by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 16, 2017) Bereket Simon, a high ranking political figure with the ruling EPRDF, has submitted his resignation from his position as chair of the Ethiopian Economic Policy Research Institute, according a report by the BBC Amharic. The report said Mr. Simon submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn. Local newspapers ...

ESAT News (October 13, 2017) The Moyale-Addis road has been closed for the second day as anti-government protests continue in the Oromo region for the third day. Reports reaching ESAT show protests continued today in West and East Wollega while a massive turn out was reported at the Bule Hora University in the south. In Gimbi, Wollega thousands of protesters ...

ESAT News (October 13, 2017) Authorities refused to release a prominent journalist despite completing his three year sentence without parole. Journalist Temesgen Desalegn was thrown into jail three years ago for criticizing the the regime and accused of inciting violence against the regime. The editor of the banned Feteh newspaper, Temesgen Desalegn is known for his sharp criticism of the ...

ESAT News (October 12, 2017) Security forces opened fire and killed six people in Borena, south Ethiopia, while 20 others were seriously injured as anti-government protests that began yesterday in the Oromo region continued today in various towns across the region. Witnesses told ESAT that a convoy of soldiers heading to the Somali region was confronted by residents of Dire ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 12, 2017) Speaker of the Ethiopian parliament, Abadula Gemeda, who submitted his resignation last week has presided today over a regular session of the House of People’s Representatives. Gemeda’s announcement of resignation last week sparked speculations and debate whether the onetime defense minister and president of the Oromo region has real power to shake ...

ESAT News (October 11, 2017) Protesters took to the streets in Ambo, Shashemene, Wollega, Hararghe, Adaba and other towns in the Oromo region denouncing the regime and demanding for the release of political prisoners. Four people were reportedly killed when security forces used lethal force to disperse protesters in Shashemene. At least twenty were injured. What triggered the renewed protests ...

ESAT News (October 11, 2017) Nine people were killed in clashes between the Afaris and security forces of the Tigray region in an area called Danti in Megalle district on the border between the two regions. Six people were killed and nine others wounded on the Tigray side while three were killed and three others injured on the Afari side, ...

ESAT News (October 10, 2017) Staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nairobi, Kenya have been accused by Ethiopian political refugees of demanding bribes and even sexual favors to facilitate their applications for refugee status. In a damning article published on The Star of Kenya, Ethiopian refugees gave accounts of how staff at the UNHCR office ...

ESAT News (October 10, 2017) Ethiopia has devalued its currency, the Birr (ETB), by 15%. The dollar will be exchanged against 26.9 Birr effective tomorrow October 11, 2017, compared to the current 23.4 Birr, according to the National Bank of Ethiopia. Speaking at a press conference in Addis Ababa, Vice Governor of NBE, Yohannes Ayalew said the move will help ...

ESAT News (October 9, 2017) Ethiopia will devalue its currency to attract foreign investment and close the gap in foreign trade, President Mulatu Teshome said at the opening of the bicameral parliament on Monday. He said his government is faced with a serious shortage of hard currency and export trade has dwindled in last three years. Mulatu said major projects ...