Over 14 killed, dozens injured in bomb attack on Adigrat Prison

Over 14 inmates were killed and dozens were injured when a building housing at least 1300 prisoners was destroyed in a bomb attack in Adigrat town on Wednesday, a source said. Bulldozers were used to pull out bodies from the debris. Those critically injured were admitted to the hospital in town. Fears have mounted that the death toll may rise. The government has remained quiet. Meanwhile, rebels of the Ethiopian Unity and Freedom Force (EUFF) have claimed responsibility for the attack. However, their claim couldn't be verified by an...

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Ethiopia Muslims rally on Fridays as tension rises

By KIRUBEL TADESSE As midday prayers came to an end at the Grand Anwar mosque in Ethiopia's capital, worshippers continued on to what has become a regular second act on Fridays - shouting anti-government slogans.The demonstrations this Friday did not turn violent. But tensions are rising between the government in this mostly Christian country and Muslim worshippers. On Monday, federal prosecutors charged a group of 29 Muslims with terrorism and working to establish an Islamic republic.Not all encounters between police and the protesters have been...

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Amnesty International Demands Independent Investigation Into Rights Violations by Ethiopian Gov't

Ethiopia: Government continues to target peaceful Muslim protest movement The Ethiopian authorities are committing human rights violations in response to the ongoing Muslim protest movement in the country. Large numbers of protestors have been arrested, many of whom remain in detention. There are also numerous reports of police using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. Key figures within the movement have been charged with terrorism offences. Most of those arrested and charged appear to have been targeted solely because of their...

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Commander-in-Chief of the Ethiopian Air force resigns as tensions rise between factions of the army

Commander-in-Chief of the Ethiopian Air force, Major General Molla Hailemariam has been suspended from his post. The suspension of General Molla is seen as a new sign of tension between several factions of the Ethiopian armed forces. According to Awramba Times Sources, serious disagreement has broken out among Ethiopian army officers since the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi.  Please read Eyerusalem Araya’s note for Mor...

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Ethiopia, rebel group talks collapse

The Ethiopian government on Friday said its peace talks with the Ogaden National liberation Front (ONLF) rebel group had collapsed. The two sides started negotiations in September and further talks had been scheduled to be held in Kenya on Tuesday and Wednesday. But government representatives at the talks said the ONLF had refused to recognise the Horn of Africa country's constitution, after they demanded the rebels to adhere to Ethiopian rules. The government delegation was led by Defense minister Seraj Fegesa and Kenyan Defense minister...

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Ethiopia beats Sudan 2-0 qualifies for African Cup of Nations after 31 years

Ethiopia beats Sudan 2-0 today in Addis Ababa and qualifies for African Cup of Nations for the first time in 31 years. Ethiopia took the lead through Alula Girma's goal and Saladin scored the crucial goal beating Sudan 2-0. Ethiopia moves on to Cup of Nations with away goal advantage. Ethiopia's former coach Iffy Onuoura sa...

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Ethiopia ready for Sudan clash, says coach

Ethiopia is facing a must win, and win big, match on Sunday against Sudan in the African Cup of Nations qualification. Down five goals to three, the Ethiopians must win by at least two goals in order to secure a spot in the next round. And fans are already beginning to feel the excitement, with large gatherings already preparing to hit the stadium and cheer on their national side. “It is very important game and we have to win at all costs. I think we can,” said Assefo Yemati, who added to Bikyamasr.com that “we are proud of our team and...

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Ethiopian Police Seize Weapons Smuggled From Sudan

Ethiopian security forces have seized hundreds of illegal weapons smuggled into the horn of Africa nation from neighboring Sudan, federal police said on Saturday. Ethiopian police in collaboration with regional border guards confiscated the weapons in Metama town in the Amhara region which borders the Blue Nile state of Sudan. "Police have seized a total of 481 pistols and 13,000 bullets" Fekadu Berhe of the Ethiopia's Federal Police Media and Communication Department told Sudan Tribune. The added that a number of smugglers have been...

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Hailemariam Desalegn parroting dead tyrant

By Abebe Gellaw | September 28, 2012 Hailemariam Desalegn’s recent interview with Peter Heinlein of VOA confirms that his rise to the helm of power can be largely attributed to his opportunistic imitation of how the late dictator talked and walked as well as his commitment to serving TPLF bigwigs that control him as their Trojan horse. Hailemariam called political prisoners such as famed journalist Enskinder Nega and Andualem Aragie “terrorists” that wear two hats operating legally and illegally as operatives of terrorist...

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Ethiopian flight 409 might be a victim of Israel-Hizbullah war (Wikileaks)

Ethiopian flight 409 might be a victim of Israel-Hizbullah war (Wikileaks) Wikileaks has released documents today that shed new light on what has cause the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 in 2009. The new WikiLeaks releases are email threads from the global intelligence firm Stratfor dating back to the time of the Ethiopian Airlines crash. While investigations were taking place in Beirut and Paris, Stratfor was prying for answers from different high level sources. The sources included a hospital director in Beirut, a Lebanese military...

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Ethiopia gets World Bank loan to boost fight against poverty

The World Bank has approved US$ 1.15 billion interest-free credit to help Ethiopia promote regional trade, support education and hire extra teachers and tens of thousands of health and agriculture extension workers, bank officials said Wednesday. The Bank approved a four-year country aid strategy which aims to improve the service delivery within the state institutions. This was endorsed by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors in New York, US. The latest loan facility accounts for nearly a third of Ethiopia's annual aid package of...

