed that at least 600 Ethiopians are arrested.
Another Ethiopian who identified himself as Kidane Woldeyesus told DW Amharic that South African police is discriminately arresting Ethiopians.
Kidane confirmed that Ethiopians with legal immigration status in South Africa and with legitimate business have been arrested. He also said that three South African TV stations have reported about the arrest of about 600 Ethiopians.
It has been more than 24 hours since Ethiopians have been arrested and they are arrested at John Fosta police station, Fikiru Sakata told DW Amharic and that they are not allowed to visit those who are arrested.
The country’s police ministry confirmed that as many as 1500 policemen are deployed for the campaign.
Seven policemen who tried to sell looted clothing from are reportedly arrested, according to a report by IOL website.
Tuat Paul Choi is chairman of Ethiopian unity patriot Front. He has been in the opposition for many decades now.
In an interview with Andafta Media, he reminds Ethiopians that the nine ethnic-based regions that constitute the Federal government of Ethiopia are organized based on Fascist Italy’s model of administration during the five years of occupation in the late 1930s and early ’40s.
Take a listen to the interview.
Video: embedded from Andafta Media YouTube channel Cover photo : screenshot from video
As the ruling party in Ethiopia concludes its executive meeting, it vowes to struggle against ethnic extremism, among other issues.
borkena August 9, 2019
Ethiopia’s ruling coalition executive committee disclosed that it has completed its meeting which was underway for the past two days.
Fekadu Tessema, executive committee member and head of political parties and civic affairs of the party, appeared on state television, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, on Friday evening, to talk about items discussed during the meeting and decisions.
Current affairs in the country, organizational affairs, and leadership posture within the party were among agenda items, according to Fekadu.
From that he said, strength and weaknesses of the coalition party were evaluated in light of the issued mentioned above
Populism and opportunism within the party leadership is the key issue that is identified as a weakness. The party believes that those weaknesses have hampered the party and the country not to reach the “desired heights”in the vocabulary of the party, politically or otherwise.
Ethnic extremism is another issue that the party identified as a weakness. While ethnic identity has to be respected, it is important to reconcile them with Ethiopian identity. In that regard, the committee said that the leadership should free itself from purchasing ethnic radicalism circulating in social media.
The party also noted that the task of enforcing the rule of law resulted in the restriction of human and democratic rights in the past and that the people paid sacrifice to get out of the situation but said, EPRDF EC, there are gaps in the way people enjoy their freedoms after the “change.”
So as to change the trend, EC agreed the need to strike a balance between freedom and security. it resolved that demands (political or otherwise) need to be channeled in “civilized and sober” manner and that the demands also need to be weighed on the basis of its relevance for Ethiopia – who gets to say as to a certain demand is in the interest of Ethiopia or not is not spelled out but implied – the ruling party.
Fekadu Tesema also said that an agreement has been reached among member parties that any movement that tends to be illegal, anarchist with interest in the use of force will pay a price for it. The party believes that such tendencies will be a challenge to freedom and that party will work with the people to fix them, and will “not compromise the rule of law.”
In regards to intra-coalition relation, the committee has discussed issues that affect party unity. Fekadu said the “change” happened due to measures that EPRDF took from within although there was popular pressure from the outside, and that all member parties have contributed to the “change.”
Practices and views that erode unity within the party are to be changed. In that light, the party has evaluated, and agreed, that no single member party of the coalition should point a finger at another member but should rather evaluate itself in relation to the “change.” It is to be remembered that TPLF and ADP had been trading accusations in connection with the June 22 incident which claimed the lives of five regional and federal government officials.
Also, along the line of enforcing the rule of law, the party passed a decision that the right of citizens to live in any part of Ethiopia and generate wealth has to be respected.
In terms of institutionalizing the “change,” the party plans to legislate relevant laws and engage the public in that direction.
The party also seems to have noted that there is no clarity as to what “the change” is all about. Bringing about clarity regarding what the government calls “change” is another action plan that the party intends to undertake in the weeks and months ahead.
From the point of view of outside actors, the party needs mass media to work in the direction of building tolerance, unity and the rule of law and vowed to support them in that direction.
The situation in Southern Ethiopia was also one of the top agenda items in the meeting. EPRDF executive committee has accepted SEPDM’s, one of the members of the ruling coalition governing southern Ethiopian People’s nations and nationalities region, structural arrangement plan based on a study by a group of experts.
