#Security vacuum fears grow amid reports of #ENDF withdrawals, alleged redeployment toward #Tigray Region
Withdrawal or reduced presence of federal forces in recent days is raising concerns among local communities. Residents in different parts of the country spoke to Addis Standard on their concern following federal forces evacuating their village while fueling speculation that troops are being redeployed northward amid rising tensions involving Tigray.
Residents in Dirashe district, Gardulla Zone, South Ethiopia Region, and Anfilo districts in Kellem Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, told Addis Standard that Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) have been vacating certain areas, creating security gaps and fueling local tensions. An AFP report confirmed similar reports of troop movements and heightened military tension near the Tigray border.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55250
Withdrawal or reduced presence of federal forces in recent days is raising concerns among local communities. Residents in different parts of the country spoke to Addis Standard on their concern following federal forces evacuating their village while fueling speculation that troops are being redeployed northward amid rising tensions involving Tigray.
Residents in Dirashe district, Gardulla Zone, South Ethiopia Region, and Anfilo districts in Kellem Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, told Addis Standard that Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) have been vacating certain areas, creating security gaps and fueling local tensions. An AFP report confirmed similar reports of troop movements and heightened military tension near the Tigray border.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55250
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#Gambella Region authorities say measures taken against #security members following recent unrest
Authorities in the Gambella Region say legal and administrative actions have been taken against police personnel following recent security crises in the region, including disciplinary measures, retraining programs, and court proceedings targeting alleged misconduct within the force.
According to the Gambella Police Commission, regular police and riot control units were sent to the Dalol Central Command Training Center for training as part of broader reforms initiated after the recent security incidents. Police members who did not attend the training underwent physical evaluations and disciplinary review sessions that included internal assessments.
Separate court rulings in Gambella city gave verdicts on cases involving civilians and former officers accused of wearing unauthorized police uniforms and concealing government weapons.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55245
Authorities in the Gambella Region say legal and administrative actions have been taken against police personnel following recent security crises in the region, including disciplinary measures, retraining programs, and court proceedings targeting alleged misconduct within the force.
According to the Gambella Police Commission, regular police and riot control units were sent to the Dalol Central Command Training Center for training as part of broader reforms initiated after the recent security incidents. Police members who did not attend the training underwent physical evaluations and disciplinary review sessions that included internal assessments.
Separate court rulings in Gambella city gave verdicts on cases involving civilians and former officers accused of wearing unauthorized police uniforms and concealing government weapons.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55245
#US sanctions 3 #RSF commanders for atrocities in #Sudan
The US Treasury Department sanctioned three commanders Thursday from Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for their roles in a brutal campaign during the paramilitary group's siege and capture of El Fasher.
"These individuals were involved in the RSF's 18-month siege of and eventual capture of El-Fasher, in which the RSF perpetrated a horrific campaign of ethnic killings, torture, starvation, and sexual violence," said the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The RSF and its allied militias have committed "widespread atrocities, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide" since Sudan's civil war broke out in April 2023, it added.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged the RSF to commit to an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. "We will not tolerate this ongoing campaign of terror and senseless killing in Sudan," he said, warning that without a swift end to the conflict, Sudan risks "further destabilizing the region, creating conditions for terrorist groups to grow."
The US action follows similar designations by the #UK in December and the #EU in January.
Sudan has been locked in a bloody conflict between the army and the RSF since April 2023, killing tens of thousands, displacing 13 million people, and creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, according to UN reports.
Actions by the RSF during their late-October takeover of El Fasher show “hallmarks of genocide” and indicate an ongoing risk of further atrocities, UN investigators said in a report Thursday.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-sanctions-3-rsf-commanders-for-atrocities-in-sudan/3835167
The US Treasury Department sanctioned three commanders Thursday from Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for their roles in a brutal campaign during the paramilitary group's siege and capture of El Fasher.
"These individuals were involved in the RSF's 18-month siege of and eventual capture of El-Fasher, in which the RSF perpetrated a horrific campaign of ethnic killings, torture, starvation, and sexual violence," said the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The RSF and its allied militias have committed "widespread atrocities, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide" since Sudan's civil war broke out in April 2023, it added.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged the RSF to commit to an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. "We will not tolerate this ongoing campaign of terror and senseless killing in Sudan," he said, warning that without a swift end to the conflict, Sudan risks "further destabilizing the region, creating conditions for terrorist groups to grow."
