Ethiopia and Somalia Strengthen Bilateral Relations in Recent Talks
Opposition Parties Condemn Deadly Drone Attack in Amhara Region
Ethiopia and Somalia Strengthen Bilateral Relations in Recent Talks
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud agreed to enhance bilateral relations during a meeting in Mogadishu on February 27. The two leaders hailed the recent Status of Forces (SoF) agreement between their military chiefs as a significant step toward improved security cooperation and regional stability. They also reaffirmed their commitment to fostering stronger diplomatic, economic, and social ties. The leaders highlighted the beginning of technical talks on implementing the Ankara Declaration, which was initiated in Turkey the previous week. Strategic infrastructure projects were also discussed to promote economic integration, sustainable development, and people-to-people connections.
Opposition Parties Condemn Deadly Drone Attack in Amhara Region
Four opposition parties—Enat Party, All Ethiopian Unity Party, Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party, and Amhara Ghionawi Movement—have strongly condemned the recent drone strike in Goncha Siso Anese district, East Gojjam zone, Amhara region, which resulted in the deaths of 16 civilians. The attack also left 11 others injured. The parties have labeled the attack as a form of state-sponsored terrorism and criticized the government for allegedly forcing the military to commit war crimes, including arbitrary killings and enforced disappearances. The opposition parties have called on politicians, religious leaders, human rights defenders, and the international community to condemn the drone strikes.
Kenya and Ethiopia Collaborate in Search for Missing Turkana Fishermen
Ethiopian authorities have granted Kenyan rescue teams permission to search for missing Kenyan nationals after an armed raid by Ethiopia's Dassenech community in Kenya’s Turkana County, near Lake Turkana, last week. On February 22, Kenyan rescue teams recovered two bodies from Ethiopia's territory near the site of the attack. Over 20 fishermen from the Turkana community have been missing since the raid. The two countries' officials have since met to restore calm in the area. The attack came after Turkana gunmen, allegedly supported by Kenyan authorities, crossed the border and killed several people in the Dassenech district.
Tigray Chamber of Commerce Appeals for Government Intervention in Business Debt Crisis
The Tigray Chamber of Commerce has petitioned Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to intervene in rescuing businesses in the region, which have accumulated massive debts due to the 2020-22 war. The chamber reported that the debt, including interest and penalties, has skyrocketed from 32 billion birr before the war to over 75 billion birr (approximately $600 million). The chamber warned of potential socioeconomic crises if the government does not intervene to address the issue. Since the 2022 Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), businesses have been seeking government support to cancel these debts. Recently, the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) directed banks to extend the debt repayment deadline by another year.
Ethiopia and World Bank Group Sign $60 Million Grant to Support Women’s Health
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance and the World Bank Group have signed a $60 million grant agreement to support women's and girls' health through the climate-resilient INSPIRER project. The initiative aims to benefit 15 million women and girls in drought-prone and conflict-affected areas, including regions like Afar, Somali, and Gambella. The project will focus on strengthening health systems and providing enhanced responses to the climate impacts and health challenges facing these vulnerable groups. The agreement was signed by Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide and Maryam Salim, Division Director for Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and South Sudan at the World Bank Group.
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