by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 1, 2019) Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said today that his government is doing its part in building democracy and will continue to do so. “In building democracy, the government has a big role to play. And it is doing its share in this regard,” the premier said responding to questions at the Ethiopian parliament ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (January 28, 2019) The first speaker of the House of People’s Representatives of Ethiopia has passed away of natural causes in the United States. Dawit Yohannes had been instrumental in the early years of the current government, serving as secretary of the commission set up to draft the constitution during the transitional government in the ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (December 25, 2018) Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives passed a law providing for the establishment of a reconciliation commission that is aimed at mending fences and bringing peace among communities involved in social and political conflict. The preamble of the proclamation, which has passed with one abstention and one objection, says it was necessary to ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (December 20, 2018) Ethiopia’s parliament passed a bill to establish a “boundary and identity affairs commission” in a bid to resolve border disputes between regional administrations and bring to an end increasing clashes resulting from identity issues. The proclamation, that was approved with a majority vote, faced opposition from 33 MPs representing the Tigray People’s ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (October 26, 2018) The newly elected Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives says the legislature will augment its oversight on the executive in the implementation of projects and laws. Tagesse Chafo said in an interview with the Ethiopian Television that the executives have signed a ‘contract’ with the legislature on the timely implementation of ...

ESAT News (October 24, 2018) Ethiopia will on Thursday appoint a new president to replace Mulatu Teshome, who will be resigning a year ahead of his first term limit. Parliament appoints presidents every six years, which is mostly a ceremonial position with no executive power. It has a two-term limit. Teshome took over from Girma Woldegiorgis, who served two-terms. Dr. ...

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 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 (July 5, 2018) Ethiopia’s parliament has revoked terrorist labels on three opposition groups, namely Patriotic Ginbot 7, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).   The three groups and two others, al Shabaab and al Qaeda, were labeled terrorists by a rubber stamp Parliament, the House of People’s Representatives, seven ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (June 28, 2018) The Ethiopian Parliament today passed an amnesty law to “pardon” those individuals that the government formerly accused, charged and/or sentenced after alleged crimes such as “attempt to overthrow the government, outrage against the constitution, treason and other political crimes.” The long awaited law comes after severe criticism against the previous administration, controlled ...