The US action follows similar designations by the #UK in December and the #EU in January.
Sudan has been locked in a bloody conflict between the army and the RSF since April 2023, killing tens of thousands, displacing 13 million people, and creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, according to UN reports.
Actions by the RSF during their late-October takeover of El Fasher show “hallmarks of genocide” and indicate an ongoing risk of further atrocities, UN investigators said in a report Thursday.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-sanctions-3-rsf-commanders-for-atrocities-in-sudan/3835167
Anadolu Agency
US sanctions 3 RSF commanders for atrocities in Sudan
Treasury Department cites ethnic killings, torture, sexual violence during 18-month siege of El Fasher
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#Drone strike at #Sudan's border with #Ethiopia kills one: authorities
A drone attack blamed on paramilitary forces killed one person Thursday in the Sudanese town of Kurmuk, on the border with Ethiopia, authorities said.
"One person was killed, eight injured and 16 houses destroyed," a government source told #AFP by phone from #Kurmuk, a border town controlled by the army in Sudan's Blue Nile state.
In a statement, Kurmuk governor Abdelaty Mohamed al-Fiky blamed the strike on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (#RSF), at war with the army since April 2023, and their allies, a faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-N orth (SPLM-N). Blue Nile state is the latest front in nearly three years of devastating war, now being fought mainly with deadly drone strikes. The fighting has left tens of thousands dead and around 11 million displaced, creating the world's largest hunger and displacement crises.
https://www.facebook.com/share/18JNprLucH/
A drone attack blamed on paramilitary forces killed one person Thursday in the Sudanese town of Kurmuk, on the border with Ethiopia, authorities said.
"One person was killed, eight injured and 16 houses destroyed," a government source told #AFP by phone from #Kurmuk, a border town controlled by the army in Sudan's Blue Nile state.
In a statement, Kurmuk governor Abdelaty Mohamed al-Fiky blamed the strike on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (#RSF), at war with the army since April 2023, and their allies, a faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-N orth (SPLM-N). Blue Nile state is the latest front in nearly three years of devastating war, now being fought mainly with deadly drone strikes. The fighting has left tens of thousands dead and around 11 million displaced, creating the world's largest hunger and displacement crises.
https://www.facebook.com/share/18JNprLucH/
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News: #Tulu Kappi gold mine officially launched in West #Wollega Zone
The gold development project at Tulu Kappi, located in Ganji district of West Wollega, has officially begun operations. On 18 February 2026, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, alongside Oromia Regional President Shimallis Abdisa, government officials, and project leaders, inaugurated the construction and development work of the site.
The project site lies 28 km east of Ayra town and covers approximately eight square kilometers. The project is led by KEFI Minerals, which acquired the site in 2014 from Nyota Minerals, previously engaged in exploration activities.
Prior to the official launch, KEFI held consultations with local communities and government officials to agree on resettlement plans and work arrangements.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55257
The gold development project at Tulu Kappi, located in Ganji district of West Wollega, has officially begun operations. On 18 February 2026, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, alongside Oromia Regional President Shimallis Abdisa, government officials, and project leaders, inaugurated the construction and development work of the site.
The project site lies 28 km east of Ayra town and covers approximately eight square kilometers. The project is led by KEFI Minerals, which acquired the site in 2014 from Nyota Minerals, previously engaged in exploration activities.
Prior to the official launch, KEFI held consultations with local communities and government officials to agree on resettlement plans and work arrangements.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55257
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#Russia denies of recruiting #Kenyan citizens for war in #Ukraine
The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Kenya has rejected allegations that it was involved in recruiting Kenyan citizens to fight in the conflict in Ukraine, describing the claims as part of a “dangerous and misleading propaganda campaign.”
In a press release issued on February 19, the embassy said it had observed with “great concern” reports circulating in Kenyan media and public discourse regarding Kenyan nationals who allegedly traveled to Russia, joined the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and participated in combat operations in Ukraine.
