Trove of documents reveals alleged chemical weapons stockpile in #Sudan
Sudan’s authoritarian government built a secret stockpile of #chemical_weapons that senior military officials sought to conceal after chlorine bombs were used against rebel forces, according to internal videos, documents, text messages and other materials reviewed by The Washington Post.
The materials indicate that Sudan’s chemical weapons effort involved diverting shipments of chlorine meant to provide safe drinking water, hiding warhead production sites on military bases, testing bombs in remote desert locations and drawing up lists of targets where toxic gas could penetrate enemy defenses.
Three years of civil war there have created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The images and documents, which have not been previously reported, go well beyond the limited information made available by the #US......
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Sudan’s authoritarian government built a secret stockpile of #chemical_weapons that senior military officials sought to conceal after chlorine bombs were used against rebel forces, according to internal videos, documents, text messages and other materials reviewed by The Washington Post.
The materials indicate that Sudan’s chemical weapons effort involved diverting shipments of chlorine meant to provide safe drinking water, hiding warhead production sites on military bases, testing bombs in remote desert locations and drawing up lists of targets where toxic gas could penetrate enemy defenses.
Three years of civil war there have created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The images and documents, which have not been previously reported, go well beyond the limited information made available by the #US......
https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid0nXfBjhBbHcypvXVEQ55UT1utaceVerytrYqwrXwPXRFBjLzywqWyHyFMhaqoJ7tWl
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News: #Somaliland appoints new ambassador to #Ethiopia
Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the appointment of Ambassador Sharmarke Ahmed Muhumed Gelle as its new envoy to Ethiopia, tasking him with strengthening political, economic and historical ties between the two sides.
According to the ministry, Gelle is a seasoned diplomat and public servant with 15 years of experience in Somaliland’s government and international relations. His new assignment will also focus on advancing Somaliland’s broader engagement across Africa.
Gelle previously served as Chief of Cabinet Secretaries at the Office of the President from 2015 to 2016, supporting cabinet-level decision-making and coordinating policy implementation across government institutions.
He later headed Somaliland’s Civil Service Commission, where he oversaw institutional reforms aimed at improving public-sector......
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Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the appointment of Ambassador Sharmarke Ahmed Muhumed Gelle as its new envoy to Ethiopia, tasking him with strengthening political, economic and historical ties between the two sides.
According to the ministry, Gelle is a seasoned diplomat and public servant with 15 years of experience in Somaliland’s government and international relations. His new assignment will also focus on advancing Somaliland’s broader engagement across Africa.
Gelle previously served as Chief of Cabinet Secretaries at the Office of the President from 2015 to 2016, supporting cabinet-level decision-making and coordinating policy implementation across government institutions.
He later headed Somaliland’s Civil Service Commission, where he oversaw institutional reforms aimed at improving public-sector......
https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid032V1nESdC14rYndKSkF96sopBrSnjQTYnh5vYrTELsbywDhuHxMdUfULQmCWxFTPul
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News: #Ethiopian Airlines expands #Nigeria network with Port Harcourt, reaches 53 weekly flights
Ethiopian Airlines has expanded its operations in Nigeria by increasing flight frequencies and introducing a new service to #Port_Harcourt, bringing its total number of weekly flights to the country to 53, ThisDayLive reported.
Under the expansion, the airline has increased its #Lagos operation to 21 weekly flights, offering up to 3 daily services, while adding 4 flights to #Kano, bringing the total there to 11 weekly flights. Ethiopian Airlines will also commence 4 weekly flights to Port Harcourt, complementing its existing services to Lagos, #Abuja, Kano and #Enugu.
Firiehiwot Mekonnen, General Manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, said the increased capacity reflects the airline’s confidence in Nigeria’s aviation market and its broader economic potential.
“Nigeria remains a very......
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Ethiopian Airlines has expanded its operations in Nigeria by increasing flight frequencies and introducing a new service to #Port_Harcourt, bringing its total number of weekly flights to the country to 53, ThisDayLive reported.
Under the expansion, the airline has increased its #Lagos operation to 21 weekly flights, offering up to 3 daily services, while adding 4 flights to #Kano, bringing the total there to 11 weekly flights. Ethiopian Airlines will also commence 4 weekly flights to Port Harcourt, complementing its existing services to Lagos, #Abuja, Kano and #Enugu.
Firiehiwot Mekonnen, General Manager of Ethiopian Airlines in Nigeria, said the increased capacity reflects the airline’s confidence in Nigeria’s aviation market and its broader economic potential.
“Nigeria remains a very......
