Somali region of Ethiopia continues to the leading, from regional states, in the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases
borkena May 16, 2020
Ethiopia’s existing Coronavirus testing capacity is 4000 per day. But over the last twenty-four hours, 4044 suspected people have been tested.
Nineteen people tested positive for the virus. The total confirmed case in the country is now 306, including inactive cases. As of May 16, reported active cases are 186, and no patients are reported to be in a life-threatening condition as there are no patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Of the newly confirmed cases, fifteen people are said to have a recent travel history. And two people had contact with infected persons.
According to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health, two of the new patients confirmed over the last twenty-four hours did not have either a recent travel history or contact with infected persons.
Eleven confirmed cases over the past twenty-four hours are from Jijiga, Somali region of Ethiopia. They were in the quarantine centers in the region. The rest of the cases: two from Addis Ababa, two from the Oromo region, three from the Tigray region, and one from Amhara region.
In terms of recovery, the Ministry of health reported one more recovery on Saturday, and the total recovery is now one-hundred thirty cases.
So far Ethiopia has tested 53,029 suspected cases of suspected Coronavirus cases.
Coronavirus cases have been surging in the country recently. Most of the confirmed cases are people with recent travel history. Illegal transborder movement has been a challenge especially in the Somali region of Ethiopia where most of the cases are confirmed in the regions.
The Somali region of Ethiopia continues to lead in the number of new Coronavirus casesfrom all regional states
Ethipoia’s coronavirus case data for May 17. Infograhic : MoH
borkena May 17, 2020
Ethiopia has tested 4,224 Coronaviurs suspects over the past twenty-four hours and eleven people have tested positive for the virus.
Coupled with the latest confirmed cases, the total confirmed case has now reached 317(including active and inactive cases). Currently, there are 197 Coronaviurs patients in the designated treatment centers but no patient is reported to be in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The number of registered recoveries is 113 and five patients have lost the battle to the virus.
Seven of the new cases have a recent travel history and were in designated quarantine centers, according to a report by the Ministry of Health. Three patients did not have a travel history but did have contact with infected persons. And one patient did not have either a travel history or contact with infected persons.
In terms of the geographical distribution of the newly confirmed cases, six of them are from Jijiga (Somali region of Ethiopia), four from Addis Ababa, and one from the Amhara region of Ethiopia (Ataye town).
Those confirmed in the Somali region were in the designated quarantine center in Jijiga. The region has been affected by an illegal entry from Somalia, among other issues, and the Ethiopian government announced last week that it is opening new border checkpoints in the region.
A double-digit rate of increase in Coronavirus infection has been registered for the most part of the week.
Ethiopia has tested about 57, 254 suspected so far. Based on information from the Ministry of Health, Ethiopia can now test well over four thousand suspected cases of Coronavirus across the country.
Ethiopian legal experts sees solution in the same Constitutional provision that is considered to be a problem
Tadesse Lencho (Phd) giving legal opinion to the Constitutional Inquiry Commission
borkena May 17, 2020
Ethiopia is living what experts in the field say is “constitutional moments.” A Constitutional Inquiry Commission hearing was held on Saturday, May 16, 2020, for the first time in the history of the country.
The three hours long, may be longer, hearing was televised live by the state-owned media, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC).
The Ethiopian election coincided with a five months old state of emergency that the government of Ethiopia declared in April of this year in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) reported to the House of People’s Representative in early May saying that it can not carry out the sixth general election as planned as many of the activities leading to the election could not happen due to the Coronavirus prevention measures including social distancing.
The parliament was convinced that the election could not happen in August of this year as scheduled. The next step was to extend the election which came into a collision course with the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. It did so because the constitution did not foresee a possible circumstance under which the election could not be held before the end of the five years term of the parliament.
For the reason described above, the parliament sought a legal means to postpone the election until after the Coronavirus situation was controlled (health professional – or the Ministry of Health would determine that). Four possible legal options were debated in the House of People’s Representatives: declaring a state of emergency, dissolving the parliament, Constitutional interpretation, and amending the Constitution.
On May 6, 2020, the parliament voted in favor of seeking a constitutional interpretation. It was in that context that the parliament referred the matter to the Constitutional Inquiry Commission. The commission has organized two sessions. The first one was on Saturday this week.
Opinion of legal experts, lawyers, and legal scholars in the first day of the hearing
Members of the commission posed a total of ten questions in the first day of the hearing.
Opinions of the Constitutional legal experts were informed by the task to “harmonize the constitution,” as they put it, in a way to find a legal ground.
There is a constitutional provision that strictly stipulates general election must take place every five years before the end of the terms of the incumbent government (Article 54).
Interestingly, one of the possible interpretations was found in the same article, as Dr. Tadesse Lencho who indicated from the outset that he does not qualify as a constitutional expert for his specialization is commercial law. He argued that conducting an election is about the “content,” not just the timing of it. The election must be credible, fair, and acceptable. He argued that Ethiopia does not have the technological infrastructure to conduct the election in the time of Coronavirus pandemic and credible election can not take place “under the duress of COVID 19,” as he put it.
He also noted that the constitutional interpretation needs to be narrow enough to address the existing issue and so that it can not set a precedent (he is optimistic that in the future a phenomenon like Coronavirus could not be an obstacle for an election).
