“So as to ensure peace and security, government will take a measured action,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

borkena
November 3, 2019

Amid increasing criticism over inaction of his government to hold key figures behind recent massacre in Ethiopia since last week accountable, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made a televised speech on Sunday.

He still describes the tragedy as “conflict” – something that continues to anger Ethiopians. For the latter, it is a pure massacre perpetrated by radicalized ethnic Oromo youth nationalists, known locally as qeerroo.

The massacre started on the night of October 22 in several towns in Oromo region of Ethiopia after media entrepreneur and activist Jawar Mohammed wrote a facebook message accusing government of removing his security details which he claimed was intended to endanger his life.

Prime Minister Abiy was not explicit about his entities that are responsible for the attack. He left it murky saying as “the works of those who would like to take us two step back whenever we make a step forward.”

Apart from calling the incident that has shocked Ethiopia and beyond as “conflict,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came up with ethnic background of the victims. And the purpose, he claims, is to depict that the mayhem has affected many ethic communities.

His number, which is not independently verified, makes ethnic Oromos appear as largest number of the victims. He went to paint the figure as 50 Oromos, 20 Amharas, 8 Gamo, 2 Silte, 1 Guraghe, 2 Hadya, 1 Argoba and the ethic identity of one victim is not established – he said. Of course, it is unclear how his security apparatus identified the remaining and why the identity of one victims is not identified. 4 of the victims of women. 10 were killed during clash with law enforcement bodies, according to Abiy. It is, however, known that Ethiopian government deployed members of the defense force in several towns to as to control the situation. The remaining were killed as a result of “clash between different groups,” as Abiy put it.

For critical Ethiopians, the number he came up with is intended to overwrite the story that radicalized ethnic Oromo youth, qeerroo, unleashed inhuman and widespread indiscriminate massacres by closing roads. Majority of Ethiopians see the latest massacre as an act of ethnic cleansing on the part of radicalized ethnic Oromo nationalists.

Senior members of his government, including president Sahle-Work Zewde, spoke out sternly saying that a ” red line ” is crossed and that those who are behind the attack need to be held responsible. The prime minister speech lacks clarity if his government is going after catalyst activists like Jawar Mohammed, who is believed to be, in the eyes of Ethiopians, to ensure that rule of law is enforced.

His speech is featured below.

Video : embedded from state media, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) YouTube channel
Cover photo : screenshot from video

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The post Ethiopian Prime minister says death toll from recent massacre 86 appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

borkena
November 4, 2019

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave a televised statement on Sunday. Putting the death toll from the recent violence, many describe it as massacre, as 86, the prime minister reported the identities of the victims on the basis of ethnicity and religion.

Abiy Ahmed’s solo press statement has caused widespread criticism from Ethiopian activists.

What is the take of politicians? Take a listen to three politicians.

Video : embedded from Andafta media Youtube channel
Cover photo : screenshot from video

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The post Is it appropriate to report the identities of the victims on the basis of ethnicity and religion? appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Condo units are transferred to children and grandchildren which was not what was decided by the Addis Ababa cabinet, as per Wazema Report. And the transfer process was clandestine.

borkena
November 4, 2019

23,000 condominium units are transferred to individuals in Addis Ababa and its outskirts clandestinely, according to Wazema Radio report on Monday.

Koye Feche, Tulu Dimtu and Kara Kore are parts of the city where the condo units were distributed.

Wazema said that it has confirmed from individuals who have been given these condominium units.  The units were given to farming communities, or their descendants (children or grandchildren) whose land has been allegedly acquired by government for public use on grounds of what is known in the US as “Eminent domain.”

The source added that a raffle draw was scheduled to be held at the Millennium Hall several weeks ago but it then got cancelled, and the draw took place clandestinely.  The source did not say anything about why the raffle draw was cancelled or why it was held clandestinely.

However, Wazema cited what it called credible sources that the distribution and transfer of the housing units was not in line with Addis Ababa city administration cabinet decision. Initially transfer of the condo units, as compensation, was meant to be to head of the family whose land was acquired for “public development” purpose. 

The implementation is a whole new story. In addition to the family head, children, no matter how many they have, are given condominium units. And it is unclear why the cabinet decision was reversed.

It is to be remembered that transfer of condo units in Koye Feche was halted after a draw was administered as individuals who claim to be activists for ethnic Oromo incited a protest calling for the delay of the transfer until Addis Ababa and Oromo region border issue is settled.

For more information about his report, check out Wazema Radio report (in Amharic.)

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The post 23,000 condo units clandestinely transferred in Addis Ababa, says a report by Wazema appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

The boy who is allegedly sodomized by the police man in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa is said to be a street boy who was taken by force from the street.

borkena
November 4, 2019

A member of police officer in Addis Ababa is sentenced to nine years in prison with no chance of parole for reportedly sodomizing a street boy in the city who is believed to be between 14 and 15 years of age. 

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Attorney General shared the story on its social media page on Monday.

