Today’s Top Stories from Addis Standard
🏆 Addis Standard to Receive 2026 Democracy Award for Independent Journalism as the U.S. Marks Its 250th Anniversary.
Watch the full report here:
https://youtu.be/TGCpBAa4-ds?is=30MUfktmXNe75-yN
#AddisStandard #DemocracyAward #IndependentJournalism #Ethiopia #PressFreedom #NewsUpdate #YouTubeNews
🏆 Addis Standard to Receive 2026 Democracy Award for Independent Journalism as the U.S. Marks Its 250th Anniversary.
Watch the full report here:
https://youtu.be/TGCpBAa4-ds?is=30MUfktmXNe75-yN
#AddisStandard #DemocracyAward #IndependentJournalism #Ethiopia #PressFreedom #NewsUpdate #YouTubeNews
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#Kenya signs $1.2 billion deal with #Chinese firm to expand #Nairobi airport
Kenya's government has signed a 154.2 billion Kenyan shilling ($1.2 billion) agreement with China Road and Bridge Corporation to expand #Jomo_Kenyatta International Airport, Transport Minister Davis Chirchir said on Tuesday.
The East African nation plans to nearly triple the annual passenger capacity at the Nairobi airport to 22 million people from 7.5 million. The project was previously halted last year after Kenya cancelled a 2024 agreement with India's Adani Group following the indictment of its founder in the #United_States.
"The project scope includes the construction of a new terminal building and associated support facilities, the modernization and upgrading of existing infrastructure, the improvement of airside and landside operations," Chirchir said on his X account.
Kenya is aiming to maintain its role........
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2069655871789920516?s=20
Kenya's government has signed a 154.2 billion Kenyan shilling ($1.2 billion) agreement with China Road and Bridge Corporation to expand #Jomo_Kenyatta International Airport, Transport Minister Davis Chirchir said on Tuesday.
The East African nation plans to nearly triple the annual passenger capacity at the Nairobi airport to 22 million people from 7.5 million. The project was previously halted last year after Kenya cancelled a 2024 agreement with India's Adani Group following the indictment of its founder in the #United_States.
"The project scope includes the construction of a new terminal building and associated support facilities, the modernization and upgrading of existing infrastructure, the improvement of airside and landside operations," Chirchir said on his X account.
Kenya is aiming to maintain its role........
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2069655871789920516?s=20
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#Britain ‘failed to intervene in #Sudan massacre to maintain #UAE ties’
Officials ignored intelligence on the ‘genocidal’ siege of El Fasher to protect relations with Abu Dhabi, parliamentary committee told
The Government failed to intervene in a “genocidal” massacre in Sudan due to concerns it could damage Britain’s relationship with the United Arab Emirates, a leading war crimes investigator has told Parliament.
But despite the warnings it failed to act, with officials citing political concern over the reaction of the UAE which was backing Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mr Raymond told the International Development Committee, appointed by the House of Commons to scrutinise the work of the FCDO, on Tuesday.
The UAE has been widely accused of smuggling arms to the RSF – something it has strenuously denied.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/britain-failed-to-intervene-sudan-massacre-maintain-uae-tie/
Officials ignored intelligence on the ‘genocidal’ siege of El Fasher to protect relations with Abu Dhabi, parliamentary committee told
The Government failed to intervene in a “genocidal” massacre in Sudan due to concerns it could damage Britain’s relationship with the United Arab Emirates, a leading war crimes investigator has told Parliament.
But despite the warnings it failed to act, with officials citing political concern over the reaction of the UAE which was backing Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mr Raymond told the International Development Committee, appointed by the House of Commons to scrutinise the work of the FCDO, on Tuesday.
The UAE has been widely accused of smuggling arms to the RSF – something it has strenuously denied.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/britain-failed-to-intervene-sudan-massacre-maintain-uae-tie/
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#UN inquiry says #Israeli actions against #Palestinian children in #Gaza amount to genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes
The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel has accused Israeli authorities and security forces of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, concluding that such actions amount to genocide, crimes against humanity, & war crimes, while also documenting war crimes against Palestinian children in the occupied #West_Bank.
In a report released on 23 June, the commission said Palestinian children had been “deliberately targeted and killed” during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, including after a ceasefire took effect in October 2025. Commission Chair Srinivasan Muralidhar said the evidence showed that “Palestinian children have been deliberately.....
https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02Mpn9oBqMXeLDjGsoAvht4WLmjVxb1bkUNj1ZE7wB2nDLDdLVzuJ5X5gqPq8wvdt6l
The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel has accused Israeli authorities and security forces of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, concluding that such actions amount to genocide, crimes against humanity, & war crimes, while also documenting war crimes against Palestinian children in the occupied #West_Bank.