However, SEPDM has yet clearly disclosed as to what form of administrative arrangements it is going to adapt. Violence in connection with Sidama ethnic-statehood question has claimed at least 53 lives and many more have been wounded, not to mention the destruction of property, in the month of July.
Last but not least, the executive committee has discussed the upcoming national election. The party reaffirmed its stand that the election will take place in accordance with the constitution, and has resolved to make preparations as a party and on the level of government.
Birhane Tsigab, although a latecomer, has served as a central committee member of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), and as a member of the ruling coalition’s (Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front -EPRDF) council for about five years. It has been one year since he quit his membership to Tigray People’s Liberation Front(TPLF).
In an interview with Benegerachin Lay show regarding his book”(Ye ihadeg yequlkulet guzo), he reveals about key TPLF leaders including Aboy Sebhat, one of the founders of the ethnic Tigray organization in the late 70’s.
The book talks about political decay within the ruling coalition and the struggle from within, among other things.
The writer, Birhane Tsigab, does not liberate himself as free from the problems that the party brought to the country. But his intention is, as he says, to save the country from the impending danger. He encouraged leaders of the ruling coalition to pause and think about the fate of the country rather than pursuing their ego. The writer also said that the reception for his book is very positive.
Watch the three parts interview below :
Part I
Part II
Part III
Video: embedded from the Arts World TV YouTube channel Cover photo: screenshot from the video
After two days of closed door meeting, Executive Committee of Ethiopia’s ruling coalition passed a decision to conduct national election as planned
Chairman (left) and Deputy Chairman (right)of EPRDF
borkena August 12, 2019
The executive committee of Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), disclosed on Friday last week that the national election will take place as planned.
The party’s decision came amid increasing calls from political pundits and opposition groups for postponement of the election.
There were voices even within the ruling coalition, according to social media source who claim to have insider information, who would like the election to happen in an environment free from major security concerns.
The security situation in the country is one of the major reasons for those who were calling for an extension of the national election date.
From a recent incident in Sidama zone of South Ethiopia, among other regions, the security situation in the country has become a major problem to the point that it has overpowered regular law enforcement units as the government had to mobilize members of the Defense force.
In Sidama zone, the government had to impose a state of emergency like situation on grounds of the security crisis in the region.
Parts of Oromo regional state, especially those areas adjacent to South Ethiopian People’s Nations and Nationalities Region, are not entirely free from security concerns.
In late July 2019, the United States embassy in Addis Ababa issued what it called “level 2 security” alert for its citizens living in Ethiopia. The alert advised U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to Somali region of Ethiopia- and regional authorities were not too happy about it.
On the other hand, there had been a political struggle within the ruling coalition regarding the national election.
Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) treated the talk to postpone the election as “an attack on the constitution” and had been mobilizing its support base in Tigray, North Ethiopia, against possible Federal government move to postpone the election.
Last month, TPLF issued a statement in which, apart from calling ADP to take responsibility for the June 22 killings of top government officials in Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa, it called upon the Federal government to disclose its stand regarding the national election.
National election matter became one of the key agenda items when the executive committee of the ruling coalition held a meeting last week. And as it turns out, the committee ignored security concerns and decided to conduct the election for the 547 parliamentary seats next year, as scheduled.
While TPLF is celebrating it as a triumph, Ethiopians are still expressing concern if the security situation, aggravated by radical ethnic nationalism, is ideal for it.
One of Sidama Media Network executives claim that the charges are intended for political intervention to stifle popular demands
Photo credit : Wegayehu. Source : DW Amharic
borkena August 12, 2019
Sidama Media Network executives appeared on Monday at the high court in Hawassa city, the seat of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Regional government, DW Amharic reported.
Getahun Deguye, executive director of Sidama Media network, his deputy Tariku Lemma and Belay Balguda who is a board member of the organization is among those who appeared in court.
Police suspected them of coordinating the July 18, 2018 violence in Hawassa city and the region, and of coordinating mob to topple “the regional and federal government and the constitutional order through violent means.”
Sidama zone police commander admitted about two weeks ago that at least 53 people are dead and more than 54 wounded due to the violence in Sidama and other small towns in the region as a result of the violence.
Property worth millions of Ethiopian birr was also destroyed and looted, according to the police report.
A police officer who is handling the investigation told the court, according to DW Amharic report, that police has been working on gathering information and discerning and registering private properties damaged during the violence.
As well, police claimed that it has been doing a preliminary investigation of suspects, and has released about 332 suspects whose participation in the violence was not “significant.”
