In a Dangerous Game of Cat and Mouse, Iran Eyes New Targets in Africa

NYT | Fifteen people arrested in Ethiopia were part of what American and Israeli officials said was a foiled Iranian plot against diplomats from the United Arab Emirates. NAIROBI, Kenya — When Ethiopia’s intelligence agency recently uncovered a cell of 15 people it said were casing the embassy of the United Arab Emirates, along with […]

Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt… the hidden cost of internet blackouts

African Report | Communication technology is a double-edged sword. It can empower people to access and share information globally, or be used as an instrument of political and economic control. While hopes were raised by the Arab Spring a decade ago, the years since have seen multiple internet blackouts in many African countries. In the […]

World Bank questions Ethiopia’s stance in telecoms competition

Capacity | The World Bank has warned the government of Ethiopia not to take measures that hinder the development of telecoms in the country. It is criticising the restriction of digital financial services to Ethiopian firms and nationals and a ruling limiting investment by independent cell tower companies, obliging the new entrants to use the […]

Iran denies plotting to attack UAE embassy in Ethiopia

MEMO | Iran has categorically rejected the allegation contained in a New York Times report that it is planning to attack the UAE Embassy in Addis Ababa. The denial was issued by the Iranian Embassy in the Ethiopian capital. “Neither Ethiopia nor the United Arab Emirates have spoken about Iran’s involvement in these issues,” said […]

Sudan summons home envoy to Ethiopia amid border dispute

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan has summoned its envoy to Ethiopia home for consultations amid a growing border dispute that has seen military buildup along the two countries’ border in recent weeks, an official said Wednesday. Sudan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mansour Boulad did not provide more information about why Ambassador Gamal al-Sheikh was called home. On […]

EU development chief calls for united response on Ethiopia

DevEx | The European Union’s top representative for development aid said Tuesday that the bloc needs to “plan very carefully” when it comes to Ethiopia, as Brussels continues to withhold funding from the government over the conflict in the country’s North. In December, the European Commission postponed €88 million in planned budget support payments, with […]

Ethiopian Politicians in Hunger Strike Urge End to Impasse

Bloomberg | Opposition leaders have gone without food for almost 3 weeks. Oromo Federal Congress leaders facing terrorism charges. Time is “running out” to resolve an impasse with imprisoned Ethiopian opposition leaders who’ve spent almost three weeks without food, according to a lawyer for one of the key figures behind the protest. Media mogul Jawar […]

A humanitarian disaster stares Ethiopia’s Tigray in the face

Hunger stalks region of six million people as federal government’s offensive against rebels enters its fourth month Over a million people could starve if aid is not allowed into conflict zone, says Famine Early Warning Systems Network Arab News | DUBAI: With their few hurriedly packed belongings wrapped tightly in fabric, entire families, many with […]

Ethiopia Thwarts Iranian Plot to Attack UAE Embassy

Source | Iran is seeking to “activate sleeper cells” in Africa in order to attack “soft targets” in an attempt to avenge the killing of top commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike and its top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in 2020, reported The New York Times. When Ethiopia’s intelligence agency recently uncovered a […]

Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict and the battle to control information

Al Jazeera | Warnings about deterioration of press freedom as independent journalists endure harassment, denied access to embattled northern region The eruption of fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray region 100 days ago has pitted journalists wanting to report on the conflict against a government seeking to maintain total narrative control. The government-imposed lockdown of the northern […]