Ethiopian News in Amharic - Thursday, December 29, 2011 - YouTube: ""
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EPRDF regime's self image of ethnically Balkanized Ethiopia, established by late Dictator Melese Zenawie. Freedom of Press is Dead in ethnocracy based irridentism. Fertile land is grabbed by foreign speculators, over 5 million are starving. 500'000 kids are on the streets. Millions are displaced by force. The regime is arming proxy warriors. Dams are built wantonly risking the existence of millions of indigenous people. Eritreans Moles are Ruling even after seceding in 1991.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
AkelDama "Ethiopian Dictator's Propaganda" PartI,II & III - YouTube
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Monday, November 28, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Ethiopian Dictator Detained Slovakia' ambassador with diplomatic immunity
By ARGAW ASHINEPosted Tuesday, November 15 2011 at 11:39
Slovakia has recalled its ambassador from Addis Ababa after Ethiopian security forces detained but later released the envoy.
Mr Milan Dubcek was arrested and detained for two days by Ethiopian security and released without any further explanation or charge.
He was arrested while he took a photograph from Entoto Mountain, which is 10 minutes drive from his residence and less than 1km away from the US Embassy.
The Slovak ambassador spent November 5-6 in Addis Ababa prison, despite his diplomatic immunity.
He was released after European diplomats intervened.
The Slovak Foreign ministry has demanded an explanation and official apology, but the Ethiopian Government has refused to comply.
Addis sent a letter to Slovak officials, but the latter's Foreign ministry said it was inadequate and continued to demand an official apology.
“We have scrutinised the letter, but its content did not satisfy us, so we again have sent our reaction,” Slovak Foreign Affairs minister Mikulas Dzurinda was quoted as saying by Slovak state news agency.
According to the minister, Mr Dubcek would remain at home until the Ethiopian Government provided a full apology with guarantees that no such action would be repeated to, not only Slovakia, but also any other EU-member country .
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Ethiopia, Djibouti Seal Power Export Deal | 2merkato.com
The Ethiopia-Djibouti electric power transmission was launched yesterday in Djibouti in the presence of Meles
Zenawi, prime minister of Ethiopia and Omar Guelleh, president of Djibouti.
The project is estimated to meet 75 percent of Djibouti’s power demad.
The 65 million dollar project, largely financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), aims to raise access to electricity in Djibouti to 60 percent by 2015 which was 49.5 percent in 2003.
Ethiopia had been exporting electricity to Djibouti on a trial basis for the last four months charging Djibouti 0.70 dollars a kilowatt.
Substation construction work included an extension to the existing Dire Dawa substation, involving two 230-kV lines. One circuit is used to supply Adigala, the principal Ethiopian border town along the 230-kV transmission line route.
Another substation has been constructed, which will also supply another 11 Ethiopian border towns, in the vicinity of Aysha, Dewele and Harewa, with a network comprising 230 km of 33-kV overhead line.
Djibouti used to consume about 0.17 billion kwh in 2000. And by the end of 2006 it was consuming o.22 billion kwh. According to recent documents, the country’s annual consumption of electricity from domestic and imported sources has reached 0.26 billion kwh.
Power demand in Djibouti is expected to grow from about 90 megawatt to 175 megawatt over the next fifteen years.
Source: The Ethiopian Herald
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Tuesday, October 4, 2011
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Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Nine Ethiopian Tigerian band members & polices killed, 17 injured in Amara region
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
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Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Ethiopia to Build Two More Nile Dams | 2merkato.com
Ethiopia to Build Two More Nile Dams
Ethiopia announced that it would build two more dams along its share of the Nile, six months after launching the construction of a 5,250 megawatt power plant on the river.
Ethiopia aims to produce 20,000 megawatts of power within the next ten years, part of a plan to spend 12 billion dollars over 25 years to raise power generating capability.
According to Reuters, officials estimate that the country has the potential to produce about 45,000 megawatt of electricity.
Feasibility tests have already started for the new dams with support from the government of Norway, Mihret Debebe, CEO of the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, said.
According to Mihret, when the dams go operational, they will generate around 2,100 megawatts of power. Last week the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation signed power transmission project contracts worth around 330 million dollars with companies from ten countries.
Indian companies take the biggest share of the contract winning three contracts worth more than 50 million dollars.