The police also told the court that individuals who are giving information to help the investigation are receiving threats, as reported by DW Amharic, but it is unclear if it is an organized group or individuals who are allegedly threatening witnesses.
Suspects, on the other hand, told the court that they are arrested because of political intervention, and “the whole world knows about it.”
The intent of their arrest, the suspects claim, is to stifle demands raised by the people.
Suspects also accused some policemen of actions that violate their rights as they were coming from prison for their court appearance.
The court granted police four additional days to complete the investigation which means that the suspects will appear in court again on Friday this week.
Background
Ethnic Sidama nationalists have been pushing for an ethnic statehood of their own.
The letter stated that the Board has been preoccupying in reforming the institution and was unable to respond to the demand earlier than it did.
The letter from the board was released after radicalized ethnic Sidama nationalists (mostly youth group who are known as ejeto) made public their intent to declare ethnic Sidama statehood on their own without observing administrative and legal procedures.
On July 18, 2019, ethnic Sidama nationalists declared statehood unilaterally. In the ensuing days, radicalized groups targeted Ethiopians outside of ethnic Sidama.
The Federal government mobilized the defense force and deployed to the region after the law-enforcement forces from the region were unable to protect Ethiopians targeted by Sidama ethnic nationalists.
At least three Ethiopian Orthodox churches were burned to the group and some private properties including hotels were destroyed. Police have confirmed at least 53 deaths.
For many years now, Ethiopian church has been a target of radicalized ethno-nationalists.
Just to mention few recent cases, in July 2018 radicalized ethnic Somali youth group, they are known as Hego, targeted Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jijigga and other towns in the region. At least five churches were burnt down, priests and deacons were attacked. At least one priest was burnt to death alive.
In July 2019, radicalized ethnic Sidama nationalists youth ( Ejeto as they are called locally) similarly launched attack on the Ethiopian churches. One priest was brutally killed and at least three churches were torched with fire.
Leaders of Ethiopian Orthodox Church have been very silent or not actively voicing their protest so far. In fact, there were individual voices but many leaders in the church were not speaking out as one, and the Holy Synod itself was not very vocal on the matter probably hoping that it would go away as government asserts its power.
That seem to be changing now as church leaders are actively expressing concern about increasing attack against the church. And they are making government responsible for various attacks against the Ethiopian Church.
A year after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration managed to end the schism within the Ethiopian church as home based and diaspora Synod, radicalized Oromo Ethono-nationalists have disclosed their intents to break apart the holy synod once again by moving to form an ethnic Oromo Synod of their own. That in itself has caused a serious concern among Ethiopians not just followers of the Ethiopian church but also among Ethiopians who are not followers of the church.
Political observers seem to think that the ethnic-nationalists effort will not end just in breaking apart the Ethiopian church but also could do the same to Ethiopian Muslims as well.
Ethio 360 media looked into the issue. Watch the discussion with Habtamu Ayalewu in the video below (in Amharic)
Rural land use laws of regional state not only contravenes with the constitution of Ethiopia but also are exposing farmers for a range of dangers including expropriation, according to authorities in the justice system
Image credit : FBC
borkena August 15, 2019
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Council of Constitutional Inquiry says regional states have been implementing rural land transfers in a way that violates pertinent legislation, reported state-affiliated media Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC).
The inquiry council established the claim after undertaking research in Oromia, Amhara, Tigray and Southern Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and People’s region.
Based on the findings from the study, implementation of different laws in connection with rental, and inheritance have caused pressure in the task of court and constitutional inquiries, as reported by FBC.
Yadeta Gizaw is the leader of a constitutional teaching team which is under Ethiopia Council of Constitutional Inquiry. He said that based on a preliminary study into rural land administration practices of regions, laws enacted and implemented by regional states in relation to rural land use contravene the Federal constitution. They are also exposing farmers to dangers, he added.
The Federal government has jurisdiction over legislating rural land use while regional states have the power to administer rural land in accordance with laws legislated by the former.
Farmers, both cultivators and those who are engaged in animal husbandry, do have the right to get and use rural land for that purpose.
Farmers have the right to sell or transfer the wealth they created in the form of inheritance. They also have the right to rent the land or exchange it with other rural landholders, as reported by FBC.
However, the practices in the regional states mentioned above do not seem to align with Federal legislations as the former put restrictions on rights on rural land use. For example, Oromia region allows a farmer’s rental rights between 2 and 20 years while the Tigray regional state allows between 3 years and 20 years.