The case by the Federal prosecutor says the police man committed the criminal act around 1:00 a.m. local time against an underage boy in Lideta Sub-city, district 9. An act of Sodomy itself is a criminal offense according to Ethiopian criminal code.

However, it cited article 631 section 1 A of the Ethiopian criminal act code. The policeman, whose name was not disclosed, intentionally committed the crime on March 12, 2019 at Woreda 9 zone 2 community police service office.

He forced the street boy from where he was sleeping and took him to the police office saying that he is detained. And then, he forced him to take off his cloths and committed sodomy – something that is not morally accepted in the Ethiopian society.

Prosecutor reportedly provided medical evidence from Paulos Hospital and witnesses as evidence said the report by FDRE attorney general report on social media.

The defendant did not confess nor file an answer to the prosecution.

7th bench of the Federal First Instance Court in Lideta considered the ruthlessness of the policeman and abuse of his police power to sentence him to nine years without parole, according to the update by FDRE attorney general.

99 percent of the Ethiopian society is believed to have a religious faith and an act of Sodomy is morally unacceptable. When Toto Tours planned a trip for homosexuals to the Ethiopian Holy place, Lalibela, Ethiopians opposed it vehemently and the trip was cancelled.

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The post A policeman gets only 9 years without parole for sodomizing street boy appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

borkena
November 5, 2019

Five blocks of school building initiated by Arvid Hogganvik in the town of Debre Tabor is inaugurated on Tuesday, Arts World TV reported.

To know the story of Dr. Arvid Hogganvik who was born and raised in Debre Tabor, check the link here. He said his father told him in his death bed that he has to do something for Debre Tabor. Take a listen to Arvid in the video below.

Video : embedded from Arts World TV YouTube channel
Cover photo : screenshot from video

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The post Dr. Arvid Hogganvik school in Debre Tabor inaugurated appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

As the alleged killer of Ethiopian Defense Chief of Staff appeared in court, no journalists were allowed to the court room. Major Ethiopian government media outlets did not cover the story either.

borkena
November 6, 2019

Alleged killer of Ethiopian Chief of Staff Seare Mekonnen reportedly appeared in a closed court for a hearing on Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

According to the Ethiopian government, the alleged suspect is Private Mesafint Tigabu who appeared in first instance court in Piazza in the center of Addis Ababa.

DW Amharic service reporter in Addis Ababa, Yohannes GebreEgziabhier, said the suspect arrived in the premises of the court in a mini-van and was escorted by paratroopers.

The suspect was in white T-shirt and active-wear bottom and showed no signs of limping or any other disability, according to the reporter. 

Journalists were not allowed to the courtroom. However, DW report said that the escorts and some other people in a civilian clothes were allowed to attend the hearing.

Government says Mesafint Tigabu killed Ethiopian Chief of Staff, Seare Mekonnen and his friend Major General Gezai Abera, in the residence of the chief of staff in the capital Addis Ababa on June 22 at around 9 p.m. local time.

Conflicting information has been given to the public regarding the alleged killer soon after the news of the national tragedy was disclosed in the same evening.

First, it was disclosed that the suspect was killed in a shoot out shortly following the incident. And then it was claimed that he was rather wounded and getting medical attention in undisclosed facility.

Hours before the death of the chief of staff in the capital Addis Ababa, there was another killing in Bahir Dar, seat of Amhara regional state, which claimed the lives of three top government officials of the region including Ambachew Mekonen who was head of the region.

Ethiopian government described the twin events in Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa as “attempted coup d’état.”

A day after the incident, security chief of Amhara region, Brigadier General Asaminew Tsige, was killed in a shout out. The regional and federal government claimed that he was behind the attempted coup d’état.

Families of the late General Seare Mekonnen have been criticizing Ethiopian government over the way it handled the case.

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The post Ethiopian Defense Chief of Staff alleged killer appeared in closed court hearing appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Wolayta Committee for Human Rights (WCHR)
Hawassa – Sodo- New York – Washington DC
November 6, 2019

CC: NEBE CHAIRWOMAN BIRTUKAN MIDEKSA
CC: Ethiopian House of Federation 
CC: Ethiopian Human Rights Commission 
CC: Human Rights Watch (HRW) 
CC: UNHCR

Our Ethiopian human rights advocate organization WCHR has repeatedly attempted to reach out to your office regarding the urgent matter of the Sidama referendum and constitutional violations of its procession; particularly with illegal registration of ineligible Sidama voters living inside Wolayta zone borders, illegal identification authorization of new Hawassa residents; the xenophobic activities of top Sidama officials directly involved in the referendum and the major city self-rule precedent set on Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa vis-a-vis Hawassa as established by the administration of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed. 

• On October 2, 2019, WCHR sent a letter to NEBE as well as published our press release on various media outlets to express our concerns on rights violations and recommend a postponement of the process until after the 2020 election. https://borkena.com/2019/10/02/ethiopia-nebe-illegal-hawassa-ids-sidama-referendum

• On October 10, 2019, WCHR expressed deep concern on the random re-imprisonment of Wolayta residents and anti-secession Sidama activists in Hawassa wereda. We also condemned nativism harassment of residents labeled as “foreign businessmen” by youth in the name of “Ejeto” which were financed and organized by the same Sidama zone officials who are supposed to be trusted to independently run this referendum. 

