Latest Ethiopian News | Ethiopian News Today

By Staff Reporter

November 3, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- The rebel Oromo Liberation Front known as ‘OLF Shene’ on Sunday night massacred at least 34 ethnic Amharas in Guliso district, Qanqa locality in western Ethiopia, the Oromia Police Commission has said.

Described as one of the most deadly massacres in Ethiopia’s history by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the death toll from the attack is expected to surge as 11 people are missing.

Commissioner General Ararsa Merdassa on Tuesday told journalists that 34 people were killed in the attack and 11 others also went missing. A school and 50-60 houses were burned by the rebel group.

Families of the victims who escaped the massacre told ezega.com that the gunmen gathered ethnic Amhara residents and started shooting which lasted at least an hour.

The mass killin

By Staff Reporter

November 1, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- The Ethiopian Ministry of Defense issued a statement blaming the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) for disseminating wrong information that the Ethiopian federal army has turned into partisan and disregarding the sovereignty of the nation.

The Ministry accused TPLF of sending wrong messages that the defense force can not restructure, assign army leaders, and supervise its activities until it is ordered to do so by Ethiopian political forces.

According to the Ministry’s statement, TPLF has intended to thwart national duties and responsibilities of the national defense forces which are safeguarding the sovereignty of the nation and cooling down conflicts occurring in different parts of the country.

The Ministry also complained over TPLF’s

By Staff Reporter

October 30, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- The International Crisis Group (ICG) said the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) has set the resignation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as a precondition for a peace talks to kick off with the federal government.

In a report entitled ‘Streeing Ethiopia’s Tigray Crisis Away from Conflict’, ICG said the transitional government should assume power and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed must go before negotiations begin between the two warring forces.

“The standoff could trigger a damaging conflict that may even rip the Ethiopian state asunder. Federal rulings have authorised military intervention in Tigray, which boasts its own large regional security force. The worsening dispute is only one crisis among many rocking Ethiopia’s troub

By Staff Reporter

October 29, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Deadly disputes between ethnic Afar and Somali peoples in eastern Ethiopia have left at least 27 people dead and several others wounded, officials from the Somali regional state have said.

The disputes occurred along their common border areas between Monday to Wednesday and at least 27 civilians were killed, the regional government said in a statement.

Somali Issa tribe representative Mohammed Mussie told DW Amharic service that additional two individuals were killed by unidentified gunmen while funeral ceremonies for the dead were taking place.

Currently members of the federal security forces are deployed in the area while investigation is underway about the causes of the disputes, casualties and property damage.

More than 100 people have been k

By Staff Reporter  

October 27, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Ethiopia’s High Court on Tuesday handed down 5 years to life imprisonments against five individuals who were found guilty over the failed assignation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The individuals were found guilty of killing two people and wounding more than 150 others by throwing a hand grenade during a rally held on June 23, 2018 in support of the reforms Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had introduced, the court’s prosecutor said.

Accordingly, Tilahun Getachew who threw the bomb at the the Prime Minister but fell short in the crowd was sentenced to life imprisonment,

The court sentenced the remaining four individuals namely Getu Girma, Brhanu Jafar, Bahiru Tola and Desalgn Tesfaye for 23, 22, 17 and 5 years of imprisonment respectivel

By Staff Reporter

October 24, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Ethiopia’s Tigray region accused the federal government of freezing the quarterly budget of 285 million birr that the World Bank has provided for the implementation of safety net programs in the regional state.

The regional government in a statement said as many as 1.5 million Tigryans largely farmers are at risk of hunger as the federal government is not transferring the bank’s fund to the region’s Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau.

Ethiopia’s Safety Net Program reaches an estimated nine million people across the regions of Amhara, Oromiya, SNNP, Tigray, Afar, Somali, Dire Dawa, and Harar. Food or cash payments are provided to very poor households.

Payments are made in return for community work known as &lsq

By Staff Reporter

October 20, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Tensions between Ethiopia’s federal government and northern Tigray region continue to worsen with the region’s president Debretsion Gebremichael accused Abiy’s administration of obstructing control of desert locust invasion in the region.

