Addis Standard
19.1K subscribers
5.01K photos
322 videos
4 files
17.2K links
An independent Ethiopia based online media focusing on current affairs. Original content+daily gist of media monitoring
Download Telegram
𝐖𝐅𝐏 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝟏𝟓 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 #𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧

Addis Abeba – The World Food Programme (#WFP), in collaboration with the Government of Ethiopia, has activated its Drought Anticipatory Action Plan (AAP) across 15 districts in the Somali region to mitigate the projected impacts of drought during the October–December 2025 rainfall season.

According to WFP, the activation followed the crossing of pre-agreed drought triggers in July and August 2025.

The drought triggers were identified using a tool called the “AA Map Room,” which helps classify districts based on drought risk levels. Using this tool, WFP and its partners analyzed rainfall, vegetation, and water availability to determine the areas most at risk.

From the analysis, #Bokh, #Galadi, #Goro #Baqaqsa, #Guradamole, #Hudet..

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02o59Rci2MW9Akw7f5YUV7RxxpXFcEB2okD3f1v2hBGfXixn1vepxa548vyQRRY28hl
1
#IMF Projects #Ethiopia’s Economy to Grow by 7.2% in 2025

Ethiopia’s economy is projected to expand by 7.2 percent in 2025, maintaining its position among Sub-Saharan #Africa’s fastest-growing economies, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa released in October 2025.

The IMF attributed Ethiopia’s strong performance to ongoing macroeconomic stabilization efforts and reforms that have helped sustain growth despite a challenging external environment marked by tight borrowing conditions, uneven commodity prices, and reduced aid flows.

Ethiopia, alongside #Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, #Rwanda, and #Uganda, is among the countries driving the region’s resilience, the report noted. The Fund highlighted that high prices for key commodities such as coffee and gold have benefited Ethiopia, offsetting some of the pressures from declining external assistance and global trade disruptions.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17RofoQjAf/
1
#Somaliland defence minister meets #US Congressman Chris Smith amid push for stronger ties

Somaliland’s Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali met on Thursday with U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) in Washington, marking another step in expanding congressional engagement over Somaliland’s evolving relationship with the United States.

The meeting comes as the U.S. House of Representatives advances legislation proposing the establishment of a U.S. Representative Office in Hargeisa and the inclusion of separate U.S. travel and advisory guidance for Somaliland. These provisions are embedded in key Fiscal Year 2026 foreign affairs and appropriations bills now moving through Congress.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Somaliland Mission in the United States said it “greatly appreciated Rep. Chris Smith’s meeting today with Somaliland Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali to discuss steady progress in U.S.–Somaliland relations and chart next steps to strengthen our partnership.” The Mission added that it “deeply values his leadership and commitment to advancing our shared priorities.”

The engagement follows a September 2 letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio from Congressman John Moolenaar (R-MI), chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The lawmakers urged Washington to issue a separate travel advisory for Somaliland, calling the measure “concrete and immediately actionable.” They said it would enhance global perceptions of Somaliland’s stability, attract U.S. investment, and strengthen American efforts to counter China’s growing influence in the Horn of Africa.

https://www.horndiplomat.com/2025/10/somaliland-defence-minister-meets-u-s-congressman-chris-smith-amid-push-for-stronger-ties/
#Somaliland President Abdirahman Irro concludes ‘successful’ visit to #Ethiopia, meets PM Abiy amid absence of official readout from Addis Abeba

Addis Abeba – Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro) has concluded what his office described as a “successful official visit” to Ethiopia, during which he met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other senior Ethiopian officials. The visit, his first since assuming office in November 2024, took place between 14 and 16 October in Addis Abeba.

According to a statement from the Somaliland Presidency, the trip aimed to “further strengthen the longstanding bonds of friendship, cooperation, and mutual respect” between Somaliland and Ethiopia. It added that the visit “reaffirmed the shared commitment of both nations to advancing peace, stability, and sustainable development across the Horn of Africa.”

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0PvQgwN6aUHSi39vhy6gFSG3JGESw4L6DLKTh75zpk1U6MTGvxm3HVRZLadNYdSsxl
1
#Policy_Brief: Ethio-Saudi Relations: Why it’s broken, what can be done about it?

Ethiopia’s relations with Arab states, particularly #Saudi_Arabia, have long been defined by “a cocktail of unpredictability, suspicion, and a sharp up-and-down trajectory over the years,” writes Mukerrem Miftah in his Policy Brief. He emphasizes that “frequent wars with #Egypt and #Sudan in the past,” along with recent developments such as the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD) and the mass deportation of more than half a million Ethiopian migrants, have triggered “intense backlash and reprisals” from Arab states, “further complicating the nature of perception and relations.”

