Breaking: #AU-led #Ethiopia peace talk facilitators to announce agreement on cessation of hostilities

Olusegun Obasanjo, the High Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, announced that AU-led peace talks in South Africa has resulted in agreement of cessation of hostilities between the federal government and Tigrayan authorities.

Developing story….

https://addisstandard.com/breaking-au-led-ethiopia-peace-talk-facilitators-to-announce-agreement-on-cessation-of-hostilities/

News: World welcomes #Ethiopia permanent cessation of hostilities with calls for swift implementation

Various diplomats and members of international community have welcomed the signing of cessation of hostilities agreement between the Ethiopian federal government and representatives of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) n South Africa.

The warring parties have agreed to cessation of hostilities on Wednesday during conclusion of the AU-led peace talks that has been ongoing in Pretoria since 25 October.

Following the announcement PM Abiy Ahmed said in a statement that the agreement “is monumental in moving Ethiopia forward on the path of the reforms we embarked upon four and half years ago”.

https://addisstandard.com/news-world-welcomes-ethiopia-permanent-cessation-of-hostilities-with-calls-for-swift-implementation/

#Malaria outbreak in #Ethiopia linked to invasive mosquito from #Asia

A malaria outbreak in Ethiopia earlier this year has been linked to an invasive species of mosquito that can persist throughout the dry season, complicating the fight to prevent the insects’ spread

Over the last decade, the species has spread to Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria. In spring 2022, the city of Dire Dawa in eastern Ethiopia saw an increase in malaria from around 200 cases per year to around 2400 cases, says Fitsum Tadesse at Armauer Hansen Research Institute in Ethiopia.

“There was a huge increase in cases, but there was no formal investigation of what caused the increase,” he says. “So, we decided to jump in and investigate.”

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2345214-malaria-outbreak-in-ethiopia-linked-to-invasive-mosquito-from-asia/

‘More dignity’: aid organizations switch to cash in drought-hit #Ethiopia

Michel Saad, the head OCHA Ethiopia, says it means people can buy from local traders, helping money circulate, but crucially also provides “more dignity” for those in need, compared with the traditional sack of grain.

“Communities know what they need better than humanitarian actors,” Saad says. “So when we give cash, it’s allowing them to be in charge of their own personal lives and say, ‘We believe we need to address this problem or that problem.’ Basically, it’s putting people at the centre.”

The 1,320 beneficiaries of the IRC’s programme in Dasenech, close to Ethiopia’s borders with South Sudan and Kenya, are due to receive a total of 13,500 Ethiopian birr over three monthly instalments.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/nov/03/aid-organisations-ethiopia-horn-of-africa-cash-money-drought

The official version of the AU-led #Ethiopia peace agreement was posted this morning by Ambassador Redwan Hussien, Minister, National Security Advisor of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Please click here to download the full version in one document

https://addisstandard.com/official-version-of-au-led-ethiopia-peace-agreement/

#Ethiopia: #UN Daily Noon Briefing Highlights

On the humanitarian access, we are in contact with the Government of Ethiopia and others to resume the movement of aid convoys and personnel to #Mekelle and #Shire [convoy movements by road to Tigray via Afar remain suspended since 24 August].

Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that critical supplies, including food, nutrition items and medicines, are running very low in #Tigray. Meanwhile, we, along our humanitarian partners, continue to distribute aid with the remaining stocks in the region, and we have started to assist those who are currently in accessible areas.
Last week, about 189,000 newly displaced people North-Western Zone were assisted with food, and around 6,000 displaced people from Afar received food assistance in South-Eastern Zone. Food distribution has also started in Mekelle City last week targeting about 500,000 people.

https://www.unocha.org/story/daily-noon-briefing-highlights-niger-somalia-and-ethiopia

#Somalia: #Ethiopian, #Djibouti doctors arrive in #Mogadishu to treat blast victims

Medical professionals from #Ethiopia and Djibouti arrived in Mogadishu on Thursday, answering the Somali President's call requesting doctors and surgeons from friendly countries to aid Saturday's terror attack victims.

Somalia's Health Minister, Dr. Ali Haji Aden Adan and senior government figures welcomed a delegation of Ethiopian doctors to Mogadishu's airport.

