#MayDay rallies spotlight workers’ struggles globally as #Ethiopia’s workers’ plight stands in stark contrast

Around the world, workers marched in solidarity this May Day, calling for fair wages, safe working conditions, and greater protections amid ongoing economic and political challenges. From Paris to Manila, and São Paulo to Johannesburg, labor unions rallied under banners of dignity and justice for the working class.

In Ethiopia, however, the gradual absence of a May Day rally is only matched by the growing strain on workers and the silencing of their collective voice.

This week the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU), once the main organizer of the annual Workers’ Day rally, which is is no longer able to hold the event, issued a statement in connection with the day in which it warned of the deepening crisis facing laborers in the country.

CETU warned that workers “living paycheck to paycheck” are buckling under “rising living costs and low wages,” and urged the government to reconsider new salary deductions proposed in a draft bill to fund disaster risk management. The measure would mandate monthly deductions from both public and private sector wages adding pressure to already strained livelihoods.

In a separate but deeply alarming revelation aired on the local Sheger FM this week citing a recent study, women working in Ethiopia’s industrial parks have now turned to commercial sex work to survive, as factory wages fail to cover basic living expenses. AS

Pictures: AP

#Sudan: #RSF paramilitary fighters strike the #Khartoum presidential palace

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces shelled the presidential palace in Khartoum on Thursday, May 1, in their second bombardment of the capital in less than a week, an army source said. The paramilitaries fired long-range artillery at the palace from the al-Salha neighborhood across the White Nile, their closest position since the army recaptured Khartoum in March, the source told Agence France-Presse (AFP), on condition of anonymity. There were no immediate reports of any casualties from the shelling, which followed a similar bombardment of the army's General Command headquarters in Khartoum on Saturday.

The paramilitaries have been at war with the regular army since April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced 13 million more. Since its loss of Khartoum in April, the RSF has focused on consolidating its control of the vast western region of Darfur, where the besieged city of el-Fasher is the last major population center still in the army's hands.

In the past three weeks, at least 542 civilians have been confirmed killed in North Darfur, the United Nations said on Thursday. "The horror unfolding in Sudan knows no bounds," UN human rights chief Volker Türk said in a statement The conflict has effectively split Sudan in two with the army holding the north, east and center, while the RSF controls nearly all of the west and swathes of the south.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/05/01/sudan-rsf-paramilitary-fighters-strike-the-khartoum-presidential-palace_6740808_4.html

#South_African police rescue 44 #Ethiopians in suspected trafficking case

South African police announced on Thursday they had rescued 44 Ethiopian nationals - 17 of them minors - who were allegedly being held captive in an affluent area of Johannesburg.

The group was discovered in a house in Sandton, one of the city’s wealthiest neighbourhoods, following a tip-off prompted by cries for help.

Officers on patrol responded and found the victims locked inside several rooms, according to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo.

https://newscentral.africa/south-african-police-rescue-44-ethiopians-in-suspected-trafficking-case/

#Somali Speaker bans four cabinet ministers from Parliament over security concerns

Somali Lower House Speaker Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur (Aden Madoobe) has banned four federal cabinet ministers, who are also serving members of Parliament, from attending the upcoming sessions of the House of the People due to security concerns.

In a statement issued Thursday, Speaker Madoobe said the Parliament’s Sub-Committee on Legislation will recommend appropriate disciplinary measures against the ministers, in line with the House’s bylaws.

The move comes after the four lawmakers were seen engaging in Wednesday’s heated altercation on the floor of Parliament, during which they allegedly threatened opposition MPs.

https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2025/May/201366/somali_speaker_bans_four_cabinet_ministers_from_parliament_over_security_concerns.aspx

Op-ed: Assessment of #Somalia’s security landscape and prospects of counterterrorism efforts

This op-ed discusses in detail recent developments in Somalia including details showing how Al-Shabaab is gaining ground in central and southern Somalia, tightening its grip around Mogadishu and re-emerging in areas once declared liberated.

The Somali federal government is struggling to hold territory, allowing the group to position itself “as an alternative governing authority.”

This development leaves Somalia’s future at a crossroads in which three scenarios could define its short- to mid-term trajectory: a continued stalemate, a gradual recovery, or a dangerous slide toward “Afghanization.”

