By Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 20, 2018) Nigist Yirga, a young activist from northern Ethiopia, who has been jailed since September 2016, was released today, a family member confirmed to ESAT. Nigist Yirga, a 24 year old activist known for her viral photo as she took part in one of the protests in Gondar in July 2016, was abducted ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 19, 2010) A leading figure of the resistance movement in the Amhara region, Colonel Demeke Zewdu has walked out of a prison in Gondar today. Residents of the city of Gondar and other major towns have began a three day strike today to demand the release of all political prisoners including the Colonel who ...

ESAT News (February 19, 2018) The European Union said in a statement today that “only a constructive dialogue among all stakeholders – authorities, opposition, media, civil society – will allow for a peaceful and durable resolution of the crisis.” The statement by the spokesperson, Catherine Ray, on the situation in Ethiopia also said that the declaration of the state of ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 16, 2018) Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers declared a state of emergency effective today February 16, 2018. The report by media controlled by the regime did not say how long the decree would be staying in effect. The report by the national broadcaster says the council of ministers held an extraordinary meeting today to deliberate ...

By Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 15, 2018) In a televised address to the nation, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, said he has submitted his resignation to the Parliament and his party, the ruling EPRDF. Desalegn said he will stay in office till the party and the Parliament accept his resignation and elect his replacement. He said he believes his ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 14, 2018) A number of political prisoners were freed today and were welcomed at the gates of Ethiopia’s notorious jails by thousands of people, a scene that is uncommon in a country that holds unarguably the highest number of prisoners of conscience anywhere. Thousands of people have gathered at the gates of Kaliti and ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 13, 2018) A three day “stay-at-home” strike that began yesterday in the vast Oromo region of the country turned into street protests in some towns and districts in the outskirts of the capital. In Jimma, protesters set two buses on fire. Selam Bus has been targeted by protesters in the past for it is ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 13, 2018) A leading Oromo opposition leader Bekele Gerba and six other members of the Oromo Federalist Congress and dissidents were released today, on the second day of a “stay-at-home” protests in the Oromo region which among others demanded the release of all political prisoners. The organ of the TPLF regime, Fana Broadcasting Corporation, ...

ESAT News (February 12, 2018) Towns across the Oromo region today saw the beginning of a three day stay-at-home protest to pressure the regime to release political prisoners. Residents of several towns took part in the strike to also demand that Agazi forces leave their villages.   Shashemene, Bale, Woliso, Metu, Bishoftu, Alemgena, Harar and 20 districts in Eastern Hararghe ...

ESAT News (February 12, 2018) Victims killed on Sunday by TPLF/Agazi forces were trying to stop a truck carrying contraband goods. Jemal Amede, administrator for East Hararghe Zone told BBC Amharic that local police and some of the youth at the IDP had stopped a truck heading to the Somali region. He said Agazi soldiers came out of nowhere and ...