VOA News

BY Selah Hennessy

July 23, 2013

LONDON — Two new reports published this month say sustainable development in Ethiopia is impossible without a specific focus on human rights. The reports say donor countries should bear responsibility for ensuring their aid money is not used to fuel abuse.

Ethiopia receives billions of dollars in international aid every year. It is money that is used to help improve basic services like access to health and education.

But human-rights campaigners say there also is widespread abuse that takes place in Africa’s second most populous country. And they say donors need to face up to what role their aid money might play in fueling that abuse.

Leslie Lefkow, the deputy director for Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division, said, “The Ethiopian government is resettling large numbers of pastoralists and semi-pastoralist communities in the name of better services. But often this resettlement process is accompanied by very serious abuses.”

Human rights groups say so-called “villagization” has been marred by violence, including rapes and beatings, and people are often forced to leave their homes against their will. They also say the new villages lack adequate food, farmland, healthcare and education facilities.

Lefkow said the World Bank is turning a blind eye. “In Ethiopia you have several years’ worth of rising concerns of human rights and yet you do not really see that being absorbed in the monitoring and in the practice of donors across the spectrum, so not just the World Bank,” she said.

The World Bank is the world’s top aid donor, with a $30 billion annual budget.

Right now the World Bank is undergoing a review of its safeguard policies, a process that began last year.

Human Rights Watch, a New York-based campaign group, says now is the time for it to commit to respecting and protecting human rights.

“Unlike some of the other international financial institutions, the European development bank and the African development bank, for example, is looking at reviewing some of its policies and explicitly committing to human rights, but the World Bank does not have that, even on paper.”

Another group, the U.S.-based Oakland Institute, published a report last week highlighting donor countries’ roles in alleged Ethiopian abuse.

It said Britain and the United States have ignored abuses taking place in the Omo Valley as the government forces tens of thousands of people from their land.

Executive Director Anuradha Mittal of the Oakland Institute, an independent policy think tank, says forced evictions are taking place in order to make way for commercial farming and a major new dam. She says money from donor countries supports the new projects.

“There is also support for infrastructure projects such as power lines and the rest, which are linked to the large dams that have been built, for instance, the dam in Lower Omo, which has been built to provide irrigation and electricity to the investors,” she said.

The Ethiopian government says sugar plantations in the region and the new dam, which will be Africa’s largest, are key to bringing energy and development to the country. VOA contacted the government for a reaction on the Oakland Institute report, but did not get a response.

Britain’s Department for International Development says its assistance in Ethiopia helps millions.
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NPR

By Gregory Warner

As we reported during Coffee Week in April, coffee aficionados pay top dollar for single-origin roasts.

The professional prospectors working for specialty coffee companies will travel far and wide, Marco Polo-style, to discover that next champion bean.

But to the farmers who hope to be that next great discovery, the emergence of this new coffee aristocracy is less Marco Polo, more Cinderella: How do you get your coffee bean to the ball?

Consider this tale of impoverished Ethiopian coffee growers whose beans once sold for rock bottom prices:

The yellowed highlands around the city of Jimma in Ethiopia are where coffee was discovered in the 8th century. But by the end of the 20th century, its reputation had become as shaky as a car ride on its mountain roads.

Read more at NPR.

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Reuters Africa

By Crispian Balmer

Egypt said on Saturday it was highly concerned that Ethiopia had not responded to an invitation to discuss a dispute over a giant dam that Ethiopia plans to build on the river Nile.

“Egypt is deeply worried that Ethiopia has not yet reacted to the invitation Egypt’s minister of water and irrigation made to conduct a meeting in Cairo on the consequences of the dam,” a statement issued by the foreign ministry said.

Egypt fears the dam will reduce water flows vital for its 84 million people.

Recently ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi said last month that “all options” were open in dealing with the issue, prompting Ethiopia to say it was ready to defend its $4.7 billion dam, set to be built near its border with Sudan.

The foreign ministry statement, issued just days after an interim cabinet was sworn into office in Cairo, shows the dam issue is a major priority for the new government.

Read more at Reuters.
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Related:
Morsi Family Accuses Egyptian Army of Abduction (VOA)
Egypt Calls on Ethiopia to Seek Solution on Nile Water Sharing (Bloomberg)

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The New York Times

By MARK LANDLER and MICHAEL D. SHEAR

WASHINGTON — President Obama, making a surprise appearance on Friday in the White House briefing room to address the verdict in the Trayvon Martin killing, spoke in personal terms about the experience of being a black man in the United States, trying to put the case in the perspective of African-Americans. They were Mr. Obama’s most extensive comments on race since 2008, and his most extensive as president.

Read more at The New York Times.

Watch: Video of Obama’s Complete Remarks on Race (July 19, 2013)

VOA News

July 19, 2013

President Barack Obama has called on Americans to do some “soul-searching” in response to the not guilty verdict in the trial of a man who shot an unarmed African-American teenager to death.

In a surprise appearance Friday before reporters at the White House, Obama said he is considering steps the nation might take to help it move in a positive direction in the wake of the racially charged case.

The teen, Trayvon Martin, was killed in February of last year after a struggle with a Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman. Zimmerman was acquitted this month of murder charges.

The acquittal has spawned protests across the country, and the Justice Department is reviewing whether federal charges should be brought against Zimmerman.

The president said when thinking about the pain involved, it is important to recognize that the African-American community is looking at the issue through a set of experiences and a “history that doesn’t go away.”

Obama noted that when the shooting happened, he said Trayvon could have been his son. He said Friday another way of saying that is that Trayvon Martin could have been him, 35 years ago.

“There are very few African-American men in this country who haven’t had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me,” said Obama. “There are very few African-American men who haven’t had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happen[ed] to me, at least before I was a senator. There are very few African Americans who haven’t had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off. That happens often. And I don’t want to exaggerate this, but those sets of experiences inform how the African-American community interprets what happened one night in Florida.”

The president said he is looking into ways to examine state and local laws to see if they encourage confrontations like the one in Florida. He said it also would be productive for federal, state and local governments to work with law enforcement on training to address racial profiling and reduce mistrust in the system.

He said the nation needs to think about how to bolster and reinforce African-American boys, who, he said, are disproportionately victims and perpetrators of violence. He said they need help to feel they are a full part of society and have pathways to success.

Obama said families, churches and workplaces might be the best places for honest discussions on race, but he said it is not particularly productive to have politicians lead those talks. He also encouraged individuals to ask themselves if they doing their best to eliminate bias in themselves.

Quoting deceased anti-discrimination leader Martin Luther King, he said Americans should judge one another not on the color of their skin, but on the content of their character.

Obama, the first black American president, also noted positive changes in the country, saying he does not want the nation to lose sight of the fact that “things are getting better.”

