#Editorial: Before the silence turns to strife: The government must heed the voices of peoples’ healers

In its latest editorial, #AddisStandard calls on the #Ethiopian government to urgently address the longstanding and legitimate demands of the country’s medical professionals, cautioning that “the writing is on the wall” as a nationwide strike looms on May 11.

The editorial stresses that the ongoing peaceful demonstrations are not acts of rebellion, but “the final pleas of a profession that has given its all and received next to nothing in return.”

The editorial urges authorities to recognize the dire conditions under which healthcare workers have labored, amid war, crumbling infrastructure, and systemic neglect. Informed by its own years - long coverage, the editorial highlights shocking reports of medical staff dying for lack of care or resorting to begging. Their demands - adequate pay, safety, professional recognition, among others - are not luxuries, but “basic professional expectations in any society that claims to value human life.”

This is not, the editorial insists, “a political stunt,” but a demand for dignity, justice, and survival.

The silence from the government will echo in hospital corridors and emergency rooms, where help used to be. This publication calls on the state to respond not with threats, but with negotiation and action, urging leadership to rise to the moment: “Let it not be remembered that Ethiopia gambled with the health of its people when it could have chosen to invest in those who hold their lives in their hands.” The time to act, is now, before silence gives way to strife.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=50076

News: #Ethiopian Federal Police launches first-ever maritime police to safeguard #GERD reservoir

The Ethiopian Federal Police has launched the country’s first-ever maritime police force to protect the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) reservoir.

With GERD’s artificial lake spanning 1,680 square kilometers and holding up to 74 billion cubic meters of water, the new force, referred to as the coastal or maritime police, is tasked with preventing crimes and potential maritime threats around the strategically important site.

“It has become necessary to organize a police force capable of protecting this long and wide artificial lake,” said Commander Eskedar Birhan. Equipped with specialized weaponry and training, the unit is a response to growing security needs following the reservoir’s full operational capacity and the Federal Police’s earlier plans to procure protective boats through domestic manufacturing.

The announcement coincides with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s confirmation that GERD has completed its water filling process, reaching its full capacity without disrupting downstream flows. “Now GERD is 100% full, the same as the Aswan Dam,” he told parliament, assuring that no harm had come to Egypt’s water reserves during the process.

https://addisstandard.com/ethiopian-federal-police-launches-first-ever-maritime-police-to-safeguard-gerd-reservoir/

#Turkiye discovers 20bn barrels of crude oil in #Somalia

Turkiye has discovered up to 20 billion barrels of crude oil in Somalia, amid Ankara’s exploration drive to find further energy sources in the Horn of Africa region, according to Turkish and Somalia media outlets.

Media reports state that Turkish exploration missions discovered reserves “estimated to contain up to 20 billion barrels of commercially viable crude oil.” While “two blocks it operates in the region have reportedly resulted in significant yields,” the “third block is still being explored and is expected to also contain sufficient commercial quantities of oil.”

The discovery follows an agreement signed last month between Turkiye and Somalia on onshore oil and gas exploration in the East African nation; under the Turkish Petroleum Corporation and Somali Petroleum Authority. The deal has drawn criticism, with reports noting that it grants the Turkish energy authorities around 90 percent of the rights for Somalia’s oil and gas output, and exempting Turkish entities from paying upfront costs such as bonuses and administrative fees.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250509-turkiye-discovers-20bn-barrels-of-crude-oil-in-somalia/

#South_Sudan clashes block aid to 60,000 malnourished children

Fighting along the Nile River in South Sudan has blocked humanitarian assistance from reaching more than 60,000 malnourished children in the northeast of the country for nearly a month, according to a joint statement by the World Food Programme (#WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (#UNICEF) released on Thursday.

The agencies warned that nutrition supplies destined for Upper Nile State—where malnutrition levels are among the highest in the country—are expected to be depleted by the end of May. “Children are already the first to suffer during emergencies,” said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP’s representative in South Sudan, adding that without access to nutrition supplies, the region is “likely to see escalating malnutrition in areas already at breaking point.”