Apparently, the issue has caused the pursuit of legal remedy as far as the rights of peasants are concerned. Of 2,200 cases opened in the years between 2008 and 2011 Ethiopian calendar (Which is between 2016 and 2019) for constitutional interpretation, 500 of the cases (that is nearly 25 %) are related to rural land use.
Supreme Court Judge Dr. Teferi Gebru says “The problem is the federal rural landholding administration legislation is very detailed and has given a broader opportunity for regional states, and that the regional states have enacted their own laws and implemented it,” as cited in FBC report.
Peasants have faced the danger of expropriation of their landholdings in a rental arrangement of up to 30 years as a result of over-broadening of the federal legislation in the regional states.
Dr. Teferi explained one of the negative impacts of the practice by way of applying different laws for citizens. It has also compelled judges to refer to different legislations upon dealing with cases related to rural land use.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on Thursday regarding the abuse of Ethiopian migrants abused in the migration route.
In a report entitled “Ethiopians Abused on Gulf Migration Route: Trafficking, Exploitation, Torture, Abusive Prison Conditions,” Ethiopian migrants who cross the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden experience torture and exploitation.
HRW also made claims that Ethiopian migrants also experience “abusive prison conditions in Saudi Arabia before being summarily forcibly deported back to Addis Ababa.”
On the other hand, the rights organization stated that the Ethiopian government is not doing enough to “curb violence” that migrants face.
Yemen and Saudi Arabia authorities are also criticized on the same grounds. Felix Horne, who is a senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, said that “Many Ethiopians who hoped for a better life in Saudi Arabia face unspeakable dangers along the journey, including death at sea, torture, and all manners of abuses,” as quoted in HRW report.
The Human Rights Watch report is mainly based on research conducted in Addis Ababa.
Among other things, HRW interviewed 12 Ethiopians who were deported from Saudi Arabia.
Although ethnic-nationalism appears to be mightier, due to all-out government support, Ethiopian nationalism is well and alive, says Dr. Mesenbet Assefa.
He teaches international relation at Addis Ababa University. He also elaborated on the contribution of Oromo in the making of Ethiopian nationalism.
He also touched upon other issues like Amhara Nationalism during his interview with Andafta Media.
Video: embedded from Andafta Media Cover photo: screenshot from the video
Wuchale is in Wollo along Addis Ababa-Mekelle road. Picture: google map of the region
borkena August 16, 2019
At least four people were reportedly killed in the historic town of Wuchale, South Wollo Zone, in north-central Ethiopia. And several people sustained gunshot wounds.
According to a report by DW Amharic, it happened on Thursday following a clash between police and youth group in the town.
Eyewitnesses in the town told DW Amharic that Youth in the town protested that land for the purpose of residential house construction should not be given to public servants in the city.
Some residents of the town who claim to be an eye witness say that six people were killed by police and the number of those who sustained wounds is 12.
“I have seen three people dying after they were shot by bullets fire from within the police station,” a resident told DW Amharic.
Amhara regional state Special Forces were mobilized and deployed to the town to ease tension on Thursday after the incident, and relative calm is restored.
However, the regional police commissioner, Abere Adamu, reportedly said yesterday that he did not have details about the incident and that a team is mobilized and deployed to the town to investigate it.
Funerals for four victims took place on Friday in the town.
Hawassa City High Court first criminal bench released on Friday leaders of radicalized ethnic Sidama nationalist youth (Ejeto) leaders on a 50,000 Ethiopian Birr bail.
Among the nine suspects to be released on bail are executives of Sidama Media Network (SMN) Getahun Deguye, his deputy Tariku Lemma and Belay Balgoda who is a board member of SMN.
The court decided to release them on bail after rejecting police request for 14 more days “to complete investigation.” However, the court advised police to appeal the decision if it wishes so, according to a report by Voice of America Amharic Service.
Next court appearance for the leaders is on August 20, 2019.
Police accused the suspects of orchestrating July 18, 2019 mayhem in Hawassa city and in towns surrounding Hawassa. As well, suspects were accused of challenging the constitutional order, at Federal and regional levels, through violence.
Some politicized Ethiopians who are active in social media do not seem to see the release of the radicalized ethnic Sidama nationalist leaders as an outcome of political arrangement and they see radical Oromo ethno-nationalists, who are believed to be master’s of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, behind their release.
