#Op_ed: Silence of Scholars, Absence of Intellectual Freedom: Hypocrisy, moral vacuum in PM Abiy’s #AAU lecture
A few weeks ago, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed delivered a lecture titled “Who Is an Intellectual?” at Addis Ababa University’s 75th anniversary. Jawar Mohammed argues the lecture must be assessed against #Ethiopia’s stark realities: “seven years of devastating conflict, eroded academic freedom, and a public discourse reshaped by war.”
He notes that “Intellectual life has been increasingly subordinated to the imperatives of conflict,” with dissenting scholars facing harassment, exile, or silence, while regime-aligned voices dominate media, framing war as “purification” or “historical destiny.”
The author emphasizes that “Absent a candid reckoning with the damage inflicted by years of conflict, appeals to intellectual responsibility, however eloquent, will remain symbolically significant yet substantively inadequate.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=54676
A few weeks ago, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed delivered a lecture titled “Who Is an Intellectual?” at Addis Ababa University’s 75th anniversary. Jawar Mohammed argues the lecture must be assessed against #Ethiopia’s stark realities: “seven years of devastating conflict, eroded academic freedom, and a public discourse reshaped by war.”
He notes that “Intellectual life has been increasingly subordinated to the imperatives of conflict,” with dissenting scholars facing harassment, exile, or silence, while regime-aligned voices dominate media, framing war as “purification” or “historical destiny.”
The author emphasizes that “Absent a candid reckoning with the damage inflicted by years of conflict, appeals to intellectual responsibility, however eloquent, will remain symbolically significant yet substantively inadequate.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=54676
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News: #Ethiopian Army kills around 40 allies in #Amhara drone strike
Ethiopian forces killed approximately 40 fighters on their own side in a drone strike in the insurgency-hit Amhara region on 15 January, a nurse and a local official told AFP on Tuesday.
Amhara, Ethiopia’s second most populous region with about 23 million residents, has been gripped by an insurgency since April 2023, after the federal government attempted to disarm the local ethnic militia, #Fano.
The army regularly carries out drone strikes, but the attack on 15 January in #Waghemira hit a pro-government camp, the local official told AFP by phone on condition of anonymity. He said army officials later admitted it had been a “mistake,” although the drone had reportedly been hovering over the camp for some time before the strike.
“I immediately saw smoke and fire… I rushed to the scene… I saw body parts of the dead as well as the injured agonising in pain,” the official said, adding that....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54674
Ethiopian forces killed approximately 40 fighters on their own side in a drone strike in the insurgency-hit Amhara region on 15 January, a nurse and a local official told AFP on Tuesday.
Amhara, Ethiopia’s second most populous region with about 23 million residents, has been gripped by an insurgency since April 2023, after the federal government attempted to disarm the local ethnic militia, #Fano.
The army regularly carries out drone strikes, but the attack on 15 January in #Waghemira hit a pro-government camp, the local official told AFP by phone on condition of anonymity. He said army officials later admitted it had been a “mistake,” although the drone had reportedly been hovering over the camp for some time before the strike.
“I immediately saw smoke and fire… I rushed to the scene… I saw body parts of the dead as well as the injured agonising in pain,” the official said, adding that....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54674
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Days after letter to #Egypt’s President El-Sisi, #Trump vows to resolve 'GERD dispute'
Speaking at a #White_House press briefing yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had intervened to avert a potential conflict between #Ethiopia and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD), claiming the two countries “were going to fight over a dam.”
Trump described GERD as “the biggest dam in the world,” alleged it restricts Nile water flow to Egypt, and reiterated his claim that the United States financed the project.
In July, the GERD Coordination Project Office rejected the claim, with Deputy CEO Fikrte Tamiru saying the dam was built through public and government support, without “a single cent” from foreign loans or aid, and calling it the product of Ethiopians’ “sweat, labor, and even blood.”
Trump said the issue remains unresolved.
Watch
Speaking at a #White_House press briefing yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had intervened to avert a potential conflict between #Ethiopia and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD), claiming the two countries “were going to fight over a dam.”
Trump described GERD as “the biggest dam in the world,” alleged it restricts Nile water flow to Egypt, and reiterated his claim that the United States financed the project.
