Ethiopian Citizen

TPLF militia who fled into Sudan as a refugee says the youth weren't allowed to leave Tigray and that they were told they had to defend Tigray. While speaking to Vice journalist, this former TPLF militiaman was covering his face fearing attacks from those around him. Sudanese farmers also witnessed armed men who spoke the Tigrigna language entering Sudan as refugees.  

Agitu receiving award Cheese Award from SlowFood, 2015 (Picture: SlowFood) Addis Ababa, December 30, 2020 - An Ethiopian woman who has become a symbol of entrepreneurship and integration in Italy has been killed by her assistant for cash.  Agitu Gudeta, 42, was murdered by her aide Adams Suleimani, a 32-year-old Ghanaian, who has confessed to the crime. He was arrested by police overnight. Gudeta had become a prominent member of the local community in the northern region of Trentino. She was allegedly raped while she was dying, police said Suleimani had also confessed, reported ANSA. Agitu Gudeta was from Addis Abeba. And after attending university in Italy studying Sociology in Rome and then in Trento, she returned to her home country, Ethiopia, to work in the rural areas. In 2010, however, she was forced to flee. She want back to Trentino, Italy, where she reclaimed 11 hectares of abandoned land in the San Felice Valley, in Trentino, northeastern Italy, and started rearing 50 la

  On the Right Atinkut Shitu, Metekel Zone Administrator leading a meeting with with ENDF and Federal Police Addis Ababa, December 29, 2020 - Two senior officials of Benishangul Gumuz region were arrested today in connection with the killing in Metekel Zone, according to reports from Benishangul Gumuz Communications Office. Inspector Misgana Enjifata, Benishangul Gumuz region Police Deputy Commissioner (Picture: BG Communications) The two senior officials were Metekel Zone Administrator, Atinkut Shitu, and Benishangul Gumuz region Police Deputy Commissioner Inspector Misgana Enjifata.  The arrest comes after the Benishangul Gumuz Regional State Council met today and voted unanimously to revoke the immunity of four members of the council who were suspected of involvement in Metekel incident and vowed to hold any official involved to account. Although the four members of the regional council were arrested a week ago, their immunity was revoked today during the 5th year, 6th round eme

  Scene of an abandoned bomb explosion that killed three, December 20, 2020 (Picture: Addis Aababa Police) Addis Ababa, December 29, 2020 -  Yet another abandoned bomb explodes near Derartu Tulu School, Akaki Kality Sub City, Addis Ababa, kills a 5 year old boy and injures another 8 year old boy, said Addis Ababa Police Commission. The two children were playing with the abandoned bomb when it exploded said police. The explosion took place this afternoon at around 2:30 PM.   On December 20, 2020, similar deserted bomb exploded in Lideta area killing three street children and inuring five. And on December 02, 2020, an abandoned bomb exploded while being diffused by police injuring one person. A similar incident also took place on November 11, 2020, where one person was inured.   Scene of an abandoned bomb explosion that killed three, December 20, 2020 (Picture: Addis Aababa Police) Police have warned that due to the rise of abandoned bombs injuring innocents, citizens should be cautio

  Lieutenant General Asrat Denero, Army Chief for Intelligence (Picture: FDRE Defense Forces) Addis Ababa, December 28, 2020 - Lieutenant General Asrat Denero, Army Chief for Intelligence, announced that a task force set up by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will now take over the security of the embattled Metekel Zone of Benishangul Gumuz region. According to reports from the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), the task force which is comprised of senior government officials and top military leaders has already began its work to ensure rule of law in the region. Lieutenant General Asrat Denero, who is heading the task force, said that the hunt for culprits of the recent attacks on civilians is already under way and that they will be brought to justice soon. He also said that the task force will work to ensure those the rehabilitation of those who are displaced and will also ensure the return of normalcy in the conflict ridden area. "Discussion are underway with community members and leaders a

