#Breaking: #Pope_Francis has died on Easter Monday at age of 88

At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words:

"Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."

The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days.

Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18.

After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-dies-on-easter-monday-aged-88.html

#Ethiopia, #Kenya sign free-trade agreement

Ethiopia and Kenya have come to bilateral agreement to collaborate on the implementation of African Continental Free Trade Area.

The two parties represented by senior government officials of the respective governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to fast-track the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area between Kenya and Ethiopia on a simplified trade regime.

Speaking in Mombasa the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui said that the government wants to fast-track the trade at the border following continued challenges within the border communities living in Moyale, Kenya.

Kinyanjui said there have been significant challenges, thus the need for the agreement, hoping to ensure that communities living within the border can do trade freely.

https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/kenya-signs-free-trade-agreement-with-ethiopia/

#Ethiopia Parliament approves controversial media law amendment

The amendment significantly reshapes the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) by repealing Article 9(5)(a) of the media law, which had mandated specific representation from civil society and media sectors on the EMA Board. The new provision replaces this with a more general requirement for representatives from “bodies relevant to the media,” raising concerns about transparency and sectoral balance. Additionally, the amendment transfers key regulatory powers - including licensing, suspension, and fines - from the Board to the Authority itself.

EMA officials defend the changes as necessary for streamlining governance and improving operational efficiency, aligning the institution’s role with its statutory mandate while keeping it under parliamentary oversight.

Despite these justifications, the amendment has sparked strong opposition from journalists, civil society, and international watchdogs. A coalition of 14 Ethiopian media and civil society organizations and international media freedom defenders criticized the changes for being developed without an independent review or inclusive consultations. They warn the reforms risk placing EMA under executive influence. The International Press Institute (IPI) has also condemned the proposal, urging lawmakers to reject it due to concerns it could undermine the independence of Ethiopia’s media regulator and threaten press freedom. https://addisstandard.com/ethiopia-parliament-approves-controversial-media-law-amendment/

#LasAnod officials confirm death of #Ethiopia Consular official in #Garowe, blame Al-Shabaab

As of now, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not officially confirmed the death of Farah Aydiid Jama, nor if he was an official on active duty at the Ethiopian Consulate in Garowe at the time of the killing.

The Eastern Sool authorities have not released a full statement on the matter, either, and investigations are said to be ongoing.

But speaking to a local media, the Attorney General of the Eastern Sool Administration, Avv. Cabdillaahi Xirsi, confirmed that Farah Aydiid Jama was killed in Las Anod by unidentified gunmen, whom he identified as suspected members of Al-Shabaab. The attackers have not yet been apprehended.

“He was badly beaten and then shot. His body shows signs of torture,” @HornDiplomat quoted the Attorney General Avv. Cabdillaahi as saying. https://addisstandard.com/las-anod-officials-confirm-death-of-ethiopia-consular-official-in-garowe-blame-al-shabaab/

#Ethiopia: City Driver’s Vehicle Licensing and Control Authority to provide training in #Afaan_Oromo, #Tigrinya, and #Af_Somali languages

The Addis Abeba City Administration's Driver Vehicle Licensing and Control Authority has announced that, for the first time, driver’s license training will be provided in three more local languages: Afaan Oromo, Tigrinya, and Af Somali languages.

The Authority said today that so far, the theoretical training and exam for prospective drivers have only been provided in Amharic. “However, for a long time, there has been a demand that if candidates are allowed to receive training and take the exam in their preferred native languages, they would be able to achieve better results.”

According to the Authority, out of the 137 licensed training institutions, 12 model institutions have been granted permission to provide instruction in the three additional languages alongside Amharic. It further said that the change was “part of the ongoing reform process.”

#Tigray Interim President unveils new cabinet, reinstates army members suspended by predecessor

Lt. Gen. Tadesse Worede, the newly appointed President of the Tigray Interim Administration, has announced a streamlined Cabinet, reducing its members from 27 to 21 and cutting the number of Deputy Presidents from two to one. Although the official list of the names has yet to be made public, sources told Addis Standard that Amanuel Assefa, deputy chairman of the #TPLF under Debretsion Gebremichael, has been selected as the sole deputy president.

Similarly, in a major move late last week, Lt. Gen. Tadesse also overturned the suspensions of three senior generals - Masho Beyene, Migbey Haile, and Yohannes W/Giorgis, previously imposed by Getachew on March 10. He also reinstated General Fiseha Kidanu as head of the Bureau of Peace and Security after Getachew had removed him when the bureau opposed the suspensions.