The statement comes after an intelligence official briefing presented to Kenya’s Parliament reported that 89 Kenyans were confirmed on the front line, 39 were hospitalized, and 28 were missing in action.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55260
The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Kenya has rejected allegations that it was involved in recruiting Kenyan citizens to fight in the conflict in Ukraine, describing the claims as part of a “dangerous and misleading propaganda campaign.”
In a press release issued on February 19, the embassy said it had observed with “great concern” reports circulating in Kenyan media and public discourse regarding Kenyan nationals who allegedly traveled to Russia, joined the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and participated in combat operations in Ukraine.
The statement comes after an intelligence official briefing presented to Kenya’s Parliament reported that 89 Kenyans were confirmed on the front line, 39 were hospitalized, and 28 were missing in action.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55260
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News: #Federal Police arrest suspects over alleged 89 million birr #fraud
Addis Abeba- Ethiopian Federal Police said it has arrested a principal suspect and several alleged accomplices in connection with a fraud scheme involving forged bank guarantees that resulted in losses exceeding 89 million birr.
In a statement, police said the suspects bypassed banking procedures by preparing and using falsified bank guarantee documents as part of an illegal profit-sharing network.
Investigators said the scheme caused losses of 89,296,000 birr to institutions including Gada Bank, Cooperative Bank of Oromia, and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.
Police identified Getahun Meles Liye, manager of Goder Wine Trading PLC, as the principal suspect, alleging he conspired with Abdissa Tolosa Debeli, manager of Gada Bank’s Agemsa branch, to issue forged guarantees using the branch’s signature and seal.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Awn9mL46v/
Addis Abeba- Ethiopian Federal Police said it has arrested a principal suspect and several alleged accomplices in connection with a fraud scheme involving forged bank guarantees that resulted in losses exceeding 89 million birr.
In a statement, police said the suspects bypassed banking procedures by preparing and using falsified bank guarantee documents as part of an illegal profit-sharing network.
Investigators said the scheme caused losses of 89,296,000 birr to institutions including Gada Bank, Cooperative Bank of Oromia, and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.
Police identified Getahun Meles Liye, manager of Goder Wine Trading PLC, as the principal suspect, alleging he conspired with Abdissa Tolosa Debeli, manager of Gada Bank’s Agemsa branch, to issue forged guarantees using the branch’s signature and seal.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Awn9mL46v/
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#Op_ed: #TPLF at 51: Legacy of transformation, contention
On 18 February 2026, the #Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) marked its 51st anniversary, which Ewnetu B. Debela calls “a milestone," highlighting its role as a "primary architect of the modern state" and “a deeply polarizing force.”
Since its 1975 insurgency origins, the TPLF has evolved from a guerrilla movement into a governing elite, overthrowing the #Derg regime and overseeing decades of "sustained economic growth" and infrastructural expansion. Critics note a "concentration of power" that stifled opposition, where "dissent was frequently framed as a matter of national security."
“The history of the TPLF resists simple verdicts,” Ewnetu concludes, urging #Ethiopia to pursue “a sober reckoning” with this complex legacy.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55264
On 18 February 2026, the #Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) marked its 51st anniversary, which Ewnetu B. Debela calls “a milestone," highlighting its role as a "primary architect of the modern state" and “a deeply polarizing force.”
Since its 1975 insurgency origins, the TPLF has evolved from a guerrilla movement into a governing elite, overthrowing the #Derg regime and overseeing decades of "sustained economic growth" and infrastructural expansion. Critics note a "concentration of power" that stifled opposition, where "dissent was frequently framed as a matter of national security."
“The history of the TPLF resists simple verdicts,” Ewnetu concludes, urging #Ethiopia to pursue “a sober reckoning” with this complex legacy.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55264
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News: Risk of renewed #conflict mounts as troop movements reported near #Eritrea–#Tigray border—Bloomberg
Addis Abeba—Ethiopia and Eritrea are deploying troops and military equipment near the northern Tigray region, raising the risk of renewed conflict in the Horn of Africa, Bloomberg reported, citing regional diplomats.
Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that Ethiopian troops and equipment have been moved northward, including through Bahir Dar, while Eritrean forces have also deployed to areas inside Tigray.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed this week reiterated Ethiopia’s longstanding ambition to secure access to the Red Sea, describing maritime access as key to overcoming logistical constraints on economic growth.
