borkena
March 9, 2020

Pervasive ethnic-based violence has slowed down in Ethiopia. But something bigger seems to be simmering underneath.

When Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) celebrated International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8, Oromo Media Network, whose former director is now a member of OFC party, aired it on tv live.

A woman, seemingly a radicalized ethnic Oromo nationalist, made a statement calling for all Oromo women not to marry habesha (a reference to ethnic Amhara and Tigre).

She went further and called for those who are already in an interethnic marital relation with what she called “Habesha” men to divorce them.

She spoke in the Oromo language. Citizens on social media translated her statement. It sounds as follows :

“Those of you who are from other areas need to take a lesson from Adama [Nazret]…The beginning of our struggle is on our men. We will make Oromo men who are chasing old habesha women the targets of our struggle. We will marry them, and we will not let them marry Habesha women. And those who already married to Habesha will divorce. Our leaders have no such problems and are good examples in that [they are married to Oromo]. The struggle of qeerree is on our men. Outside, he says he is an Oromo. But he has neftegna [habesha]wise at home.”

Core Oromo Federalist Congress leaders were in attendance in this televised hate speech, and they applauded it.  Among those who were present were, Bekele Gerba and Jawar Mohammed, whose politically motivated claims about his own personal security caused the deaths of at least 86 Ethiopians back in October 2019.

Ethiopian news and current affairs enthusiasts, a more accurate description would be Ethiopians who are concerned about rising ethnic-based hate, did not take the matter lightly.  

Many argue that the woman’s call not to marry and/or divorce “Habesha men ” constitutes hate-speech. For them, it is not just an individual’s viewpoint but rather a pattern of thinking very common among radical ethnic-Oromo nationalists.  

The Ethiopian government seems to have noted that millions of Ethiopians are outraged by the blatant hate speech televised on Oromo Media Network – a media which many likens to Radio des Mille Collines – a Rwandan Radio that caused the Genocide in 1994 which claimed the lives of about one million people.  

Nigussu Tilahun, Press Secretariat in the office of the Prime Minister, said on Monday that the government would hold political parties and media organizations that are working to create division between people. “Hate speech poses a threat to the unity of the country,” he said as reported by Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC).

Last month, Ethiopia approved the controversial hate speech legislation to The Human Rights Watch understood the bill as a response to ethnic-based violence or communal violence in their own words, but it rejected it as “…an ill-construed law that opens the door for law enforcement officials to violate rights to free expression is no solution.”

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The post A woman calls for an end to inter-ethnic marriage for the sake of “Oromo struggle” appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Ethiopian Press Agency said that it has suspended journalists who were are linked to the PM’s and his wife’s photoshopped image in a bedroom

borkena
March 10, 2020

Ethiopian Press Agency suspended journalists linked to it, but their identities and the number of journalists involved in it are undisclosed. 

Ethiopian Press Agency, state-owned media outlet, published doctored images of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his wife Zenash Tayachew on Tuesday, and it said: “it was a mistake.” 

In the image, Zenash Tayachew is seen lying on the side on the bed while Abiy Ahmed is on the floor. 

The image was used for a story about Ethiopia’s Election Board map for the upcoming election in August of this year. 

The Agency removed the image moments later and issued a brief statement on social media asking for an apology for what it called “mistake.” 

The statement said, “The image that Ethiopian Press Agency used for the news ‘the board will announce polling station maps on Saturday’ is a wrong one, and we apologize for the ‘mistake.'”   

It also announced that journalists linked to it are suspended from work and that it will make public the next step. 

Based on screenshot of Ethiopian Press Agency Facebook Timeline, the image with Ethiopian Election Board story was on social media at least for five minutes.

In December 2019, a false story about the death of Debretsion Gebremichael (President of Tigray regional state and chairman of  Tigray People’s Liberation Front) was published on another state-owned media – Walta Information. The Agency terminated journalists linked to it. At the time, the Tigray regional state was very infuriated about it. To date, the public is not informed about the result of the investigation – especially what the motive was and what political entities were behind it. 

Conspiratorial politics is, at times, noticeable on contents from state-owned media outlets. But it never was too graphic like the one published by Ethiopian Press Agency on Tuesday. 

Today’s publication of Abiy Ahmed’s doctored image seems to have a sinister motive behind it.

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The post Doctored Ethiopian PM,his wife’s image in bedroom published on state media”by mistake” (See inside) appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Parents still attempt to reach out to government authorities hoping know if their kidnapped children are dead or alive. Ethiopian government authorities could soon disclose some information, regional government authority told VOA Amharic

borkena
March 10, 2020

Ethiopia is a country of contradictions. Progress in the status of women ( mainly measured based on gender parity cabinet and the appointment of the first female president in the country) is arguably one of the hallmarks of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration – as many observers tend to put it. 

Ethiopian Airlines’ traditions of only female crew flights on the occasion of International Women’s day is another example that people pull to demonstrate progress in the role of women in the Ethiopian society. 

