#Ukraine-based Food Consortium, Tony Blair Institute explore #Berbera Port as humanitarian aid hub
A delegation from Ukraine-based RIDNE Food Consortium and the Tony Blair Institute has visited Berbera Port to assess its potential as a regional hub for humanitarian food distribution and explore broader cooperation in Somaliland, the #Somaliland Ports Authority said.
Somaliland Ports Authority Manager Ali Diiriye Ahmed received the delegation and briefed its members on the port’s operations, infrastructure and potential role in regional logistics.
According to the authority, RIDNE’s visit focused on assessing whether Berbera could serve as a hub for importing, storing and distributing humanitarian food supplies to countries across the Horn of Africa, including #Sudan and %Yemen.
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A delegation from Ukraine-based RIDNE Food Consortium and the Tony Blair Institute has visited Berbera Port to assess its potential as a regional hub for humanitarian food distribution and explore broader cooperation in Somaliland, the #Somaliland Ports Authority said.
Somaliland Ports Authority Manager Ali Diiriye Ahmed received the delegation and briefed its members on the port’s operations, infrastructure and potential role in regional logistics.
According to the authority, RIDNE’s visit focused on assessing whether Berbera could serve as a hub for importing, storing and distributing humanitarian food supplies to countries across the Horn of Africa, including #Sudan and %Yemen.
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News: Nearly 155,000 #Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers in neighbouring countries, over 23,000 in #Somalia, UNHCR says
Nearly 155,000 Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers are currently hosted in neighbouring countries, including more than 23,000 in Somalia, according to the latest figures released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (#UNHCR).
UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Eastern and Southern Africa, in its Ethiopia Situation update published on 28 August 2026, recorded 155,000 Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers across six neighbouring countries as of July 2026.
#Sudan hosts the largest number, with 63,954 Ethiopian refugees, followed by #Kenya with 43,348 and #Somalia with 23,645. #Djibouti hosts 15,310, while 8,484 Ethiopian refugees are in #South_Sudan and 15 are registered in #Eritrea.
The figures come as displacement continues to affect Ethiopia........
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Nearly 155,000 Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers are currently hosted in neighbouring countries, including more than 23,000 in Somalia, according to the latest figures released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (#UNHCR).
UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Eastern and Southern Africa, in its Ethiopia Situation update published on 28 August 2026, recorded 155,000 Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers across six neighbouring countries as of July 2026.
#Sudan hosts the largest number, with 63,954 Ethiopian refugees, followed by #Kenya with 43,348 and #Somalia with 23,645. #Djibouti hosts 15,310, while 8,484 Ethiopian refugees are in #South_Sudan and 15 are registered in #Eritrea.
The figures come as displacement continues to affect Ethiopia........
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News: #MIDROC_Gold strikes deal for machinery to build 1.25-million-ton annual processing plant in #Metekel
MIDROC’s planned processing plant in Metekel follows more than a decade of exploration in the area. In August 2013, the company announced the discovery of a gold deposit in #Jilaye, #Metekel_Zone, estimated at approximately 33,000 kilograms.
The planned expansion also comes against the backdrop of longstanding environmental, health and regulatory controversies surrounding MIDROC’s previous operations, particularly the Lega Dembi gold mine near Shakiso in Guji Zone, #Oromia.
More recently, in August 2025, MIDROC’s mining licenses featured in a broader regulatory review by the Oromia Mineral Development Authority examining licensing and compliance issues involving dozens of mining companies in the region.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59149
MIDROC’s planned processing plant in Metekel follows more than a decade of exploration in the area. In August 2013, the company announced the discovery of a gold deposit in #Jilaye, #Metekel_Zone, estimated at approximately 33,000 kilograms.
The planned expansion also comes against the backdrop of longstanding environmental, health and regulatory controversies surrounding MIDROC’s previous operations, particularly the Lega Dembi gold mine near Shakiso in Guji Zone, #Oromia.