Sidama zone police commander recently admitted that at least 53 civilians were killed and more than 54 are wounded as a result of the violence that started on July 18, 2019, in Hawassa city. It happened when radicalized ethnic Sidama nationalists moved to bypass administrative and legal procedure to declare ethnic Sidama state.
State of emergency situation that the Federal government imposed in the region on the invitation of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Regional state is still in effect and members of the defense forces are deployed in the region to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, Sidama Zone council held an emergency meeting and has approved the appointment of Desta Ledamon as head of Sidama Zone Administration. He is replacing Qare Chawcha who was removed from the position following the violence in Sidama zone on July 18 and in the ensuing few days.
Also, Sidama Zone council asked this week the National Electoral Board to Ethiopia to disclose a date for the referendum to decide on the question of ethnic Sidama statehood. It means that if the referendum happens and the ethnic Sidama community members vote in favor of new statehood, then the Sidama Zone will break away from Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Regional state and be a state on its own.
The Election Board has already disclosed in on July 16, 2019, that it will organize the Sidama referendum within five months of time.
Transition process in Sudan reach milestone as TCM and the opposition officially sign the agreement in their capital Khartoum. Ethiopia was represented by Abiy Ahmed in the ceremony.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed receiving warm welcome upon arrival at Khartoum. Photo credit : OPM
borkena August 18,2019
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, along with his Foreign Affairs Minister and Defense Minister, attended the signing ceremony of an agreement between the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the opposition – Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) in Sudan, in the capital Khartoum on Saturday.
The agreement is said to be a step closer in the direction of forming a civilian government in the country, according to an update from the office of the Prime Minister.
Abiy Ahmed’s office also disclosed that he had a meeting with the opposition Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) before the signing of the ceremony.
“The constitutional and political agreements lay the foundation for durable democracy and development,” the opposition groups are cited as saying. As well, the opposition groups commended Ethiopia for the role it played for the success of the agreement in Sudan.
“Successful discussion is the beginning. There is a lot that has to be done for the next step,” he is cited as saying. He also encouraged both sides to continue to work on nurturing forgiveness and unity.
Women participation in governance is another area on which Abiy Ahmed remarked. He encouraged the change in Sudan to be inclusive of women and shared his government’s experience of gender parity cabinet.
Abiy Ahmed was given the floor to speak during the signing ceremony. The Sudan Tribune reported, “Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who helped broker the deal was warmly applauded by the Sudanese when he took the floor to speak.”
Sudan’s Transitional Military Council extended a warm welcome to Abiy Ahmed upon his arrival in Khartoum on Saturday. The Sudan Tribune observed that “Sudanese gave Egyptian prime minister a distinctly lukewarm reception during the signing ceremony of the transitional authority on Saturday in total contrast of the warm welcome to his Ethiopian counterpart.”
In his speech, he called on the people of Sudan to be guardians of their peace and dignity.
Abiy Ahmed seized the opportunity of his trip to Sudan to secure the release of over 100, according to an update from the office of the prime minister, Ethiopian prisoners, mostly women, and brought them home on the Ethiopian Airlines jet he was flying in.
Ethiopian and The African Union played a significant role for the success of peace agreement between the two political forces in Sudan.
Would Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration hold radical ethnic Sidama nationalists and those who are behind them responsible for the July 2019 attack?
borkena August 19, 2019
Adugna Girma lost her 83 years old father when radicalized ethnic Sidama youth (they are known in the Sidama language as ejeto) launched an attack on July 18,2019.
He was killed in Sidama zone of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Regional state.
Based on the narrative from Adugna Girma, her 83 years old father was born and raised in the area. It was her grand father who came to the area from another part of Ethiopia. Yet, the attack is carried in a spirit of attacking “invaders” ( usually people from a different language speaking group) as was once the case Oromia and ethio-somali region, among others.
Apart from the illegality, the way her father was killed in the hands of these radicalized groups (ejeto) is truly appalling.
Further more, she says that the attackers brought multiples of 25 liters of gas container (full of gas) which they used to set the residences of the old man, Ato Girma Melka, to fire.
She is not alone. Eshetu Tesfaye, who said that he is from West Arsi zone of oromo regional state, Kokosa district, says that these same groups brutally killed his brother, he identified him as Gezahegne Tesfaye, along with one of his sons ( whom he did not mention by name) in Hagere Selam town of the Sidama zone.
Eshetu is demanding the government to get to the bottom of the incident that claimed the life of his brother and investigate not just those who perpetrated the attack but also those who are behind the attack as mobilizers and coordinators. He also wants the government to take care of he widow of his brother and her five other children.
