#Ethiopia: Divided and Disputed: #TPLF’s fractured leadership, electoral board feud threaten #Tigray’s fragile peace

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) marked its 50th anniversary last month under an atmosphere of internal divisions and political uncertainty, as disputes within its leadership and with the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (#NEBE) continue to escalate. While the party acknowledged facing one of the “toughest internal struggles” in its history, tensions have deepened between factions led by Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD) and Getachew Reda, president of the Tigray Interim Administration.

The rift escalated following the 14th TPLF Congress in August 2024, when Debretsion’s faction removed Getachew and other officials from the party, stating they “will no longer have the authority to lead, make decisions, or issue directives.” In response, the interim administration accused Debretsion’s group of attempting to “destabilize” the region. The situation worsened in January 2025 when Tigray Forces leaders announced plans to dissolve and restructure the interim administration, alleging it had been influenced by “external forces” and failed to meet its responsibilities.

Alongside its internal struggles, the TPLF is locked in a dispute with the NEBE over its legal status. The electoral board suspended the party’s activities for three months, citing its decision to hold an assembly without prior approval. Amanuel Assefa, TPLF’s deputy chairman, accused the board of “meddling in Tigray’s internal politics” and attempting to impose an “unwanted decision.” While the NEBE maintains that the TPLF must register as a new party under revised laws, the party insists it is seeking the restoration of its pre-war legal status.

The growing uncertainty has raised concerns about the fate of the Pretoria Peace Agreement, with legal scholar Tadelle Gebremedhin warning that sidelining the TPLF could weaken the accord. He emphasized that the agreement serves as a critical link between Tigray and the Ethiopian federation, cautioning that the party “will not sit idly by” as its political legitimacy is challenged. However, Tsegazeab Kahsu (PhD) of the opposition party Baitona countered that “the accord is an agreement of the Tigray people” and is not dependent on the TPLF’s existence. Amanuel maintains that the Pretoria Agreement remains the “only binding legal framework” connecting Tigray with Ethiopia’s federation.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=49430

#Ethiopian_Airlines, #Etihad partner to launch new flights between #Addis_Abeba and Abu Dhabi

Ethiopian Airlines and Etihad Airways have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement, including a codeshare partnership and new flight routes, to enhance air connectivity between #Ethiopia, the #UAE, and beyond. Ethiopian Airlines will launch direct flights between Addis Abeba Bole International Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport starting July 15, 2025, while Etihad will begin daily flights on the same route from October 1, 2025.

“The start of flights between the two great cities of Addis Abeba and Abu Dhabi connects our expanding networks, giving our customers seamless access to a growing list of destinations,” said Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive of Etihad Airways. He added that the partnership "paves the way for deeper discussions" on cooperation, including frequent flyer programs, training, and cargo.

Mesfin Tasew, group chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines, stated that the collaboration "underscores our dedication to fostering strong bilateral relations and promoting economic growth between Ethiopia and the UAE." He noted that the new service to Abu Dhabi would be Ethiopian Airlines' third destination in the UAE, after Dubai and Sharjah, adding that the airline operates "over 120 weekly passenger and cargo services to the Middle East and Gulf states."

https://www.aviationbusinessnews.com/industry-news/etihad-and-ethiopian-partner-to-launch-new-flights-between-addis-ababa-and-abu-dhabi/

Four Ethiopians killed, three wounded in renewed violence along #Ethiopia-#Kenya border in #Dasenech district

Four Ethiopians were killed and three others wounded in an armed confrontation in Kukruk Kebele, Dasenech District, South Omo Zone, along the Ethiopia-Kenya border. Local officials and residents attributed the attack, which occurred on Saturday, March 22, 2025, to “armed militants from Kenya’s Turkana County.” A resident told Addis Standard that 11 Ethiopian youth encountered the armed group while on reconnaissance, leading to a shootout in which one elder from Turkana was also killed.

Mesay Leben, the chief government representative of Dasenech District, confirmed the casualties and said the wounded were receiving treatment at Omorate Health Center. He added that on Sunday, March 23, another attack occurred in Goro Kebele, where armed individuals from Turkana attempted to steal cattle. “The local community resisted, fought back, and managed to recover the livestock,” he said, noting that one individual from Turkana was killed during the confrontation. The violence follows similar incidents in February that left 13 dead, with residents alleging displacement and property looting, including boats and fishing equipment.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=49440

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#South_Sudan's VP Machar says #Uganda is violating arms embargo

South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar has accused Uganda of violating a United Nations arms embargo by deploying forces, including armored and air force units, and conducting airstrikes in the country. In a letter addressed to the UN, African Union, and the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (#IGAD), Machar said Uganda’s military intervention breached the 2018 peace deal that ended South Sudan’s civil war.