Describing his own daughters and their interactions with friends, he said, “They’re better than we are. They’re better than we were.”
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Reuters

July 16, 2013

LONDON — British investigators said on Tuesday a transmitter made by U.S. firm Honeywell was one of several components that may have caused a fire on a Boeing Dreamliner in London last week.

“We can confirm that Honeywell have been invited to join the investigation,” a spokesman for Britain’s Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) said on Tuesday.

“The emergency locator transmitter [ELT] is one [of] several components being looked at in detail as part of the investigation and it would be premature to speculate on the causes of the incident at this stage.”

Britain’s AAIB is leading the probe into a blaze on an Ethiopian Airlines jet that broke out last Friday and has already allayed fears about a return of problems with overheating batteries that grounded the Dreamliner for months earlier this year.

A source familiar with the probe told Reuters on Monday that investigators were now looking into whether the fire, which occurred at London’s Heathrow airport, was caused by the battery of an ELT built by Honeywell.

Honeywell said at that point only that it had joined the investigation into the fire, declining to discuss details beyond saying it had no previous experience of difficulties with this type of transmitter. The company’s British spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

The ELT, which is positioned in the upper rear part of the new airline, sends a signal that leads rescuers to downed aircraft. It is powered by a non-rechargeable lithium-manganese battery.

The AAIB, which is leading the probe into the fire, said on Saturday it found no evidence the fire was caused by the lithium-ion batteries that were implicated in the 787’s grounding earlier this year.

But the focus on the emergency beacon raised alarms for some analysts, who said more technology problems with the new, high-tech airliner would be troubling.

“It’s good to see the AAIB are getting closer to finding out what happened but what we really need to know now is if this is a one off or a problem for the whole Dreamliner fleet – that is the crucial point for Boeing and airlines,” said Howard Wheeldon, an aerospace analyst at Wheeldon Strategic Advisory.

The Dreamliner in question has been moved to a hangar at Heathrow where it is under technical investigation.

Read more at VOA News.
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Related:
Ethiopian Airlines to Seek Insurance Claim for Dreamliner Fire (TADIAS)
Heathrow Fire: Ethiopian Airlines to Go on Flying 787 Fleet (BBC News)
Ethiopian Airlines Boeing Dreamliner Catches Fire at Heathrow Airport (The Chicago Tribune)
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Bloomberg News

By William Davison

Ethiopian police detained 40 opposition supporters distributing leaflets calling for the repeal of an anti-terrorism law they say has been used to stifle dissent, the Unity for Democracy and Justice party said.

The arrests in four districts of the capital, Addis Ababa, occurred yesterday as UDJ members distributed pamphlets asking people to sign a petition that also demands the release of jailed opposition members, religious leaders and journalists, the party said in an e-mailed statement.

“It is harassment,” UDJ Chairman Negasso Gidada said in a phone interview today from the capital. “There is no law that says you need permission to distribute leaflets.”

The mobile phones of government spokesman, Shimeles Kemal, and Bereket Simon, spokesman in the prime minister’s office, were switched off when called for comment. The opposition campaigners were released on bail late yesterday and the group plans to continue gathering signatories for the petition, Negasso said.

Read more at Bloomberg News.
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Related:
European Parliament Delegation Visit to Ethiopia (TADIAS)
EU urges Ethiopia to release journalists, revise terror law (Reuters)
Ethiopian Opposition Holds Rare Protests in Gondar and Dessie (AFP)

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AFP

ADDIS ABABA (AFP) – Ethiopian opposition activists on Sunday demanded the release of journalists and political prisoners jailed under anti-terror legislation in demonstrations in two major towns.

In rare public outpours of anger, people marched peacefully in the towns of Gondar and Dessie, chanting “freedom” and carrying pictures of jailed politicians and journalists.

Government officials said there were around 1,500 protesters in total in both towns, while the activists themselves claimed the number to be as high as 20,000.

“The protests were peaceful and successful,” said Senegas Gidada, protest organiser and chairman of the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) party.

“We are unhappy about the lack of human rights and democratic freedom in Ethiopia,” he added.

The demonstrations follow a rally last month in the capital Addis Ababa when several thousand activists demanded the government adhere to basic human rights.

The recent rallies are the largest since post-election violence in 2005 resulted in 200 people being killed and 30,000 arrested.

Read more at FOX news.
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The Guardian/ Observer

By David Smith, Africa Correspondent

“Yichalal” is a word made popular in Ethiopia by Haile Gebrselassie, arguably the finest distance runner ever to grace track or road. It means “it is possible”, or “it can be done”. Gebrselassie for president? Yichalal.

That was the widespread reaction last week when the 40-year-old, who has conquered the worlds of sport and business, announced that in 2015 he will be running not for gold but for political office. The only dissenting voice appeared to be that of his wife.

In many ways, politics seems a natural next step for a man whose rise mirrors that of the skyscrapers in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, where Bob Geldof is now a less likely foreign visitor than investors lured by one of the world’s fastest growing economies. Gebrselassie, an idol to millions with that crucial political asset, a winning smile, is seen as embodying the new optimism also sweeping much of Africa. “We Ethiopians had many problems,” he told the Observer last week, speaking by phone while driving towards Addis Ababa. “If you come to Ethiopia now you see the difference. Things are changing very fast.”

But despite projected growth of 11% next year, poverty remains widespread. “Now Ethiopia is moving in a good way but the speed is not what we need,” Gebrselassie said. “We need to move more quickly and join the middle-income countries. There is no Usain Bolt. The more you sprint, the more you break world records. If I become an MP I will push for a pick-up of speed.”

Read more at The Guardian.
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Related:
The Difference Between Haile and Liberia’s George Weah (The Africa Report)
Haile Gebrselassie to Run for Parliament (AP)

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VOA News

Last updated on: July 07, 2013

An African Union team of eminent persons plans to meet this week with Egypt’s interim leadership, following the ouster of the democratically elected President Mohammed Morsi.

“Egypt is an important member of the African Union and we would not in any way allow Egypt to degenerate into chaos. We would do all we could to ensure that Egypt remains stable and prosperous, God willing,” said Ambassador Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, the African Union’s Political Affairs Commissioner.

Abdullahi also called for peace and reconciliation in Egypt following violent clashes between supporters and opponents of Mr. Morsi’s ouster.

“We note with deep concern the violence that happened on Friday and the early morning of Saturday,” continued Abdullahi, “We hope that the human-rights violation, the use of firearm to control protesters should be strongly discouraged. We frown upon that and we call for peace for reconciliation for tolerance, so that Egypt could bounce back.”

Abdullahi’s comments came after newly installed President Adly Mansour appeared to back away from an announcement that former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohammed ElBaradei would be made prime minister. The Muslim Brotherhood says it rejects ElBaradei’s appointment and vowed to protest until Mr. Morsi is returned to power.