But all is not well. Among other things, it has been more than 95 days now since Dembi Dollo University Students who were on their way to their parents were kidnapped. It is a politically motivated kidnapping. Radical ethnic Oromo nationalists (erstwhile they used to claim that Oromo rights in Ethiopia are violated) are behind the kidnapping, as one security official in the Oromo region said. 

There is no information regarding the whereabouts of the kidnapped students. 

A Federal government level task force was formed under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister, Demeke Mekonen, who has been working on the issue. 

By now, people anticipate that authorities could have information about the issue, but it is not shared. Their parents are in pain – perhaps as much as the kidnapped students. 

The Voice of America Amharic Service spoke to them in Bahir Dar, the seat Amhara regional state where they went to knock on doors of the region’s president and police authorities. 

They were told that they could not meet with the region’s president, Temesgen Tiruneh. The reason is “meeting.” 

All they want is, they told VOA Amharic reporter in Bahir Dar that they want to know if their children are dead or alive. 

They recalled that they met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his deputy, and were promised that they would hear something about it. But they have not heard anything. Worse, Fikir Chekole, who is the sister of one of the kidnapped students, Estalu Chekole, is arrested by the government; their mother Endalech Gualu told VOA Amharic. She was arrested for “shouting.”

In late January 2020, Ethiopians in Washington DC demonstrated demanding an answer from the Ethiopian government regarding the students. 

When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appeared in Parliament in early February, he faced similar questions from several parliamentarians. He said, “the issue is complicated as the group that abducted them has not claimed responsibility.” 

Although the students are believed to be kidnapped by the armed wing of the radical ethnic Oromo nationalists group, Oromo Liberation Front -Shane, the Ethiopian government claimed that the kidnapping is not ethnically motivated.

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The post Ethiopia: No information about kidnapped Dembi Dollo University students after 95 days appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Ethiopia and neighbors (Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti) do not have confirmed cases of Coronavirus so far

borkena
March 11, 2020

As the World Health Organisation officially declared Coronavirus as a pandemic on Wednesday, March 12, 2020, Ethiopia does not still have a single confirmed case of the disease. 

Ethiopian Public Health Institute Director, Abate Eba, shared the latest development in the country. Five new cases of travelers with CoronaVirus infection like symptoms are identified. Three of them are Ethiopians, and two of them are Chinese. They are all quarantined, he said. 

Nine hundred cases of suspects who were quarantined are released from the care center in the capital Addis Ababa, and there are no confirmed cases of the infection.  

Thirty entry points to the country are under supervision with a mandatory screening test. 

Despite no confirmed cases in Ethiopia, the Directors cautioned that there is a need to keep personal hygiene as part of the prevention measure. 

Concerned citizens blasted Ethiopian Airlines for continuing to fly China despite the rise in the number of death and infection rates in the country.  The airlines argued that it is thoroughly following World Health Organization’s recommended procedures while flying to and from China.   

The Ministry of Health organized on Wednesday a consultation with public relations and communication professionals from across the public service to discuss preventions, according to Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC). Necessary information about Coronavirus and  Ethiopia’s situation in connection with the virus was among the key issues discussed during the consultation. 

Meanwhile, neighboring Eritrea, in the north, is taking a robust measure to protect its citizens from the pandemic. Eritrean Review (ER) reported on Wednesday that the Eritrean government had introduced a stricter measure. According to the source, Eritrea has advised citizens and tourists to consider avoiding travel to and from Eritrea. Those traveling to Eritrea, said the source, will be subject to fourteen days of seclusion in a designated place, whether they have symptoms of the diseases or not. 

Ethiopia’s immediate neighbors in the south, west and east of the country, have not yet reported confirmed case.

The latest WHO infection distribution map across the world shows that much of the Sub-Saharan Africa is free from the infection at this writing. Senegal, Togo and The Democratic  Republic of Congo have confirmed cases of the disease. Senegal has the highest number with four confirmed cases. 

So far, over one hundred twenty thousand people worldwide are confirmed to have the disease. The number of people who died from it is in the neighborhood of 4500.  

According to the World Health Organization, the virus could be transmitted through money ( paper money or coins). 

What are the necessary protective measures against Coronavirus? 

The World Health Organization recommends several measures. Watch the video below.

Please for more video and information, Check out WHO website HERE

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The post Ethiopia reports five new suspects of Coronavirus, no confirmed cases yet appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

The Amhara Conference that is underway in Bahir Dar, North Western Ethiopia, brought together opposition parties and the ruling party in the region, among others. It aims for lasting unity

borkena
March 11, 2020

Amahra Conference is underway in Bahir Dar city in North-Western Ethiopia.  It is a two-day long event with the theme “Common vision and goal for lasting unity and Amhara people.”  

Organized by Amhara intellectuals, the ruling party in the region (Amhara Region Prosperity Party) and opposition parties operating in the region, it is intended to have a consultation on the current situation in the country and identify a path to be pursued so as to resolve them. 