The most likely path is a prolonged war of attrition, where neither the government nor al-Shabaab gains a decisive upper hand. While Mogadishu may secure tactical wins, the group's resilience and ability to exploit weak state presence ensure its continued influence.

“Such a scenario seems more plausible than ever, particularly in light of current regional dynamics that embolden Somali jihadist movements. This should serve as a stark warning to all stakeholders – within and outside Somalia – of the urgent need to avert further deterioration in the country’s security situation.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=49972

Republican senators move to block #Somalia funding until allies pay 'fair share'

Three Republican senators are introducing a bill to block U.S. funding for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (#AUSSOM), unless the United Nations (#UN), African Union (#AU) and European allies increase what they described as their "fair" share of contributions. The proposal, called the AUSSOM Funding Restriction Act of 2025, would “prohibit” the use of U.S. funds under the new U.N. Security Council Resolution 2719, according to information shared with Fox News Digital.

Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the bill is designed “to safeguard U.S. taxpayer funds and hold the U.N. and A.U. accountable in African peace operations.” He claimed, “At the U.N., our European partners are looking to skirt their financial commitments to AUSSOM in Somalia by switching to a new imbalanced funding mechanism that pushes the burden on Americans.” He added, “We can’t let that stand.”

“This bill will prohibit U.S. contributions to AUSSOM under this new funding scheme, until the A.U. and the U.N. can prove that they are using the funds they have responsibly, and prevent Americans from being locked into perpetually funding a broken system,” Risch stated. “For far too long, our allies have taken America for a ride, and profited off of America paying the lion’s share for global security. Europe must continue to shoulder this burden.”

Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), also backing the bill along with Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), said, “The United States will not allow our tax dollars to be exploited by the U.N. while our partners refuse to pay their fair share, much less for a mission that fails to spend these dollars responsibly or transparently.” He added, “I am proud to join my colleagues on the AUSSOM Funding Restriction Act to ensure Americans’ interests are put first, and their tax dollars spent wisely.”

https://www.foxnews.com/world/republican-senators-move-block-somalia-funding-until-allies-pay-fair-share

#EU, 14 diplomatic missions in #Addis raise alarm over shrinking press freedom as #Ethiopia slides into 145th globally

On World Press Freedom Day, 14 diplomatic missions in Ethiopia, including those of the United Kingdom and France, expressed concern over the "significant pressure" on freedom of expression in the country, calling for journalists to be "protected" and press freedom "respected." They emphasized that ensuring the protection of journalists and respect for press freedom, "together with an open political and civic space," is "key to building free and prosperous societies." The European Union also affirmed that "without press freedom, the right to information and freedom to think critically are compromised," reinforcing its commitment to defending "free and independent journalism."

This statement comes as Ethiopia’s press freedom continues to decline, with the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (#RSF) ranking the country 145th globally, placing it in the "very serious" category for the first time. Ethiopia now joins other nations facing a "worrying decline" in press freedom, including Uganda and Rwanda.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=49978

#Sudanese paramilitary #RSF kills 19 after taking city of al-Nahud: Sources

Fighting in the Sudanese city of al-Nahud, a strategic city in West Kordofan state acting as a gateway to the #Darfur region, has killed 19 people and left 37 wounded, according to sources who spoke to Al Jazeera, in the latest eruption of violence in the brutal two-year civil war. Local sources told Al Jazeera that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which declared on Telegram that it had “liberated” al-Nahud from the Sudanese Armed Forces (#SAF) on Thursday, had rampaged through neighborhoods, looting the market, houses, and cars. Al Jazeera understands that a doctor, a journalist, and a police officer were among those killed as paramilitaries overcame the city, held by the SAF since the start of the conflict that has left tens of thousands dead and uprooted more than 12 million.

Control over al-Nahud has become a priority for both the RSF and SAF as fighting between the two intensifies in Darfur, where 542 people have been killed in the past three weeks alone, according to the United Nations on Thursday. The RSF has been doubling down on Darfur in recent weeks after losing the national capital, Khartoum, last month, in a bid to seize regional capital el-Fasher, the last major population center still in the army’s hands, located 400 kilometers (250 miles) west of al-Nahud.