The African Union suspended Egypt’s membership Friday following the group’s Peace and Security Council’s meeting.

“The African Union will not tolerate unconstitutional [overthrow] of government of any form from any of its member states and this will remain our principle,” said Abdullahi.

“We call on the new authorities in Egypt to promote dialogue to reconcile to ensure that the constitution that would be drafted is [an] all inclusive one that would embrace everybody and promote peace, stability and hopefully development for Egypt, to ensure that as soon as they draw up a chronogram that they comply with the chronogram to ensure that this military action is not repeated.”

Abdullahi says the African Union will work closely with the North African country to restore constitutional rule.

“The AU is sending a team of African eminent personalities to discuss with the interim authorities so that they quickly set up a chronogram that would make them to go ahead and organize elections, which would hopefully, allow the country to also draw up a new constitution, go for elections and once that is done, we would be happy to re-admit Egypt back into the union,” said Abdullahi.

The African Union has also called for Egypt’s interim leaders to ensure Morsi’s safety after the military placed the former leader under house arrest after he was ousted.

“We continue to call for peace, for calm for respect of human rights for tolerance and understanding among the Egyptians,” said Abdullahi.

Listen to VOA’s interview with AU’s Aisha Laraba Abdullahi

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Video: Egyptians Protest Amid Prime Minister Dispute (VOA News)

VOA News

By Edward Yeranian

July 07, 2013

CAIRO — Rival demonstrations are taking place in the Egyptian capital Cairo and elsewhere across the country Sunday, as supporters and opponents of ousted President Mohamed Morsi take to the streets to defend their political positions.

Supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi continue their sit-in protest in front of Cairo’s Rouba Adawiya mosque Sunday, amid calls for further demonstrations across the capital. Opponents of Morsi also plan to hold a rival rally in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

Amid protests and counter-protests, Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour continues to consult rival political leaders about forming a new government. News that opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei had been selected to head that government late Saturday was refuted by presidential spokesman Ahmed al-Muslimany.

He says that consultations have begun, but that the name of a new prime minister has not yet been agreed upon. The odds, he argues, favor Mohamed ElBaradei, but no official nod has been given since political talks are ongoing.

Islamist supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafi Nour Party are both known to oppose ElBaradei’s nomination. Muslim Brotherhood leaders insist they won’t participate in any interim political process, either, unless former President Morsi is returned to office.

One middle-aged man in the center of Cairo insisted that he does not support either the Muslim Brotherhood or the opposition, but that everyone needs to cooperate to avoid trouble.

He says that (former) President Morsi won the presidential election [last year] by 51 percent and his rival won 48 percent, making it clear that both sides have almost equal support. For this reason, he argues, it is obvious that everyone must cooperate in order for the country to function.

Militants blew up the main gas pipeline in the northern Sinai early Sunday, causing flames to light the night sky. The pipeline, which provides gas for nearby Jordan, has been attacked frequently since the overthrow of veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak in February of 2011.

Egyptian security forces also came under attack in the northern Sinai town of Sheikh Zweyid. An army statement indicated that all Egyptians have the “right to protest,” but urged everyone to behave responsibly.

In the Kazakh capital Astana, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Egypt was “in danger of sliding into a civil war,” insisting that “efforts must be made to prevent that from happening.”
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Related:
Egypt crisis in pictures (BBC News)
Cracks Emerge as Egyptians Seek Premier (The New York Times)
US Lawmakers React to Crisis in Egypt (VOA News)
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NBC News

By Julie Yoon, F. Brinley Bruton and Matthew DeLuca

A cockpit voice recorder recovered from Asiana Airlines Flight 214 revealed the pilots attempted to abort the landing just 1.5 seconds before the jet crashed in San Francisco, killing two and injuring scores, federal investigators said Sunday.

National Transportation Safety Board chief Deborah Hersman said at a Sunday news conference that the “black box” flight data recorders also showed there was an attempt to boost airspeed just before the aircraft impacted the sea wall and then slammed into the runway.

There was no evidence in the two recovered “black boxes” that the Boeing 777 was experiencing any problems before the crash on Saturday, Hersman said. The airline’s president said earlier that engine failure was likely not the cause of the deadly incident.

Read more at NBC News.

Watch: Meet the Press on SF Crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214

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Asiana Flight 214 crash-lands at SFO, Flight data recorders recovered

(Photo: AP)

CNN

Investigators gathered critical clues in San Francisco on Sunday in hopes of solving the mystery surrounding the deadly crash landing of Asiana Airlines Flight 214.

Both flight data recorders have been recovered, the National Transportation Safety Board said, from wreckage left by Saturday’s tragedy that left two 16-year-old passengers dead.

Survivors and witnesses reported the 7-year-old Boeing 777 appeared to be flying too low as it approached the end of a runway near the bay.

“Stabilized approaches have long been a safety concern for the aviation community,” NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman told CNN on Sunday, saying they represent a significant threat. “We see a lot of runway crashes.”

“We want to understand what was going on with this crew so we can learn from it,” Hersman said.

Passengers recount moment of crash Passengers describe harrowing crash ‘The wheels … were too low, too soon’

Hersman said her team hopes to interview the pilots in the coming days.

Read more at CNN.

Watch: Flight data recorders recovered from Asiana crash Site

Video: Passengers Recount Moment of crash (CNN)

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VOA News

July 02, 2013

Ethiopia, Botswana and the Dominican Republic made the largest gains in food security in the past year, according to a new report.

Increases in income and food availability in developing countries drove the largest improvements in this year’s Global Food Security Index, published by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Botswana ranked number 43 out of 107 countries studied. But most of sub-Saharan Africa scored low. Even with this year’s gains, Ethiopia is number 90.

Meanwhile, economic losses in Greece and Ukraine pushed those countries down the index.

Democratic reform and political stability were linked to improvements in food security in Burma and Sri Lanka, while conflict pushed Mali, Yemen and Syria down the index.

The index comprises 27 measures of food affordability, availability and quality. It is funded by the seed and chemical company DuPont.
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BBC News

Minyahil Teshome Beyene should have missed the match having picked up two yellow cards in previous qualifiers.

Fifa overturned the original 2-1 win for Ethiopia in the 8 June match and handed Botswana a 3-0 victory.

It means Ethiopia’s Group A rivals South Africa and Botswana are now in with a chance of progressing.

The Ethiopia Football Federation has also been fined US$ 6,300 for the breach of Fifa’s disciplinary code.

President of the Ethiopia Football Federation, Sahilu Gebremariam, had already told BBC Sport that there will be no appeal against the decision.

He admitted “it’s a management blunder” and said “we have accepted the Fifa discipline issue”.

Although Ethiopia remain top of their group, they now lead 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa by only two points going into the final round of matches in September.

