News: Two elders in #Marsabit County, #Kenya, detained over alleged #OLA links; residents protest by blocking #Nairobi-Moyale highway

Protests have persisted for several days in #Moyale, #Sololo, #Saku, and Marsabit following the detention of two #Borana #Oromo elders in Kenya’s Marsabit County over alleged links to the Oromo Liberation Army (#OLA).

The two elders, who were reportedly "abducted" and taken by Kenyan government security forces, appeared before a Nairobi court on Monday, 09 May 2026, according to their lawyer, Kana Gollicha, who spoke to Addis Standard. Gollicha stated that the elders were charged with "having links to the Oromo Liberation Army and inciting border conflicts between #Marsabit and #Wajir counties."

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57004

#Ethiopia: Survivors recount deadly ambush on civilian buses, gov’t pickup truck in #Benishangul_Gumuz as over 30 killed, dozens injured

Testimonies obtained by #Addis_Standard from survivors and relatives of victims provide further details of what appears to have been a coordinated assault targeting civilian transport vehicles traveling from Assosa, the capital city of the region, to Gilgel Beles town, a distance of more than 700 km with a stopover in Mankush town.

A surviving passenger who lost three relatives in the attack said their bus unknowingly entered an active ambush scene after departing Mankush and before reaching Gilgle Beles.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57015

News Analysis: #Sudanese Drone strike in #Ethiopia’s #Kurmuk town kills civilians, injures aid workers amid spillover from Sudan war

Residents said the attack targeted civilians in an area where people had gathered at local coffee shops and trading spots.

“Sudan has struck civilians with drones,” one resident told #Addis_Standard. “At least 13 or more lives have been lost.” The resident alleged that the Sudanese military believed RSF fighters had entered the border area, leading to the strike.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57011

News: Tensions flare at #BRICS meeting as #Iran accuses #UAE of role in ‘aggression’ against Tehran

A diplomatic dispute erupted between Iran and the #United_Arab_Emirates during a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in #New_Delhi, after Tehran accused the UAE of direct involvement in military operations against Iran amid the ongoing regional conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister #Abbas_Araghchi made the remarks during Thursday’s BRICS meeting, according to Iranian state media cited by #Reuters. The comments came a day after the UAE denied claims by #Israeli Prime Minister #Benjamin_Netanyahu that he had visited the Gulf state during the ongoing Iran war.

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#French companies expand presence in #Ethiopia, despite security concerns

#Lesaffre is just one of a growing number of French firms turning to Ethiopia.

France is the third-largest European investor in the country after the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, with an estimated foreign direct investment (FDI) stock of €485 million, according to the French foreign office.

While still limited in scale, the French economic presence is multi-sectoral – notably seen in energy, infrastructure, agri-food, logistics and the digital sector.

In recent years, Ethiopia has been opening up parts of its economy, particularly in those areas, to attract foreign investors.

“Countries such as Ethiopia have launched reforms to open up markets, liberalise various sectors and encourage investors to put money into their economies," says Getachew Teklemariam Alemu, an economist with the African Union.

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20260512-french-companies-expand-presence-in-ethiopia-despite-security-concerns

News: Risk of Famine persists as nearly 19.5 million people face acute food insecurity in #Sudan

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (#WFP) and #UNICEF warned today that nearly 19.5 million people – two out of every five people in Sudan - are currently facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) across Sudan, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis.

Although the latest IPC analysis did not identify areas currently experiencing Famine (IPC Phase 5), conditions remain extremely concerning. The analysis shows that nearly 135,000 people are facing Catastrophic food insecurity (IPC Phase 5) across 14 hotspots in #Darfur, South Darfur, and South #Kordofan are at risk of famine in the coming months.

https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/risk-of-famine-persists-as-nearly-19.5-million-people-face-acute-food-insecurity-in-sudan/en

#Opinion: Democracy for Sale, Dissent for Burial: #Ethiopia’s political economy of repression
 
The liberal-democratic project in Ethiopia failed long ago, serving merely as "a mask for the perpetual motion machine of capital accumulation," writes Sidoc Haytu. While the West feigns concern over "governance deficiencies," it bankrolls a system that silenced dissent, turning Ethiopia into a "graveyard for dissent."
 