Another interesting argument he put forward relates to Article 93 of the constitution which grants the government the power to declare a state of emergency under circumstances like the Coronavirus situation. He described that part of the article as the “Intensive Care Unit of the Constitution.”
Understanding the constitution as a single document and Principles of the continuity of government are also among legal opinions expressed in favor of the case for extending the election.
Semaw Negatu offered interesting and compelling arguments regarding state of emergency situation. He elaborated on continuity of government.
The views expressed above are only some parts of it. You may watch the whole hearing from the videos:
Video: embedded from Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation YouTube channel Cover photo: screenshot from the video
Ethiopian government audit uncovers procurement with up to six times higher prices
By Bernabas Shiferaw borkena May 18, 2020
The Ministry of Finance has announced that audit reports from 58 government offices show that many government offices have made purchases at highly exaggerated prices, with the highest price registered for an item reaching up to six times the least price registered for the same item.
The director of the Inspection Directorate at the Ministry, Mr. Fekadu Agonafer told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the purchases consist of laptop computers and mobile phones. The Council of Ministers had passed a guideline for the purchase of these items for higher government officials in August 2019. Accordingly, in September, the agency in charge of government purchases sent a detailed guideline specifying the items to be purchased and how they are to be purchased to government agencies.
Then, in January, the Ministry of Finance sent a request for a special audit report concerning the purchase of these items. Out of the 158 agencies that received this request, only 58 submitted the report by the end of April. Out of these, 16 of them reported that they have not made any purchases.
From the remaining 42 agencies, which did make purchases, many had not followed the guidelines sent to them. Some had bought items other than those specified in the guideline. Although the guideline states that the items must be bought through open bids, many had made the purchases by just collecting prices from a few suppliers. Some government officials refused to return their old computers and phones after having received the new ones.
Among these government agencies, the Ethiopian National Educational Assessment and Examination Agency (NEAEA) made the most expensive purchases, buying two laptops for Birr 152,000 (USD 4,505) each and two mobile phones for Birr 94,000 (USD 2,790) each.
And the Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA) bought three laptop computers for the price of Birr 125,499 (approximately USD 3,720) each and three mobile phones for Birr 53,600 (USD 1,590) each, for the director and the two deputy directors.
The least prices registered were Birr 20,000 (USD 600) for a laptop and Birr 12,000 (USD 360) for a mobile phone. The total amount spent on the items by the 42 agencies added up to Birr 10 million (USD 299,000).
Mr. Fekadu said that the inspection Directorate has suggested that the government should press charges against the officials who violated the guideline in making these purchases and that they also should be made to return the difference between the purchase price and the market price of the items.
Moreover, the Inspection Directorate has suggested that ceiling prices should be determined to avoid such misappropriations of public funds.
Dr. Lia Tadesse, Ethiopia’s Minister for Health. File/ENA
borkena May 18, 2020
Tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 1775 New confirmed cases: 35 Total confirmed cases: 352 Active cases: 229 New cases of recovery: 3 Total registered recovery: 116 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 59,029
17 of the new patients are men while the remaining 18 are female and all the new patients are Ethiopians. Their ages range between 15 and 80 years.
According to the report from the Ministry of Health on Monday, only six of the latest confirmed coronavirus patients had a recent travel history. Twenty-four new patients had contact with Coronavirus infected persons.
As was the case in the past few weeks, there are also new patients neither with a recent travel history nor contact with infected persons. And they are five, based on report number 67 of the Ministry of Health.
In terms of geographical distribution, twenty-nine of the newly confirmed patients are from the capital Addis Ababa, four are from the Somali region of Ethiopia, one from Amhara region of Ethiopia, and one from Oromo region of Ethiopia.
One person who is said to have a travel history is a cross-country truck driver. Most of the cases confirmed in the Somali region of Ethiopia had a travel history to Somalia – one of the highly affected countries in the region.
On the other hand, Eritrea has declared last week that all the 39 Coronavirus patients in the country have fully recovered, and this week a random test is launched in the country, according to a report by an Eritrean News source in social media.
Dr. Ayele Teshome is an Ethiopian doctor who goes out of his way to help out his patients and community. Days after his story was featured on national TV, he became a victim of what appears to be a fraud on GoFundMe.
Dr Ayele, victim of what appears to be GoFundMe fraud. Photo: Screenshot from EBC video
borkena May 18, 2020
In early May 2020, Ethiopian State Media featured a story about Dr. Ayele Teshome who was born and raised in rural Ethiopia in Merhabete.
Awudeseb is a show on Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation that features individuals who have immensely contributed to the betterment of the Ethiopian society and those who have remarkable achievements in life.
Dr. Ayele’s case is not so much about his achievement but rather about his multifaceted effort to give back to his community.
Based on the featured show, it is clear that Dr. Ayele is an embodiment of a noble citizen who strives to selflessly serve his country.
Days after the show, a certain Haikel Shukry launched a “GoFundMe” account to allegedly “help Dr. Aleye” to raise US $50,000.
What is astonishing is that Dr. Ayele was not consulted about it, and he doesn’t even know the person who was trying to raise funds in his name.
