ESAT News (August 30, 2018) The former police chief for the Somali region in eastern Ethiopia was arrested and brought to a court in Addis Ababa today. Ferhan Tahir was accused of organizing and directing an armed youth group known as Heego that has allegedly killed several people and burnt churches and properties in recent weeks in Jijiga, the region’s ...

ESAT News (August 29, 2018) Former president of Ethiopia’s Somali region, Abdi Mohamoud Omar (Abdi Illey) has been brought to a court in Addis Ababa and charged with using armed groups that attacked and killed several innocent citizens and burnt churches. Illey was also charged with instigating violence that caused the displacement of thousands of people. Abdi Illey, who is ...

ESAT News (August 28, 2018) Six more officials of the Somali region of Ethiopia have been arrested after yesterday’s arrest of the ex-president of the region, Abdi Illey. The arrests were made after the regional council has lifted legislative immunities of seven officials on Sunday. The Federal police say the officials would be brought to justice and defend the allegations. ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (August 27, 2018) The ex-president of Ethiopia’s Somali region, Abdi Mohamoud Omar, also known as Abdi Illey, has been arrested at his residence in Addis Ababa today. According to a report by the Ethiopian Television that quoted the federal prosecutor, Abdi Illey was arrested for violations of human rights, inciting ethnic and religious conflict in ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (August 23, 2018) Two former officials of the Somali region of Ethiopia have been nabbed in Somaliland as they were boarding a plane to Mogadishu, capital of neighboring Somalia. Somaliland immigration officials have detained Ibrahim Adem Mahad, the former head of the regional education bureau and Abdi Jama former head of justice bureau. Both ex-officials ...

ESAT News (August 20, 2018) The Human Rights Watch urge the Ethiopian government to investigate rights abuses in the Somali region of Eastern Ethiopia, including investigations on former and current regional officials, and bring perpetrators to justice. Renewing its call for justice in the Somali region, the rights watchdog said “the government of Ethiopia should commit to an in-depth, independent ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (August 10, 2018) Volunteers and victims of attacks by Liyou Police and militia in Somali region say the humanitarian situation of internally displaced persons in the region need immediate attention. Food and medical supplies were needed immediately, according to a doctor volunteering for Red Cross and Red Crescent, who said he had information that over ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (August 7, 2018) Abdi Mohamoud Omar, a.k.a. Abdi Illey, who was deposed from the presidency of the Somali region yesterday, has been arrested and taken to undisclosed location. The BBC Amharic report said members of the national army have arrested Illey and removed him from his palace in Jijiga. Unrest in Jijiga and Dire Dawa ...

ESAT News (August 6, 2018) President of the Somali region, Abdi Mohamoud Omar also known as Abdi Illey, has been removed from power, head of the regional communication bureau confirmed to the BBC’s Somali Service. Illey has been replaced by Ahmed Abdi Mohamed, who was head of the regional bureau of finance and economic development. Read here for more on ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (August 6, 2018) [UPDATE: As we compile this report, the national defense forces and federal police have been given orders to restore calm and protect the public in the Somali region of Ethiopia, as per a statement by the Office of Government Communication Affairs. The Office said the order has been give based on the ...