South Africa coach Gordon Igesund said in a statement issued through the national football association: “The decision gives us a second bite at the cherry.

Read more at BB News.
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Related:
Ethiopia sanctioned for fielding ineligible player (FIFA)
Ethiopia stripped of win in World Cup qualifying (Sports Illustrated)
Ethiopia Penalized in World Cup Qualifying for Ineligible Player (New York Times/AP)

Senior Ethiopian Football Federation Official Sacked Over World Cup Gaffe (Euro Sport)

(Image credit: FIFA.com)

Euro Sport

Updated on 25/06/2013

In a raucous meeting, Ethiopian football’s governing body voted to sack Ashenafi Ejigu but rejected the resignation offer by vice president Berhanu Kebede, who had previously been blamed by the body for the mix-up.

Some members of the football association and journalists at the meeting called for the whole management to be sacked.

Sahilu Gebremariam, the federation’s president, said he was likely to submit his own resignation in an upcoming election for seats in the body’s executive committee.

“This was a massive blunder so we all should have resigned,” he told Reuters. “But we have responsibilities ahead so we voted to stay until September.”

Ethiopia’s 2-1 win over South Africa in Addis Ababa on June 16 had given them an unassailable five-point lead in their group and place in the final phase of African qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

But hours later, world governing body FIFA said it was investigating allegations Ethiopia had played suspended midfielder Minyahile Beyene against Botswana on June 8.

Minyahile had been booked twice in previous matches and World Cup rules state a player who receives two cautions in the qualifying campaign must serve an automatic one-match ban.

He was shown a yellow card in the 1-1 draw with South Africa a year ago and again in a 1-0 win over Botswana in March.

Ethiopia, who have never qualified for the World Cup finals, are expected to be docked three points meaning a place in the final qualifying round will be up for grabs in Group A.

If the points are redistributed, Ethiopia will have 10, South Africa will be on eight and Botswana on seven with each team having one match left to play in round two.

Officials said they mistakenly fielded the midfielder. Vice-president Berhanu, also team leader during the match against Botswana, said he had lost a letter from FIFA that notified the Ethiopian body of Minyahile’s bookings.

“I never use pens and papers during matches, let alone keep records of cautions,” said team coach Sewnet Bishaw. “I only focus on ways to win the match.”

Ethiopia play the Central African Republic on Sept. 6, while South Africa lock horns with Botswana.
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Related:
Ethiopia Admits Using an Ineligible Player (BBC News)
World Cup: Fifa probe casts Ethiopia progress into doubt (BBC News)
In Pictures: Ethiopia Celebrates 2-1 Victory Over South Africa (TADIAS)
Disciplinary proceedings opened against three member associations (FIFA)
Ethiopia Qualify for 2014 African Nations Championship | Walyas in Pictures (BBC)
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The Associated Press

By Kirubel Tadesse

July 3, 2013

ASSOSA, ETHIOPIA – The book, a history of Hoover Dam, fell from the dashboard as Simegnew Bekele drove through the rugged mountains where the engineer is leading construction work on Ethiopia’s massiveNile River dam.

“This book,” he said, picking it up, “I am reading it now … It’s a fascinating story. This dam too (has) a history one day someone will write about.”

Simegnew’s sentiment illustrated the great expectations of a dam that has raised tensions between this Horn of Africa nation and Egypt, which is concerned the ongoing project will diminish its share of Nile River waters. Reading the book, a gift from Ethiopians he met in New York recently, the engineer has come to see similarities between the Ethiopian dam-in-progress and Hoover Dam, the Great Depression-era project that in its time became an icon of American enterprise under difficult economic conditions.

Read more at CSM.

—

Related:

Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam is Compared to Hoover Dam (AP/FOX News)

Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom Says Ethiopia Wants to Resolve Nile Dam Dispute with Egypt

Ethiopian Foreign Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom is pictured in Addis Ababa, on May 25, 2013. (AFP)

ALGIERS (AFP) – Ethiopia is hoping that talks with Egypt will ease a row over sharing the waters of the Nile, Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom said on Sunday during a trip to Algeria.

But Tedros did not rule out “international mediation” if the talks founder.

The dispute erupted after Ethiopia last month began diverting the Blue Nile River for the construction of its 6,000-megawatt Grand Renaissance Dam.

Read more at Fox News.

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Ethiopia’s Plan to Dam the Nile Has Egypt Fuming (TIME Magazine)

By William Lloyd George

Addis Ababa — The heat is stifling but the construction workers and red-hatted engineers don’t let up. Mechanized excavators batter into the mighty, arid peaks on either side of the site of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance dam, set to be the largest in Africa. The foundations are growing. The dark brown waters of the Nile River flow through the site. But the punishing sun and tough terrain aren’t the only challenges facing the dam’s progress. Downstream, Egypt is furious — and some politicians there have talked in private of war. Ethiopia is defiant. “There is nothing that will stop Ethiopia now from realizing our country’s dream,” says Bereket Simon, an Ethiopian government spokesman, as he walked around the site on a recent morning.

The Ethiopian government believes that the dam, which is due to start generating electricity next year and will be paid for from the proceeds of government bond sales, will become an image of national pride and a symbol of the country’s recent development. Egypt, a country whose identity and economy are already inseparable from the Nile, feels deeply threatened by the project. Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi said in a speech in Cairo on June 10, “We will defend each drop of the Nile with our blood,” but he has also said that dialogue is the best means of solving the crisis. Not all of Egypt’s politicians have been so diplomatic; during a cabinet meeting on June 3, which was being broadcast by Egyptian state TV without the knowledge of the political figures attending, several told Morsi that he must destroy the dam through any means available.

Read more at Time.com

—

Related:

Will Ethiopia’s ‘Grand’ New Dam Steal Nile Waters From Egypt? (CSM)

Egypt Should Welcome Ethiopia’s Nile Dam (Bloomberg Editorial)

Maaza Mengiste Says “The Nile Belongs to Ethiopia Too” (The Guardian)

Hydropolitics Between Ethiopia and Egypt: A Historical Timeline (TADIAS)

Visualizing Nile Data – Access to Electricity vs Fresh Water (TADIAS)

Law Professor Urges Ethiopia to Take Nile Issue to International Court (TADIAS)

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CNN

BY Errol Barnett

Lalibela, Ethiopia (CNN) — It’s 4 o’clock on a Sunday morning when a trail of figures dressed in white emerges from the deep darkness. Quietly, the summoned crowd makes its way down a cluster of ancient structures as the slow beat from traditional skin drums beckons.

It’s a common scene here in Lalibela, a small town in northern Ethiopia that’s home to 11 spectacular churches carved both inside and out from a single rock some 900 years ago. The chiseled creations have turned this mountain town into a place of pride and pilgrimage for worshipers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, attracting 80,000 to 100,000 visitors every year.