The reversal not only restores these senior military figures to their roles but also brings back Brig. General Migbey who also faced accusations from the Ethiopian Defense Ministry of aiding recent Fano-led armed attacks in the Amhara region shortly after he was suspended by Getachew. https://addisstandard.com/tigray-interim-president-unveils-new-cabinet-reinstates-army-members-suspended-by-predecessor/

#German #Bitcoin miner looking to launch a 10MW facility in #Ethiopia

German Bitcoin mining company, #TeraHash, is gearing up to launch its first facility in Ethiopia, according to local reports.

The company is currently raising $5 million to establish a 10-megawatt (MW) site near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with operations expected to commence in the next two to three months capitalizing on Ethiopia’s emergence as a major Bitcoin mining hub.

Developed in collaboration with two local partners, the facility marks Terahash’s entry into Ethiopia’s emerging Bitcoin mining sector. If the initial phase goes smoothly, the company aims to scale up operations to 60 megawatts, potentially requiring an additional investment of $40 to $60 million.

https://bitcoinke.io/2025/04/terahash-looking-to-launch-a-bitcoin-mining-facility-in-ethiopia/

#Ethiopian Army claims killing hundreds of #Fano fighters signaling new heights in ongoing conflict in #Amhara region

The army’s claims of the latest operation comes in the backdrop of several unconfirmed reports of heavy civilians’ casualties due to multiple drone strikes, underscoring an escalation of a conflict that has transformed Amhara regional state into a militarized zone and humanitarian crisis hotspot since the conflict started in August 2023.

In a statement released over the easter weekend, the ENDF claimed to have conducted a “string of operations” across North Shewa and Gojjam zones of the region. It also claimed that in Basona Wereda of North Shewa, “four leaders” of the armed Fano militant group were “neutralized along with 50 armed fighters.” https://addisstandard.com/ethiopian-army-claims-killing-hundreds-of-fano-fighters-signaling-new-heights-in-ongoing-conflict-in-amhara-region/

#Ethiopian Embassy in #Djibouti advises voluntary return of nationals before migrant crackdown deadline

The Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti has issued a caution to Ethiopian nationals without resident permits to voluntarily return to their country of origin amid warning from Djibouti authorities to deport foreign nationals residing in the country without legal permits, including "a large number of Ethiopians."

Authorities in Djibouti set a deadline for voluntary return of foreign nationals without legal permits to stay between 3 April and 2 May 2025., “after which forced repatriations may occur.”

Since 2023, Djibouti has intensified its efforts to curb irregular migration. In April 2023, the country’s Interior Minister declared that Djibouti had become “saturated” due to a large influx of migrants, citing a figure of 220,000 undocumented arrivals in 2022. The Minister announced a sweeping crackdown on irregular migration.

In October last year, Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti has confirmed that all 48 migrants who lost their lives in an incident off the coast of Djibouti were Ethiopian nationals. https://addisstandard.com/ethiopian-embassy-in-djibouti-advises-voluntary-return-of-nationals-before-migrant-crackdown-deadline/

Forced displacement in #Sudan’s North #Darfur overwhelming aid operations: #UN

Aid organizations are struggling to respond to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s North Darfur, being driven by attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the United Nations has warned.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, said in a statement released late on Sunday that access for humanitarian aid remains “dangerously restricted” in the capital city of el-Fasher and surrounding areas, where the RSF has launched multiple attacks over recent weeks.

Those attacks have triggered a mass exodus from Zamzam, Abu Shouk and other refugee camps, a situation which is “increasingly fluid” and “unpredictable” amid fears that the RSF is preparing a broader offensive.

Two years into its conflict with Sudan’s military government, the RSF attacked Zamzam – said to have sheltered up to 1 million people – and Abu Shouk camps just more than a week ago, killing at least 300 people and forcing up to 400,000 residents to flee 60km (37 miles) across the desert to the town of Tawila.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/21/forced-displacement-in-sudans-north-darfur-overwhelming-aid-operations-un

Former #US Senator Bob Menendez's wife, Nadine Menendez, convicted at bribery trial

Nadine Menendez, the wife of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, was convicted on Monday of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of bribes in exchange for her husband doing favors for #Egypt and New Jersey businessmen.

Nadine Menendez, 58, was found guilty on all 15 counts she faced, including bribery, honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent. She had pleaded not guilty.

Menendez will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein in Manhattan on June 12.

Bob Menendez, a Democrat who represented New Jersey for 18-1/2 years, was sentenced in January to 11 years in prison.