Although #Ethiopia maintains strong ties with Western, Eastern, and Asian nations, the author notes that its engagement with the Gulf States remains limited. Saudi Arabia’s investment in Ethiopia, estimated at a maximum of $3 billion, pales in comparison to the over $30 billion invested in Egypt and $13 billion in #Djibouti. This disparity, Mukerrem argues, indicates that for the Saudi Kingdom, Ethiopia represents “less of an asset demanding strategic investment and partnership.”

The article further highlights Saudi Arabia’s historical association with “religious fanaticism and fundamentalism” through its global promotion of Wahhabism and Salafism, with nearly $100 billion spent on advancing these ideologies. This ideological export “created fertile ground for global terrorism,” giving rise to extremist groups such as ISIS and #Al_Shabaab. Another major source of tension is the GERD, where Saudi Arabia’s support for Egypt’s opposition to the project has coincided with the “forced deportation of over half a million Ethiopian migrants” since 2013. Mukerrem underscores that “the timing and scale of the deportation have caused a major challenge, which continues to plague the Ethiopian government to this day.”

Moving ahead, the author calls for “sustained talks and effective communication” to replace “latent and passive animosity.” To rebuild Ethio-Saudi relations, he urges Ethiopia to capitalize on its vast resources and large population to attract Saudi investment—but only in tandem with tangible progress on “peace and stability.” In turn, Saudi Arabia must “understand and respect Ethiopia’s local and regional constants,” refrain from supporting hostile actors, and “reevaluate its approach to Ethiopian migrants,” based on mutual understanding and international norms.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52944
5
#European Investment Bank commits USD 110 million to expand rural finance in #Ethiopia

Addis Abeba - The European Investment Bank (#EIB) has committed USD 110 million to support the third phase of Ethiopia’s Rural Financial Intermediation Program (RUFIP III), the Ministry of Finance announced.

According to the Ministry, the financing aims to expand access to finance in rural areas, enhance financial inclusion, and support Ethiopia’s broader agricultural transformation efforts.

The announcement followed bilateral meetings held by Finance Minister Ahmed Shide with senior officials from the European Union Commission and the EIB on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, D.C.

Read more: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1979167879216984241
4
Egypt’s Prime Minister says only 5% of Nile basin rainfall reaches #Egypt and #Sudan, calls River ‘a matter of existence, not subject to compromise’

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has described the Nile River as “a matter of existence, not subject to compromise,” emphasizing Egypt’s heavy reliance on the transboundary river amid renewed tensions with Ethiopia.

He said that although the Nile Basin receives more than 1,660 billion cubic meters of rainfall annually, only about 84 billion cubic meters—roughly five percent—reach Egypt and Sudan.

Speaking at the closing session of the 8th Cairo Water Week on Thursday, Madbouly said the event focused on “key issues at the heart of international water security,” particularly the challenges countries face in managing shared resources to ensure both security and development.,

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02a5GZYvjCor4cTXXgmkdup87K437Ct9hp86hLktZxGKp1kK5XhVmS17UDDE8YUDjYl
6🥴4👎2
#Ethiopian National Defense Force launches new round of commando training

The Ethiopian National Defense Force (#ENDF) announced that Lieutenant General Shuma Abdata, Commander of the Special Operations Division, has launched the 44th round of commando training at the Special Operations Training Center.

According to the ENDF, Lieutenant General Shuma urged trainees to use the expertise of their instructors to strengthen discipline, resilience, and patriotism. “You are expected to work hard to become disciplined and strong soldiers who embody national pride and dedication,” he said.

He described a commando as “a loyal and courageous soldier who serves his country and people with integrity, capable of swiftly turning the tide of battle and making a mark in the nation’s history.”

The Commander further noted that military training should not be viewed only as preparation for war but also as a process of personal and professional growth.
1
#AS_Editorial - Vaults of the few swell, plates of millions clatter empty: #Ethiopia’s crisis demands honesty, not hubris

Ethiopia is witnessing the systematic production of inequality - a process in which political power is converted into economic privilege. What began as a promise of shared prosperity in 2018 has morphed into an architecture of exclusion, enriching a few while impoverishing millions.

This month, the #World_Bank’s Poverty and Equity Brief delivered a stark warning: poverty, measured at $3 per day (2021 PPP), has climbed from 33 percent in 2016 to 39 percent in 2021 and is projected to reach 43 percent by 2025. After two decades of progress, Ethiopia is now reversing course, undoing gains that took a generation to build.

Under the Prosperity Party, inequality has ceased to be an unintended outcome of crisis; it has become a governing tool. Fiscal power, public contracts, and investment opportunities are increasingly concentrated within......

Read more:

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52949
👍1
#Australia sheep-export ban helps #Somalia win $1 billion of sales

Somalia’s livestock exports are receiving a boost from fading Australian and Sudanese competition, which could help drive its shipments above $1 billion this year.