The allegation comes after the federal government reportedly confiscated ‘fighting drones’ belonging to the Tigray regional state at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

The desert locust has damaged crop production on thousands of hectares of land in Ethiopia’s Amhara, Oromia, Afar, Tigray and Somalia regions and poses a great concern for food and economic security in north eastern part of the country.

The Tigray regional government said the drone was to prevent the spread of locust,

By Abel Merawi

October 18, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- I will begin our present discourse with John Rawls and his idea of ‘veil of ignorance’ in discussing justice and fairness. Imagine yourself standing behind a veil or a curtain that makes you ignorant of your identity. You stand behind this curtain, unconscious of your physical, mental, social, religious and economic status that constitute part of your identity. You do not know your gender; you don’t know your family and their social status. You don’t even know your mental ability and the special skills you possess. Racial or ethnic identity are yet to be discovered, so you remain ignorant to such affiliations. The same ignorance prevails regarding your economic status, so there is a possibility of you ending up a homeless without a penny or a billionaire with power. Assume that you don&rsq

By Staff Reporter

October 15, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Ethiopia’s Amhara region has accused officials of neighboring Benishangul Gumuz region of collaborating with armed men over the massacre of ethnic Amhara, Agew, and Shinasha people.

The allegation comes after gunmen launched a fresh attack in the Mandura district of the Benishangul Gumuz region on the night of October 11 and killed at least 12 innocent ethnic Amhara and Agew people.

Benishangul Gumuz region’s Security Bureau Head Gashu Dugaz told local media that the attack was triggered by personal conflict which resulted in the death of an individual. "11 others were killed in revenge."

The Benishangul Gumuz regional government announced that it has arrested the gunman who killed the civilians.

Over a hundred ethni

By Staff Reporter

October 13, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Former Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin has accused Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of allowing Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki to “rape Ethiopia” under the guise cooperation.

In an interview with Tigray Mass Media Agency, Seyoum stated the deployment of Eritrean security forces in the Ethiopian soil against the sovereignty of the nation in an attempt to cleanse the legacy of the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF).

Seyoum Mesfin who called Abiy Ahmed as “former Ethiopian Prime Minister,” asserting the end of his term in office, said Abiy is illegitimately ruling the country and living up to his personal ego.

He called for establishment of “transitional government” justifying that the government ended its t

By Staff Reporter

November 3, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- War broke out between Ethiopia’s federal government and Tigray region after the regional government attacked military camp housing federal troops in the region, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced.

In a recorded video message, Abiy said the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) on Tuesday night attacked a military camp, killing several soldiers and destroying military equipment.

According to the Premier, TPLF also launched attacks in Mekele and other places of the region as well as in the Dalshah area bordering the Amhara region but shielded.

Abiy said he had ordered a military response to the multiple attacks and called on the people of Ethiopia to watch out and defend possible attacks that may occur in different parts of the na

By Staff Reporter

November 3, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Ethiopia’s Tigray regional president Deberetsion Gebremichael has warned “all-out war” against the federal government if Addis Ababa carries out its threat to launch attacks targeting the people of Tigray.

Briefing journalists on Monday, Debretsion accused the federal government of transforming political and economic pressures into forceful measures against the regional government.

Accordingly, he called on the people of the region to stand in unison to defend the possible attack from the federal government.

"We have finalized preparations to defend the war which is imminent. War is not an option but we would face it to defend our rights and win a political group that wants to kneel down our people,”he said

Abiy Ahme

By Staff Reporter

November 1, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- European Union reportedly began the mediation process between Ethiopia’s Tigray region and the federal government in an attempt to pull them from the brink of war over deepening political disputes.

The mediation comes after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s appointed military general was blocked to assume position as deputy head of the northern army command in Tigray state but deported from Alula Aba Nega airport.

The EU mediation team led by Vice President of European Union Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell held separate talks this week with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Tigray region President Deberetsion Gebremichael and high level officials of the two sides.

Executive member of the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) Getachew Reda confirmed toThe Repo

By Staff Reporter

October 27, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- The National Movement of Amhara (NAMA) issued a statement accusing PM Abiy Ahmed's federal government of turning into a dictatorship and partisan force beholdened to a single ethnic group.

NAMA blamed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led government for failing or unwilling to stop targeted killings in which members of security forces were involved against ethnic Amharas in Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz and South Nations Nationalities and People (SNNP) regions.