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#Kenya offers temporary amnesty to undocumented #East_Africans amid fears of crackdown
Kenya's government offered a temporary amnesty to undocumented East African nationals after hundreds of #Burundians flocked to their country's embassy in #Nairobi on Monday seeking travel documents, fearing a crackdown on small-scale traders from abroad.
Kenyan President William Ruto last week called on authorities to close down all small-scale businesses operated by foreign traders, starting on Monday, following a meeting with Kenyan traders who had been protesting against tax reforms.
The order, which Kenya's trade ministry said applied to foreigners operating without work permits, sparked chaos outside Burundi's embassy on Monday, with some Burundians saying they had been threatened by neighbours since Ruto's remarks.
There were no signs of a crackdown in Nairobi on Monday, and a spokesperson for......
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Kenya's government offered a temporary amnesty to undocumented East African nationals after hundreds of #Burundians flocked to their country's embassy in #Nairobi on Monday seeking travel documents, fearing a crackdown on small-scale traders from abroad.
Kenyan President William Ruto last week called on authorities to close down all small-scale businesses operated by foreign traders, starting on Monday, following a meeting with Kenyan traders who had been protesting against tax reforms.
The order, which Kenya's trade ministry said applied to foreigners operating without work permits, sparked chaos outside Burundi's embassy on Monday, with some Burundians saying they had been threatened by neighbours since Ruto's remarks.
There were no signs of a crackdown in Nairobi on Monday, and a spokesperson for......
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News: HRW urges #Germany to confront #UAE over Sudan role as Bin Zayed visits #Berlin
Human Rights Watch (#HRW) has urged German leaders to publicly address the United Arab Emirates’ alleged support for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (#RSF) and its domestic human rights record ahead of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed #bin_Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to Berlin on 10 September 2026.
In a statement issued on 8 September, HRW said German Chancellor #Friedrich_Merz, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and other senior officials should raise concerns over the UAE’s alleged role in abuses committed during Sudan’s conflict, which began in April 2023.
HRW cited a #UN Fact-Finding Mission report published on 1 September, which documented alleged UAE-linked networks involved in recruiting, financing and transporting foreign military contractors and providing military-related support benefiting the RSF. The UAE......
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Human Rights Watch (#HRW) has urged German leaders to publicly address the United Arab Emirates’ alleged support for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (#RSF) and its domestic human rights record ahead of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed #bin_Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to Berlin on 10 September 2026.
In a statement issued on 8 September, HRW said German Chancellor #Friedrich_Merz, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and other senior officials should raise concerns over the UAE’s alleged role in abuses committed during Sudan’s conflict, which began in April 2023.
HRW cited a #UN Fact-Finding Mission report published on 1 September, which documented alleged UAE-linked networks involved in recruiting, financing and transporting foreign military contractors and providing military-related support benefiting the RSF. The UAE......
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News: #KEFI suspends Tulu Kapi gold project development after deadly security incident
KEFI Gold and Copper plc has suspended development activities at its #Tulu_Kapi Gold Project in #Ethiopia following a serious security incident that left multiple security personnel and community members dead, including one company employee.
In an update issued on 7 September, the #UK-listed gold and copper developer said the incident occurred on Friday, 4 September. The company said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and extended condolences to those affected.
KEFI said all project development activities have been immediately suspended while it engages with community representatives, Ethiopian government authorities and security stakeholders to establish conditions for a safe and orderly resumption.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59247
KEFI Gold and Copper plc has suspended development activities at its #Tulu_Kapi Gold Project in #Ethiopia following a serious security incident that left multiple security personnel and community members dead, including one company employee.
In an update issued on 7 September, the #UK-listed gold and copper developer said the incident occurred on Friday, 4 September. The company said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and extended condolences to those affected.
KEFI said all project development activities have been immediately suspended while it engages with community representatives, Ethiopian government authorities and security stakeholders to establish conditions for a safe and orderly resumption.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59247
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News: Aid cuts force clinic closures across #Sudan, leaving millions without healthcare, MSF warns
Médecins Sans Frontières (#MSF) has warned that widespread international aid cuts are forcing health facilities across Sudan to close, leaving millions of people with increasingly limited access to life-saving healthcare amid the country’s ongoing war and humanitarian crisis.
In a statement, MSF said hundreds of clinics are closing, hospitals are losing capacity and medicines are becoming increasingly scarce. Sudan has more than 33 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, while the #UN’s $2.87 billion humanitarian response plan is only about 41% funded.
The organisation said attacks on healthcare are further worsening the crisis. In 2025, 1,620 people were killed in attacks on medical facilities in Sudan, accounting for 82% of all deaths globally from attacks on healthcare, according to MSF.
