“From crisis through crisis to crisis”
 
As #Ethiopia’s government prepares to conduct the 7th general election on Monday, 01 June, Merera Gudina, chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), outlines four scenarios he believes could define Ethiopia’s political trajectory going forward; a free and fair election is not one of them.
 
Prof. Merera argues that Ethiopia’s transition has been “from crisis through crisis to crisis.” To break this cycle, he called on both the ruling party and opposition forces to “come to our senses” and work toward an all-inclusive national dialogue, genuine transitional justice, and a broad national consensus.
 
Watch his full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZi0jO77yjg
 
#Ethiopia #MereraGudina #OFC #HornOfAfrica #Politics #Peace #Democracy

News: #RSF attack kills 30 civilians in North #Kordofan villages, tribal union says

At least 30 civilians were killed on Thursday when Rapid Support Forces attacked several villages near the town of #Bara in #North_Kordofan state, according to multiple civilian sources and a statement from a local tribal union.
 
The General Union of Dar Hamid Tribe Regions said approximately 20 RSF combat vehicles attacked the villages of Al-Murra, Um Saadoun al-Sharif, and Al-Radha in West Bara locality, resulting in more than 30 deaths on the spot.
 
The union said tribal fighters mounted a response to what it described as a treacherous attack, but warned that the situation remains tense and could escalate further.

Bara — the second-largest city in North Kordofan — has changed hands between the Sudanese Armed Forces(#SAF) and the RSF during the conflict and is currently under RSF control.

https://sudantribune.com/article/314440

#Opinion: Ballots Without Voices: #Ethiopia’s shrinking civic space before June 2026 election
 
For the second consecutive year, CIVICUS has rated Ethiopia’s civic space as “closed.” As Noah Yesuf notes, this reflects that citizens are increasingly unable to freely associate, assemble, or express themselves—rights nominally protected by Ethiopia’s constitution and international law.
 
Ahead of the 1 June 2026 elections, journalists and opposition figures face abduction, prolonged detention, and enforced disappearance, while proposed laws restricting civil society funding further threaten independent voices. Amid intense conflict in regions like #Amhara and #Oromia, Noah highlights a stark disconnect: “Ballots are being planned while bullets are being fired at civilians.”
 
The author warns that the upcoming elections risk becoming purely symbolic exercises rather than genuine democratic processes.
 
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57280

News: #Kenyan court suspends #US plan for Ebola quarantine facility amid public backlash

A Kenyan High Court has temporarily suspended plans for the #United_States to establish an #Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya for #Americans exposed to the virus, following a legal challenge and growing public criticism over the proposal.

The court order blocks the admission of any exposed or infected individuals into the proposed facility until the case is heard, with a hearing scheduled for June 2. The case was filed by the Katiba Institute, a Kenyan rights organization, which argued that the plan poses public health risks and raises constitutional concerns.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57290

News: Authorities dismiss #Fano transport ban tied to election boycott warning as residents report renewed clashes in #Amhara

Authorities in the Amhara region have dismissed a recent warning by the Amhara Fano National Movement (#AFNM) restricting vehicle movement across the region, saying the announcement is unlikely to significantly disrupt public activities or affect the overall security situation.

The AFNM had earlier issued a statement directing that no vehicles, except ambulances and emergency service providers, should travel within the region from Friday, May 29 to June 2, 2026. The group also warned that measures would be taken against individuals or entities violating the directive.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57309

News: #Ethiopia risks human capital crisis amid ‘early skill gaps’: New World Bank report warns

The latest findings in the World Bank report come as Ethiopia’s federal budget for education has continued to decline despite successive nominal increases in allocations, reflecting mounting pressure from inflation, competing fiscal demands, and reduced public spending priorities.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57302

News: Watchdog condemns #Ethiopia election board’s media ‘oath’ as threat to independent reporting ahead of vote

Central to Amnesty’s criticism is an “oath” imposed by National Election Board of Ethiopia (#NEBE) as a requirement for journalists seeking accreditation to cover the election, a demand #Addis_Standard denounced as an act that “institutionalizes self-censorship and recasts election coverage from a public duty into a controlled privilege” in its January Editorial.

“The oath required by the election board is clearly a tool for controlling what is discussed in public about the upcoming election and gives it the power to censor uncomfortable information or determine what is considered to be true or false,” Tigere Chagutah said.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57312

#AS_Editorial: Ballots without trust are ballots against peace and prosperity!

As the government heads toward its seventh general election on 01 June, Ethiopia faces a dangerous political paradox: never has the language of democracy been so visible, yet never has public trust in democratic processes felt so fragile. Institutions spoke, directives choreographed and circulated, timelines followed, debates televised. According to the official calendar, Ethiopians and their political leaders are now in a “time of reflection.”

