Federal Parliament Passes Controversial Education Bill
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to Visit Addis Ababa
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to Visit Addis Ababa
Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is scheduled to visit Addis Ababa from February 8 to 9. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance has announced that Georgieva will meet with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other senior government officials during her visit. She will also hold discussions with representatives from the private sector. This visit follows the IMF’s approval of Ethiopia’s second review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), with a $248 million disbursement on January 29.
Birhanu Adelo Appointed New Chief Commissioner of EHRC
Ethiopia’s Federal Parliament has appointed Birhanu Adelo as the new Chief Commissioner of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Birhanu, a law graduate, previously served as Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Director General of the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office. He succeeds Daniel Bekele, an experienced international human rights advocate, who completed his first term in July 2024. The position of Chief Commissioner requires the individual to be politically independent, as stipulated by the law establishing the rights body.
Federal Parliament Passes Controversial Education Bill
Ethiopia’s Federal Parliament has passed a controversial education bill mandating that an additional federal working language be taught as a subject in schools from grade 3 to grade 10. The bill, which is expected to be enshrined in the federal constitution, allows the selection of an additional federal language, considering the interests of parents and students. The bill has sparked opposition from some MPs, who argue that it violates the constitution, which currently recognizes only Amharic as the federal working language. The proposal to recognize up to four additional languages, including Oromiffa and Somali, as federal languages is also under discussion, with these languages being part of the agenda for the upcoming national dialogue.
Tana Beles Sugar Factory Lays Off 600 Workers Amid Operational Challenges
State-owned Tana Beles Sugar Factory, located in Awi zone of Amhara region, has laid off over 600 workers, including senior technicians, amid ongoing operational difficulties. Many of the factory's technical staff have been reassigned to other state-owned sugar factories in Oromia region, such as Wonji and Metehara, while several non-technical workers have been let go. The factory has been non-operational for several months due to a lack of maintenance and theft from its power station. In 2022, the government attempted to sell the factory as part of a broader divestment plan for eight state-owned sugar factories, but the tender was cancelled due to a lack of interested buyers.
Reverend Belay Mekonnen Sentenced for Bank Fraud
Ethiopia's Federal Court has sentenced Reverend Belay Mekonnen, a senior clergyman of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, to five years in prison for bank fraud. In 2024, Reverend Belay and four accomplices attempted to withdraw over $6 million from the African Union's account at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa using fraudulent payment orders. The court found the defendants guilty of engaging in a coordinated criminal scheme. Two other co-defendants were sentenced to three years in prison.
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