Religious leaders, individuals in the entertainment industry, professionals, intellectuals, and invited guests are attending it, according to a report by Amhara Mass Media Agency (AMMA). 

Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonen, chairman of Amhara region Prosperity Party in lieu of Amhara Democratic Party – now-defunct to the merger in the ruling coalition, attended it. 

Temesgen Tiruneh, the region’s president, and other top officials of the regional state have attended it as well. 

“In the interest of ensuring sustainable peace and development, it is important to reconcile difference with civility and everyone contributes to it,” Demeke Mekonen is cited as saying. 

The way to build a strong and respected country is not by wasting time on minor issues, he said, but by focusing on a bigger national agenda.

He also advised participants about the need not to dwell on what he called “agenda items that others prepared,”  and obstructing one another. We need to unite and work together for nation-building, the Deputy Prime Minister added.  

He had a message for activists too: ” They need to provide the society with fact-based and reasonable analysis, and take part in the nation-building effort. 

Temesgen Tiruneh on his part said that the “Amhara Conference” is relevant to overcome challenges that the region experienced and restore peace. 

In June 2019 , the region was shocked by the assassination of the region’s president, Ambachew Mekonen, and two other top officials of the region in what the Ethiopian government called was an attempted coup d’etat allegedly orchestrated by Brigadier General Asaminew Tsige who was reportedly killed in a shootout with deployed security forces. 

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Ethiopian parliament is poised to confirm the appointment of Adanech Abebe as Federal Attorney General. La’qe Ayalew will take over from her as Ministry of Revenue portfolio. Liya Tadesse will be sworn in as Ethiopia’s new Minister for Health.

borkena
March 11, 2020

The 14th session of the People’s House of Representative will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

State media, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), said that the session is anticipated to approve minutes from the 13th regular session and approve the appointment of Federal level ministers, and Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Board. 

Approval of board members to the Ethiopian Press Agency, state-owned media, is scheduled for Thursday too. On Tuesday this week, the agency published the photoshopped image of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and His spouse Zinash Tayachew lying in a bed and floor. Worse, it was used for a story about Ethiopia’s upcoming election, which is scheduled to take place in late August of this year. Ethiopian Press Agency removed the image five minutes later, asked for an apology for it, and disclosed that journalists involved in it are suspended and that they will be investigated. 

Regarding the appointment of new ministers to be confirmed on Thursday, Ethiopia’s state media did not specify the identities of them. 

According to Addis Fortune, Local Business Newspaper, Adanech Abebe will replace Birhanu Tsegaye as the Federal Government Attorney General. Last week, the office of the president announced that Berhanu Tsegaye is appointed as Ambassador without specifying the country to which he is heading to. Adanech has been serving as Minister for Revenue since July 2018. It is unclear if she has an academic background in law. 

Political loyalty and ethnic quota system have been key factors, in most cases, for appointment.

La’qe Ayalew, who served as deputy administrator of Amhara regional state, is poised to take over as Federal Minister for the Ministry of Revenue. 

Liya Tadesse, currently state minister in the Ministry of Health, is anticipated to be confirmed as Minister in the same Department. The position has been vacant since Amir Aman resigned in December 2019. She is taking the position at a time when Ethiopia is working on Coronavirus epidemic prevention in the country. Many seem to see her a competent pick for the position.

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The post Ethiopian parliament to confirm three new appointments appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Adanech Abebe is confirmed as Ethiopia’s first women attorney general.Two more women appointed for ministerial positions.

borkena
March 12, 2020

Ethiopian Parliament had a tense debate on Thursday as four candidates appeared in the House for confirmation, but they were all confirmed in the end after a vote was administered. 

Adanech Abebe, who used to serve as Minister for the Ministry of Revenue, is confirmed as the first women attorney general in the history of Ethiopia. La’qe Ayalew, former deputy head of Amhara regional state, will take over her previous position in the Ministry of Revenue, and the parliament has confirmed him too.

Liya Tadesse is the new Minister for Health. She has experience in the department as she was working as State Minister for nearly two years now. 

And Filsan Abdullahi is named as the Minister of Women, Children, and Youth.  She is replacing Yalem Tsegaye – who was included in the list of people appointed for ambassadorial positions, as announced by the office of the president on March 3, 2020.  Filsan is said to be the first one to open Television stations in the Somali region of Ethiopia.

The Gender balance Cabinet is still in good shape. There is one addition of a woman Minister in reality. Ministerial portfolio in the Ministry of Health has been vacant since December 2019 following the resignation of Semir Amin. As it turns out, it made it possible for one more female minister in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s cabinet. 

The debate in the parliament was tense. Two reasons stand out for the opposition. 

