Abiy's rule of violence continues to intensify. After a series of military campaigns and a barage of vilification campaigns against the region as 'barbaric', it looks like the regime has brought the Benishangul-Gumuz region under "protectorate" system of the federal military.

Below, you find #AddisStandard's Siyanne Mekonnen reporting on the situation.

"Ethiopia News: #BenishangulGumuz region, unnamed armed group sign MoU to share leadership, wealth & solve security crisis sustainably

"Among the points included in the MoU are for members of the armed group, based on their education levels, to be assigned in place of leadership in regional, zonal and Wereda levels. Accordingly, two regional, three zonal and four Wereda level positions will be made available to the members of the unnamed armed group. In addition, urban plot for housing and rural land for farming will be made available to the members of the armed group; cooperative schemes which will include women as well as career opportunities based on prior experiences including job opportunities in the region’s security sector and loan facilities will also be made available."

https://addisstandard.com/news-benishangul-gumuz-region-unnamed-armed-group-sign-mou-to-share-leadership-wealth-solve-security-crisis-sustainably/

#AddisStandard_News

#Ethiopia News: Electoral Board issues list of 40 constituencies in six regions where elections wont take place per schedule

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (#NEBE) issued list of 40 constituencies in six regional states where it said the June 21 election cannot take place for reasons mainly due to voters’ registration not starting because of security concerns; voter registration has begun but was discontinued; and where complaints have been lodged during the voter registration process. In addition the Board said it requires special assistance from the state and the federal governments to conduct the election in two constituencies in #Gambella regional state.

In a separate statement, National Electoral Board of Ethiopia- NEBE -የኢትዮጵያ ብሔራዊ ምርጫ ቦርድ said it would facilitate the works of a task force assigned to investigate the complaints as fast as possible to make sure the election took place in the 11 constitueincies out of the 14 in the #Somali regional state.

https://www.facebook.com/177352718979398/posts/3997498760298089/?sfnsn=mo

#Ethiopia: Seven people killed and five others injured in an attack in West Guji Zone of #Oromia Regional State

The Police department of Gelana Woreda in the Guji zone announced that Seven people including the head of the zonal head of security and administration office were killed in an attack. The head of the police department, Commander Obsa Hundesa, attributed the attacks to the recently designated terrorist group ‘Shene’, a term the government uses to refer to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).

The attacks took place in Shoro Chalbesa Kebele of the woreda around 5:00 PM on May 22, 2021 according to Obsa, who also explained that the woreda leaders were ambushed by ‘Shene’ militants while they were visiting development projects. Five people were seriously injured in the attack, Obsa said, adding “Security forces are working to stabilize the area and hunt down the terrorist group.”

This comes days after the Guji zone administration announced that 982 local militia were trained and ready to ensure a peaceful implementation of upcoming elections. A newly released dispatch by the UNOCHA also revealed that the humanitarian access situation in the Guji zone continues to deteriorate as a result of an increase in violence.

Source: ENA

(From #AddisStandard FB page)

#AddisStandard

#Ethiopia: Analysis: Oromia region police declares victory in Southern Oromia; Residents, OLF claim fresh deployment of Eritrean Soldiers

By Siyaannee Mekonnen

According to yesterday’s statement, ‘heavily armed Battalions of Eritrean soldiers together with Amhara militias and ENDF had been deployed to Oromia since the beginning of April 2021. The statement went on explaining that starting on June 5, 2021, freshly deployed Eritrean forces are deployed in different zones in the Oromia and Benishangul- Gumuz regions.