Eritrean state television also broadcast a naval parade in Massawa last week, marking the anniversary of the city’s capture in 1990.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55268
Addis Abeba—Ethiopia and Eritrea are deploying troops and military equipment near the northern Tigray region, raising the risk of renewed conflict in the Horn of Africa, Bloomberg reported, citing regional diplomats.
Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that Ethiopian troops and equipment have been moved northward, including through Bahir Dar, while Eritrean forces have also deployed to areas inside Tigray.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed this week reiterated Ethiopia’s longstanding ambition to secure access to the Red Sea, describing maritime access as key to overcoming logistical constraints on economic growth.
Eritrean state television also broadcast a naval parade in Massawa last week, marking the anniversary of the city’s capture in 1990.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55268
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News: #Ethiopia earns over $2.6 billion from #tourism in six months
Addis Abeba-Ethiopia has generated more than $2.6 billion in tourism revenue after welcoming over 700,000 international visitors during the first six months of the 2018 Ethiopian fiscal year, the Ministry of Tourism said.
In a statement reported by state media, the ministry attributed the performance to the development of new tourist destinations and the renovation of existing sites. Officials said the growth has made a significant contribution to the country’s foreign currency earnings.
The ministry also cited Addis Abeba’s role as a hub for major international conferences and diplomatic engagements as a key factor behind the rise in visitor numbers and revenue.
The latest Tourism Barometer by the United Nations World Tourism Organization projects that Ethiopia’s tourism sector could grow by 15 percent by 2025, positioning the country among Africa’s leading destinations.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1GNKaQwdaj/
Addis Abeba-Ethiopia has generated more than $2.6 billion in tourism revenue after welcoming over 700,000 international visitors during the first six months of the 2018 Ethiopian fiscal year, the Ministry of Tourism said.
In a statement reported by state media, the ministry attributed the performance to the development of new tourist destinations and the renovation of existing sites. Officials said the growth has made a significant contribution to the country’s foreign currency earnings.
The ministry also cited Addis Abeba’s role as a hub for major international conferences and diplomatic engagements as a key factor behind the rise in visitor numbers and revenue.
The latest Tourism Barometer by the United Nations World Tourism Organization projects that Ethiopia’s tourism sector could grow by 15 percent by 2025, positioning the country among Africa’s leading destinations.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1GNKaQwdaj/
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#EHRCO urges #federal government to address reported human rights violations in South #Ethiopia, #Amhara
Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) has called on the federal government to give “adequate attention” to what it describes as ongoing human rights violations in parts of the South Ethiopia and Amhara regions, citing reported killings, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, and civilian harm linked to security operations.
In a statement released yesterday, EHRCO said it documented recurring incidents of deaths, injuries, and property destruction in the South Ethiopia Region in connection with demands by the Zayse community for a special wereda administrative structure. The organization said the incidents have persisted over time without resolution.
Separately, the organization said it has observed a pattern of civilian casualties in parts of the Amhara Region...
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55271
Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) has called on the federal government to give “adequate attention” to what it describes as ongoing human rights violations in parts of the South Ethiopia and Amhara regions, citing reported killings, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, and civilian harm linked to security operations.
In a statement released yesterday, EHRCO said it documented recurring incidents of deaths, injuries, and property destruction in the South Ethiopia Region in connection with demands by the Zayse community for a special wereda administrative structure. The organization said the incidents have persisted over time without resolution.
Separately, the organization said it has observed a pattern of civilian casualties in parts of the Amhara Region...
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55271
Editorial: #Tigray at a Crossroads: Why political unity through #dialogue is no longer optional
As Tigray marks the 51st anniversary of Yekatit 11, the beginning of its armed resistance, commemoration must do more than recall sacrifice. It must clarify direction. Recent public remarks by Lt.Gen. Tadesse Werede, President of the Tigray Interim Administration, and Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, Chairman of the TPLF, reaffirm a central truth: safeguarding the survival and dignity of the Tigrayan people remains an enduring obligation. Today, that obligation demands political unity through dialogue.
Pretoria was never an endpoint. It was a strategic turning point, one that disrupted the wartime alliance against Tigray, opened a pathway toward constitutional reintegration, and altered regional power dynamics. Its incomplete implementation, however, has prolonged hardship and left Tigray’s political future suspended within the federation. Today, the most acute danger is no longer external assault alone, but internal division that risks squandering gains secured at extraordinary cost.