Borkena confirmed from a credible source, an Ethiopian who lives in Canada who is a friend of Dr. Ayele, that Dr. Ayele does not even know the person who has launched a GoFundMe account.
On May 16, 2020, Dr. Ayele posted a message on his community Facebook page saying that a person not known to him has launched a GoFundme campaign on his name.
“I disclose that [The GoFundMe campaign] is never known to me and is without my recognition. It is with great humility that I ask you not to donate any money. I ask those of you who happen to this [message] a favor to share it. Thank you,” he wrote.
The issue is already reported to GoFundMe and the “campaign to help Dr. Ayele” is flagged.
Dr. Ayele wrote another Facebook update on May 18 – this time to thank all those Ethiopians who helped stop the campaign.
Haikel Shukry, the person who tried to organize a fundraising campaign without the knowledge or authorization from Dr. Ayele, identified himself as a resident of Seattle Washington.
$650 was raised before the account was suspended. It is unclear if GoFundMe is refunding the money to the donors.
After GoFundMe suspended the account, “the organizer” wrote 352 words “CLARIFICATION ON THE DONATION,” which is published in the GoFundMe account he launched.
It reads as follows :
“CLARIFICATION ON THE DONATION Hello every one My name is Haikel shukry from Seattle Washington I am well respected and active Ethiopian American member of the community also the one who started the charity to the respected Dr Ayele teshome I don’t personally know Dr Ayele i just saw his amazing work like every one of you and touched by it
This morning I just got a contact from someone who happen to see the fundraising and told me that the fundraiser is flagged as fraud I would like to clarify this with every one including Dr Ayele teshome who I sent my contact info to be able to discuss and clarify with him.
The life story of Dr Ayele teshome is a story which I believe personally not only be told as a tv Episode but rather to be helped in any way possible for everything he has done and doing
This is a doctor who went extra mile to give his own blood to his patients when they patient family refuse to do so this is a doctor who is selfless gave all his time and energy for helping out the poor the neglected He has showed this is an ultimate sacrifice and generosity so to sum it up helping this extraordinary physician and to encourage him means simply helping the entire community
If you watched the video he mentioned adding 5 beds in the hospital can dramatically reduce the wait and minimize the waiting period of thousands of patients who required lifesaving surgeries
My goal is The fund collected will be delivered to him 100 Percent Indeed most of us are touched by his amazing story also frustrated but this is to clarify to all of you that it has no ill intention rather it is out of simple intention to help the doctor and his cause …that is all
This shouldn’t be something to discourage us from doing the right thing ………
Finally I have sent a message to Dr Ayele Teshome to further discuss and sort out this I have provided him my contact to answer all his questions
Thank you”
Mr. Haikel Shukry claims, as seen in his “clarification message,” that he has contacted Dr. Ayele Teshome, in unspecified way and time.
If Mr. Haikel Shukry knows how to launch crowdfunding on GoFundMe, it is unimaginable to think that he does not know that he needs an authorization to launch a campaign on behalf of someone. The case seems to be highly suspicious.
It is unclear if GoFundMe has reported the matter to Seattle Police for an investigation.
In the latest strings of conflict in Southern Ethiopia, several reported dead and thousands displaced in Meskan, Gurage zone
Google map of Meskan woreda and the region
by Bernabas Shiferaw borkena May 19,2020
A conflict that broke out in Meskan woreda (Amharic word that translates to district) of the Gurage zone last week has caused the death of several people, the displacement of thousands of inhabitants, and the destruction of material property (that has not yet been quantified).
According to residents of the area, the conflict is the latest instance of a 20 year long dispute between the neighboring woredas of Meskan and Mareqo over the ownership of nine kebeles.
These two woredas used to be part of one woreda known as “Mesqan and Mareqo woreda” with a population mainly composed of two tribes, the Gurage and the Mareqo. About twenty years ago, the woreda was divided into two smaller woredas forming today’s, Mesqan and Mareqo woredas.
It was then that a dispute arose between the two woredas over the nine kebeles. The populations in the nine kebeles are composed of both Gurages (Mesqan) and Mareqos. Due to the mixed nature of their populations, they were claimed by the Mareqo, although they had been included in Mesqan woreda.
Ever since, the dispute over land ownership turned into conflicts which, like the present one, took human lives and caused the destruction of property.
The present conflict, according to inhabitants who spoke to Deutsche Welle (DW), began last week in the Bati-Leja kebele when a fight broke out between some members of the Mareqo tribe and their Gurage neighbors over land dispute.
In the days that followed, the fight grew into a bigger conflict between members of the two tribes and extended to three neighboring kebeles, namely bati-Futo, Ocha-Geneme, and Semien-Dida. The inhabitants reported the death of at least ten people from both sides, although Mr. Feleke Abate, the head of the communication bureau of the Gurage zone, said that he is aware of only six deaths. Many houses have been burnt, some 40 or 50 according to one inhabitant, and an unspecified amount of material property has been destroyed.
Thousands of inhabitants from the four kebeles have left the area seeking refuge in Qoshe, the capital of the Mareqo woreda, and Butajira, the zone capital. But Mr. Feleke has denied knowledge of the existence of displaced inhabitants.
