Column
The geopolitical and military landscape of the Horn of Africa has long been a complex arena defined by rapidly shifting alliances and unpredictable security dynamics. Recently, a significant shift in military diplomacy caught the attention of the international diplomatic community in Addis Ababa. ...
The View from Washington: A President Running Out of Patience...
Emmanuel Macron has stepped foot on African soil more times than any of his Elysee predecessors. To his supporters, these frequent journeys are proof of a modernized, energetic foreign policy. To his detractors, they resemble the frantic movements of a nation desperate to retain its grip on a continent fast slipping from its orbit. ...
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent declaration that Ethiopia’s National Dialogue will serve as a vehicle to impose executive term limits has ignited a substantive debate over the future of the country's governance model. By addressing a long-standing structural gap in the 1995 Constitution, which currently permits an indefinite tenure for the head of government, the administration has placed a foundational piece of constitutional law on the table. ...
US President Donald Trump has announced that China has agreed to purchase significant quantities of American oil and strengthen its trade partnership with Washington....
Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, a prominent leader in Ethiopia's Tigray region, has issued a formal appeal to the government of Saudi Arabia, requesting royal clemency for hundreds of Tigrayan nationals currently facing the death penalty in the Kingdom....
In a move described by observers as a profound irony, a new draft proclamation intended to ensure government transparency and the public's right to information was itself discussed in a restricted, "secretive" session. Although the House of Peoples' Representatives labeled the event a "Public Consultation," reports indicate the meeting was tightly controlled, excluding the broader public and barring journalists from reporting on the proceedings....
The humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached a critical tipping point as dual waves of violence surge across the eastern and northeastern provinces. Recent findings released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) provide a harrowing account of systemic atrocities committed by the M23 rebel group, while simultaneous militia massacres in the north have left dozens dead, further destabilizing an already fractured region....
The recent high-level rendezvous between Haimanot Zeleke, Director General of the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA), and Qatar’s Ambassador, Saad Mubarak Al-Nuaimi, carries the polished veneer of "institutional capacity building." On paper, the discussions regarding the establishment of an Ethiopian Media Excellence Centre and technical digitisation sound like the standard fare of developmental diplomacy. However, beneath the bureaucratic pleasantries lies a more complex and potentially troubling narrative of state-managed narratives and the outsourcing of media ethics to a Gulf monarchy....
JOHANNESBURG – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing one of the most significant challenges to his presidency after the Constitutional Court issued a landmark ruling on May 8, 2026. The nation's highest court declared that Parliament acted unconstitutionally in 2022 when it blocked a report that could have led to his impeachment, effectively reopening the path for formal removal proceedings....
Diplomatic relations between Sudan and Ethiopia have hit a new low as the Sudanese government officially recalled its ambassador to Addis Ababa. This move follows grave accusations from Khartoum alleging that Ethiopia has been providing direct military support, specifically via drone technology, to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s ongoing civil war....
The return of the Tigray Regional Council and the formal resumption of governmental functions have raised expectations among residents for political stability, humanitarian relief, and institutional recovery in the war-affected region....
The political atmosphere in the Jimma Zone reached a fever pitch this week as the Prosperity Party (PP) officially launched its campaign in the Gomma 2 constituency. The event served as a high-profile introduction of the party's candidates, headlined by none other than Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), who is seeking a seat in the House of Peoples' Representatives (HoPR) from this specific district....
Tigray’s Contested Leadership Move Casts Shadow over Pretoria Accord...
Addis Ababa — Ethiopia’s fuel supply is showing signs of recovery, with distribution networks gradually returning to levels observed prior to the recent disruptions that strained transport systems and commercial activity across the country....
Addis Ababa- Hibret Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kacha Digital Financial Services to collaborate on expanding digital financial services, in a move aimed at strengthening the integration of fintech solutions within Ethiopia’s banking industry. The agreement was formalised on April 17, 2026, at the Bank’s headquarters in Addis Abeba....
Addis Ababa — Ethiopia finds itself at a delicate crossroads, buffeted by intensifying global geopolitical tremors and long-standing domestic structural frailties. Encouraging gains recorded under the country’s ongoing economic reform agenda are now under considerable strain, as external shocks beyond policymakers’ control begin to reverberate across key sectors....
Addis Abeba — The federal government has resolved to reinstate diesel supply to pre-war levels, reversing months of curtailed distribution triggered by disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict, according to Finance Minister Ahmed Shide....
Addis Abeba — The private recording studio of prominent Ethiopian artist Teddy Afro was reportedly looted late Thursday night in the CMC area of the capital, raising fresh concerns over the security of high-profile creatives and their intellectual property....
Addis Ababa - Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has officially announced that the Strait of Hormuz has been fully reopened to commercial shipping. The decision comes following a recently declared 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. ...
Addis Ababa - Security challenges continue to weigh heavily on the Horn of Africa, as governments grapple with insurgencies, cross-border threats, and fragile political transitions that risk undermining recent economic gains....
The Islamic Republic of Iran has formally articulated a demand for staggering financial restitution totalling some two hundred and seventy billion dollars for the catastrophic ruination visited upon its territory by American and Israeli military incursions. This pronouncement arrived as Tehran maintains a posture of unyielding defiance even as fresh diplomatic engagements with Washington loom on the horizon. ...
Addis Ababa - The U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ervin Massinga, conducted a day-long visit to Semera on Thursday, engaging regional officials, academics, and development actors in a series of high-level discussions.Ambassador Massinga held talks with Afar Regional President Awol Arba Mohammed, focusing on regional security dynamics and ongoing collaboration between the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia and Afar authorities, particularly in the areas of commerce and education.At Semera University, the Ambassador met with President Mohammed Usman and faculty members to discuss academic programmes in earth sciences and anthropology, with a focus on the Afar region’s unique geological and cultural landscape. He also conferred with Dawud Mohammed, head of CARE Afar, on the evolving political context in the region.The visit concluded with a luncheon bringing together alumni of U.S. Embassy-sponsored exchange programmes. Participants highlighted how their experiences in the United States continue to inform their professional trajectories and contributions to addressing socio-economic challenges across Afar....
Addis Ababa — The Development Bank of Ethiopia has appointed three senior executives as part of a major restructuring aimed at strengthening its top management and enhancing the institution’s financial and governance capacity. The bank described the move as a “high-level strategic leadership change.”...
Addis Ababa - The U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia has announced a temporary waiver scheme introduced by the Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS), offering relief on visa overstay penalties for U.S. citizens of Ethiopian origin....
