Ethiopia replaces army, intelligence chiefs
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed General Adem Mohammed as director general of Ethiopia National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) replacing Getachew Assefa, state media Radio Fana said on Thursday. The news came just hours after Ahmed appointed General Seare Mekonen as the new chief of staff of Ethiopia National Defense Forces (ENDF), replacing Samora Younous. Local and foreign analysts have been keenly watching Abiy’s moves in the army and intelligence sectors ever since he came to power in April as a test of his grip on power. Ahmed, chairman of Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO) that rules over Ethiopia’s largest regional state Oromia, took over from Hailemariam Desalegn who resigned on February 15 amid deadly protests and ethnic clashes in various parts of Ethiopia. Oromia, which along with Amhara regional state accounts for about 65 percent of Ethiopia’s estimated 100 million population, has witnessed persistent deadly protests since 2016.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 20:26 UTC
Ethiopian PM replaces army chief in major shakeup
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed Seare Mekonen as the chief of staff of Ethiopia National Defense Forces (ENDF), replacing Samora Younous, state media Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation said on Thursday. At a ceremony held in the national palace in Addis Ababa, Younous formally handed over his army chief position to Mekonen in the presence of Ahmed and Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome. The nation will be forever grateful to General Samora for his distinguished services. “The nation will be forever grateful to General Samora for his distinguished services,” Fitsum Arega, Chief of Staff at the Prime Minister’s office tweeted. Seare was one of three deputy chief of staffs appointed by former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in February, along with the Amhara general Adem Mohammed and Berhanu Jula Gelelcha, an Oromo.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 19:30 UTC
Hope for peace as Ethiopia backs down in Eritrea standoff
Once a part of Ethiopia, Eritrea fought a three-decade independence war against Addis Ababa. "We should end this suffering and fully return to peace," Abiy said in a speech the day after the announcement. Eritrea is yet to respond to the announcement while Ethiopia has not said whether its troops have begun their withdrawal from Badme. Supporters of Eritrea say it was doubly betrayed, by Ethiopia refusing to accept the boundary ruling and the international community - chiefly the US - failing to hold Addis Ababa to account. But announcing compliance with 2000 peace deal and 2002 boundary ruling, and implementing them, are very different things, Connell said.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 19:07 UTC
Ethiopia names new Army Chief of Staff
Adem Mohammed named as new intelligence chiefEthiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed General Seare Mekonen as the military’s new Chief of Staff. He replaces General Samora Muhammad Yunis, who held the post for 17 years. Seare was one of three deputy chief of staffs appointed by former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in February, along with the Amhara general Adem Mohammed and Berhanu Jula Gelelcha, an Oromo. He is succeeded by Adem Mohammed. Samora replaced Tsadkan Gebretensae, also Tigrayan, in 2001 after a split within the TPLF.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 18:45 UTC
Ethiopian replaces intelligence chief: state media - Xinhua
ADDIS ABABA, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed General Adem Mohammed as director general of Ethiopia National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) replacing Getachew Assefa, state media Radio Fana said on Thursday. The news comes just hours after Ahmed appointed General Seare Mekonen as the new chief of Staff of Ethiopia National Defense Forces (ENDF), replacing Samora Younous. Local and foreign analysts have been keenly watching Abiy's moves in the army and intelligence sectors ever since he came to power in April as a test of his grip on power. In a related development, the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia in a press statement announced a decision to restore full ranks to two ex-generals who had been stripped of their title after being accused of a coup plot in 2009.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 18:22 UTC
Africa's 'longest war' may finally end after Ethiopia says it will accept ruling on border with Eritrea
The end to Africa's longest war is in sight after Ethiopia said it would abide by an international ruling on its border with Eritrea. Although both sides signed a peace agreement in 2000, Ethiopia refused to withdraw to the border established by a boundary commission based at The Hague in the Netherlands. Eritrea, which waged a 30-year struggle for independence from Ethiopia before gaining international recognition in 1993, has not yet commented on the development. It has previously said that restoring ties depended first on Ethiopia pulling its troops from the disputed territory. ‘I am privileged by God to be a good friend to those misunderstood animals,’ he says Reuters 4/10 Hyena Man Yusuf collects leftover meat from the city’s slaughterhouse to feed the animals Reuters 5/10 Muslims take part in Friday prayers.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 17:48 UTC
PM appoints new security chief
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) appointed Adem Mohammed (Gen.) as the new National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) director replacing Getachew Assefa. Abadulla Gemeda, the newly appointed security advisor of the Prime Minister and Girma Birru, Ethiopian Ambassador to the US were retired.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 17:26 UTC
Ethiopia Appoints New Army Chief After Peace Vow to Eritrea
Ethiopia’s prime minister appointed a new army chief of staff with a specialist’s background on Eritrea, days after authorities said they’d implement a peace deal with their Horn of Africa neighbor and long-standing foe. A peace deal signed in 2000 was never implemented, with Ethiopia refusing to recognize a monitor’s findings on ownership of a disputed town. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed pledged in April that the country will “resolve problems” with Eritrea. Abiy also named Adem Mohammed as new director-general of the National Intelligence and Security Services, Fana reported on Thursday. Adem, an ethnic Amhara who previously commanded Ethiopia’s air force, was also appointed as a deputy chief of staff earlier this year.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 16:20 UTC
