By Engidu Woldie ESAT News (May 21, 2018) A leader of an opposition political party says what Ethiopia needs is a truly democratic transition, but not superficial reform if the intention is to move the country forward. Speaking to a gathering of his supporters in Washington, DC, Chairman of Patriotic Ginbot 7, an opposition group based in the Diaspora, Professor ...

ESAT News (May 11, 2018) The state news agency reported that federal prosecutors dropped charges against Dr. Fikru Maru, an Ethiopian born Swedish cardiologist and 61 others who have been detained for years on trumped up terrorism and other charges. Prosecutors on Wednesday downgraded terrorism charges against Dr. Maru et al to organizing revolt at the Qilinto prison. Thirty eight ...

ESAT News (April 26, 2018) Students of Ambo University held protest demonstrations demanding the revocation of the state of emergency and the release of fellow students imprisoned due to the martial law. The students ignored the state of emergency that prohibit any gatherings and took to the streets to stage protest demonstrations. The students have also demanded the security forces ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (April 26, 2018) Members of the opposition and journalists who were recently released from prison had held talks with UN human rights chief and gave firsthand account of the human rights violations in the country. Ethiopian authorities allow UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, to take a closer look at the ...

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 (April 23, 2018) A grisly assassination of an Ethiopian activist in South Africa has been called suspicious with Ethiopians in Johannesburg putting the blame squarely on operatives of the Ethiopian regime and Embassy staff. Gezahegn Gebremeskel, known in the community as Gezahegn Nebro, was shot and killed in a cold blooded murder on Saturday, sending ...

By Engidu Woldie ESAT News (April 19, 2018) Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister filled 16 cabinet positions with members of the ruling party dampening hopes of seeing new faces and ideas in government key positions. Abiy Ahmed retained six ministers of his predecesor, Hailemariam Desalegn, who resigned in February amid political turmoil in the East African country and the emergence of ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (April 18, 2018) Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister is expected to announce his new cabinet as he addresses the Parliament tomorrow. It is the second time since his appointment that Abiy Ahmed will speak before the House of People’s Representatives that also replaces its speaker, Abadula Gemeda. Critics say the formation of a new cabinet will ...

ESAT News (April 16, 2018) In one of his bold promises to Ethiopians, the newly elected Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, said on Sunday that the military, security and intelligence would be restructured in a manner that would be free from political influence. The Prime Minister was speaking at a public event in Addis Ababa where he also promised to “review ...

ESAT News (April 16, 2018) Information reaching ESAT say ethnic clashes between the Guji and Gedeo communities in Southern Ethiopia has continued with more killings reported today.   Sources told ESAT that the crisis began when the Gurji, who are ethnic Oromos, began celebrating the appointment of the new Prime Minister, an Oromo, with celebratory gunshots and looked down on ...