UNICEF representative Obia Achieng stated that the agencies had “reluctantly taken the unprecedented step of holding back supplies,” citing the risk that they “will not reach the children that so desperately need them” due to “ongoing fighting, looting and disruption of the river route.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-sudan-clashes-block-aid-60000-malnourished-children-2025-05-08/

Commentary: Why #Ethiopian university lecturers’ strike failed: A cautionary tale for health professionals

In 2022, Ethiopian university lecturers launched a year-long campaign demanding better pay, housing, and working conditions. But the movement ended in failure, leaving lecturers with little more than a symbolic 500 ETB raise, while top administrators saw their housing allowances quadruple. “Despite the legitimacy of our demands, disunity and political manipulation dismantled the momentum,” writes a former university lecturer and Campus President of the Lecturers’ Association at Arba Minch University, who was also one of strike organizers.

A combination of identity-related tensions, poor timing, and economic vulnerability doomed the lecturers' strike. Attempts to label the movement as politically motivated- linked to Fano or instability in Amhara - fractured support across regions. Many lecturers were forced to choose between survival and solidarity. “Some returned to work just to check their emails,” the writer notes. Ethiopian health professionals must heed these hard lessons.

Strikes fail without unity, strategy, and sustained pressure. The lecturers' movement collapsed within days, despite plans for an indefinite strike. Internal confusion, fear of repression, and premature decisions demoralized participants. “I had interviews lined up with international media when the committee abruptly ended it,” recalls the author. Health workers mobilizing today must organize with clarity, resilience, and foresight.

https://addisstandard.com/commentary-why-ethiopian-university-lecturers-strike-failed-a-cautionary-tale-for-health-professionals/

121 #Ethiopians repatriated from #Myanmar, ministry says; hundreds remain in camps held by armed groups

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (#MoFA) said 121 Ethiopian nationals who had been held in “difficult conditions” in Myanmar were repatriated this week, with 41 returning on Thursday and 80 more on Friday. The Ministry said the return was facilitated “through coordination with Ethiopia’s Embassy in India” and added that “efforts are being made to return other Ethiopians who are in difficult situations in Myanmar to their country.”

The repatriated individuals were among African nationals trafficked into Myanmar with false job offers, later forced to work in scam compounds. Survivors described “long working hours, physical abuse, and psychological trauma.” According to the Associated Press, following a crackdown by Myanmar authorities in February under pressure from China and Thailand, thousands of trafficked individuals were released and moved to makeshift camps controlled by armed groups. Over 270 Africans, mostly Ethiopians, attempted to flee one such camp in April but were intercepted by armed guards. The Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), which held them, later agreed to transfer them to Myawaddy, an area under the Kayin Border Guard Force (BGF), for repatriation processing.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50085

#Somaliland Parliament moves to suspend talks with #Somalia

The Somaliland House of Representatives has received a motion calling for the official suspension of talks with Somalia, marking an escalation in the strained relationship between the two. The motion follows an earlier proposal by the Somaliland government to terminate the talks, citing Somalia’s continued interference in Somaliland’s sovereignty and internal affairs.

Introduced by members of the House, the motion has been referred to the legislature’s legal advisor for review. The advisor will evaluate its compliance with legal and procedural standards before it proceeds further.

Somaliland has accused Somalia of undermining its internal governance, particularly through support for militias in the eastern Sool region. These actions, according to Somaliland officials, are part of a broader campaign to destabilize the region and obstruct Somaliland’s pursuit of international recognition as an independent state.