Presently, the military, the federal police, and the regional special police force have entered the area and the conflict has cooled down, although it has not completely stopped. According to the inhabitants, some people are still being attacked in some places when they are found by themselves.
EU and UN Secretary General Call for Negotiations on GERD as Sudan is trying to Mediate between Ethiopia and Egypt
By Bernabas Shiferaw May 20, 2020
The increasing tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt as a result of their disagreement concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have become a concern for the international community.
The USA and the Arab league have taken positions on the issue, siding with Egypt. China has expressed an interest in helping the three countries reach a consensus.
Now, the European Union and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, have called for negotiations among Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan with the aim of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement. Sudan, for its part, has commenced a mediation process in an attempt to bridge the gap between Ethiopia and Egypt.
According to Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), the European Union has sent a letter to the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, expressing its acknowledgement of the Dam’s strategic significance to Ethiopia. This letter came following Ethiopia’s mission that went to Brussels to explain to the Union Ethiopia’s stance in the matter.
In the letter, the Union has urged the countries involved to return to the negotiation table. The union has also offered to send its experts that have a lot of experience with regards to rivers that flow across international boundaries. The Union has invited Prime Minister Abiy to visit EU’s headquarters at Brussels, when circumstances allow a visit, to discuss possible cooperation between the Union and Ethiopia.
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, has, through his spokesperson, encouraged the three countries involved to continue with efforts to overcome their differences and reach a mutually beneficial agreement on the GERD. He has underscored the significance of the “2015 Declaration of Principles on the GERD.”
The declaration outlines the countries’ commitment to cooperation and to resolve differences through negotiations. It also states that if a dispute cannot be resolved, the matter can be referred to the Heads of State and Government with an option for a joint request for mediation.
However, many Ethiopian experts agree that seeking mediation with the international community is a disadvantage to Ethiopia and so resent the signing of this declaration. They had also protested the involvement of the US in the negotiations.
Sudan is also trying to , after having rejected Ethiopia’s proposal concerning the filling of the dam, is now mediating between Ethiopia and Egypt, to make the continuation of negotiations possible. The Sudanese Prime Minister has spoken to his Egyptian Counterpart Mustafa Madbouli. The meeting was also attended by the respective ministers for water and irrigation and foreign affairs, and intelligence chiefs on both sides.
Their discussion focused on figuring out ways to resume negotiations which would make feasible an agreement that is acceptable to all parties involved. According to Sudan’s council of ministers, this will be followed by another meeting between the Sudanese and the Ethiopian Prime Ministers in which the same matter will be discussed.
On a related note, the Ethiopian government is exerting diplomatic efforts by holding a series of meetings with foreign Ambassadors based in Addis Ababa in which it is presenting the national and regional significance of the GERD and the issues surrounding its construction and the filling. There was a meeting today with Ambassadors from countries of Pacific Asia and the Middle East, in which Gedu Andargachew, the Foreign Affairs Minister, and Mr. Gedion Asfaw, from the Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Energy, offered these explanations. There was also another meeting yesterday held with Ambassadors from African Countries.
UN secretary remark about Grand Renaissance Dam favours Ethiopia’s position
borkena May 20, 2020
On May 19, 2020, the spokesperson of the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, issued a statement regarding Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
It noted that the Secretary General is closely following developments in connection with GERD.
“He notes the good progress in the negotiations between the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Sudan thus far and encourages the three parties to persevere with efforts to peacefully resolve any remaining differences and to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement,” said the statement from the spokesperson.
Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan have been “negotiating” for months in Washington DC with the arrangement that the United States and the World Bank took part as “observers,” and facilitators. The negotiation was over the filling and operation of the dam. Egyptians wanted Ethiopia to agree to filling arrangements which could take up to 21 years and also wanted to have an office in Ethiopia to monitor the Dam.
While maintaining a commitment to cause significant harm to lower riparian countries while filling and operating, and adhering to the principles of equitable use of the water, Ethiopia disagreed with Egyptian proposal on grounds that it infringes on Ethiopia’s sovereignty.
Another key point of disagreement was that Egypt wanted to negotiate the entire Nile water while Ethiopia stood on firm grounds that discussion of the Nile water should involve all Nile riparian countries and that it could only negotiate GERD.
In late February 2020, Ethiopia announced that it could not make it to the last round of the “negotiation” as it was preoccupied with national consultation at home.
After the last Washington Meeting, the United States issued a statement that Ethiopia should not fill the dam without reaching an agreement to which Ethiopia expressed disappointment.
With 73 percent of the GERD project completed, as confirmed by Seleshi Bekele – the Irrigation, Water, and Energy Minister earlier this month – Ethiopia announced that it intends to launch the first phase of filling the dam to hold 4.9 billion cubic meters of water.`
Egypt took the matter to the Security Council of the United Nations. On May 11, Egypt submitted what is said to be 17 pages of protest letter to the United Nations Security Council.
Ethiopia has submitted its response to the Security Council, through its Ambassador at the UN – Taye Atske Selassie, saying that Ethiopia has no international legal obligation to get Egypt’s approval first before filling the dam. Ethiopia has also expressed commitment to negotiation.