According to the eye witness, in addition to forces of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), Oromia Special forces and local militia, he said that there are other security forces who speak neither Afaan Oromo or Amharic. “They speak in Tigrinya and they have been deployed to other woredas surrounding Nagelle Borana since last week”

In a related development, the Oromia Police Commission released a statement in which it declared victory in a military operation it said took against ‘Shanee’ (a term government officials use to refer to the Oromo Liberation Army). The Oromia Police commission said that it killed 95 and injured ‘many’ in the Four day long operation.

https://addisstandard.com/analysis-oromia-region-police-declares-victory-in-southern-oromia-residents-olf-claim-fresh-deployment-of-eritrean-soldiers/

#AddisStandard

#Ethiopia: UK Parliament to hold a debate on the crisis in Tigray Tomorrow

The Chair of the International Development Committee, Sarah Champion MP, is to lead a debate on the continuing humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region where fighting broke out between government forces and the Tigray armed forces in November 2020. Aid agencies say more than 5 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity in and around the Tigray region.

“This debate is vital to raise awareness about the continuing tragedy unfolding in Tigray. The Red Cross have estimated that 5.5 million people in Tigray and the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara are going hungry. My committee made a series of recommendations to the UK government in April urging it to use all diplomatic means to help end the conflict and facilitate humanitarian access. While the Red Cross says access has improved since the early period of the crisis the situation remains greatly concerning – as the vast number of hungry people shows. Our government should redouble its efforts”, said the Chairwoman

The debate will be held at 9.30am on Wednesday 8 September as a ‘Westminster Hall Debate’ within Parliament. It can be viewed on Parliament TV at the link above. The official title of the debate is ‘The Humanitarian Situation in Tigray’.

Source: UK Parliament

#Ethiopia News: Police detain prominent journalist shortly after reporting on protest video at #Irreechaa festival in the capital

Ethiopian Federal Police said missing prominent journalist Tesfalem Waldyes, founder and editor-in-chief of Ethiopia Insider, an emerging Amharic news outlet, is in police custody. The police didn't say what Tesfalem wat detained for.

Tesfalem was reported missing late on Sunday night by his friends in Addis Abeba. He was last seen at the Irreecha Hora Finfinnee Festival in Addis Abeba where he posted a video of Oromo youth demanding the release of Oromo prisoners.

A family member of Tesfalem told #Addisstandard that she heard the news on social media just like everyone else. “I have no knowledge of his whereabouts or what has happened to him,” the family member who spoke on conditions anonymity said.

The video shared on Ethiopian Insider’s Facebook page showing the protest that broke out during the Irreecha celebrations in Addis Abeba on Saturday went viral with more than 22, 000 likes and more than 6,000 shares.

https://addisstandard.com/news-police-detain-prominent-journalist-shortly-after-reporting-on-protest-video-at-ireechaa-festival-in-the-capital/

#Ethiopia: This Dembi Dollo University lecturer successfully assembled “his own drone”

Amanuel Balcha, a lecturer at the University of #DembiDollo in Western #Oromia, has successfully assembled “his own drone” and conducted 250 meter long test-flight.

According to Dr. Leta Tesfaye, President of Dembi Dollo University Emmanuel Balcha, a graduate of mechanical engineering from Arba Minch University, who is currently teaching at Dembi Dollo university, is also working on assembling two other drones and one aircraft using locally available parts.

The university celebrated the "Innovation Day" with panel discussions and exhibitions of innovative materials assembled by university students.

Dr. Leta said the program was supporting university students in their creative endeavors and rewarding students who are exemplary in their creativity.

The University, it is helping young innovators to develop and enrich other items such as Coffee makers, wood scrubbers, textile machinery, parts for various equipment, chicken incubator, water pumping motors, among others.

Source: #AddisStandard

#Ethiopia: Commercial Bank restores banking services in seven branches in western #Tigray

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia announced that it has restored banking services in seven branches in Western Tigray which is currently under the occupation of the Amhara Region, where services were disconnected due to the war that has been going on for two years.

The seven branches of the bank namely: Maikadra, Humera, Kafta, Aurora, Dansha, Adi Remits and Ketema Nigus which were operated under Shire banking district before the war, have now started services under the CBE’s Gonder banking district, Alsan Asefa, Corporate Communications Director of the bank, #AddisStandard.

https://addisstandard.com/news-commercial-bank-restores-banking-services-in-seven-branches-in-western-tigray/