Addis Abeba– Professor Netsanet Workneh, a specialist in pediatrics and child health at Jimma University, has assumed the role of head of the Oromia Health Bureau, succeeding Dr. Mengistu Bekele, who has taken on a senior position within the Oromia Prosperity Party.

Recognized by the European Union as a “champion for global change” for her leadership at Jimma University, Professor Netsanet has served as the university’s Vice President for Research and Community Service since November 2021.

She holds a PhD in medical research with a focus on international health from the Center for International Health at Ludwig Maximilian University (CIHLMU) in Munich, Germany, and was promoted to full professor in March 2023.

Throughout her career, Professor Netsanet has held key roles, including department head, chairperson of the Institutional Review Board at the Institute of Health, Jimma University, and executive board member of the Oromia Physicians Association. She has also led numerous research projects and published over twenty academic articles. AS

Addis Abeba – Heavy rainfall in the Jikawo district of Ethiopia’s Gambella region has caused the Baro River to overflow, displacing over 20,000 people, according to local authorities. Residents have reported significant damage to homes, crops, and plantations.

Chol Riang, a resident affected by the flooding, highlighted the loss of household items and agricultural assets, adding that many displaced individuals have yet to receive sufficient aid despite being relocated to Kwatangnyang town.

Andriw Tut, head of Jikawo Woreda, told Deutsche Welle (DW) that the river overflowed due to ongoing heavy rains, and those displaced are being sheltered in schools, religious institutions, and offices in Kwatangnyang town.

Gadbel Mun, head of the region’s Disaster Risk Management Office, stated that efforts are underway to assist those affected by the flooding.

This flooding follows a weather advisory from the Ethiopian Meteorology Institute issued on 13 August, warning of potential hazards, including river and flash floods due to anticipated rainfall across several river basins.

In other regions, heavy rains have also caused the Omo River to overflow, displacing 79,000 residents in the Dassenech district of South Omo Zone. Additionally, the Amhara Disaster Prevention and Food Security Commission reported that up to 400,000 people in eight zones and 34 districts across the Amhara region may be at risk of natural disasters this rainy season.

In the Silte Zone, flooding has submerged over 900 houses and displaced more than 6,000 people. Reports indicate that heavy rainfall across multiple kebeles in the Silti and East Silti districts has destroyed over 1,200 hectares of crops, including maize, wheat, mango, papaya, and coffee. AS

Addis Abeba – Germany has announced an additional contribution of €4 million to the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Peace Support Facility (PSF) to support peace-building efforts in Ethiopia’s Afar, Amhara, and Tigray regions.

The PSF, established after the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), aims to stabilize areas affected by the two-year war in Tigray. This latest contribution brings Germany’s total support for the PSF to €14.1 million.

At a signing ceremony at the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, Dr. Ferdinand von Weyhe, Acting Ambassador of Germany, stated, “Germany’s assistance reflects our commitment to helping Ethiopia recover from the impacts of the conflict. Dialogue and mutual trust are essential for overcoming division and fostering stability,” he added, according to a statement from UNDP.

Semereta Sewasew, State Minister for Finance, who attended the signing, highlighted the government’s focus on restoring peace in affected areas. “The restoration of peace and a livable environment remains a top priority for the government,” she stated, acknowledging the importance of Germany’s additional support to ongoing efforts in the region.

UNDP Resident Representative Samuel Doe added, “Germany’s contribution will help scale up efforts to bridge emergency relief with sustainable development in the northern regions.”

The PSF is supported by the governments of Germany and Japan and aligns with the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) nexus, which connects immediate relief with long-term development initiatives. AS

Addis Abeba – Djibouti has proposed that Ethiopia directly manage the Port of Tadjourah, located in the northern part of the country, according to Djibouti’s Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

In an interview with BBC Focus on Africa, Youssouf stated that this offer is part of efforts to ease tensions in the Horn of Africa and ensure Ethiopia’s access to the sea.

Youssouf explained that Djibouti is considering granting Ethiopia control over the Tadjourah Port, located approximately 100 kilometres from the Ethiopian border. He indicated that this proposal aims to address Ethiopia’s challenges regarding sea access and to resolve tensions stemming from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Ethiopia signed with Somaliland, which Somalia opposes.

The proposal, according to Youssouf, involves Ethiopia managing a port in Djibouti’s northern region and potentially using a newly constructed corridor. He noted that Djibouti’s President, Ismail Omar Guelleh, extended this offer, although specific details about the terms were not provided.

Ethiopia has not commented on the proposal. However, Youssouf suggested that the matter could be discussed further at the upcoming China-Africa leaders’ summit, where there may be an opportunity for the leaders of both nations to engage in dialogue.

Ethiopia began utilising the Tadjourah Port about four years ago, according to Djibouti’s Maritime Transport and Logistics Service. The port, built at a cost of $90 million, is seen as strategic for Ethiopia’s plans to export potash, limestone, and iron ore.

Tensions in the Horn of Africa have increased following the signing of an MoU on 01 January between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which grants Ethiopia access to the sea in exchange for its recognition of Somaliland.

The situation has become more complex recently, particularly after reports emerged of Egypt sending military officers and heavy equipment to Somalia as part of a larger deployment, which some sources suggest could involve up to 10,000 Egyptian soldiers.

Ethiopia has expressed concern, warning that it “cannot stand idle while other actors are taking measures to destabilise the region.”

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasised that the transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is “fraught with dangers” and reaffirmed that Ethiopia is closely monitoring developments that could threaten its national security.AS

Addis Abeba – Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) announced that it generated over $25 million in revenue from electricity supplied to companies involved in data mining during the 2023/2024 fiscal year.

Minilik Getahun, Manager of Sales and Customer Management at EEP, stated that this revenue is part of EEP’s efforts to increase foreign currency earnings by selling electricity in U.S. dollars to domestic customers.

Minilik noted that since December 2022, nine companies engaged in data mining have been making payments in U.S. dollars, shifting from the previous practice of billing in Ethiopian Birr.

He also highlighted that EEP initially planned to supply 882.48 gigawatt-hours of electricity to these companies, with the goal of generating $27.71 million. However, due to various operational challenges, the actual supply reached 796.28 gigawatt-hours, resulting in over $25 million in revenue.

Despite falling short of the supply target, Minilik emphasized that the revenue achieved still represented more than 90% of the projected income. AS

Addis Abeba – Thirteen Ethiopian migrants died, and 14 others are missing after a boat capsized off Yemen’s Ta’iz governorate on 20 August, 2024, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported.

The vessel, which departed from Djibouti, was carrying 25 Ethiopian migrants and two Yemeni crew members when it capsized near the Dubab district in the Bani Al-Hakam sub-district, according to IOM reports.

The deceased include 11 men and two women, whose bodies were recovered along the shores of Bab-al-Mandab near Al-Shura in the Dubab district. The IOM stated that the cause of the incident is still unknown, and search efforts are ongoing for the missing passengers, including the Yemeni captain and his assistant.

“This tragedy highlights the ongoing dangers migrants face on this route,” said Matt Huber, IOM’s Acting Chief of Mission in Yemen. Huber stressed the importance of joint efforts to prevent such incidents and protect vulnerable migrants.

This incident is the latest in a series of tragedies involving Ethiopian migrants. In July, a shipwreck off Yemen’s coast resulted in the deaths of 12 Ethiopian migrants, with four others missing. In June, another boat capsized off the Yemeni coast, leading to 38 deaths and around 100 people unaccounted for. AS