The past three years have demonstrated that fragmentation among Tigrayan political actors has deepened suffering and delayed recovery. History offers a clear lesson: when united, Tigray survived. The next chapter will not be secured by arms alone. It will be secured through political compromise, inclusive dialogue, and institutional legitimacy.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55276
As Tigray marks the 51st anniversary of Yekatit 11, the beginning of its armed resistance, commemoration must do more than recall sacrifice. It must clarify direction. Recent public remarks by Lt.Gen. Tadesse Werede, President of the Tigray Interim Administration, and Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, Chairman of the TPLF, reaffirm a central truth: safeguarding the survival and dignity of the Tigrayan people remains an enduring obligation. Today, that obligation demands political unity through dialogue.
Pretoria was never an endpoint. It was a strategic turning point, one that disrupted the wartime alliance against Tigray, opened a pathway toward constitutional reintegration, and altered regional power dynamics. Its incomplete implementation, however, has prolonged hardship and left Tigray’s political future suspended within the federation. Today, the most acute danger is no longer external assault alone, but internal division that risks squandering gains secured at extraordinary cost.
The past three years have demonstrated that fragmentation among Tigrayan political actors has deepened suffering and delayed recovery. History offers a clear lesson: when united, Tigray survived. The next chapter will not be secured by arms alone. It will be secured through political compromise, inclusive dialogue, and institutional legitimacy.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55276
Addis Standard
Editorial: Tigray at a Crossroads: Why political unity through dialogue is no longer optional - Addis Standard
Editorial: Tigray at a Crossroads: Why political unity through dialogue is no longer optional Addis Standard Editorial -
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#Ethiopia faces renewed strain with #Tigray and #Eritrea
Across the northern Tigray region, citizens are bearing the burden of political fractures and rising tensions. Diplomats are urging restraint amid a troop buildup along the borders with Tigray and neighboring Eritrea.
A sense of anxiety is hard to miss in Tigray. Though the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement brought an end to fighting between the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), many in Tigray say life today is like walking on eggshells.
The TPLF, once the dominant party in Ethiopia's ruling coalition (EPRDF) and the region's political anchor, has split into rival factions competing for influence, leaving residents unsure who truly speaks for them.
The political division has created a vacuum. Meanwhile, Ethiopia's federal government accuses Eritrea of supporting the TPLF, an accusation the TPLF and Asmara deny.
https://www.dw.com/en/ethiopia-faces-renewed-strain-with-tigray-and-eritrea/a-76056011
Across the northern Tigray region, citizens are bearing the burden of political fractures and rising tensions. Diplomats are urging restraint amid a troop buildup along the borders with Tigray and neighboring Eritrea.
A sense of anxiety is hard to miss in Tigray. Though the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement brought an end to fighting between the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), many in Tigray say life today is like walking on eggshells.
The TPLF, once the dominant party in Ethiopia's ruling coalition (EPRDF) and the region's political anchor, has split into rival factions competing for influence, leaving residents unsure who truly speaks for them.
The political division has created a vacuum. Meanwhile, Ethiopia's federal government accuses Eritrea of supporting the TPLF, an accusation the TPLF and Asmara deny.
https://www.dw.com/en/ethiopia-faces-renewed-strain-with-tigray-and-eritrea/a-76056011
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#Election Board begins packaging, distribution of #voter registration materials
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has commenced packaging and distributing voter registration materials for the upcoming seventh national election, the Board’s Head of Logistics, Melake Alula, said.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to the Bole Airlines warehouse in Addis Abeba, where packaging is underway, Melake said that as of 19 February, 2026, materials for about 22,000 polling stations had been packaged out of a total of 52,720 stations scheduled to conduct voting. He added that preparations are currently taking place in three warehouses.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55279
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has commenced packaging and distributing voter registration materials for the upcoming seventh national election, the Board’s Head of Logistics, Melake Alula, said.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to the Bole Airlines warehouse in Addis Abeba, where packaging is underway, Melake said that as of 19 February, 2026, materials for about 22,000 polling stations had been packaged out of a total of 52,720 stations scheduled to conduct voting. He added that preparations are currently taking place in three warehouses.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55279
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