Some members of the parliament expressed their opposition that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government is changing ministers “every six months,” as those who opposed the appointment described it. The approach is not productive in their views as it would make ministers not to focus on their job to “bring about a result in the fight against poverty. ” 

Others argued that the Prosperity Party does not have the legal right to propose the appointment of new ministers. The party was formed in November 2019 after three members of the EPRDF coalition and five allies merged to form a single party. Constitutionally, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is entitled to propose his minister to the parliament, but his opponents in the parliament seem to accept that arguing that he has lost legal ground to remain as Prime Minister.  

Others opposed the appointment on the grounds of inclusivity. Some members of the parliament who won their seats on the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) ticket in north Ethiopia blame the proposal that it has excluded the people of Tigray. Tesfaye Daba, Member of Parliament, refuted the allegation saying that one of the four newly appointed ministers ( Liya Tadesse) has a root in Tigray.  But that was not the point for those who opposed the appointment. They argue, “TPLF is the legitimate representative of the people of Tigray. To exclude TPLF is to exclude the people of Tigray.”  

In any case, with only five more months to go for the next general election, all the newly appointed ministers took an oath before the parliament after their confirmation. 

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The post Ethiopia’s first women attorney general confirmed in the parliament appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Daniel Kibret proposed membership to Ethiopian Press Agency Board met with stiff resistance in the parliament ; 126 members voted against it

borkena
March 12, 2020

Ethiopian parliament has been dubbed as a rubber stamp for too long. But that does seem to be changing a bit.  Yet, topics that get controversial in the Ethiopian parliament are mostly linked to either ethnic politics or religion. 

The 14th session of the People’s House of Representative for this Ethiopian year (2012) happened on  Thursday. It brought to the fore about the religious and ethnic divide in the country. 

285 parliamentarians have attended it. The main agenda item was confirming the appointments of three ministers and the attorney general.  That was divisive as some members of parliaments, mainly from the Tigray region of Ethiopia, opposed the appointment, saying that it has excluded Tigreans. Before TPLF lost power in the central government, the principal complaint (although not often expressed in the parliament for fear of retribution) was that ethnic Tigreans dominated vital positions in the federal government, in the defense force and intelligence department- among others. 

Ethiopian Press Agency Board Members Confirmation 

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed proposed nine people for Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA)Board member and Chairman.  He included motivational speakers, activists, and opposition party members as well. 

But the proposal that brought intense debate was Daniel Kibret’s appointment as a member of EPA. A considerable number of parliamentarians opposed his appointments on the grounds of “religious bias.” In the past, Daniel Kibret served as a deacon and a preacher in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. After Abiy Ahmed became president, he was handpicked to serve as an adviser in the office of the Prime Minister, although the latter has a protestant religious conviction. 

As the issue became tense, the speaker of the House of Representatives had to administer a vote on the issue. 126 People voted against the inclusion of Daniel Kibret in EPA Board. 146 voted in favor of his appointment.  

The debate over Daniel Kibret is said to be unprecedented in the history of the parliament under the current administration, which evolved from the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. From a video of the debate in the parliament, opposition to his appointment seems to be motivated by religious differences.  And that is what makes it concerning for most Ethiopians. 

Other Members

Seven other peoples are confirmed for membership while one person is confirmed for Chairperson position. The names are as follows :  

Awolu Abdi – Chairperson
Abebech Sheketa – Member
Agaredech Jemaneh – Member
Manyazewal Endashaw – Member
Daniel Kibret – Member
Obang Metho – Member 
Wodajeneh Mahrene – Member
Kontie Mousa – Member
Getnet Tadesse-Member

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The post Ethiopian Press Agency new board,Parliament Debate over Daniel Kibret appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Ethiopia joined the list of countries with confirmed cases of COVID -19. Only one person is confirmed but number might rise as the person was in contact with other individuals since March 4, 2020

borkena
March 13, 2020

Ethiopia confirmed on Friday the first COVID-19 case. The person who is said to have tested positive for the virus is 48 years old Japanese national who arrived in Ethiopia on March 4, 2020. 

According to the Ministry of Health, the person was in Burkina Faso before he arrived in Ethiopia.

Liya Tadesse, the Minister for Health, tweeted : 

“Ethiopia confirms it’s first positive test for #Covid_19. The patient is  a 48 year old Japanese citizen who came to Ethiopia on March 4th from Burkina Faso and is currently isolated at our facility undergoing medical follow up”

The person whose name is undisclosed is currently in an isolation facility in the capital Addis Ababa and is said to be in a stable condition. 

Moreover, the Ministry of Health said that individuals who have been in contact with the person are being traced and quarantined. 

The Ethiopian government has made arrangements for quarantine and isolation centers located in the northern outskirts of the city Eko Kotebe, and the hospital is ready to accept COVID-19 patients. 

The Ministry of Health and Ethiopian Public Health Institute held a joint press conference on Friday. They urged the public “not to panic but stay calm and do everything …to stop the spread of the disease in our country.” 

The Ministry also disclosed a phone number – 8335 – for those who would like to get further information about the disease. 

