Abiy Ahmed - The African Mirror

Oct

2020

At least 12 people killed in western Ethiopia

DAWIT ENDESHAW and GIULIA PARAVICINI AT least 12 people were killed in the Metakal zone of Ethiopia's Benishangul-Gumuz region, according to regional government spokesman Melese Beyene. The killings, which happened on Monday night, followed two attacks in the same zone last month when 45 people lost their lives, and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government is faced with rising insecurity in many parts of the country. The killings started as revenge following the assassination of the brother of a local official, the spokesman said. Victims included women and children as young as six months, and many were slaughtered in their homes,…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Stung by the pandemic, Ethiopia boosts health budget 46%

BUSINESS

DUNCAN MIRIRI ETHIOPIA has raised its health budget by 46% this year after the coronavirus crisis exposed the need for more equipment, facilities and personnel, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced. The populous Horn of Africa nation has typically been spending twice its annual health budget servicing its external debt, he said, but it was now shifting priorities. "In many African countries, healthcare is a neglected sector. This pandemic has exposed our dark underbelly," Abiy told the FT Africa conference, which was held virtually. The extra spending has made the health sector the fourth biggest in terms of budgetary allocations,…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Ethiopia tells U.N. ‘no intention’ of using dam to harm Egypt, Sudan

NEWS

ETHIOPIAN Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has the United Nations that his country has "no intention" of harming Sudan and Egypt with a giant hydropower dam on the Blue Nile that has caused a bitter water dispute between the three countries. Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan failed to strike a deal on the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam before Ethiopia began filling the reservoir behind the dam in July. But the three states have returned to African Union-led mediation. "I want to make it abundantly clear that we have no intention to harm these countries," he told the 193-member U.N.…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Armed militia kills at least 15 people in western Ethiopia

NEWS

AN armed militia killed at least 15 people in a pre-dawn attack in western Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said in a statement, the latest security challenge for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. The attack follows another similar incident earlier this month that took place in the same Metakal zone of Ethiopia's Benishangul-Gumuz region, which borders Sudan, where 30 people were killed. "Civilians are being subjected to repeated attacks with unmitigated cruelty in Benishangul-Gumuz," said Daniel Bekele, the head of the EHRC. "Federal and regional authorities should take the required steps to enforce the rule of law and…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed introduces new currency notes

BUSINESS

THE government of Ethiopia has introduced new currency notes, with enhanced security features and other distinctive elements. The new currency notes replace the Birr 10, 50 and 100 notes while an additional Birr 200 note has also been unveiled. In making the announcement, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, said the current Birr 5 note remains unchanged and will be turned into coin format soon. Ahmed said the currency change is aimed at gathering currency circulating informally and outside of financial institutions; curb corruption and contraband and support financial institutions confront currency shortage. Ahmed said: "Most of the print work is…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Ethiopia to sell 5% stake of state-run telecom co to citizens

BUSINESS

ETHIOPIA plans to sell a 5% stake in its state-run telecommunications firm to its citizens as part of measures to break up the monopoly, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting said on Monday, quoting Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The sale of the stakes is part of Ethiopia’s plans to open up one of the world’s last closed telecoms markets in the nation of around 110 million people. Fana said the government will retain a 55% stake in Ethio Telecom, with the remainder going to international companies. In June, the telecoms regulator said it had received 12 bids for the two telecoms licences the government…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Ethiopia bars journalists from flying to Tigray regional vote -passengers

MEDIA FREEDOM

AT least 12 people, including four journalists and a senior think tank analyst, have been barred from flying to Tigray, four of the passengers said after Ethiopian security officials said the region's elections later this week were illegal. Ethiopia's upper house said on Saturday plans by the Tigray region to hold an election on September 9 for regional parliament and other positions were unconstitutional, setting up a potential clash between the central government and the powerful Tigray People's Liberation Front. The TPLF, which runs the northern province, has said the vote will go ahead despite pressure from the central government.…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

Ethiopia’s Tigray region to holds poll, defying federal government

NEWS

GIULIA PARAVICINI ETHIOPIA’S northern Tigray region will head to the polls on Wednesday in defiance of the federal government, the latest challenge to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed from a slew of regional leaders flexing their muscles ahead of next year's national elections. Abiy has overseen sweeping democratic reforms since taking power in Africa's second most populous nation two years ago. But the federal government - and major opposition parties - agreed to postpone national and regional elections due in August until the COVID-19 pandemic was under control. Tigray, whose leaders dominated the previous administration and have often bitterly denounced Abiy,…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Ethiopia protest clashes kill at least nine, most by gunshot, doctors say

NEWS

DAWIT ENDESHAW CLASHES between Ethiopian security forces and protesters demanding the release of an opposition politician and a media magnate have killed at least nine people in the Oromiya region surrounding the capital, according to health officials. The unrest highlights growing divisions in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Oromo power base as powerful ethnic activists who were once allies increasingly challenge his government. The protests started on Tuesday after a social media campaign for the release of prominent Oromo opposition leader Bekele Gerba and media mogul Jawar Mohammed, both arrested days after the killing an iconic Oromo singer Haacaaluu Hundeessaa. Jawar…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Ethiopia PM fires defence minister, a one-time ally, in major reshuffle

NEWS

DAWIT ENDESHAW\ PRIME Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday replaced the defence minister, his former ally Lemma Megersa, as part of a reshuffle ahead of elections in the heavily divided nation next year. Lemma was replaced by Kenea Yadeta, the former security chief of Oromiya region, Abiy's office said on Twitter. Nine other top officials were also replaced, including the attorney general, his deputy and the mining minister. Abiy has promised to hold the first free and fair elections in Africa's second most populous nation next year, but his democratic reforms have also unleashed ethnic divisions that frequently spill into violence.…