The Horn of Africa nation has seen its earnings from livestock exports climb from $523 million in 2021 to $974 million last year, according to government data, and that trend is expected to continue.

“This increase can be attributed to two main factors — first, Sudan, once a major livestock-exporting country, is currently facing conflict. Secondly, Australia, another key supplier to Gulf countries, has reduced exports,” said Qaasim Abdi Moallim, director of animal health at Somalia’s livestock ministry. “This allowed Somalia to take advantage of the situation and accelerate its livestock exports.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-17/somalia-s-1-billion-livestock-trade-gains-from-australia-sudan
3
News: Fitch affirms #Ethiopia’s foreign-currency rating at ‘Restricted Default

Global rating agency #Fitch has affirmed Ethiopia’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency (LTFC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘Restricted Default’ (RD), citing the country’s continued default on its Eurobond and other non-bond commercial external debt.

The agency said it typically does not assign outlooks to sovereigns rated ‘CCC+’ or below.

In a statement issued on 17 October 2025, Fitch said the rating reflects Ethiopia’s ongoing default on its single Eurobond and other non-bond commercial external obligations after the government failed to pay a USD 33 million Eurobond coupon due on 11 December 2023.

Ethiopia is seeking to restructure about USD 15 billion of external debt, including arrears as of end-June 2024, under the G20 Common Framework, for which it applied in 2021.

Fitch forecasts general government debt to peak at 40.4% of GDP in FY25 and gradually decline to 36.6% by FY27.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52952
1
#Ethiopia, #China central bank governors discuss debt restructuring, financial cooperation

Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia (#NBE), Eyob Tekalign (PhD), held talks with Governor of the People’s Bank of China (#PBC), Pan Gongsheng, on the sidelines of the World Bank and #IMF Annual Meetings.

According to local media reports, the discussions focused on strengthening financial cooperation between the two countries, with particular emphasis on debt restructuring and enhancing cross-border trade relations.

The two governors agreed on the need for central banks and financial institutions in both countries to deepen collaboration aimed at boosting trade and investment flows.

Eyob reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to advancing its strategic partnership with China, including in the financial sector, in line with the country’s ongoing economic reform program.......

https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid026Na3AWhzURVVtHipbXyirmSEz1rxGu16DsoSRqyQZfDzd4KLZc3wYNw4WkoTvw93l
2
Heavy security after deadly violence in #Kenya as thousands turn out to mourn former PM #Odinga

Heavy security has been deployed to Kenya’s western city of #Kisumu ahead of the final public viewing of the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, after five people died in the last two public funeral events.

Military officers, regular police and air surveillance teams were present Saturday at the soccer stadium where thousands of mourners stayed overnight awaiting the opportunity to view Odinga’s body.

Odinga was a respected and significant figure in Kenya and beyond, a veteran politician lauded by many, including former U.S. President Barack Obama, for his fight for democracy.

He died Wednesday in India at the age of 80 and is expected to be buried Sunday at his rural home in Bondo in western Kenya.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/raila-odinga-kenya-barack-obama-police-india-b2847741.html?utm_source=Newswav&utm_medium=Website
1👍1
News: Fano forces reportedly seize several areas following renewed clashes in #Amhara region

Fano forces have reportedly taken control of multiple areas across the Amhara region following renewed clashes with government troops, according to reports by ‘Deutsche Welle (DW)’.

Citing residents and Fano leaders, DW reported that the group had “taken control of several areas” after intensified fighting in various parts of the region. A resident of #Checheho town, situated at the junction of South Gondar and North Wollo zones, said Fano fighters now control “Checheho, #Zebit, #Geregera, and #Aflakit, including the surrounding areas.”

The Ethiopian National Defense Force (#ENDF) on its official social media page announced that its army corps in the Amhara region has launched operations against what it described as an “extremist group” accused of disturbing public peace and engaging in looting in #Mersa town and surrounding areas of the #North_Wollo Zone.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52958
2👎1
New report uncovers “genocidal sexual violence” affecting over 280,000 women and girls in #Tigray

A new report by the “Commission of Inquiry on Tigray Genocide (CITG)” has documented what it describes as “war-induced genocidal sexual and gender-based violence” committed against hundreds of thousands of women and girls across Tigray during the two-year Tigray war.

The report, released on Thursday, paints a harrowing picture of the systematic use of rape, sexual slavery, and other forms of gender-based violence as weapons of war.

According to the report, out of 481,201 women and girls surveyed, 286,250 suffered at least one form of gender-based violence.

Commissioner Yemane told Addis Standard that the findings were based on a door-to-door survey conducted using the ODK application and guided by the IASC GBV principles. “As the war-induced sexual violence was widespread throughout Tigray, universal screening was employed,” he said.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=52965
6😭6