Former Minster Arrested After Court Reinstates Charges
Tegegnework Getu Resigns from National Dialogue Commission
Taye Dendea Arrested After Court Reinstates Charges
Ethiopian government security forces arrested former State Minister of Peace, Taye Dendea, on June 2 in Addis Ababa, following the reinstatement of two charges against him by the Federal Supreme Court. These charges, originally dismissed in August 2024, include disseminating propaganda messages on social media in support of anti-peace forces. Taye is also defending a third charge related to possessing an unauthorized firearm. Since his release from prison in December 2024, Taye has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's administration on social media.
Blockade on Tigray Lifts After Negotiations
Heavy trucks carrying essential goods and fuel are now permitted to cross into Tigray following a blockade at checkpoints in the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions. The blockade was lifted after talks between Tigray Interim Regional Administration (IRA) President Gen. Tadesse Worede and Federal Police Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael. The blockade, initially attributed to alleged contraband activities, was met with strong criticism from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and four opposition parties, which have demanded the Federal Government avoid similar actions in the future. A joint committee will be formed to address and investigate the allegations.
Tegegnework Getu Resigns from National Dialogue Commission
Tegegnework Getu, one of the eleven commissioners of the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission, has resigned, citing the completion of his mandate during the first term of the commission. Despite the commission's extension until 2026, there are currently no plans to appoint a replacement for him. The commission has faced challenges in moving forward, especially in gathering agendas for the planned national dialogue in Tigray, with several opposition parties boycotting the process due to concerns over its lack of inclusivity and transparency.
Party in the Benishangul Gumuz Region Proposes Metekel Zone Reorganization
The opposition Boro Democratic Party in the Benishangul Gumuz region has proposed to the National Dialogue Commission that Metekel zone be reorganized into a federal region. This proposal follows the previous call from Amhara region’s dialogue delegates for Metekel zone to be returned to Amhara, citing its forced annexation to Benishangul Gumuz in the early 1990s. The zone is home to the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa, which has made the region a focal point of political debate.
ONLF Faction Accuses Somali Regional Administration of Inciting Violence
The faction of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) led by Abdirahman Mahadi has accused the Somali regional administration of attempting to incite violence in the Ogaden region. The faction, which has refrained from participating in the National Dialogue Commission, attributed these pressures to the government's failure to respect the 2018 Peace Agreement. The ONLF faction has vowed to challenge the actions of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and reiterated its commitment to the Peace Agreement, provided the government upholds the ceasefire.
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