• On October 15, 2019, we expressed our concern that anti-secession Sidama and non-Sidama residents have been denied fair and equivalent voice on the local radio, tv and other media outlets of the zone. It is to be noted that, just like any election, NEBE has a vital responsibility to monitor and correct unfair infrastructural advantage or disadvantage between two or more parties involved in any election/referendum; which might otherwise deem the results to be illegitimate, contested and potentially lead to violence. Also, since guaranteeing such an equal share of media and infrastructural distribution is a difficult task due to the undemocratic nature of unelected local officials, WCHR has thus recommended that NEBE postpone the referendum until both the Sidama Zone and Hawassa city democratically elect their representatives in the 2020 election.

• On October 19, 2019, WCHR published a statement titled “Leave Hawassa, go back home!” to re-express our concern with the growing xenophobia and targeted harassment of so-called “outsiders” and “Neftegnas” which has become synonymous with virtually all Ethiopians opposing nativism and xenophobia in the zone. In that statement, we also asked that “Sidama officials stop organizing a referendum inside the Wolayta zone wereda of ABELA” as soon as possible; which otherwise would lead to a deadly conflict between nativist Wolayta elites and Sidama nationalists. Lastly, we reminded the NEBE to guarantee that displaced residents (who became refugees out of Sidama zone due to various ethnic violence incidents in recent years, particularly after the June-August 2018 Wolayta Massacre) be given an opportunity to either return home first OR at least be allowed to vote (wherever they are, as long as they display credible identification /proof of prior residence) in the upcoming referendum, according to the Ethiopian Constitution and according to the NEBE’s own recent declaration that “all legal residents” can participate in the referendum.  

WCHR recommends that NEBE address these urgent concerns as well as provide legitimacy and transparency to the process that will impact millions of Ethiopian citizens. 

Thank You 
Wolayta Committee for Human Rights (WCHR)
Hawassa – Sodo- New York Washington DC

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The post Letter to the National Election Board of Ethiopia (N.E.B.E) appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

US Embassy Addis Ababa
November 6, 2019

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,  General Stephen Townsend, commander, U.S. Africa Command, culminated a multi-country East Africa regional visit in Ethiopia, where he met with Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed and General Berhanu Jula, Deputy Chief of Staff & Head of the Military Operations Division of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), Nov. 6.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Abiy, he discussed security cooperation endeavors with Ethiopia, African Union missions, and long-term stability in East Africa.

“Ethiopia plays a critical and significant leadership role in the region, and across the continent,” said Townsend. “It has taken the initiative with effective counter-terrorism and peacekeeping operations. These efforts, along with their willingness to develop and enhance security capabilities, have helped create a safer region.”

Townsend highlighted Ethiopia’s initiative in hosting AFRICOM-sponsored exercise Justified Accord in 2019 and 2020. These training exercises enable regional leaders to come together around common practices and challenges related to African Union peacekeeping in Somalia.

U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, Michael Raynor, accompanied Townsend during his meetings.  Afterward, Raynor noted the commander’s visit underscores the United States’ commitment to supporting the unprecedented reform effort underway in Ethiopia.

“As Ethiopia continues down the road of reform, its ability to bolster regional stability, while also safeguarding the Ethiopian peoples’ rights and security, will be crucial,” said Raynor.  “We are pleased to partner with the ENDF as they strengthen their capability to play these important roles.”

Townsend also discussed with the U.S. Ambassador to the African Union Jessye Lapenn the U.S.’s partnership with the African Union and our efforts to advance security on the continent. Lapenn observed, “the AFRICOM Commander’s visit reflects the strong U.S. commitment to working in partnership with the AU on Africa-led efforts to create a peaceful, secure, and prosperous continent through effective conflict prevention and response.”

Townsend added that meetings with Ethiopian leadership focused on the positive progression of relationships with bordering countries and how strengthening those relationships is key to future collaboration on regional security issues.

Townsend also observed exercise Cutlass Express in Djibouti and visited Somalia during his second East Africa regional visit since taking command in July.

Related reading : US embassy in Addis Ababa issued another security alert for citizens in Ethiopia

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The post United States’ AFRICOM Commander Meets with Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopian Military Leaders appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

• Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan have now agreed to continue discussion and reach final agreement on the disputes regarding the filling and operation of the Renaissance Dam by January 15 or invoke article 10 of the Deceleration of Principle Agreement
• The United States and The World Bank will take part in the discussions to come as “observers” and in a “support” role

borkena
November 6, 2019

Ethiopia’s Minister for Water, Irrigation and Energy, Seleshi Bekele, disclosed on Wednesday that the three countries have reached an agreement, at the “discussion,” in Washington DC, to continue tripartite discussion on the filling and operation of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam which is said to be worth over US $4 billion. 