In July, the GERD Coordination Project Office rejected the claim, with Deputy CEO Fikrte Tamiru saying the dam was built through public and government support, without “a single cent” from foreign loans or aid, and calling it the product of Ethiopians’ “sweat, labor, and even blood.”
Trump said the issue remains unresolved.
Watch
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News: Report tracks #UAE-linked cargo flights to #Ethiopian military base amid regional power struggle
A cargo aircraft previously linked to the supply of weapons to armed groups in #Sudan has conducted multiple flights to Ethiopia in recent weeks, according to an exclusive investigation by the UK-based outlet Middle East Eye (MEE), raising questions about Ethiopia’s role in intensifying regional rivalries tied to the war in Sudan.
MEE reported that an Antonov An-124 cargo plane operated by UAE-based Maximus Air, and allegedly linked to Emirati military logistics, made repeated flights between #Abu_Dhabi and #Harar_Meda airbase, the main base of the Ethiopian Air Force.
Flight-tracking data reviewed by the outlet shows at least four trips to Harar Meda between 3 and 17 January, including one flight that later continued to Addis Abeba’s #Bole International Airport before departing for #Europe and #Asia.
While the purpose of the flights remains unclear...
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54681
A cargo aircraft previously linked to the supply of weapons to armed groups in #Sudan has conducted multiple flights to Ethiopia in recent weeks, according to an exclusive investigation by the UK-based outlet Middle East Eye (MEE), raising questions about Ethiopia’s role in intensifying regional rivalries tied to the war in Sudan.
MEE reported that an Antonov An-124 cargo plane operated by UAE-based Maximus Air, and allegedly linked to Emirati military logistics, made repeated flights between #Abu_Dhabi and #Harar_Meda airbase, the main base of the Ethiopian Air Force.
Flight-tracking data reviewed by the outlet shows at least four trips to Harar Meda between 3 and 17 January, including one flight that later continued to Addis Abeba’s #Bole International Airport before departing for #Europe and #Asia.
While the purpose of the flights remains unclear...
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54681
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#Sudan army studying new #US-#Saudi truce proposal: govt source
Sudan's army has received and is considering a new proposal from the United States and Saudi Arabia for a truce with its rival paramilitary, a government source told AFP on Wednesday.
The Security and Defence Council -- a high-level body that includes officials from the army and the allied government -- "is holding a meeting today to discuss the US-Saudi initiative for a humanitarian truce and a ceasefire", the source said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.
Since April 2023, the war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has left tens of thousands dead and around 11 million displaced.
Truce efforts have repeatedly failed to produce a sustained ceasefire.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17xztwYyKa/
Sudan's army has received and is considering a new proposal from the United States and Saudi Arabia for a truce with its rival paramilitary, a government source told AFP on Wednesday.
The Security and Defence Council -- a high-level body that includes officials from the army and the allied government -- "is holding a meeting today to discuss the US-Saudi initiative for a humanitarian truce and a ceasefire", the source said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.
Since April 2023, the war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has left tens of thousands dead and around 11 million displaced.
Truce efforts have repeatedly failed to produce a sustained ceasefire.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17xztwYyKa/
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#Opinion: The #Somaliland Paradox: Why the world can no longer afford to ignore #Africa’s most successful state
For over three decades, Somaliland has met every criterion of statehood—defined borders, functioning institutions, a civically engaged population, and foreign relations—yet remained largely unrecognized. Adam Daud Ahmed argues this reflects an international system where “strategic inertia, rigid diplomatic conventions, and the sensitivities of authoritarian regimes” outweigh effective governance.
He explains that, legally, Somaliland is not a secessionist entity but a previously independent state reasserting sovereignty suspended in 1960. After #Somalia’s 1991 collapse, it restored independence through local reconciliation, a hybrid political system, and peaceful elections.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=54685
For over three decades, Somaliland has met every criterion of statehood—defined borders, functioning institutions, a civically engaged population, and foreign relations—yet remained largely unrecognized. Adam Daud Ahmed argues this reflects an international system where “strategic inertia, rigid diplomatic conventions, and the sensitivities of authoritarian regimes” outweigh effective governance.