“It is one of the very important places for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church people,” says local guide Fikru Woldegiorgis, who’s lived here most of his life. “There is a belief that Lalibela pilgrims share the same blessing as pilgrims to Jerusalem,” he explains. “They have to come at least once in a lifetime.”

And they come from all over.

Read more at CNN.

Watch: Part One – Ethiopia’s Monolithic Churches

Watch: Part Two – Protecting Ethiopia’s Religious Sites

Watch: Part Three – Ethiopia’s Orthodox Christians

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Related:
Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela – UNESCO World Heritage Site

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BBC News

By Jonathan Kalan

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – When it comes to technology and innovation, Ethiopia appears a long way away from the rest of Africa’s rising “silicon savannahs.”

The most advanced form of banking in Africa’s second most populous country is an ATM – there are no credit cards and no international banking systems.

This makes app stores like Google Play and Apple’s Appstore inaccessible.

Mobile money, which has taken off places like Kenya, has only just arrived, but with significant limitations.

Skype and other VoIP (voice over internet protocol) services are banned for business purposes.

Read more at BBC News.
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VOA News

BY Dan Robinson

June 29, 2013

JOHANNESBURG — U.S. President Barack Obama engaged young people from South Africa and three other African nations for more than an hour Saturday, taking questions on issues ranging from economic growth and job opportunity in Africa to countering extremism in a town-hall style meeting that followed talks earlier in the day with President Jacob Zuma.

The condition of former South African leader Nelson Mandela was a key topic, and Obama praised the ailing anti-apartheid icon in emotional terms at both events on Saturday, saying Mandela’s personal courage and South Africa’s historic transition are a personal inspiration to him and to the world. The president will visit Robben Island in South Africa Sunday, the prison where Mandela spent nearly 20 years for fighting to overturn the country’s apartheid regime.

The president appeared at ease and energized for his exchange with the young people in his audience at the University of Johannesburg in Soweto.

Africa is “on the move,” he said, but the continent faces great challenges “that can’t be papered over.” The president said Africa’s young people will lead the way.

Watch: Video report by Dan Robinson of VOA News

“Even as too many Africans still endure tremendous hardship and great injustice, there is, as the song says, a new Africa — more prosperous, more confident — taking its place on the world stage,” he said. “And one of the reasons is because of your generation.”

Paying tribute to heroes of the anti-apartheid movement including former president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Obama also recalled Hector Pieterson, a boy killed by police gunfire during a protest in 1976.

“During my first visit to South Africa, I was able to go to Hector Pieterson’s memorial and pay tribute to an African boy who moved the world,” Obama said, adding that he was “humbled by the sacrifices of all who have gone before us, so we can stand here as free men and women.

“I am honored to return to Soweto now as president of the United States of America.”

What followed was a wide-ranging question and answer session with young people gathered from Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria on issues ranging from the need for accountable governments and jobs to climate change and threats from extremist groups.

One Nigerian woman asked: “Considering how long the war on terror has been on for, would you say that we are winning the war on terror, seeing as how there are new terrorist groups developing in Africa. One of which is in Africa?”

Obama said groups like Boko Haram are “doing great harm,” taking advantage of weak African governments, but that the United States is helping to build African governments’ capacity to respond to extremism.

“We want the African union and other regional organizations to build up the capacity to send in peacekeepers, to be able to nip terrorist cells that may be forming before they start and gain strength,” he said.

Answering a question from Kenya, Obama said Africans are beginning to demand accountability from their governments.

“You are starting to see more and more a norm, a standard, take hold in Africa,” he said. “And young people, I think, especially have high expectations about how government should function, and it should function for the public good, not for the benefit of just a few.”

Earlier in the day, President Obama and President Jacob Zuma discussed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the political situation in Zimbabwe and South Africa’s progress in fighting HIV/AIDS.

Zuma urged further relaxation of U.S. sanctions against Zimbabwe, and Obama said elections there scheduled for next month must be credible.

Obama said the U.S. does not feel threatened by aggressive investment in Africa by China and other countries, but he urged Africans to carefully consider what they are getting from investment partners.

Obama also praised South Africa’s role in the African Union and regional mediation efforts, and shared his vision for enhanced U.S. economic engagement and trade with Africa.

On the situation in Egypt, Obama said the U.S. is watching the situation there closely and ensuring its diplomats and facilities are protected. He called for restraint without violence.

Meets with Mandela family

President Obama did not visit ailing former president Nelson Mandela in his hospital bed, instead meeting privately with Mandela’s daughters and grandchildren. He also spoke by telephone with the 94-year-old leader’s wife, Graca Machel.

The president, his wife and their daughters fly on Sunday to Cape Town, where he will deliver a major speech expected to frame his goals of increasing investment and empowering the youth of Africa to take hold of their future.
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Obama Praises Senegal, Calls Mandela ‘Hero for World’ (VOA News)

President Obama arrives in Senegal on Jun. 26, 2013 (VOA News/Reuters)

VOA News

By Dan Robinson

June 27, 2013

DAKAR — In Senegal on the first leg of a three-nation Africa trip designed to demonstrate his re-engagement with the continent, U.S. President Barack Obama praised democratic progress made by African nations. He also spoke about former South African president Nelson Mandela.

Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were welcomed by President Macky Sall at the presidential palace.

Obama’s motorcade drove through streets lined with thousands of people holding signs welcoming the first African-American U.S. president back to the continent, reading: “Yes we can – President Obama and Macky Sall.”

One of Obama’s objectives is to recognize democratic progress in this small Muslim-majority nation, and across Africa.

Lauding Senegal’s progress

He called Senegal an inspiring example.

“Senegal is one of the most stable democracies in Africa and one of the strongest partners that we have in the region. It is moving in the right direction, with reforms to deepen democratic institutions, and as more Africans across this continent stand up and demand governments that are accountable and serve the people, I believe Senegal can be a great example.”

Obama said the world too often overlooks “amazing progress” Africa is making to improve democratic governance and empower citizens. He also mentioned Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger and Ghana.

In translated remarks, Sall praised Obama for his determination to give new energy to relations between the U.S. and Africa.

“We have a historic opportunity here to open new prospects for our relations on the basis of complementarity, by offering greater opportunities to our youth and by stimulating trade and investments for shared prosperity,” said Sall.

Answering a U.S. reporter’s question, Sall said Senegal is a tolerant country, but is still not ready to decriminalize homosexuality. He said homosexuals are not discriminated against.

Obama said the issue did not come up in their talks, but said he believes in equal treatment for all under the law.

“My basic view is that, regardless of race, regardless of religion, regardless of gender, regardless of sexual orientation, when it comes to how the law treats you, how the state treats you, the benefits the rights and the responsibilities under the law, people should be treated equally,” said Obama.

