#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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#Saudi crown prince reportedly sent letter to #UAE national security adviser over #Sudan, #Yemen
Middle East Eye (MEE) has reported that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a “lengthy” letter to the United Arab Emirates’ National Security Adviser Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, outlining Saudi grievances over the UAE’s role in Sudan and Yemen, while seeking US mediation.
Citing multiple US and Western officials familiar with the matter, MEE said the letter was sent several weeks ago and detailed Saudi complaints against the UAE, particularly regarding its alleged backing of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid the country’s ongoing civil war.
According to the report, the letter stated that Riyadh could no longer “tolerate” the continuation of Sudan’s conflict while its neighbor was accused of supporting the RSF.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55282
Middle East Eye (MEE) has reported that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a “lengthy” letter to the United Arab Emirates’ National Security Adviser Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, outlining Saudi grievances over the UAE’s role in Sudan and Yemen, while seeking US mediation.
Citing multiple US and Western officials familiar with the matter, MEE said the letter was sent several weeks ago and detailed Saudi complaints against the UAE, particularly regarding its alleged backing of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid the country’s ongoing civil war.
According to the report, the letter stated that Riyadh could no longer “tolerate” the continuation of Sudan’s conflict while its neighbor was accused of supporting the RSF.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55282
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News: #UK Trade Envoy, Finance Ministry discuss economic reforms, investment climate
Addis Abeba – The United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to the Horn of Africa held talks with senior officials at #Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance, focusing on the country’s ongoing economic reforms, macroeconomic outlook, and sectors identified as having potential to attract increased UK investment.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the meeting brought together UK Trade Envoy Baroness Jane Ramsey and State Minister of Finance Semereta Sewasew, alongside other senior ministry officials. Discussions centered on recent reform measures and government efforts to improve the business and investment climate.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16ULTXUK9e/
Addis Abeba – The United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to the Horn of Africa held talks with senior officials at #Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance, focusing on the country’s ongoing economic reforms, macroeconomic outlook, and sectors identified as having potential to attract increased UK investment.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the meeting brought together UK Trade Envoy Baroness Jane Ramsey and State Minister of Finance Semereta Sewasew, alongside other senior ministry officials. Discussions centered on recent reform measures and government efforts to improve the business and investment climate.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16ULTXUK9e/
Three former senior #Tigray Forces commanders flee to Addis Abeba amid mounting tensions
Three former senior commanders of the Tigray forces have arrived in Addis Abeba this week after leaving Tigray, Addis Standard has learned.
The officers, Brigadier General Guesh Gebre, Brigadier General Kebede Feqadu, and Colonel Niguse Weldegebriel, previously held senior command positions during the two-year war in Tigray.
The development comes amid reports of the military buildup following weeks of escalating tensions linked to unresolved disputes between Ethiopia’s federal government and Tigrayan authorities, three years after the signing of the Pretoria cessation of hostilities agreement, as well as spillover from the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
Speaking to Addis Standard on Friday, Brig. Gen. Guesh confirmed that the three reached the capital on Wednesday.
“We cannot live our lives. They spy on us. They stalk us. They made our lives difficult,” he said.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55286
Three former senior commanders of the Tigray forces have arrived in Addis Abeba this week after leaving Tigray, Addis Standard has learned.
The officers, Brigadier General Guesh Gebre, Brigadier General Kebede Feqadu, and Colonel Niguse Weldegebriel, previously held senior command positions during the two-year war in Tigray.
The development comes amid reports of the military buildup following weeks of escalating tensions linked to unresolved disputes between Ethiopia’s federal government and Tigrayan authorities, three years after the signing of the Pretoria cessation of hostilities agreement, as well as spillover from the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
Speaking to Addis Standard on Friday, Brig. Gen. Guesh confirmed that the three reached the capital on Wednesday.
