ESAT News (July 13, 2017) A tax levied by authorities on “estimated sales” on small businesses and vendors has faced with protests, some violent in the Oromo region of Ethiopia. Reports reaching ESAT say government vehicles including police cars were set ablaze in Ambo, while shops were closed for the second day. In the rest of the country, tensions remain ...

ESAT News (July 13, 2017) Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake which is also registered as UNESCO’s world heritage for its centuries old churches and monasteries is threatened by chemical and waste pollutants entering the water from surrounding hotels businesses and even government institutions. This, on top of the water hyacinth covering a large area of the lake, has become a ...

ESAT News (July 13, 2017) The fourth criminal bench of the federal high court in Addis Ababa today acquitted five of the 22 individuals who are members and supporters of an opposition political party imprisoned over terrorism charges, while reducing the terrorism charges against a high profile political prisoners to criminal offences. The politically motivated charges against Bekele Gerba, first ...

ESAT News (July12, 2017) Ethiopia is not among four countries that are recipients of the United States   $639 million in additional humanitarian assistance to the millions of people affected by food insecurity and violence. The USAID said in a statement that the money will go to four countries: South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen.   “With this new assistance, the ...

ESAT News (July 12, 2017) UN officials said about 5,000 civilians have been forced to seek refuge in neighbouring Ethiopia due to escalating clashes near Pagak in Upper Nile, the headquarters of the opposition group led by former first vice president Riek Machar, according to a report by Radio Tamazuj. Thr radio quoted David Shearer, head of the UN mission ...

ESAT News (July 11, 2017) Reports reaching ESAT from Gondar and Gojam indicate that the regime has deployed massive military in the area in anticipation of protests in the region on the one year anniversary of the death of hundreds of anti-government protesters, especially in the cities of Bahir Dar and Gondar. ESAT’s sources said in Bahir Dar, Gondar, Dangila ...

ESAT News (July 11, 2017) A sharp increase on sales tax levied by the regime on small businesses and vendors is faced with a nationwide protest. In a number of localities in the Oromo region, people took to the streets and took over local administration offices in protest against the increase in taxes which they said does not take their ...

ESAT News (July 11, 2017) Thirty-eight Members of the European Parliament wrote a letter to the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs calling for action against the Ethiopian regime in connection with brutal crackdowns and sexual violence.   The MEPs want see actions against “the crackdown on the protests that occurred in the Ethiopian regions of Oromia, Amhara ...

ESAT News (July 10, 2017) The ecosystem of Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake, has been threatened by the spread of water hyacinth, which experts warn could create significant damages to the fish and other aquatic life. Besides its negative effect in hampering transportation, irrigation and hydroelectric power, it also creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Experts also warn that the ...

ESAT News (July 10, 2017) Fans of Teddy Afro fear his planned concert on the eve of the Ethiopian new year on September 10 might be scrapped by authorities. The pop star’s concert planned for same time last year had been denied permission by authorities. Songs by Teddy Afro, who charted number one on Billboard World Album in May, preach ...