More recently, in August 2025, MIDROC’s mining licenses featured in a broader regulatory review by the Oromia Mineral Development Authority examining licensing and compliance issues involving dozens of mining companies in the region.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59149
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#Kenya airport staff strike delays thousands of passengers
Flight delays at Kenya's main international airport on Monday affected thousands of travellers as airport workers' go-slow strike action continued into its second day, with the main union saying negotiations were ongoing.
The Kenya Aviation Workers' Union (#KAWU) said the strike at the #Jomo_Kenyatta International Airport was due to a range of grievances, including the inability to conclude a collective bargaining agreement with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and lack of cooperation from the Kenya Airports Authority (#KAA) and #Kenya_Airways (KQNA.NR), opens new tab subsidiary Jambojet.
KAA on Sunday said some flights were experiencing delays without disclosing reasons for the delays. It did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and Jambojet did not respond to requests for comment.
Rwanda's national carrier RwandAir said in an......
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2094661087509512454?s=20
Flight delays at Kenya's main international airport on Monday affected thousands of travellers as airport workers' go-slow strike action continued into its second day, with the main union saying negotiations were ongoing.
The Kenya Aviation Workers' Union (#KAWU) said the strike at the #Jomo_Kenyatta International Airport was due to a range of grievances, including the inability to conclude a collective bargaining agreement with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and lack of cooperation from the Kenya Airports Authority (#KAA) and #Kenya_Airways (KQNA.NR), opens new tab subsidiary Jambojet.
KAA on Sunday said some flights were experiencing delays without disclosing reasons for the delays. It did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and Jambojet did not respond to requests for comment.
Rwanda's national carrier RwandAir said in an......
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2094661087509512454?s=20
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#In_Memoriam: Liben Jaldesa, the 69th Abbaa Gadaa of the Borana Oromo
The passing of #Liben_Jaldesa, the 69th #Abbaa_Gadaa of the #Borana_Oromo, marks the end of an era for an ancient, egalitarian democratic system rooted in community trust rather than hereditary rule, writes Guyo Wariyo.
Remembered as a courageous leader who "did not bend easily" and stood firm against political pressure, Liben fiercely defended his people's customary rights. His life embodied the principle that "an Abbaa Gadaa does not merely occupy an office like politicians; he inherits a trust."
Though Liben is gone, the living #Gadaa tradition he protected endures across generations, proving that "the institution must survive the individual."
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59153
The passing of #Liben_Jaldesa, the 69th #Abbaa_Gadaa of the #Borana_Oromo, marks the end of an era for an ancient, egalitarian democratic system rooted in community trust rather than hereditary rule, writes Guyo Wariyo.
Remembered as a courageous leader who "did not bend easily" and stood firm against political pressure, Liben fiercely defended his people's customary rights. His life embodied the principle that "an Abbaa Gadaa does not merely occupy an office like politicians; he inherits a trust."
Though Liben is gone, the living #Gadaa tradition he protected endures across generations, proving that "the institution must survive the individual."
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59153
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#AU backs #Sudan-based dialogue initiative, drawing fire from civilian opponents
The African Union on Monday endorsed a new Sudanese dialogue initiative aimed at ending the country’s civil war, drawing swift condemnation from civilian and political groups who dismissed the effort as a military-backed attempt to legitimise the conflict.
A #Khartoum-based preparatory committee of public figures launched consultations on Sunday to coordinate talks with political and civil society actors, with security guarantees from the army-led government.
The African Union Commission said it welcomed the dialogue led by an “independent committee of Sudanese elders”, adding that the move complements international mediation tracks under the AU-led Quintet Mechanism, which includes the U.N., the #EU, #IGAD, and the #Arab_League.
The AU reiterated that any political process must remain fully inclusive.....
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The African Union on Monday endorsed a new Sudanese dialogue initiative aimed at ending the country’s civil war, drawing swift condemnation from civilian and political groups who dismissed the effort as a military-backed attempt to legitimise the conflict.
A #Khartoum-based preparatory committee of public figures launched consultations on Sunday to coordinate talks with political and civil society actors, with security guarantees from the army-led government.
