ESAT News (May 2, 2018) People living near a gold mine in Southern Ethiopia have continued protest demonstrations for the third day against the extension of contracts for MIDROC Gold, a company that has been extracting gold for the last two decades. Residents say chemicals released from the gold mine have posed health hazards and are responsible for many ailments ...

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 ...

ESAT News ( April 24, 2018) A crisis smouldering in Ethiopia’s Eastern Somali region might have gotten more fuel from the formation of a new cabinet by the regional president, Abdi Illey. His security forces have reportedly detained over a hundred people in the last few days. Abdi fired his deputy, Abdihakim Igal, sparking street protests in Shilille, his constituent ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (March 5, 2018) Towns in the restive Oromo region of Ethiopia has continued to defy a state of emergency declared in mid-February as a three-day “stay-at-home” strike began on Monday. The new wave of strikes in some parts the Oromo region had actually began last Friday when Parliament ratified the decree. The vote tally at ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (March 3, 2018) Residents of towns in the Oromo region used rocks and burning tires to block roads and shut down transportations and businesses as soon as Ethiopia’s Parliament on Friday ratified, in a controversial tally of votes, a six-month state of emergency that gives absolute power to the military. Agazi soldiers of the regime ...

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 ...

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 ...

By Engidu Woldie ESAT News (January 21, 2018) At least seven people were killed on Saturday in Woldia town in northern Ethiopia as TPLF security forces shot live fire at people gathered to celebrate the annual Ethiopian Orthodox Epiphany. The youth in Woldia, known for their strong display of defiance against the TPLF, were chanting songs denouncing the regime when ...

ESAT News (December 25, 2017) Protests against the TPLF have continued with the people demanding the removal of the regime. A stay at home protest in Ambo, Ginchi and Guder towns as well as nearby villages that began Friday has continued on Monday. Schools and businesses remained closed. Taxi drivers in Sululta, just outside the capital, have reportedly strike today ...

ESAT News (December 14, 2017) Ethiopia’s universities continued to be hit by protests on Thursday after the death of students last week in ethnic clashes and at the hands of regime’s security forces. Students are demanding an end to TPLF rule, a regime they say has pitted one ethnic group against the other in a policy of divide and rule. ...