He explains that, legally, Somaliland is not a secessionist entity but a previously independent state reasserting sovereignty suspended in 1960. After #Somalia’s 1991 collapse, it restored independence through local reconciliation, a hybrid political system, and peaceful elections.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=54685
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#Ethiopian charged with #sexual assault of staff member at #migrant hotel
An Ethiopian man has been charged with the sexual assault of a staff member at a hotel used to house asylum seekers.
Melaku Gebresembet, 23, allegedly groped the hotel worker on her left breast “out of nowhere”.
Gebresembet, who was placed at the hotel by the Home Office, appeared before Southampton Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with sexual assault and was remanded in custody.
The alleged sex attack happened at the Highfield House Hotel in Southampton, Hants..
The court heard he had been touching staff inappropriately by touching their faces for a week before the “escalation”.
Prosecutor Graham Heath told the court: “The defendant is a resident at Highfield House Hotel in Southampton. That appears to be a placement by the Home Office.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/21/ethiopian-charged-sexual-assault-staff-member-migrant-hotel/
An Ethiopian man has been charged with the sexual assault of a staff member at a hotel used to house asylum seekers.
Melaku Gebresembet, 23, allegedly groped the hotel worker on her left breast “out of nowhere”.
Gebresembet, who was placed at the hotel by the Home Office, appeared before Southampton Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with sexual assault and was remanded in custody.
The alleged sex attack happened at the Highfield House Hotel in Southampton, Hants..
The court heard he had been touching staff inappropriately by touching their faces for a week before the “escalation”.
Prosecutor Graham Heath told the court: “The defendant is a resident at Highfield House Hotel in Southampton. That appears to be a placement by the Home Office.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/21/ethiopian-charged-sexual-assault-staff-member-migrant-hotel/
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#Trump says he will try to bring #Egyptian, #Ethiopian leaders together over GERD
US President Donald Trump said he would try to bring the leaders of Egypt and Ethiopia together to revive negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), describing the project as a “dangerous issue.”
Speaking during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump described the GERD as one of the largest dams in the world and claimed it “basically blocks the Nile River.” He said negotiations were close to a deal toward the end of his previous term but stalled afterward.
Trump said he would try to put talks “back on track,” adding that both countries have “strong leaders” and expressing confidence that a deal could be reached.
US President Donald Trump said he would try to bring the leaders of Egypt and Ethiopia together to revive negotiations over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), describing the project as a “dangerous issue.”
Speaking during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump described the GERD as one of the largest dams in the world and claimed it “basically blocks the Nile River.” He said negotiations were close to a deal toward the end of his previous term but stalled afterward.
Trump said he would try to put talks “back on track,” adding that both countries have “strong leaders” and expressing confidence that a deal could be reached.
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Family disputes reports of #court appearance as detained #General seen after four days
Four days after his arrest, the family of Brigadier General Guesh Gebre say they were allowed a brief visit with the detained commander but rejected reports that he had been brought before a court, stating that he has neither appeared before a judge nor consulted a lawyer since his detention.
Speaking to Addis Standard on Wednesday, the general’s brother, Yibrah Gebre, said Guesh told family members that he had not been formally presented to a court. “Two individuals came to the detention facility, introduced themselves as a judge and a prosecutor, and then left,” Yibrah said, adding that no court hearing took place.
https://addisstandard.com/family-disputes-reports-of-court-appearance-as-detained-general-seen-after-four-days/?amp=1
Four days after his arrest, the family of Brigadier General Guesh Gebre say they were allowed a brief visit with the detained commander but rejected reports that he had been brought before a court, stating that he has neither appeared before a judge nor consulted a lawyer since his detention.
Speaking to Addis Standard on Wednesday, the general’s brother, Yibrah Gebre, said Guesh told family members that he had not been formally presented to a court. “Two individuals came to the detention facility, introduced themselves as a judge and a prosecutor, and then left,” Yibrah said, adding that no court hearing took place.
https://addisstandard.com/family-disputes-reports-of-court-appearance-as-detained-general-seen-after-four-days/?amp=1
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#HRW urges #UN child rights body to press #Ethiopia to suspend Lega Dembi gold mine over #child health risks
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to urge Ethiopia to suspend operations at the Lega Dembi gold mine in Oromia, citing long-standing pollution and serious health impacts on children living nearby.