"Nadine Menendez and Senator Menendez were partners in crime," acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said in a statement after the verdict. "Together, Nadine Menendez and the Senator placed their own interests and greed ahead of the interests of the citizens the Senator was elected to serve."

https://www.reuters.com/legal/former-us-senator-bob-menendezs-wife-nadine-convicted-bribery-trial-2025-04-21/

Severe funding gap forces #UN to halt life-saving treatment for 650,000 women, children amid ‘rapidly deteriorating’ food insecurity in #Ethiopia

Despite optimistic projections by the government for the 2024 main Meher season crops – sown in June and July across major agricultural regions – the UN has cautioned in October last year that Ethiopia still faces significant food security challenges due to a combination of compounding crises.

“The situation is rapidly deteriorating,” the UN food aid agency stated. “Without urgent new funding, 3.6 million of Ethiopia’s most vulnerable people will lose access to WFP’s life-saving food and nutrition assistance in the coming weeks.”

Malnutrition rates have reached crisis levels, with 4.4 million pregnant and breastfeeding women and children requiring treatment. In several regions- including #Somali, #Oromia, #Tigray, and #Afar – child wasting rates have exceeded the emergency threshold of 15 percent.

Compounding the crisis is persistent violence and instability in Ethiopia’s Amhara region are severely hindering the humanitarian efforts, jeopardizing assistance to “more than half a million people in need,” the UN said, adding, a surge in criminal activity – including vehicle hijackings, threats, and theft – that is endangering staff and obstructing the safe delivery of life-saving aid. https://addisstandard.com/severe-funding-gap-forces-un-to-halt-life-saving-treatment-for-650000-women-children-amid-rapidly-deteriorating-food-insecurity-in-ethiopia/

#Somaliland eyes #UAE as strategic ally, diplomacy in push for global recognition and investment

In his Annual State of the Nation Address, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi Irro reaffirmed Somaliland’s steadfast pursuit of international recognition, while highlighting deepening diplomatic and economic ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a cornerstone of the nation's foreign policy.

Addressing Parliament, President Irro emphasized his administration’s efforts to elevate Somaliland’s global presence, stating, “We have worked diligently to ensure that the voice of the Republic of Somaliland is heard in key international forums.” He described the UAE as a “vital strategic partner,” announcing that the Gulf nation has pledged major investments across Somaliland’s key sectors - including livestock, agriculture, fisheries, and mining - while also committing to support Somaliland’s access to international markets.

Technical teams from both nations are already collaborating to implement these agreements. Additionally, the UAE is providing support in essential infrastructure development, including healthcare, education, water, and road construction.

The President further noted growing diplomatic engagement with the #United_States and the #United_Kingdom, citing renewed U.S. interest in Somaliland’s development agenda and ongoing UK support in security and broader partnerships.

“Somaliland is forging meaningful relationships with key nations capable of supporting our national cause,” President Irro affirmed, signaling a renewed push for sovereignty through strategic global engagement.

“We have also established meaningful diplomatic channels with key nations that are well-positioned to support our national cause. Notably, we have strengthened our engagement with the United States, encouraging greater interest in Somaliland’s development, and with the United Kingdom, from whom we have received support in the area of security cooperation and broader partnership initiatives..” he said.
https://www.horndiplomat.com/2025/04/somaliland-president-unveils-bold-foreign-policy-strengthens-global-ties/

#Ethiopia: #CPJ warns of ‘sensitive data misuse’ amid police’s continued seizure of multiple electronic devices confiscated in raid on Addis Standard

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has voiced “grave concerns about potential misuse of sensitive data,” and called on Ethiopian authorities to “drop their investigations into Addis Standard and return its equipment,”after recent police raids led to mass confiscation by the police of electrics devises from the home and office of the publication.

“The Addis Standard raids are the latest moves in the Ethiopian government’s campaign to silence independent media. The confiscation of the outlet’s equipment raises grave concerns about potential misuse of sensitive data,” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Muthoki Mumo.

Yonas Kedir, Editor-in-Chief of the publication, said that following a visit at the Federal Police Crime Investigation Unite on 22 April the police informed him and a defense lawyer present at the meeting that “they will access the confiscated devises”, which included eight laptops, two desktops, flash disks and external storage belonging to the publishing company, as well as 9 mobile phones belonging to its journalists, and one mobile phone belonging to a spouse of a senior staff member and “retain backup data” before returning the devises “may be sometime next week.”

