Demonstrations have broken out in parts of Ethiopia following the shooting dead of musician Hachalu Hundessa, well known for his political songs.

Seven have died during the spontaneous protests, medics told the BBC.

Hachalu’s songs often focused on the rights of the country’s Oromo ethnic group and became anthems in a wave of protests that led to the downfall of the previous prime minister in 2018.

The 34-year-old had said that he had received death threats.

The police are now investigating the killing, which took place on the outskirts of the capital, Addis Ababa, and several people have been arrested.

Thousands of his fans headed to the hospital in the city where the body of the singer was taken on Monday night, BBC Afaan Oromo’s Bekele Atoma reports.

Image copyrightREUTERS

To them, he was a voice of his generation that protested against decades of government repression, he says.

‘More than an entertainer’

By Bekele Atoma, BBC Afaan Oromo

Hachalu was more than just a singer and entertainer.

He was a symbol for the Oromo people who spoke up about the political and economic marginalisation that they had suffered under consecutive Ethiopian regimes.

In one of his most famous songs, he sang: “Do not wait for help to come from outside, a dream that doesn’t come true. Rise, make your horse ready and fight, you are the one close to the palace.”

The musician had also been imprisoned for five years when he was 17 for taking part in protests.

Many like him fled into exile fearing persecution but he remained in the country and encouraged the youth to struggle.

BBC

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Mahlet Fasil @MahletFasil

July 01/2020-Ararsa Merdassa, Oromia Police Commission Commissioner General told local news media late this afternoon that the number of people who are killed in connection with continued protests against the assassination of prominent Oromo artist Haacaaluu Hundeessaa has climbed to 81. One of the killed is Haacaaluu’s uncle, who the commissioner did not mention by name. Of the 81 who were killed so far 78 are civilians, and three are members of Oromia police force. Seven of those killed are in the capital Addis Abeba, the Commissioner General said without giving further details.

According to the Commissioner General Haacaaluu’s uncle was killed in Ambo today in what he said was a bomb thrown at his house. However, two eye witnesses who spoke to Addis Standard said that he was killed by security forces as he confronted them from removing the body of Haacaaluu out of the family’s house. The body was later on taken to an army barrack on the outskirts of the city of Ambo. The regional state said the artist will “receive a hero’s funeral tomorrow.” But the youth in the city continued protesting that the artist should be laid to rest in Addis Abeba, where he lived with his widow and three children.

There were sustained gunshots throughout the city today, the two eye witnesses told our reporter Mahlet Fasil and added there were “several deaths” as federal and regional security forces “fired live bullets” at angry crowds. “I have seen two dead people laying on the ground near the main police station where protests were happening today,” one of the eye witnesses told Addis Standard by phone. “Both bodies were laying there for several hours as shootings were coming from everywhere.” Members of the federal police were deployed in the city since yesterday after the government airlifted the body of Haacaaluu by a helicopter from Addis Abeba.

Haacaaluu’s family have not spoken to the media directly as of yet. But an interview with VOA Amharic containing his father’s interview is expected to be aired tonight.

Protests have also continued elsewhere in the region, according to the Commissioner General. Many cities in Arsi, including cities in west Arsi, as well as Jimma and Adama, among others, were places where sustained protests continued. Unconfirmed reports indicate that several properties belonging to the government and private citizens were destroyed in Arsi Assela and in Jimma. The Commissioner General was not forthcoming to describe the details and Internet connectivity remained shutdown; phone networks outside of Addis are also sporadic.

Meanwhile in Addis Abeba, heavily armed members of the city’s police have, this afternoon, detained Eskendir Nega, founder & leader of the opposition party Balderas for Genuine Democracy, according to Henok Aklilu, lawyer and head of the party’s legal department. Henok said they didn’t know the reason behind the detention of Eskendir, nor the place where he is currently held at.

There were gunshot sounds in various parts of the city throughout this afternoon, our reporter confirmed. In the area commonly known as Kazanchis, several group of youths were seen with knives, rocks and sticks chanting “we will defend the city.” Armed police and members of the federal army are stationed in various parts of the city, which remained eerily quiet. AS

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Reuters

Addis Abba – Six people were injured on Thursday in scuffles between Ethiopian security forces and mourners trying to attend the funeral of singer Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, whose killing earlier this week sparked protests that killed more than 80 people, a witness said.

Residents reported soldiers, federal police and regional police lining the roads and police firing in the air to deter mourners from entering the stadium in the town of Ambo.

Sporadic gunfire continued after the short service, four residents said. One said he had seen a protester shot in the leg. A visitor at Ambo hospital said he saw six wounded people had been admitted. Another resident said roadblocks had been set up around town and he could not get home.

All asked not to be named to prevent reprisals. Police did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

At the stadium, a live broadcast showed sparse numbers of people. The slain singer’s wife, Santu Demisew Diro, gave a short speech after mourners laid wreaths.

“Haacaaluu is not dead. He will remain in my heart and the hearts of millions of Oromo people forever,” she said, referring to Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group. “I request a monument erected in his memory in Addis where his blood was spilt.”

The popular Ethiopian singer, 36, was shot dead in the capital Addis Ababa on Monday by unknown gunmen and was laid to rest later at a church in Ambo, his home town about 100 km (60 miles) west of Addis. He leaves behind three daughters, the youngest a month old.

“It is very sad that his body is accompanied by only a few people and security forces are keeping many others away,” one of Haacaaluu’s relatives told Reuters.

One Ambo resident told Reuters he was determined to attend the service because the electricity had gone out in his house so he could not watch it on television.

“He is our hero, we have to pay him our respects,” said lab technician Mamush Dabala by phone as he got ready to go out. He said he could hear gunshots, but was going anyway.

Haacaaluu’s songs provided a soundtrack to a generation of Oromo protesters whose three years of anti-government demonstrations finally forced the unprecedented resignation of the prime minister in 2018 and the appointment of the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The Oromo have long complained of exclusion from political power. In recent months, some Oromo activists who initially supported Abiy have become more critical, accusing him of not protecting the interests of the Oromo people.

The singer’s killing sparked protests in the capital and surrounding Oromiya region that have killed more than 80 people so far.

On Wednesday, Haacaaluu’s uncle was killed during a scuffle between police and a crowed outside the singer’s house, the regional police commissioner told state media.

The singer’s death has reverberated across the Ethiopian diaspora. The governor of the US state of Minnesota, which hosts a large number of Oromo people, tweeted his condolences.

Reuters

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The funeral has been held for the popular Ethiopian singer Hachalu Hundessa – who was shot dead earlier this week in the capital Addis Ababa. More than 80 people have now died in unrest sparked by his death, with dozens of opposition supporters under arrest, the army deployed on the streets and the internet cut off. Hundessa had been a prominent supporter of the rights of the Oromo people – Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group.

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Dr. Robert McMahan, President of Kettering University
1700 University Ave, Flint, MI 48504
Re: Professor Ezekiel Gebissa’s call for ethnic cleansing in Ethiopia

July 6, 2020

Dear Dr. McMahan

We are writing you this letter as concerned US citizens of Ethiopian origin residing in New York and New Jersey. As you may know Ethiopia is a country that is in the middle of its transition towards democratization, after close to five decades of dictatorial rule, which was imposed on Ethiopians by the communist military Junta, followed by an ethnocentric cruel dictatorship by the TPLF (Tigrian people’s liberation front) which was deposed by popular uprisings in 2018. Once TPLF was forced to relinquish power, the current prime minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed and his cabinet worked very hard to bring peace, fair democratic elections, and economic development to the nation. The prime minsters’ efforts to bring peace to East Africa by resolving decades of animosity towards neighboring nations has earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

While Abiy has overwhelming support there are narrow minded ethnocentric and power thirsty individuals like Professor Ezekiel Gebissa who are now working with ousted leaders of the TPLF (considered by majority of Ethiopians as looters, torturers and criminals) to undermine and overthrow the current regime by force. Sadly, the professor in your university who is enjoying a peaceful life in Michigan became a man who is calling for genocide on the Amhara ethnic group (one of the major ethnic groups in the country).

On June 29, 2020 a young and popular singer “Hachalu Hundessa” who was also an ardent critic of the former TPLF regime was assassinated in Addis Ababa (the capital city of Ethiopia). The heinous killings are believed to have been plotted by the TPLF leaders and Oromo extremist including Jawar Mohammed (a close confidant of Professor Ezekiel Gebissa) to incite violence and realize their political ambitions. The second day (30th of June 2020), the Professor went on his youtube page claiming the killings were perpetrated by Neftegna’s (a term used to describe Ethiopian fighters who are mostly from the Amhara ethnic group). Gebissa went on further, elaborating how the act was equivalent to the killing of the whole Oromo ethnic group. By spreading that type of rhetoric, he was calling for ethnic cleansing designed to benefit his power monger friends in the country. His irresponsible and cowardly actions have already resulted in the killings of hundreds of citizens in various parts of Oromia regions the next day.