In a statement ahead of the committee’s upcoming review of Ethiopia’s child rights record, HRW said communities around the country’s largest gold mine have for years reported grave health problems, including children born with long-term conditions, miscarriages, and stillbirths. Several studies have found elevated levels of toxic substances, including cadmium, mercury, lead, and arsenic, linked to the mine.
The Ethiopian government suspended Lega Dembi between 2018 and 2021 following public protests over pollution and pledged to reopen it only after environmental concerns were addressed.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=54692
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to urge Ethiopia to suspend operations at the Lega Dembi gold mine in Oromia, citing long-standing pollution and serious health impacts on children living nearby.
In a statement ahead of the committee’s upcoming review of Ethiopia’s child rights record, HRW said communities around the country’s largest gold mine have for years reported grave health problems, including children born with long-term conditions, miscarriages, and stillbirths. Several studies have found elevated levels of toxic substances, including cadmium, mercury, lead, and arsenic, linked to the mine.
The Ethiopian government suspended Lega Dembi between 2018 and 2021 following public protests over pollution and pledged to reopen it only after environmental concerns were addressed.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=54692
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#Opinion: From Allies to Adversaries: How #Saudi-#UAE rivalry reshapes Horn of Africa, opens window for #Tigray’s consolidation
In early 2026, #Saudi_Arabia accused the UAE of undermining its national security, signaling a growing Gulf rivalry. Desta Gebremedhin argues that Riyadh’s assertive pushback, especially in Yemen, marks the end of Abu Dhabi’s unchallenged influence in the Horn of #Africa.
He notes that while the UAE remains a key player, it “can no longer attempt to unilaterally determine the fates of political actors.” This stasis gives Tigray “a rare transient window” to “reassess failures and build a unified political platform.”
Gebremedhin cautions that “a stalled #Ethiopia-#Eritrea conflict” could shift federal focus to “domestic dissident actors,” urging Tigray to establish “collective strategic leadership” to protect its long-term interests.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=54694
In early 2026, #Saudi_Arabia accused the UAE of undermining its national security, signaling a growing Gulf rivalry. Desta Gebremedhin argues that Riyadh’s assertive pushback, especially in Yemen, marks the end of Abu Dhabi’s unchallenged influence in the Horn of #Africa.
He notes that while the UAE remains a key player, it “can no longer attempt to unilaterally determine the fates of political actors.” This stasis gives Tigray “a rare transient window” to “reassess failures and build a unified political platform.”
Gebremedhin cautions that “a stalled #Ethiopia-#Eritrea conflict” could shift federal focus to “domestic dissident actors,” urging Tigray to establish “collective strategic leadership” to protect its long-term interests.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=54694
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News: Horn of Africa #elections in 2026 to test stability, credibility
Several countries in the Horn of Africa, including #Ethiopia, #Djibouti, #South_Sudan, and #Somaliland, are expected to hold key elections in 2026, with outcomes likely to shape domestic politics and regional dynamics, according to a report by Deutsche Welle (DW).
In Ethiopia, national elections are scheduled for 1 June 2026, marking the first polls since the end of the war in Tigray in late 2022. DW notes that the vote will take place in a fragile political and security environment, with ongoing conflict and tensions in parts of Amhara & Oromia regions raising concerns over whether the elections can be inclusive and credible.
Djibouti is expected to hold presidential elections by April 2026, with incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, seeking a sixth term in office. According to DW, little political change....
https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0UNkBXs97tfJJgS6XoNJfU9TT6rF8DAjg3j8tspJuCFpsYRUsLpctTBWUpVpv2wQTl
Several countries in the Horn of Africa, including #Ethiopia, #Djibouti, #South_Sudan, and #Somaliland, are expected to hold key elections in 2026, with outcomes likely to shape domestic politics and regional dynamics, according to a report by Deutsche Welle (DW).
In Ethiopia, national elections are scheduled for 1 June 2026, marking the first polls since the end of the war in Tigray in late 2022. DW notes that the vote will take place in a fragile political and security environment, with ongoing conflict and tensions in parts of Amhara & Oromia regions raising concerns over whether the elections can be inclusive and credible.