Tensions intensified recently when Somaliland Armed Forces seized a significant cache of weapons following clashes with militias in the eastern Sanaag region. The weapons, some stored in wooden ammunition crates labeled with Somalia’s Ministry of Defense markings, have raised concerns over the diversion of foreign military aid, originally intended for counter-terrorism, to fuel local conflicts.
https://www.horndiplomat.com/2025/05/somaliland-house-of-representatives-moves-to-officially-suspend-talks-with-somalia/

News Analysis: #TPLF warns, once again, of ‘grave threat’ to #Pretoria Agreement amid looming recognition dispute with Electoral Board

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has once again warned that the refusal to reinstate its legal recognition poses a “serious threat” to the Pretoria Agreement, accusing the federal government and the National Election Board of Ethiopia (#NEBE) of undermining the accord. In a statement released late Friday from its head office in Mekelle, the party said, “The Pretoria Agreement is the primary legal document directly linking our organization and the FDRE government,” and warned that “denying our legal recognition undermines the very foundation of the peace accord.” It accused NEBE of acting “under the guise of ‘legal cover’” while continuing “its political stance that undermines trust.”

The party also said it never accepted the registration certificate NEBE claims to have issued on August 9, 2024. “Perhaps NEBE refers to revoking the certificate it claims to have issued… which we never accepted,” the statement said. The TPLF further disclosed that it had postponed its 14th regular congress in July 2024 “after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other federal officials suggested its legal recognition would be restored before the congress was held,” a promise it said “was not honored.”

Calling on the African Union, #IGAD, and the broader international community to “take responsibility for enforcing the Pretoria Agreement,” the TPLF said, “The electoral board can only administer us when it grants us the recognition we have requested and is our right.” It concluded, “The Pretoria Agreement is the apple of our eye. Our organization and the peace-loving people of #Tigray will continue to work in good faith to implement it.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50093

#India and #Pakistan agree to ceasefire

The two nuclear-armed countries agreed to start talks on a “broad set of issues at a neutral site,” U.S. says.

The two sides early Saturday had exchanged some of the heaviest airstrikes since their armed confrontation began on Wednesday, prompting further calls for deescalation between the two nuclear-armed states.

India’s army in a post on X had accused Pakistan of “blatant escalation with drone strikes and other munitions” along the country’s western borders saying that the army “will thwart enemy designs.” India had accused Pakistan of harboring terrorist groups that carried out a deadly attack on tourists last month in India-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan has denied involvement.

The two countries have fought a series of wars since gaining their independence from Britain in 1947, largely over the Kashmir region, to which both sides lay claim.

https://www.politico.eu/article/india-pakistan-conflict-escalates-closer-full-scale-war/

Suspension of #USAID deepens humanitarian strain in #Tigray camps; displaced residents say “we ration lentils like they’re a treasure”

At the 70 Kare IDP Center near #Mekelle, Tigray’s largest displacement site, 35-year-old Leterbrhan holds a plate with a few lentils and asks, “What does Trump eat? Here, we ration lentils like they’re a treasure.” Displaced by the Tigray war (2020–2022), she lives with her one-year-old daughter in a camp where, despite a peace agreement signed in Pretoria in 2022, many continue to live under precarious conditions. Now, residents say they are also facing the consequences of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) suspension, ordered by President Donald Trump at the beginning of 2025.

“Since Trump took office as president of the United States, three people have left to embark on migration routes out of fear, desperation, and loss of hope. They are now imprisoned in Libya,” said Mehari Abadi, a coordinator at the Haki IDP Center, where 2,250 displaced persons currently reside. Gebreslassie Hailemichal, another coordinator, detailed the reductions in food rations: “In January, February, and March 2024, we received a 15-kilogram bag of wheat from USAID per person. From April to September, the amount changed from 15 to 12 kilograms per person. In October, November, and December, we were informed that we would receive 9,200 bir [$68] per family, but the reality is that they only paid for two of those three months.”