Speaking to the CPJ, Jeylan Abdi, Federal Police spokesperson, said he could not comment, citing the matter, was “currently pending in court.” He failed to provide details or respond to further inquiries.

However, as of now, there is “no case brought to a court of law” against the publication, according to the editor-in-chief. https://addisstandard.com/?p=49833

#Turkey secures rights to 90 percent of oil and gas output in #Somalia deal, document shows

The full text of a wide-ranging hydrocarbons agreement between Turkey and Somalia has been made public following its submission to the Turkish Parliament for ratification on April 22. The release of the document has offered the first detailed insight into the scope, terms and strategic intentions behind Ankara’s deepening energy and defense partnership with Mogadishu. Turkey has secured sweeping operational and financial privileges according to the agreement.

The document, officially titled “Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia in the Field of Hydrocarbons,” was signed on March 7, 2024, in Istanbul by Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Somali Petroleum Minister Abdirizak Omar Mohamed. It was only recently made public as part of parliamentary proceedings.

According to official justifications attached to the submission, the agreement is a key component of Turkey’s Africa Opening Strategy, which identifies Somalia as a priority country due to its strategic maritime location and untapped energy resources. Somali territory is estimated to contain 6 billion cubic meters of proven natural gas reserves and as much as 30 billion barrels of offshore hydrocarbon potential.
https://nordicmonitor.com/2025/04/turkey-secures-exceptional-rights-in-somalia-oil-agreement-documents-show/

#Anthrax outbreak kills seven people, 15 livestock in West #Omo zone, Southwest #Ethiopia region
At least seven people and 15 livestock have died following an anthrax outbreak in Koka Kebele, Suri District of West Omo Zone in the Southwest Ethiopia Regional State, local officials said.

The outbreak, which began on Thursday, 17 April, occurred in an area known for its significant livestock population.

Belete Girma, head of the West Omo Zone Pastoral Development Office, told DW that a joint team from the zone’s pastoral and health departments was dispatched to the affected area, confirming the presence of anthrax after conducting field assessments. “It has been confirmed that 7 people and 15 domestic animals have died from the disease,” he said.

According to Belete, health professionals have started providing medical treatment to affected individuals, while vaccinations for livestock have begun. He also noted that awareness-raising activities are being carried out in the community to prevent the spread of the disease to neighboring districts.https://addisstandard.com/anthrax-outbreak-kills-seven-people-15-livestock-in-west-omo-zone-southwest-ethiopia-region/

#Kenya set to overtake #Ethiopia as East Africa’s largest economy

Kenya’s economy is set to surpass Ethiopia’s to become East Africa’s largest this year, the International Monetary Fund (#IMF) said, after the birr was devalued. The fund estimates Kenya’s gross domestic product will be $132 billion in 2025, higher than Ethiopia’s $117 billion.

The shift follows Ethiopia’s decision to liberalize its exchange rate regime in July, ending more than five decades of tight currency controls. The birr has since depreciated by over 55% against the US dollar. The move enabled the country to secure a $3.4 billion financing package from the IMF and an additional $16.6 billion from the World Bank. It also allowed authorities to initiate negotiations with creditors to restructure at least half of Ethiopia’s $28.9 billion in external debt.

In contrast, the Kenyan shilling appreciated by around 21% in 2024, making it the world’s best-performing currency, according to the IMF. The strengthening was supported by Kenya’s $1.5 billion Eurobond sale in February, which increased gross reserves. Kenya’s Treasury said the improved external position was also driven by higher remittance inflows and export earnings over the past year.

Despite the gains, Kenya faces internal economic pressures. A plan to increase taxes and reduce the budget deficit triggered widespread protests in 2023, which left at least 60 people dead. The government later withdrew key measures, undermining fiscal targets under its four-year $3.6 billion IMF-supported program. The arrangement was terminated early, with Kenya forgoing about $850 million in expected disbursements.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-22/kenya-set-to-overtake-ethiopia-as-east-africa-s-largest-economy

#Ethiopia: "Very disappointed to see Addis Ababa police raid Addis Standard. This is not an irresponsible scandal sheet but an objective publication. No government likes independent media - which holds those in power accountable - but democracies accept it."

Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Ambassador Tibor Nagy reacting to the news of the police raid on this publication and seizure of multiple electronics devises on 17 April.

#Egypt-#Djibouti: President Sisi, Djiboutian counterpart reject threats to security, freedom of navigation in #Red_Sea

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his Djiboutian counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh have witnessed the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on Wednesday.

This came during their meeting at the Djiboutian presidential palace, where an official reception ceremony was held for president Sisi, the presidency spokesperson said.

