by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 16, 2018) Ethiopia’s reformist Prime Minister appointed women in half of his cabinet positions in a move to ensure gender parity in a government hitherto dominated by men. “Of the 20 cabinet members, 10 or 50% are women,” Abiy Ahmed told MPs as he announces his cabinet to the Ethiopian Parliament today. But the ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 15, 2018) Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian defense forces said the special commandos that showed up at the National Palace last week and demand to speak to the Prime Minister have violated the country’s constitution and the military discipline that they were highly expected to strictly adhere to. Last week a group of ...

By Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 11, 2018) A leading Oromo political figure said he was baffled by the position of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) to remain armed. In an interview with a local radio station, Lenco Latta, who is the chairman of the Oromo Democratic Front (ODF) said the recent statement by Dawud Ibssa, Chair of the OLF, ...

By Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 11, 2018) The cabinet of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, would be restructured and downsized in line with ongoing reforms. New portfolios would also be created based on the priorities of his government, according to a draft law sent to the Parliament. The existing cabinet sent a draft law to Parliament yesterday to reduce ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 10, 2018) Ethiopian government spokesperson called on the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) to immediately disarm its combatants that were still carrying weapons. The statement by the minister of government communication affairs, Kasahun Gofe, was made in response to a recent statement by the leader of OLF, Dawud Ibssa, who said they had not made ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 10, 2018) A group of soldiers showed up unannounced at the National Palace and demand to speak with the Prime Minister, who punished them with some pushups. The soldiers reportedly wanted the PM to address salary and benefit issues. Wild speculations filled the Ethiopian social media today as a group of about 240 members ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 8, 2018) Ethiopia’s President says despite positive changes in the country’s political landscape, rampant lawlessness has threatened the supremacy of the law. Mulatu Teshome said it would be the priority of his the government, at all levels, to ensure that justice prevails as the country makes political and economic reforms. Dr. Mulatu Teshome was ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 5, 2018) Ethiopia’s ruling party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), re-elected the incumbent Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed as its chairman until the next Congress. The decision by the Congress of the four party coalition will, by default, allow Ahmed to continue in his position as the Prime Minister. The re-election of ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 4, 2018) There has been growing concern that soldiers for the separatist Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), that have recently returned to the country from neighboring countries, were still remained armed. Other armed groups that have returned to Ethiopia after peace overtures by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government have been disarmed and made to settle ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 3, 2018) As a historic congress of Ethiopia’s ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) kicks of today in the Southern city of Hawassa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is also the coalition’s chairman said federalism was the way to go for Ethiopia considering historical and current realities in the country. Dr. ...