“We cannot live our lives. They spy on us. They stalk us. They made our lives difficult,” he said.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55286
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#Ethio Telecom launches ‘#teleStream’ platform, aims to cut satellite costs for #broadcasters
Ethio Telecom has officially launched a new content distribution platform, “teleStream,” a broadband-based television service the state-owned operator says will reduce foreign exchange pressures on broadcasters and expand access to digital entertainment.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Frehiwot Tamiru, Ethio Telecom CEO, said the service is designed to help local television stations shift from costly satellite rentals to domestic infrastructure supported by Ethio Telecom’s fiber and telecloud systems.
“It will help television stations to operate their domestic infrastructure in a cost-effective manner by avoiding the high foreign exchange costs they pay for satellite rental,” she said.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1HN4kVau6Q/
Ethio Telecom has officially launched a new content distribution platform, “teleStream,” a broadband-based television service the state-owned operator says will reduce foreign exchange pressures on broadcasters and expand access to digital entertainment.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Frehiwot Tamiru, Ethio Telecom CEO, said the service is designed to help local television stations shift from costly satellite rentals to domestic infrastructure supported by Ethio Telecom’s fiber and telecloud systems.
“It will help television stations to operate their domestic infrastructure in a cost-effective manner by avoiding the high foreign exchange costs they pay for satellite rental,” she said.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1HN4kVau6Q/
#Op_ed: #Djibouti: Pillar of stability, not a "rentier fortress" in decline
In a rebuttal to an op-ed titled "Crumbling of Rentier Fortress: Ethiopia’s Maritime Pivot, Decline of Djibouti’s Monopoly," Naguib Ali Taher, Communications Officer for the Republic of Djibouti, firmly rejects the characterization of his nation as a “crumbling rentier fortress.” He dismisses the portrayal as both “inaccurate and dismissive,” arguing that it misrepresents the geopolitical reality of the Horn of Africa.
Taher contends that Djibouti remains “an undeniable bedrock of stability” within a volatile region—a status validated by the presence of major #American, #French, #Chinese, and #Japanese military installations.
The author further brushes aside accusations of authoritarianism and regional meddling, labeling them "tabloid-style slander."
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55291
In a rebuttal to an op-ed titled "Crumbling of Rentier Fortress: Ethiopia’s Maritime Pivot, Decline of Djibouti’s Monopoly," Naguib Ali Taher, Communications Officer for the Republic of Djibouti, firmly rejects the characterization of his nation as a “crumbling rentier fortress.” He dismisses the portrayal as both “inaccurate and dismissive,” arguing that it misrepresents the geopolitical reality of the Horn of Africa.
Taher contends that Djibouti remains “an undeniable bedrock of stability” within a volatile region—a status validated by the presence of major #American, #French, #Chinese, and #Japanese military installations.
The author further brushes aside accusations of authoritarianism and regional meddling, labeling them "tabloid-style slander."
https://addisstandard.com/?p=55291
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News: #Tigray Interim Administration dismisses claims of #ENDF deployment, relocation to Northern Command camps
The Tigray Interim Administration has dismissed as “completely false” reports circulating in recent days alleging that the federal government ordered the #Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) to enter Tigray and that the regional administration had agreed to the relocation of federal troops to former Northern Command camps.
In a brief statement issued today, the Interim Administration described the claims as “misinformation and disinformation” intended to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension.
“There are rumors in recent days that the federal government has ordered the Ethiopian Defense Forces to enter Tigray, and the Tigray Interim Administration has agreed for the forces to settle in the former camps of #Northern Command,” the statement said.
“The source and the goal of this strategy of spreading such misinformation and....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=55289
The Tigray Interim Administration has dismissed as “completely false” reports circulating in recent days alleging that the federal government ordered the #Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) to enter Tigray and that the regional administration had agreed to the relocation of federal troops to former Northern Command camps.
In a brief statement issued today, the Interim Administration described the claims as “misinformation and disinformation” intended to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension.
“There are rumors in recent days that the federal government has ordered the Ethiopian Defense Forces to enter Tigray, and the Tigray Interim Administration has agreed for the forces to settle in the former camps of #Northern Command,” the statement said.
“The source and the goal of this strategy of spreading such misinformation and....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=55289
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