Uganda, however, stated that its deployment was carried out earlier this month at the request of South Sudan’s government. Tensions between Machar and President Salva Kiir have escalated, with South Sudanese security forces detaining several of Machar’s allies following clashes in the northeast between the military and the White Army militia. The government has accused Machar of links to the militia, a claim his SPLM-IO party denies, saying the White Army is no longer under its control.

In his March 23 letter, Machar alleged that "Ugandan forces are currently taking part in airstrikes against civilians" and called for international pressure to withdraw them. Meanwhile, his office reported that intelligence officers in Lakes State had arrested four SPLM-IO officials and shut down their office in the state capital, Rumbek.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-sudans-vp-machar-accuses-uganda-violating-arms-embargo-2025-03-25/

#NewsAlert: PM Abiy confirms Getachew’s departure as #Tigray interim president with call for replacement

PM Abiy Ahmed confirms Getachew Reda’s departure as Tigray’s interim president. In a message this morning, the PM called on Tigray’s people to “nominate” candidates for the role, citing constitutional provisions. Last week the PM said that the interim administration’s mandate will be extended for another year, and hinted at possible leadership changes.

PM’s call for a new President in the Tigray region follows months of political disputes, with the #TPLF splitting into rival factions led by the outgoing president Getachew and Debretsion Gebremichael, TPLF’s chairman.

The tensions escalated when Getachew suspended three senior military commanders - a move rejected by the regional peace and security bureau.

The PM’s announcement sheds doubt on the widely circulating rumors that Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede, a prominent leader within the Tigray forces, will replace Getachew as the new interim president of the Tigray region.

In his call for a nominee, PM Abiy stated the provisions of Article 62(9) of the Federal Constitution and Federal Government Proclamation No. 359/1995, as well as Regulation No. 533/2015 issued by the Council of Ministers as basis for the federal government backed “establishment of interim administrations in regional states.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=49233

#Opinion: Fact or Fiction: Unpacking allegations of corruption, nepotism in #Ethiopia’s #Somali region

In this opinion piece, Mohamed Olad, a former Somali Regional State official, journalist, and political analyst, responds to Mohamud A. Ahmed’s recent piece, Shadows of Power: Corruption, Nepotism, and Push for Reform in Ethiopia’s Somali Region. He argues that critiques of corruption and governance in the Somali Regional State should be based on evidence, comparative analysis, and historical context rather than broad generalizations.

The writer challenges claims that corruption is “endemic” in the region, stating that such assertions require specificity. “Is specificity, evidence, or a comparative analysis of where the region was and where it is now in terms of system and institution building not necessary when making weighty judgments on serious matters?” he asks. The piece argues that assessing progress requires an evaluation of past and present governance structures, policy frameworks, and institutional reforms. The author also questions the benchmarks used to judge governance in the region, stating, “With whom is the region compared? What are the yardsticks used to arrive at such conclusions?”

The author pushes back against the claim that recent appointments reflect clan-based favoritism, arguing that dismissing efforts toward inclusivity as a replication of Somalia’s “4.5 formula” is misleading. “What Mohamud has dismissed as a 4.5 formula … could instead be seen as a critique of the current administration’s attempts to enhance inclusivity in appointments, equitable resource allocation, and participatory governance,” the writer asserts.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=49446

HIV soars after a deadly war in #Ethiopia’s #Tigray. Trump’s aid cuts aren’t helping

HIV cases in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have more than doubled since the two-year war in the region ended, with local health officials and aid workers citing the impact of widespread sexual violence, the collapse of healthcare services, and recent U.S. aid cuts as key factors.

A woman who survived two brutal attacks in the final days of the war said she was "dragged to a military encampment and gang-raped by Eritrean soldiers." Two days later, she was raped again by a group of militiamen. "I am strong, but my disease is getting worse and worse," she told The Associated Press at a clinic in Shire. She added that she contracted HIV from the assaults and now struggles to afford antiretroviral drugs.

Tigray’s HIV prevalence rate has risen to 3%, more than double the pre-war rate of 1.4%, according to local health authorities and the United Nations. Among displaced people, the rate is 5.5%, while "among sexual violence survivors, it is 8.6%." Amanuel Haile, head of Tigray’s health bureau, described the war’s impact, saying, "It was a horrific conflict. War was everywhere. Crops failed. Rape was widespread. Hospitals were vandalized. Drugs were interrupted." He added that the "complete breakdown" of health services left many HIV-positive patients without treatment, increasing the risk of transmission.

