#Ethiopia’s coffee export hits record high, earning $1.87 billion in 10 months of current fiscal year

Ethiopia earned a record 1.868 billion USD from coffee exports in the first ten months of the current fiscal year, surpassing both revenue and volume targets, according the Coffee and Tea Authority.

The Authority stated that it had planned to export 240,753 tons of coffee and generate 1.315 billion USD. However, actual exports reached 354,302 tons, exceeding the volume target and resulting in a revenue performance the Authority described as historic “record high.”

Dr. Adugna Debela, Director General of the Authority, said export volume increased by 145,316 tons—equivalent to 70 percent—compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year. Revenue rose by 869 million USD, an 87 percent increase. He said the earnings mark the highest in Ethiopia’s coffee export history, both for a ten-month period and compared to any annual total.

Read more: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1922927688802590748

#South_Sudan in talks with #Sudan to avert oil export shutdown

South Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum said it is in discussions with Sudan to prevent a suspension of its oil exports, which transit through Sudanese territory. The talks follow a recent directive from Khartoum instructing oil companies to prepare for a potential halt in exports.

“Yes, there have been issues in the past few days,” said Deng Lual Wol, South Sudan’s petroleum undersecretary, during a press briefing in Juba, “but a high-level intervention from all the stakeholders is making promising progress.” He added that the government was in talks with its Sudanese counterparts “for exports to proceed, rather than oil operating companies being advised to prepare for an export shutdown.”

Wol said both sides had reached an understanding that would allow oil production and shipments to continue via Sudan despite recent security concerns. “It is commendable that we are in good understanding and collaborating with all those involved to prevent an oil shutdown,” he stated. The disruption followed drone strikes at Port Sudan last week, prompting Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy to notify Juba of potential risks to exports. Sudanese authorities attributed the directive to concerns over “further strikes” potentially disrupting crude shipments.

https://sudantribune.com/article300908/

#Trump visits #UAE in last stop of #Middle_East tour

President Trump arrived on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates, a key ally, for the final leg of a Middle East tour that has so far yielded a diplomatic breakthrough with Syria and deals for U.S. firms.

Earlier in Qatar, he spoke to American troops in a rally-like atmosphere at the largest U.S. military facility in the region.

After landing in Abu Dhabi, Trump was greeted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of the Emirates, and other dignitaries, as well as a military honor guard. Once again, Air Force One was escorted by fighter jets as it approached its destination, according to the White House pool report.

He is only the second serving American president to visit the United Arab Emirates. He was greeted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the ruler of the Emirates, and a military honor guard.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/05/15/us/trump-news

#Ethiopia: #ONLF accuses #NEBE, #Somali region authorities of “orchestrated leadership takeover”; warns attempt to provoke party into armed conflict

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has accused the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and the Somali regional administration of “a state-orchestrated takeover” of its leadership, describing it as “a politically motivated, institutionally coordinated campaign” to “dismantle ONLF’s democratically elected leadership, Central Committee, and constitutional structure.” In a statement released on 14 May from its headquarters in Jigjiga, ONLF said the move is “not a mere technical dispute,” but “a calculated attempt to provoke ONLF into armed conflict” and “undermine ONLF’s legitimacy,” while also diverting attention from “the Ethiopian government’s failure to uphold” the 2018 peace agreement.

The party accused NEBE of acting “in collaboration with the Somali Regional Administration” to “install loyalists” and “neutralize ONLF as a political force,” warning the strategy is “reckless” and “threatens to destabilize the region.” It also rejected a “fabricated list” of individuals it said falsely claimed to have suspended the party's chairman, and asserted that “21 of the signatories had been expelled in 2021,” while others had resigned, were members of the Prosperity Party, or had never been Central Committee members. ONLF said it “holds the Ethiopian government fully responsible for any destabilization or conflict resulting from these actions,” and called on international actors including the UN and AU to “hold Ethiopia accountable for violations of peace and political rights” and “impose consequences for continued aggression.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50197

#Ethiopia: #Amnesty raises concern over “crackdown” on health workers; multiple detentions reported as nationwide strike continues for third day

Amnesty International has expressed concern over what it described as a “crackdown” on health professionals participating in a nationwide partial strike, now in its third day. In a statement to Addis Standard, the organization said healthcare workers are being “arbitrarily rounded up” across multiple locations and cited the arrest of Yonatan Dagnaw, president of the healthcare professionals’ association, on 4 May. Amnesty urged authorities to “immediately release” detained workers and to respect their right to peaceful protest.

