April 2012

On May 1, 2012, Eskinder Nega, Ethiopia’s foremost journalist and political prisoner, will be awarded the “Freedom to Write Award”, the highest honor given out by Pen America, one of the great international free press institutions that has been in continuous operation since 1922. The award honors writers throughout the world who have fought courageously […]

By AFP ADDIS ABABA: Gunmen have killed five people, including one Pakistani, and injured eight others in an attack in Gambella in western Ethiopia, a government spokesman said Sunday. “Four people — one Pakistani and four Ethiopians — have died… Of those who sustained injuries, four are Pakistani and four are Ethiopians,” spokesman Shimeles Kemal

(AP) ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — An official says gunmen attacked a commercial farm in Ethiopia’s western Gambella region and killed five workers. Government spokesman Shimeles Kemal said Sunday that the attackers wounded nine people as they shot indiscriminately late Saturday at workers on the vast farm. The property is owned by Mohammed Al-Amoudi, an Ethiopian-born

STATEMENT by General Kamal Galchuu Massacre by Wayyanne’s federal police at Asasa, Arsi Zone, Oromia is Wayyanne’s continuation of war against Oromo people The Oromo Liberation front shockingly learned that the Melese Zenewi’s Federal police massacred innocent Oromo people in Asasa while they were attending Friday pray. We recall a week ago that Meles Zenewi

By Jenny Vaughan (AFP) SHASHEMENE, Ethiopia — A ceremonial fire burns as dreadlocked Rastafarians sway to drum beats, chanting “Haile I! Selassie I!” in praise of the former Ethiopian emperor whom they uphold as God incarnate. Marijuana smoke rises from the crowd, decked out in their trademark red, gold and green — also the colours

  Arrivals continue to cite insecurity inside Somalia while some refugees say they fled in fear of possible forced recruitment or military conscription NAIROBI (Xinhua) — The UN refugee agency said on Friday that heavy rains have hit Somali refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, damaging tents, flooding roads and affecting aid delivery. The UN

by Samuel Getachew The Huffington Post A noted blogger was once asked to describe music by a certain Ethiopian musician after hearing it for the first time. He explained his first reaction as feeling as if he [had] died and returned from the dead. He said it took him on a journey of “deep bass,

Meles Zenawi’s Fedeal Police troops opened fire and killed several Muslims in the town of Asasa, Arsi Zone, Oromia Region today, according to local sources. An eye witness told that he saw three dead bodies lying on the street. The troops fired live bullets at the Muslims who were attending a Friday prayer. Asasa town

ADDIS ABABA, (IRIN) – A lack of awareness of the importance of skilled hospital deliveries in Ethiopia, cultural beliefs, and transport challenges in rural areas are causing a high number of deaths during childbirth, say officials. Only 10 percent of deliveries take place within health facilities, according to the Ethiopia’s latest (April) Demographic Health Survey

The government of Eritrea is denying opposition reports that President Isaias Afewerki is seriously ill. In an interview with VOA on Monday, Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu said the president is “healthier than ever.” One media report claimed President Afewerki was in Kuwait for medical treatment. The government spokesman said the Eritrean leader toured three