The professor who previously claimed violent transitions to power by various groups has deterred the country from implementing a democratic rule, became the provocateur in chief of violence of the worst type; ethnic cleansing. Unfortunately, he and his extremist friends see that as the only option to get to power rather than participate in a democratic process they were invited to be part of by the current prime minister.

It is beyond reprehensible for a professor in your college to have dispersed such hateful language while living in the comfort of his home in the US, where various ethnic groups and people of all kind of background including him come to live and exercise their rights as human beings, and not as ethnic entities.

As you may know, Rwanda has shown the world how hateful speeches loaded with intentional name callings have resulted in one of the worst genocides in recent human history. As a self-claimed expert on African studies professor Ezekiel Gebissa was aware of what he was doing while propagating the Rhetoric that Neftega is the killer of the prominent Oromo singer “Hachalu Hundessa” and claiming the whole Oromo ethnic group is under attack. We believe the professor was involved in incitement to genocide.

Professor Ezekiel Gebissa has the blood of many Ethiopians on his hands. We are asking you to have an independent investigation on his actions and take appropriate measures. The fact you have an employee practicing hate speech that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of poor Ethiopians is a sad reality that we think you should pay close attention to.

Professor Ezekiel Gebissa (right) and his religious fanatic friend Jawar Mohammed (left) who is currently in prison, suspected of inciting ethnic violence in Ethiopia via his Oromo Media Network (OMN)

To understand Gebissa’s rhetoric, we ask you to please obtain an independent translation of the following Amharic video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T14Ag_kr1OE

Sincerely

NY/NJ Ethiopian Task Force

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At least 239 people have been killed in Ethiopia after the violent death of a popular singer sparked unrest across the country.

At least 239 people have been killed and 3500 arrested in more than a week of unrest in Ethiopia that poses the biggest challenge yet to its Nobel peace prize-winning prime minister.

In the Oromia region, the toll includes 215 civilians along with nine police officers and five militia members, regional police commissioner Mustafa Kedir told the ruling party-affiliated Walta TV on Wednesday.

Officials earlier said 10 people were killed in the capital, Addis Ababa, eight of them civilians, amid outrage after a popular singer was shot dead last Monday.

Hachalu Hundessa had been a rallying voice in anti-government protests that led to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed taking power in 2018.

Mr Abiy swiftly introduced political reforms that also opened the way for long-held ethnic and other grievances in Africa’s second most populous country.

The military was deployed during the outrage that followed Mr Hachalu’s death.

In remarks last week while wearing a military uniform, Mr Abiy said dissidents to whom he had recently extended an offer of peace had “taken up arms” against the government.

He hinted there could be links between this unrest and the killing of the army chief last year as well as the grenade thrown at one of his own rallies in 2018.

The 3500 arrests have included that of Oromo activist Jawar Mohammed and more than 30 supporters.

The Oromo make up Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group but had never held the country’s top post until they helped bring Mr Abiy to power.

Local reports have said that in some places ethnic Oromo have attacked ethnic Amhara, and in Shashamane town some people were going home to home checking identity cards and targeting Amhara residents.

SOURCE AAP

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Unfortunately, only about three per cent of the water found on earth is fresh and we have contaminated most of it. We now heavily rely on mining water. But what are we doing about it? We definitely have not found a safe way to produce it. At least 17 countries are under high water stress, which means the supply of water is low and the use is high. The high use of water can be attributed to poor economies and infrastructure in most cases. Exacerbated by climate change, erratic rainfall and much higher temperatures, droughts in the future will be much worse than anything seen today.

In 1995, then World Bank vice president Ismail Serageldin said,

“If the wars of this century were fought over oil, the wars of the next century will be fought over water.”

 

Two thirds of the world already suffers from water scarcity during at least a month during the year, which could intensify to the extent where it would leave at least 700 million people displaced globally. The United Nations has also identified five hotspots of hydro-political interactions may take place in the future. These include,

1. The Nile (Egypt)
2. The Ganges Brahmaputra(India)
3. Indus (Pakistan)
4. Tigris- Euphrates (Iraq)
5. Colorado (USA)

Historically water disputes have triggered political tensions at most till now. Let’s look at Kashmir and the water that runs through it. There are many analysts who say that India is trying to use water as a weapon against Pakistan, which is complicated especially since both the countries are signatories of a 59-year-old treaty. In recent times, after an attack on Indian soil on 14^th February 2019, India alleged that Pakistan was behind the terror attack, despite Islamabad refusing all allegations. India tried to isolate Pakistan using diplomacy and also mulled over using water as a weapon. India already uses about 94 per cent of the water shared between the two countries, only releasing whatever it does not us into Pakistan. This is not the only region in the world that using water as a political tactic.

Despite Egypt agreeing in 2008 that the World Bank will fund a feasibility study for a Border Dam between Egypt and Ethiopia, the latter took advantage of the Egyptian revolution in January 2011, replacing the Border Dam with the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam or GERD. The capacity of the dam was increased to 74 billion cubic metres while the design and construction was undertaken by Ethiopia and reports state that the other ten countries, especially those downstream that share the river, were not informed of the risks and results involved. The 74bn cubic meter reservoir could bring dire consequences for Egyptian farmers. To put it in perspective, a 1bn kilo litre of reduction in Nile’s water will cause 200,000 acres of land to go out of production consequently affecting the livelihood of more than 2.5 million families.

Many talks have gone by with no action while the situation has continued to get more complicated with Sudan and Israel supporting the Ethiopian mega project. It’s a ticking time bomb with Israel, taking advantage of this situation, to penetrate this region, while also taking a hit at Arab national security.

During the Arab Spring situation, Israel found a valuable opportunity to engage in broad cooperation with East Africa and to establish security, military and economic bases. For as long as relations have existed between Israel and East African countries, the former has taken advantage of the existence of regional security threats. It’s possible that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Ethiopia indicates Israel’s covert support for Addis Ababa at a time when the GERD has begun to store water without Egypt’s approval; this emphasises the seriousness of the challenge Egypt faces, demonstrating that its argument with Ethiopia over the dam is not technical but rather related to significant regional political goals.

At the same time, Israel is attempting to guarantee its own water security for the future and acquire a guaranteed share of the river’s water through its support for the dam project. Netanyahu’s promises during the last tour in 2016, revolved around helping Ethiopia benefit from its water resources in developing agriculture and supplying the country with Israeli technology. Israel went as far as to install its latest air defence system called Spyder MR, which can shoot down multiple fighter aircrafts up to a distance of 40 kms with utmost accuracy.

Netanyahu’s visits raised a lot of questions about not only the objectives and consequences but especially about the timing, which coincided with the signing of contracts concerning technical studies on the GERD. Israel’s recent strategy in East Africa constitutes part of the Arab–Israeli conflict and part of the Israeli security doctrine based on legitimate acquisition, dominion and control of the region. It is also based on encircling the Arab countries as well as depriving them of influence within any region considered promising in the fields of trade and investment. So far despite all provocation, and no hope of Ethiopia coming to the negotiating table, Egypt has still decided to stay away from a military response.

The GERD will supposedly generate 12,000 gigawatts of electricity annually, meaning that the annual electricity production will touch 12 billion kilowatt per hour. The price of electricity in Ethiopia for household use is only US1 cent, and the commercial price is 1.8 cents per kilowatt-hour, making the average local price (domestic and commercial) about 1.4 cents/ kilowatts-hour. This means that if the electricity from GERD is used solely within Ethiopia, then the total revenue of electricity production is about $160 million annually, which will not be enough to cover the expected annual expenses for operating and maintaining the dam and paying the annual instalments for loans taken against it.

Also, in order to be able to afford the operation and maintenance costs of the dam, the Ethiopian government must raise the local electricity price and export part of the electricity abroad. The economic feasibility study of the electrical connection with Egypt and Sudan was based on the export of more than three megawatts to Egypt and Sudan (about more than half of the dam’s electricity, one-third for Sudan and two-thirds for Egypt) at a price of US8 cents per kilowatt-hour, bringing the dam’s annual income to about $550 million. This would cover the costs of operation and maintenance while providing an annual premium for dam loans to be repaid over the next 15 to 20 years.

It may be necessary to double the internal price several times and increase the export price to 9-10 cents per kilowatt to be able to pay off the dam debt quicker.

For now, Ethiopia seems to be in a win-win situation, not only did it slide in its dam plans without involving necessary stakeholders and the support of Israel, if the construction of GERD goes badly and the dam has flaws which provoke Egypt to take a military stance, Ethiopia can save its face in front of its people and brush the GERD’s flaws aside, blaming Egypt for the entire catastrophe. Here is hoping that this situation does not give rise to a river of blood.