The statement comes as multiple reports of detentions and intimidation emerge from various parts of the country. In the town of Leku, #Sidama Region, a family member told Addis Standard that Dr. Dereje, the only obstetrician and gynecologist at Leku General Hospital, was “taken by security forces” on the evening of 14 May. According to the source, he had performed surgery earlier that afternoon and was back at his hospital residence when “armed personnel took him away.” The source said Dr. Dereje had a scheduled surgery later that night and described the incident as “unexpected and frightening.” When asked about his whereabouts, police reportedly responded that “it is an order from above,” without providing further details.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50203

#Ethiopia: His Holiness Abune Mathias I, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, called for peace, reconciliation, and an end to ongoing suffering during the opening of the Holy Synod Assembly.

“In these times, when our people are gravely suffering due to the absence of peace, we must work through prayer, teaching, and counsel so they may attain peace and justice,” the Patriarch said in his opening remarks.

He stated that the Ethiopian people have endured significant hardship and suggested that while "external actors" may have some influence, much of the suffering is caused by “their own children.” He added, “It is truly heartbreaking to see a mother tormented by her own children.”

Watch!

#NewsAlert: #Ethiopia's Ministry of Health warns striking healthcare workers to return to work, threatens government's patience ‘has its limits’

The Ministry of Health has issued a strong warning to striking healthcare workers, declaring that “strikes in the health sector are legally prohibited”

The Ministry warned healthcare professionals to “return to work” immediately, accusing some of being misled by “false information” and others of acting with “malicious intentions.” Legal action will be taken against those “who create unrest,” the statement warned, adding that “the government’s patience in resolving the issue with an open mind has its limits.”

However, the Ministry acknowledged “disruptions” in some institutions, blaming the absence of healthcare workers on “false information circulating on social media” and “a few” individuals with “malicious intentions.”

“We have received information that some professionals in a few teaching health colleges/institutions have not been present at their regular workstations,” the Ministry said. “This act, beyond harming one’s own family, relatives, and the entire community, is unacceptable from a professional ethics and humanitarian perspective.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50212

#Tigray: Life under #Eritrean ‘occupation’ in Northern #Ethiopia

From his home in the far north of Ethiopia, Hagos can see Eritrean soldiers positioned on the other side of his town, Alitena, and says all his neighbours fear a full occupation.

"The Eritrean army can raid us anytime they choose," said Hagos, resident of the tiny town of around 3,000 people.

Like other locals interviewed for this story, he asked that his name be changed for fear of reprisals.

Hagos regularly talks to people on the other side of town who already live "under occupation" by Eritrean forces.

They endure "sexual violence, abductions, forced labour, lootings, curfews, threats of harsh mandatory military service and other abuses," he said.

"There is nobody lending an ear to my people's plight," he added. "The world is preoccupied with other crises."

https://www.barrons.com/news/life-under-eritrean-occupation-in-northern-ethiopia-ada2fe91

News: #DHL #Ethiopia workers end labor strike after agreement on 35% salary raise

DHL Ethiopia workers ended their labor strike on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, after securing a 35 percent salary increase. The strike began on 8 May following unresolved demands related to salary adjustments amid the rising cost of living. Tilahun Tadesse, chairman of the DHL Workers’ Union, told Addis Standard, “Although the work stopped, negotiations with the company were ongoing side by side.”

The breakthrough came after the intervention of the Bole Sub-city Labor and Skills Office and the Transport and Communication Workers’ Unions Industry Federation. “Even though it is not as much as we asked for, we believe it is good,” Tilahun said of the final agreement.

Abateyhun Takele, president of the Transport and Communication Workers’ Unions Industry Federation, said that workers initially demanded a 120 percent raise due to inflation and currency depreciation, while the company only offered 2 percent. “In the spirit of good faith bargaining... the company reached 12 percent,” he said, but workers rejected the offer and went on strike.