“It is very difficult to express how I feel, how we feel. We are alone, and we know it. The only thing left is to pray to God for help or simply wait for death,” said 65-year-old Genet Araya, who has lived at the Haki Center since October 2022. Tirhas Teweldemdh, another displaced woman at the center, said: “Why does [Trump] ignore us before the peace agreement [signed in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2022] is fully implemented? He is the richest man in the world; we are the poorest. He plays with our hunger, why does he do this? I would tell Trump that if I could speak to him… We have no options, there’s no hope, all we can do is wait to die.”

“We stopped working on January 24, 2025,” said Mebrahtom Belay, head of USAID in Tigray. “Our major problem has been that the budget is managed at the national level, and despite our request for better communication, from Tigray we rarely knew what the budget was for most of the campaigns.” Mebrahtom noted that “the budget for rehabilitating 40% of public facilities had been approved, but sadly, it has now been interrupted.” On the HIV program, which USAID also funded, he added: “What Trump did is not correct… It’s true that there should have been more thorough audits, but punishing innocent people in this way for the mismanagement of a few is not the solution.”

https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-05-11/hunger-looms-in-tigrays-refugee-camps-what-does-trump-eat-here-we-ration-lentils-to-make-them-last.html

#Somalia reopens #Doolow airport after months-long suspension

Somalia's federal government has reopened Doolow airport in the Gedo region, lifting a flight ban that had been in place since late December 2024, according to a statement from the Ministry of Internal Security.

Federal Internal Security Minister Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag said the decision followed “a thorough security review” and commitments from Doolow authorities to ensure airport safety and compliance with national aviation laws. The airstrip was initially closed after a Halla Airlines flight, operating the #Mogadishu–Kismayo–Mogadishu route, was reportedly diverted “without clearance” and “forcefully landed” in Doolow—a move the federal government described as a violation of Somali airspace regulations.

The reopening comes amid mounting pressure from residents and regional officials. Minister Fartaag cited “the pressing needs of the Gedo population, particularly with the Hajj season approaching,” and added that the government had acted “based on assurances” from both local officials and regional security forces. The closure had been criticized by the Jubaland administration, which accused the federal government of using the flight suspension as a political tool.


https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-govt-reopens-doolow-airport-after-months-long-flight-ban

#Ethiopian media under siege ahead of 2026 Elections

#Ethiopia’s media landscape is once again gripped by a “climate of fear” as journalists face arrests, raids, and terrorism charges, raising serious concerns about press freedom in the lead-up to national elections scheduled for 2026.

Recently, journalists have found themselves increasingly targeted. Three staff members from #AddisStandard were detained for hours last month after a police raid on the publication’s offices. Authorities confiscated laptops and mobile phones...The reasons behind the detentions remain unclear.

Another case in April saw a journalist from The Reporter detained while covering grievances of former soldiers dismissed without compensation. These incidents have fueled widespread unease among Ethiopian media workers.

Adding to concerns, lawmakers recently passed a legislative amendment that tightens state control over media regulation, transferring oversight to the prime minister’s office, weakening the independence of the media authority.

Journalists interviewed by AFP, all using pseudonyms for safety, described a deeply troubling atmosphere. One, referred to as “Tesfa,” said the situation is now “more dire than ever.” Others recounted deleting apps and messages out of fear that private communications could be used against them.

On World Press Freedom Day, 14 diplomatic missions - including those from the UK, France, and Belgium - issued a joint statement condemning the “significant pressure” placed on freedom of expression in Ethiopia.

https://newscentral.africa/ethiopian-media-under-siege-ahead-of-2026-elections/

#Ethiopia: Health professionals at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital hold protest ahead of nationwide strike demanding better pay, benefits, and working conditions

Health professionals at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital held a pre-strike protest on Monday, ahead of a nationwide strike planned for Tuesday to demand better salaries, benefits, and working conditions. Protesters carried placards reading, “We Save Lives But Can’t Afford Rent,” “Stop Harassing Health Workers,” and “Healthy Citizens Build a Strong Economy.” The demonstration follows similar actions held earlier this month in public hospitals nationwide, including over the weekend in Debre Tabor, Debre Markos, Bahir Dar’s Tibebe Ghion, and Felege Hiwot hospitals, where health professionals raised concerns over “delayed salaries, unfulfilled benefit payments, and deteriorating workplace conditions.”

