Meldungen von September 2016

15 September 2016  WFP Ethiopia: Drought Emergency Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme Update #10. 
http://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/wfp-ethiopia-drought-emergency-targeted-supplementary-feeding-programme-update-10-15
2016 Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme
The 2016 Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme (TSFP) targets 2.36 million children under five years of age, and pregnant and nursing women who are suffering from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) with Specialized Nutritious Foods (SNF). WFP covers 192 of 206 priority 1 hotspot woredas, with NGOs and the Government responsible for coverage in the remaining.
Highlights
•    The ongoing situation in Amhara region has delayed August and September dispatches. However, as the situation is improving, dispatches and deliveries have restarted. Dispatches in Afar are also delayed, mainly due to the transport capacity at regional level.
•    The holiday has delayed September dispatches and deliveries in Oromia, Tigray and SNNP regions. The transporter’s performance is expected to improve in the second half of the month.
•    Deliveries through Mobile Health and Nutrition teams (MHNT) expanded to 18 woredas in Afar region. Training of additional 23 MHNT teams was completed in Somali region. The programme will cover 20 woredas in Afar and 29 in Somali regions by the end of September.

- Politics, Justice, Human Rights -

25 September 2016  TPLF Manifesto 
Golgul, (Dereje Tariku) http://www.goolgule.com/tplf-manifesto/  
The Tigray People Liberation Front, TPLF had published their organization’s manifesto in February 1976, the booklet was printed in Sudan. The TPLF manifesto, clearly defined who a Tigryan is, the land that the TPLF considers as Tigray, and the final destination of the TPLF. The following comprises some important contents of the manifesto.
a) A Tigryan is defined as anybody that speaks the language of Tigrigna including those who live outside Tigray, the Kunamas, the Sahos, the Afar and the Taltal, the Agew, and the Welkait.
b) The geographic boundaries of Tigray extend to the borders of the Sudan including the lands of Humera and Welkait from the region of Begemidir in Ethiopia, the land defined by Alewuha which extends down to the regions of Wollo and including Alamata, Ashengie, and Kobo, and Eritrean Kunama, the Saho and Afar lands including Assab.
c) The final goal of the TPLF is to secede from Ethiopia as an independent “Republic of Greater Tigray” by liberating the lands and peoples of Tigray.
This being the manifesto of TPLF in 1976, the question is how much of this program is implemented so far?
The implementation of the manifesto had two important stages classified as a first stage of re-demarcating Ethiopian internal boundaries and a second stage of acquiring Tigryan lands from Eritrea and secede as an independent nation. Accordingly, the following important events took place; (…)

24 September 2016  Government shall sustain effort for deep reform-GCAO. 
Walta Information Center,  http://www.waltainfo.com/news/editors_pick/detail?cid=24658 .
The Office of Government Communication Affairs has disclosed that the government is ready to sustain its zeal for deep reform. The Office, in its statement on current affair, note that the government has started to take practical measures that enable it to adequately address public woes and concerns and dispose its responsibility in effective ways.
National parties that are members of the ruling party are evaluating their performance so far, tracing the challenges they are facing and paving a better way forward. The deep reform is mainly aimed at sacking rent seekers from all the ladders of the governance system and creating good governance in the country, the statement underscored. The reform forums that are underway in the regions are expected to be finalized soon and are expected to identify those members who have used government power for private purposes and pass decision on them.
The consultation is inclusive of the wider public and is aimed at taking the corrective measures that enable to wipe out rent seeking. The struggle shall be sustained until government power is used only for the benefit of the wider public. The statement urged the public to contribute its share to the government’s effort to realize the country’s renaissance.

