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 Ethiopia marked the 41st World Tourism Day for 33rd round in Jigjiga Town under the theme "Tourism and Rural Development" in the presence of high ranking government officials and international gusts. Chief Administrators of SNNP, Oromia, Harari Regional States, Ristu Yirdaw, Shemelis Abdissa, Ourdin Bedri and Minister of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Hirut Kassaw attended the national World Tourism Day festival in Jigjiga town, Somali Regional State. The high officials along with Somali Region Chief Administrator, Mustefe Oumer have put a cornerstone in the town for the construction of Jigjiga Town Cultural Center. Various events including photo exhibition and symposium depicting cultural values of Somali Regional held as part of the celebration.

 A stakeholder's consultation organized by Ministry of Transport was held on Wednesday with a view to introduce a renewable energy transport service in Ethiopia by promoting electric vehicles. Speaking on the occasion, Transport Minister, Dagmaswit Moges said imported old cars are the major causes of pollution being observed in the country. Noting 75 percent of green house effect is caused by the transport sector, she pointed out that electric cars play a vital role in minimizing the air pollution that is threatening the environment. She further stressed the need for enhanced participation by the private companies in Ethiopia to engage in emission free industries such as electric vehicles. In this regard, the government of Ethiopia with its green economy and climate resilient vision encourages the use of electric vehicles to help reduce pollution caused by transportation services, she said. The ministry has also given paramount attention to ensuring sustainable transport service by

  Veteran politician, activist, and academic Mesfin Woldemariam died at the age of 90 late Tuesday of the novel coronavirus-induced complications. He was a renowned academic, a political geography expert, with a PhD dissertation on Rural Vulnerability to Famine in Ethiopia. He was also a revered politician and human rights activist. “The long-serving politician in Ethiopia, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam was peacefully struggling for political and human rights of citizens with intense devotion starting from the monarchial regime,” wrote the local broadcaster FANA. He authored a number of books focused on social, political, economic and historical phenomenon in the country besides the academic area. In 2005, the professor was imprisoned under what many consider a trumped up charge of outrage against the constitution for his prominent roles under the then-opposition political party, Coalition for Unity and Democracy. He was also an advocate of human rights was passionately fighting for wel

The tablet , situated in a field and well below today's ground surface, is believed to have been erected some time during the first half of the fourth century of the current era by King Ezana of Axum in what is now called Ethiopia. The monument is interesting for several reasons. First, it is one of the few ancient written records to come from pre-Islamic Africa, Egypt being the other major source of inscriptions. Second, the text on the Ezana Stone is written in several languages. If you Google this monument, you'll be told the monument is trilingual: Greek, which at the time was the lingua franca in many parts of the ancient world; Ge'ez, an ancient Ethiopian language that is still a liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and others, and Sabaean, an Old South Arabian language used in what is now Yemen and in parts of Eritrea and northern Ethiopia. However, the actual facts are much more interesting than this. Please see the comment below from fellow flickeri

  At least 45 officials in western Ethiopia have been sacked on Monday following recent deadly attacks on civilians. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said at least 15 people, including four women, were killed by armed attackers on Friday in a pre-dawn assault in the region of Metekel of Benishangul Gumuz state. This followed at least two incidents of violence earlier this month in the same region bordering Sudan that had resulted in civilians casualties and forced at least 300 people to flee their homes. Getahun Abdisa, the deputy administrator of the region, told state TV that a decision has been made to place five districts in the region under martial law. The Prosperity Party of Benishangul-Gumuz said security forces have already started to take measures including firing three top security officials of the region. Abeta Bayeta, top peace and security official of the region, has been suspended from his office, the party said in a statement. The party, however, dismissed the othe

  The Ethiopian parliament last week approved the loan agreement between the finance ministry and Danish lender Danske Bank A/S (CPH:DANSKE) aimed at financing the 100-MW Assela wind farm project. The loan of EUR 117.3 million (USD 136.5m), to be repaid in 20 years, including a five-year grace, was approved unanimously by the House of Peoples’ Representatives, the parliament said on its website. The Danske Bank loan is supported by the Danish government through the ministry of foreign affairs’ development assistance Danida. With funds in hand, the Assela project is now moving towards the construction phase. The wind farm will be located some 150 kilometres (93.2 miles) south of Addis Ababa, near the town of Iteya in the Oromia regional state. Wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA (BME:SGRE) will be responsible for the build. Once connected, the 29-turbine wind farm will generate some 330,000 kWh per year and supply electricity to over three million people, said the Dani