Speaking to Addis Standard, one health professional actively participating in the movement said the nationwide strike is intended to be “a partial strike which preserves emergency, labor, and ICU services,” and added, “we don’t think that’s harmful to the people.” The professional stated, “We really care for our people,” and explained that their oath “obliged us not to harm patients, so we will never do that.” However, he cautioned that if authorities “do any harm to those who are involved in the partial strike, we will be obliged to get into full strike,” and warned that “the government will be fully responsible for all deaths and morbidity that will happen owing to that.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50109

#Sudan orders halt to South Sudan oil exports citing #RSF attacks

Sudan has instructed oil firms to begin shutting down the pipeline transporting South Sudanese crude for export, citing repeated drone attacks attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their alleged allies, according to a letter seen by the Sudan Tribune. The letter, dated May 9 and signed by Mohhieddien Naiem Mohamed Saied, undersecretary at Sudan’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, said the attacks had caused “grave losses in both national economies and the foreign investors,” particularly by disrupting oil production and transportation systems.

The letter highlighted that a drone strike in the early hours of May 9 had targeted PETCO’s pump station number 5 in Al-Hudi, causing what was described as “grave damage.” It also pointed to a separate incident on May 8, in which a diesel depot used by the Bashayer Pipeline Company (BAPCO) in White Nile state was reportedly hit. Sudan’s energy ministry said the attacks had led to shipment delays, power outages at maritime terminals, and risks of fuel shortages, adding that the situation posed a “very high” threat to export operations.

As a result, Sudan has “instructed both PETCO and BAPCO to deliver a fast-track roadmap to enable us to shut down the facilities,” the letter stated. A technical adviser at South Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum, speaking anonymously, confirmed the letter was received on Friday, May 9, and noted that a response may follow “on Monday through official channels.” Another South Sudanese official suggested Khartoum may be using the “security situation as leverage to increase oil transit fees.”

https://sudantribune.com/article300736/#google_vignette

#Ethiopia: Salsay Weyane #Tigray warns of “rapidly escalating death toll” in IDP camps, cites stalled implementation of #CoHA and risk of renewed conflict

Salsay Weyane Tigray, an opposition party in the Tigray region, has warned of a “rapidly escalating death toll” in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, citing “critical shortages of essential supplies” and what it described as a worsening humanitarian crisis.

In a statement issued on 12 May, the party said “millions of IDPs and refugees” are living in “abject squalor,” and warned that “the prospects for both short- and long-term relief are vanishing rapidly” due to “a clear lack of political will and the looming threat of renewed conflict.” It attributed the situation to a “dangerous impasse” in the implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) and “escalating tensions between the Ethiopian and #Eritrean governments,” warning these developments “directly threaten to reignite a far deadlier conflict.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50127

Policy Debate: Transcending contingent barriers in #Ethiopia-#Türkiye relations

In this commentary, Dr. Mukerrem Miftah, senior researcher at the Centre for Türkiye Studies (CeTuS) and senior lecturer at the Ethiopian Civil Service University, reflected on the historical and strategic dimensions of Ethiopia–Türkiye relations. He argued that ties between the two countries are grounded in “deep-rooted historical, cultural, and religious experiences,” citing 19th-century diplomatic exchanges between Emperor Menelik II and Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II as an example of how “religious, moral, and historical affinity” once informed bilateral engagement. Ethiopia, he wrote, continues to hold a unique place in “Turkish, particularly Islamic Turkish, consciousness,” in part due to its role in early Islamic history and symbolic figures such as Bilal al-Habesh and the first Hijrah to the Christian Kingdom of Axum.