He tweeted :
“Pleased to reach a consensus to continue the trilateral technical discussions on Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). See details @fitsumaregaa @PMEthiopia @mfaethiopia.”  

Earlier, US president Donald Trump tweeted,
“Just had a meeting with top representatives from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to help solve their long running dispute on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, one of the largest in the world, currently being built. The meeting went well and discussions will continue during the day!”

The parties who held the discussion, including the “facilitators”, The United States and The World Bank, have issued a joint statement.  United States’ Department of the Treasury has published it and it reads as follows: 

“WASHINGTON, D.C. – The foreign ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan and their delegations met with the Secretary of the Treasury and the President of the World Bank in Washington, D.C. on November 6, 2019.  The ministers reaffirmed their joint commitment to reach a comprehensive, cooperative, adaptive, sustainable, and mutually beneficial agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and to establish a clear process for fulfilling that commitment in accordance with the 2015 Declaration of Principles.

The foreign ministers noted their agreement to hold four technical governmental meetings at the level of water ministers.  The ministers agreed that the World Bank and the United States would support and attend the meetings as observers. The ministers also agreed to work toward completion of an agreement by January 15, 2020, and would attend two meetings in Washington, D.C. on December 9, 2019 and January 13, 2020, to assess and support progress.  If an agreement is not reached by January 15, 2020, the foreign ministers agree that Article 10 of the 2015 Declaration of Principles will be invoked.

The foreign ministers reaffirmed the significance of the Nile to the development of the people of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan, the importance of transboundary cooperation, and their shared interest in concluding an agreement.”

As pointed out in the joint statement, one of the key issues agreed upon  is that representatives of the United States government and The World Bank will attend the remaining government level discussions between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan.

Another key point in the statement is that the parties have agreed to the proposal that the United States and The World Bank “would support” the discussions to come here after. What exactly is their support role is unclear.

Still what seems to be a problematic point is that the agreement puts a deadline for the finalization of the discussion between the disputing parties. They now have to finalize discussions and reach an agreement  by January 15. 

Discussion is scheduled for December 9, 2019 and January 13, 2010 which will take place in Washington again, not in Africa. 

What will happen if no agreement is reached by January 15? The parties have agreed to lean on invoking Article 10 of the Declaration of Principles which means that the parties will seek mediation. 

The last tripartite talk between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan was held in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, in early October but no agreement was reached as Ethiopia rejected Egyptian proposal on grounds  that Egypt intends to impose its own terms of agreement which Ethiopia said was in violation of its sovereignty. Among the Egyptian proposal was for Egypt to open an office near Ethiopian Dam project site to monitor the operation and filling of the Dam.

Related : Ethiopia rejects Egypt’s proposal on Renaissance Dam as it infringes on sovereignty

It was after the disagreement that Egypt called for an international mediation blaming Ethiopia for the failure of Khartoum meeting in early October. Ethiopia’s reaction, and position, was that the talks between the three countries should continue without the intervention of other mediator or mediators which seems to be in the spirit of the Declaration of Principles agreement that was signed in 2015.

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The post Washington Discussion : Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan reached agreement appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

borkena
November 8, 2019

On November 6, 2019, Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan held a discussion in Washington, USA, which was initiated by the US government.  The World Bank and USA attended the discussion too.

Needless to say, it was about Ethiopia’s Mega Dam over Nile which has caused some controversies as Egypt claims that the Dam will negatively affect the volume of water that it is getting from the longest river in the world more than 84 percent of which originates from Ethiopia.

It was after the technical discussion on the filling and operation of the dam was stalled in Khartoum early last month that Egypt called for international mediation.

The Washington Discussion reportedly focused on procedures on how to continue the negation. 

The three parties issued a joint statement after the end of the discussion, pointing out that they committed themselves to reach an agreement by January  15. If that does not happen, the parties to the discussion and the agreement (Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan) agreed to invoke article 10 of the Declaration of Principle  agreement which was signed sometime in 2015. 

The development, however, triggered widespread skepticism that the United States might be patronizing Ethiopia in an effort to help out Egypt which is believed to be of  more significance to the United States from the point of view of geo-strategy that Ethiopia. 

Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gedu Andargachew and Seleshi Bekele, water minister, however claim that the Washington Discussion was of importance to Ethiopia as provided an opportunity to elaborate on Ethiopia’s position. 

They also spoke about the next step in the negotiation process which is pretty much the same as what has been communicated through the joint statement. Take a listen to Gedu Andargachew from the video below.

Video credit : VOA Amharic Service
Cover photo : Screenshot from video 

Ethiopia’s Water Minister, Seleshi Bekele, also shared his observation from the discussion. Watch video below.

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The post Ethiopian FM Gedu Andargachew speaks about Washington Discussion, Next steps appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

borkena
November 10, 2019

At least two students are reportedly killed on Saturday at Woldia University in North Central Ethiopia after a clash in the evening on the campus. 

Several others are wounded. Hospital sources who spoke on condition of anonymity say that 14 students are admitted at Woldia University, according to a report by BBC Amharic service. 