All of this unfolded while the political foundations required for a credible election have been steadily and unmistakably eroding. It is safe to say that in Ethiopia, election is no longer a dispute over procedures but a crisis of legitimacy that the ruling elite has so far refused to fully confront.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57317

News: #IMF, #World_Bank, others warn #Middle_East war is straining energy supplies

The heads of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and #World_Trade_Organization warned ‌on Friday that the war in the Middle East was straining global energy supplies and hitting vulnerable economies hardest.

The #US-#Israel war on #Iran has disrupted trade, rattled financial markets and raised concerns over global energy ⁠supplies, particularly through the Strait of #Hormuz, a key route for oil and gas shipments.

The global institutions said that the world economy remained resilient, but the conflict was disproportionately affecting poorer countries through higher fuel and fertilizer prices, increased uncertainty, and risks to jobs.

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/imf-world-bank-others-warn-middle-east-war-is-straining-energy-supplies-2026-05-29/

#World_Bank support helping #Ethiopia expand #Modjo_Dry_Port capacity

Addis Abeba - Ethiopia has expanded the Modjo Dry Port with support from the World Bank as part of efforts to ease logistics bottlenecks, increase cargo-handling capacity, and improve trade flows along the #Ethiopia–#Djibouti corridor.

The project includes new container yards, expanded warehousing facilities, improved cargo-handling infrastructure, and digital systems aimed at reducing delays and improving operational efficiency.

According to the World Bank, the expansion is designed to help Modjo process growing trade volumes more efficiently while strengthening links between road and rail transport. The port, which handles the vast majority of Ethiopia’s imports and exports, has long faced congestion and high logistics costs that affected businesses and supply chains.
https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02VJDkE3udMuzFUH1BvjsiXi2gScUiPYHhqogKBD9oUw7MUXkMLkH4D2Nm8Ea9odqjl

News: Rights groups say dictator #Habré conviction remains milestone for global justice 10 years later

Human Rights Watch (#HRW) and the International Commission of Jurists (#ICJ) have said the conviction of former #Chadian dictator #Hissène_Habré remains a landmark achievement for international justice a decade after the historic ruling, while warning that many survivors are still waiting for full reparations.

In a joint statement marking the 10th anniversary of Habré’s conviction, the organizations said the 2016 verdict in #Senegal represented a pivotal moment in efforts to hold leaders accountable for atrocity crimes.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57326

News: #Oromia police assure ‘voters’ security’ as #Oromo_Liberation_Army imposes transport ban ahead of #Ethiopia election

Calling on residents to participate in the vote, the commission urged voters to come out on election day “with absolute confidence.”

The security assurances came on the same day the #OLA issued a statement rejecting the upcoming election and announcing sweeping restrictions on movement across Oromia.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57329

News: #Ethiopian delegation “secures safety assurances” in #South_Africa as migrants continue to raise concerns over government inaction

An Ethiopian government delegation has concluded talks with South African authorities on the safety of Ethiopian nationals amid escalating anti-migrant tensions, securing assurances that citizens will be protected regardless of their immigration status.

The high-level delegation traveled to #Pretoria following growing concerns over an anti-migrant campaign targeting foreign nationals, including Ethiopians, through demonstrations, threats, and calls for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa by June 30, 2026.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57333

Op-ed: #Ethiopia’s election is a test of the African Union’s credibility. Don’t allow ballot become a weapon of conflict

As Ethiopians prepare to cast their ballots on 1 June, the arrival of the African Union Election Observation Mission (#AUEOM), led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, has been accompanied by familiar assurances about the continent’s commitment to democratic processes.

This Op-Ed, #Jawar_Mohammed argues that Ethiopia enters these elections amid "unresolved armed conflicts, shrinking political space, a vanishing space for media freedom, and questions about the inclusiveness of the electoral process. Major opposition actors have questioned the credibility of the vote, while large sections of the electorate remain uncertain whether participation can meaningfully influence political outcomes."

Against this backdrop, the AU observation mission "faces a responsibility far greater than observing polling stations, ballot boxes, and counting procedures. "

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57340

#Coming_UP: The Standard Signal Ep.20: Ethiopia’s Election of Optics: Co-optation, Crisis & the Collapse of Electoral Trust

#TsedaleLemma speaks with #JawarMohammed

Ethiopia’s election raises big questions - competition, control, and credibility.

Watch the full conversation on Addis Standard.
The premiere is at 9:30 PM EAT today and will be streamed live on Facebook and X.

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

#EthiopiaElection #TheStandardSignal #EthiopiaPolitics #AfricanPolitics #Election #Democracy #HornOfAfrica #JawarMohammed #TsedaleLemma

#Premiering_now: The Standard Signal Ep.20: Ethiopia’s Election of Optics: Co-optation, Crisis & the Collapse of Electoral Trust

#TsedaleLemma speaks with #JawarMohammed

Ethiopia’s election raises big questions - competition, control, and credibility.