WRITTEN BY:
Shrouq TariqThe writer is an Egyptian researcher with a special interest in Middle Eastern Issues

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By Tom Leins

After years of speculation that market liberalization was coming in Ethiopia, in May 2020 authorities kick-started the long-awaited licensing process. The Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) issued a request for expressions of interest (EoI) for two new telecom licenses.

With the deadline now passed, we look at the bidders vying to disrupt one of Africa’s last mobile monopolies.

The Status Quo

State-run Ethio Telecom (formerly Ethiopia Telecom Corporation, ETC) launched wireless services over its GSM-900 network in April 1999, having been awarded a concession the previous year.

More than 20 years on, the telco remains the country’s only mobile operator, serving an estimated 45 million subscribers. But it seems Ethio Telecom’s days are numbered. A variety of well-known international players are keen to enter a market where the wireless population penetration rate is less than 50%—among the 10 lowest figures on the whole continent.

The Bidders

Within days of the June 22 deadline, the ECA named the would-be bidders as: Global Partnership for Ethiopia, Orange Group, MTN Group, Telkom South Africa, Axian Group, Saudi Telecom Company (stc), Etisalat, Liquid Telecom, Snail Mobile, Kandu Global Telecommunications, and ElectroMecha International Projects.

A twelfth submission from an unnamed company was deemed incomplete.

Licensing Conditions

As per official documentation, the two licenses on offer will be technology-neutral, offer “a range of spectrum across multiple frequency bands,” and be valid for 15 years with the possibility of further renewal.

As per official documentation, the two licenses on offer will be technology-neutral, offer “a range of spectrum across multiple frequency bands,” and be valid for 15 years with the possibility of further renewal.

The basic terms and conditions of the concessions on offer will feature requirements to meet or exceed specified population and geographic coverage targets, as well as an obligation to commit to “reasonable” tariffs, universal accessibility, and teledensity targets.

The Major Players

First, we look at the telecom giants going head-to-head for a license.

Orange Group

Paris-based Orange Group boasts one of the largest African footprints of any international operator. And it’s made no secret of its desire to strengthen its presence in the region further.

Paris-based Orange Group boasts one of the largest African footprints of any international operator. And it’s made no secret of its desire to strengthen its presence in the region further.

In January 2020, when opening its new regional headquarters in Casablanca, CEO Stephane Richard said, “Orange is one of the rare international groups to have made the strategic choice, 20 years ago, to seek to develop in Africa and the Middle East. We have always been convinced of the immense potential of this continent. In many ways, it can be seen as a model for digital transformation; mobile money is a great example of this.”

Orange already invests EUR1 billion a year in Africa and the Middle East to improve the connectivity and performance of its networks. It arguably ranks as one of the top candidates for a new license.

MTN Group

With 17 mobile businesses across the continent, South Africa’s MTN Group has long coveted a license in Ethiopia. The company is on record professing an interest in the market since at least 2012.

Last year, chief executive Rob Shuter said, “There are a few large markets that are under-penetrated and where there is scope for a number one or number two operator, like Ethiopia.”

MTN is widely recognized as one of the most valuable brands in Africa, and its experience in the sector will likely see it perform strongly against rival bidders.

Etisalat

UAE-based Etisalat boosted its presence in Africa in May 2014. It completed the acquisition of French media group Vivendi’s 53% shareholding in Morocco-based Maroc Telecom for a final consideration of EUR4.1 billion.

See if you can keep up with what happened next.

In a strategic reshuffle, January 2015 saw Maroc Telecom pay EUR474 million for Etisalat’s wholly-owned West African subsidiary Atlantique Telecom, reconfiguring Maroc Telecom as a pan-African player with operations in 10 countries.

In mid-2019 Maroc Telecom acquired Chadian operator Tigo Chad from Millicom International Cellular, increasing its footprint further. While Etisalat was the company named on the paperwork, any pursuit of an Ethiopian concession will surely involve Maroc Telecom too.

Global Partnership for Ethiopia

While the name may be unfamiliar, the partners behind Global Partnership for Ethiopia are all well-known entities: UK-based Vodafone Group, its majority-owned African unit Vodacom Group, and Kenyan mobile market leader Safaricom, which is part-owned by Vodacom.

For its part, Vodacom currently offers mobile services in South Africa, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Lesotho. In the build-up to the licensing process, Safaricom was one of the most enthusiastic parties, despite its executive team cautioning that the total cost of license and spectrum could reach $1 billion.

Saudi Telecom Company (stc)

Despite its status as one of the best-known telecom groups in the Middle East, Saudi Telecom Company (stc) has limited experience within Africa.

Its interests in the continent are restricted to a minority indirect shareholding in South Africa’s Cell C.

However, further exploration of Africa may be on the horizon, with stc completing a due diligence study regarding its proposed acquisition of Vodafone Group’s majority stake in Vodafone Egypt in July 2020.

If that deal comes to fruition, the 55% stake is expected to be valued at $2.4 billion.

The Outsiders

Alongside the household names, a number of lesser-known companies have also registered their interest in the process.

Liquid Telecom

While Liquid Telecom is best known for deploying 70,000km worth of fiber-optic infrastructure—which it claims represents “Africa’s largest independent fiber network”—it’s unknown in the cellular sector.

However, Liquid’s parent company Econet Global is well known on the continent and operates cellular networks in a number of markets including Zimbabwe, Burundi, and Lesotho.

Axian Group

Madagascar-based Axian is owned by the Hiridjee family, a French family of Indian descent, who settled in Madagascar 150 years ago and initially set up business in the textile industry before diversifying into real estate, energy, financial services, and telecommunications.

The Axian Group name was introduced in 2015 and covers operations in 34 countries. In terms of its telecom prowess, Axian Group owns Madagascar’s dominant telco, Telma, alongside joint-ventures in Comoros, Reunion, Mayotte, Senegal, and Togo.

Telkom SA

Best known as a fixed-line operator, Telkom South Africa belatedly entered its domestic mobile market in October 2010, where it has struggled to gain traction against larger rivals MTN and Vodacom.

It remains to be seen whether it would fare any better outside of South Africa.

Snail Mobile

The presence of Snail Mobile on the list is a genuine curveball. China’s largest MVNO by subscribers, Snail Mobile commenced commercial services in June 2014 and has enjoyed great success targeting gamers with specially-designed handsets and an integrated app store that allows users to download and play games without paying for data traffic.

The presence of Snail Mobile on the list is a genuine curveball. China’s largest MVNO by subscribers, Snail Mobile commenced commercial services in June 2014 and has enjoyed great success targeting gamers with specially-designed handsets.

The MVNO reached the 11 million subscriber milestone in December 2017. TeleGeography estimates that this figure hit 17.5 million in Q1 2020.

The Non-Telcos

Bringing up the rear are two companies that currently lack experience in the mobile sphere:

Kandu Global Telecommunications

Beverly Hills-based Kandu Global Telecommunications asserts that its objective is to “facilitate international trade and commerce via our e-commerce website KGx, a full-service e-wallet remittance solution—KanduPay—and market-specific news services that coincide with remittance and commercial trade routes, Kandu Global News.”

ElectroMecha International Projects

ElectroMecha was established in 2004 as a general trading and contracting company for undertaking medium voltage and high voltage cable works within the oil and gas sectors and general industry.

Following the June 22 deadline, ECA released a statement: “The Ministry of Finance and ECA would like to thank all those potential bidders who have responded to the request and expressed their interest. As the ECA prepares for the next stage, it will keep the participants informed and engaged as the process moves forward. ECA remains fully committed to fulfill Ethiopia’s telecommunications sector reform and enhance its digital transformation.”

No timeframe has been revealed for what is sure to be a tough decision.

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Tatiana Rokou

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest airline is resuming service to Dubai further to the ending of the lock-down and its opening for leisure travelers as of July 8, 2020.

Djibouti has also announced that it will end lock-down on 17th of July. As a result, Ethiopian will resume normal service to Djibouti on the 17th of July.

These resumptions will bring the total number of destinations to be served by Ethiopian with enhanced safety measures to 40. As countries continue to open-up their airports for passenger arrival, Ethiopian will announce list of these destinations in due course.

Esteemed Customers are kindly informed that facemasks will be mandatory for travel and are requested to satisfy destination entry requirements such as health certificates and fill health declaration forms if required. As countries continue to open their borders and relax travel restrictions, Ethiopian is ready to increase frequencies to accommodate the demand by focusing on the wellbeing of customers and staff.

Ethiopian is happy to welcome back business and leisure travelers to these destinations.