  Ethiopian has “no intention” of harming Sudan or Egypt with a giant hydropower dam on the Blue Nile that has caused a bitter water dispute between the three countries, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told the United Nations on Friday. Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan failed to strike a deal on the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam before Ethiopia began filling the reservoir behind the dam in July. But the three states have returned to African Union-led mediation. "I want to make it abundantly clear that we have no intention to harm these countries," he told the 193-member UN General Assembly in a video statement, pre-recorded due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We are steadfast in our commitment to addressing the concerns of downstream countries and reaching a mutually beneficial outcome in the context of the ongoing AU-led process," Nobel Peace Laureate Mr Abiy said. Negotiations have previously faltered over a demand from Egypt and Sudan that any deal should be

  About  2,000 people in Ethiopia have been charged over deadly violence that followed the killing of a popular singer in June and charges against more prisoners are likely to follow, the attorney general said on Thursday. At least 166 people were killed following the murder of Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, some in protests against authorities and some in ethnically-targeted attacks. More than 9,000 people were arrested in the wake of the violence, including some politicians from Oromiya, Ethiopia’s most populous province and the home of the deceased singer. “Some the suspects and some of the accused complained that they are being charged for their political activity,” Attorney General Gideon Timothewos told a news conference. “They are not,” he said. “They are being charged for their conduct that has resulted in the death of hundreds of citizens.” He did not give details on the charges or on whether any prisoners had been released without charge. Haacaaluu was shot dead on June 29 while drivi

America’s Department of State recently suspended   $130 million worth of aid to Ethiopia because of “a lack of progress” on negotiations pertaining to the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the River Nile. According to state department officials, the decision to cut aid came as a result of a direct “ guidance ” from President Donald Trump. Estimates  show that almost half of Ethiopia’s budget is linked to foreign aid. The country depends on  economic assistance  to support its infrastructure projects, health care and education expansion efforts, and security sector reforms. By suspending some aid, the United States has reopened the debate on whether developing countries should depend on foreign aid to realise their economic goals. The decision to suspend aid to Ethiopia comes after  almost 10 years of regional and international efforts  to mediate the dam dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia. Almost  60% of Ethiopians  do not have access to electricity. The renaissanc

Last fall, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia stood in Oslo’s City Hall to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and a shower of international praise. His efforts to restart peace talks with Eritrea and reform his country after decades of political and economic repression had brought him global recognition. Fast forward a year, and the prime minister’s failure to foster peace at home threatens to tarnish his international posterchild image and raises questions about Ethiopia’s ability to transition its economy and democracy peacefully. Since coming to power in 2018, Abiy has embarked on an ambitious reform drive aimed at implementing policies to open the country’s once padlocked economic and governing culture. Thousands of political prisoners have been released; once banned parties have been allowed to register; and legislation has been passed to liberalize the telecoms sector and boost digital investments. The European Union, and others, have taken notice, jumping at the chance to find a p

  Ethiopian Airlines Gro up  has  completed  a  new passenger terminal at its hub, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. The airline is the largest and fastest-growing airline in Africa  and  has become one of the continent’s leading carriers .  Construction of  its  new terminal has now  ended , with the resulting space  being  capable of accommodating  22 million passengers annually. Along with it s  capacity, it will be offering  travellers  many spacious, innovative and luxurious amenities.    Tewolde GebreMariam,  Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines , commented:   “I am very pleased to witness the realisation of a brand-new terminal at our  h ub. While Addis Ababa Bole has overtaken Dubai to become the largest gateway to Africa last year, the new terminal will play a key role in cementing that position. What makes the new terminal unique is that it’s the first in the world to be completed after C OVID -19. It was designed, not re-purposed, with biosafety  and  security in mind.  I’m

  Personal interest over the masses interest is what Somalian president is portraying, having secrete meetings with Jubaland and Puntland governors and promising them autonomy to control financial resources is a move of a desperate man trying to win election at all cost. Somalian President have been making different moves to ensure that he gathered all the power and important people for his course of being re-elected. He recently appointed a political rookie as a prime minister, who had no previous political records. Report says the secret meeting between the president and the two Governors was based on a promise that the governors will have full control of the resources at their disposal in order to throw their weight behind the president.

  Somalia president is showing the desperacy of a leader that want to remain in power by all means. According to reports, the govenors have a secret agreement with Farmajo and the state governors of Jubaland and Puntland state, in bid to remain in the upcoming elections. Farmajo has promised these state governors more power in controlling the internal affairs and financial resources of the state, in addition to sending the Somalis in that region to Turkey for military training. It appears Farmajo is exhausting all resources at his disposal to gain support and manipulate the forthcoming elections in Somalia, these chain of events clearly depict that. He recently named a new comer in politics who to the the Prime Minister and the plot has been seen a way of securing power for the upcoming election.