Abateyhun also cited concerns over work overload and the imposition of international standards not suited to local conditions, stating, “The question was that this international standard should take into account our country’s situation and respect the country’s laws.” He criticized the behavior of foreign companies operating in Ethiopia, saying, “They come because they think there is cheap labor... I think the workers' feelings are being hurt because of that.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=50225

#TikTok charged with breaching #EU online content rules

Social media app TikTok was charged by EU tech regulators on Thursday with breaching EU online content rules, putting its owner ByteDance at risk of a fine of as much as 6% of its global turnover.

The European Commission said it had sent its preliminary findings to TikTok following an investigation launched in February last year.

The EU executive said TikTok has failed to comply with the Digital Services Act's obligation to publish an advertisement repository which allows researchers and users to detect scam advertisements.

The DSA requires online platforms to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content as well as provide information on advertisements.

The Commission said the company does not provide the necessary information about the content of advertisements, the targeted users and who paid for the advertisements.

"Transparency in online advertising - who pays and how audiences are targeted - is essential to safeguarding the public interest," EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement.

TikTok, which also faces a second DSA investigation into its management of risks related to elections, pushed back against the Commission's findings.

"While we support the goals of the regulation and continue to improve our ad transparency tools, we disagree with some of the Commission's interpretations and note that guidance is being delivered via preliminary findings rather than clear, public guidelines," a TikTok spokesperson said.

"A level playing field and consistent enforcement are essential."
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/tiktok-charged-with-breaching-eu-online-content-rules-2025-05-15/

News Analysis: #Tigray Peace and Security bureau accuses Fed. Gov’t of ‘Provocations’ as #TPLF appeals to #AU over Pretoria Agreement ‘violations’

Tigray’s Peace and Security Bureau has accused #Ethiopia’s federal government of “undermining” the Pretoria Peace Agreement through “repeated violations” and the alleged manipulation of former regional president Getachew Reda. “This approach is reckless,” the Bureau warned, “and threatens to reverse the progress made toward peace.”

The accusation follows a two-part interview aired this week on state-owned and ruling party-affiliated media, in which Getachew accused senior Tigray security officials of involvement in “illegal gold mining, embezzlement of public funds, and human trafficking.”

In a sharp rebuttal, the Bureau said today that Getachew is being used to fuel internal discord, stating: “we have remained silent to avoid escalation... but the line has now been crossed.”

The developments came just a day after TPLF Chairman Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael appealed to the African Union, calling the National Election Board of Ethiopia’s revocation this week of the party’s legal status a “fundamental violation” of the 2022 Pretoria Agreement. He warned that the move reframes a political issue as a technical one and risks unraveling the hard-won peace.

The federal government has not responded to either accusation at the time of publication.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=50229

#Oromia Agriculture Bureau reveals over 2M hectares in the region affected by soil acidity

The Oromia Regional Agriculture Bureau has revealed that more than two million hectares of land in the region have been affected by soil acidity. The bureau says it is undertaking various soil treatment efforts, including the use of lime.

Eshetu Legesse, Director of the Soil Development and Improvement Sector at the Oromia Agriculture Bureau, told local media that acidic soil is a major factor reducing agricultural output and extensive work needed to rehabilitate affected lands and improve yields.

As part of these efforts, the Guder Lime Factory has produced and distributed over 193,000 quintals of lime to farmers across the region, he said.

In November 2024, Agriculture Minister Girma Amente (PhD) told lawmakers that government efforts to treat over three million hectares of acidic soil in Ethiopia were falling short due to a lack of lime supply from cement factories.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16TnTzMi9D/

#UN rights expert calls on #Somalia to accelerate reforms amid conflict and uncertainty

A UN expert on human rights in Somalia urged the Somali government on Thursday to accelerate important reforms and strengthen protections for its people amid persistent conflict and political uncertainty. The expert’s statement came at the conclusion of her fourth official visit to the country.

Isha Dyfan, the UN independent expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, strongly condemned the terrorist group Al-Shabaab and its violent attacks that harm civilians, including children, and keep Somalia in a state of ongoing insecurity. She also expressed concern about violent clashes between Somalia’s federal forces and regional groups such as those in Jubaland state, which have caused deaths, displacement, sexual violence, and the recruitment of children into armed groups.