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Ethiopia -ESAT DC Daily News Fri 10 July 2020

The post Ethiopia -ESAT DC Daily News Fri 10 July 2020 appeared first on Satenaw Ethiopian News/Breaking News.

By Alemayehu G. Mariam

Aaahhh! Longing for the sweet earthy scent of Aba-I
Her beauty and bounty resounding to the sky
Waiting for July on the calendar
Hail Aba-I, I salute you from afar.

Aba for the Father
I, for the Son of the Light and Power
Aba-I, the Mother
Of the longest running river.

Strangers call you Baḥr Al-Nīl, Nile and Neilos
To me, you are the “River Gihon” of Genesis
“That compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia”
Destined one day to be a utopia.

There stood I at Aba-I

Starkly saw in my mind’s eye
A future so radiant and bright
My heart filled with gushing delight.

It is July at Aba-I
Pride glints in the lion’s eye
For July brings the light of prosperity
Farewell and begone poverty!

Aba-I many found you a source of plenty
As your people scoured the earth for charity
Aba-I now you are the source of our power
Our great equalizer!

Rushed to leave for thousands of years
Aba-I helplessly we stood and shed our tears
Now rest your feet for just a while
And make Ethiopia your domicile.

“A gift of the Nile”, they call themselves
Recite their history in superlatives
If anyone should tamper with “their water”
They promised a day of wrath and slaughter.

They call themselves the “Lords of the Nile”
Damned the GERD but it was all futile
In July we asserted our sovereignty
To last for all eternity.

Egypt has nothing to fear
They are our brothers and sisters so dear
We will share our Aba-I equitably
With malice towards none and responsibly.

Sudan shall tame its annual floods
As Aba-I mends their livelihoods
Let’s join hands in our Africanity
And together affirm our humanity.

[G]reat is the month of July in Ethiopia
[E]nergy for regional cornucopia
[R]ise up and shout in the dawn of summer
[D]amn! Behold the beautiful tower of our power!

No longer will we live in the dark
Aba-I today is our Ark
God gave Noah the rainbow sign
And today brought Ethiopians together by His design.

Aba-I shall power our industry
Commerce and agriculture shall follow in symmetry
Our youth shall gain employment
No more trouble, only excitement!

Aba-I dearest, have you heard?
Your children fighting unable to go forward
They beg for answers at the U.N.
Forgetting their own African Union.

Aba-I dearest, Lake Tana your mother can’t breathe
Choked by water hayacinth
We are standing idly by
Shame on us for watching as passersby.

Aba-I said Abiy will light our way to prosperity
Warned no one can tread on our sovereignty
Come hell or high water
Abiy said Aba-I will produce power.

Let us all enjoy Aba-I without acrimony
No more talk of hegemony
Aba-I is our gift to keep
There will be no reason for anyone to weep.

Let Aba-I be Aba-I for one and all
A source of life for nations great and small
Let our hopes overcome our fears
There is no more need to shed tears.

Let us gather around Aba-I and sing
Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan make a ring
Lets us lift every voice and shout in July, “I am Aba-I”
“I am Aba-I. Aba-I am.”

The post Ode to Aba-I (Nile) River in July የአባይ (ህዳሴ) ዉዳሴ በሃምሌ! appeared first on Satenaw Ethiopian News/Breaking News.

Dawit Endeshaw

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Ethiopia has begun filling the reservoir behind the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, its water minister said on Wednesday, a day after talks with Sudan and Egypt on the giant Blue Nile hydroelectric project stalled.

The comments by Seleshi Bekele did not address whether Ethiopia had closed the gates of the dam, or the role of recent heavy rains in filling the area behind it. The minister and his spokesman did not return calls seeking clarification.

The project has raised concerns in Egypt that already limited Nile waters, which its 100 million people depend on heavily, will be further restricted. The Blue Nile is a tributary of the Nile from which Egypt gets 90% of its fresh water.

Egypt asked Ethiopia for urgent clarification of whether it had started filling the dam, the foreign ministry said.

“The construction of the dam and the filling of the water go hand in hand,” Seleshi said in televised comments, a transcript of which was provided to Reuters by his spokesman. “The filling of the dam doesn’t need to wait until the completion of the dam.”

The water level had increased from 525 metres to 560 metres, he said.

The $4 billion dam, when finished, will have an installed capacity of 6,450 megawatts – more than doubling Ethiopia’s existing capacity – and is the centrepiece of the country’s bid to become Africa’s biggest power exporter.

The dam is being built about 15 km (9 miles) from the border with Sudan. Sudan and Egypt have sought a legally binding agreement before the dam is filled.

Sudan’s Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources said it was prompted to investigate after satellite images appeared to show the dam filling.

“It was evident from the flow meters in the al-Deim border station with Ethiopia that there is a retreat in the water levels, equivalent to 90 million cubic meters per day, confirming the closure of the gates of the Renaissance Dam,” it said in a statement.

Sudan rejects any unilateral actions taken by any party as negotiating efforts continue, it said.

On Tuesday, talks between the three nations to regulate the flow of water from the dam failed to reach agreement

The post Ethiopia starts filling dam after talks with Egypt, Sudan stall appeared first on Satenaw Ethiopian News/Breaking News.

Ethiopia starts the first phase of filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Wednesday July 8, after years of waiting.

Sources at the construction site told Capital that the dam starts catching water mid this week and expects to be filled to some level in few weeks for the first phase.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed this week told parliament that it is impossible not to start the filling in this season.  According to sources the primary stage of filling will supply a level of 560 meters above sea level along with the “early generation of electricity”.

Satellite images also show that the catchment area is being filled with water. The filling stages that ensue will see a release based on the hydrological conditions of Abay.

GERD is a 6,000 MW hydropower project nearing completion on the Abay is located about 30 km upstream of the border with Sudan. It will be the largest hydropower project in Africa. Owned and operated by the Ethiopian Electric Power, the 145-m-tall roller-compacted concrete gravity dam will flood 1,874 km2 at a normal pool elevation of 640 m, and will have a tributary catchment of 172,250 km2. With a volume of 74 km3 (of which 14.8 km3 is dead storage), the reservoir can hold about 1.6 years’ worth of average flow of the Abay – 48.5 km3/yr – at the El Diem gage station, just below the border in Sudan.

Background

The GERD project is a majestic hydroelectric plant, which was born in the 60s concerning a vast and far-sighted plan to exploit the Abay potential for hydroelectric purposes and improve management of this huge water resource.

The concrete faced rockfill (CFRD) saddle dam is 60 m high and approximately 5 km long, with an embankment volume of 15 million m3. Its composite cut-off, made up by grouting and plastic diaphragm panels, was conceived to fulfil two different requirements: permeability and erosion control.

The river diversion system, designed to discharge up to 14’700 m3/s, includes four culverts for discharging during the dry season and a temporary stepped spillway structure located in the central part of the dam, for dam overtopping during the wet season.

A system of three spillways safeguards the project against the Probable Maximum Flood (30’200 m3/s peak and 18’000 m3/s routed discharge): the main service gated spillway, located on a saddle area; the aforesaid free-flow crest spillway on the overflow section of the main dam; the side channel un-gated emergency spillway.

The main dam is crossed by sixteen penstocks (8m diameter), two of which at lower elevation committed to early generation during reservoir impounding.

The two outdoor powerhouses are located at the main dam toe on the right and left riverside housing 10 Francis turbine units and 6 Francis turbine units respectively, with 375 MW each. The step-up transformers, erected in the yard between the main dam downstream face and the powerhouses, are connected through overhead lines to the 500 kV switchyard, located on right bank.

The project was made possible to the vision and ambition of the late PM Meles Zenawi, who resolved to fulfil the ancient dream of past emperors. He decided to build the plant directly to its maximum expansion, not in stages.

The post Ethiopia starts filling GERD appeared first on Satenaw Ethiopian News/Breaking News.

KHARTOUM

Ethiopia has informed Sudan that it has not started filling the reservoir of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

In a statement, the ministry said Ethiopia had conveyed that reports regarding the filling of the dam were incorrect.

The clarification was presented by Ethiopia’s Charge d’Affaires Mekonnen Gossaye in a meeting with Babaker al-Amin, a senior official of the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, in Sudan’s capital Khartoum.

Gossaye asserted that Ethiopia had not closed the gates of the dam and the buildup of water was a natural process due to the current rainy season.

He also reaffirmed his country’s willingness to continue the ongoing negotiations between Sudan, Ethiopia, and Egypt on the $5 billion project.

For his part, al-Amin reiterated Sudan’s commitment to negotiations to reach a consensus on the matter, while also conveying the country’s stance against any unilateral measures.

The issue was sparked by a statement from Seleshi Bekele, Ethiopia’s water minister, on Wednesday, which gave the impression that Ethiopia had started filling the dam.