The Trump administration’s aid cuts, which ended 83% of USAID programs globally, have worsened the crisis. Ethiopia has already laid off 5,000 health workers hired with U.S. funds to combat HIV, while charities assisting patients have been ordered to halt operations. "Since the end of the war, things were slowly improving," said Yirga Gebregziabher, OSSHD’s manager in Tigray. "Now, so many services have stopped again."

https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-hiv-aids-tigray-war-health-usaid-8c3275003f6894aa943cd81dacdf18cd

News: War-torn #Amhara region training tens of thousands anti-riot militias, regular police amid ongoing crisis

The war-torn Amhara regional state is providing training to tens of thousands of youths who are undergoing anti-riot militia and regular police training at the Bir Sheleko Basic Paramilitary Training Center amid the ongoing security crisis.

Desalegn Tasew, Head of the Peace and Security Bureau, visited the site, briefing recruits on their role in maintaining regional stability.

According to Desalegn the training aims to build “disciplined forces with military ethics”, to secure lasting peace not only in the region but at national level. The training integrates ideological, strategic, and practical elements to ensure comprehensive preparation.

Despite federal army claims of victory, clashes with various Fano armed groups have persisted, leading to rising civilian casualties in recent weeks.

The Amhara region remains at the heart of Ethiopia’s worsening humanitarian crisis since the ongoing conflict erupted in August 2023 leading to mass killings, displacements, food shortages, and essential service disruptions.

Last month, regional officials appealed for US$10 billion in international recovery funding. https://addisstandard.com/?p=49455

#Sudan’s army retakes #Khartoum airport from paramilitary #RSF

Sudan’s army has regained control of Khartoum International Airport from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), “fully securing it,” military sources told AFP on Wednesday. The development follows last week’s recapture of the presidential palace, marking a significant advance for the armed forces in the nearly two-year war.

Troops have also “surrounded the strategic Jebel Awliya area,” a military source said, referring to the RSF’s last major stronghold south of central Khartoum. The army further secured both sides of the Manshiya bridge over the Blue Nile, leaving only the Jebel Awliya bridge as the remaining RSF-controlled crossing out of the area.

Witnesses reported RSF forces retreating from several neighborhoods, heading toward Jebel Awliya, with some moving toward bridges linking the capital to Omdurman. “These are quite significant gains by the Sudanese armed forces,” Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan reported, noting that the army had now taken “full control of the airport, including the civilian side.”

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2025/3/26/sudan-armed-forces-retakes-khartoum-airport-from-rsf

#Kenya recognises #Kosovo as independent state, first such move in five years

Kenya has recognised Kosovo as an independent state, becoming the first country to do so in nearly five years, amid Kosovo's continued efforts for wider international recognition.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but it has yet to secure United Nations membership due to opposition from Serbia and its allies, including Russia and China. Over 110 countries, including the United States and most European nations, have recognised its independence.

The announcement was made by former Kosovo president Behgjet Pacolli, who posted photos on Facebook with Kenyan President William Ruto as he signed the recognition letter. Pacolli, who said he had been lobbying for this since 2009, noted that his goal was "to make the voice and the right of the people of Kosovo for freedom, independence and sovereignty being heard." The last country to recognise Kosovo was Israel in September 2020.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kenya-recognises-kosovo-independent-state-first-such-move-five-years-2025-03-26/

#South_Sudan vice president arrested, fearing escalation

South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar was arrested in Juba, his party's Foreign Relations Committee chairman said in a statement.

Machar, a longtime rival of President Salva Kiir, was taken from his compound in an operation involving “20 heavily armed vehicles,” the SPLM-IO party said. The party condemned what it called “unconstitutional actions” by security officials, adding that the charges against him remained “unclear.”

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) warned that the arrest left the country “on the brink” of renewed conflict. Nicholas Haysom, head of UNMISS, urged leaders to “exercise restraint” to avoid a return to widespread violence.

Clashes between forces loyal to Kiir and Machar have taken place over the past 24 hours, the UN reported. Amid rising tensions, Norway and Germany temporarily closed their embassies, while the UN said around 50,000 people had been displaced in Upper Nile since last month.

https://amp.dw.com/en/south-sudan-vice-president-arrested-fearing-escalation/a-72050549

#Ethiopia: #TPLF rejects PM Abiy’s call to nominate #Tigray interim president, calls it “unilateral decision” violating Pretoria agreement

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has rejected Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s call for Tigrayans to “nominate” candidates for the region's interim presidency, describing it as a “unilateral decision” that “violates the Pretoria Agreement.” In a statement issued on 26 March, the TPLF emphasized that the formation of the interim administration should be based on “an agreement between the TPLF and the Ethiopian government,” as outlined in Article 10 of the Pretoria Agreement, rather than being determined by “inappropriate laws” like Proclamation 359/1995.