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Médecins Sans Frontières (#MSF) has warned that widespread international aid cuts are forcing health facilities across Sudan to close, leaving millions of people with increasingly limited access to life-saving healthcare amid the country’s ongoing war and humanitarian crisis.
In a statement, MSF said hundreds of clinics are closing, hospitals are losing capacity and medicines are becoming increasingly scarce. Sudan has more than 33 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, while the #UN’s $2.87 billion humanitarian response plan is only about 41% funded.
The organisation said attacks on healthcare are further worsening the crisis. In 2025, 1,620 people were killed in attacks on medical facilities in Sudan, accounting for 82% of all deaths globally from attacks on healthcare, according to MSF.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19BsdR59HT/
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#Houthi attacks hit southern #Saudi_Arabia, wounding 73 and disrupting energy facilities
#Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces launched a wave of missile and drone attacks on southern Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, September 8, targeting civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, Reuters reported citing Saudi authorities.
The strikes wounded 73 people, including women and children, and caused fires at energy facilities, prompting temporary disruptions to some operations. Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry confirmed that facilities in the south were affected. The Saudi-led coalition condemned the attacks as a dangerous escalation and vowed to take measures to neutralize the threat.
The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying the operation was carried out in response to more than 100 Saudi airstrikes in Yemen in recent days.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BrQGZhQBs/?mibextid=wwXIfr
#Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces launched a wave of missile and drone attacks on southern Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, September 8, targeting civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, Reuters reported citing Saudi authorities.
The strikes wounded 73 people, including women and children, and caused fires at energy facilities, prompting temporary disruptions to some operations. Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry confirmed that facilities in the south were affected. The Saudi-led coalition condemned the attacks as a dangerous escalation and vowed to take measures to neutralize the threat.
The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying the operation was carried out in response to more than 100 Saudi airstrikes in Yemen in recent days.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BrQGZhQBs/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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#Policy_Brief: Is the Glass 12.8% Full or 87.2% Empty?: Assessing the success of #Ethiopia’s education reform
Ethiopia’s 2026 Grade 12 examination results show some improvement, but not enough to justify celebrating education reform, argues Mohammedawel Hagos.
He notes that the pass rate rose from 8.4% to 12.8%, while the number of schools with zero passing students fell from 1,232 to 565. Yet 87.2% of examinees—nearly 480,000 students—still failed to qualify for direct university admission. Moreover, the nearly 300,000 decline in the number of examinees over the past five years raises serious questions about access to education and how progress is being measured.
The author concludes, “The time for celebration has not yet come. But the time for accountability is now.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59244
Ethiopia’s 2026 Grade 12 examination results show some improvement, but not enough to justify celebrating education reform, argues Mohammedawel Hagos.
He notes that the pass rate rose from 8.4% to 12.8%, while the number of schools with zero passing students fell from 1,232 to 565. Yet 87.2% of examinees—nearly 480,000 students—still failed to qualify for direct university admission. Moreover, the nearly 300,000 decline in the number of examinees over the past five years raises serious questions about access to education and how progress is being measured.
The author concludes, “The time for celebration has not yet come. But the time for accountability is now.”
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59244
#Abu_Dhabi National Oil Co. eyes stakes in #Africa’s largest refinery as it expands beyond the #Gulf
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. is in talks with major refining companies in #Africa and #Thailand to invest in their businesses as it seeks to secure customers for its crude and expand its fuel-trading operations, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The potential investments mark a shift for #ADNOC, the world’s 12th-largest oil company by production, which has largely relied on its giant Ruwais refinery in the #UAE to supply global fuel markets. Expanding overseas would give the company access to new customers, strengthen its trading business and reduce its reliance on operations in the Persian Gulf.
ADNOC has previously purchased African crude, including Nigerian barrels, for trading and supplied refined products such as gasoline and diesel to markets including #Ethiopia & ..
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Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. is in talks with major refining companies in #Africa and #Thailand to invest in their businesses as it seeks to secure customers for its crude and expand its fuel-trading operations, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The potential investments mark a shift for #ADNOC, the world’s 12th-largest oil company by production, which has largely relied on its giant Ruwais refinery in the #UAE to supply global fuel markets. Expanding overseas would give the company access to new customers, strengthen its trading business and reduce its reliance on operations in the Persian Gulf.
ADNOC has previously purchased African crude, including Nigerian barrels, for trading and supplied refined products such as gasoline and diesel to markets including #Ethiopia & ..
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News: Drone strike kills three, including two-year-old child, in southeastern #Tigray
A series of drone strikes reportedly killed three people, including a two-year-old child, and injured four others in MyShumet area near Freweyni in #Hintalo_District of southeastern Tigray, according to Tigray Television.