Among the companies which entered into agreements with the corporation are Energoinvest DD of Bosnia & Herzegovina, ALISTOM GRID of France, ABB AG of Germany, AECOM of USA-Canada and Norinco International Limited of China.
The projects are expected to be completed within 12 to 24 months.
French and Italian companies have agreed to provide consulting services to EEPCo for the Renaissance Dam which is currently under construction.
Source: Walta Information Centre
Ethiopia: Thousands of prisoners freed for New Year - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
September 11, 2011 (ADDIS ABABA) - The Ethiopian federal and a regional government announced over the weekend the release and pardon of over 8,000 inmates as the horn of Africa’s country celebrates its entry into the new year of 2004.
Ethiopia is unique in that it follows the Julian calendar, which is eight years behind the Gregorian calendar adopted my most of the world.
Approved by Ethiopian president, Girma Weldegiorgis, the federal government of Ethiopia has released 2,620 inmates on pardon as the East African country prepares to welcome Julian New Year on Monday, said a statement from the Ministry of Justice.
In a similar move, the South Ethiopia Peoples’ Regional Government has pardoned 5,671 prisoners.
The pardon grant does not include to inmates charged with serious offences such as genocide, corruption, terrorism.
Ethiopian New Year Enkutatash means the "gift of jewels" after the gifts given to the Queen of Sheba Makeda, when she returned to her Kingdom, which Ethiopians believe was in modern day Ethiopia, after visiting King Solomon in Jerusalem
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Stratex Discover More Gold in Ethiopia | 2merkato.com
Stratex Discover More Gold in Ethiopia
Stratex International, the AIM-listed gold miner, discovered more gold from drilling at its Megenta hot spring
epithermal gold discovery within its exclusive exploration licence at Tendaho in the Afar Regional State.
These include high grade intersection of 19.50 g/t Au over 0.70 metres in hole MG-DD-12 with the potential for bonanza grades veins.
These occurred within zone of 4.49 g/t Au over 3.25 metres about 70 metres below surface and extend the target zone 460 metres along concealed graben edge. The priority target zone at Megenta now extends over 3 km.
The company has completed the 3,000 metre 14-hole scout drilling programme at Megenta and it is now planning to follow up drilling which it will discuss with Thani Ashanti, its partner.
The high-grade result was taken from a 0.70 metre-wide sample that includes a 0.25 metre vein within brecciated basalt [formed into sharp-angled fragments embedded in a fine-grained matrix], which indicates that the vein could contain bonanza grades higher than 19.50 g/t.
Drilling of deeper holes will be planned in a follow-up programme to be approved by Thani Ashanti, Stratex's partner.
In addition, Stratex will begin exploration on its other gold targets in the Afar region - Akehil, Boraule, and Det Bahari in Ethiopia and Asal and Dimoli Khan in Djibouti.
It was reported early in August that Stratex International's shares shot up following its announcement of "significant results" from drilling at its Megenta hot spring gold discovery in Ethiopia.
Source: StockMarketWire
Monday, September 5, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Ethiopia & the New Wikileaks Release Viewing cable 09ADDISABABA2809, PARTY PATRONAGE AND FOREIGN ASSISTANCE IN ETHIOPIA
Viewing cable 09ADDISABABA2809, PARTY PATRONAGE AND FOREIGN ASSISTANCE IN ETHIOPIA
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| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09ADDISABABA2809 | 2009-11-25 14:33 | 2011-08-30 01:44 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Addis Ababa |
VZCZCXRO8678 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHDS #2809/01 3291433 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251433Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6962 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEPADJ/CJTF HOAC O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ADDIS ABABA 002809 DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC DIA WASHINGTON DC MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E, PASS TO USAID E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2019 TAGS: EAID PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM ET SUBJECT: PARTY PATRONAGE AND FOREIGN ASSISTANCE IN ETHIOPIA REF: A. ADDIS ABABA 31 ¶B. 08 ADDIS ABABA 3370 ¶C. 08 ADDIS ABABA 2159 ¶D. ADDIS ABABA 2645 ¶E. ADDIS ABABA 975 ¶F. ADDIS ABABA 379 ¶G. ADDIS ABABA 2273 ¶H. ADDIS ABABA 1612 Classified By: CDA Roger A. Meece for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) Recent allegations of the politicization of foreign assistance in Ethiopia, including humanitarian food aid, are consistent with reports by non-governmental organizations, opposition political parties, the media, and members of the international donor community. The manipulation of humanitarian assistance for political benefit by the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) since 2005 should be viewed in the context of broader efforts to utilize government resources to ensure EPRDF's political and electoral supremacy. U.S. foreign assistance is less vulnerable than many countries' aid because the USG insists on maintaining a large measure of control over the mechanics of aid distribution. Post strongly endorses the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) as the