The statement followed PM Abiy’s announcement confirming Getachew Reda’s departure and urging Tigrayans to “participate in the nomination of candidates for the position of interim administration president.” The federal government justified its actions by citing Article 62(9) of the Federal Constitution and Proclamation 359/1995, asserting that it had the legal mandate to establish interim administrations. TPLF further accused the government of “preventing goods like fuel from entering the region” and “stopping life-saving operations,” calling these actions “inhumane crimes” that “violate international laws.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=49469

#Op_ed: Countering Alarmist Narratives: Debunking Al-Shabaab's perceived ‘power grab’ in #Somalia

In this op-ed, Abdinasir Ali Osman (Prof.), a senior researcher and consultant with over 35 years of experience in humanitarian and development sectors, responds to Adam Daud Ahmed’s recent piece on Al-Shabaab’s perceived ‘power grab’ in Somalia. The author argues that Ahmed’s analysis “oversimplifies Al-Shabaab’s capabilities and the resilience of Somalia’s federaly government.” He asserts that portraying the group as transitioning from an insurgency to a governing entity poised to capture Mogadishu is misleading, as it “disregards the established pattern of Al-Shabaab’s fluctuating territorial control, which relies on asymmetric warfare rather than sustained governance.”

The author also critiques Ahmed’s omission of key counterterrorism efforts by the Somalia National Army (SNA) and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (#ATMIS). He emphasizes that “recent military operations have reclaimed strategic territories and disrupted Al-Shabaab’s operational capacity, directly contradicting the notion of an imminent takeover.” The op-ed further disputes the claim that the Somalia federal government is a failing entity, asserting that while political tensions exist, they “reflect the inherent complexities of a developing federal system” rather than a collapse. “The current administration’s efforts to unify regional states under a national security framework, alongside intensified military operations and increased civilian-military cooperation, demonstrate a proactive approach to security challenges,” the writer states.

Furthermore, the op-ed challenges the assertion that the fall of Mogadishu would lead to the establishment of a radical Islamist state and destabilize the Horn of Africa. “Unlike the Taliban, Al-Shabaab lacks widespread popular support, maintaining control through coercion rather than voluntary allegiance,” the author notes. He adds that Somalia benefits from significant military, intelligence, and financial backing from international allies, mitigating the risk of a regional collapse. Instead of “alarmist pronouncements,” the author calls for a more balanced analysis that acknowledges both the challenges and progress in Somalia’s security landscape.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=49458

#Commentary: Fichee-Cambalaalla: #Sidama’s celestial new year ushers renewal, unity

In this commentary, Girum Tesfaye, an academic staff member at Hawassa University and a PhD candidate in social anthropology at Addis Ababa University, explores the cultural and spiritual significance of Fichee-Cambalaalla, the Sidama people’s New Year festival. “Fichee-Cambalaalla is more than a New Year; it is a reaffirmation of identity,” the author states, emphasizing how the annual celebration, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, remains central to the Sidama people’s sense of continuity and communal unity. As communities prepare to mark the occasion on 28 March, the commentary highlights the festival’s deep-rooted traditions and its evolving role in contemporary society.

At the heart of Fichee-Cambalaalla, the author explains, is the work of the Ayyaanto, Sidama astrologers who determine the festival’s timing by observing lunar cycles and the alignment of the Buusa constellation. “Their calculations, rooted in generations of astronomical observation, ensure the festival aligns with both cosmic rhythms and the community’s readiness for renewal,” he notes. Once the date is confirmed, elders and leaders initiate key rituals, including the ceremonial announcement known as Fajjo and the public proclamation, Lallawa. “These rituals emphasize that prosperity hinges on harmony—a principle woven into every facet of Sidama life,” the author remarks, stressing the festival’s role in fostering reconciliation and collective well-being.

The commentary also explores the festival’s broader significance, from its emphasis on communal feasting and environmental stewardship to concerns over modernization’s impact on traditional practices. “While Fichee-Cambalaalla remains anchored in tradition, its contemporary relevance has expanded,” the author observes, pointing to growing efforts by scholars and local initiatives to sustain cultural heritage through education and community engagement. As the celebration gains wider recognition, the piece reflects on its enduring message. “In the Sidama’s celestial rhythms and communal bonds lies a message for humanity: that renewal is possible when we honor our past, steward our environment, and nurture unity.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=49463

#Ethiopia: Parliament reviews draft waste management bill, proposes mandatory clean-up zones

The House of People's Representatives (#HPR) has reviewed a draft proclamation on solid waste management and disposal, which would require individuals to clean solid waste within 20 meters of their living areas and obligate organizations to manage waste within a 50-meter radius.

If enacted, the proclamation would hold producers of glass, ceramics, sealed water containers, and plastic responsible for "collecting their products after use" and implementing recycling systems. It also proposes a ban on the "production, import, sale, and use" of single-use plastic bags.

The draft proclamation was discussed on March 26, 2025, in a session organized by the Standing Committee on Water, Irrigation lowland development Affairs. During this session, government officials and private sector stakeholders debated its potential implications.

Read more at: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1905271145684672751