  Addis Ababa, December 28, 2020 -  Somali regional state have accused Afar region Liyu (Special) Police and Afar armed rebels for ethnically targeted killing of civilian Somalis in Dan Lahalay, Sitti Zone, Somali regional state. The Somali regional state communication announced on its facebook page that scores of Somalis were killed by heavily armed Afar Special Police and militants which it says were previously armed by the now defunct TPLF. "Although the local pastoralists tried to defend themselves assuming that the conflict was similar to previous tribal conflicts, they were met with TPLF factions, Afar rebels and Afar Special Police who joined forces and arrived heavily armed. They then inflicted heavy civilian casualities", says the statement released by Somali region's Communication Office. Somali Regional State, Ethiopia   "The destructive group has repeatedly launched attacks coming from Afar region and killing innocent civilians.", said the statement.

  Abdel-Rahman Nour-el-Daem al-Tom, Governor of Blue Nile State, Sudan (Picture: Sudan News Agency) Addis Ababa, December 27, 2020 - Abdel-Rahman Nour-el-Daem al-Tom, Governor of Blue Nile State, Sudan, was killed in car accident today while heading to Khartoum for an official visit, according to the Sudan News Agency. His vehicle crashed near the Wad Madani city, 135 kilometers from Khartoum. Vehicle carrying the governor that crashed near Wad Madani (Picture: Sudan News Agency)     According to reports from police , the vehicle overturned when the driver attempted to avoid hitting a child on the road. The driver, the governor's bodyguard and two of his relatives survived the accident with an injury, said police. Left: Abdel-Rahman Nour-el-Daem al-Tom and Ashadli Hassan (Picture: Ethiopian News Agency) It was to be recalled that on December 03, 2020, Governor of Blue Nile State, Abdel-Rahman Nour-el-Daem al-Tom, arrived in Ethiopia and met with the President of the struggling Ben

  Addis Ababa, December 26, 2020 - Today at noon half of Ethiopia was under blackout for about 30 minutes due to two men illegally extending electric power above and over the 400 kilo-volt main grid that runs from Sokoru to Gilgel Gibe 2 hydro power station, according to the Ethiopian Electric Power company. The two men were said to have "borrowed" electric power from their neighbors which they attempted to bypass over the 400 kilo-volt main grid leading the power lines to come in contact and hence the blackout. In addition, a fire that broke out as a result of the power line contact damaged one house along with a farm that was ready for harvest. Farm damaged as a result of fire that broke out from power line contact (Picture: Ethiopian Electric Power)  The community was able to control the fire while police arrested the two culprits. The Gilgel Gibe 2 hydro power project is situated on the Omo river 250 km south-west of the capital Addis Ababa. Inaugurated in 2010, Gibe 2 ha

Addis Ababa, December 26, 2020 - The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has confirmed that over 207 civilians were gruesomely slaughtered in Bekuji Kebele, Bulen Woreda, Metekel Zone of Benishangul Gumuz. On the attack that took place on the night of December 22, 2020, 17 children including a six month old baby were killed among the 207 that were slaughtered by Gumuz armed group. The Ethiopian rights group said it corroborated the account of the attack from residents of Bulen town, survivors, witnesses and from first aid volunteers. It said it was able to identify the victims with their national identification cards and from witnesses who recognize them.  It also said there are over 10,000 residents who fled from their village and are sheltering in Bulen town.  "Bulen town is flooded. All roads leading to the town are filled with people and their cattle fleeing from the attackers." said one witness to EHRC. Ashadli Hassan, President of Benishangul Gumuz region, said tha

Dr. Tedros (center) during TPLF executive committee meeting Addis Ababa, December 14, 2020 -   David Steinman, an American economist nominated for Nobel Peace prize in 2019, called for the prosecution of Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), for backing genocide in Ethiopia. Steinman filed a criminal complaint on December 01, 2020, with the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor charging the chief of the WHO with "responsibility for genocide and crimes against humanity" while he was one of the top Ethiopian official before leaving to lead the WHO. Dr. Tedros was the Minister of Health from 2005 to 2012 and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia from 2012 to 2016 and a member of the now defunct Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) Executive Committee which controlled Ethiopian federal government until its retreat to Tigray region in 2018. The ICC complaint , which refers to firsthand witnesses and evidence, asserts that: 1. Dr. Ted