Djibouti is expected to hold presidential elections by April 2026, with incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh, 78, seeking a sixth term in office. According to DW, little political change....
https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0UNkBXs97tfJJgS6XoNJfU9TT6rF8DAjg3j8tspJuCFpsYRUsLpctTBWUpVpv2wQTl
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News: #German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrives in #Ethiopia for bilateral talks
German Foreign Minister Johann #Wadephul arrived in Ethiopia on Wednesday for talks aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations, Prime Minister #Abiy Ahmed said.
In a social media post on 22 January 2026, Prime Minister Abiy said he welcomed Wadephul for “meaningful discussions on further strengthening the partnership between Ethiopia and Germany.”
The visit follows Wadephul’s trip to #Kenya on 21 January, where he held talks focused on trade, investment, and regional issues. According to the Kenya News Agency, Germany reaffirmed its commitment to peace and stability in Africa during the visit, recognizing Kenya’s role in regional mediation and global security efforts.
Speaking in #Nairobi, Foreign Minister Wadephul commended Kenya’s contributions to peace initiatives in #Sudan #South_Sudan...
https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0644RpUQ1ujvNhh5mcpfPM4QSrYdTfZ5SqsXujXEroYc4ByBq8fJLLTZsTHvF67R3l
German Foreign Minister Johann #Wadephul arrived in Ethiopia on Wednesday for talks aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations, Prime Minister #Abiy Ahmed said.
In a social media post on 22 January 2026, Prime Minister Abiy said he welcomed Wadephul for “meaningful discussions on further strengthening the partnership between Ethiopia and Germany.”
The visit follows Wadephul’s trip to #Kenya on 21 January, where he held talks focused on trade, investment, and regional issues. According to the Kenya News Agency, Germany reaffirmed its commitment to peace and stability in Africa during the visit, recognizing Kenya’s role in regional mediation and global security efforts.
Speaking in #Nairobi, Foreign Minister Wadephul commended Kenya’s contributions to peace initiatives in #Sudan #South_Sudan...
https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0644RpUQ1ujvNhh5mcpfPM4QSrYdTfZ5SqsXujXEroYc4ByBq8fJLLTZsTHvF67R3l
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News: Human Rights First raises alarm over alleged arbitrary detentions and disappearances in #Tigray
Human Rights First has raised concern over what it described as a deteriorating human rights situation in the Tigray region, citing multiple allegations of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and physical harm.
In a statement released on Thursday, the organization said it has documented several cases of abductions and detentions across different parts of the region, warning that the reported incidents indicate a broader pattern of deprivation of liberty without due process.
Among the cases highlighted is that of #Filmon_Gebrehiwot, who was reportedly abducted in Mekelle around five months ago.
Another reported case involves #Birhane Gebreghergis, a long-time activist and supporter of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (#TPLF), who was allegedly abducted seven days ago in Shire town, Northwestern Tigray.
The statement noted that Birhane had....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54700
Human Rights First has raised concern over what it described as a deteriorating human rights situation in the Tigray region, citing multiple allegations of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and physical harm.
In a statement released on Thursday, the organization said it has documented several cases of abductions and detentions across different parts of the region, warning that the reported incidents indicate a broader pattern of deprivation of liberty without due process.
Among the cases highlighted is that of #Filmon_Gebrehiwot, who was reportedly abducted in Mekelle around five months ago.
Another reported case involves #Birhane Gebreghergis, a long-time activist and supporter of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (#TPLF), who was allegedly abducted seven days ago in Shire town, Northwestern Tigray.
The statement noted that Birhane had....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54700
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#Coming_UP: The Standard Signal | Ep. 10: PM Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopian Intellectuals, and Power
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s January lecture at Addis Abeba University framed itself as a reflection on intellectuals, leadership, and national prosperity, defining who counts as an intellectual and assessing the role of ideas and academic institutions in Ethiopia’s history.
But who defines intellectuals? Why does it matter?
In this episode of The Standard Signal, Tsedale Lemma speaks with historian and public intellectual Ezekiel Gebissa to critically examine the lecture, probing what happens when power speaks in the language of ideas, and how this shapes intellectual autonomy and epistemic freedom.