In a report released on 23 June, the commission said Palestinian children had been “deliberately targeted and killed” during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, including after a ceasefire took effect in October 2025. Commission Chair Srinivasan Muralidhar said the evidence showed that “Palestinian children have been deliberately.....
https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02Mpn9oBqMXeLDjGsoAvht4WLmjVxb1bkUNj1ZE7wB2nDLDdLVzuJ5X5gqPq8wvdt6l
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#Paris_Club says debt restructurings need improvement
Despite progress in recent years the process for helping over-indebted countries restructure their public debts needs further improvement, the Paris Club said Tuesday.
The Paris Club brings together 22 mostly Western creditor nations which negotiate together on the terms to reduce the debt burden of countries that can no longer pay back their loans.
The group, in its annual report, said better coordination among creditors, more transparency and better information sharing could help improve the process.
In 2020, the Paris Club and the #G20 nations launched a so-called Common Framework to streamline the debt restructuring of eligible low-income countries.
"Over the course of five years, the Common Framework has delivered significant results in practice," the Paris Club's co-chairman, Thomas Revial, said in the report.
He noted that more than $45 billion of external debt has been ........
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2069703916053311823?s=20
Despite progress in recent years the process for helping over-indebted countries restructure their public debts needs further improvement, the Paris Club said Tuesday.
The Paris Club brings together 22 mostly Western creditor nations which negotiate together on the terms to reduce the debt burden of countries that can no longer pay back their loans.
The group, in its annual report, said better coordination among creditors, more transparency and better information sharing could help improve the process.
In 2020, the Paris Club and the #G20 nations launched a so-called Common Framework to streamline the debt restructuring of eligible low-income countries.
"Over the course of five years, the Common Framework has delivered significant results in practice," the Paris Club's co-chairman, Thomas Revial, said in the report.
He noted that more than $45 billion of external debt has been ........
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2069703916053311823?s=20
News: #Sudan army says it captured rebel stronghold near #Ethiopia border amid renewed Blue Nile offensive
The Sudanese Armed Forces (#SAF) said they have captured a key rebel stronghold near the Ethiopian border after launching a large-scale military offensive in Sudan's #Blue_Nile region, as fighting intensifies across several fronts in the country's civil war.
According to Sudan Tribune and Chinese state news agency Xinhua, the operation was carried out on Tuesday by the SAF's 13th Infantry Brigade under the Fourth Infantry Division in Geissan district, targeting areas beyond #Abu_Dugla and #Ashambo, about one kilometer from the Ethiopia-Sudan border.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57883
The Sudanese Armed Forces (#SAF) said they have captured a key rebel stronghold near the Ethiopian border after launching a large-scale military offensive in Sudan's #Blue_Nile region, as fighting intensifies across several fronts in the country's civil war.
According to Sudan Tribune and Chinese state news agency Xinhua, the operation was carried out on Tuesday by the SAF's 13th Infantry Brigade under the Fourth Infantry Division in Geissan district, targeting areas beyond #Abu_Dugla and #Ashambo, about one kilometer from the Ethiopia-Sudan border.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57883
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News: #HRW urges #Tigray authorities to scrap law enabling forced mobilization, punishment for dissent
The rights group said the law would effectively compel civilians into military service while criminalizing refusal to comply, assistance in avoiding recruitment, and expression perceived as discouraging mobilization. It also warned that provisions targeting media reporting could be used to silence criticism under broad and vague security justifications.
“Tigrayans are still reeling from a devastating two-year conflict and its aftermath,” said #Laetitia_Bader, deputy Africa director at #Human_Rights_Watch. “Authorities in the region should not respond to ongoing political tensions by forcing civilians into military service while simultaneously punishing criticism of such forced conscription.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57888
The rights group said the law would effectively compel civilians into military service while criminalizing refusal to comply, assistance in avoiding recruitment, and expression perceived as discouraging mobilization. It also warned that provisions targeting media reporting could be used to silence criticism under broad and vague security justifications.
“Tigrayans are still reeling from a devastating two-year conflict and its aftermath,” said #Laetitia_Bader, deputy Africa director at #Human_Rights_Watch. “Authorities in the region should not respond to ongoing political tensions by forcing civilians into military service while simultaneously punishing criticism of such forced conscription.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57888
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#Policy_Brief: Cyclist Safety at Intersections: Next frontier for #Addis_Abeba’s active mobility push
The rapid urban transformation in #Ethiopia’s capital offers a unique opportunity to prioritize sustainable and inclusive transport, writes Shambel Assefa Esheti. He argues that by integrating walking and cycling into the city’s infrastructure, officials can improve affordability and effectively reduce traffic congestion.