The strikes reportedly began at around 2:00 a.m. on 8 September and hit what district administrator Goytom Tesfay described as a civilian residential area. He told Tigray TV that the attacks resulted in three deaths and injuries to four others.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59250
A series of drone strikes reportedly killed three people, including a two-year-old child, and injured four others in MyShumet area near Freweyni in #Hintalo_District of southeastern Tigray, according to Tigray Television.
The strikes reportedly began at around 2:00 a.m. on 8 September and hit what district administrator Goytom Tesfay described as a civilian residential area. He told Tigray TV that the attacks resulted in three deaths and injuries to four others.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59250
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#Kenya’s doctors threaten to join strike by nurses, citing increased workload in hospitals
#Doctors in Kenya on Tuesday threatened to join a walkout by #nurses that is now in its sixth week, citing an increased workload in hospitals as they cope with the impact of the strike.
The nurses have been calling for the implementation of a collective bargaining agreement that was signed in 2017 following a six-month strike. The agreement remains unimplemented due to what the government has termed budgetary constraints.
Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah, secretary-general of the doctors’ union, said on Tuesday that doctors were overburdened and “cannot do the nursing jobs.”
He said hospitals were already dealing with a shortage of doctors and that the healthcare system requires teamwork.
“We will not watch silently as the healthcare system we have dedicated our lives to serving is allowed to deteriorate. When one part of healthcare is compromised, we all......
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2097561680351830282?s=20
#Doctors in Kenya on Tuesday threatened to join a walkout by #nurses that is now in its sixth week, citing an increased workload in hospitals as they cope with the impact of the strike.
The nurses have been calling for the implementation of a collective bargaining agreement that was signed in 2017 following a six-month strike. The agreement remains unimplemented due to what the government has termed budgetary constraints.
Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah, secretary-general of the doctors’ union, said on Tuesday that doctors were overburdened and “cannot do the nursing jobs.”
He said hospitals were already dealing with a shortage of doctors and that the healthcare system requires teamwork.
“We will not watch silently as the healthcare system we have dedicated our lives to serving is allowed to deteriorate. When one part of healthcare is compromised, we all......
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2097561680351830282?s=20
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Drone strike near courthouse in central #Sudan kills 13
A drone strike blamed on Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces killed 13 people outside a courthouse in the army-held central town of #Umm_Rawaba on Tuesday, a medical source and witnesses told AFP.
The attack is the latest in an escalating wave of drone attacks by both the #RSF and the Sudanese army, which have been at war since April 2023.
"There are now 13 killed and 22 injured being treated at the hospital," a medical source at the local hospital told AFP, revising an earlier toll of 12 after one more person succumbed to their injuries.
The strike hit a crowded area outside the courthouse in North Kordofan, where residents had gathered to complete legal and administrative procedures.
"I was near the courthouse when I saw the drone hit a tree outside the building," one witness told AFP, adding that the area was crowded with people at the time. Another witness said residents.....
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2097579953222983758?s=20
A drone strike blamed on Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces killed 13 people outside a courthouse in the army-held central town of #Umm_Rawaba on Tuesday, a medical source and witnesses told AFP.
The attack is the latest in an escalating wave of drone attacks by both the #RSF and the Sudanese army, which have been at war since April 2023.
"There are now 13 killed and 22 injured being treated at the hospital," a medical source at the local hospital told AFP, revising an earlier toll of 12 after one more person succumbed to their injuries.
The strike hit a crowded area outside the courthouse in North Kordofan, where residents had gathered to complete legal and administrative procedures.
"I was near the courthouse when I saw the drone hit a tree outside the building," one witness told AFP, adding that the area was crowded with people at the time. Another witness said residents.....
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2097579953222983758?s=20
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News: #Ethiopia expands domestic drone production as conflicts persist across regions
Ethiopia has expanded its domestic production of military and civilian #drones, with two factories reportedly manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles as the federal government increasingly relies on drones in its operations against armed groups in several regions, according to AFP.
Analysts cited by AFP estimate that Ethiopia may now possess a fleet numbering in the thousands. Ethiopia’s efforts to develop domestic production became more visible in March 2025, when Prime Minister #Abiy_Ahmed inaugurated the #SkyWin Aeronautics Industries factory in Addis Abeba.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59262
Ethiopia has expanded its domestic production of military and civilian #drones, with two factories reportedly manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles as the federal government increasingly relies on drones in its operations against armed groups in several regions, according to AFP.
Analysts cited by AFP estimate that Ethiopia may now possess a fleet numbering in the thousands. Ethiopia’s efforts to develop domestic production became more visible in March 2025, when Prime Minister #Abiy_Ahmed inaugurated the #SkyWin Aeronautics Industries factory in Addis Abeba.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=59262
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