The African Union Commission said it welcomed the dialogue led by an “independent committee of Sudanese elders”, adding that the move complements international mediation tracks under the AU-led Quintet Mechanism, which includes the U.N., the #EU, #IGAD, and the #Arab_League.
The AU reiterated that any political process must remain fully inclusive.....
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News: #Indian National Defence College delegation visits #Ethiopia to deepen strategic ties
A multinational delegation from India’s National Defence College has arrived in Ethiopia for a study visit aimed at strengthening military and strategic ties between the two countries, according to the Ethiopian National Defence Force (#ENDF) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (#MFA).
The delegation, led by Major General Pawanpal Singh, Senior Directing Staff at India’s National Defence College, was received by State Minister for Defence Finance #Martha Luigi at the Ministry of Defence, the ENDF said in a statement issued on 31 August.
Martha welcomed the delegation, saying the visit demonstrated India’s commitment to strengthening military relations with Ethiopia through professional exchanges, sharing of experience and enhanced mutual understanding.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59160
A multinational delegation from India’s National Defence College has arrived in Ethiopia for a study visit aimed at strengthening military and strategic ties between the two countries, according to the Ethiopian National Defence Force (#ENDF) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (#MFA).
The delegation, led by Major General Pawanpal Singh, Senior Directing Staff at India’s National Defence College, was received by State Minister for Defence Finance #Martha Luigi at the Ministry of Defence, the ENDF said in a statement issued on 31 August.
Martha welcomed the delegation, saying the visit demonstrated India’s commitment to strengthening military relations with Ethiopia through professional exchanges, sharing of experience and enhanced mutual understanding.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59160
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#Op_ed: #Türkiye’s #Somalia Gamble: How #Ankara’s strategic bet on #Mogadishu could deepen crisis
Türkiye’s expanding role in Somalia has evolved beyond security cooperation into a broader strategic partnership encompassing defence, maritime resources, and hydrocarbons, argues Adam Daud Ahmed.
While acknowledging Ankara’s contribution to strengthening Somali institutions, he contends that its close relationship with Mogadishu has raised concerns among some Federal Member States that Turkish-backed security and economic initiatives could further deepen existing political divisions.
The author notes, “The question is whether Ankara is strengthening Somalia as a federal state or strengthening the federal executive at the expense of the political balance that keeps the federation together.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59156
Türkiye’s expanding role in Somalia has evolved beyond security cooperation into a broader strategic partnership encompassing defence, maritime resources, and hydrocarbons, argues Adam Daud Ahmed.
While acknowledging Ankara’s contribution to strengthening Somali institutions, he contends that its close relationship with Mogadishu has raised concerns among some Federal Member States that Turkish-backed security and economic initiatives could further deepen existing political divisions.
The author notes, “The question is whether Ankara is strengthening Somalia as a federal state or strengthening the federal executive at the expense of the political balance that keeps the federation together.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59156
News: #Saudi_Star’s multi-billion-dollar #Ethiopia farm project leaves vast tracts of land idle: Report
A new investigative report has raised fresh questions about the performance and human costs of Saudi Star Agricultural Development Plc’s large-scale rice investment in Ethiopia, finding that much of the company’s 14,020-hectare land portfolio in #Gambella remains idle more than 15 years after the project was launched.
From the outset, the project has been dogged by allegations of land grab and displacement among indigenous communities in the Gambella region.
A community representative from Abobo Wereda told Premium Times that residents had lost access to ancestral lands and natural resources following the establishment of the agricultural concession.
“Fifteen years later, we are locked out of our own lands by fences,” the elder was quoted as saying, adding that communities had received no fair compensation while large areas of the concession remained unused.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59164
A new investigative report has raised fresh questions about the performance and human costs of Saudi Star Agricultural Development Plc’s large-scale rice investment in Ethiopia, finding that much of the company’s 14,020-hectare land portfolio in #Gambella remains idle more than 15 years after the project was launched.
From the outset, the project has been dogged by allegations of land grab and displacement among indigenous communities in the Gambella region.
A community representative from Abobo Wereda told Premium Times that residents had lost access to ancestral lands and natural resources following the establishment of the agricultural concession.
