Ethiopian Healthcare Workers Begin Nationwide Strike
Getachew Reda Accuses Tigray Security Forces Leaders of Corruption and Criminal Activities
Ethiopian Healthcare Workers Begin Nationwide Strike Over Pay and Working Conditions
Ethiopian medical and healthcare workers across the country, including those at the largest Tikur Anbessa Referral Hospital in Addis Ababa, began a partial nationwide strike on May 13. The workers are demanding better pay and improved working conditions. On the eve of the strike, Minister of Health, Dr. Mekides Daba, revealed that the government plans to significantly increase the healthcare sector's budget in the 2025/26 fiscal year. Despite the increase, the healthcare sector was allocated 33.9 billion birr out of the 971 billion birr federal budget for the current fiscal year, making it only the fifth-largest allocation after debt repayment, defense, education, and road construction.
Ethiopian Authorities Deploy Security Forces Amid Healthcare Workers' Strike
In response to the ongoing partial strike by healthcare workers, Ethiopian authorities have deployed security forces in several public hospitals. The Ethiopian Health Professionals Association has accused the authorities of intimidating healthcare workers and called for the immediate release of all detained workers exercising their rights. Some hospitals have threatened disciplinary action if workers do not return to their posts by Tuesday.
Getachew Reda Accuses Tigray Security Forces Leaders of Corruption and Criminal Activities
Former Tigray Interim Regional Administration (IRA) President Getachew Reda has accused several top leaders of the regional security forces, including Brigadier Gen. Migbey Haile, Gen. Haileselassie Girmay, and Colonel Tewolde Gebretensay, of illegal activities such as gold mining, human smuggling, and embezzlement of funds from state banks. Getachew claims that Brigadier Gen. Haileselassie alone embezzled 1 billion birr from commercial banks in Kombolcha, Amhara region, during the northern war. He also implicated Colonel Tewolde in human smuggling and extortion involving Eritrean nationals. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Tigray Interim Regional Administration (IRA) have yet to comment on the allegations.
Ethiopia Signs $1.6 Billion in Investment Deals at High-Level Business Forum
Ethiopia signed five major investment deals totaling $1.6 billion at the conclusion of the Invest in Ethiopia High-Level Business Forum 2025 held in Addis Ababa. The largest deal, worth $600 million, is a coal mining project by Sequa Mining and Processing PLC, a joint venture between Chinese and Ethiopian companies. Huawei Mining Processing Company Limited also signed a $500 million investment agreement to invest in mineral exploration and the development of a special economic zone for the mining sector. Additionally, Hanergy New Energy Technology Company Limited, in partnership with Jandu, committed to investing $360 million to build a solar cell manufacturing plant in Ethiopia.
Tanzanian Authorities Arrest 30 Undocumented Ethiopian Migrants
Tanzanian authorities have arrested 30 undocumented Ethiopian nationals hiding on a maize farm near Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania. The Ethiopians, who were reportedly attempting to travel to South Africa with the help of human smugglers in search of better job opportunities, are set to appear in court for illegally entering the country.
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