NAMA in a statement said the central government will take the prime responsibility for failing to prevent, stop and find sustainable solutions to the unfolding attacks against the Amhara people.

“The government is rather engaged in demeaning the attacks, hiding evidence and in frequent cases blaming

By Staff Reporter

October 25, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- The Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) said Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed are plotting war against it and the people of Tigray.

In a statement issued over the weekend, TPLF called on the people of Eritrea and Ethiopian defence forces to stand by its side to avert the bloodshed and end autocratic rules of the leaders.

“The leaders are cementing personal relations by ignoring brotherly ties between the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia and the dictator leaders would be held accountable for all chaos that may happen,” the statement said.

TPLF blamed Prime Minister Abiy for seizing power illegally and practicing a unitary administration and bargaining to sell the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in e

By Staff Reporter

October 21, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- At least 12 civilians have been killed and others wounded when unidentified gunmen attacked farming villages in southern Ethiopia, according to local officials.

The attackers killed 12 farmers and wounded five others in a surprise attack in Shubi locality- Gura Ferda district in Bench Sheko zone, Commander of the Gura Ferda District Police Bekele Beyene told local media.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which took place in an area over 400km south of the capital Addis Ababa.

The farmers were killed while they had social gathering and currently members of the federal security forces are chasing the attackers, Fikre Aman- administrator of the Bench Sheko zone has said

Hundreds of people have fled the area to neighboring zone but the secu

By Staff Reporter

October 19, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed full confidence over the ability of the Ethiopian security forces to defend the territorial integrity, protect the nation from insurgency and foil terrorist attacks.

The premier speech followed series comments mostly from the opposition forces that the nation is nearing disintegration due to unfolding religious and ethnic based attacks which the government failed to stop.

“The premier’s speech was so maddening” a member of ethnic Amharas whose relatives were killed by recent attacks in Metekel Zone of Benishangul-Gumuz region of western Ethiopia told Ezega.com on condition of anonymity.  At least 150 ethnic Amhara, Agew and Shinasha people have been killed since last September by the ethnic crisis in the zone.

By Staff Reporter

October 14, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- The alleged killer of a prominent Ethiopian Oromo singer, Tilahun Yami, has pleaded not guilty, Ezega.com has learned.

Two months ago, Tilahun pleaded guilty that he had killed the singer Hachalu Hundessa whose death sparked ethnic unrest that left at least 200 people dead in late June and early July.

The Oromia police chief said 145 civilians and 11 security personnel died in Oromia region alone after the singer’s death. Ten people were killed in the capital Addis Ababa.

The other three co-defendants of Tilahun Yami namely Kebede Gemechu, Abdi Alemayehu and Lamrot Kemal pleaded not guilty too during the court hearing at the Federal High Court on Wednesday.

The suspects were charged under terrorism law and the first, second, and third suspects said they

By Staff Reporter

October 13, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- In a surprise move, at least 20 members of the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) have joined the ruling Prosperity Party defecting from their regional party.

Speaking to the media, the former TPLF officials who are working in Addis Ababa City Administration said they have lost confidence in TPLF which according to them conducted regional elections in defiance of the decision passed by House of Federation (HoF).

“TPLF has already lost public support and it is working to destabilize the nation. We believe the ruling party is striving to meet the needs of the general public including that of the Tigray people,” they said.

Recently, TPLF ordered representatives of the Tigray region in the House of People’s Representatives and House of Federation as we

By Staff Reporter

October 8, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- The Ethiopian House of Federation’s decision to cut budget subsidy to the Tigray region is tantamount to declaring war against the region and its people, an official has said.

Deputy President of the Tigray region Dr. Abrham Tekeste told the BBC Amharic service that the decision would push the Tigray regional state into secession.

The upper house decision comes after the Tigray region held election on September 9, 2020, defying the decision of the House of Federation which postponed general elections due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In retribution, the House ordered the Federal Government to suspend budget subsidy to the region and suspend any form of relationship with Tigray regional council and higher executive bodies.  

According to the

By Staff Reporter  

October 5, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- In an extraordinary move, the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) announced the withdrawal of its representatives and political appointees from the House of People's Representatives, House of Federation, and other federal institutions.