However, the author cautions that the success of these initiatives hinges on safety. Because “pedestrians and cyclists are classified as Vulnerable Road Users,” infrastructure design must prioritize their protection, particularly at high-risk intersections where traffic conflicts peak. Consequently, implementing context-sensitive planning—such as protected crossings and clearer pavement markings—is essential.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57875
The rapid urban transformation in #Ethiopia’s capital offers a unique opportunity to prioritize sustainable and inclusive transport, writes Shambel Assefa Esheti. He argues that by integrating walking and cycling into the city’s infrastructure, officials can improve affordability and effectively reduce traffic congestion.
However, the author cautions that the success of these initiatives hinges on safety. Because “pedestrians and cyclists are classified as Vulnerable Road Users,” infrastructure design must prioritize their protection, particularly at high-risk intersections where traffic conflicts peak. Consequently, implementing context-sensitive planning—such as protected crossings and clearer pavement markings—is essential.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57875
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News: #Ethiopia could save up to $778 million under #Kenya-style #Chinese loan restructuring, U.S.-based research group says
Ethiopia could save hundreds of millions of dollars by converting some of its Chinese loans from #US_dollars to #Chinese_yuan under a Kenya-style debt restructuring arrangement, according to a new report by the U.S.-based research group AidData, as reported by Reuters.
The report, released by #AidData, a research center at the College of William & Mary that tracks global development finance, identifies Ethiopia among five countries—including #Mozambique, #Zambia, #Pakistan, and #Indonesia—that could seek similar revisions to the terms of Chinese loans after Kenya secured lower debt-servicing costs through a yuan-based restructuring.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57891
Ethiopia could save hundreds of millions of dollars by converting some of its Chinese loans from #US_dollars to #Chinese_yuan under a Kenya-style debt restructuring arrangement, according to a new report by the U.S.-based research group AidData, as reported by Reuters.
The report, released by #AidData, a research center at the College of William & Mary that tracks global development finance, identifies Ethiopia among five countries—including #Mozambique, #Zambia, #Pakistan, and #Indonesia—that could seek similar revisions to the terms of Chinese loans after Kenya secured lower debt-servicing costs through a yuan-based restructuring.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57891
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#Libya’s eastern government bans entry for citizens of #Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia
Authorities based in the eastern part of divided Libya have banned entry for people from four nearby African countries, a move likely meant to stem the influx of migrants seeking to set off for #Europe from the country’s northern coast.
Libya’s coast is a key departure points for migrants from North Africa trying to reach European shores for a better life there. They are typically packed by smugglers into small and unsafe boats, with thousands dying during the perilous sea journey.
The ban, announced late Tuesday, says citizens of #Sudan, #Eritrea, Ethiopia and #Somalia are “prohibited from entering Libyan territory through all land, sea, and air ports.” The government statement said exemptions will be made for diplomats and workers in health and education sectors.
Separately, tensions have.....
https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0LNFaQnD4Et2iyhGh1zmok9uzaAaVpsx8EQXgmeEiUu8Xpv5PX8dhj6LgbNubeks3l
Authorities based in the eastern part of divided Libya have banned entry for people from four nearby African countries, a move likely meant to stem the influx of migrants seeking to set off for #Europe from the country’s northern coast.
Libya’s coast is a key departure points for migrants from North Africa trying to reach European shores for a better life there. They are typically packed by smugglers into small and unsafe boats, with thousands dying during the perilous sea journey.
The ban, announced late Tuesday, says citizens of #Sudan, #Eritrea, Ethiopia and #Somalia are “prohibited from entering Libyan territory through all land, sea, and air ports.” The government statement said exemptions will be made for diplomats and workers in health and education sectors.
Separately, tensions have.....
https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0LNFaQnD4Et2iyhGh1zmok9uzaAaVpsx8EQXgmeEiUu8Xpv5PX8dhj6LgbNubeks3l
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News: #Fed._Court rejects Media Authority’s defense filing in #Addis_Standard license revocation case, orders revised submission
The Federal High Court’s #Lideta Division Administrative Matters Bench has rejected a defense submission filed by the Ethiopian Media Authority (#EMA) in a case challenging the revocation of Addis Standard’s media registration, ordering the Authority to submit an amended filing that complies with procedural requirements.