  Addis Ababa, December 14, 2020 - Over 25,000 fake news published on Twitter each day during Tigray conflict said Kefyalew Tefera, Deputy Director of Ethiopia's Information Network Security Agency (INSA). These fabricated stories were being produced and spread by TPLF's social media operatives, according to the Deputy Director. "The operative was organized under the guise of 'Digital Woyane' with different individuals operating on Twitter with Oromo, Amhara and Tigrayan account names. Each of these individuals would steer fake and hate speeches on another making it appear as if there is there is ethnic tension between the three dominant ethnic groups in Ethiopia", said the Kefyalew Tefera. He also said that the "Digital Woyane" group included foreigners who had previous relationship with the TPLF group. These groups were said to have spread the false information that the federal government's law enforcement operation was an "invasion on Tig

Addis Ababa, December 14, 2020 - CCTV footage shows TPLF men disabling Ethio Telecom network causing communication blackout in Tigray region.

   Addis Ababa, December 14, 2020 - The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority announced the reinstatement of the air route in Tigray regional state as of today, December 14, 2020, starting 2PM.  The civil aviation authority said that the lift comes amid the "successful" accomplishment of "law enforcement mission" by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF). On the 4th of November 2020 Ethiopia, civil aviation notified the closure of the international and domestic flying routes which crosses Ethiopian northern air space and notified all states through Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). It also announced the closure of air space of the Tigray region for any flight and said that no flight was expected to violate this notification.   The TPLF rebel group had also announced on the same day the banning of flights on Tigray region airspace.  

  Addis Ababa, December 07, 2020 - TPLF social media operatives have been taking advantage of children's makeup artwork to produce fake news.    

    Addis Ababa, December 02, 2020 - Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held discussions on Election 2021 with political parties and civil society organizations at the presence of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). "We reached an understanding on ways to ensure the 2021 elections are democratic. I shared the federal government's unwavering effort to lay the foundation for free and fair elections in Ethiopia." said PM Abiy Ahmed on his twitter page.   The discussions involved identifying the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders and an overview of the electoral systems.  Participants of the discussions warned that maintaining the rule of law should be a priority before preceding to elections. They also advised the establishment of code of conduct and identifying election observers. NEBE announced a draft schedule for the 6th round elections on November 02, 2020. Accordingly, it said voter registration will take place on the first week of February 2021 up unt

  Addis Ababa, December 02, 2020 - A bomb was discovered in a garbage pit at Bole Michael area, Gorgorios square, Addis Ababa, this morning at 7:30AM. According to reports from Addis Ababa Police Commission , the bomb exploded while being diffused by professionals. "And a debris from the explosion landed on a man working in a garage nearby and got into a minor injury", said police. "He had received treatment and has returned home. Other than that there were no reported casualties or injuries", they added.  Bole Michael area closed, Addis Ababa (Picture: Social Media) In addition, Addis Ababa Police also reported that they have diffused another bomb hidden around the neighborhood called Gurd Shola, near St. Yared Hospital, Addis Ababa. The police called on citizens to be vigilant of suspicious activities and be cooperative as usual to inform the police of any such acts. The police fear that due to TPLF's numbered days, its die hard members could cause damage in d

  Addis Ababa, December 01, 2020 - The Sudanese army arrested a senior TPLF militia leader fighting inside the Sudanese borders. According to reports from the Sudan Tribune , he was accompanied by his family members with a "considerable amount of money and gold". According to sources close to the Sudan Tribune on Monday, November 30, 2020, the "military intelligence of the 2nd Infantry Division in Gedaref had spotted the militia commander, accompanied by dozens of soldiers and his personal protection team, along with his family in the Allaw border area in Al-Fashaqa locality". It was also reported that this group managed to grab land more than the size of Addis Ababa, more than 600 square kilometers, from Sudanese farmers. These lands belonged to Sudanese farmers and herders in the areas of Majaj, Allaw and Allakdi where the TPLF militia inflicted widespread terror operations on villagers, according to the Sudan Tribune. It further said that the Sudanese forces