Recent violence in el-Fasher and the nearby refugee camps of Zamzam and Abu Shouk has caused hundreds of thousands of people to flee 60 km (37 miles) across the desert to the town of Tawila. As it continues its campaign in Darfur, the paramilitary group has also been inching closer to Khartoum again, shelling the presidential palace in its second attack on the capital in less than a week.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2025/5/2/sudanese-paramilitaries-kill-19-after-taking-city-of-al-nahud-sources

#Harar: The #Ethiopian bookbinder connecting a city’s people with its forgotten past

When Abdallah Ali Sherif was growing up in eastern Ethiopia, his parents never spoke about the history of his city.

“When I asked my parents about our history, they told me we didn’t have one,” the kind-faced 75-year-old recalls as he reclines on a thin mattress on the floor of his home in Harar’s old walled city. Shelves of dusty cassettes line the walls and old newspapers lie scattered about the floor.

The father of five and grandfather of 17 pauses to pluck some khat leaves to chew as he explains: “Our parents were afraid to teach us about our culture or our history.”
For centuries, Harar, with its colorful clay houses and narrow cobblestone streets, was a center of Islamic scholarship and home to a thriving manuscript culture producing Qurans, legal texts and prayer books in Arabic and Ajami, a modified Arabic script used to write Indigenous African languages.

Nestled atop a plateau that overlooks deserts and savannas linking the coastal lowlands and central highlands of Ethiopia and Somalia, in the 16th century, Harar became the capital of the Adal Sultanate, which at its height controlled large parts of modern-day Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Eritrea.
https://aje.io/it8qk0

Mass arrests and beatings: how #Ethiopia went from celebrating journalists to jailing them

When Ethiopia was chosen by the United Nations to host the global celebrations for World Press Freedom Day in May 2019, it held a glitzy ceremony in the capital, Addis Abeba, attended by nearly 1,000 people.

The prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, had come to power a year earlier promising to end decades of repression and usher in an unprecedented era of freedom. Exiled news outlets were invited back to Ethiopia, journalists were released from prison and a host of new publications sprang up.

But any hopes of a lasting press freedom were dashed in 2020 with the outbreak of warbetween Abiy’s military forces and local rulers in Tigray, Ethiopia’s northernmost region. Amid mounting allegations of atrocities, the government restricted journalists’ access to Tigray and imposed a communication blackout, cutting off the region’s phone and internet.

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Addis Standard has had repeated run-ins with the government. In 2020, a senior member of its newsroom was detained without charge for two months. In 2021, the government briefly suspended the outlet, halting work in its newsroom for a week. Late last year, its video team were detained for a day as they were reporting on people migrating to Addis Abeba.

Just two weeks ago police raided the Standard’s office and the home of an employee, confiscating computers and phones, and detaining three managers, one of whom was assaulted, Tsedale says.

“We’re operating as if we’re under this total state of emergency, [and] this constant cloud of fear doesn’t give journalists the confidence to stay the course with you,” says Tsedale. “No matter how many resources you spend training and mentoring them, they are always on the lookout for a safer, secure job.”

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/ng-interactive/2025/may/05/mass-arrests-and-beatings-how-ethiopia-went-from-celebrating-journalists-to-jailing-them

#Somaliland, #UK ink MoU to strengthen statistical systems

Somaliland’s Ministry of Planning and National Development has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Kingdom’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), in a step toward strengthening Somaliland’s statistical infrastructure.

The agreement focuses on collaboration in statistical development, data governance, and capacity-building. It outlines a shared commitment to improving data production, collection, analysis, and dissemination, while promoting knowledge exchange and technical support.

As part of the initiative, training programs will be introduced to equip staff from Somaliland’s Statistics Department with the skills needed to meet international standards.

“This partnership represents a significant milestone in our journey to build a modern, evidence-based policy environment,” said a spokesperson from the Ministry. “By working with the UK ONS, we hope to develop a resilient statistical system that meets both local needs and global benchmarks.”

https://www.horndiplomat.com/2025/05/somaliland-signs-landmark-mou-with-uk-ons-to-strengthen-and-modernize-national-statistics/

Analysis: ‘We are prepared to take appropriate legal measures’: #Ethiopian health workers issue ten-day ultimatum to Ministry

In yet another plea to draw attention to rising health worker’s plight, the Ethiopian Health Professionals Movement has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Ministry of Health, demanding, once again, urgent reform, fair compensation, and dignified working conditions for the country’s neglected health professionals.