The minister has since issued a clarification, while Ethiopia’s state-owned broadcaster also apologized on Thursday for what is said was “erroneous” reporting.

Egypt opposes the hydropower project that Ethiopia started building in 2011 on the Blue Nile, a tributary of the Nile River, near the border with Sudan.

Ethiopia has said it will start filling the dam in July, while Egypt and Sudan are opposed to any such move before a tripartite agreement is reached.

The three countries failed to reach an understanding earlier this week.

Egypt fears the dam will affect its annual share of the Nile’s water, amounting to 55.5 billion cubic meters.

The GERD’s construction is expected to finish by 2023 and the hydroelectric dam will produce 6,475 megawatts for Ethiopia’s domestic and industrial use, as well as for export to neighboring countries.

Ethiopia maintains it will not harm the interests of Egypt and Sudan, and that its only aim is to generate electricity and boost development.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat

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Mahlet Fasil @MahletFasil

Addis Abeba, July 17/2020– Judges at the Federal High Court Lideta Branch have ordered federal police to conduct an inquiry into the beating of Eskinder Nega, Founder and Leader of the opposition party Balderas for Genuine Democracy, by members of the federal police.

Eskindir was arrested on July 01 by heavily armed police officers from his office. Sintayehu Chekol, his deputy, was also detained the next day from the capital Addis Abeba.

Update: Police brought @eskinder_nega and Sintayehu Checkol, another senior member of the party, today to the Fed. 1st Instance Court, Arada Branch. The judges have granted the police 14 days to remand & investigate Eskinder & 12 days to remand & investigate Sintayehu.

Src: EBC pic.twitter.com/L4B4KDY6xb

— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) July 2, 2020

The police have already brought Eskinder and Sintayehu to the Federal First Instant Court First Arada Branch on July 02 and were granted 14 days to remand and investigate both.

However, due to security concerns, yesterday’s pretrial hearing was transferred to the Federal High Court Lideta Branch, his defense lawyer Henok Aklilu told Addis Standard.

During the hearing, Eskinder and his defense lawyer told the judges that Eskinder was physically assaulted by members of the police on the day he was detained. Eskinder told the court that he will press charges against the members of the police who were involved in his beating. Subsequently the judges have ordered the federal police to investigate the claim and submit the results to the court.

The police accuse Eskinder and Sintayehu of coordinating violence in Addis Abeba in the aftermath of the assassination of prominent Oromo artist Hacaaluu Hundeessaa, including paying money to and dispatching several groups of young people in the city, which resulted in the death of ten people, including two police officers, who were killed either by rocks, or shot at, or due to bomb blasts. The police also accuse the two of causing the injuries of 57 police officers and damages to properties worth 54 million birr in the two days that followed the assassination of Hacaaluu.

Eskinder and his defense team deny all the allegations. Henok also objected police’s request for additional days on the grounds that the police have already told the court they were in possession of said evidences.

However the judges have granted the police 13 more days to remand and investigate Eskinder and Sintayehu and adjourned the next hearing on July 29.

AS

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By Hizkel Hailu
The Ethiopian Herald

The post Ethiopia: Esw Service Cuts 18 Million Birr, 400 Thousand Working Hours in 6 Months appeared first on Satenaw Ethiopian News/Breaking News.

On the other hand, Ethiopia’s annual growth rate is estimated to reach 8.5%, which is a slight decrease from last year’s growth figure. The budget for fiscal year 2021 is based on this growth rate which can be characterized as good although independent studies could not confirm it. The budget deficit that was evident two years ago has now given way to a more balanced budget although it has not produced surplus. Ethiopia has now shifted from high indebtedness to low

The 467 billion Birr budget for fiscal year 2021 is largely covered with money secured from domestic sources while less than 30% is expected to be covered with domestic and foreign loans. However, the budget deficit is a far cry from what it used to be when the new reformist government took power two years ago. At that time, the budget deficit was more than 30% of the DGP and that did not entitle the country to secure additional loans from international financial institutions. Now the deficit has been lowered to 21% of the DGP, a level of indebtedness that allows the country to secure additional loans not only to balance its budget but also implement its development projects.

The country was recently shaken by sporadic communal violence but this is expected to have marginal impact on the overall performance of the economy or on its macroeconomic profile.

If we look at the macroeconomic situation from the point of view of sector-based performance, we realize that the industrial sector is perhaps the most hard hit by COVID-19. Although there is no detailed and independent evaluation of the situation the factor that most affected this sector is the sharp fall in exports and consequent earnings from foreign trade. Many manufacturing industries in the sector could not secure the income necessitated for imports of industrial inputs although commercial banks were instructed to facilitate their operations and keep them afloat through a number of supporting measures.

The mineral sub-sector in Ethiopia is believed to be of strategic importance in generating income to the industrial sector in general because of its promising potentials both as hard currency earner and provider of inputs for many manufacturing enterprises. In this time of constraints caused by the pandemic the mineral sub-sector can help save hard currency through import substitution and exports.

According to many estimates ,the tourism and hotel sector is the hardest-hit by COVID-19 followed by air transport and the flower export one. These are by any estimates, the most productive sub-sectors that generated badly needed hard currency to the country in the pre-corona times. While manufacturing industries depending on foreign imports have lost the most those depending on local inputs have suffered relatively less damage.

On the other hand, the economic impact of COVID-19 is less felt in the agricultural sector which is not yet widely affected by the spread of the virus which is so far confined to urban areas. COVID-19 has not yet reached the rural communities in a big and decisive way. Yet, it is going to hit agriculture in a big way unless preventive measures are taken to prevent the spread of the virus. For now agriculture remains the pillar of the economy and the sector most reliable to curb the potentially devastating impact of the pandemic on the economy as a whole.

The situation remains largely intact in the rural areas and in the most important food producing areas of the country. The manpower structure remains largely intact while productivity is not affected in a big way. According to report from the food grain producing areas of the country particularly in Oromia region, the prospect of producing more food grain this year is bright due to the series of measures the regional and federal governments have implemented in order to improve farm productivity.

It is to be recalled that the government both at the federal and regional levels had issued directives for improving farm output through technological improvement. To this end a new directive was issued to allow the importation of modern farm machineries free of taxation. This was intended to help not only the relatively better off farmers but also those who have little income by allowing them to use their plots, livestock, or the little money they have as collateral to borrow money from banks. This is an important incentive to farmers if the policy is used diligently and tangibly even if it takes a longer time to feel its positive impacts.

There are also other positive factors that will help farmers achieve better productivity and improve harvests. Recent climatic or meteorological data indicate that there will be regular, stable and abundant rains this season and the aggregate farm area under the crops is expected to be bigger than last year’s. Growth in farm outputs has obviously positive effects on many economic variables.

A good harvest will allow food prices to fall. This would in turn entail less food imports from abroad. Ethiopia spends millions of dollars on the importation of food grain and mainly wheat from abroad. This year too it has spent millions of dollars to buy wheat. As domestic food grain production increases, there will be less need to import the same amount of food grain. This would lead to less spending on imports and permit the money thus saved to be invested in the sector.

Growth in productivity or volume of output would also permit farmers get better income at household levels and an opportunity to improve their lives. Instead of living from hand to mouse they would have extra income to spend on other necessities of life such as clothing, housing and others. In some cases farmers would be able to save some of their incomes that they would spend on buy improved farm inputs such as fertilizers and modern farm machineries. This would have a positive effect on the young rural population, by giving the incentive to stay on the farm and engage in improved farm activities.

According to experts, COVID-19 is expected to stay with us for a longer time than expected and impact economies of all countries around the world. Its impacts may be more or less felt but it has already impact even the most vigorous economies in the world and continues to do so until a vaccine or effective treatment is discovered sooner rather than later.

According to recent official data, the Ethiopian economy in general will continue to feel the heat of COVID-19 but the outlook is not at all grim. According to Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed who spoke at the recently held 18th regular session of parliament, the growth prospect for the Ethiopian economy in 2021 will be one of the best in Africa where only a few countries are successfully dealing with the pandemic. He said that the growth figures for the Ethiopian economy will be released sometime in September.

The Ethiopian economy is so far showing remarkable resilience in the face of a potentially more devastating pandemic. Some of Ethiopia’s flagship companies like Ethiopian Airlines are even serving as source of inspiration to other developing economies across Africa. Ethiopian’s creativity, flexibility and resilience is not only exemplary but also legendary. It has managed to float the bad tides by converting its passenger planes into cargo transporting ones by removing the passengers’ seats in dozens of aircrafts and thus achieved remarkable results without laying off its employees or cutting down their salaries.

Other local companies too are showing remarkable survival skills by converting their previous production lines that were forced to stop due to shortage on inputs, to the production of badly needed consumer goods in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of them are now producing face masks, hand sanitizers and other materials needed for the battle against the pandemic. The financial sector too is living up to its share of responsibility by helping these enterprises in many ways.