Sidoc argues that both the old "developmental state" and current reforms enriched elites. Urban "beautification" disguises "an autocratic (and massive) transfer of wealth," as oligarchs replace working-class homes with luxury towers. The West tolerates this for "stability for capital," pushing privatization while ignoring the "economic liquidation" of citizens.
 
The author emphasizes that true change won’t come from liberal reforms or NGOs but through class solidarity resisting elite and foreign capital dominance.
 
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57008

News: Holy Synod calls for human rights, mercy, justice for Ethiopians in #South_Africa, #Saudi_Arabia

The Holy Synod of the #Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has called on relevant authorities to ensure “human rights, mercy and justice” for Ethiopian citizens living abroad, particularly in South Africa and Saudi Arabia, amid growing concerns over the conditions faced by Ethiopians in both countries.

The appeal was issued following the conclusion of the Church’s Rikbe Kahnat (General Assembly), held from May 06 to May 14, 2026, during which the Synod discussed a range of national, humanitarian and religious issues.

In its statement, the Synod urged Ethiopian authorities and the international community to work toward safeguarding the rights and dignity of Ethiopians abroad, as reports continue to emerge of executions, detentions and attacks targeting Ethiopian migrants.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57026

Tribute: #Zegeye_Asfaw: A patriot, a man of compassion, a man of the people

"Today, as we mourn him, we do not merely mourn a former minister, political figure, or activist. We mourn a moral presence. A patriot in the truest sense. A servant of the poor. A defender of peasants. A compassionate soul in the service of humanity."

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57037

News: #Somali regional state rejects news of drought impact, cites improved conditions during Gu rains

The Somali Regional State Disaster Risk Management Bureau has rejected reports suggesting impacts of drought in Ethiopia’s Somali Region, arguing that current conditions are being misrepresented and do not reflect ongoing seasonal improvements during the Gu rains.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57019

News: #Somalia gov’t-opposition talks collapse as presidential term expires amid electoral deadlock

Talks between Somalia’s federal government and opposition leaders collapsed shortly after resuming this afternoon, deepening uncertainty over the country’s constitutional future and electoral process, sources close to the matter told #Addis_Standard.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57030

#Coming_UP: The Standard Signal Ep.18: Ethiopia’s 2026 Election “Dead on Arrival”? | Prof. Merera on Oromia, & Power Sharing
#TsedaleLemma speaks with #MereraGudina.

What really led to the collapse of the Elilly International Hotel peace initiative? Did the ruling Prosperity Party offer OFC 30 parliamentary seats behind closed doors?

As fears of prolonged instability continue to grow, what are the four scenarios he believes could shape Ethiopia’s future?

Watch the full conversation on Addis Standard.

Premiers at: 8: 30 PM EAT tonight.

Subscribe to watch: https://www.youtube.com/@AddisStandard

#TheStandardSignal #Ethiopia #EthiopianPolitics #Oromia #NationalDialogue #Election2026 #HornOfAfrica #AddisStandard #MereraGudina #TsedaleLemma

#Premiering_now: The Standard Signal Ep.18: Ethiopia’s 2026 Election “Dead on Arrival”? | Prof. Merera on Oromia, & Power Sharing

In this episode of The Standard Signal, Merera Gudina speaks candidly about Ethiopia’s upcoming election. Why do major opposition parties say the upcoming election lacks credibility? What really led to the collapse of the Elilly International Hotel peace initiative? Did the ruling Prosperity Party offer OFC 30 parliamentary seats behind closed doors?
 
