by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (September 25, 2018) A statement today by Oromo political fronts labeling other groups as enemies of the people of Oromo and claiming exclusive rights to places like Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa was reckless and destructive to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s all inclusive political reform process, says a researcher and writer on Ethiopian politics. “The statement ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (August 31, 2018) Ethiopia’s mainstream Oromo political parties are reportedly mulling over the possibility of merger as constituents continue pressuring for the formation of a united Oromo political party. Ibsa Negeo of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) said at a press conference yesterday that his party has been in discussions with the Oromo Federalist Congress ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (April 13, 2018) Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister held talks and dined with the opposition that is waiting for tangible actions from him. The new PM, Abiy Ahmed, has also continued his tour to the regions. He was in the Tigray capital of Mekelle today where he delivered speech in the local language. While the opposition ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (April 3, 2018) Ethiopian opposition political parties have reacted to the inaugural speech by the newly appointed Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, saying his description of the opposition as competing forces in the political process but not as enemies of the regime, as has been viewed by TPLF oligarchs, is a welcome development. In his first ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 26, 2018) The city of Nekemte was covered with plumes of smokes today as protesters burnt tyres and blocked roads angered by the detention and ban on leaders of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), who planned to meet their supporters in the city last Saturday. Prominent Oromo political leaders including Dr. Merera Gudina and ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 24, 2018) Leaders of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) who were recently freed from prison have been detained briefly today and banned from entering Nekemte, a city in Western Ethiopia, to meet their supporters. Dr. Merera Gudina and Mr. Bekele Gerba were on a tour in the Oromo region to meet and thank ...

ESAT News (January 11, 2018) Ethiopian courts, seen by many as instruments of the oppressive regime, have continued handing down prison terms to dissidents who insist terrorism charges brought against them were politically motivated. A court in Addis Ababa today sentenced thirty-three defendants to prison terms ranging from 15 to 18 years for allegedly being members and supporters of an ...

ESAT News (January 9, 2018) The announcement by Ethiopian regime authorities that they would investigate and crackdown on Qero, a network of youth in the country’s restive Oromo region that is behind the anti-TPLF protest for over two years, has drawn backlash from Oromo political leaders and activists. Reports show that the TPLF regime, through its security apparatus that is ...

ESAT News (December 25, 2017) One of Ethiopia’s prisoners of conscience, Bekele Gerba, has been denied to see a doctor despite his repeated request to the prison administration. His daughter, Bontu Bekele, who told Deutsche Welle that her dad is suffering from hypertension said he is also suffering from other ailments and has been demanding prison administrators to see his ...

ESAT News (December 21, 2017) Members and supporters of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) have been denied aid, educational opportunities, loans and other services for merely being an opposition to the regime, a representative of the party in Wollega told ESAT. The representative said cadres of the TPLF and their cronies not only harass and intimidate members and those who ...