Ethiopian Orthodox Church Reports Mass Killings in Oromia

Ethiopia’s Central Bank Caps Forex Spread to 2%

• Ethiopia’s Central Bank Caps Forex Spread to 2%
  The central bank has instructed commercial banks to cap the spread between foreign exchange buying and selling rates at 2%, down from the 10% that followed the introduction of the market-based forex regime in July. As a result, the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia's (CBE) selling rate for a U.S. Dollar dropped from 123.65 Birr on Monday to 115.39 Birr on Tuesday. Additionally, banks are required to disclose all forex-related fees and commissions to customers.

• Fano Militia and Government Troops Clash in Woldiya
  Heavy clashes broke out between government troops and the Fano militia in Woldiya town, North Wollo zone, Amhara region, on Sunday night. The militia attacked an army position in the town but withdrew later that night. The number of casualties remains unknown, but restrictions on movement continue in the town. The fighting comes amid renewed military operations by government forces against Fano militants in various parts of the Amhara region.

• Post-War Damage and Needs Assessment Under Review
  The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the World Bank, has completed the draft of a second-round Damage and Needs Assessment on the impact of the 2020-22 war and other conflicts across Ethiopia. The evaluation, conducted between 2022 and 2024, assessed damages to housing, energy, transport, businesses, and public services, as well as the agricultural, industrial, and tourism sectors. The first-round assessment, covering six regions including Tigray, Amhara, and Afar, estimated the total damages at $28.7 billion.

• Ethiopian Orthodox Church Reports Mass Killings in Oromia
  The Ethiopian Orthodox Church reported the killing of 271 of its followers in attacks by armed groups in Sherka and Deju woredas, East Arsi zone, Oromia region, between September 2023 and August 2024. Nearly 500 households were displaced in Deju alone due to ongoing violence. On Tuesday, unidentified gunmen killed an Orthodox clergy member and his wife in Robe woreda of the same zone, further exacerbating the security concerns for the Orthodox community.

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