” I started working on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and did not see when the students were admitted. But now between 14 and 15 are getting medical attention in the hospital,” the anonymous source is cited as saying. 

Some have sustained serious wounds while the situation of others is serious although it is unclear if it is life-threatening. 

North Wollo Zone administration head, Woldetinsae Mekonnen, has confirmed that students are killed due to what he called a clash between students at Woldia University Campus.

He said security forces were informed about the clash around 11 p.m. in the evening and they arrived on campus around 11:15 p.m., according to Amhara Mass Media Agency (AMMA). 

The two students were killed within 15 minutes after the clash broke out but it was controlled soon after security forces entered the university campus, said AMMA. 

It is unclear if the clash was between a group of students with a cause. Woldetinsae said the campus is outside of Woldia town and residents of the town were not aware of the problem.

” Those who try to paint the problem in a different way and link it to members of the community in the town should not be far from the truth,”  Woldetinsae is cited as saying. 

In a press statement held on Sunday, Amhara regional state communications affairs bureau director, Getnet Yirsaw, said what started the clash between students in unclear except that it happened as students were returning to their dormitories after watching a soccer game. 

A task force is formed to investigate the incident, he added. Students who are believed to have triggered the clash are being arrested but he did not give a specific figure.  The results of the investigation are expected to establish as to what caused it. 

Amhara region Peace and Security building office has also confirmed that those who are responsible for instigating the clash are detained but again the office did not specify the number. 

Authorities in the office say there are forces who are operating to create similar clashes in the universities across the region and that and that it is making preparations to take measures. 

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The post Woldia University clash reportedly left at least two students dead,14 injured appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

borkena
November 11, 2019

With the ongoing violence and government inability to enforce the rule of law in the interest of protecting the safety and security of citizens, it has been a question to many Ethiopian’s if the ruling coalition’s decision to carry out the national election as planned is a wise move.

Zeleke Redi (Engineer) who was a key figure in the Ethiopian opposition goes further. He says Ethiopia will be disintegrated if the election takes place under the prevailing condition in the country. Watch his interview below.

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The post Conducting election under prevailing circumstances leads to disintegration of Ethiopia appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Clam restored to Woldia University as task force launches investigation to determine the causes of the clash that led to the death of students.

borkena
November 11, 2019

About thirteen people are arrested in connection with Woldia University killings that claimed the lives of two students on Saturday this past weekend. 

Identities of the suspects or their affiliations is not disclosed at this writing.  But the identities of two students who were killed during the clash is established but not released. 

Communications Director of the University, Tefera Asnake, peaceful atmosphere is returned since Sunday, and there have been consultations with students since then as part of the effort to calm students after the clash on Saturday, according to a report by Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC).

The University Administration,elders in the community and Woldia town administration were part of the discussion. Students demanded security forces to be stationed in the university premise, seemingly temporarily, to ensure security. And the University administration disclosed on Monday on its social media page that members of Federal Police and Ethiopian Defense Force have been deployed as requested. 

Eleven students who have been in Woldia General Hospital following the clash are discharge, the university added in its update. Two students who sustained wound are not yet discharged at this writing. Residents of Woldia town are paying visits to those who are in hospital, according to a report by state affiliated media outlets.

The university has also condemned what it called activists and some media personalities saying that the way they are distributing information about the incident is   far from the reality on the ground but it did not name names. 

The incident that escalated to a clash between groups of students started on Saturday around 11:00 p.m. as students were returning to their dormitories after watching soccer games. 

What exactly triggered the clash and the motives of groups of students are involved in the violence are to be established after task force completes investigation. 

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The post Ethiopia arrested 13 suspects in connection with Woldia University killings appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

• Students taking refugee in churches, among other areas
• At least three students killed in Dembi Dollo university in Wollega, Western Ethiopia.

borkena
November 13, 2019

Students in several universities in the Oromo region of Ethiopia are leaving their campuses due to a rise in the security problem. The students are taking refugee places of worship including church. 

Haromaya University, Metu University, Jimma University, Dembi Dollo University and Meda Wollabu University have experienced the problem. At least three students are said to be killed at Dembi Dollo university in Wollega at this writing. At least ten students are wounded in Bulehora University.

Dechassa Gurmu,State Minister for Science and Higher Education, confirmed to DW Amharic on Tuesday that students have left the university campuses. 

Ethnic-based massacre in Oromo region of Ethiopia has claimed the lives of at least 86 people about two weeks ago, as admitted by Ethiopian government.

The ministry also told, Ethiopian government and affiliated media outlets, that students who are suspected of instigating clashes in different university campuses in the region are detained since Tuesday evening.

Clashes in Universities in the region came following the killings of two students at Woldia University last Saturday the causes of which are still under investigation.  Residents of Woldia town, in north central Ethiopia, took to the streets on Tuesday to condemn the killings and demanding government to bring those who are responsible for it be held legally responsible. Authorities in the region disclosed that 13 students are arrested in connection with the deadly clash on Saturday. 