Honoring Mandela

Obama next went to Senegal’s Supreme Court, where he addressed judicial system leaders from across the West African region about the importance of the rule of law.

He also commented on 94-year-old anti-apartheid icon Mandela, who is in critical condition in a hospital.

Saying his thoughts and prayers are with Mandela and his family, Obama said Mandela’s life provided an example to the world.

“I think he is a hero for the world, and if and when he passes from this place, one thing I think we will all know is that his legacy is one that will linger on throughout the ages,” said Obama.

The rest of Obama’s schedule Thursday included a visit, with his family, to Goree Island, site of a museum dedicated to the history of the West African slave trade.

His visit there with civil society leaders reflects another major objective of underscoring the importance of empowering citizens to play a role in their governments and work to demand accountability of their leaders.

Obama’s daughters Malia and Sasha are traveling with the president and the first lady. Separately, Michelle Obama visited an all-girl’s school in Dakar named in honor of the late African-American U.S. civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Related:
Obama Africa Trip Highlights Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania (TADIAS)
Obama to Discuss Trade, Investment in Africa (VOA News)
Obama’s Africa Trip to Focus on Democracy, Development (VOA News)

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Businessweek

By Rudy Ruitenberg

Ethiopia’s child malnutrition costs the country an estimated 55.5 billion birr ($3 billion) a year, or 16.5 percent of gross domestic product, according to a study backed by the United Nations’ World Food Programme.

More than two out of every five children in Ethiopia suffer from stunting, meaning they’re short for their age after missing out on critical nutrients while in the womb or the first five years of their lives, the Rome-based WFP wrote in an online report dated yesterday.

Child mortality has reduced Ethiopia’s workforce by 8 percent, and under-nutrition costs the country billions of dollars every year in lost productivity, according to the WFP. Of the adult population, 67 percent suffered from stunting as children, the report showed.

Read more at BusinessWeek.
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Related:
Hunger Costs Ethiopian Economy Billions Of Dollars (VOA News)

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France 24

AFP – When Tadiwos Belete moved to Ethiopia from the United States a decade ago to open a luxury spa, his relatives thought he was crazy.

He built an office block on a crumbling congested thoroughfare in the centre of Addis Ababa, where there were few other businesses and seemingly few opportunities for a successful entrepreneur.

Now from his fourth floor office overlooking the newly-refurbished, six-lane Bole Road, today crammed with cafes, hotels and shopping centres — a sign of Ethiopia’s thriving economy — Tadiwos recalls almost despairing of finding other businesses to rent space in his office block.

“I remember, we were almost praying whether we could get someone to rent this building,” Tadiwos said.

“It’s amazing, I never believed it would grow this much, but it’s happened,” he added, looking down at the busy street below.

Tadiwos is part of a burgeoning diaspora community returning to Ethiopia to invest in its booming economy.

Read more at France 24.
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By Associated Press

Published: June 20th, 2013

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s main opposition party says it will launch what it said will be a sustained national campaign against the country’s ruling party.

The announcement Thursday follows a peaceful demonstration on June 2. It was the first public protest since 2005 when security forces killed hundreds of protesters in postelection violence.

Read more at The Washington Post.
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Related:
Watch: U.S. Congress Hearing on Democracy & Human Rights in Ethiopia (Video)
Peaceful Opposition Protest Could Mark Change in Ethiopian Policy (VOA)
Ethiopia opposition threatens protests over anti-terrorism law (Reuters)
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Sydney Morning Herald

By Kylie Northover

With headlines increasingly dominated by disheartening stories about asylum seekers, Multicultural Arts Victoria’s annual Emerge Festival acts as a hopeful counterpoint, celebrating the diversity refugees create here.

Now in its 10th year the festival, which officially launched last month in Footscray, runs over 10 weeks and commemorates the United Nations’ World Refugee Day and Refugee Week while celebrating the talents of new refugees and emerging artists who have recently settled in Australia. The festival also aims to help artists and musicians break into the local industry.

Bitsat Seyoum is well known in the local Ethiopian community and to fans of her renowned Footscray restaurant Addis Abeba. But before settling in Australia five years ago, she was a famous performer in the Ethiopian capital. Singing traditional Ethiopian popular songs, she has performed and recorded with some of the country’s biggest names: Ethio-jazz king Mulatu Astatke (arguably the country’s most famous musical export) arranged her first album, and she has teamed up with singer Tilahun Gessesse, composers Teddy Afro and Moges Teka, and lyricist Mulugeta Tesfaye.

Read more at Sydney Morning Herald.

BBC News

As many as 250,000 Ethiopians live in and around Washington DC, more than in any urban area outside of the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa itself.

There are so many restaurants, shops and businesses catering to Ethiopians that the community has its own 1,000-page telephone book.

The following video is produced by the BBC’s Sam Farzaneh and Bill McKenna.

Click here to watch at BBC News.

VOA News

June 13, 2013

The South African government says former president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela continues to recover from a lung infection, but it says his condition remains serious.

In a statement Thursday, President Jacob Zuma appealed to the people of South Africa and beyond to keep Madiba — Mandela’s clan name — in their prayers, and to wish him a speedy recovery.

The 94-year-old icon was hospitalized in Pretoria last week in serious but stable condition. It was his fourth such hospitalization since December.

Mr. Mandela has a history of lung problems dating back to the tuberculosis he contracted during his 27-year imprisonment under South Africa’s apartheid system. He was released in 1990, and four years later was elected president in the country’s first democratic polls.

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VOA News

Marthe van der Wolf

June 07, 2013

ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopian opposition supporters carried out their first peaceful protest against the government in eight years last week. The demonstration has raised hopes the ruling coalition will give political opponents more room to operate. Three opposition leaders from the past said that no matter what happens, the opposition faces major challenges.

Thousands of Ethiopians took to the streets last week in the capital, Addis Ababa, in a demonstration against Ethiopia’s government. It was the first time authorities had allowed such a protest since the disputed 2005 elections and was organized by the Blue Party, a relatively new party with many young active members.

Hailu Shawul is one of the opposition leaders imprisoned following post-election demonstrations in 2005 that turned violent. He said last week’s demonstration was a huge success but he questions the long-term effect.

“I can assure you, not much will change, but it encourages us to probe the people into action,” Shawul said. “The whole point of the demonstration is for people to steam off, it’s for the government to listen and maybe change their policies, but here, this has never happened.”

Ethiopia has been ruled by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) since 1991. The four-party coalition controls virtually all of the seats in parliament, and critics have accused it of turning Ethiopia into a one-party state.

Opposition leader Asrat Tassie shared his prison days with Hailu and is still politically active as secretary-general for UDJ (Unity for Democracy and Justice), the only opposition party with a seat in parliament. He too believes the demonstration was a big achievement.