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Ethiopian Airlines to build large cargo terminal

A German company, ICM Airport Technics, has been awarded the turnkey project for the construction of an Ethiopian Airlines cargo warehouse that has a capacity to store 1.2 million tonnes per annum, for an undisclosed sum. The company, which provides material systems for airports, and Ethiopian Airlines are negotiating over finances before signing the contract, according to a source close to the matter who wanted to remain anonymous. “The new warehouse will mean no capacity shortage, which translates to no complaints and the best of service,”...

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Ethiopia Finally Has a New Prime Minister

by Alemayehu G. Mariam Hailemariam Desalegn It seems Ethiopia finally has a new prime minister. Two days ago, the leaders of the ruling EPDRF party approved Hailemariam Desalegn, the current deputy prime minister [DPM], to replace the late Meles Zenawi as party chief and prime minister. But Hailemariam will not be sworn in until early October according to Bereket Simon. No explanation was given for the two-week delay. Prior public statements by...

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Ethiopian PM in Mogadishu for presidential inauguration

GALKAYO, Somalia (AP) Somalia's new leader was inaugurated Sunday amid tight security in the capital, Mogadishu, four days after President Hassan Skeikh Mohamud survived an assassination attempt. Mohamud, a teacher and activist, won the election last week against outgoing President Sheik Sharif Sheikh Ahmed by the legislative vote of 190 to 79. The inauguration ceremony was attended by some regional leaders, including the prime minister of Ethiopia and the president of Djibouti. The attempt on Mohamud's life on his second day in office highlighted...

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Ethiopia's ruling party has named Hailemariam Desalegn as its leader

An official says Ethiopia's ruling party has named as its leader acting Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who took over after the death last month of longtime leader Meles Zenawi. As chairman of the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front, Hailemariam, 47, will almost certainly be confirmed as the country's prime minister. Bereket Simon, Ethiopia's communications minister, said Saturday that Hailemariam would be sworn in soon, perhaps...

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EPRDF Council Meeting Begins

A two-day EPRDF Council meeting began today (September 14th) here inAddis Ababa. The EPRDF secretariat announced that the 180 member council will agree on a chairman and deputy-chairman for the Front following the death of Prime Minster Meles Zenawi.  It is also expected to decide on a number of related matters. In addition the Council is expected to deliberate on other political and organizational activities that will be carried out over the next year. The Council is also expected to examine a document on leadership building and draw up...

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IMF Urges Ethiopia to Slow Nile Dam Project to Protect Economy

Ethiopia should slow the construction of Africa’s largest hydropower plant to avoid the dam and other projects starving the rest of the economy of funds, the International Monetary Fund said. The government began work on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, situated on the Blue Nile River near the Sudanese border, in April last year. The 80 billion-birr ($4.5 billion) project that will generate 6,000 megawatts, partly for export to the region, is scheduled to be completed in 2018. “I think there’s a need to rethink some of those projects a little...

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IGAD Countries Discuss Human Capital Development Strategy

The seven IGAD countries, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda sent more than 80 representatives to Djibouti for a consultation on the first Human Capital Development Strategy organized by the African Development Bank. Human Capital Development is essential to safeguard the peace and security of the region and the continent noted Dileita Mohammed Dileita, Prime Minister of Djibouti. It is also essential to consider employment opportunities for young people who are the future of the continent he said. Young people...

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ETHIOPIA RULING PARTY TO CHOOSE MELES SUCCESSOR

Ethiopia's ruling coalition will hold a two-day governing council meeting from Friday to choose a leader to succeed former prime minister Meles Zenawi, who died last month, it said. "The council assigns the chairperson of the organisation that replaces our great leader, who departed from us suddenly," said an online statement Thursday by the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). During his 21 years in power, Meles was both EPRDF chairman and prime minister. Government spokesman Bereket Simon told AFP that "automatically the...

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Millions in Ethiopia face severe food shortages

Humanitarian assistance is desperately needed for over 3.5 million Ethiopians, the government here has reported. It comes as the seasonal rains that were expected in the East African country had not come, leaving more and more in dire need of help. “We are working hard to coordinate with international aid agencies to assist those in need, especially farmers,” a ministry of agriculture official confirmed to Bikyamasr.com on Thursday. He added that without the rains, “Ethiopians in rural areas are to struggle to survive without adequate assistance...

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Ethiopia to form oil and gas company, Ogaden region unsettled

The announcement made public on Thursday by Ethiopia’s Mines Minister Sinknesh Ejigu that the government is to form the Petroleum Development Enterprise to increase oil and gas resources in partnership with private companies has unsettled the Ogaden region. Citizens and activists in the Eastern state near Somalia are worried that the new company is to be used to explore and use the are to take natural resources from the people, who have been battling for independence for nearly three decades. “We are concerned that this could lead to an increase...

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Tirunesh Dibaba to contest first ever Half Marathon

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Tirunesh Dibaba, after her latest 10,000m victory in last month’s London Games, will turn her attention to winning the Bupa Great North Run on 16 September. Dibaba will make her debut over the distance from Newcastle to South Shields, where the elite field includes reigning Olympic and World Marathon champions Tikki Gelanaand Edna Kiplagat. Her appearance in the IAAF Gold Label Event is a clear indication that the 27-year-old Ethiopian, after a highly successful track and cross country career, now intends to switch...

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Government uses fake video to convict Swedish journalists

The regime in Ethiopia uses staged fighting as evidence to convict Swedish journalists Schibbye and Persson. The Sweden TV SVT exposed the hoax after the two journalists safely left Ethiopia after they were pardoned on the Ethiopian New Year eve.SVT can now reveal that the videos that the Ethiopian government used as evidence of the arrest of the Swedish journalists is staged. Our sources even claim that the video was shot two days after Johan...

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