Click here to watch:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiAH5i9kbVU


#EthiopiaElection #TheStandardSignal #EthiopiaPolitics #AfricanPolitics #Election #Democracy #HornOfAfrica #JawarMohammed #TsedaleLemma

News: #US strikes #Iranian military sites after drone incident; #Tehran retaliates with attack on air base

The #United_States said it carried out strikes on Iranian military facilities over the weekend after accusing Tehran of shooting down a U.S. MQ-1 drone in international waters, while Iran said it responded by targeting a U.S. air base, marking the latest escalation in a conflict that has continued despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

According to the U.S. Central Command (#CENTCOM), #American forces struck Iranian air defense systems, a drone command-and-control station, and two attack drones. In a separate statement, CENTCOM said the strikes targeted radar and drone-control facilities in #Goruk and on #Qeshm Island, describing the action as a response to what it called “aggressive Iranian actions.”

https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2061322868990910649?s=20

Response to our readers requesting election day reporting from #Addis_Standard

We regret to inform you that Addis Standard is unable to provide the election day field reporting coverage we had prepared and intended to deliver.

This follows the unjustified measure taken against Addis Standard by the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) through the announcement of the “revocation” of our registration certificate. As a direct consequence, the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) declined to issue accreditation badges to the ten journalists and two camera crew members whose names we formally submitted in compliance with the Board’s accreditation requirements.

This outcome is not an isolated administrative decision. Rather, it reflects a broader and sustained pattern of institutional actions that have systematically constrained and disabled our work, including at a time when our newsroom was finalizing preparations for a special election coverage plan in March 2026. During the 2021 national election, our newsroom deployed seven journalists across multiple locations in four regional states to provide live, on-the-ground reporting and bring diverse realities of the electoral process to our audiences. The accompanying photographs document that commitment.

We had hoped to do more this year through a portal exclusively dedicated for the election - https://addisstandard.com/eth-election2026/

Click here to read the full statement https://addisstandard.com/?p=57343

#Tigray: “An election that, once again, excludes one of the country’s most politically consequential regions” - Addis Standard, April 2026

The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) is conducting #Ethiopia’s 7th general election today.

As part of a series of scenario profiles examining electoral dynamics across three key regional states - Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray – in April 2026, Addis Standard presented an in-depth assessment of what the election means for each region and the broader political trajectory of the country.

In the section focusing on Tigray, our assessment concluded that “Tigray’s participation in the 2026 election appears increasingly bleak,” highlighting concerns over an electoral process taking place without the inclusion of one of Ethiopia’s most politically consequential regions.

Our assessment highlights: “Given Tigray’s historical role within Ethiopia’s federal system, the region’s renewed exclusion from the national election shifts the focus beyond Tigray itself, raising deeper questions about the future shape and character of the Ethiopian state. It reflects a broader historical trajectory in which Ethiopia’s unfinished project of state-building remains fragile and, once again, at risk.

An election that, once again, excludes one of the country’s most politically consequential regions risks projecting a future in which the vision of a cohesive Ethiopian state remains uncertain.” Click here to read the full scenario assessment: https://addisstandard.com/?p=56406

News: Election Board says 143 polling stations failed to open over security problems; voting interrupted in ‘certain areas’ of #Oromia and #Amhara regions

The Board disclosed the developments during a briefing on Ethiopia’s 7th general election, which officially began at 6:00 AM today.

The disruptions reported by the election board come days after security authorities in Amhara and Oromia regions publicly emphasized readiness for election day after armed opposition groups renewed calls rejecting the vote.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=57348

#Oromia: “The emergence of a de facto one-party regional system” once again – #Addis_Standard, April 2026

In our April election scenario assessment covering Oromia regional state, Ethiopia’s largest regional state, Addis Standard documented how persistent insecurity over the past eight years had already constrained opposition parties’ ability and willingness to participate in today’s general election.

The assessment noted that the 2021 general election unfolded under conditions shaped by armed conflict and the withdrawal of the region’s two major opposition parties from the electoral process. Both the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) and the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) cited the detention of senior leaders, cadres, and ordinary party members, alongside deteriorating security conditions and the closure of party offices, as key reasons for opting out of participation.

The absence of major opposition actors significantly reshaped the electoral landscape in Oromia, allowing the ruling Prosperity Party to dominate the political field.

According to our assessment, this year’s election presents limited departure from that trajectory. While OLF fielded 163 candidates, OFC registered only six candidates, a move the party described as tactical and aimed at avoiding deregistration by the Election Board.

Against this backdrop, #Addis_Standard predicted:

“One likely outcome of the 2026 election is the emergence of a de facto one-party regional system, in which both opposition parties field limited candidates while the ruling party maintains dominance, further weakening political competition and deepening grievances.”

Revisit our scenario profiling here:https://addisstandard.com/?p=56346