Click here to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZi0jO77yjg

#BRICS Delhi meeting ends without joint communiqué amid divisions over war on #Iran

Addis Abeba- Foreign ministers from the expanded BRICS bloc failed to issue a joint communiqué following a two-day summit in New Delhi on 15 May, exposing deep divisions among member states over the ongoing #US-#Israel war on Iran and the broader Middle East crisis.

Instead, host country India released a “Chair’s Statement and Outcome Document,” acknowledging that “differing views among some members” prevented consensus on the situation in West Asia and the Middle East.

According to reports by Reuters and Al Jazeera, tensions centered on disagreements between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over language concerning the ongoing conflict.

Iran reportedly pushed for BRICS to strongly condemn U.S. and Israeli military actions, while also accusing the UAE of involvement in operations against Tehran. The UAE rejected the accusations and opposed wording critical of its role, contributing to the collapse of negotiations for a unified declaration.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after the meeting that one BRICS member had blocked portions of the proposed statement, though he did not explicitly name the UAE.

Despite the divisions, member states reportedly reached agreement on dozens of other agenda items, including economic cooperation and multilateral reform. India’s chair statement emphasized dialogue, sovereignty, maritime security, and the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure, while avoiding direct attribution of blame in the regional conflict.

The outcome marks the second consecutive BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting to end without a consensus communiqué since the bloc’s expansion. In April 2025, a meeting in Rio de Janeiro under Brazil’s chairmanship also failed to produce a joint declaration due to disagreements over reform of the UN Security Council and representation within the enlarged grouping, which now includes countries such as Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and the UAE.

News: #Ethiopia faces ‘very high risk’ of torture, annual index says, cites systemic abuses, impunity

Under its “Ending Police Brutality and Institutional Violence” category, Ethiopia received a “very high risk” score. The report accused security forces of employing “physical violence, psychological intimidation and even forced disappearance during apprehensions and interrogations.”

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57048

#China’s #UN ambassador criticizes #US Hormuz resolution

China’s U.N. ambassador on Friday criticized a proposed U.S.-Bahraini resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, saying the content and timing were not right and passing it would not be helpful.

The draft resolution demands Iran halt attacks and mining in the strait, but diplomats have said it is likely to meet with Russian and Chinese vetoes if it comes to a vote. Both countries vetoed a similar U.S.-backed resolution last month, arguing it was biased against Iran.

The Pass Blue news portal, which focuses on U.N. news, posted a short clip of an impromptu interview with China’s U.N. envoy Fu Gong in which he said, when asked about the resolution: “We don’t think the content is right, and the timing is not right.

“What we need is to urge both sides to engage in serious and good-faith negotiations that can resolve the issue.

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-un-ambassador-criticizes-us-hormuz-resolution-2026-05-15/

News: #EZEMA says candidates disqualified in #Harari over ethnic identity, members arrested in #South_Ethiopia region

The opposition party Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA) has accused authorities of disqualifying its candidates in the Harari region based on ethnic identity and arresting its members in the South Ethiopia region, warning that the actions could undermine the credibility of #Ethiopia’s upcoming elections.

In a statement issued yesterday, 15 May, the party said that despite its commitment to peaceful political competition and legal processes, “serious pressures” are being exerted on the electoral process through what it described as discriminatory practices and politically motivated harassment.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57056

News: Oil prices jump after drone attack on #UAE nuclear plant

Global oil prices climbed more than 1% on Monday after a drone attack targeted the #Barakah nuclear power plant in the #United_Arab_Emirates, intensifying fears of a broader regional escalation tied to the ongoing #Iran conflict.

Brent crude rose to above $111 per barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed past $107, both hitting their highest levels in nearly two weeks as investors reacted to mounting risks around Gulf energy infrastructure and shipping routes.

Officials in #Abu_Dhabi said a drone strike caused a fire near the Barakah nuclear facility, though no injuries or radiation leaks were reported. #Emirati authorities said investigations are underway to determine the source of the attack, while the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed radiation levels remained normal.

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