During a hearing held on 24 June, EMA submitted a 24-page statement of defense accompanied by 14 pages of supporting evidence. The court, however, declined to accept the submission, stating that pleadings must be clear, precise, concise, and limited to a maximum of five pages.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57895
The Federal High Court’s #Lideta Division Administrative Matters Bench has rejected a defense submission filed by the Ethiopian Media Authority (#EMA) in a case challenging the revocation of Addis Standard’s media registration, ordering the Authority to submit an amended filing that complies with procedural requirements.
During a hearing held on 24 June, EMA submitted a 24-page statement of defense accompanied by 14 pages of supporting evidence. The court, however, declined to accept the submission, stating that pleadings must be clear, precise, concise, and limited to a maximum of five pages.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57895
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#US provides Ebola treatment for outbreak in #Congo, bringing trials closer
The U.S. has provided doses of an experimental antibody drug from #Mapp Biopharmaceutical for use in clinical trials to fight the widening #Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo, a Health Department spokesperson said, a shift from its position of making the drug available just for Americans.
After dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development and slashing aid to the region, the U.S. is now making modest contributions to assist with what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said could potentially be the worst Ebola outbreak yet without a strong response.
The Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson declined to comment on the number of doses it will provide, saying by email that the drug is being made available for compassionate use in......
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-provides-ebola-treatment-outbreak-congo-bringing-trials-closer-2026-06-23/
The U.S. has provided doses of an experimental antibody drug from #Mapp Biopharmaceutical for use in clinical trials to fight the widening #Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo, a Health Department spokesperson said, a shift from its position of making the drug available just for Americans.
After dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development and slashing aid to the region, the U.S. is now making modest contributions to assist with what the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said could potentially be the worst Ebola outbreak yet without a strong response.
The Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson declined to comment on the number of doses it will provide, saying by email that the drug is being made available for compassionate use in......
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-provides-ebola-treatment-outbreak-congo-bringing-trials-closer-2026-06-23/
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Fears grow for civilians as paramilitary group closes in on strategic #Sudanese city
Paramilitary attacks on a strategic city of a half-million people in central Sudan have raised international alarm that another round of mass violence against civilians is being planned as the country’s war surges into its fourth year.
“We must not allow the horrors of #El_Fasher to be repeated in #El_Obeid,” a spokesman for #UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement.
More than 6,000 people were killed in three days last year when the Rapid Support Forces seized el-Fasher in an attack that U.N. experts said bore the “hallmarks of genocide.”
The U.N. Security Council has said it is alarmed by reports of “substantial” reinforcements by the #RSF around el-Obeid in #North_Kordofan. The United States, Britain and some other #European countries have warned of “escalating atrocity risks.”
RSF.......
https://apnews.com/article/sudan-war-paramilitary-rsf-obeid-khartoum-un-ce80280c6431fa944c0ac07a75107715
Paramilitary attacks on a strategic city of a half-million people in central Sudan have raised international alarm that another round of mass violence against civilians is being planned as the country’s war surges into its fourth year.
“We must not allow the horrors of #El_Fasher to be repeated in #El_Obeid,” a spokesman for #UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement.
More than 6,000 people were killed in three days last year when the Rapid Support Forces seized el-Fasher in an attack that U.N. experts said bore the “hallmarks of genocide.”
The U.N. Security Council has said it is alarmed by reports of “substantial” reinforcements by the #RSF around el-Obeid in #North_Kordofan. The United States, Britain and some other #European countries have warned of “escalating atrocity risks.”
RSF.......
https://apnews.com/article/sudan-war-paramilitary-rsf-obeid-khartoum-un-ce80280c6431fa944c0ac07a75107715
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#Ethiopia | Deafening silence: no accountability for the killing of three MSF staff in #Tigray
Five years after three Médecins Sans Frontières (#MSF) staff members were brutally killed in central Tigray, Ethiopia, the Government of Ethiopia has shown no sign of concluding and sharing the outcomes of a credible and impartial investigation, despite our continuous engagement efforts.
On 24 June 2021, María Hernández Matas, Tedros Gebremariam Gebremichael, and Yohannes Halefom Reda were shot while they were in the area looking for people in need of medical assistance, after reports of heavy fighting.
One year on since MSF published its internal review into the brutal killing, the families of #María, #Tedros, and #Yohannes have still not received any official communication or substantiated findings regarding what happened that day, and we urge the Government of Ethiopia to fulfil its.....
https://msfsouthasia.org/ethiopia-deafening-silence-no-accountability-for-the-killing-of-three-msf-staff-in-tigray/
Five years after three Médecins Sans Frontières (#MSF) staff members were brutally killed in central Tigray, Ethiopia, the Government of Ethiopia has shown no sign of concluding and sharing the outcomes of a credible and impartial investigation, despite our continuous engagement efforts.