Abiy Ahmed Appointed New Chief of Staff to replace General Samora Yunis
Abiy Ahmed replaced Samora Yunis with Seare Mekonen as Chief of Staff. General Seare Mekonen is replacing General Samora who has been chief of staff for more than two decades. He was presented with an award in recognition of “distinguished services” in a ceremony organized in the office of the President, Mulatu Teshome, and Abiy Ahmed was present during the ceremony. The Chief of Staff remarked, “The nation will be forever grateful to General Samora—the most prominent military figure”HE PM Dr Abiy Ahmed appointed General Seare Mekonen as the new Chief of Staff of the NDF effective today. He will replace General Samora Yunis.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 15:45 UTC
Pastor killed by crocodile while baptizing believers in Ethiopia lake
PixabayThe BBC reports that a pastor has been killed by a crocodile while baptizing people in a lake in southern Ethiopia. According to the news service, Pastor Docho Eshete was in the middle of conducting a mass baptism in Lake Abaya when tragedy struck. All of a sudden, a crocodile jumped out of the lake and grabbed the pastor," local resident Ketema Kairo told the BBC. Lake Abaya is situated in the Arba Minch area around 300 miles south of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Reflecting on her terrifying brush with death, Ndlovu told the BBC that it would be an adjustment but she was remaining positive.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 15:33 UTC
Eritrea Affirms Commitment to Peace Agreement in Border Dispute With Ethiopia
Eritrea Affirms Commitment to Peace Agreement in Border Dispute With EthiopiaEritrea on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to the unconditional implementation of a peace agreement with Ethiopia to end a border dispute, Minister of Information Yemane Gebremeskel said on Thursday. In a twitter post, Gebremeskel said Eritrea has for the last 16 years unconditionally accepted the results of the Algiers December 2000 peace agreement. On Tuesday, The Executive Committee of the Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front, Ethiopia’s ruling party, said it is committed to unconditional implementation of Algiers peace agreement with Eritrea. The peace agreement ended a two-year border war that killed an estimated 70,000 people from both sides, but a tense armed standoff continued, with the two countries engaging in skirmishes occasionally. Ethiopia until now had declined to endorse the results of the peace agreement fully, including the symbolically important town of Badme which Ethiopia currently controls but which was awarded to Eritrea.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 14:54 UTC
Ethiopia offers an olive branch to Eritrea
It also said that it will accept the outcome of a 2002 border commission ruling, which awarded disputed territories, including the town of Badme, to Eritrea. The Badme conundrum{articleGUID}In 1998, Ethiopia and Eritrea went to war over Badme, a desolate piece of land very few Ethiopians or Eritreans had ever heard of. Ethiopia used its relatively stronger regional sway and diplomatic clout to isolate Eritrea, which was subjected to international sanctions. Since assuming power, Ahmed linked the political, social and economic transformations in Ethiopia to regional dynamics, particularly Eritrea, with which Ethiopia has closer security, economic, and social ties. While a rapprochement with Ethiopia may bring its own political risks for the regime in Eritrea, these are minuscule compared with the significant social, political, and economic advantages.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 14:48 UTC
Ethiopia’s new prime minister wants peace and privatisation
When Abiy Ahmed took office as prime minister on April 2nd he did so as the head of a deeply divided ruling coalition. Mr Abiy, by contrast, presents himself as a friend of the country’s young protesters. Mr Abiy says he plans to amend the constitution and introduce term limits for his position. Busy, busy AbiyUntil this week Mr Abiy appeared to be paying less attention to Ethiopia’s troubled economy. Market reforms, as well as a new approach to peace with Eritrea, had been under discussion within the ruling coalition for many months before Mr Abiy took office.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 14:48 UTC
Sheffield mayor Magid Magid uses ‘magician’ at council meeting
Image copyrightMiriam Walker-Khan Image captionNewly-elected Mayor Magid Magid brought a scientist performing tricks to the meetingThere was no sleight-of-hand with the new Sheffield mayor when he brought in a “magician” to entertain councillors. Magid Magid, 28, made the unusual move at a tense council meeting to bring in a scientist who performed tricks. Four people are before the High Court in Sheffield as a long-running dispute over the felling of trees across the city continues. Before the break, council Leader Julie Dore had faced a barrage of questions from the Lib Dems and Greens about the legal case involving the protesters. Mayor Magid said: “It is a great way to really showcase the amazing wealth of creativity we have in Sheffield.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 14:37 UTC
Commentary: The long, daunting journey of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
Alem MamoAddis Abeba, June 07/2018 – Barely two months into his new job as a Prime Minister, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has managed to simultaneously excite and alarm pretty much everybody. It appears, though, the prime minister is intimately aware of this extraordinary urgency. Deconstructing the old and constructing anewThe intricate challenges facing the new prime minister are overwhelming. However, at least in his speeches Prime Minister Abiy has already given priority to deconstructing these divisive narratives. Since the prime minister has managed to deliver on his key promises, the opposition should reciprocate and extend its support without delay.
Source:Ethiopian News
June 07, 2018 13:52 UTC