Column
The ongoing Ethiopian National Dialogue in Addis Ababa marks a historic juncture as delegates grapple with foundational questions surrounding the nation's identity, governance, and institutional framework. ...
A recent diplomatic exchange on social media has ignited fresh debate over shifting geopolitical alignments along the Red Sea corridor. The discourse erupted following a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Massad Boulos, the U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, who announced a productive meeting with Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh in Cairo. Boulos highlighted discussions aimed at expanding bilateral relations, trade, regional security, and economic cooperation, while acknowledging the complex dynamics of the region. ...
The launch of the National Dialogue Commission’s final conference in Addis Ababa marks a highly anticipated moment in Ethiopia’s modern political history. For more than four years, the Commission has gathered agendas and selected representatives across a deeply fractured nation. Now, as four thousand delegates gather at the Addis Convention Center, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has used the opening stage to signal a profound shift: the potential dismantling or heavy modification of the country’s thirty-year-old constitution....
The atmosphere inside the House of Peoples' Representatives in Addis Ababa this week was far from the choreographed rubber-stamping that often characterizes state reviews. Instead, the chamber became a political fault line, witnessing a bruising collision between official triumphalism and the lived reality of a population pushed to its absolute limits....
The FY 2024/25 (2017 EFY) audit report recently presented by the Office of the Federal Auditor General to the House of Peoples' Representatives has unveiled a deeply shocking and disheartening reality for every patriotic citizen. ...
On June 1st, 2026, polling stations across the capital city of Addis Ababa and various regions of the country were bustling with long, orderly lines of voters. Under calm skies, blue ballot boxes, digital fingerprint scanners, and millions of citizens holding their voter cards stood as symbols of hope and democratic decorum. Rather than being defined by the multifaceted security and political challenges facing the nation, this historic day went down in the books as a triumph of democratic enthusiasm and institutional resilience....
At the recent Horn of Africa Peace Conference, aptly titled “Tsimdi” (Solidarity) and hosted in Sudan, prominent political figure Andargachew Tsige delivered a virtual keynote address that was quickly swallowed by his supporters as a masterclass in regional statesmanship. ...
In a democratic system, parliament is the ultimate sanctuary of the people, a place where the public voice is heard, government operations are scrutinized, and transparency reigns supreme. ...
Being landlocked does not inherently condemn a nation to poverty, nor does possessing a coastline guarantee prosperity. Eritrea, for instance, boasts more than three islands and two major ports, yet where does Eritrea stand today? Nevertheless, the maritime question raised by the government is fundamental; it is beyond doubt that we require such access. Assab is inhabited by the Afar people; indeed, it was founded by them. In the Afar language, “Assab-uy” translates to “Red Pond.” Crucially, Ethiopia’s maritime history predates even the pre-Aksumite civilisations....
The assertion that the Awash to Mekelle railway constitutes a “loss making investment” by Abiy Ahmed may carry rhetorical force, yet it does not withstand rigorous scrutiny when examined through the lens of long term economic strategy, state continuity, and the fundamental logic of infrastructure development. Indeed, when one takes into account that the project was launched by the previous regime shortly before the incumbent administration assumed office, the critique becomes not only analytically weak, but politically evasive....
The recent decision by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance to grant income tax exemptions to investors operating within free trade zones marks a significant policy shift—one that is as ambitious as it is consequential. At its core, this reform seeks to alleviate financial pressures on investors while catalysing industrial growth. Yet, beyond the optimism that accompanies such fiscal incentives lies a deeper question: does this policy represent a sustainable pathway to economic transformation, or merely a temporary reprieve from structural constraints?...
By Staff Writer...