This comes in the heels of a recent campaign across Ethiopia by health professionals raising their voices under the hashtags #HealthWorkersMatter, #PayHealthWorkersFairly, and #HealthForAll.

A letter signed over the weekend on behalf of health workers nationwide lays bare the dire conditions they endure: low wages, no housing, minimal medical coverage, and a life “below human dignity.” The letter says the call is not political, but a fundamental demand for justice, fairness, and survival.

One of the most striking parts of the letter recounts the tragic reality health workers are facing in today’s Ethiopia. “It has become a common reality to see health professionals die due to lack of treatment, not to mention the increasing number of professionals who go out to beg in public saying, ‘Treat us,’ due to lack of money.”

“Because we are health professionals, we have been forced to bow our heads and live a life below human dignity.” https://addisstandard.com/we-are-prepared-to-take-appropriate-legal-measures-ethiopian-health-workers-issue-ten-days-ultimatum-to-ministry/

#Sudan: Paramilitaries strike #Port_Sudan for first time, army says

A drone attack launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck a military airport in the city of Port Sudan on Sunday, according to the Sudanese army.

It marks the first time RSF attacks have reached the city - the de-facto capital of Sudan's military-led government - since the conflict between the warring factions erupted two years ago.

Sudanese army spokesperson Nabil Abdullah said the RSF had launched several "suicide drones" at the eastern Red Sea port city, targeting the Osman Digna Air Base, "a goods warehouse and some civilian facilities".

He said no injuries had been reported but the attack had caused "limited damage". The RSF has not commented on the incident.

Sudan plunged into conflict in April 2023 when a vicious power struggle broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF, a powerful paramilitary group, ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule.


https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20xwyj843do

A Rejoinder - Strategic calculus, not capitulation: A response to alarmist argument on #Turkey-#Somalia hydrocarbons agreement

In a rejoinder submitted to Addis Standard, a Mogadishu-based senior researcher challenges a recent article in this publication: “Fueling fragility: Turkey’s Somalia oil deal could risk new crisis in the Horn,” arguing that the piece adopts “a predictably skeptical” stance toward the Turkey-Somalia hydrocarbons agreement.

While acknowledging the importance of cautious governance in resource development, the rejoinder contends that Ahmed’s argument relies on “an overly simplistic narrative of exploitation and impending crisis.” It further argues that such a perspective fails to appreciate the strategic economic rationale behind the deal, the global norms that guide emerging oil-producing countries, and Turkey’s stabilizing engagement in the Horn of Africa.

Central to the earlier critique was the claim that the agreement grants Turkey “sweeping control” and is inherently “exploitative” due to the 90% cost recovery clause. However, the rejoinder counters that this interpretation misrepresents how Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) function, describing them as a “globally recognized and widely adopted framework” for countries like Somalia, which lack the capital and advanced offshore drilling capabilities.

In closing, the Mogadishu-based senior researcher concedes that article was right to stress “transparency and inclusive regional engagement,” but argues that his analysis distorts the broader significance of the deal. Rather than “fueling fragility,” the agreement is framed as a “strategic imperative”, a calculated move to unlock Somalia’s untapped energy potential, secure much-needed investment, and initiate long-term economic revival.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=49997

#ICJ dismisses #Sudan’s genocide case alleging #UAE backing of RSF rebels

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has dismissed a case brought by Sudan accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of breaching the Genocide Convention by arming and funding the rebel Rapid Support Forces (#RSF) in Sudan’s civil war. In its decision on Monday, the court said it “manifestly lacked” the authority to continue the proceedings and ordered the case be removed from its docket.

While both Sudan and the UAE are signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention, the court noted that the UAE has “a carveout” to the article that gives the ICJ jurisdiction. In March, Sudan had asked the court for several provisional measures, including ordering the UAE to take steps to prevent killings and other crimes targeting the Masalit people in Darfur. The UAE called the filing “a publicity stunt” and argued that the court had no jurisdiction—a position the court upheld.

Reem Ketait, deputy assistant minister for political affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed the ruling, saying it was “a clear and decisive affirmation of the fact that this case was utterly baseless.” She added, “The court’s finding that it is without jurisdiction confirms that this case should never have been brought.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2025/5/5/icj-dismisses-sudans-genocide-case-alleging-uae-backing-of-rsf-rebels

Explosions heard in Sudanese city of Port #Sudan, witness says

A series of explosions and fires were reported early Tuesday in #Port_Sudan, as a civil war rocks the previously quiet city for the third day. A witness told Reuters that "multiple explosions and fires" were seen and heard, though the specific causes and locations remain unclear.