It may indeed be unjust or unrealistic to paint a rosy or exaggeratedly positive picture of the Ethiopian economy at this stage because there are other negative fallouts from COVID-19, such as the growth in poverty, lower income for the majority of low-income population and a general fall in the standard of living of the people. It would also be unrealistic to say that the Ethiopian economy is hopelessly screwed up which is not true. The economic reform measures implemented before the onset of the pandemic might have helped in averting a potential economic catastrophe. Nevertheless, the negative features may sometimes outshine the positive ones, but overall the economy is showing a remarkable resilience in these very bad times.

The Ethiopian Herald

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By Prof. Alemayehu G. Mariam

In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. Attributed to George Orwell

At this critical time in Ethiopia’s history, I believe Ethiopian intellectuals must take a leading and active role in the public debate to shape the future of their homeland. But there is a deficit in the supply of transformational and visionary Ethiopian thinkers with revolutionary ideas to re-invent Ethiopian society. Alemayehu G. Mariam, June 21, 2010

Telling the truth, handling the truth

Today, we live in a time of universal deceit.

Many Ethiopians in the country and in the diaspora, and particularly the so-called elites sporting an alphabet soup of acronyms after their names, are living comfortably in self-deceit.

So, I am going to engage in a revolutionary act by asking – and throwing the gauntlet to one and all — one simple question which demands a declaration of the truth: If Abiy Ahmed is not to lead Ethiopia today, who will?

The members of the lunatic fringe who proclaim “there are two governments in Ethiopia and they can seize power in 24 hours if they want to?

The ruthless thugs that have been sucking the lifeblood of Ethiopia for over a quarter of a century and today are scheming to unleash ethnic conflict and steal their way back to power in the chaos?

The hoity-toity diaspora “intellectuals” who are abysmally clueless about what it takes to govern a long-abused and misgoverned country like Ethiopia?

The tired old Derg dregs who blow their horns in the diaspora while hiding their blood-soaked hands from public view?

The old fogies who find themselves marooned in exile pipe dreaming about the good old days?

The power-hungry ideologues who blather empty words about “revolutionary democracy”, “ethnic federalism”, the “national question”, the “ethnic question” and demonize leaders who kept Ethiopia free from colonialism when all of Africa was enslaved by European imperial powers?

The nattering nabobs of negativism who palm themselves off as the “media”, “journalists” and “reporters” by propagating fake news, lies and disinformation?

The ethnonationalist preachers of hate and their mindless mob killing, looting and burning homes, business and public facilities in an effort at ethnic cleansing?

The robotic “activists” whose slogan is, “I am against everything!”

The moles hidden deep in the bureaucracy, the military, the police and in the security forces working day and night to bring down the current administration?

The two-faced villainous politicians who smile as they murder and murder as they smile; who during the day hobnob with the administration and at night dig tunnels to bring it down?

The skunks and wolves in sheep’s clothing who work secretly with Ethiopia’s enemies to destroy Ethiopia’s epic national development project?

The myopic windbags passing themselves of as party leaders but cannot present to the public a single page of competing economic, political or social programs if they life depended on it? Or even respond to or offer a principled and robust critique of what has been proposed by the current administration?

The cyber crybabies throwing temper tantrum blogs whining and bellyaching?

The “experts” who returned to Ethiopia begging to be government advisors and when turned down turned their quills as guided missiles to attack the current administration?

The armchair politicians pontificating about what should be done while stuffing their faces with tre sega and washing it down with cognac and whiskey?

Let me make it clear.

There is no shortage of self-styled leaders ready to plunge Ethiopia into civil war to grab power.

There is no shortage of mafiosi leaders ready to plunder the treasury and rip off the people of Ethiopia.

There is no shortage of bloodthirsty criminals who will step on heaps of dead bodies of innocent citizens at the drop of a hat to seize the mantle of power.

The question is:

Is there any leader in Ethiopia today who has demonstrated the same level of courage, intelligence, vision, self-confidence, strategic thinking, honesty and integrity, communications skills, humility, passion and dedication as Abiy Ahmed?

If so, who is that leader? I challenge anyone, everyone, to name him or her!

We have a choice to make

Ethiopia today is at the crossroads.

We are at the fork in the road.

We can march forward confident in the future to a promised land of prosperity, dignity, fraternity, equality and humanity.

We can walk back and free fall into a bottomless vortex of poverty, the shameful politics of ethnicity and live in a society marked by inhumanity, cruelty, enmity and irrationality.

We can make a right turn and uphold human rights and undo human wrongs. We can be on the right side of history and do right by the people of Ethiopia.

We can turn left and be left behind. We can sit on the dock of the bay watch the ship of change sail into a brave new future. We can stand on the platform and watch the train of called prosperity leave the station carrying those who have confidence in themselves and the future.

We have a choice to make!

Do we want the Old Ethiopia mired in poverty, destructive politics of ethnicity, kililized territoriality and a government of no accountability?

Or the New Ethiopia of prosperity, community, civility and rationality.

We can choose the path of democracy and representative government or go back to the days of fake elektions and demokracy.

We can revert to ethnic apartheid or build true federalism.

We can choose between the rule of law and the rule of murderous men with guns.

Let’s face facts, the truth! Better yet, let’s be honest and face our consciences.

For the past two years, Ethiopia has shown a magnificent trajectory out of thugtatorship into multiparty democracy, rule of law and expansion of civil liberties.

No one but no one except those whose souls are fatally infected by the corona virus of self-hate and hate of others, the Forces of Darkness and the dregs of history can deny that.

The road Ethiopia has taken over the past two years has been bumpy but the road map remains clear: Ethiopia is rising above the petty politics of ethnicity, sectarianism and communalism.

The inert, comatose and useless practitioners of ethnic and sectarian politics should learn one lesson: “Ethiopia built and preserved with the blood, sweat and tears of illiterate patriots will not be destroyed by educated ignoramuses.”

We have a choice to make today. Now!

Choice is what makes a human being a human being. Of course, not choosing is a choice in itself. Choosing against one’s own self-interest is also a choice.

At this particular moment in Ethiopian history, there will be no fence sitting, flip flopping, vacillating, equivocating or waffling.

“I see nothing, hear nothing, know nothing, say nothing” is not an option.

“Let me see. I need to think about it. Maybe…” is no good.

Turning a deaf ear, blind eyes and muted lips are not options.

Hiding in the herd of the silent majority is not possible.

The one and ONLY choice is to stand with Ethiopia and Abiy Ahmed or to stand against Ethiopia and Abiy Ahmed.

I made my choice to stand with Ethiopia and Abiy Ahmed a long time ago

I made my choice to stand up and be counted for Ethiopia in 2005 after the Meles Massacres.

Before the 2005 election, I had completely written off Ethiopia. Ethiopia was merely of research interest to me. Nothing more.

When the late leader of the ethnic apartheid regime Meles Zenawi massacred hundreds in May 2005, I decided to stand up to that thug and stand by Ethiopia.

It came at great personal and professional cost.

In the course of human events, most people face their own “defining moments”. Often that “moment” is a point in time when we gain a certain clarity about things that may have eluded us in the past or cloud our judgment. It is a moment when they make a choice that changes their life forever.

The Meles Massacres were the defining moment in my life.

I made a deeply thought out and considered choice.

Deep in my heart I found a buried nugget of truth: “You can take the kid out of Ethiopia, but you cannot take Ethiopia out of the kid!”

I chose no longer to be indifferent to the pain and suffering of the people of Ethiopia.

I chose no longer to be detached, disinterested, distant, unsympathetic, uncaring and willfully inattentive to the crimes and abuses of power taking place in Ethiopia at the hands of the TPLF.

I chose to doggedly, single-mindedly, resolutely, steadfastly, tenaciously and unflinchingly do what I can to get rid of the TPLF cancer and usher in the New Ethiopia.

I chose to come down from my horse and walk with the people.

In short, that is how I chose to stand with Ethiopia.

I announced my choice on July 4, 2006:

The fulfillment of my boyish hopes and dreams was to return to the motherland one day and make a contribution, however small. But as you know, things fall apart, and so did my hopes and dreams. Perhaps, some of you may sympathize with me if I tell you that I carry with me a sense of guilt about the way things turned out. I should also let you know that I have been away from the motherland for many years now, perhaps too many to count. But I assure you that I may have left Ethiopia, but Ethiopia has never left me. My case is a simple one. To adapt an old saying: ‘You can take the kid out of Ethiopia, but you cannot take Ethiopia out of the kid!’ That is exactly how I feel.

I adopted my personal rallying cry, “Hey, hey, ho, ho the damned TPLF must go!