Dr. Mukerrem criticized what he called Ethiopia’s “extraordinarily poor” institutional approach to Islamic heritage preservation, contrasting it with Türkiye’s efforts such as the restoration of the al-Nejashi Mosque. He attributed the lack of domestic engagement to a religious elite that “largely underestimates local, historical, and religious legacies.” To address this, he called on bodies such as the Ministry of Culture and the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council to help reposition Ethiopia’s early Islamic connections as a core part of its national identity and foreign policy, adding that “symbolic acts of remembrance must be matched by domestic commitment.”

Addressing recent political challenges, the author identified Türkiye’s alleged role in Ethiopia’s war in #Tigray as a “contingent and ephemeral” but potentially damaging obstacle. Referring to statements by senior TPLF officials, including Getachew Reda, he noted that Türkiye’s arms sales during the war could “constrain Türkiye's strategic and regional ventures” if not critically assessed. He further pointed to growing concerns among Turkish investors about regulatory inefficiencies and allegations of misconduct involving some Turkish firms. “If left unaddressed,” he cautioned, “these concerns risk undermining the long-term credibility of Türkiye’s presence in Ethiopia,” calling for institutional reform and renewed trust-building on both sides.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50119

#Ethiopia: Four opposition parties call for political, security reforms ahead of Ethiopia’s 7th national election; warn current conditions threaten vote’s “credibility”

Four opposition parties have issued a joint call for political and security reforms ahead of Ethiopia’s upcoming national election, warning that current conditions threaten the vote’s “credibility.” In a statement released on 12 May, All Ethiopia Unity Party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (#EPRP), Enat Party, and the Amhara Ghionians Movement said the government must ensure a “fair media,” allow civic institutions to “operate freely,” and release political prisoners detained “due to their political views and identities.”


The statement also raised concern over changes within the National Election Board of Ethiopia (#NEBE), noting that “the process of replacing Election Board members in a new form has begun.” While recognizing the challenges faced by the current board, the parties said it has “gained experience by conducting at least one election” and warned that new appointees may “lack the experience” to manage the process effectively. They called for any replacement to follow Article 5 of Proclamation No. 33/20 and Sub-Article 6, which require consultation with political parties. The statement urged the ruling party to “return to the negotiating table” and engage in “genuine and all-inclusive dialogue,” emphasizing that the upcoming election is “a matter of life and death” and “the only alternative” to resolving the country’s “multi-faceted quagmire.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50134

#Sudan warns #Red_Sea navigation at risk after Port Sudan attacks; accuses #UAE of supporting #RSF

Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned that recent drone attacks on Port Sudan pose a threat to navigation safety in the Red Sea, attributing the strikes to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of providing them with support.

In a statement issued Monday, the ministry said the attacks targeted key sites including the seaport, airport, fuel depots, a power station, military facilities and a hotel housing diplomats. It claimed the strikes were part of efforts to “destroy the Sudanese state” and prolong the conflict, following territorial losses by the RSF.

“These attacks threaten regional security and the safety of navigation in the Red Sea,” the ministry said, urging “effective measures… against the regional sponsor” of the RSF. While not naming the UAE directly, the ministry alleged the sponsor had supplied drones, weapons and foreign personnel to carry out the attacks.

The ministry also welcomed international condemnations from the UN, AU, EU, U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, and cited the EU’s reference to an “external dimension” to the attacks. The accusations come after Sudan severed diplomatic ties with the UAE, labelling it an “aggressor state” over alleged arms supplies to the RSF. Sudan previously filed a case against the UAE at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, and has a pending complaint before the UN Security Council.

https://sudantribune.com/article300795/

Numbers don’t lie: The disconnect between professional growth and financial reward in #Ethiopia’s health sector is a systemic crisis

"We save lives but can’t afford rent." This cry from the heart of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital captures the seriousness of the ongoing questions by Ethiopia’s healthcare professionals. From Addis Abeba to regional hospitals, physicians are standing up - not just for paychecks, but for dignity. As one health worker puts it, "this isn’t just about better pay, it’s about reclaiming our humanity." The strike that began today is a call for systemic reform; the author of this article argues.