On 24 June 2021, María Hernández Matas, Tedros Gebremariam Gebremichael, and Yohannes Halefom Reda were shot while they were in the area looking for people in need of medical assistance, after reports of heavy fighting.
One year on since MSF published its internal review into the brutal killing, the families of #María, #Tedros, and #Yohannes have still not received any official communication or substantiated findings regarding what happened that day, and we urge the Government of Ethiopia to fulfil its.....
https://msfsouthasia.org/ethiopia-deafening-silence-no-accountability-for-the-killing-of-three-msf-staff-in-tigray/
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#Puntland accuses #Somalia federal government of plotting to fuel clan conflict, bans federal-linked officials and security forces
Puntland has accused Somalia’s Federal Government (FGS) of orchestrating a plan to smuggle weapons into the semi-autonomous region and incite inter-clan conflict, prompting authorities to ban federal-linked security personnel and officials from entering or operating in Puntland, Garowe news reported citing a statement by the region’s Ministry of Security.
The accusation was made in a statement issued on 24 June, in which Puntland authorities alleged the existence of a “major coordinated plan” involving the federal government and four foreign countries aimed at arming local proxies, including politicians and former officials, to trigger clan-based violence and destabilize the region, Garowe Online reported.
According to the statement, Puntland believes the alleged operation is intended to undermine the regional.....
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2070064275771543712?s=20
Puntland has accused Somalia’s Federal Government (FGS) of orchestrating a plan to smuggle weapons into the semi-autonomous region and incite inter-clan conflict, prompting authorities to ban federal-linked security personnel and officials from entering or operating in Puntland, Garowe news reported citing a statement by the region’s Ministry of Security.
The accusation was made in a statement issued on 24 June, in which Puntland authorities alleged the existence of a “major coordinated plan” involving the federal government and four foreign countries aimed at arming local proxies, including politicians and former officials, to trigger clan-based violence and destabilize the region, Garowe Online reported.
According to the statement, Puntland believes the alleged operation is intended to undermine the regional.....
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2070064275771543712?s=20
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News: Military claims 'neutralizing 230 Fano fighters' in #Gojjam, #South_Gondar operations as fighting persists in #Amhara region
The Eastern Command of the #Ethiopian National Defense Forces (#ENDF) has claimed that ‘230 #Fano fighters’ were killed during what it described as a week-long “law enforcement operation” conducted across parts of the Amhara region.
The announcement marks the latest in a series of military offensives targeting Fano armed groups amid the protracted conflict in the region, where both the federal army and Fano-affiliated sources have continued to report competing accounts of battlefield developments.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57908
The Eastern Command of the #Ethiopian National Defense Forces (#ENDF) has claimed that ‘230 #Fano fighters’ were killed during what it described as a week-long “law enforcement operation” conducted across parts of the Amhara region.
The announcement marks the latest in a series of military offensives targeting Fano armed groups amid the protracted conflict in the region, where both the federal army and Fano-affiliated sources have continued to report competing accounts of battlefield developments.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57908
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#Commentary: From Sacred Narrative to Constitutional Order: Responding to #Axum’s ‘exclusive holiness’ claims
In this commentary, Mohammedawel Hagos responds to an earlier article by Tsegay Fseha, written in defense of Axum's designation as an exclusively Christian "holy city" by the Synod of the #Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He underscores that the decree undermines "historical truth, constitutional secularism, and equal citizenship."
The author argues that Tsegay’s claim of a “3,000-year continuum” of monotheistic tradition is “a religious belief, not historical fact." Citing scholarly evidence, he further contends that pre-Christian Axum was "a polytheistic kingdom before adopting Christianity” in the fourth century.
Mohammedawel emphasizes that Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all have their origins outside Ethiopia and that "historical priority cannot be a measure of citizenship rights".
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57902
In this commentary, Mohammedawel Hagos responds to an earlier article by Tsegay Fseha, written in defense of Axum's designation as an exclusively Christian "holy city" by the Synod of the #Tigray Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He underscores that the decree undermines "historical truth, constitutional secularism, and equal citizenship."
The author argues that Tsegay’s claim of a “3,000-year continuum” of monotheistic tradition is “a religious belief, not historical fact." Citing scholarly evidence, he further contends that pre-Christian Axum was "a polytheistic kingdom before adopting Christianity” in the fourth century.
Mohammedawel emphasizes that Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all have their origins outside Ethiopia and that "historical priority cannot be a measure of citizenship rights".
https://addisstandard.com/?p=57902
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