According to the ministry of health, the Ethiopian health team consists of veteran surgeons who will get to work immediately.

https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2022/Nov/188535/ethiopian_djibouti_doctors_arrive_in_mogadishu_to_treat_blast_victims.aspx?utm_source=hiiraan&utm_medium=SomaliNewsUpdateFront

News: Rights bodies urge effective transitional justice in wake of #Ethiopia peace agreement

“For sustainable and inclusive peace to be achieved, the adoption of a transitional justice policy should be preceded and informed by a nation-wide, genuine, consultative, inclusive, and victim-centered conversation,” #EHRC

“The agreement seen by Human Rights Watch does not explicitly mention the situation for civilians in Western Tigray zone, the site of the ethnic cleansing campaign. The warring parties should facilitate immediate and safe access for international humanitarian agencies – including to formal and informal detention sites without prior notification,” HRW

https://addisstandard.com/news-rights-bodies-urge-effective-transitional-justice-in-wake-of-ethiopia-peace-agreement/

News: Nine priests abducted by militants since last week remain missing in North Shewa, #Oromia Region

Nine out of 11 priests abducted by militants last week in an incident that left a deacon killed in Gebre Guracha town, North Shewa zone of Oromia Region, remain missing, while a priest and parish administrator were released after paying ransom money, a priest from North Shewa, Selale Diocese, told #AddisStandard.

North Shewa, Selale Diocese of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church said armed militants killed a deacon and kidnapped 11 priests including a parish administrator on 22 October. Adding that most of the churches in the eight districts of the zone have stopped providing services.

https://addisstandard.com/news-nine-priests-abducted-by-militants-since-last-week-remain-missing-in-north-shewa-oromia-region/

#Ethiopia: Oromo Liberation Army (#OLA) rebels kidnap Ethiopian officials

Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) rebels, who are fighting Ethiopian federal government forces, kidnapped an unknown number of officials from the western town of #Mendi earlier this week, according to a local official and residents.

Residents of the town, which is located more than 500km (310 miles) from the capital, Addis Abeba, told the BBC that the rebels seized control of Mendi after intense fighting.

At least three banks were reportedly robbed and government offices ransacked, according to residents who talked to the BBC on the condition of anonymity.


https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-africa-62845583?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6363f6ee49d9ef23494b9058%26Oromo%20rebels%20kidnap%20Ethiopian%20officials%262022-11-03T17%3A50%3A54%2B00%3A00&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:f8c9835c-5683-41dc-8c91-9e0e79f5579e&pinned_post_asset_id=6363f6ee49d9ef23494b9058&pinned_post_type=share

News: Outcry over arrest of three #Oromia Supreme Court judges after allowing bail to Jawar Mohammed’s security detail

The Judges Dessaleny Lammii, Mohamed Jimaa and Abdiisaa Waqjiraa were detained on Friday, 04 October around 02:40 PM local time from their offices located inside the court premises; they were detained by members of local police of the Adama city, an a source close to the matter told Addis Standard.

Speaking on conditions of anonymity, the source said that the police have accused the judges of being suspected of terrorism-related offenses. However their detention came shortly rafter the judges ruled the release on bail of six security personnel of opposition leader Jawar Mohammed. They were arrested in October this year during the weekend of the Irreechaa celebrations and remain in detention since.

https://addisstandard.com/news-outcry-over-arrest-of-three-oromia-supreme-court-judges-after-allowing-bail-to-jawar-mohammeds-security-detail/

#Ethiopia Taps Into Geothermal Riches to Diversify Its Grid

Drilling for geothermal energy is part of the government’s strategy to provide electricity to millions of Ethiopians and avoid dependency on hydropower.

Solomon Kebede looks concerned as he stares at the machine piercing the dark, moist soil of Ethiopia’s countryside. The drill has sunk a hole more than 450 meters (1,476 feet) deep and found nothing. Yet Kebede doesn’t despair; he has faith that the heat must be there.

“When drilling geothermal wells, you send your mind and heart to a place you don’t know, deep in the Earth’s core,” he says. “I’m part of the generation that’s trying to exploit these resources.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-11-04/ethiopia-drills-geothermal-riches-to-diversify-power-grid

Race against time for sick patients after #Ethiopia peace deal

A senior doctor at one of the few functioning medical facilities in #Tigray said he wanted the deal translated into action “on the ground as soon as possible” so that patients’ lives could be saved.

The hospital, the region’s biggest health facility, has had to stop giving severely ill kidney patients dialysis treatment due to a lack of supplies.

“We are hoping that even with a first humanitarian flight we’ll receive such life-saving medications, to save the few survivors of kidney failure, who have been fighting and struggling with this lack of medication,” the doctor told the Guardian by phone.

“So we are desperately waiting for these supplies to arrive. Now the peace talks have materialised on paper, we want to see it happening on the ground as soon as possible.”