Behind the slogans are staggering realities (see the graph). The writer, a senior physician who is no longer in their position testifies, “Now, with nearly two decades of experience… I earn the equivalent of $173/month, roughly what a junior doctor earned two decades ago” when the Birr was stronger than it is today. Despite rising workloads, real incomes have collapsed, eroded by devaluation and surging inflation. Bread, fuel, transport - everything costs more, while salaries stand still. This isn’t an “abstract policy debate”; it’s a structural failure with dangerous consequences for public health, the writer warns.

Ethiopia pays its doctors among the lowest in Africa, while expecting the most. Neighboring countries like Kenya and Rwanda have implemented reforms to retain skilled professionals.

As the physician-author warns, policymakers must stop treating health workers as expendable. Inflation-adjusted pay, housing allowances, and retention schemes aren’t luxuries, they are lifelines. “If left unaddressed, this will lead to the collapse of the country’s medical workforce.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=50142

#Ethiopia: Health professionals report facing threats, intimidation as nationwide partial strike over pay, benefits kicks off

Health professionals across Ethiopia have reported facing threats and pressure from local authorities as a nationwide partial strike over pay and working conditions began on Tuesday, 13 May. A staff member at Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital in #Oromia said workers were “facing intimidation,” adding the facility was “full of government officials” from early morning. In #Amhara region’s Akesta General Hospital, a doctor was briefly detained and told to either resume duties or “go to prison,” before being returned to the hospital after colleagues “chose to go to prison in solidarity,” according to a health worker.

In #Addis_Abeba, Addis Standard visited three major public hospitals—Menelik II Referral Hospital, Zewditu Memorial Hospital, and Yekatit 12 Hospital—where outpatient services were halted in the morning despite staff being present. Patients were seen waiting in queues while health workers in uniform remained inactive. One patient at Menelik II said, “Staff are walking around, but no one is attending patients,” while another at Zewditu said, “We’ve been here since morning, but no one has called us in.” Essential units such as emergency, ICU, and maternity services remained functional.

The strike follows a campaign under hashtags such as #HealthWorkersMatter and #PayHealthWorkersFairly, and comes after years of what professionals describe as “unaddressed demands.” Multiple arrests were reported in the lead-up, including that of Yonatan Dagnew, president of the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association (#EHPA), and three doctors from Arba Minch. On Monday, Amnesty International called for the government to “immediately release Yonatan Dagnew... and others detained over the planned healthcare strike,” and urged authorities to “respect the right to peaceful assembly” and “stop harassing healthcare workers.” In an interview with state media, Health Minister Dr. Mekdes Daba said concerns over salary, benefits, and risk compensation have been raised “many times,” and while “some of them have been reviewed and are being addressed,” she cautioned that the government “cannot act today, put the society under pressure, or take actions that are not sustainable.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50147

#Chinese firms to Invest $1.75 billion in #Ethiopia mining, solar

Ethiopia expects five Chinese companies to invest a total of $1.75 billion in the East African nation, mainly in solar-cell manufacturing and mineral exploration, according to Finance Minister Ahmed Shide.

Shanghai-listed CSI Solar Co., in which Canadian Solar Inc holds a majority stake, will spend $250 million on a plant producing solar modules and energy-storage products, while Sequoia Mining & Processing Plc plans to invest $600 million in coal exploration.


Hainan Drinda New Energy Technology Co. and Toyo Solar Manufacturing One Member Plc also have solar manufacturing projects in the works, while Hua Ye Mining Processing Co. plans to invest $500 million in mineral exploration and processing, and the development of a special economic zone focused on minerals.

The companies are undergoing the local licensing process, said Zeleke Temesgen, commissioner at the Ethiopia Investment Commission.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-13/chinese-firms-to-invest-1-75-billion-in-ethiopia-mining-solar?srnd=homepage-americas