For well two years now, Ethiopian Universities have become places where radical ethnic nationalists could easily manufacture conflicts. It has happened in most of ethnic based regions in the country- Amhara, Benishangul, Oromo, Tigray, Southern nations and nationalities, among others. 

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education introduced new rules in the registration procedure for this academic year with the intention to curb ethnic-based clashes in the universities which was highly criticized by ethnic radical activists. And it does not seem to work based on the experience since last Saturday.  

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The post Students leaving University campuses for fear of violent attacks in Oromo region appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Toronto police believe that Ethiopian women who was found dead in her apartment in midtown is victim of murder suicide.

borkena
November 13,2019

In late October, news of the death of Ethiopian women and her friend in midtown Toronto was reported by local media outlet.  A detail of the case which is said to be suicide murder is now released.

According to a report by one of Canada’s prominent news sources, Global News, the victim was apparently strangled. She is identified as Bethelhem Geleta, 22 years of age. Based on the report, she was killed on her birthday. 

She was found lying on the ground, without vital signs, in her apartment at 141 Davisville Ave. near Yonge Street, in Toronto on Oct. 26.  A man, who is believed to have committed the murder suicide, was also found in one of the units suffering from trauma who apparently died later in hospital.

“Officers arrived on scene and found a woman without vital signs and a man suffering from trauma in one of the units,” reported Global News.

The man is identified as Aboma Daba. He was 30 years of age and worked in a local grocery store. He was a friend of Bethelehem and police believe that he murdered her.

Why did he do that? Find out more from Global News Canada.

There was a service in the community Church which they attend and an online fundraising is underway on GoFundMe to send their bodies to Ethiopia which is said to cost around $45,000 

Cover photo : Screenshot from embedded image from Catherine McDonald Twitter page.

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The post Ethiopian women who was found dead late October in Toronto was a victim of murder suicide,says police appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

(by Concerned  Ethiopians in North America and Europe)
November 14, 2019

A prominent hate preacher  and leader of paramilitary terrorising group called “Qerro” in Ethiopia by the name of Jawar Mohammed is visiting USA, Canada, Germany and UK  to organise meetings with his supporters residing in these countries. 

According to his face posting here are the detail planned town-hall meetings in selected cities,

      In North America 

• Minnesota, Friday Nov 15
• Atlanta, Saturday Nov 16
• Seattle, Sunday Nov 17
• Vegas, Thursday Nov 21
• Denver, Friday Nov 22
• Washington DC, Saturday Nov 23
• Toronto, Sunday Nov 24

In Europe

• Nuremberg, Saturday Nov 30
• Manchester, Sunday Dec 1

Mr Jawar Mohammed is 33 years old Muslim man who is born and raised in Oromia region of Ethiopia who is currently a naturalised American citizen. He is executive director of Oromia Media Network (OMN)  which is famous in inciting violence, creating tension among different ethnic groups and preaching hate. The financial income of this OMN is not clear.

Mr Mohammed is very influential and the “second government” in Ethiopia as per his declaration. He commands  a face group followers of more than 1.5million followers (significant number in country where internet access is limited). He is head of a youth paramilitary group “Qerro”  all over Oromia region of Ethiopia whose organization structure, office and personnel are secret to the public but operating overtly its destructive, terrorising and fatalistic activity with in Ethiopia.

Mr Mohammed is alleged to be responsible  for leading the paramilitary group involved in the massacre, displacement  and ethnic based killings with in Oromia and Addis Ababa mainly against Orthodox Christians. Many Christians are displaced and Churches burned.

The current Ethiopian Government is led by an ODP (Oromo Democratic Party) which  is hugely infiltrated by formerly labelled terrorist party called Oromo Liberation Front  (OLF) which aims for secession of Oromo region from Ethiopia. This front is famous for killings of Amhara  and non-Oromo people residing in Oromo region of Ethiopia as ethnic cleansing activity to prepare the region for  secession.

The  ethnic cleaning, killing and displacement against Christian Amhara and non Oromo group  that have been taking place in late October and November 2019 in Oromo region of Ethiopia  is directly related to Mr Jawar Mohammed face book call to the paramilitary “Qerro” group with coded message  with alleged claim of his security personnel were to be replaced. More than 86 people are killed, hundreds and thousands people hurt and churches and properties burned. OMN has  continued preaching hate among different ethnic groups.

The Ethiopian government failed  to account Mr Jawar Mohammed to justice. Part of the Ethiopian government work hand in glove with Mr Jawar Mohammed. Dr Abiy Ahmed’s government is unable to do so due to fear of the paramilitary Qerro group and possible plot to upstage  Dr Abiy Ahmed from his chairmanship from the governing ODP party.

The Attorney Generals (AG) of USA, Canada, German and UK should not give platform for this hate preacher in these countries. The AG in this countries should account t justice Mr Jawar Ahmed for the alleged masterminding of the ethnic cleansing, hate preaching and terrorist activity against Christian people in Ethiopia.