“Fifteen years later, we are locked out of our own lands by fences,” the elder was quoted as saying, adding that communities had received no fair compensation while large areas of the concession remained unused.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59164
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#Saudi_Arabia, #Türkiye and #Pakistan move to institutionalize trilateral defence pact
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have agreed to deepen and institutionalize their military and security cooperation following the first meeting of a strategic committee established under a new joint defence agreement, according to the Saudi government.
Foreign ministers, defence ministers, commanders of defence forces and chiefs of general staff from the three countries met in Istanbul on 31 August 2026 for the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the three governments reaffirmed their commitment to using the agreement to promote lasting peace and stability in the region. They pledged to support de-escalation, restraint and the peaceful resolution of regional crises.
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Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have agreed to deepen and institutionalize their military and security cooperation following the first meeting of a strategic committee established under a new joint defence agreement, according to the Saudi government.
Foreign ministers, defence ministers, commanders of defence forces and chiefs of general staff from the three countries met in Istanbul on 31 August 2026 for the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the three governments reaffirmed their commitment to using the agreement to promote lasting peace and stability in the region. They pledged to support de-escalation, restraint and the peaceful resolution of regional crises.
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News: #Ethiopian coffee makes debut in #Pakistan with new cafe in Islamabad-Rawalpindi
Ethiopian coffee has made its debut in Pakistan with the opening of what the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad described as the first dedicated Ethiopian coffee cafe in the twin cities of #Islamabad and #Rawalpindi.
Oumer H. Oba (Phd), Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, inaugurated the cafe on Sunday following a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony attended by members of the Ethiopian community, embassy staff and media representatives, according to the embassy.
The ambassador said the opening marked a new avenue for strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties between Ethiopia and Pakistan, alongside growing bilateral relations between the two countries.
“From the birthplace of humankind to the home of Arabica coffee, Ethiopia is called the Land of Origins for all the right reasons,”.........
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Ethiopian coffee has made its debut in Pakistan with the opening of what the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad described as the first dedicated Ethiopian coffee cafe in the twin cities of #Islamabad and #Rawalpindi.
Oumer H. Oba (Phd), Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, inaugurated the cafe on Sunday following a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony attended by members of the Ethiopian community, embassy staff and media representatives, according to the embassy.
The ambassador said the opening marked a new avenue for strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties between Ethiopia and Pakistan, alongside growing bilateral relations between the two countries.
“From the birthplace of humankind to the home of Arabica coffee, Ethiopia is called the Land of Origins for all the right reasons,”.........
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#Saudi_Star’s multi-billion-dollar #Ethiopia farm project leaves vast tracts of land idle: Report
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22,000 displaced by fighting in #Sudan’s #Blue_Nile state in last week: UN
About 22,000 people have been displaced from Sudan’s Blue Nile state in the last week as fighting intensified in the Geissan district, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (#OCHA) said Tuesday.
OCHA said in a statement that continued violence is putting civilians at risk and forcing thousands to flee their homes. “In Blue Nile State, local authorities report that nearly 22,000 people may have been displaced in the past seven days due to escalating fighting in the locality of Geissan,” it said.
The statement said that “many are sheltering in schools or have fled to other areas, including towards the state capital, Ed Damazine.” The Geissan Emergency Room, a local aid body, said Sunday that nearly 20,000 people had fled the area of Medina 12 in the Geissan district because of the fighting and......
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/22-000-displaced-by-fighting-in-sudan-s-blue-nile-state-in-last-week-un/4044644
About 22,000 people have been displaced from Sudan’s Blue Nile state in the last week as fighting intensified in the Geissan district, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (#OCHA) said Tuesday.
OCHA said in a statement that continued violence is putting civilians at risk and forcing thousands to flee their homes. “In Blue Nile State, local authorities report that nearly 22,000 people may have been displaced in the past seven days due to escalating fighting in the locality of Geissan,” it said.
The statement said that “many are sheltering in schools or have fled to other areas, including towards the state capital, Ed Damazine.” The Geissan Emergency Room, a local aid body, said Sunday that nearly 20,000 people had fled the area of Medina 12 in the Geissan district because of the fighting and......