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/nov/05/ethiopia-peace-deal-doctors-race-against-time

#Ethiopia: #IMF Welcomes Ethiopia Truce Amid Talks on Economic Reform Plans

The International Monetary Fund welcomed the declaration of a ceasefire in Ethiopia following a two-year civil war and said it’s weighing the next steps on a potential funding program.

Ethiopia’s government and the dissident Tigray People’s Liberation Front agreed to stop fighting on Wednesday after 10 days of negotiations in South Africa. The accord has raised hopes that an end may be in sight to a conflict that’s left thousands of people dead and forced millions more to flee their homes. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-04/imf-welcomes-ethiopia-truce-amid-talks-on-economic-reform-plans

In Memoriam: Ali Mohammed Bira: Life, Liberty, Legend

By Ezekiel Gebissa

On the day of his passing, the #Oromo nation celebrates his life, pays homage to his musical career which revolved around the theme of liberty for the Oromo people, and mourns the legend that now left us.

Ali Bira the man lived an extraordinary life. Ali Bira the artist built a career that is the stuff of legend. Two qualities distinguish him from his cohort and successor song artists.

https://addisstandard.com/in-memoriam-ali-mohammed-bira-life-liberty-legend/

#Ethiopia: Verbatim

"The signing of the agreement regarding the situation in Ethiopia is a source of hope. Let us support this commitment for a lasting peace. And let us continue to pray for war-torn #Ukraine. May that war might come to an end," His Holiness Pope Francis

News: Federal army, Tigray topmost military leaders meet today amidst Tigrayan criticism on disarmament

Although Ambassador Redwan did not mention the names of the top military leaders of the two sides, several reports indicate that the meeting will be attended, by Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, Chief of the Ethiopian Defense Force and General Tadesse Worede, chief of Tigrayan forces, among others.

However, the peace agreement, particularly the section which contains details of the DDR, has faced criticism from opposition political parties operating in Tigray and the Tigrayan diaspora community.

https://addisstandard.com/news-federal-army-tigray-topmost-military-leaders-meet-today-amidst-tigrayan-criticism-on-disarmament/

#Ethiopia: “We started in #Pretoria, we are inching our way closer and are now in #Nairobi, we are very hopeful that next time we will be in #Mekelle for our meeting and ultimately celebrate together in #AddisAbeba. This is the prayer, hope and it is what we seek,” Former president and Kenya's peace envoy to Ethiopia, Uhuru Kenyatta.

He was speaking this morning at a meeting of senior military leaders from the federal army and Tigrayan forces led by Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, Chief of the Ethiopian Defense Force and General Tadesse Worede, chief of Tigrayan forces, in Nairobi, kenya.

“Ali is a teacher of Oromumma” – Lemma Megersa’s tribute to the late Ali Birra

"Oromo and all brotherly nations have lost an intellect and a great historian. But there is great hope in Oromo sons that Ali raised and enabled. The seed he sowed has sprouted and bore fruits. Even though he is gone today, all of his works will remain with us. His name will be written, sung, and remembered forever at the beginning the list of our heroes. Ali Birra will be sung forever as one family alongside the likes of Hacaaluu Hundeessaa, Nuhoo Goobanaa, Daadhii Galaan, Usmayyoo Musaa, Eebbisaa Addunyaa and many others. will be praised as a family forever."

https://addisstandard.com/ali-is-a-teacher-of-oromumma-lemma-megersas-tribute-to-the-late-ali-birra/

News: #US donates 126 Tuberculosis testing machines worth $3 million to #Ethiopia

The new machines will reduce the time it takes to diagnose TB from two days to two hours and from two months to two hours for MDR-TB the statement added.

Ethiopia is among the 30 countries worldwide with the highest burden of tuberculosis and TB/HIV co-infection and having 19,000 registered TB caused deaths in 2021 alone.

https://addisstandard.com/news-us-donates-126-tuberculosis-testing-machines-worth-3-million-to-ethiopia/

#Ethiopia conflict: Looking for clues in video of forgotten massacre

The Ethiopian government has denied deliberately targeting non-combatants in a conflict that has led to many thousands of civilian deaths. BBC Reality Check look at a video showing a massacre of unarmed men and investigate who might have carried it out.

Warning: Contains distressing images of death and violence throughout.

Note: #AddisStandard first reported about this massacre in February this year.

Link to Addis Standard's report:

Analysis: Massacre in plain sight; behind silent killings in Oromo special zone, Amhara region

Like to BBC Reality Check:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/63515162