most effective and most closely monitored assistance program of its kind and urges other donors to adopt PSNP-type anti-manipulation safeguards. Although USAID is confident that PSNP funds are being directed to legitimate beneficiaries, EPRDF members may well be receiving priority. Efforts to monitor food distribution are aimed at making sure vulnerable people are fed and cannot be expanded to include investigation of political pressures applied to those people without jeopardizing that primary mission. End summary. Increased Political Patronage Since 2005 ---------------------------------------- ¶2. (C) Since the controversial 2005 elections, the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) has engaged in a systematic campaign to tighten control over opposition parties and their allies. The closure of political space has been achieved in part by the passage of restrictive laws governing civil society (Ref A), political parties (Ref B), and the media (Ref C), the intimidation of opposition candidates campaigning in their constituencies (Ref D), as well as the purging of ethnic groups perceived as disloyal to the ruling party from the military (Ref E) and civil service (Ref F). As the GoE has used its network of local officials to enforce these new rules, Post has received multiple reports that the GoE is also using the complete spectrum of government resources - including many basic public services - in a patronage system to shore up support for the EPRDF. ¶3. (C) Post has reported specific complaints of patronage and coercive recruitment techniques used by the government, such as the use of military facilities and civil service trainings for political indoctrination (Ref G), the withholding of food aid, seeds, and fertilizers to non-EPRDF members (Ref H), and preferential treatment in job assignment, promotion, and professional development for EPRDF members (Ref H). In one recent allegation, opposition Member of Parliament Bulcha Demeksa, of the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM), told Post that local EPRDF cadres had asked his constituents to join the party during the same visits in which they distributed seed and fertilizer. He said that voters who refused to join did not receive seed or fertilizer in the next round of distribution. Beyond these specific allegations, Mission officers are frequently told by contacts that it is commonly understood that eligibility for government services is made easier by party membership as a practical matter. This practice is felt most strongly in rural areas, where many Ethiopians are dependent on food assistance and agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilizer, and where local officials can more easily monitor the political activities of their constituents. ¶4. (C) The GoE has attempted to silence reports of patronage and coercive action, as in the recent case of journalist Wossenseged Meshesha (protect), of Mesenazaria newspaper. In a recent article, Wossenseged quoted opposition United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) leader Beyene Petros describing incidents in which his constituents had been forced to make financial contributions to the EPRDF upon receiving seed and fertilizer. Despite the fact that the ADDIS ABAB 00002809 002 OF 003 statements he printed were directly quoted and backed up by hard copies of receipts the farmers were given for their forced contributions, Wossenseged is now being sued by the GoE for defamation. In a November 10 press conference the opposition Forum for Democratic Dialogue (Forum) publicly criticized in general terms the ruling party's use of government and donor resources for political patronage, resulting in a series of local and international media reports on the politicization of food aid. Several international NGOs have researched the issue as well, including Human Rights Watch, which plans to release a report on the general issue of politicization of government services in January 2010. Foreign Assistance Vulnerable to Politicization --------------------------------------------- -- ¶5. (SBU) As reports of patronage have increased since 2005, Post has become keenly aware that foreign assistance, including U.S. humanitarian assistance, is vulnerable to politicization. Direct budget support, which the USG does not provide but is favored by many donors, is the most vulnerable form of assistance. As an example, Post has received numerous reports of graft and politicization of donor support provided through the Provision of Basic Services (PBS) program, which provides block grants to regional governments and is coordinated by the World Bank. (Note: The USG does not contribute to PBS. End note.) Emergency relief food is also vulnerable to politicization, owing to the large volume of food transferred and the urgent need to distribute it quickly. USAID and its partners closely monitor the distribution of most relief food distributed by NGO partners and WFP through the "hubs and spokes" system now used in the Somali Region, which allows for better control over distribution at the local level. Urgent needs and limited geographic coverage by NGOs sometimes necessitate distribution which transfers food resources directly to the GoE. (Note: The Mission continues to press WFP to ensure greater transparency and accountability in relief food distribution, and much progress has been made over the past year since the "hubs and spokes" system went into effect in October, 2008. End note.) ¶6. (SBU) PSNP, to which the U.S. is a major contributor, is