Dark smoke was seen rising near Sudan’s main maritime port, located in the Red Sea city that has served as a hub for displaced civilians, humanitarian groups, and the army-aligned government. A witness reported that “a major hotel in the vicinity of General Abdelfattah al-Burhan’s residence” was also hit in the latest wave of attacks.

The escalation began on Sunday when drones struck a military base near Sudan’s only operational international airport. On Monday, fuel depots in the city were also targeted. Military sources attributed both incidents to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (#RSF), although the RSF has not claimed responsibility. The strikes have drawn condemnation from Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and the United Nations expressed concern over the widening conflict.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/explosions-heard-sudanese-city-port-sudan-reuters-witness-reports-2025-05-06/

#Ethiopia, #Iran police chiefs sign security, intelligence collaboration MoU

Ethiopia and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) paving the way for security cooperation between their national police agencies. According to the Ethiopian Federal Police, the agreement, signed in #Addis_Abeba, outlines “joint efforts to combat cross-border crime, share intelligence, and boost capacity through training and experience exchange.” The MoU was signed by Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael and Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Radan, and includes “mechanisms for periodic monitoring to ensure concrete implementation.”

In March, Commissioner General Demelash met with a delegation led by Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Mohammed, Chief Forensic Investigator of the Dubai Police from the United Arab Emirates (#UAE) . The meeting “focused on strengthening cooperation in criminal investigations,” and discussions covered “cross-border crime and investigative practices.” Commissioner Demelash emphasized ongoing investigations into individuals “accused of committing crimes in Dubai who had later fled to Ethiopia,” and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to “working with the UAE on extraditing suspects” and launching “collaborative experience-sharing programs.”


https://addisstandard.com/?p=50003

#Ethiopia: Salsay Weyane #Tigray says dispute over “technicalities” of #TPLF legal status undermining #CoHA; warns of renewed conflict

Salsay Weyane Tigray, an opposition party in the Tigray region, said the dispute over “the technicalities” of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)’s legal status is “being used to completely undermine” the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), warning that the impasse could heighten the risk of renewed conflict. In a statement on 05 May, the party said “the core demand of the people of Tigray,” including the return of displaced people and restoration of constitutional order, “remains ignored” by both the federal government and facilitators of the Pretoria deal.

The warning comes as the National Election Board of Ethiopia (#NEBE) prepares to revoke the TPLF’s legal status following a three-month suspension for “failing to meet legal obligations.” In a communiqué issued on 03 May, following a three-day consultative meeting of senior and mid-level leadership, TPLF said the directive to register as a new political party “contradicts” the Pretoria Agreement and reduces a political issue to “a mere technical issue.” It said its recognition “is determined by the people of Tigray” and called for the restoration of its legal status in line with the CoHA. The party attributed the stalled implementation of the agreement to “the mishandling of the interim administration by a faction that controlled it,” a lack of federal commitment, and what it described as limited willingness by mediators to enforce the deal “as a package beyond demobilization.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50006

#Rwanda says talks underway with #US to host deported migrants

Rwanda confirmed on Monday that discussions were “underway” with the United States regarding a potential agreement to host deported migrants.

Rwanda’s foreign minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, told state media on Sunday that the talks were in the “early stage.” When asked by the Associated Press on Monday, he confirmed the talks.

Nduhungirehe did not disclose the specifics of the potential deal for Rwanda, but previous local media reports suggest that the US would likely fund a program to have migrants integrated into the society through stipends and job assistance initiatives.

The minister said a migrant deal between Rwanda and the US would be consistent with Rwanda’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian cooperation and the pursuit of migration solutions.

The US state department declined to comment on a potential deal with Rwanda, but said engagement with foreign governments was an important part of the US government’s policy to deter illegal migration.

This wouldn’t be Rwanda’s first time hosting deported migrants. The east African nation previously had an agreement with the UK to host migrants. Plans for the initiative, including prepared accommodations, were in the final stages but the deal collapsed after the Labour party took office in 2024. A similar plan in Australia also failed.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/06/rwanda-us-migrants-deportation