Year: 2014
- Africa
Plunder of timber and fisheries is holding Africa back – Kofi Annan
Africa's rich natural resources offer a unique opportunity for a breakthrough in improving the lives of Africa's citizens, says a major new report launched today by Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary-General, but too often these resources are plundered by corrupt officials and foreign investors. Rising inequalityis also blocking Africa from seizing that opportunity, the report shows. The 2014…
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South Sudan President Salva Kiir and rival Riek Machar to meet in Addis Abeba
The IGAD Special Envoys to the South Sudan Mediation Process announce that H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) and Dr. Riek Machar, Former Vice President-turned-rebel-leader are set to meet in Addis Abeba on Friday, May 9th 2014. This will mark the first face-to-face meeting between President Kiir and rebel leader Machar since the…
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Police given ten more days to investigate Ethiopian journalists, bloggers under custody
Mahlet Fasil A court in Addis Abeba today granted the police investigating the case of three independent journalists and six bloggers ten more days before the next hearing. According to defense lawyer Amha Meokonnen, the police have submitted an application for no-bail at the Arada First Instance Court, First Bench claiming the investigation was a serious matter. No charges were…
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President of Chamber of Commerce declines running for second term
“I believe my candidacy won’t be as much effective as leaving the Chamber [now]”: Mulu Solomon Kiram Tadesse Mulu Solomon, the first female President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, says she will not stand for the second term in the upcoming presidential election of the Chamber scheduled to take place tomorrow. In an exclusive interview with…
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EU concerned over Ethiopia’s recent arrests of journalists, bloggers and opposition party members
A statement from the European External Action Service (EEAS), EU’s Foreign & Security Policy Service led by Catherine Ashton (pictured), said the EU was “concerned about the recent arrests of bloggers, journalists and opposition members.” The EU reiterates the importance of “protecting space for genuine political dialogue and creating an environment in which divergent voices from all parts of…
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It is very simple: respect the constitution
From the print edition Once again Ethiopia is in the headlines.It is not for its dazzling double digit economic growth, nor for its once familiar tale of famine and poverty that it tries so hard to leave behind, or not even for two consecutive mega state visits by the US Secretary of State John Kerry and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang;…
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Addis Abeba’s proposed Master Plan sparks nationwide university students’ protest
Kalkidan Yibeltal Protests against the new Addis Ababa and Oromia Integrated Development Master Plan proposed by the Addis Ababa City Administration sparked a nationwide deadly protest by university students inside several universities located in Oromia regional state, the country’s largest stat. Protests have gone dire as Oromo students who protested the new integrated master plan clashed with the police. According…
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Algeria’s dying dictatorship
Amel Boubekeur ALGIERS – Despite his failing health, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika won a fourth term last month, with 81% of the vote – or so the regime claimed. In fact, far from signaling growing political stability, the 77-year-old incumbent’s sham victory underscores just how few options Algerians have to effect change from within the system. Under Bouteflika’s leadership,…
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Corrected Update: Police requests court in Addis Ababa for group of bloggers, journalists to remain in custody
Detainees not seen by friends, family members so far Mahlet Fasil The police have requested a court in Addis Abeba for a group of six bloggers writing for Zone9 and three journalists detained by security forces on Friday April 25th and Saturday April 26th to remain in custody until further investigations were conducted. Friends of the detainees were…
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