“I hope this new spirit after 2005 will gain momentum, and hope all the others will follow. There is no choice for the opposition parties but to keep on pressuring the government,” stated Tassie.

Beyene Petros, an opposition leader since 1991, also applauds the efforts of the Blue Party and its young members, but said there are many challenges ahead.

“It may sound like it is an easy road to ride on; they need to be seasoned. They need to be addressing these complex Ethiopian political parties within a broader perspective, and not only narrow interests,” Petros said. “I see their likes simply pick one line of thinking and then try to harp it. And that will not be a solution.”

During the 2005 elections, four opposition parties worked together and won a large block of seats in parliament. After disputes over the election results, massive protests broke out and hundreds of demonstrators and opposition members were either imprisoned or killed.

Asrat reminds the younger generation in the opposition that fighting for their beliefs comes with many sacrifices. “We have to struggle for our freedom, and freedom is not free. There are going to be risks, otherwise we have to close our shops if we are not able to courageously confront the government,” he said.

The Blue Party says it will hold another demonstration in three months if their demands, such as releasing political prisoners and more political freedom, are not met. Because of the big turnout of last week’s protests, other opposition parties are currently also looking into organizing public protests.
—
Related:
Could political demonstrations in Ethiopia herald greater freedom? (The Economist)
Peaceful Opposition Protest Could Mark Change in Ethiopian Policy (VOA News)
Thousands Hold Peaceful Demonstration in Rare Ethiopia Protest (VOA News)
Ethiopia: Free to protest (The Economist)
Thousands march for rights in rare Ethiopia protest (Reuters)
Ethiopian protesters take to streets (BBC News)
Ethiopia: Thousands Protest Political Repression (AP)
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VOA News

Marthe van der Wolf

June 06, 2013

ADDIS ABABA — Tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia are rising after Ethiopia began diverting the water of a Nile River tributary to build the continent’s biggest hydroelectric power plant. Despite criticism from Egypt, Ethiopia says construction of the dam will proceed.

Ethiopia summoned the Egyptian ambassador this week to demand an explanation after Egyptian politicians were overheard on a live broadcast discussing ways to sabotage the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

The spokesperson of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dina Mufti, says Ethiopia is surprised by the tone of Egyptian officials.

“Whether those propaganda that are coming from that corner are the government’s position or not, we have asked for verification. We are caught by surprise because some government officials, party leaders and civil society leaders, they were talking about Ethiopia violently and we were surprised. We are waiting for this tone to be watered down very soon,” said Dina Mufti.

Watch: Egyptian Politicians caught on Air Discussing to Sabotage Ethiopia

Egyptian concerns

Ethiopia started diverting a part of the Blue Nile last week for the construction of the $4.7 billion dam. The dam, scheduled to be completed by 2017, will transform Ethiopia into Africa’s biggest power producer.

While the construction started almost two years ago, it was not until last week’s diversion that tension between Egypt and Ethiopia broke into public view. The government in Cairo said it has not approved the building of the dam, and vowed to prevent the dam from reducing Egypt’s water supply.

Dina says Ethiopia will not consider halting the construction of the dam.

“The halting of the construction is unthinkable. We hear two voices; one is a very backward voice of the 19th century. And there is another voice, with sanity, also a voice that is looking for corporation, for good relationship. So we hope the sane voice will prevail,” said Dina.

Both Egypt and Ethiopia are part of the Nile Basin Initiative, a group of nine countries that have agreed to “develop the river in a cooperative manner.”

An international panel of experts released a report last weekend, concluding that construction of Ethiopia’s dam will not harm downstream countries such as Sudan and Egypt. But the conclusions of the report did not convince Egypt.

Fear of military action

The words of some Egyptian leaders and the media sparked fears about possible military actions. Nile expert Wondwosen Michago says other scenarios are more likely to happen before any type of army intervention will take place:

“The first scenario for me is resorting to the Nile Basin Initiative, coming to the roundtable and discussing under the umbrella of the Nile Basin Initiative. The other scenario is accepting the international panel of experts’ reports. The other one is, as some people say, going to the international courts and putting that on the table,” said Wondwosen Michago.

Mehari Taddele Maru, an international consultant based in Ethiopia, says military action is highly unlikely. But he believes the dam would be the first target if the situation were to escalate.

“If bombing happens, basically Egypt would bomb the dam. That is probably the clear target they may have. Or send a commando, some Wikileaks stuff has indicated, to try to destabilize the area where the dam is. And the response from Ethiopian side would also similarly be to use air force and to inflict as many attacks as possible on Egyptian interests,” he said.

Ethiopian officials would not say whether the country has increased security around the dam. They said only that they are following the rising tensions with Egypt closely and carefully.
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Related:
Ethiopia says it won’t bow to Egyptian pressure over Nile dam (Reuters)
ABC News: Egyptian politicians caught discussing plan to sabotage Ethiopian dam
Egyptian politicians caught in on-air Ethiopia dam gaffe (BBC News)
Report Finds Renaissance Dam Won’t Significantly Affect Egypt, Sudan (AP)
Ethiopia studies on Nile dam fall short, Egypt says (Reuters)
Ethiopia to Accommodate Nations Concerned by Nile Dam Project (Bloomberg News)
Nile River Dispute Between Egypt, Ethiopia Sparks Tensions (VOA News)
Ethiopia Diverts Flow of Blue Nile to Build Dam (AP)
Ethiopia diverts Blue Nile for controversial dam build (BBC News)
Fear in Egypt as Ethiopia builds giant dam on Nile (The Boston Globe)

Watch: Communications Minister Bereket Simon on the Nile issue (Al Jazeera English)

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Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook.

AFP

A bell rings and the floor of Ethiopia’s Commodities Exchange is flooded with traders dressed in coloured coats, waving hands and shouting bids for coffee, sesame seeds or haricot beans.

Following a feverish shouting match, prices are agreed upon and the deal is sealed with a high five between buyer and seller.

Established in 2008, the ground-breaking ECX has boosted exports in Ethiopia, improved conditions for producers and is now inspiring other countries in resource-rich Africa to set up their own exchanges to ensure they are the main beneficiaries of commodity exports.

It has allowed “price discovery” for farmers, ECX chief executive officer Anteneh Assefa said, explaining that previously producers had little knowledge of international market prices and could only rely on middlemen who pocketed hefty profits by selling on heavily marked up goods.

Read more at France 24.

By Associated Press

Updated: Wednesday, June 5th

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Egyptian officials tried to cool tensions with Ethiopia Wednesday over the new Nile River dam project by highlighting its “neighborliness” as the Ethiopian prime minister’s spokesman insisted that nothing would stop the dam from being completed upstream from Egypt, which is wholly dependent on Nile River water.

Egypt fears a diminished flow from Africa’s largest dam and hydropower station but Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi said Egypt respects Ethiopia and will not engage in any aggressive acts against the East African nation. Egyptian politicians had suggested the country should sabotage the project in a meeting with the president Monday.