António Guterres places importance, as stated by his spokesperson, on the 2015 Declaration of Principles which was signed by Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt. The spokesperson noted that the declaration “emphasizes cooperation based on common understanding, mutual benefit, good faith, win-win, and the principles of international law.”
And that is where some Ethiopians, with expertise in international law, seem to see merit in the secretary general’s view. Ethiopia has been calling for Africa based solution for the problem while Egypt wants the involvement of the US. And as it turns out, the United States manifested sentiments of supporting Egyptian position.
Ethiopia believes that it is not violating any international law and that it firmly believes in mutual benefit.
The exchanges between Ethiopia and Egypt have been escalating in recent weeks. Commanders in the Ethiopian Defense Force have been featured on the national TV saying that Ethiopia is ready to defend any possible attack against the dam. They also talked about possible retaliation.
Ethiopian Women Lawyers’ Association standing up for kidnapped University students as government seems to think that their plight is forgotten
By Bernabas Shiferaw borkena May 21, 2020
Ethiopian Women Lawyers’ Association (EWLA) has criticized the government for not giving due attention to the case of the 17 university students kidnapped in Wollega five months ago. The executive of the association, Lensa Biyena, has told Ethio FM that the Association has attempted to gather information from the respective government bodies, but these bodies have not given them any significant information.
She also said the association will do its utmost to pressure the government to resolve the issue and could go as far as suing the government for its negligence.
The students, of which 14 are female, were on their way to their homes, having left Dembi Dollo University as classes had been interrupted for some time due to ethnic-based conflicts between students, and they did not feel safe in the campus.
According to Asmra Shumye, who was initially kidnapped along with the 17 students but managed to escape the kidnappers soon afterwards, the students were kidnapped by a group of young men from inside the bus they were aboard and taken to the woods. Some parents had received phone calls from the students after they were kidnapped. But the phone calls ceased after a few days.
The issue garnered overwhelming media attention, and a social media campaign was started demanding for the release of the students. The public was even more outraged by the government’s claim that the students have been released, which was proven wrong in the following days.
Mass demonstrations were held in many cities of the Amhara region asking the government to have the students released. However, there was no progress afterwards, and the movements and campaigns dedicated to the matter died down slowly and ceased completely following the appearance of the Coronavirus.
Mrs. Lensa explained that the association has been involved in the matter ever since the government confirmed the news. Among other things, it has met and discussed with the students’ parents and started a social media campaign to put pressure on the government. However, lack of clear and certain information was the major obstacle in the association’s efforts to realize the release of the students.
The appearance of the Corona virus has diverted the public attention from the case of the kidnapped students. Moreover, the restrictions that have followed its appearance have weakened efforts that were being carried out through the media and other means.
Mrs. Lensa told Ethio FM that the government has a duty to respond to requests concerning the matter as well as to resolve the matter. But, if the government is not going to carry out its responsibilities, the association will work to pressure the government by calling national and international attention to the matter. And this could go as far as suing the government.
She has also called on all citizens to be a voice to the kidnapped students and their families, and members of the civic society to work with the association on the issue as it is a matter of human rights violation.
Mr. Nigusu Tilahun, the press secretariat at the Prime Minister’s office, responded, asked about the issue today by Ahadu Radio, saying that the government has not neglected the issue but is working on it and will announce the results to the public soon.
Ethiopia Coronavirus update. Rate of infection still showing significant increase
EthiopiaCoronavirus updateforMay 21, 2020 :
Number of Tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3747 New confirmed cases: 9 Total confirmed cases: 398 Active cases: 268 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 1 Total registered recovery: 123 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 69,507 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country March
The Ministry of Health disclosed that all newly confirmed individuals are Ethiopians ranging from 20 to 49 years of age. Five new patients had a recent travel experience, two had contact with infected persons but two patients did have neither a travel history or contact with an infected person. The ministry of health reported this week that the number of infection cases with no recent travel history or contact with infected persons is increasing.
In terms of the Geographical distribution the latest confirmed infection cases: three in Addis Ababa, two in Afar region, one is Somali region, one in Tigray region, two in Amhara region
Number of Tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3460 New confirmed cases:24 Total confirmed cases: 389 Active cases: 260 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 2 Total registered recovery: 122 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 65,760 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country March
Number of Tested people : 3271 New confirmed cases: 14 Total confirmed cases: 365 Active cases: 238 Patients in Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 4 Total registered recovery: 120 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 62,300
Latest Ethiopia Coronavirus update. Total confirmed cases surpass 400. Most patients are from the capital Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia’s Minister for Health, Lia Tadesse. Photo /file (ENA)
EthiopiaCoronavirus updateforMay 22, 2020
Number of tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3686 New confirmed cases: 34 Total confirmed cases: 433 Active cases: 298 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 5 Total registered recovery: 128 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 73,205
*Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country March
On May 22, the Ministry of Health initially reported that 3645 people were tested and 30 confirmed cases. Later, an update was made again to reflect 41 more cases of testing in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, and four more confirmed cases
The newly confirmed patients are from Addis Ababa, Afar region, Oromo region, Tigray region, and all are Ethiopian citizens. Nine new patients are said to have a recent travel history, 17 have contact with infected persons, and the remaining neither have a travel history nor contact with infected persons.