TPLF executive committee member and spokesperson of the Tigray region Getachew Reda said the regional government has communicated to the region’s members of both Houses to quit their position.

According to the spokesperson, TPLF’s political appointees in the federal offices are also told to quit their jobs.

He said the terms of the two houses have already expired on October 5, 2020 so did the lifetime of the government and its cabinet. Hence, there are no legal relations t

By Staff Reporter

October 3, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- The Addis Ababa Police Commission announced seizure of more than 15 million birr and thousands of foreign currency notes during its week long operation to crack down illicit financial exchange activities.

An alleged cameronian criminal was caught redhanded by the police while printing counterfeit US dollars, Getu Argaw the City’s Police Commissioner said in a briefing.

Getu said the suspect was caught along with over 2,475, 000 fake US dollars in  Addis Ababa at Bole sub city at a place popularly known as Gurdshola.

According to the commissioner, Police also seized 7, 243,385 birr and other foreign currency notes which were in circulation in black markets.

Getu said 117,703 US dollars, 8050 Dirham, 1610 Suaid Riyals, 400 Euro,740 Britis

By Staff Reporter

September 30, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Veteran Ethiopian human rights advocate and politician Professor Mesfin Woldemariam has passed away at the age of 90.

Professor Mesfin died on Tuesday in Addis Ababa after suffering from coronavirus pandemic.

Professor Mesfin, founder of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, a rights watchdog had been known as a critic of successive governments.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has expressed condolence over the death of human rights advocate and author to Woldemariam's family and all Ethiopians at large.

In 2005, Professor Mesfin played a crucial role in the formation of the "Coalition for Unity and Democracy" (CUD) which opposed the TPLF-led government and defeated the ruling party at the ballot box.

Following the dispu

By Staff Reporter

September 28, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- The office of the federal attorney general said more than 130 billion Birr public funds stolen from Ethiopia are still hidden in foreign countries and at home.

The study conducted by the office indicates that a significant portion of the stolen funds were embezzled by government officials and affiliate investors and diverted to foreign countries.

Since it came to power, the government of Abiy Ahmed has vowed to pursue illicit money stashed in foreign countries. “So far 700 million birr stolen funds have been recovered from foreign countries,” the study said.

The study, however, revealed that the nation has seen increasing corrupt practices over the past two and half years and corrupts have used the unrest in the country as fertile gr

By Staff Reporter

September 26, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Ethiopian security authorities have warned of possible harsh measures against any attempts to violence that may erupt in defyiance of the federal government’s power after October 5, 2020.

The warnings come after authorities in the Tigray region once again said Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government will not be legitimate one after its term ends on October 5, 2020.

Deputy chief of staff of the Ethiopian Defense Force Berhanu Jula said any attempts of violence will be met harshly and the defense forces are ready to take action against any entity trying to control power by force.

“We will be compelled to take action against any entity that violates the constitution,” Deputy Chief of Staff and Head of operation affairs General Berhanu told the

By Abel Merawi

October 29, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Have you ever wondered about violence? Specifically, have you seen how violent we humans can be? The act of violence fits well into its definition, which can be summarized as: An act of aggression that is manifested in being wild and turbulent and result in injuries and destruction. This definition revels the meaning of violence based on its manifestation, but doesn’t say anything about the source of violence. Moreover, it might as well be the property of humans, animals or even natural forces. Natural forces like floods and animals can also be wild and cause destruction. However, violence carries a special meaning for human beings. It becomes a special feature of our species, which employs ingenuity in execution and hidden motivation that ignite us into action.

To describe Homo Sapiens is not the same as defining them. Just as

By Abel Merawi

October 22, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Let us begin with a question Erich Fromm asks in his book ‘To have and to Be’: Who are you? Are you what you have or something else? If you are what you have, who will you be when you lose your possession? Your reply depends on your personal disposition or character. However, just like the individual, every age has its own character. This character is a mentality we develop in our relation to the world. Modern age is characterized by the ‘having’ mentality. In the individual, this mentality is manifested by the tendency to own things in order to enjoy them. In society, it is represented in capitalism’s special feature of consumerism. Captured in perpetual shopping spree, we have forgotten there is another way of existence. We will explore the various manifestations of the ‘having’ mentality and end with a way out to reach