Regarding the constitutional review process, Dyfan urged the government to ensure that all key stakeholders, including political leaders, civil society organizations,minority groups, and women’s representatives, are meaningfully involved.

https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/05/un-rights-expert-calls-on-somalia-to-accelerate-reforms-amid-conflict-and-uncertainty/

#Op_ed: Lessons from #Turkmenistan's Health Tragedy: How to avoid #Ethiopia's looming healthcare crisis

The author of this op-ed, Shimels Hussien (PhD), an associate professor of public health based in Addis Abeba, warns that “Ethiopia’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse.” He highlights the dire conditions faced by medical professionals—the backbone of the nation’s health infrastructure—who continue to work under what he describes as “slavery-like conditions,” earning as little as $100 per month for medical doctors and just $40 for nurses. He adds, “With only 3.5% of GDP allocated for the health sector, hospitals lack basics like meds and equipment while over 60% of med students plan to flee,” underscoring the chronic underfunding and the looming exodus of trained professionals.

Dr. Shimels draws a sobering parallel to Turkmenistan’s healthcare collapse in 2004 under Saparmurat Niyazov, who dismissed the value of medical expertise, fired 15,000 healthcare workers, and replaced them with untrained military conscripts. “Over the past seven years, systemic neglect and rigid responses under the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have placed the nation’s healthcare system on the brink of collapse,” he asserts.

As the government continues to suppress protests and detain healthcare workers across the country following a partial nationwide strike, Dr. Shimels argues that “The Ethiopian government’s response has mirrored Niyazov’s authoritarian playbook.” He expresses grave concern over “the deployment of unqualified personnel for critical tasks,” which, he cautioned, endangers patient safety, “echoing Turkmenistan’s reliance on untrained conscripts.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50233

#Ethiopia: #NEBE launches second phase of digital polling station registration for 7th national election

The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has launched the second phase of its digital polling station registration, covering over 9,600 stations across four regional states and the Jimma Zone in Oromia, as part of preparations for the 7th national election. The Board said the process aims to make the election “more efficient and modern,” and involves mapping stations based on “distance, geographical location, and accessibility to voters” using an “‘XY Coordinate’” system.

The announcement comes days after four opposition parties warned that the current political and security context “threatens the credibility” of the upcoming election. In a joint statement, the parties said there has been “no word from the government or the legally mandated National Election Board” about the election, despite only one year remaining until the constitutional deadline. They stressed that a “free, fair, and credible election” requires a “naturally peaceful arena,” which they said “does not reflect the current situation.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50237

#UN scales back aid goals in #Yemen and #Somalia

The United Nations announced Friday it is scaling back its humanitarian aid goals in Yemen and Somalia in the latest fallout from a drastic drop in funding from member states.

It said the cuts are putting millions of lives at risk around the world.

In January, the UN launched an appeal for $2.4 billion to help 10.5 million people in war-torn Yemen this year, far below the 19.5 million people it deems as being in need of assistance.

But with funding down, the global body and its humanitarian aid partners established new priorities so as to be able to help at least the neediest people there.

The UN announced similar changes in strategy in Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks.

Now, the focus in Yemen will be on 8.8 million people with a forecast budget of $1.4 billion, said Stephanie Tremblay, a spokeswoman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

In violent and unstable Somalia, an initial $1.4 billion plan to help 4.6 million people has also been trimmed back to $367 million for 1.3 million people, she said.

"This does not mean that there's been a reduction in overall humanitarian needs and requirements," Tremblay said.
https://www.newarab.com/news/un-scales-back-aid-goals-yemen-and-somalia

#Ethiopia detains 7 journalists in April alone as gov’t amends controversial media law: #CPJ

At least seven journalists were arrested in Ethiopia in April as the government passed an amendment to the 2021 media law that “increases government control” over the Ethiopian Media Authority (#EMA), according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Among those detained is Ahmed Awga, who was arrested after interviewing a father alleging his 16-year-old son died from a police beating. Others include Muhyidin Abdullahi Omar, charged with “defamation” and “disseminating disinformation,” and Fanuel Kinfu, who was questioned over commentary videos and released on bail. CPJ also confirmed that The Reporter journalist Abebe Fikir was briefly detained. three Addis Standard staff members were also briefly detained during a raid on the outlet’s newsroom and released later the same day.

The arrests coincided with Ethiopia’s parliament passing an amendment to the 2021 media law, which CPJ says “increases government control” over the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA). The amendment eliminates public and civil society representation on the EMA board, removes a ban on board members belonging to political parties, and transfers the power to nominate the EMA’s director general from the board to the Prime Minister.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=50243