Number of Tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3747 New confirmed cases: 9 Total confirmed cases: 398 Active cases: 268 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 1 Total registered recovery: 123 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 69,507 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country March
Number of Tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3460 New confirmed cases:24 Total confirmed cases: 389 Active cases: 260 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 2 Total registered recovery: 122 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 65,760 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country March
Number of Tested people : 3271 New confirmed cases: 14 Total confirmed cases: 365 Active cases: 238 Patients in Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 4 Total registered recovery: 120 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 62,300
The border with Sudan has become the latest threat in terms of the spread of Coronavirus in Ethiopia
Google Map of Ethiopia and its neighbors
borkena May 22, 2020
One of the measures that Ethiopia took after the confirmation of the first coronavirus case in the country sometime in early March this year was to close all land borders to six neighboring countries.
As it turns out, many of the borders proved to be porous. Based on information from the Ministry of Health, most of the latest confirmed cases of Coronavirus relate to individuals with a travel history to the neighboring countries – especially Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti.
The pattern of Illegal entry to Ethiopia seems to be from those three counties, too. Human trafficking is part of the story in illegal entry (and exit) even in this time of coronavirus situation.
A report by Deutsche Welle Amharic service reported on Friday that illegal entry and human trafficking have become a serious threat in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.
Keshen Wolde is head of the social development department head in the zone. In light of the current pattern of the cross-border mobility of people, her department forecasts that the spread of Coronavirus out of control not only in the Amhara region but also in the entire country.
On average 100 to 150 people cross the Ethio-Sudan border in the West Gondar Zone of the Amhara region which is said to share about 400 kilometers of border with Sudan.
“The task of border control in the area is beyond the capacity of the authorities in the region,” she said. Temesgen Tiruneh, head of Amhara regional state, said he is trying to coordinate with the Federal government to tackle problems related to illegal entry from Sudan and Djibouti.
There are nine quarantine centers in the region, and 965 people are serving the mandatory two weeks of isolation at this time. Samples from 236 people have been tested for coronavirus and 12 people are confirmed to have contracted the virus.
The rate of infection is also increasing in North Shoa. DW Amharic report cited Mrs.Tsedale Semuneguse who is deputy head of North Shoa zone health department as saying that “the main challenge comes from those who arrived from abroad.” And this zone is affected by Ethiopians who return from Djibouti.
Last week, the Ethiopian government announced plans to open five more border checkpoints in a bid to control illegal entry which is making Ethiopia more vulnerable to the spread of Coronavirus.
As of May 22, the number of confirmed Coronavirus in Ethiopia cases has reached 433. More confirmed cases have been registered in the past two or three weeks than the past two and half months.
The tripartite talk to return negotiation process back to the African soil. Unlike Egypt’s interest, Ethiopia’s position is that the talk is about the dam, not the entire Nile River
borkena May 22, 2020
Weeks after lodging protest letter to the United Nations Security Council against Ethiopia’s move to conduct the first phase of filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam,
Egypt expressed this week a willingness to resume tripartite negotiations.
According to Aljazeera, Egypt shifted its position following the meeting between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Sudanese Counterpart, Abdalla Hamdok, which happened on Thursday.
The Foreign Ministry of Egypt said on Thursday that “Egypt is always ready to enter into negotiations and participate in upcoming meetings … to reach a fair, balanced and comprehensive agreement,” as quoted by Aljazeera.
Egypt has been pushing Ethiopia to go back to the US-brokered Washington negotiation before starting to fill the dam. Ethiopia insisted that filling the dam in the first phase does not violate international law.
This week, a spokesperson of the United Nations Secretary-General issued a statement in which it encouraged Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan to resume negotiation in accordance with the Declaration of Principles which the three countries signed in Khartoum in 2015.
Ethiopian Water experts say that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Egypt thinks that it has offered what it called a “fair” technical proposal – one that “…takes into account the interests of Ethiopia and its electricity needs from the dam, without seriously damaging the Egyptian water interests and its share of water estimated at 55.5 billion cubic meters according to the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement.” For Ethiopia, colonial agreement, which it did not sign, does not work now.
Ethiopia’s dam project is informed by the need to give 65 percent of its population access to electricity and a reliable power supply for investors interested in investing in the manufacturing sector in Ethiopia.
Sudan’ position
Sudan held, for years, a position that the Ethiopian Dam, over 73 percent of which is completed, is in line with its national interest. Last week, Sudan changed position when it declined to agree with the Ethiopian proposal before Ethiopia started its first phase of filling the dam during this coming rainy season. That same week, Sudan sent High-level delegation to Ethiopia to discuss the border issue and GERD.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia said that an agreement has been reached with Sudanese delegation without giving details of it. However, it disclosed that the two high-level delegations will meet again in Khartoum at the end of June this year.
Sudanese Prime Minister meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came within 24 hours after the Sudanese delegation returned home from Ethiopia.
Soon after a virtual meeting with Abdalla Hamdok, Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed disclosed that Sudan and Ethiopia have agreed “…to continue with technical level engagements through our Water Ministers tasked to discuss outstanding issues and arrive at win-win solutions…”
It turns out that Egypt agreed to be part of the negotiation. However, it is unclear when the tripartite talk is resuming and where it will happen.