The AG of these countries should contact their embassy to get detailed information about this man and his paramilitary group. Ethiopia is on verge of civil war with ethnic and religious tone principally led by hate preachers who own prominent medias. The 1990’s  Rwanda like ethnic cleansing and civil war is brooding in Ethiopia.

There are  human, legal, moral  reasons to prevent further bloodshed, ethnic cleaning and civil war in Ethiopia. North American and European countries  should pre-empt and avoid such potential tragedy in Ethiopia it by fulfilling their moral and international duty.

References:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-50157385

https://barnabasfund.org/en/news/two-pastors-beheaded-as-violence-against-christians-flares-in-ethiopia

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/01/ethiopia-unrest-abiy-ahmed-jawar-mohammed-nobel-peace-prize

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/ethiopia-78-killed-protests-treatment-activist-191031191424376.html

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-politics/ethiopia-says-at-least-78-people-killed-in-protests-last-week-number-could-rise-idUSKBN1XA21S

https://www.dw.com/en/deadly-unrest-reflects-ethiopias-discontent/a-50991625

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The post Open letter to Attorney Generals of USA,Canada,UK and Germany appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

borkena
November 14, 2019

Jawar Mohammed is an activist who has mastered ways of manipulating unemployed and radicalized ethnic Oromo Youth group,who are now known as Qeerroo, to achieve his political motives.

In the past, he used to paint himself as a moderate Oromo activist and was accepted that way by a considerable number of Ethiopians – especially in the Diaspora. That is now a bygone story. He now is posing himself as a radical Oromo nationalist to radicalized youth who proved to be gullible tools for his political aspiration.

In a country of 110 million population, he has managed to have over 1.5 million facebook followers ( including in the diaspora) with whom he communicates with Oromo language- as the age group he communicates with mostly do not seem to speak or understand other Ethiopian language.

He considers himself, he as declared it openly during an interview with a local media outlet in Ethiopia, as the second government, and influential person. 

On the night of October 22, 2019 he published a facebook update telling his supporters that government is withdrawing security assigned in his residence in the capital Addis Ababa. 

Hours later his Qeerroo crowd in the Oromo region of Ethiopia, not in all parts of oromo region, was mobilized, and started closing roads. Then this same group of radicalized ethnic Oromo youth triggered a massacre which many Ethiopians described as a massacre that was motivated by ethnic and religious identities. 

In 48 hours, 86 people were killed- that is Ethiopian government official figure. While 10 were members of law enforcement units in the region, the rest were barbarously massacred.

Credible sources have confirmed that Jawar Mohammed has arrived in the United States on Wednesday November 13,2019. He has plans to tour several cities in North America and Europe. 

And Ethiopians are seizing the moment calling for countries in North America and Europe to rescue Ethiopia from impending large scale ethnic violence that could even escalate to genocide by holding him accountable. 

Borkena has received a letter written to Attorney Generals of several countries.  It’s available HERE.

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The post Jawar Mohammed returns to the United States after 86 were massacred in oromo region, Ethiopians call for action  appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

EPRDF says preparation finalized to form a single national party. Executives will meet this weekend and transformation of the organization as a political entity to a single national party of Ethiopia is top agenda

Ethiopian Ruling Coalition, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), move to end the existence of four ethnic-based parties that constitutes the organization has been a talking point for several months now. 

And there is divergence on it. There are those ethnic based parties within the umbrella organization who tend to see the transformation of the ruling coalition into a single party as a desirable one from the point of view of arresting the radical ethnic nationalist sentiment in different parts of the country which has been creating a recurrent security crisis claiming hundreds and thousands of lives while triggering a huge internal displacement. 

There are also other ethnic-based political groups under the umbrella organization of EPRDF who are favoring the unity. The political vocabulary used within the coalition used to call them was “sister parties.” These parties govern their respective ethnic-based regions (Afar, Benishangul, and Gambella and Somali regions).  However, unlike the four major ethnic-parties that constitutes the coalition namely, Amhara Democratic Party, Oromo Democratic Party, Tigray People’s Liberation Front and Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement, “sister parties do not have a voting privilege and were not represented in the executive committee and the central committee of the ruling coalition. It also means that leadership from these parties did not have a chance to hold important position including chairmanship of the party and prime minister Position. So for “sister parties”, transformation of the coalition is a welcome news as it will end what they called, rightly, discrimination. 

On the contrary, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) vehemently opposed the move claiming that it will be a recipe to trigger the disintegration of the country. The party has openly issued a statement after seven days of meeting in Mekelle, Tigray region. 

This week the organization disclosed that the preparation to form a single national party out of the ruling coalition is finalized. The party has made it clear that since many members of the coalition have agreed on the idea, no vote will be administered. It means that, according to a report by state affiliated media Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), a party or parties who do not be party of the new national party will have their separate ways. 

Deputy Head of the ruling coalition, Melese Alemu, told Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) those who oppose the formation of a single national party from the ruling coalition as an idea with no public support are wrong. 

“They have been putting hurdles for the idea not to succeed since the 5th congress of the ruling coalition,” he said. 

