Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen has promised Ethiopia will undertake investigation into any alleged human rights abuses in the country’s northern Tigray regional state. Mekonnen, who is also Ethiopia’s acting Foreign Minister, made the remarks during a virtual speech he delivered on Wednesday at the 46th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. “Allegations of human …

The Ethiopian government on Tuesday disclosed the seizure of 48.4 kg of cocaine while being smuggled into a third destination country during the past eight months period. The reported 48.4 kg cocaine was seized at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s major international hub, state news agency ENA reporting, citing the Addis Ababa City Administration Customs Office. The …

A mother and her four children have died after a device exploded in their village in Ethiopia’s Somali region, local residents have told me. One of the children found the device outside Dagahmadow village, and was playing with it when it detonated, they added. The exact nature of the device is unclear, but it was believed to have been abandoned …

Both countries say it’s time for development The winds of change are blowing across the Horn of Africa following the signing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, of the 17 September peace agreement by Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki. The two countries have ceased hostilities and restored trade and diplomatic ties. “Local trade is reflourishing as Eritreans …

Ethiopia’s parliament on Thursday approved the membership of the country into the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), bringing the number of ratifications across the continent to 21. The African Union Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Albert Muchanga took to Twitter to celebrate the news, describing the decision as timely and historic. ‘‘One more parliamentary approval and we move towards …

Unidentified gunmen have killed five people in the western town of Negjo, in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, local government officials say. They say the attack happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Two foreign nationals are among the victims of the attack, according to Oromia region’s office of communication. But their nationalities have not yet been disclosed. Local officials say …

Ethiopia plans to indefinitely postpone its national census because of the large number of people left homeless by conflict in parts of the country, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office has said in a statement. People currently living in camps needed to return to their homes, before the census which was due to have started on 7 April could be conducted, …

All passengers on board an Ethiopian Airlines jet that crashed shortly after take-off on Sunday have died, the airline says. It said 149 passengers and eight crew members were believed to be on flight ET302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi in Kenya. The airline added that there were 33 different nationalities on board. The crash happened at 08.44 local time, …