Premiers at: 7:30 PM tonight.
Subscribe to watch: https://www.youtube.com/@AddisStandard
#Ethiopia #EthiopianIntellectuals #PowerAndIdeas #AcademicFreedom #AAU75 #PublicIntellectuals #PoliticsAndKnowledge #TheStandardSignal
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s January lecture at Addis Abeba University framed itself as a reflection on intellectuals, leadership, and national prosperity, defining who counts as an intellectual and assessing the role of ideas and academic institutions in Ethiopia’s history.
But who defines intellectuals? Why does it matter?
In this episode of The Standard Signal, Tsedale Lemma speaks with historian and public intellectual Ezekiel Gebissa to critically examine the lecture, probing what happens when power speaks in the language of ideas, and how this shapes intellectual autonomy and epistemic freedom.
Premiers at: 7:30 PM tonight.
Subscribe to watch: https://www.youtube.com/@AddisStandard
#Ethiopia #EthiopianIntellectuals #PowerAndIdeas #AcademicFreedom #AAU75 #PublicIntellectuals #PoliticsAndKnowledge #TheStandardSignal
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#Premiering_now: The Standard Signal | Ep. 10: PM Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopian Intellectuals, and Power
In this episode of The Standard Signal, Tsedale Lemma speaks with historian and public intellectual Ezekiel Gebissa to critically examine the lecture, probing what happens when power speaks in the langubage of ideas, and how this shapes intellectual autonomy and epistemic freedom.
Click here to watch: https://youtu.be/IW7z0tOd12Y
In this episode of The Standard Signal, Tsedale Lemma speaks with historian and public intellectual Ezekiel Gebissa to critically examine the lecture, probing what happens when power speaks in the langubage of ideas, and how this shapes intellectual autonomy and epistemic freedom.
Click here to watch: https://youtu.be/IW7z0tOd12Y
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The Standard Signal | Ep. 10: PM Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopian Intellectuals, and Power
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s lecture delivered in the first week of January at Addis Abeba University was presented as a reflection on intellectuals, leadership, and national prosperity. Delivered inside Ethiopia’s flagship academic institution, the address…
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News: More than eight million #Sudanese children miss nearly 500 days of schooling as war drags on
More than eight million children across Sudan have been deprived of education for nearly 500 days due to the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (#RSF), Save the Children warned on Wednesday.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has triggered one of the longest school closures globally, surpassing even the prolonged shutdowns experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the report, nearly half of Sudan’s estimated 17 million school-aged children have been unable to attend classes for about 484 days.
Save the Children said the education crisis has affected the entire country, with many schools remaining closed, others damaged by fighting, and some repurposed as shelters for families displaced by violence.
North Darfur has been among the hardest-hit regions, with only about three...
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2014570940173066575?s=20
More than eight million children across Sudan have been deprived of education for nearly 500 days due to the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (#RSF), Save the Children warned on Wednesday.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has triggered one of the longest school closures globally, surpassing even the prolonged shutdowns experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the report, nearly half of Sudan’s estimated 17 million school-aged children have been unable to attend classes for about 484 days.
Save the Children said the education crisis has affected the entire country, with many schools remaining closed, others damaged by fighting, and some repurposed as shelters for families displaced by violence.
North Darfur has been among the hardest-hit regions, with only about three...
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2014570940173066575?s=20
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News: #Ethiopia ratifies prisoner transfer and extradition agreements with #China, #Brazil, and #South_Africa
The Ethiopian House of Peoples’ Representatives (#HoPR) has ratified proclamations approving prisoner transfer agreements with the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Brazil, as well as a criminal extradition agreement with the Republic of South Africa.
In a statement issued following the House’s ninth session on 22 January 2026, the HoPR said Etsegenet Mengistu, Chairperson of the Legal, Justice and Democracy Affairs Standing Committee, told lawmakers that the agreements aim to support the rehabilitation of Ethiopian citizens convicted abroad by allowing them to serve their sentences in Ethiopia.
According to the statement, Etsegenet explained that serving sentences closer to familiar communities, languages, and cultural environments contributes to more effective rehabilitation and social reintegration.
The HoPR said the...