The two leaders held a tete-a-tete meeting, followed by an expanded session attended by the delegations of both countries. Then, the Djiboutian president held a luncheon in honor of President Sisi.

They witnessed the signing of several agreements and MoUs, and then held a press conference during which they reviewed the highlights of the discussions.

During the conference, President Sisi and his Djiboutian counterpart reiterated their rejection of threats to security and freedom of navigation in the international trade in the Red Sea, underlining the importance of adhering to the principles and foundations of regional security.

They agreed on the exclusive responsibility of the countries bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to govern and secure this important international maritime passageway.

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/139755/President-Sisi-Djiboutian-counterpart-reject-threats-to-security-freedom-of

#Ethiopia: More than 100 people killed in drone strike in East #Gojjam zone, #Amhara region; eyewitnesses report civilian casualties

More than 100 people were reportedly killed in a drone strike on Thursday, 17 April, in Gedeb, a rural town in Enarj Enawga district of East Gojam Zone, Amhara region, according to residents and eyewitnesses who spoke to the BBC. The attack, which occurred near Gedeb Primary School, struck an area where locals had gathered for what they described as “development work,” including building a fence for the school. One resident, who said he was present at the time, described a scene of “screaming, commotion, and panic,” and added, “Everything turned black… there were no recognizable human forms in the entire area.” Another resident who sustained injuries said there was a “heavy explosion” and claimed that “many people were injured.”

Locals reported that between 115 and 120 bodies were buried at Gedeb St. Giorgis Church, with one man saying, “I think there might be more unaccounted for because we were in a state of panic.” Residents said that bodies were buried in a mass grave in about five graves. The incident, which occurred days before the Easter holiday, left the community in mourning, with one witness saying, “It didn’t feel like a holiday at all.” However, Enarj Enawga district administrator Mulu Gete told the BBC the drone strike targeted “extremist” #Fano militants and dismissed reports of civilian deaths as “enemy propaganda.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=49854

#Ethiopia: “Going to #Saudi-Arabia, or to my grave”; despair drives #Oromia youth to risk deadly migration

Negesu Tabse, an elderly farmer in Kofele, a district of the Arsi Zone in central Oromia, remembers the day his 17-year-old son disappeared from their home. “Sometimes Abdelfattah would say, ‘This life is not good; maybe I need to go somewhere else,’” he recalled. Weeks later, the family received a phone call from Las Anod, a contested Somali town between breakaway #Somaliland and Puntland. Abdelfattah, who had left with the help of a dalala (smuggler), said he had been “beaten” and forced “to call for money or be killed.” Negesu sent 30,000 birr to the traffickers. “Please come back, my son, I will share everything I have with you,” he pleaded. “He didn’t accept,” said Negesu. “He said he needed to work and change his life.”

In Oromia, where protests led by the #Qeerroo youth movement erupted in 2014, frustration has increasingly given way to despair. The movement, once a powerful symbol of resistance to unemployment, displacement, and repression, is now eclipsed by a sense of resignation. “In the small towns, there is just no work,” said Terje Østebø, professor at the University of Florida and an expert on Oromia. “Corruption is completely out of control, and prisons across Oromia are filled with people.” Government forces, he added, “can accuse anyone of being #OLA… if you don’t pay, you’ll be put in prison.”

According to local officials, tens of thousands are now leaving Oromia each year, most via the so-called Eastern Route that passes through Somaliland and Puntland before attempting a crossing to Yemen and onward to Saudi Arabia. In 2024 alone, nearly 185,000 Ethiopians were recorded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as taking this route — a one-third increase from the previous year. Aid workers and local authorities say a significant proportion of them are Oromo. “They feel they have no choice but to go abroad and change their lives,” said Bushra Ibrahim, a Qeerroo representative in Ashoka, a small town in Kofele.

The risks are grave. Boats crossing the Gulf of Aden frequently capsize, and violence by smugglers is rampant. “Musa said: ‘Don’t follow me. The road and the situation is very difficult,’” recalled Bonsai Said, whose eldest son eventually reached Saudi Arabia after paying a ransom. But her younger son, Ramato, followed just weeks later. He too called to request money. “We are very worried,” she said. The family has not heard from him since February.

Despite the dangers, more young men continue to leave. As a popular local saying now goes: “Gala Suudii, yookin gala luudii” — “I am going to Saudi Arabia, or to my grave.”

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2025/04/23/ethiopia-frustrated-youth-south-south-migration-africa