Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Ethiopia’s newly appointed prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, said on Thursday that the controversial dam his country is building on the Nile will not harm Egypt’s share of water supplies. Egypt relies almost totally on the Nile for irrigation and drinking water, and says it has “historic …
Read More »Ethiopia: A nation in need of a new story
AFRICAN ARGUMENTS | Mohammed Girma | At the end of Zagwe dynasty around the 14th century, medieval Ethiopia was in disarray. Provincial warlords were battling for supremacy and the nation was on the brink of disintegrating. Ethiopia was at threat of breaking itself apart through internal fighting as its standing in the world diminished. …
Read More »Ethiopia prime minister names new cabinet
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopian new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reshuffled his cabinet Thursday in a bid to stem growing discontent with the long-ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition. Abiy, 42, is the first prime minister to come from Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group the Oromo, who …
Read More »Ethiopia PM asks protesters for patience as he seeks change
Ambo, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed paid a visit to a hotbed of anti-government protests Wednesday, asking residents for patience as he works to bring change to the Horn of Africa country. Abiy is the first prime minister to come from Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group …
Read More »Ethiopia: Why PM Abiy Ahmed’s first priority should be free expression
William Davison | AFRICAN ARGUMENTS | The swearing-in this week of Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed and his promising inaugural speech suggests Ethiopia has its best chance yet to address a political crisis that has been building for decades. This comes not a moment too soon. Youthful protesters, particularly in Oromiya, …
Read More »Ethiopia’s Abiy strikes conciliatory tone in swearing-in speech
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, apologised to people harmed in recent political unrest and reached out both to the political opposition and longtime rival Eritrea at his swearing-in on Monday. Abiy is the first ethnic Oromo to be selected by the ruling Ethiopian …
Read More »Ethiopia’s ruling party picks ethnic Oromo, Abiy Ahmed, as PM
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia’s ruling coalition on Tuesday elected as leader Abiy Ahmed, from the country’s largest ethnic group the Oromo, paving the way for him to become prime minister, state media reported. As the leader of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), Abiy is set …
Read More »Bus crash kills 38 in Ethiopia: state media
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Thirty-eight people have died after the bus they were travelling in plunged off an embankment in northern Ethiopia, state media said on Tuesday. “A total of 38 people, (28 male, and 10 female) were killed in the accident,” state-affiliated Fana Broadcast Corporate said of …
Read More »Killing of civilians by Ethiopia troops no accident, say residents
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Residents of a town in Ethiopia’s restive Oromia region on Monday disputed the government’s characterisation of a deadly shooting that left nine civilians dead as an accident. Ethiopian state media said Sunday that soldiers shot nine civilians near the town of Moyale on the …
Read More »Africa, US move on from ‘shithole’ remarks as Tillerson starts tour
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Washington’s top diplomat began his first Africa tour Thursday by meeting with the African Union chief, who said the continent had moved on from a reported insult by President Donald Trump. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and AU commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat discussed security …
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