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54702
The Ethiopian House of Peoples’ Representatives (#HoPR) has ratified proclamations approving prisoner transfer agreements with the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Brazil, as well as a criminal extradition agreement with the Republic of South Africa.
In a statement issued following the House’s ninth session on 22 January 2026, the HoPR said Etsegenet Mengistu, Chairperson of the Legal, Justice and Democracy Affairs Standing Committee, told lawmakers that the agreements aim to support the rehabilitation of Ethiopian citizens convicted abroad by allowing them to serve their sentences in Ethiopia.
According to the statement, Etsegenet explained that serving sentences closer to familiar communities, languages, and cultural environments contributes to more effective rehabilitation and social reintegration.
The HoPR said the...
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54702
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Hunger, death, devastation: No respite in #Tigray a year after #US aid cuts
Lately, 88-year-old Nireayo Wubet spends many of his days burying friends and family members. As he grieves, he worries about whether there will be anyone left to offer him a decent burial when the time comes, as severe hunger ravages a large swath of his village in #Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region.
“We have little humanitarian support,” laments the octogenarian whose frail appearance is mirrored by many others in his village of #Hitsats, near the Eritrean border. “It’s not conflicts that will ultimately kill us, but famine,” he says.
Once a proud farmer from Humera – currently a disputed area within the Amhara region – Wubet took shelter in Hitsats four years ago, after fleeing conflicts and ethnic strife that uprooted him and others in the region.
He was first displaced in the middle of the Tigray war...
https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0mMVb9ns8gPGCMXSzawQkMRcqY4uTyK2SaPPUr2g8J4ioE1DUjiRFq3AnYViNf4ghl
Lately, 88-year-old Nireayo Wubet spends many of his days burying friends and family members. As he grieves, he worries about whether there will be anyone left to offer him a decent burial when the time comes, as severe hunger ravages a large swath of his village in #Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region.
“We have little humanitarian support,” laments the octogenarian whose frail appearance is mirrored by many others in his village of #Hitsats, near the Eritrean border. “It’s not conflicts that will ultimately kill us, but famine,” he says.
Once a proud farmer from Humera – currently a disputed area within the Amhara region – Wubet took shelter in Hitsats four years ago, after fleeing conflicts and ethnic strife that uprooted him and others in the region.
He was first displaced in the middle of the Tigray war...
https://web.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0mMVb9ns8gPGCMXSzawQkMRcqY4uTyK2SaPPUr2g8J4ioE1DUjiRFq3AnYViNf4ghl
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News: #IMF-backed forex reforms cost #Ethiopia $2.6 billion in central bank losses
Ethiopia’s central bank, the National Bank of Ethiopia (#NBE), has recorded losses equivalent to $2.6 billion following the country’s shift from a fixed to a market-based foreign exchange regime in July 2024, according to audited financial statements cited by the #Kenyan outlet The EastAfrican.
NBE said it incurred 407.1 billion birr in foreign exchange losses during the financial year ending June 30, 2025, largely due to the revaluation of its foreign currency assets and liabilities after the exchange rate realignment. Foreign exchange losses rose sharply to 445.23 billion birr, from 38.13 billion birr the previous year.
The surge pushed the National Bank of Ethiopia’s overall operating loss to 428.56 billion birr, up from 10.51 billion birr a year earlier, and drove the Bank into a negative equity position of 380 billion birr, raising concerns over its ability to continue...
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54706
Ethiopia’s central bank, the National Bank of Ethiopia (#NBE), has recorded losses equivalent to $2.6 billion following the country’s shift from a fixed to a market-based foreign exchange regime in July 2024, according to audited financial statements cited by the #Kenyan outlet The EastAfrican.
NBE said it incurred 407.1 billion birr in foreign exchange losses during the financial year ending June 30, 2025, largely due to the revaluation of its foreign currency assets and liabilities after the exchange rate realignment. Foreign exchange losses rose sharply to 445.23 billion birr, from 38.13 billion birr the previous year.
The surge pushed the National Bank of Ethiopia’s overall operating loss to 428.56 billion birr, up from 10.51 billion birr a year earlier, and drove the Bank into a negative equity position of 380 billion birr, raising concerns over its ability to continue...
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54706
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