He sees the process leading to the formation of a single party from the trajectory of popular demand for change and from the point of view of addressing people’s demand for development. 

This weekend, the ruling party executives are expected to have a meeting and the issue is said to be a top agenda. 

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The post EPRDF,Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, says preparation finalized to form a single party appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

As rising manufactured ethnic-based violence in universities continue to claim lives of innocent students, Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed calls relevant bodies to work on restoring order and peace or his government will take measures including closing down universities.

Ethiopia’s Nobel Peace Prize winner Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, is changing his tone of speech after universities in Oromo and Amhara region of Ethiopia experienced another security crisis that claimed the lives of students.

In a meeting organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher education on Friday to discuss the situation in Universities, he emphasized on the roles of regional state heads, zone and city administrations in terms of restoring calm and order in the university communities.

“if universities are not moving in the direction of stability, government could take measures including closing them down,”  said Abiy Ahmed flanked by deputy prime minister Demeke Mekonen and The Minister for Science and Higher education, Hirut W/ Mariam

University Board Members, regional state presidents, zone administration heads, high level security officials and chief of staff of the Ethiopian Defense Force, among others, have attended the meeting.

The meeting discussed ways of identifying ways of the sources of the violence and ensuring sustainable peace.

Modernizing security apparatus and increasing the number of security personnel to ensure peace and security in the university is one of the measures that the prime minister is suggesting. Installation of devices to take fingerprints in the entrances of university campuses is another possible solution that he recommended.

His recommendation is informed by the view; it is also shared by many others, that those who instigate violence in the universities are external forces with their own political agenda.

However, he does not spare students either. He said, rightly, that students need to pose and think about the motives of entities who want them move along the path to death. Quality of education in Ethiopian universities has been criticized for many years now. Some observers tend to see lack of critical thinking and crowd mentality as key problems of university students.

Abiy Ahmed has warned that “Government will take legal measure on students who cause damage in university campuses.”

Apart from fostering security controls, building a social bond between students and the local community where the universities are located is another plan of action he suggested to resolve the problem.

Coordinated work between local communities and security forces could also help to take proactive measures, he said.

Violence has become a recurring problem in Ethiopian universities. At least five university students have been killed due to what appears to be ethnic based violence this past week alone.

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The post Ethiopian PM threaten to close universities amid rising violence appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Ruling coalition in Ethiopia is now morphed into a single united national party. It will re-brand itself as Ethiopian Prosperity Party(EPP).TPLF voted against it which means that it will not be part of it.

borkena
November 16, 2019

Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), has made a landmark decision on Saturday closing one long chapter in the history of the organization and opening a new one.

The coalition was formed sometime in 1988 as a leftist organization based on “revolutionary democracy” under the leadership of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) towards the end of decades-old armed struggle against colonel Mengistu Hailemariam’s administration.

Until April 2018, that is the time when Abiy Ahmed from what was then called Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO) became prime minister, TPLF dominated Federal government meddled with the affairs of other regional states organized on the basis of ethnicity. 

It was soon after Abiy Ahmed became prime minister that the ruling coalition, which constitute four ethic parties, began to discuss transforming the coalition into a single united party – an idea that was raised during the organizational conferences and shelved indefinitely.  

Today, the coalition has made the final decision and it will no longer be a coalition party but a united single party. 

It was the executive committee of the coalition that passed the decision. According to a report by state affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), majority of the executive members voted in favour of ending coalition era which was marked by deepening  division among Ethiopians along ethnic lines. Especially in the past three years, ethnic based violence became prevalent to a point where citizen’s right to work and live in different parts of the country became risky. Thousands were killed and millions of people were internally displaced. 

Fekadu Tesema, a member of the executive committee member, told state media Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation that the executive committee meeting discussed issues that need attention under the new arrangement. Strengthening the federal system and developing administrative system while maintaining language diversity, ethnic identity and national identity were among the top agenda in the executive committee meeting. 

The executive committee is expected to discuss draft party program starting tomorrow, according to a report by Fana Broadcasting Corporation. 

Only six members of the executive committee members of the ruling coalition voted against the proposal to transform the  organization’s existence into a single united national party – which is poised to be named as, according to information from insiders, Ethiopian Prosperity Party (EPP). 

The six members executive committee who voted against the proposal are from TPLF. And it did not come as a surprise since TPLF has issued a statement sometime in October claiming that the decision to transform the coalition into a single party would trigger disintegration of the country. 

On the other hand, Four other parties that have been described as “agar” (sister parries) see the decision as a move in the right direction for the previous arrangement was discriminatory. 

Parties governing Afar region, Benishangul region, Gambella region and Somali region of Ethiopia were considered as part of the ruling coalition, EPRDF, but they did not have voting privileges and did not have membership in the executive committee and central committee which means that they was no possibly for leaders from these parties to hold the highest office in the country.   But that ends with the end of the coalition. It is a new chapter for the ruling party , and perhaps to Ethiopia too.

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The post Ethiopia’s ruling coalition EPRDF approved merger, now a united national party appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.