As I started my weekly commentaries (or some affectionately call them “sermons”), began to appear with clockwork precision week after week indicting, trying and convicting the TPLF, many thought I was losing it.

Everyone, including my friends, laughed at me. “You think you can drive the TPLF out of power with your pen and keyboard. They have guns, tanks and planes and your words are no match. They are invincible.” “What an idealistic fool you are!” “You are a hopeless utopian.” “The TPLF is armed to the teeth. They are invincible.” “Your words are useless against the invincible TPLF.” “You are going crazy. You will never succeed. You are wasting your time.” “The crazy professor is at it again and again and again…”

“Crazy?” Maybe crazy as a fox.

I learned from the theologian Martin Luther, the father of Protestantism, the maxim, “If you want to change the world, pick up a pen and write.”

In my youth I read the story of the “Foolish Old Man” in Chinese folklore. That old man was unhappy because a mountain in front of him blocked the beautiful vista beyond. So, he started digging and shoveling away. People laughed at the foolish old man and asked him why he would undertake such an impossible task. The Foolish Old Man matter-of-factly replied, “Not to worry. I know I will not finish in my lifetime. But my children will take over after I am gone, and their children and their children’s children will continue. One day the mountain will be there no more. The gods moved by the hard work and perseverance of the foolish old man ordered the mountains separated.”

In June 2018, I said the time to sit on the fence, waffle and chew the cud is over. All of us must take a stand. It is time to lead, follow or get the hell out of the way! For the full 15-minute video

… We cannot hide anymore. It is better to be the living dead than to keep silent (and not support) when we have a leader like Abiy Ahmed. After this, we are not going to grow horns or anything. It is do or die! It is necessary that we stand with Abiy. There is no need to fear. It is an honor to stand with a leader like Abiy Ahmed and say “I support him.” I know many who waffle saying, “Well, let’s see how things are going to be and so on. There is nothing to see. This is it. What you see is what you get with Abiy Ahmed. There is nothing to add. Therefore, what I am asking you, to ask your friends and relatives and all on Facebook and the rest is the message, “We have to stand with Abiy! If Abiy falls, we too will fall! If Abiy rise, we too shall rise. There us no other alternative. We can’t go backwards. But when we march forward we can fall off the cliff if we do not have a real leader. That is the real problem. It is futile to go back and see what happened. The question is, “When we are marching forward. Who are we following?” … Either we will march forward with Abiy Ahmed or we need to shut up. Stop the complaining and bellyaching and teeth-grinding. My bottom line is, “Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way!”

In April 2018, a foolish old professor, other smart old men and women, and a million-strong young men and women received divine intervention and witnessed the e TPLF paper tiger roaring on a paper mountain in Ethiopia vanish into thin air like the morning dew without a single shot fired.

Abiy Ahmed became prime minister on April 2, 2018.

I knew nothing of him at the time. In the weeks preceding his appointment, I had seen three or four short YouTube videos of Abiy Ahmed speaking.

His message of peace, reconciliation, unity, equality, human dignity, Ethiopianity and his eloquence, clarity of thought and vision totally confused and disarmed me.

I did not know what to make of Abiy Ahmed. No one in my circle knew anything about him.

I reviewed the few YouTube videos with extreme attention and used all my forensic skills to dissect his speeches and brought to bear my studies of African leaders. I spent countless hours poring over those videos trying to figure out if Abiy Ahmed is genuine and believes in the message he is preaching.

I wanted to find something that could raise reasonable doubt in my mind that Abiy Ahmed is just talking the talk to get to power and will never walk the talk. I spent a few sleepless nights asking myself, “What am I missing about this guy. His message resonates so deeply with me, is my judgement being clouded by my emotions?”

In the end, I determined with Abiy Ahmed what you see and hear is what you get.

(I later found out to my complete surprise that there is no private and public Abiy Ahmed. He speaks his mind the same way in private as he does in public. If you don’t like what he is saying, convince him otherwise. He will not lie or obfuscate the truth to get his way or curry favors. He is a man of his word. People mistake his straightforwardness, openness, humility, soft-spoken and matter-of-fact approach for weakness at their own peril.)

On April 2, 2018, Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

On April 8, 2018, I published my 6,681 word “private letter” to PM Abiy Ahmed fully endorsing him and explaining in detail my reasons.

On April 16, 2018, I gave an interview to Voice of America- Amharic Program (audio clip at 12:23-13:21)  and explained why I am giving my full and complete support to PM Abiy Ahmed.

In short, that is how and why I chose to stand with Abiy Ahmed!

Who can reinvent the New Prosperous Ethiopia from the old poverty-stricken Ethiopia?

Ethiopia today needs a “transformational leader”, a frequently overused phrase.

I wrote it in June 2020. The fact remains the same: “There is a deficit in the supply of transformational and visionary Ethiopian thinkers with revolutionary ideas to re-invent Ethiopian society.” Nothing has changed in June 2020! What a shame!

Today, Ethiopia has one transformational leader: Abiy Ahmed.

A transformational leader has clarity of vision and the courage to make tough decisions. S/he is inspirational and a strategic thinker. S/he takes calculated risks, is patient, listens and does not brook nonsense. S/he is creative, innovative, adaptable and flexible. A transformational leader is open minded, willing to meet his /her opposition half-way, humble and believes s/he is a servant of the people and nothing more.

I know for a fact that Abiy Ahmed believes in his heart, mind and soul that he is the humble servant of the Ethiopian people!

It is my moral duty to serve along, stand by and carry water for the servants of the Ethiopian people.

The people of Ethiopia (70 percent of whom are under 35) want a peaceful life and a one-way ticket out of poverty. They want employment, schools, health care, food security, clean potable water and the freedom to pursue their dreams in a just equal and humane society.

I have never met a man, woman or child in my travels throughout Ethiopia who told me they want war, conflict, death and destruction.

But I know there are a few who want war, conflict, death and destruction to sneak into power.

We will fight those war mongers, blood thirsty thugs, criminals and murderers on land, in the air, on water and in the valleys and mountains.

Then we will fight them in the bureaucracy, in the military, in the police  and in the security agencies.

If we must, we will fight them in hand-to-hand combat.

We shall be victorious.

There is no earthly power that can break or destroy Ethiopia’s unity. For it has been written, “Ethiopia shall stretch her hands to God.”

We shall see the coming to pass of my 2013 poetic prophesy:

Ethiopia Africa’s hope and destiny
Shall rise and its tyrants shall fall
Their lies, cruelty and corruption
Buried with them in the steel coffin of history
For “justice will rise in Ethiopia like the sun, with abundance of peace forever.”

Abiy Ahmed is the change I labored for so long and sacrificed so much to bring about in Ethiopia

Over the past two years, Abiy Ahmed has not disappointed me. He has made real the things I worked tirelessly for nearly a decade and half.

Abiy Ahmed is just getting started. He will not stop until Ethiopia rises and towers over the nations of the earth. Go ahead. Laugh once more at the foolish old professor. We shall see who shall laugh last!

Throwing the gauntlet to anyone and everyone!

If Abiy Ahmed is not to lead Ethiopia now, then who!?

Can YOU take a stand, stand up and be counted in Ethiopia’s and Abiy Ahmed’s corner?

I stand by Abiy Ahmed because I, like Abiy Ahmed, am fully and unconditionally committed to peace, progress and prosperity for all Ethiopians.

I stand by Ethiopia because if I don’t stand by her, who will?

You?

The post If Not Abiy Ahmed, Then Who? I Stand by Ethiopia and Abiy Ahmed! appeared first on Satenaw Ethiopian News/Breaking News.

By Mohammed Girma @girma_mohammed

Addus Abeba, July 23/2020 – The killing of prominent musician Hachalu Hundessa shook Ethiopia to the core. The nation that is already struggling to shake off the baggage of its difficult history has experienced yet another round of ensuing violence. We are hearing sobering stories of lives lost, properties destroyed and communal trust dented.^[i] At this moment, the government might declare that the unrest has been brought under control; but fear and mutual mistrust (of ethnic and religious nature) continue to color the national mood.

Where does, or rather, should this nation go from here? A difficult question? Yes! However, it’s a question worth grappling with for any responsible Ethiopian. This does not look a conducive time for abstract conceptual analyses and interesting intellectual gymnastics, even though tragedies should not turn us off from conceptualizing our problem. It is rather a time for deeper soul-searching.