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Human Trafficker that INTERPOL has been hunting for is arrested in Ethiopia, with six of his aids

borkena
March 13, 2020

Ethiopian Federal Police disclosed on Friday that it had arrested a fugitive human trafficker and five of his aids in Ethiopia.  Police identified him as Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam – a man allegedly involved in human trafficking in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan. 

He is known to INTERPOL (The International Criminal Police Organization), and that the organization has been searching for him for a long time, according to a report by Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC)

Federal Police investigation reveals that all six suspects are involved in founding an illegal body that operates trans-border human trafficking. 

The Human Trafficking network stretches from, says police as reported by EBC, the Horn of Africa to Europe. Police described the network as “complex and coordinated” that makes large amounts of money from migrants. 

INTERPOL and  Europol have been hunting for Kidane Zekarias whom the Federal police say is the primary suspect for a long time. 

Police did not disclose where exactly Kidane was arrested, but it is indicated that he was arrested sometime between February 11 and March 12. 

The investigation is underway the crime division of the Federal Police. However, the Attorney General, Addis Ababa Police Commission, National Information and Security, Intelligence Network Security Agency, Security Network, and Ethio-Telecom are involved in the investigation- according to EBC report. It is unclear why and how Ethio-Telecom is included in the investigation.

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The post Ethiopian Police arrested fugitive human trafficker, aids appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Egypt mobilized Arab League against Ethiopia. All but Sudan supported Egypt. Ethiopia is now responding to it; campaigning in Africa and Europe to explain its equitable use the Nile water principle

borkena
March 13, 2020

US-brokered negotiation between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt regarding the filing and operation of the Ethiopian Dam ended with no result in February 2020.  

Egypt accuses Ethiopia of intention to control the Nile Water. Ethiopia says that its interest is equitable use of the resource and that it is Egypt that is intending to control the Nile. 

The two countries are on different pages not just on some issues regarding the filling and operation of the Dam but in their understanding of the agreement itself. For Ethiopia, the negotiation is just about the filling and operation of the Grand Renaissance Dam. Egypt wants to negotiate the entire Nile river, and the basis of negotiation for Egypt is rooted in colonial Africa. Egypt claims “historical right.” 

Ethiopia says the only way forward is “equitable use of the Nile water,” by all Nile riparian countries. Sudan, a lower riparian state, like Egypt, has already completed its assessment of the impact of the Dam and concluded that it does not harm its national interests. For Sudan, the Dam ensures a regular and fluctuating flow of water, avoids major flooding in Sudan during rainy seasons, and also generates electric power that could be used in Sudan as the Dam is only in 20 Kilometers distance from the Sudanese Border. 

Sudan reflects its support for the equitable use of the Nile water when it declines to put its name in the list of countries of Arab League member states who supported Egypt. 

In the aftermath of the Arab League meeting in Cairo, Egypt embarked on a diplomatic campaign in the Gulf countries and Europe.

Ethiopia says Egypt is misrepresenting Ethiopia’s position, which is an equitable use of the Nile, 86 percent of which originates from Ethiopia.    

Accordingly, Ethiopia launched its diplomatic campaign in Africa and Europe to explain its position.  

President Sahle-Work Zewde traveled to Kenya on Thursday this week to meet with President Uhuru Kenyatta. She explained Ethiopia’s position regarding the Nile. Kenya is part of the Cooperative Framework Agreement, which was signed in 2010,  that outlines the principles, rights, and Obligations for cooperative management and development of the Nile basin. 

On Friday, Sahle-Work traveled to Uganda to meet with President Yoweri Museveni.  She briefed the Ugandan President regarding the negotiation on Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.  Uganda is not only part of the CFA agreement, but also it has ratified it. According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. President Museveni reiterated a firm stand on the importance of “ensuring the equitable and sustainable use of the River Nile waters,”  which aligns very well with the Ethiopian position. 

President Museveni stressed the need to convene a Summit of the Nile Basin Commission for a “frank discussion on the issues of the Nile.” 

Ethiopia has also started its diplomatic campaign in Europe. Former president Mulatu Teshome led a delegation to meet with European Union President, leaders of France, and other members of the European Union. 

After the diplomatic campaign in Europe, Ethiopia is planning to send another diplomatic team to North America to explain Ethiopia’s clear stand on the Dam. 

Ethiopia was disappointed by the Statement from the US Department of The Treasury on February 28, which warned Ethiopia not to fill the Dam before signing an agreement. 

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The post Ethiopia responds to Egypt’s diplomatic campaign,draft a new agreement  appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Ethiopia’s ruling party , Prosperity Party, claims it secured 1.5 billion birr through fundraising. It says it is donating 100 million birr to the fight against COVID 19

borkena
March 14, 2020

Ethiopia’s Prosperity Party had a fundraising event on Saturday at the Millennium Hall in the capital Addis Ababa. 

The Party disclosed that it had raised over 1.5 billion Ethiopian Birr. 1.3 billion birr was donated in cash. The remaining is a pledge, according to a source close to the Party. 