There seem to be widely held belief among politicized Ethiopians, especially in the opposition quarter and activists, that radical oromo ethno-nationalists worked closely with Sidama youth groups to effect radicalized Sidama ethnic nationalism. That is not verified so far.
What is clear so far, and it is based on confirmation by police authorities as reported by DW Amharic about two weeks ago, is that at least 53 people are killed and 54 others.
It is also clear that a high court in Hawassa released suspected ring leaders of the attack on Friday August 16,2019, on 50,000 bail.
On the other hand, hundreds of radicalized youth that were said to be mobilized to launch the attack on July 18 and in the ensuing few days are reportedly still in jail ( not verified).
What relatives of the victims of the attack plea for is for the government to treat the issue of “rule of law” seriously and hold all those responsible for the attack accountable.
Video shared below is from ESAT
Video credit : ESAT Cover photo : screenshot from the video
This is for the second time for Ethiopian custom authorities to capture illegal foreign currency in South Eastern part of the country
Photo source : AMMA
borkena August 19, 2019
Ethiopian Custom Commission seized over 14 million Ethiopian birr worth of gold and foreign currency, reported state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) on Monday.
A man, not identified by name, driving Yaris Toyota with a plate number Code 2 – A08104 AA was reportedly captured carrying 8.7 kilograms of gold, over €41,000 and 600 Saudi riyals, according to Debelle Kabeta, who is custom commissioner, as reported by FBC.
The report added that the suspect was captured in Bombas area near Jijiga in the southeastern part of Ethiopia.
“In recent times, an effort has been made to control the widespread flow of contraband trade, and participation of the community is making a huge difference,” Debele is cited as saying.
He expressed his appreciation to the customs staff working the checkpoints, to those in the security apparatus and community members in the area.
Seizure of illegally circulating foreign currency and contraband goods is making headlines in government and affiliated media outlets.
Source : AMMA
Last week, foreign currency (US dollar and Saudi riyals) estimated to be 2.7 million Ethiopian birr, based on last week’s rate of exchange, was seized at the Togochale checkpoint in south-eastern Ethiopia, according to the ministry of revenue.
The individual who was caught with the cash was trying to smuggle it using a yellow jerrican as shown in the image above.
Amhara-Benishangul regions leadership level consultation. Photo credit : AMMA
borkena August 19, 2019
The new Amhara regional state president, Temesgen Tiruneh, led a delegation, to use the wording of the ruling coalition political elites and government media, to Benishangul Gumuz regional state.
He arrived in Assosa, which is about 316 miles west of Bahir Dar, on Friday, August 16, 2019.
Amhara Mass Media Agency (AMMA) cited Benishangul Gumuz regional state communication affairs office to report that Temesgen Tiruneh and Ashadli Hassan, president of BG regional state, would discuss peace and development issues.
Talking about the purpose of talks with Benishangul authorities, Temesgen reportedly said: “No single person should die, be displaced or live with a security concern.”
Benishangul Gumuz region has been one of the regions that faced a security crisis as some members of the local communities targeted Ethiopians outside of the region, mostly against ethnic Amhara.
Hundreds of lives have been lost and thousands were compelled to experience internal displacement.
Among the issues raised during the talk on security matters between heads of the two regional states was “addressing rumors in a timely manner by way of sharing accurate information,” apparently to community members, as reported by AMMA.
They have also discussed ways of returning internally displaced people to their places but reports did not mention if there is timeframe set to finalize the process which seems to be underway but latently.
Circulation of illegal firearms, illegal firearms and enforcing the rule of law has also been part of the discussion, and a direction is identified to deal with problems in those areas.
The consultation between Ashadli and Temesgen has been underway for two days, and they have finally signed what AMMA reported as “peace and development agreement.”
According to the agreement, the two regional states will work together on peace and development.
There were similar administrative level consultations between authorities from the two regions. However, security problem remained a persistent challenge for ethnic Amhara in the region that a considerable number of them had to opt for leaving behind the place they lived for generations.
Temesgen Tiruneh seized the opportunity to discuss with ethnic Amharas living in Benishangul Gumuz region after administrative level of consultation was completed.
Ethnic Amhara constitute a big proportion of the Benishangul Gumuz region. Before the introduction of ethnic-based Federal administration, much of what is now Benishangul Gumuz region was within what was back then Gojam province.
