#Ethiopia: Civilians killed following intense fighting between rebel group, government forces in #Nekemte, western #Oromia region

By Getahun Legesse

“They [members of #OLA] entered the city [Nekemte] at around 6.30 AM [local time] via a route from the western direction. They broke into a prison located in kebele 05 and set prisoners free. They also seized [Oromia] special force’s campsite located in Kumsa Moroda [museum] and confiscated weapons. Meanwhile, the government forces located in different sites in the town also started offensive and there was a heavy fighting between the two. The fighting continued until after 12: 00 PM,” the first resident said.

https://addisstandard.com/news-civilians-killed-following-intense-fighting-between-rebel-group-government-forces-in-nekemte-western-oromia-region/

#Ethiopia Seeks #IMF Loan to Fend Off Hunger for 20 Million People

Ethiopia is seeking International Monetary Fund financing to provide food for its people after the worst drought in four decades and a civil war curbed farm production.

“Ethiopian authorities have indicated an interest in accessing the IMF’s food shock window,” the fund said in an emailed response to queries, without providing more details.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-09/ethiopia-seeks-imf-loan-to-fend-off-hunger-for-20-million-people?utm_content=africa&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-africa&leadSource=uverify%20wall

News: Authority preparing media guideline to report on #Ethiopia cessation of hostilities agreement

Accordingly, media guidelines are being prepared by the authority that will outline how all media outlets should make reports related to the peace agreement, which will create capacity for the institutions and can be used as a reference.

Mohammed further said that false information and hateful speech are counterproductive to the ideas of peace and should be prevented. The guideline is prepared based on the obliging provisions set in the agreement. As such, the media authority will regularly monitor and support all media outlets to respect their moral, professional and legal obligations and direct them on the right track.

https://addisstandard.com/news-authority-preparing-media-guideline-to-report-on-ethiopia-cessation-of-hostilities-agreement/

#Ethiopia: #WHO Urges 'Immediate' Food, Medical Aid For Tigray
WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan welcomed the notion of a humanitarian corridor into Tigray, but said experience in other crises showed it was vital that the corridor remained both open "and unrestricted".
"The people in Tigray need immediate, massive, overwhelming assistance now," he said, including not just food and healthcare but also goods, commodities, plus the free movement of staff to deliver the aid.
Ryan said a "drip-drip" flow of aid, or help being turned on and off "is not going to work".

https://www.barrons.com/news/who-chief-urges-immediate-food-medical-aid-for-tigray-01668008407

#Kenya and #SouthAfrica agree on visa-free entry

Kenya and South Africa have agreed to a reciprocal visa-free entry deal which will be rolled out from January next year.

Applicants will get a maximum of 90 days annually.

Currently, Kenyan nationals pay up to $40 (£35) and have to show proof of "sufficient" funds as well as wait an average of three weeks for a 90-day South African visa.

Only travellers staying less than 30 days enjoyed a free pass, but that too attracted a processing fee of about $40.

In contrast, South Africans do not require pre-departure visas to travel to Kenya.


https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-africa-62845587?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=636bc582f15ea55905e416f4%26Kenya%20and%20South%20Africa%20agree%20on%20visa-free%20entry%262022-11-09T16%3A37%3A24.283Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:a6af5fbb-1858-428c-aeba-107dee15d8c1&pinned_post_asset_id=636bc582f15ea55905e416f4&pinned_post_type=share

News: #Mekelle sees food item prices slow down following #Ethiopia cessation of hostilities agreement

According to message received by #AddisStandard from a resident of Mekelle city, basic food items such as Teff grain from which the staple Ethiopian food Enjera is made, wheat and wheat flour showed sudden price discounts.

The resident said businesses feel that food supply may increase and prices might slow down as a result, and “they are selling everything they have in store”.

https://addisstandard.com/news-mekelle-sees-food-item-prices-slow-down-following-ethiopia-cessation-of-hostilities-agreement/

News: Supreme Court upholds ruling to release journalist Gobeze Sisay on bail

By Biruk Alemu

Addisu told #AddisStandard that the Federal Higher Court ruled on 13 October to release Gobeze on 20,000 ETB bail, which the federal prosecutor appealed against at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court’s judges, after examining the law and the arguments put out by both the prosecutor and the defendant concluded that there was no justification for rejecting the federal higher court’s ruling and decided that his right to bail should be upheld and that he should pursue his case from outside, according to Addisu Algawu.

The Judges, however, raised the amount of bail money from 20,000ETB to 100,000ETB given the nature of the seriousness of the crime with which he was charged.

https://addisstandard.com/news-supreme-court-upholds-ruling-to-release-journalist-gobeze-sisay-on-bail/

#Ethiopia-#Somalia: #NISA chief tours Ethiopia’s #IMEDA in #AddisAbeba

During his tour at the IMEDA’s headquarters he checked the technology research and development work being done by the administration through ensuring the security of information infrastructure and the Ethiopian cyber talent development center.

According to the sources close to the venue, the parts have expressed their commitment on working jointly about various aspects including; information exchange to prevent terrorism, capacity building areas and joint measures to ensure the continued peace and security of the region.

The IMEDEA is working on a wide range of work by getting rid of dependence on technology abroad and ensuring national technology ownership.

https://sonna.so/en/2022/11/10/nisa-chief-tours-ethiopias-imeda-in-addis-ababa/

News: #Ethiopia disputes reports on continued blockade of humanitarian supply to #Tigray, claims aid flowing “like no other times”

Following a statement by the #US State Department Bureau of African Affairs on the need for urgent “actions to respect and implement” provisions of unhindered humanitarian aid flow “as agreed in Pretoria”, Ambassador Redwan Hussein, National security advisor of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is also head of the Ethiopian delegation for the AU-led peace talks, said that, “aid is flowing like no other times, even to the areas not yet held by ENDF,” and announced that 70% of Tigray is now under the control of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF).

