Ethiopian Parliament Scraps Article on Immunity for Undercover Investigators
US Embassy Announces Shift in Humanitarian Aid Oversight
Ethiopian Parliament Scraps Article on Immunity for Undercover Investigators
Ethiopia's Federal Parliament has removed a contentious article from a Bill that granted undercover crime investigators immunity from prosecution for crimes committed during investigations, excluding killings. This move follows concerns raised by MPs who argued that the provision could be misused to restrict the rights of journalists, opposition figures, and human rights defenders. The Bill, which was passed last month, had initially faced opposition due to its potential negative implications on human rights. The authorities had denied that the Bill would be used to curtail the rights of certain groups.
Revised Election and Political Parties Registration Bill
The Ethiopian government has prepared a revised Election and Political Parties Registration Bill, granting the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) increased authority to deregister political parties. Under the revised bill, NEBE can ban political parties suspected of fostering mistrust or conflict between ethnic communities or obstructing the lawful activities of other parties. The government revised the existing bill to close legal loopholes and improve the electoral process. The revised bill was submitted to the Federal Parliament on June 4, 2025.
Tigray Democratic Solidarity Party Calls for Action Against TPLF
The opposition Tigray Democratic Solidarity Party, led by Getachew Reda, former president of the Tigray Regional Interim Administration (IRA), has called on the Federal Government to take decisive action against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The party accused the TPLF of collaborating with the Eritrean government to destabilize Tigray and Ethiopia as a whole. The Tigray Democratic Solidarity Party, which is preliminary registered by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), emphasized that the TPLF is responsible for any instability in the region and urged regional security forces to dissociate from the party.
Tigray IRA President Calls for Peaceful Engagement
Gen Tadesse Worede, President of the Tigray Regional Interim Administration (IRA), cautioned against making erroneous conclusions or assumptions that could lead to war. Speaking at a martyrs' memorial event, Gen Tadesse assured the public that Tigray will not provoke or engage in war, and proposed peaceful engagement with armed groups operating in the neighbouring Afar region that seek to topple the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael, however, accused the Federal Government of threatening Tigray with another round of war.
US Embassy Announces Shift in Humanitarian Aid Oversight
The U.S. embassy in Ethiopia confirmed that, as of July 1, 2025, the U.S. State Department will assume oversight of humanitarian aid, global health, and food security operations, previously managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The State Department will now oversee key functions related to bilateral assistance agreements with the Ethiopian government. U.S. envoy Ervin Massinga also stated that 89% of previously programmed humanitarian aid to Ethiopia will resume.
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