a highly monitored program operated by the GoE and NGOs with donor support that provides cash and food to more than seven million Ethiopians in exchange for labor, in a graduated system designed to move families toward food security. While PSNP has been the object of allegations of politicization leveled by the opposition (including those in Ref H) and has received recent media coverage, PSNP has easily the best safeguards in this regard among all assistance programs in Ethiopia. These safeguards include semiannual "Joint Review of Implementation and Support" missions, quarterly financial audits, targeting studies, Rapid Response Team field visits, regular beneficiary benefit transfer reports, and an appeals system. The strong support PSNP receives from the donor community is a result of these safeguards and the fact that PSNP is more closely monitored than other programs. USG and Other Donor Action on PSNP ---------------------------------- ¶7. (SBU) In recognition of the vulnerability of foreign assistance to politicization, USAID and other PSNP donors have examined transparency in PSNP selection of beneficiaries and distribution of assistance, and agreed upon a framework to ensure accountability and investigate allegations of corruption and politicization. An independent study conducted in 2008 showed that 85% of PSNP participants believe the selection process is fair, and a recent USAID Fiduciary Risk Study revealed no evidence of direct political interference. Although the forthcoming HRW report reportedly cites examples of PSNP-related corruption in times of extreme food insecurity, when some monitoring safequards are relaxed in order to expedite distribution, USAID is confident that PSNP resources are not directed to unqualified (i.e., food secure) families as a result of political connections. USAID notes, however, that the percentage of families who qualify for PSNP (i.e., the poorest, most food insecure households) who actually receive PSNP support is higher in the Tigray and Amhara regions (considered to be the most loyal to the ruling party) than in other regions of the county that are equally needy (e.g., Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Regions). This trend is not limited to PSNP, but ADDIS ABAB 00002809 003 OF 003 rather applies to many government-provided services and benefits. (Note: For years, the Somali Regional State was denied nearly all government services and foreign assistance, for similar reasons. This has largely been reversed.) ¶8. (SBU) USAID's recent Fiduciary Risk Study confirmed that families known to local officials (who are usually EPRDF members) are more likely to receive PSNP support. It is also possible that opposition party members hide their political sentiments in an attempt to avoid repercussions, that they are afraid to voice their concerns to donor monitors, or that politicization is simply not overt. While Post is confident that local officials are not checking voter ID cards when selecting beneficiaries, for example, party affiliation is well known in remote areas and may subtly influence decisions. ¶9. (SBU) Amy Martin, Deputy Director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), told PolOff recently that media coverage of the politicization of food aid is a welcome wake-up call in OCHA's efforts to make donors recognize the problem. Some donor representatives in country have noted that if these reports continue, their governments are likely to take further action, up to and including cutting support for various aid programs. In a statement released on November 18 during a visit to Ethiopia, British International Development Minister Gareth Thomas called on the GoE to investigate allegations of the politicization of food aid, and stated that the UK would make "tough decisions" regarding its foreign assistance if necessary. Comment ------- ¶10. (C) The politicization of humanitarian assistance, including both emergency relief food and distributions made through structured programs such as PSNP, is merely one example of the GoE's utilization of government resources to strengthen support for the ruling party, and should be viewed in the context of all EPRDF preparations for the 2010 elections. While U.S. humanitarian assistance is less vulnerable to GoE manipulation because it is provided through neutral NGOs and structured programs, all assistance is vulnerable. PSNP, which has received much scrutiny of late, is an easy target because of its high visibility, but it is in fact less susceptible to politicization than most aid. ¶11. (C) Closer scrutiny of the potential vulnerability of PSNP and other USG assistance to politicization would carry significant risk. Mission staff (including direct-hire officers, locally engaged staff, and third party consultants) with the most direct access to beneficiaries are of course those whose primary task is distribution of assistance. On the other hand, individuals with whom political staff meet to discuss such issues are commonly visited thereafter by local officials in their homes or offices, or taken by local police to security services offices for questioning about their perceived disloyal activities. Blurring the lines between distribution of assistance and the monitoring of political pressures brought to bear on beneficiaries risks putting the assistance programs themselves in jeopardy from a ruling party that has become confident that its vast patronage system is largely invulnerable. End comment. MEECE
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