Tag Archives: ESAT English

Ethiopia, Sudan to join forces to protect controversial dam

ESAT News (May 1, 2018) Ethiopia and Sudan have reportedly agreed to set up a joint military force to protect Ethiopia’s mega hydroelectric dam which Egypt fears will cut into its water supply. Negotiations over the share of the water among the three countries have failed last month. While Egypt is wary of the consequence of the dam on downstream ...

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Locals protest extension of gold mining project in Southern Ethiopia

ESAT News (April 30, 2018) The renewal of a gold mining project for another ten years has triggered street protests in five towns in Southern Ethiopia. Locals say the project, which has exploited their natural resources for over twenty years has not benefited the poor.   Residents of Shakiso and Fincha towns in Guji zone in Southern Ethiopia have taken ...

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Ethiopia postpones census, local elections over security concerns

ESAT News (April 30, 2018) A joint session of the House of the Federation and its lower house postponed the country’s populations census by one year due to security concerns as the nation is still reeling from unrest in various corners. The census was supposed to take place last year but protests in most parts of the country against the ...

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Town of Jijiga, Dire Dawa join protests in Eastern Ethiopia

ESAT News (April 27, 2018) Businesses were closed and transportations disrupted in the Eastern commercial town of Jijiga as residents joined protest against the administration of the regional president Abdi Illey. Protest demonstrations against the regional president drew momentum on Tuesday when Abdi Illey fired his deputy, Abdihakim Igal, sparking street protests in Shilnille, his constituent and the base of ...

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Ethiopia: Scarcity of bread hits Addis Ababa

ESAT News (April 27, 2018) Dwindling imports of wheat has resulted in scarcity of bread in the capital Addis Ababa and the price of a loaf of the staple has doubled. Authorities say the crisis was a result of the foreign currency crunch facing the country. Long lines at bakeries in the capital is a regular scene and owners of ...

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Ethiopia: Students of Ambo University hold protest demonstrations

ESAT News (April 26, 2018) Students of Ambo University held protest demonstrations demanding the revocation of the state of emergency and the release of fellow students imprisoned due to the martial law. The students ignored the state of emergency that prohibit any gatherings and took to the streets to stage protest demonstrations. The students have also demanded the security forces ...

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Ethiopia: UN human rights chief met opposition leaders, journalists

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (April 26, 2018) Members of the opposition and journalists who were recently released from prison had held talks with UN human rights chief and gave firsthand account of the human rights violations in the country. Ethiopian authorities allow UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, to take a closer look at the ...

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Ethiopia: “Command Post” jails judge for releasing innocent citizens

ESAT News (April 25, 2018) The Command Post, the military body overseeing the state of emergency in Ethiopia, has jailed a judge in East Hararghe for four days for refusing to detain innocent citizens brought to his court. Judge Abnet Tadesse had let the suspects brought to his court free as he found them committing no crimes, according a report ...

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Ethiopia: Laws systematically used to suppress press freedom, says RSF

ESAT News (April 25, 2018) Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) says Ethiopian authorities have continued to systematically use laws restrict freedom of the press and imprison journalists without charge indefinitely. “Terrorism charges have been systematically used against journalists ever since the 2009 terrorism law took effect. The charges carry long jail sentences and allow the authorities to hold journalists without trial ...

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Ethiopia: Amhara region hit by fuel shortages

ESAT News (April 24, 2018) Long queues at gas stations and disruption of public transportations hit cities in the Amhara region as provisions of fuel has dwindled in recent weeks. Gondar, Bahir Dar, Debre Tabor, Woldia and Debre Markos are some of the cities where public transportations has been disrupted. Customers who tried to fill up their jerrycans in a ...

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