The Party framed the event at the Millenium Hall as a “thanksgiving and fundraising program.” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, his cabinet members, heads of regional states, Prosperity Party leaders, and business people were in attendance at the event, according to the Fana Broadcasting (FBC)  report. 

The Thanksgiving part is intended to appreciate those who supported the Party in different forms. 

Prosperity Party was established in November 2019 after three political organizations that constituted the defunct Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and five other allies merged to form a single party. 

Master of the former coalition, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), declined, and opposed, the merger and is not operating in the Tigray region, only running the regional government. Prosperity Party announced last month that it would open branch offices in all zones and districts in the region, but that did not happen. On Friday this week, the Party announced on its social media page that it is getting requests for emergency help from its members in the region due to repression by TPLF. 

Abiy Ahmed, who is also the president of the Party, said during the fundraising event that there was participation in the fundraising drive by people ranging from peasants to business people. 

The fund is to be used for operation and party activities. The Party was facing criticism from opposition parties like Ethiopian Citizens For Social Justice Party for using public resources to fund party activities. 

Abiy Ahmed raised the issue during his speech on Saturday. And he said that the Party would make a distinction between the party and government activities, and utilize the resources it mobilized as a party. 

He also announced that 100 million birr would go to the fight against CoronaVirus in the country. Ethiopia has announced the first confirmed case of COVID 19 on Friday. 

“The public should focus on caution and prevention instead of panicking about it,” Abiy Ahmed said in his speech, as reported by state media Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC).

He used the Party’s event to express his government commitment to the fight against COVID 19. “The government does not want even a single person hurt from and will do everything necessary,” EBC quoted him as saying.

Video : Embedded from Fana Television youtube channel
Cover photo : screenshot from video

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The post Prosperity Party claims it secured 1.5 billion birr from fundraising appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

borkena
March 16, 2020

In late February, former Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) combatant Seye Abraha who traveled to his  birthplace, Tigray region of Ethiopia, upon the invitation of his former comrades on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of  TPLF, had an interview with Tigray Media House.

Andargachew Tsige says much of what Seye said during the interview are lies. He deconstructed it. Watch the video below. (in Amharic).

Video :embedded from Andafta YouTube channel
Cover photo : screenshot from video

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The post Andarchachew Tsige demolishes what he says are Seye Abraham’s lies appeared first on Borkena Ethiopian News.

Addis Ababa City Administration “took measures” against businesses that are allegedly taking advantage to COVID 19 threat to increase prices

borkena
March 16, 2020

It is not uncommon to see business people trying to exploit challenging times as business opportunities in the pursuit of the profit motive. Yet, doing so at the expense of lives while they could save them merely by ethically doing business is against Ethiopian values, without forgetting that so much of it happened over the past thirty years.  

As people struggle to get items essential for COVID 19 prevention, some businesses in the capital Addis Ababa were artificially hiking prices, based on information from state-affiliated media – Fana Broadcasting Corporation.  

Sanitizers, face masks, and alcohol is among items whose prices skyrocketed in the wake of the pandemic.  

Prices of some food items have also seen an exponential price hike in the wake of COVID 19 pandemic. Pepper, essential household items, is a case in point.  

Mesfin Assefa is Addis Ababa City Administration trade office deputy head.  He said that the city administration took measures against sixty-seven businesses that increased prices this week. Those businesses are shut.  Pharmacies that raised the rates of facemask and sanitizers got retributions for their actions. 

The city has formed a task force to identify those businesses that are unfairly increasing prices, and that it will continue to take measures against them, he is cited as saying. 

Apart from that, the City Administration itself is venturing to sell sanitizers in what seems to be a measure to protect consumers from higher prices.   It also says that it is making available sanitizers in Addis Ababa City busses for those who rely on them as a means of transportation.

Coordinating youth volunteers to provide residents of the city with information about prevention measures is another action area that the city administration is working on, according to a statement that it released on its social media page.  

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Ethiopian House of Peoples Representative was supposed to meet on Tuesday to discuss regulations that will govern Ethiopian Press Agency, among other things

borkena
March 16, 2020

Ethiopian House of People’s Representative cancels a regular session scheduled for March 17, 2020.  The House did so as the number of people infected with Coronavirus climbs to 5. 

It is unknown how long the House will remain closed, but the House disclosed on its social media page that it would announce when it is opening. 

The House was supposed to meet on Tuesday to discuss and approve minutes of the meeting from the 14th regular session, to hear performance reports of the Ministry of Transport and adopt the Ethiopian Press Agency Human Resource Management regulation, among other things.   

Ethiopia declared on Monday the closure of schools in the country for the next two weeks, and all major sporting events, including the Premier League,  and large meetings are canceled. 

On Monday, March 16, 2020, the Ministry of Health confirmed that five people have tested positive, and follow up treatment in the isolation center. Three of them are foreigners who entered the country recently, and two are Ethiopians. 