Article 11 on “Monitoring, Verification, and Compliance” of the cessation of hostilities agreement states that the two parties agreed “to institute a monitoring, verification, and compliance mechanism for the effective implementation of the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities. For this purpose, the Parties agree to establish a Joint Committee comprising a representative from each parties, a representative from IGAD and chaired by the African Union through the High-Level Panel.”

However, there is no report so far on the status of the formation of such panel or the the deployment thereof.

https://addisstandard.com/news-ethiopia-disputes-reports-on-continued-blockade-of-humanitarian-supply-to-tigray-claims-aid-flowing-like-no-other-times/

News: More airstrikes kill dozens in #Mendi, West #Wollega; mounting civilian causalities draw outcry

Yet another airstrike on Wednesday 09 November by the federal forces has killed dozens of civilians in the town of Mendi, in Mana Sibu district of West Wollega zone in #Oromia regional state. The town of Mendi, which is approximately located 571km from the capital Addis Abeba, has been reportedly under the control of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) since last week.

The area and its surroundings are experiencing severe communication blackout, but those who manged to speak to media say the latest air strike took place on Wednesday between 7:00 – 8:00 pm local time. The repeated drone strikes targeted a vehicle belonging to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which the government refers to as “OLF/Shene”, but most of the deaths were civilians, according to eye witnesses.

https://addisstandard.com/news-more-airstrikes-kill-dozens-in-mendi-west-wallaga-mounting-civilian-causalities-draw-outcry/

#Ethiopia: Safaricom Ethiopia expands to 26 cities in #Ethiopia

Safaricom has expanded to 26 cities in Ethiopia, barely a month since the commercial launch.

***
Although the firm's entry in Ethiopia dented its bottom line, shrinking net profits by 10 per cent to Sh33.5 billion, Ndegwa is hopeful of better results going forward once M-Pesa services begin.

“We have invested $598 million in Ethiopia. We are happy that the Abiy's administration has allowed M-Pesa services which are expected to boost commercial efforts, with a greater focus on driving financial inclusion and digital acceleration for the people,” Ndegwa said.

https://www.the-star.co.ke/business/2022-11-11-safaricom-expands-to-26-cities-in-ethiopia/

#Ethiopia: More than a dozen civilians killed following latest clashes between #Afar, #Somali regions militias near border areas

At least 18 civilians were killed, several others were injured in fresh clashes in areas bordering the Somali and Afar regional states on 09 November, according to a source from the Somali region who spoke with Addis Standard.

Some 28 civilians who were injured in the clashes were taken to a nearby Biki hospital in the Somali region. A medical staff at the hospital who wanted to remain anonymous confirmed to Addis Standard that the injured were admitted to the hospital.

https://addisstandard.com/news-civilians-casualties-following-latest-clashes-between-afar-somali-regions-militias-near-border-areas/

Coming up: Announcement on outcome of #federal, #Tigray top military commanders meeting in #Nairobi

What to expect

The Nairobi meeting is expected “to discuss and workout detailed modalities on the implementation including, disarmament issues, taking into account the security situation on the ground” as is mentioned in the statement below, as well as “provide a roadmap for immediate humanitarian access and restoration of services in the Tigray region.”

Sticking point

The issue of the withdrawal of foreign forces from the sovereign territory of Ethiopia in the Tigray region is expected to be the sticking point in the outcome of the meeting between the two sides. Although #Eritrean forces are fully engaged in the war since the beginning, the text of the cessation of hostilities does not acknowledge Eritrea by name, but mentions instead “foreign forces.”

https://addisstandard.com/coming-up-announcement-on-outcome-of-federal-tigray-top-military-commanders-meeting-in-nairobi/

#Ethiopia: Commercial Bank restores banking services in seven branches in western #Tigray

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia announced that it has restored banking services in seven branches in Western Tigray which is currently under the occupation of the Amhara Region, where services were disconnected due to the war that has been going on for two years.

The seven branches of the bank namely: Maikadra, Humera, Kafta, Aurora, Dansha, Adi Remits and Ketema Nigus which were operated under Shire banking district before the war, have now started services under the CBE’s Gonder banking district, Alsan Asefa, Corporate Communications Director of the bank, #AddisStandard.

https://addisstandard.com/news-commercial-bank-restores-banking-services-in-seven-branches-in-western-tigray/

#Ethiopia: Council of Ministers approve draft establishing Commission tasked to oversee peaceful disarmament, reintegration into society of armed groups

Among the three drafts the Council of Ministers approved is a draft proclamation providing the formation of a “National Reform Commission”, which will be responsible to oversee the disarmament and reintegration into society of armed groups operating in Ethiopia.

“Since it is necessary to find a peaceful solution to the conflicts that have been taking place in all areas of the country, it is necessary to establish a National Reform Commission to allow the forces that were armed in organized forces to disarm and join the society in a sustainable way, to lead a peaceful life, to participate in the process of development, peace and democracy in the country, a draft regulation was prepared and presented to the Council", the statement said.

https://addisstandard.com/news-council-of-ministers-approve-draft-establishing-commission-tasked-to-oversee-peaceful-disarmament-reintegration-into-society-of-armed-groups/