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/22-000-displaced-by-fighting-in-sudan-s-blue-nile-state-in-last-week-un/4044644
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#US and #Iran exchange attacks as lull in war appears over
The U.S. and Iran found themselves back on a war footing on Wednesday after the most significant exchange of fire in weeks, with Washington threatening more devastating strikes while Iran protested an attack that it said killed five and wounded dozens of civilians at a wedding.
The U.S. military's Central Command said it struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air defenses, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites on Tuesday, with Iranian media reporting hits on multiple targets near the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway where Tehran has threatened tankers attempting to pass without authorization.
Iran said it struck U.S. assets in Jordan and Iraq, according to official statements, while Iranian media reports said it also attacked Bahrain. Although the IRGC said it killed a large number of U.S.,,,,,
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-iran-exchange-attacks-lull-war-appears-over-2026-09-02/
The U.S. and Iran found themselves back on a war footing on Wednesday after the most significant exchange of fire in weeks, with Washington threatening more devastating strikes while Iran protested an attack that it said killed five and wounded dozens of civilians at a wedding.
The U.S. military's Central Command said it struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air defenses, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites on Tuesday, with Iranian media reporting hits on multiple targets near the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway where Tehran has threatened tankers attempting to pass without authorization.
Iran said it struck U.S. assets in Jordan and Iraq, according to official statements, while Iranian media reports said it also attacked Bahrain. Although the IRGC said it killed a large number of U.S.,,,,,
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-iran-exchange-attacks-lull-war-appears-over-2026-09-02/
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#Opinion: Beyond Brain Drain: Can #Ethiopia build global talent without losing it?
Ethiopia’s long-standing brain drain can be addressed through greater access to remote international higher education, argues Alex Ezat Parnia.
He explains that, rather than forcing professionals to choose between relocating for work and pursuing advanced education, hybrid programmes allow them to earn internationally recognised qualifications while remaining in Ethiopia.
The author notes, “The more useful question is not how to stop talented Ethiopians from leaving, but how to build genuine circulation of knowledge between Ethiopian scholars and the rest of the world.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59167
Ethiopia’s long-standing brain drain can be addressed through greater access to remote international higher education, argues Alex Ezat Parnia.
He explains that, rather than forcing professionals to choose between relocating for work and pursuing advanced education, hybrid programmes allow them to earn internationally recognised qualifications while remaining in Ethiopia.
The author notes, “The more useful question is not how to stop talented Ethiopians from leaving, but how to build genuine circulation of knowledge between Ethiopian scholars and the rest of the world.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59167
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News: #Ethiopia moved 74% of multimodal cargo from #Djibouti by rail during the past fiscal year: ESL
Train transported 74% of cargo brought into Ethiopia through multimodal transport from Djibouti during the 2018 Ethiopian fiscal year (July 2025 to June 20260, according to the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics (#ESL).
The cargo transported by rail included containerized and bulk shipments, as well as vehicles and machinery, ESL said during a joint success journey and discussion forum held with the Ethio-Djibouti Railway Share Company to review their collaborative activities during the fiscal year.
According to ESL, the cooperation between the 2 institutions played a significant role in accelerating cargo flows, reducing dwell time and additional costs at the Port of Djibouti, and enabling goods to reach customers more quickly and securely.
The forum brought together senior......
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Train transported 74% of cargo brought into Ethiopia through multimodal transport from Djibouti during the 2018 Ethiopian fiscal year (July 2025 to June 20260, according to the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics (#ESL).
The cargo transported by rail included containerized and bulk shipments, as well as vehicles and machinery, ESL said during a joint success journey and discussion forum held with the Ethio-Djibouti Railway Share Company to review their collaborative activities during the fiscal year.
According to ESL, the cooperation between the 2 institutions played a significant role in accelerating cargo flows, reducing dwell time and additional costs at the Port of Djibouti, and enabling goods to reach customers more quickly and securely.
The forum brought together senior......
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