One hundred seventeen people who are said to have been in contact with those whose test results showed positive are identified and quarantined, according to the Ministry of Health. 

The first coronavirus case in Ethiopia was confirmed last Friday. The person is a 48 years old Japanese national who entered Ethiopia from Burkina Faso. Oromo regional state education bureau head, Tola,  imposed self-isolation on himself, saying that he met the Japanese man who tested positive days after he entered the country, according to a report by BBA Amharic Service. 

In a related development, the National Election Board of Ethiopia announced on Monday that its staff members would be working from home starting on Monday. The Board passed the decision after a foreign national, who has been providing technical support to the Board and whose identity is undisclosed, showed COVID 19 like symptoms. 

The Board announced that the person entered the country about a month ago, and he is currently taking tests to determine if he has the virus. 

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Mecha and Tulema Oromo association event organized in Ambo town is reportedly cancelled with order from authorities

borkena
March 17, 2020

Mecha and Tulema association is one of the oldest ethnic Oromo organizations.  

Three entities, including the Association, organized a forum to take place in Ambo town on March 14, 2020. Mecha and Tulema itself was the subject to be discussed. 

But it was canceled hours before it happened. Dribi Demssie is president of the Association. 

He told VOA Amharic reporter, Nakor Melka, that the event was jointly organized by Mecha and Tulema Association, Ambo University, and Oromo Cultural center. 

The Organizers were expecting as many as one thousand participants, according to Dribi Demissie.

And they are unclear so to who ordered the discussion to be banned. Dribi consulted with the co-organizers, and he found out that Ambo City Administration permitted the event.  

VOA Amharic reporter, Nakor Melka, said the city’s security chief promised to speak about the cancellation of the event but later declined to answer his phone when the reporter reached out to him. 

Oromo regional state deputy police commissioner, Genene TIbebu, said police did not ban the event and that he did not have information about it. 

Likewise, Getachew Balch, who is Oromia regional state’s spokesperson, said he does not have information. 

Mengistu Tulu is Ambo University’s Public relations head and chairperson of the discussion.  He said he got indirect information that the discussion scheduled for Saturday was not allowed. However, it was not until Saturday ( March 14) that the organizers got information (or order)  that the event was canceled. 

Participants reportedly traveled from Addis Ababa and other places as well. They said they could have avoided the travel had they known that the event is not allowed.  Yet, again the organizers themselves were not officially informed about it. 

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Days after announcing a 1.5 billion birr support from party supporters,Prosperity Party named Nebiyu Sehul Mikael as Tigray region’s party office head

borkena
March 17, 2020

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party announced on Tuesday that it had named Nebiyu Sehul Michael as head of Prosperity Party’s Office in the Tigray region. 

He worked as a lecturer of language and literature at Mekelle University, in the Tigray region –  a region that Tigray People’s Liberation Front is governing. 

He and Awolu Abdi, Prosperity Party’s International Relations Sector coordinator, had a joint press statement on Tuesday regarding the former’s appointment as head of the party office in the Tigray region. 

Prosperity Party plans to make other appointments of senior officials in the Tigray region, and open the region’s coordinating office in Addis Ababa, Mekelle, and all zones in the Tigray region, the party said on Tuesday. 

Nebiyu argues that the people of Tigray have an interest in the “change” ( a reference to the reform measure after Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister) and that they support it. 

He recently wrote on his social media page: “There is no reason for the people of Tigray to be a stranger in the affairs of his own country. On top of that, the people of Tigray is the epicenter of medemer[Abiy Ahmed’s political philosophy] thought. Therefore, Prosperity Party is Tigray People’s Party.” 

The Prosperity Party has a national vision, he said during the press statement on Tuesday, and the party’s branch in Tigray will work hard to ensure that People in Tigray are beneficiaries of it, and to ensure that the Prosperity Path is a reality in Tigray. 

Winning the next general election in Tigray is one of the short term goals for the party in the region. 

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s party has more or less asserted its power almost in all parts of Ethiopia despite the criticisms that the federal government is weaker than the regional ethnic-based administration that functions more like a sovereign state.  But that is not the case in Tigray region is entirely different. TPLF has absolute control in the region, although there has been increasing disenchantment. 

The 45th-anniversary celebration Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in February of this year demonstrated that the political organization that once controlled and dominated the federal government has militarized Tigray after it lost the center. Besides, TPLF is systematically nurturing a sentiment for secession not just as a playing card to bargain power but also as a last resort if other TPLF political projects can not be a reality.

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borkena
March 18, 2020

Two Ethiopians died of Coronavirus in Italy, BBC Amharic reported on Wednesday. 

Their names are undisclosed, but BBC Amharic News cited sources from Italy to report that they were getting medical treatment after they were identified as Coronavirus patients. 

One of the victims is said to be about 50 years of age, and he has lived in Italy for a long time. He has two daughters.  His wife has been in the hospital after she tested positive for the disease, and she is said to be in a stable condition.  