Getachew Reda, a spokesman for Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, said late Tuesday that Egyptian leaders in the past have unsuccessfully tried to destabilize Ethiopia.

Read more at The Washington Post.

FOX News: Egyptian politicians caught on air threatening, taunting Ethiopia
Daily Nation: Egypt warns ‘all options open’ on Ethiopia dam
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Egypt Presidential Aide Apologizes After Ethiopia Remarks Caught on Live TV (VOA News)

June 04, 2013

Egyptian politicians have proposed ways to sabotage an Ethiopian dam project in talks that were televised live without the politicians’ knowledge.

An aide to Egypt’s president apologized for failing to tell the politicians they were on the air Monday during the meeting with President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo.

The aide said on Twitter that a decision was made at the last minute to air the meeting live, due to the importance of the topic.

Ethiopia has angered Egypt with its plans to construct a massive hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile, a key Nile River tributary.

During Monday’s meeting, an Islamist party leader suggested Egypt support Ethiopian rebels to exert pressure on Addis Ababa. A liberal politician suggested spreading rumors that Egypt was buying military planes for possible airstrikes.

The Associated Press reports President Morsi did not directly react to the suggestions. He did warn that he would not allow Ethiopia’s dam project to reduce his country’s share of water from the Nile.

Last week, Ethiopia began diverting water from a Nile tributary to allow for construction of the nearly $5 billion dam. The country’s water minister has said the dam poses no threat to Egypt or Sudan, which both depend heavily on the Nile for their water supply.

More than two-thirds of the Blue Nile tributary originates in Ethiopia. But colonial-era treaties gave Egypt and Sudan the majority of the Nile’s water.

Ethiopia began constructing the dam two years ago with the goal of producing power for itself and nearby countries.

ABC News: Egyptian politicians caught discussing plan to sabotage Ethiopian dam
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Egyptian Cabinet Caught On Camera Telling President Morsi To Sabotage Ethiopia

Associated Press

Published: June 3rd, 2013

CAIRO – Politicians meeting with Egypt’s president have proposed hostile acts against Ethiopia, including backing rebels and carrying out sabotage, to stop it from building a massive dam over the Nile River.

Some of the politicians attending Monday’s meeting with President Mohammed Morsi appeared unaware it was being carried live on TV. Morsi did not directly react to the suggestions. Morsi called the meeting to review the impact of Ethiopia’s dam on Egypt’s share of the Nile’s water.

Read more.
—
Related:
Egyptian politicians caught in on-air Ethiopia dam gaffe (BBC News)
Report Finds Renaissance Dam Won’t Significantly Affect Egypt, Sudan (AP)
Ethiopia studies on Nile dam fall short, Egypt says (Reuters)
Ethiopia to Accommodate Nations Concerned by Nile Dam Project (Bloomberg News)
CPJ: Reporter Covering Evictions Near Renaissance Dam Detained (Africa Review)
Nile River Dispute Between Egypt, Ethiopia Sparks Tensions (VOA News)
Ethiopia Diverts Flow of Blue Nile to Build Dam (AP)
Ethiopia diverts Blue Nile for controversial dam build (BBC News)
Fear in Egypt as Ethiopia builds giant dam on Nile (The Boston Globe)

Watch: Communications Minister Bereket Simon on the Nile issue (Al Jazeera English)

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CNN

CNN’s African Voices is a weekly show that highlights Africa’s most engaging personalities, exploring the lives and passions of people who rarely open themselves up to the camera.

It was another December afternoon back in 2000, spent like hundreds of others combing the rocky hills of the Dikika region, when Ethiopian scientist Zeray Alemseged heard one of his assistants nearby calling him.

“He said ‘oh, doctor I see something there,'” recalls Alemseged, who’d been excavating the hot and dry landscape for over a year, helped only by a small inexperienced crew of locals. “And I went there and I see the cheek bone part … sticking out of the rock. I turned it upside down and my jaw literally dropped.”

Instantly, Alemseged realized this was an extraordinary discovery that could make scientific history.

“Right away I could tell this is a child of a human ancestor,” says the paleoanthropologist. “You have this child in a block of sandstone, with the baby teeth still visible, very vertical forehead, small canine,” he adds. “But it’s so rare and so unbelievable that I just couldn’t accept that was the case.”

Read more at CNN.com »

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Related:

‘Lucy’ Fossil Returns Home in Ethiopia (CBS Video)

Interview with Paleoanthropologist Zeresenay Alemseged (TADIAS)
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Investigating

Ethiopia Refuses to Cooperate With Probe on World Bank Funding
Bloomberg News

By William Davison

Ethiopia’s government said it won’t cooperate with a probe into whether the World Bank violated its own policies by funding a program in which thousands of people were allegedly relocated to make way for agriculture investors.

Ethnic Anuak people in Ethiopia’s southwestern Gambella region and rights groups including Human Rights Watch last year accused the Washington-based lender of funding a program overseen by soldiers to forcibly resettle 45,000 households. The Inspection Panel of the World Bank, an independent complaints mechanism, began an investigation in October into the allegations, which donors and the government have denied.

“We are not going to cooperate with the Inspection Panel,” Getachew Reda, a spokesman for Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, said in a phone interview on May 22. “To an extent that there’s a need for cooperation, it’s not going to be with the Inspection Panel, but with the World Bank”

Read more at Bloomberg News.
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Related:
Ethiopia: Forced Relocation Bring Hunger, Hardship (HRW)
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Associated Press

By KIRUBEL TADESSE

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The African Union on Saturday marked 50 years since the founding of a continentwide organization that helped liberate Africa from colonial masters and which now is trying to stay relevant on a continent regularly troubled by conflict.

Opening a summit of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said the organization’s original pan-Africanist aspirations remain relevant for a continent where many states are still struggling to overcome rampant poverty and violence.

“This historic day marks not only a great leap forward in the Pan-Africanist quest for freedom, independence and unity but also the beginning of our collective endeavor for the realizations of Africa’s socio-economic emancipation,” he said. “The major responsibility of the current and future generations of Africans is.to create a continent free from poverty and conflict and an Africa whose citizens would enjoy middle- income status.”

Read more at ABC News.

Watch: Leaders open landmark AU summit (Al Jazeera English)

Video: Al Jazeera’s Nazanine Moshiri reports from Addis Ababa

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Related:
African Union leaders mark 50th anniversary in Ethiopia (BBC)
The African Union Turns 50: Voices From Ethiopia (TADIAS)
The OAU: Fifty years on (BBC News)
African Union Celebrates 50th Year (AP)
Watch: AU anniversary video spotlight (Economist)
Yadesa Bojia Reflects on African Union Flag on 50th Anniversary (TADIAS)
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