By Abel Merawi

October 16, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- It is customary to cite some Greek literature to shade light on many issues. The reason has to do with their genius in employing artistic creativity to show profound universal aspects of the human condition. I too will use the following Greek legend to exemplify the central idea. Once lived a lad named Narcissus. He was at the prime of his life with unparalleled beauty that captured the heart of every girl. But that was not all, the beautiful maiden goddess named Echo, was also hopelessly in love with him. But the heart of Narcissus was filled with vanity to the point of rejecting even the love of a goddess. Echo found the rejection unbearable and died of a broken heart. Nemesis, the goddess of divine retribution and vengeance, witnessed this and sought revenge. Nemesis punished Narcissus by making him fall desperately in love with the reflection of hi

By Abel Merawi

October 6, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- “Give me liberty, or give me death!” continues to be a symbol for revolutionaries. It was part of a speech made by the American author and politician, Patrick Henry in 1816. Evidently, this statement resonates throughout human history for depicting the spirit that ignited revolutions and rid of tyrants. I like to begin by making it clear that I do not intend to disparage the sacrifices of ‘freedom fighters’. However, it is my intention to put our conception of freedom under scrutiny and gain better understanding. Returning to the speech of Patrick Henry, we find the verb ‘give’ is integral to the whole spirit of the statement. When we say, ‘give me’ something we have shifted power from ourselves to someone else who is more powerful. In this particular case, both ‘liberty’ and ‘death’ belong i

By Abel Merawi

September 24, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Let me indulge you in the life of an imaginary writer. She is sitting in a room filled with the sound of silence. In solitude, she struggles with her inner world, seemingly lost to the outside world. In this state of being, there is transcendence of immediate reality in a struggle to create the future. She is oblivious to the daily struggles of everyday people. As the rest of us remain victims of circumstances, this writer is fighting the noble war for humanity. Her pen and paper work in unison to create order out of chaos. Do not be mistaken by assuming she has neglected life; it is rather her seriousness that leads her to this path. The road she travels is one filled with the unknown, but it is this very road that re-creates and re-shapes the world. She is gripped by anxiety since every word she imprints on paper creates new possibilities. There is hesitation

By Staff Reporter  

September 14, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- In a dramatic move, the government of Ethiopia has introduced the first 200 Birr note and replaced Birr 10, 50, and 100 notes with new ones.

Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia Yinager Dessie said the introduction of the new banknotes aims to fight corruption, counterfeiting, and money laundering.

The new banknotes have unique security features and designs and the new 200, 100, 50, and 10 banknotes feature peace, history, economy, and unity respectively.

The existing birr 5 note will remain unchanged for some time until it is replaced by a coin in the near future.

“The majority of our people transact in cash and so a huge amount of money circulates out of banks. The situation created a fertile ground for financing illegal activities including escalating contraband trade and c

By Staff Reporter

August 18, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Amnesty International has apologized to Ethiopia for posting erroneous media report about the country, as reported on its Twitter page.

“Our communication team recognizes the negative impact of our recent media output and apologizes for posting it in error,” it said.

Last June, Ethiopia dismissed Amnesty’s May 2020 report regarding human rights violations in Amhara and Oromia regional states as fundamentally flawed.

Amnesty International had accused the Ethiopian government of committing “grave violations between December 2018 and December 2019 in some parts of Amhara and Oromia regions".

The government had called on the organization to review its report which it dismissed as “lacking impartiality”.

Yet the Attor

By Staff Reporter

August 4, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- Foggy weather in the Ethiopian capital disrupted air traffic as several flights coming to Addis Ababa Bole international airport were forced to divert to nearby airports, the Ethiopian airlines said in a statement.

Fog enveloped the central capital and its adjoining areas in the morning and the situation deteriorated in the afternoon.

According to the airline, the cloudy weather and fog had reduced visibility at the runway of the airport at noon, forcing authorities to reschedule flights leaving the capital.

The foggy weather condition has disrupted several scheduled flights until late on Tuesday but the airline did not mention the number of flights interrupted.

It also did not specify where the incoming flights are landing in other airports of the country.

Meanwhile, Police told the federa