The other victim is also over 40 years of age and traveled to Italy for a visit. It is unknown as to when she arrived in Italy. 

Italy is the most affected country next to China. According to the Aljazeera report on Wednesday, March  18, 2020, the number of deaths in Italy is now well over 2,500. 

The number of Coronavirus patients in Italy is well over 30,000. In the last 24 hours only, more than 345 new patients are reported.

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Chief Justice of Ethiopia, Meaza Ashenafi, and Defense Chief of Staff of the Defense Force introduce measures to help contain spread of COVID 19

borkena
March 18, 2020 

As it is the case elsewhere, news of COVID 19 is dominating headlines of media outlets in Ethiopia.  The Federal government and regional states are preoccupied with the task of containing the spread of the disease. 

On Wednesday, Meaza Ashenafi, who is the Chief Justice of the Federal Courts, said that Federal courts would be partially closed for two weeks as part of the effort to arrest the spread of the virus. That happens starting tomorrow, March 19, and won’t be fully functional until April 2.

Those who have a court hearing within the two weeks could know about the status of it by sending a text message to 992 or call, she advised. 

Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian Defense Force, General Adem Mohammed,  announced the measures that members of the defense force have to take to protect themselves from the pandemic. A task force is already established at different levels to halt the spread of the virus, he said.  The defense force will continue to carry out missions, he said, but in the interest of their safety, they need to limit contact within the camp and in residential areas. 

Earlier this week, Ethiopia declared closure of schools for two weeks, suspended sporting events including the premier league and banned large gatherings as precaution as the number of COVID 19 infected people increased in the country.

Regional states in different parts of Ethiopia are working on prevention mechanisms, and many of them have formed a task force under the direct supervision of the heads of the regional states. Authorities vow to deal with businesses, legally, who are allegedly taking advantage of the situation to hike prices for essential items. 

On Tuesday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held discussions with Federal and Regional Communications Officers, as well as Regional Health Bureau’s Communication, to map out ways of creating awareness on how to prevent the virus. The office of the Prime Minister disclosed that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed “urged government communicators to become soldiers who prevent transmission of the virus by providing accurate and up-to-date information to the public.” 

Volunteers in the capital are engaged in awareness, creating activities, including teaching the public about proper handwashing practices. 

So far, there are no confirmed cases of COVID 19 in regional states. However, there are regions like Ethio-Somali region that are dealing with equally, perhaps, even more, devastating and unknown diseases.  According to VOA news published on March 17, 2020, over 2000 members of pastoral communities have died since 2020. It causes mouth and nose bleeding as well as swollen limbs and green or yellow eyes.

Despite fears that Ethiopia would be affected by the Coronavirus due to the high number of travelers from different continents, so far, confirmed cases are only 6.  

At least three of them arrived in the country after March 4 from another African country and the Middle East.  Four of the patients are foreign nationals.

The Ministry of Health updated the public on Wednesday regarding the condition of the six patients identified in the country.  Four of them have shown signs of improvement – they no longer have the common symptom, and the remaining two are recovering from it, said the Ministry. 

Outside of Ethiopia, two Ethiopians reportedly died in Italy – a country very much affected outside of China. Over 2500 people have been killed until Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

The number of people infected with the virus is changing at a global level. At this writing, the total number of infected people is over 215,000. More than 8900 people have died from it, and more than 84,000 have recovered from it. 

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borkena
March 18, 2020

Catherine Hamlin, an Australian philanthropist, passed away at the age of 96.  She passed away on Wednesday in her home in Addis Ababa. 

Gynecologist and obstetrician by profession, she devoted a good part of her life helping Ethiopian women suffering from obstetric fistula. 

She spent over 60 years in Ethiopia, dedicating her life to the cause.  She co-founded Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital with her husband, New Zealander Reginald Hamlin, according to information from Wikipedia. She also co-founded Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. 

Originally from Sydney, Australia, She is highly regarded in Ethiopia for her charitable works in the country.  Through her work, she had saved the lives of so many Ethiopian women. 

Addis Ababa University granted her honoris causa doctorate in recognition of her contribution to help women with childbirth injury in Ethiopia.   

Her death came as a shock to many Ethiopians. “Ethiopia lost a great person,” is a status update that one can read on social media platforms. 

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed wrote on his Facebook page:

 “I express my deep sorrow at the passing of Dr. Catherine Hamlin. Ethiopia lost a true gem who dedicated more than sixty years to restoring the dignity of thousands of women. I wish her loved ones, friends, and colleagues comfort. May she Rest In Peace.” 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has issued a statement on Thursday. The statement said : 

“…Dr. Catherine Hamlin had dedicated her life in providing free obstetric fistula repair surgery to tens of thousands of poor Ethiopian women. …We mourn the demise of Dr. Catherine Hamlin being grateful to her lifelong engagements in bringing back the dignity and well-being of Ethiopian women.” 

The funeral arrangement is undisclosed at this writing. 

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