43 of the newly confirmed cases from Addis Ababa do not have a travel history or contact with an infected person. Dessie, a town in north-central Ethiopia, reported the first case
EthiopiaCoronavirus updateMay 23, 2020
Number of tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3757 New confirmed cases: 61 Total confirmed cases: 494 Active cases: 336 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 23 Total registered recovery: 151 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 76,962 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country March
The Ministry of Health said that eleven of the new cases have a recent travel history and five people had contact with an infected person.
45 people do not have either contact with an infected person or a recent travel history. It is unclear if the Ministry of Health has traced people who were in contact with these newly confirmed cases of Coronavirus.
All the new patients are said to be Ethiopians between the ages of 15 and 70.
Geographical distribution wise, the bulk of the case from the case is from the capital Addis Ababa as was the case for the past several weeks; today’s confirmed case from Addis Ababa is 48. Forty-three of the cases from Addis Ababa do not have either a travel history or contact with an infected person. Three patients are from the Afar region; they are said to have contact with infected persons were in the quarantine center in Dubti. One patient is from the Amhara region – he is said to have a travel history and was in a quarantine center in Dessie.
Seven patients are from the Somali region. They were in the Jijiga quarantine center after arrival from a recent trip abroad. Two patients are from the Oromo region. They have neither a recent travel history or contact with an infected person.
Number of tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3686 New confirmed cases: 34 Total confirmed cases: 433 Active cases: 298 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 5 Total registered recovery: 128 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 73,205 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country March
Number of Tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3747 New confirmed cases: 9 Total confirmed cases: 398 Active cases: 268 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 1 Total registered recovery: 123 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 69,507 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country March
Number of Tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3460 New confirmed cases:24 Total confirmed cases: 389 Active cases: 260 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 2 Total registered recovery: 122 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 65,760 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country March
Number of Tested people : 3271 New confirmed cases: 14 Total confirmed cases: 365 Active cases: 238 Patients in Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 4 Total registered recovery: 120 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 62,300 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country March
Ethiopia has experienced a terrible violence and chance that manifested itself under the cover of region. Mosques have been burned. Churches have been burnt. It has happened in north Ethiopia. It has happened in the South and South East.
The chaos was the works of politics and had nothing to do with religious in the context of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is known for religious tolerance. Not only that the first Hejira was to the Ethiopian kingdom. Ethiopia has maintained the values of religious tolerance for most part of its history although there were some exceptions.
The good news is that religious tolerance (if it is not understatement) is well and alive in Ethiopia.
Aba Akilelemariam is a priest of Ethiopian Church ( Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church.) He has been toiling to help build a mosque. On the occasion of Eid al Fitr, he shared why he did so. (The interview is in Amharic)
Part II below
Video : embedded from Arts TV Youtube channel Cover photo : screenshot from the video
Ethiopian Coronavirus situation – 88 new cases confirmed. 73 of the cases are confirmed in the capital Addis Ababa and over fifty of them had no recent travel history or contact with an infected person. Eight people are confirmed in Tigray region.
Ethiopia Coronavirus update May 24, 2020 Number of tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 4048 New confirmed cases: 88 Total confirmed cases: 582 Active cases: 423 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 1 Total registered recovery: 152 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 81,010 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country in March 2020
Thirteen of the new Coronavirus patients have a recent travel history and twenty have contact with infected persons, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health. However, fifty-five patients have neither a travel history nor contact with an infected person.
Fifty-one patients are male and the remaining (thirty-one) are female. All the patients are Ethiopians and range from 8 years to 75 years of age.
As is the case since the past few weeks, Addis Ababa continues to be the city where the bulk of Coronavirus patients are confirmed. 73 of the cases confirmed on Sunday are from Addis Ababa. Only one person has a recent travel history, nineteen people have contact with an infected person. However, the remaining 53 do not have a travel history or history of exposure to an infected person.
The Ministry of Health disclosed on Saturday that most of the cases confirmed in Addis Ababa are from Addis Ketema and Lideta localities.
In terms of distribution outside of the capital Addis Ababa, the Tigray region reported eight cases on Sunday ( all of them had a travel history), Oromo region reported four, and one from Harari region.
Number of tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3757 New confirmed cases: 61 Total confirmed cases: 494 Active cases: 336 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 23 Total registered recovery: 151 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 76,962 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country in March
Number of tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3686 New confirmed cases: 34 Total confirmed cases: 433 Active cases: 298 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 5 Total registered recovery: 128 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 73,205 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country in March
Number of Tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3747 New confirmed cases: 9 Total confirmed cases: 398 Active cases: 268 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 1 Total registered recovery: 123 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 69,507 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country in March
Number of Tested people over the past twenty-four hours: 3460 New confirmed cases:24 Total confirmed cases: 389 Active cases: 260 Patients in the Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 2 Total registered recovery: 122 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 65,760 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country in March
Number of Tested people : 3271 New confirmed cases: 14 Total confirmed cases: 365 Active cases: 238 Patients in Intensive Care Unit : 0 New cases of recovery: 4 Total registered recovery: 120 Reported death so far: 5 Total number of tested people so far: 62,300 *Two patients were Japanese nationals and have returned to their country in March
With an increase in the rate of Coronavirus infection in the country, Addis Ababa University passed a decision that no one is allowed to enter the premises of the University Campus (on all campuses) without wearing a face mask.
