Category: Ethiopia

Renowned Oromo exile Lencho Leta nears a comeback

The Oslo-based renowned Oromo exile and leader of the Oromo Democratic Forum (ODF), Lencho Leta, along with the deputy, Dima Nageo, would be coming to Addis Ababa for “substantive talks” with government officials, responding to Abiy Ahmed’s gesture towards dialogue,…
Charges dropped against heart surgeon Fikru Maru

The Ethiopian government is to release Ethiopian-born Swedish heart surgeon Fikru Maru who has been in prison since 2013 and several political detainees from prison. The county’s attorney general on Friday dropped charges against Dr. Fikru Maru and other 61…
Five people killed in Legadembi gold mine protest

Amid increasing anger, the protests in Shakiso and Adola areas of Oromia region in south-eastern Ethiopia are growing, demanding the cancellation of gold mining license owned by Ethiopian- Saudi billionaire Mohammed al-Amoudi. A general strike and widespread protests paralyzed Shakiso…
Two Ethiopians among 50 most influential Africans of 2018

Two Ethiopians have been named among 50 most influential Africans of 2018 by the prestigious Paris-based Jeune Afrique Magazine. According to April–May 2018 edition of the magazine, Microsoft 4Afrika regional director, Amrote Abdella and a South-Africa based astrophysicist, Yabebal Fantaye…
Two political activists got heavy jail terms

Many political prisoners are still locked up in Ethiopia in the wake of the appointment of a new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed a month ago. Two members of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) who remain behind bars under dubious circumstances…
Interview with Gérard Prunier (First part)

Gérard Prunier is a writer and researcher on socio-political issues, specialising in the Horn of Africa on which he has published numerous articles and books. Born in Paris and studied both in France and in the US, Prunier received a…
Ethiopian parliament to vote on new speaker

According to an agenda for the Ethiopia’s lower house’s 19 April parliamentary session, lawmakers in the house are due tomorrow to select a speaker to replace Abadula Gemeda, who made a high-profile resignation on October 2017 but later returned to…
Reactions to Abiy’s appointment as EPRDF chair

Politicians and activists are reacting to Abiy Ahmed’s appointment of chairman of Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, that would pave the way for him to become the new prime minister. Girma Seifu Maru, former sole opposition politician in a 547-seat parliament, said:…
Thousands of Ethiopian refugees in Kenya

The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) says it is taking care of 8,000 Ethiopians who have fled to Kenya from the border town of Moyale.The majority are children and women, including pregnant and lactating mothers, according to KRCS. The ethnic…