Ego-politics

Ethiopia as a country has
seen several governance systems – ranging from chiefdom to monarchy, to
Marxism, to multinational federalism – based on different conceptual
underpinning.  Amid all these changes,
one stark fact persists. Innocent citizens continue to pay undue sacrifices. At
the heart of the predicament is ego-politics – political narcissism. Red Terror
of the 1970s almost
wiped out a generation of educated and extraordinarily energetic youth. The
actors on this horrid national experience espoused similar ideological stance –
arguably all of them were Marxists.[ii]
And yet, they managed to engineer one of the bloodies of epoch in Ethiopia’s
history. Now, multinational federalism is the language of the day. There was a
legitimate reason for experimenting with such a system – it is deemed to endow
ethnic groups with political, cultural and economic rights. Again, most of the
political actors – incumbents and oppositions – have similar political outlook.
Regardless, they have formed hostile groups within the same ethnic groups that
is now threatening the stability of the nation and the security of the whole
region (the Horn of Africa). In the last two years, violence over who should be
the best Amhara or Oromo leader
was claiming lives.[iii] Worse,
the plights and grievances of the masses are used as a political commodity to
advance personal interests.

As brinkmanship and ego-politics pushes the nation more and more to the cliff, it is time to change the course. One way to find solution for the national ailment is getting deeper to the wounds. Especially, people in leadership positions and with influential platforms, need to listen closely from the direct victims. There are reasons for this.  As bizarre as it may sound, they are more rational than politicians or activists. They have no power to wield, no financial muscle to flex and find a shortcut away from their daily challenges. Rationality is the only weapon they have. Hachalu’s family was a great example. Heartbroken, in pain and distraught, and yet, they were more sober source of story in the course of recent crisis than most political analyst. I also remember a woman from Legetafo – a town in the outskirt of Addis Abeba – who had nowhere to go because her house was demolished by the local government. Frustrated and in tears, she asked, “እንደመር  እያሉ ለምን ይቀንሱናል?”. Taking a cue from Prime Minister’s philosophy of “Medemer”, or togetherness, she effortlessly exposed the logical fallacy between orthodoxy and orthopraxy of the government by asking, “Why are being side-lined in the ethos of togetherness”? Their stories have a redemptive hope because it is driven by authentic needs, not by political calculations. In what follows, therefore, I aim to channel two stories that is worth listening: That of Hachalu’s and of the victims’.

Hachalu Message: People demand unity

Hachalu was a different breed of political figure in a field that is dominated by individuals with overinflated self-image. He knows the sacrifices the Oromo people paid during the struggle. Their suffering was not a distant contemplative truth for him. It was a practical, or even a subjective one. He was right there, in the thick of it. Even when he was offered secure places, he chose to follow Gudina Tumsa’s[iv] example prioritizing people over his own safety. More than once, he has put his life on the line for this cause. And yet, he did not have personal political ambitions. His, however, was a genuine yearning to see political, economic and cultural justice served to the people he dearly loved. His political behavior was antithetical to the ethos of ego-politics.

“Believe it or not”, he said, “we defeated Tigrayan Liberation Front (TPLF)”.[v] But then, he expected a more unified Oromo leadership in the government that is now headed by an Oromo Prime Minister. However, to his utter dismay, the Oromo people did not fully experience the fruits of their struggle due to internal power struggle among the elites. His frustration was palpable on his very last interview.[vi] He pointed out that Oromo politicians are operating with their interest at center, not that of the people. In his view, the current division among the Oromo politicians is not people oriented. Everyone who vies for the highest office forms their own group that is hostile to another. As a result, people are paying a heavy price.

His first message for political elites, therefore, was that they have forgotten the people. People want to see unity – it is a bare minimum their leaders can give back to those who supported them. Because of internal bickering, Oromia religion is less secure and more volatile.  “I would rather die than seeing an Oromo killing another Oromo”,[vii] he stressed. To drive his message home, he gives a positive example of concerted effort of politicians, doctors and activists from all corners of the world during the struggle that yielded a concrete result. “Why do we make a mess out of the victory we gained?”, he asks, as if to challenge them to capitalize on that victory. Growing together through self-critique and righting the wrongs, not taring each other down, is his preferred approach to Oromo politics.

Regrettably, trying drive the attention back to the people has proven to be a dangerous thing to do. As a result, the Oromo people in particular, Ethiopia in general, has lost one of the most authentic political voice. However, his poignant plea for the people to be heard and for unity among the Oromo elites need to be heeded. A divided Oromia is a grave danger for the Oromo polity. Moreover, an internally wrangling Oromo leadership is a great risk for the whole nation because, as Hachalu once illustrated, “Oromo is a trunk”.^[viii] So corrosive, if left unaddressed, political narcissism would eat up even on the branches as well. The atrocity directed at non-Oromo civilians living in Oromia region a terrifying demonstration of this.

Furthermore, recurring violence
in the region leaves a permanent stain in the history this great people of
Oromo. This, in turn, would have negative social and economic ramifications. Fear
and mutual suspicion among ethnic and religious group would become a breeding
ground for another cycle of violence. The stories of properties of people being
attacked would discourage businesses from investing in the region.

Unified and coherent Oromia
would enable the Oromo people to negotiate its rightful place with its sister
regions and ethnic groups. By doing so, it plays tremendous role in the
stability of the nation and even the Horn of Africa.

The message of the civilian victims: We need security

Abiy
Ahmed came to power preaching love and forgiveness. It was a unique message
coming from a political figure. It did not take a long time for the nation to
fall in love with his style. However, some, including myself, warned that the
message, albeit being an fresh and uplifting one, has got a wrong messenger.[ix]

For one, the fundamental call of the state should be providing security to its citizens and administer justice. Preaching love and forgiveness is outside the institutional DNA of the state, and therefore, it should have been left for other suitable institutions.

For
another, years of political agitation that was used to topple his predecessors
had created a culture of anger. There were groups who held grudges either
because they have lost the power and privilege, or because they have lost a
chance on gaining power. In a country that does not have sufficient resources
and facilities for mass rehabilitation, Abiy Ahmed inherited a society that is
angry, fractured and frustrated. Managing an emotionally charged political
ethos needed multi-layered measures. His first and foremost priority should
have been putting in place a robust security system, especially, to protect the
masses from conflict entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, the red flags were not
heeded.

Within
a few months of his ascension to power, leaving the gaps in the security
apparatus started to show its dangerous signs. In fact, it started with an
audacious assassination attempt on the Prime Minister himself.[x]
This was followed by a series of communal violence, internal displacements and
high profile assassinations. Weak security system made Ethiopia a breeding
ground for dangerous cocktail of division and ego-politics. Some even went to
the extent of openly declaring their group as “the second government”.[xi]

The reports in the recent violence indicate
that either the security system was infiltrated by those who work to undermine the
Prime Minister, or the security apparatus is still lacking proper guidance and discipline.[xii]
Some victims say that they called law enforcement agents during the attack, but
“they were left unprotected”.[xiii]
In other cases, law enforcement agents were cooperating with perpetrators. The
fact that government officials and police officers are being arrested explains
the fact that the security system is highly compromised. The masses, needless
to say, are losing their confidence on the justice system and security
apparatus.[xiv]

Therefore, if Ethiopia has to find its way out of the current political toxicity, the leaders need to turn to the real need of the people. People need peace and tranquillity. They crave for justice and security. They want to see civility and moderation in the way their leaders negotiate their differences.

AS

Editor’s Note: Mohammed Girma (PhD) is Research Associate at the University of Pretoria and is the author of Understanding Religion and Social Change in Ethiopia (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012), and the editor of The Healing of Memories(Rowan & Littlefield, 2018). He Can Be reached at girma.mohammed@lst.ac.uk

[i] https://www.bbc.com/amharic/news-53304141

[ii] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0169796X0802400205

[iii] http://addisstandard.com/latest-update-amhara-region-attorney-general-the-latest-victim-in-wave-of-assassinations-targeting-ethiopian-high-level-officials-alleged-coup-ringleader-killed-by-state-security/

[iv] https://dacb.org/stories/ethiopia/gudina-tumsa/

[v] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YICYVZO-8oA

[vi] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YICYVZO-8oA

[vii] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YICYVZO-8oA

[viii] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOFCSWFVnmU

[ix] https://theconversation.com/ethiopians-want-love-and-forgiveness-but-they-want-justice-too-100678

[x] https://theconversation.com/explosion-at-rally-proves-that-ethiopia-isnt-out-of-the-woods-yet-98839

[xi] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/aug/20/jawar-mohammed-return-ethiopia-political-change-oromo

[xii] https://mg.co.za/africa/2020-07-14-my-son-died-the-worst-kind-of-death-horrific-details-of-violent-unrest-in-ethiopia/

[xiii] https://addisstandard.com/in-depth-analysis-spate-of-targeted-attacks-excessive-use-of-force-by-security-in-oromia-leave-death-trails-destruction/

[xiv] https://amp.france24.com/en/20200716-we-have-nothing-ethiopia-s-ethnic-unrest-leaves-destruction-in-its-wake?__twitter_impression=true

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Hiber Radio Daily News July 23, 2020

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