The new regulation is in effect starting from May 25, 2020 – according to a report by Ethiopian News Agency.
The University is also encouraging other forms of prevention measures like social distancing and washing hands frequently.
The daily rate of infection in Ethiopia is nearly triple digits in the past few days. Well over 60 percent of confirmed cases of COVID 19 are in the capital Addis Ababa.
Takele Uma with farming communities from the region. Photo : Addis Ababa City Social Media
borkena May 25, 2020
Takele Uma, acting mayor of Addis Ababa City, said on Monday that his administration has recovered a land which he described as “illegally appropriated.”
The Mayor claims 460 thousand square meters of the land was illegally misappropriated from the farming community in Nifas Silk – Lafto sub-city area of the city.
It was held by an individual, according to the acting Mayor. However, the identity of the person is undisclosed. “The land he got by cheating the farmers is given back to the farmers,” he said.
He also said that National Information and Security Services and Addis Ababa City police were involved in the investigation of the case.
The recovered land “will be used by the farmers to practice urban farming,” he added.
However, critics say that Takele Uma, whom they consider as one of the radical ethnic Oromo nationalists with exclusive ownership claims of Addis Ababa City, is pursuing his agenda of altering the ethnic composition of Ethiopia’s capital in a way to make ethnic Oromos numerically dominant.
Good governance issues and grievances related to local governance structural adjustment are said to be among factors that triggered protests in Tigray region of Ethiopia
By Bernabas Shiferaw borkena May 26, 2020
There were reports of anti-government sentiments and actions in some areas of Tigray on social media in the last four days. Some outlets, including government owned media like Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), reported that there have been demonstrations around Shire Enda-Sellasie and Wajerat.
According to FBC, the questions raised at the demonstrations were mainly related to lack of efficient administration, unemployment, and request of their kebeles (the smallest administrative division) becoming a center for the district.
The head of the Tigray Prosperity Party, Mr. Nebiyu Sehul Mikael, told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that there have been demonstrations at Wajerat requesting that Wajerat become a district as it used to be in previous times.
He described the event as a public movement and summarized its causes as “questions of freedom.” One of these is the practice of “true federalism” because the principle of self-government has not been implemented in the region so far. Rather, he said, the region is governed by a group of people from one area. He also added economic injustice and misappropriation of resources in some areas by government officials to the causes behind the movement.
However, the Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau has announced yesterday that “there has not been any demonstration or breach of peace and security in any part of Tigray.” The Bureau, in its press release, has named several government owned and private media outlets, including Prosperity Party’s Facebook page, which reported demonstrations have taken place in Tigray and called their reports fabrications aimed at weakening the “strong relationship between the government of Tigray and the Tigrayan People.” It has also asked the Ethiopian Broadcast Authority to take legal measures against these outlets.
But BBC Amharic has confirmed, from officials and inhabitants, that there have been protests and road blockages in various parts of the region that have been going on for days now. According to BBC’s report, the reason behind the protests and the road blockages is the request by two kebeles to become a center of the district they are in following a structural reform by the regional government. The kebeles have been named as Mai Hanse in North Western Tigray and Baheri Hatsei in South Eastern Tigray.
In Mai Hanse, the main road has been blocked for 11 days now. Two inhabitants told the BBC that the reason behind the blockade is the decision by District officials to make another the kebele a center to the district instead of their Kebele. One of them said that the officials considered their own convenience in making the decision. Another said there is corruption behind the decision.
The head of the district, Mr. Habtom Aberra, confirmed that the road has been blocked. He said that although the protestors had been told that they should go and talk to regional officials if they reject the decision by the district officials, they refused to go to the regional officials asking instead that the officials come to them.
A member of the local militia said that they have been asked to disperse the protestors or to disarm themselves. However, the militia’s peaceful efforts to convince the protestors to disperse were unsuccessful. Afterwards, members of the militia chose to side with the protestors and refused the request by the regular police to disarm themselves.
Similarly, in South Eastern Tigray, inhabitants of the Baheri Hatsei kebele have been protesting for four days now. The cause of the protest is, like the one in Mai Hanse, becoming the center of the district. Under the new structure, the old district has been converted into two separate districts called Wajerat and Hentalo. Baheri Hatsei used to be the center of the old district. However, under the new structure, it is being considered along with another kebele to become the center for the new district of Wajerat.
The Protestors object to other kebeles other than theirs being considered for the role since their kebele used to be the center of the old district. The head of the Wajerat district, Mr. Darge Tsehai, told the BBC that no decision has been made so far. He confirmed that there has been a protest by the youth in the kebele. But, he said, no measure has been taken against protestors by the government.
Mr. Amdom Gebresellasie, the Public relations head of Arena, an opposition party in Tigray, has confirmed the causes of the protests. He also confirmed that the government has not taken any forceful measure against protestors in these areas. “However,” Mr. Amdom said, “the government is also not doing anything to solve the problem. In fact, it is denying that there have been protests.”