6 September 2016  Qilinto fire: Ethiopian government accused of gunning down political prisoners as they flee burning jail
ECADFORUM, http://ecadforum.com/2016/09/06/qilinto-fire-ethiopian-government-accused-of-gunning-down-political-prisoners/
(INDEPENDENT)—Rights groups have raised serious concerns over the fate of political prisoners held at a facility on the outskirts of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa after 23 inmates died in a huge fire at the high-security complex. While the cause of the blaze remains unknown, the Ethiopian government has admitted at least two of the prisoners were gunned down by the authorities as they fled the burning building.
The Kilinto prison has become notorious as a holding facility for jailed members of the opposition, including members of the ethnic minority Oromo people. And the Oromo Federalist Congress, a key opposition party, said there were fears for the lives of its “entire leadership”, which it said was being detained at Kilinto at the time. Amnesty International and New York-based Human Rights Watch, which has been monitoring the deaths of the Oromo people during a government crackdown on political protests, told The Independent it was vital the authorities released the names of those killed in the incident.
“The remaining two were killed while trying to escape from prison,” Fana reported, adding that two buildings were damaged in the blaze. The government statement provided no details of how the fire began, only stating that the police were investigating, nor did it give the names of any of those killed. And on Tuesday, OFC’s Assistant Deputy Chairman Mulatu Gemechu told the Reuters news agency: “Our entire leadership is being held in that place and we have no idea what has happened to them. “The government has a responsibility to explain to the public, no less their families. We have no idea why it is taking that long.”
Some local media have questioned the official version of events. They cited unnamed witnesses saying the prisoners were shot by wardens. Ethiopian journalist Tesfalem Waldyes, who was detained in Kilinto prison for more than a year before his release in July 2015, told The Independent it was hard to believe reports that the fire began as an attempted jailbreak. “It is difficult for inmates to access fire,” he said. “Prisoners are not allowed to cook or smoke. And the remand facility is a highly guarded place and security cameras are everywhere.”
Though it has become known for political imprisonments, Kilinto is a facility where suspects of all sorts of crimes are held, sometimes for many years, before trial. As such, none of its inmates have actually been convicted of their alleged crimes. Yet Tesfalem said the prison still operates under a ruthless regime, with those who complain about abusive treatment subjected to the “Kitat Bet” (punishment house) or the “dark house”, a form of isolation.
“The political prisoners mostly face harassment, intimidation, confiscation of their written materials, denial of their visitation rights and sometimes physical abuse,” he said. It was impossible to know, until the government releases more information, how many of those killed were political prisoners. Tesfalem said all those who are arrested on political grounds are sent to the facility to await trial, and they make up a significant proportion of the 3,000 or so inmates, though not the majority. (…)


- Conflicts and Unrest -

20 September 2016  AHRE urges Ethiopia to End the Atrocities and Human Rights Abuses Against The Konso People.  
Press Statement, http://www.goolgule.com/ahre-urges-ethiopia-to-end-the-atrocities-and-human-rights-abuses-against-the-konso-people/
The Association of Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE) has received reports of the atrocities in the Southern Region’s Konso Wereda of Ethiopia, with the use of excessive and lethal force against the Konso people. According to local sources dozens were killed, and thousands were evicted from their villages. More than 1500 houses were burned. AHRE expresses deep concern over the Ethiopian Government’s continued use of unnecessary force against protesters in various parts of the country. AHRE calls on the Ethiopian authorities to immediately stop the use of excessive, unnecessary and lethal force by security forces against the Konso people.
(…im Original folgt hier eine längere Darstellung der Geschichte der Spannungen zwischen Konso und der Regional- und Zentralregierung seit August 2015).
•    In the beginning of August 2016, the regional and federal authorities have deployed a large number of security and military forces in the Konso Wereda to disperse the protest. On August 6, at least 3 protestors were killed by security forces and many others were injured. The following days the protest has continued and demanding that the government authority remove all military and security forces that have been deployed in different part of the Wereda were using lethal and excessive force against the peaceful protestors.
•    Since August 2016 this protest turned into conflict between the local residents and the government security forces. This resulted in massive atrocities and casualties in the area.
•    From 5-19 September 2016, security forces killed at least 30 people. Hundreds were arbitrary arrested and being held in different detention locations in Konso and neighboring Weredas. On 12 September 2016 only, around one hundred protesters were arrested. Sources inform AHRE that more than 1500 houses were burned down by a raging fire that was ignited by security officials. Thousands have been evicted from their villages and therefore displaced. During the preparation of this press statement, AHRE has received reports that on 19 September 2016 security people killed two people and injured many others in Konso Woreda by using lethal force and arrested at least 50 protestors.
Using its sources, AHRE has confirmed that the Ethiopian authorities continue to perpetrate atrocities and the use of excessive force against protesters in Konso. Community leaders have been targeted by security officials and some of them have been detained.

18 September  18 soldiers killed, 20 more captured as TPLF tries to disarm powerful Gonder miltias. 
Ethiomedia,  http://www.durame.com/2016/09/ethiopia-18-soldiers-killed-20-more.html  
The powerful Gonder militias fighting the regime in Addis Ababa killed 18 soldiers and captured 20 more during battles on September 5, Amara Tegadlo has reported. Two army units were dispatched to Belesa, Wegera and other areas surrounding Gonder to disarm the local militias who have come into the spotlight in recent times following the outbreak of public protests in Gonder, the main city seen as the bedrock of powerful opposition fighting to unseat the ethnic minority TPLF regime. Amara Tegadlo, a movement empowering the marginalized Amhara people, said the 18 soldiers were killed during the first combat operation while a second reinforcement unit of about 100 soldiers left 20 of their colleagues captives of the local militia. The source didn't give details about what happened to the rest of the unit. (…)

10 September 2016  Calm has been restored in parts of the country affected by protests. 
Government Communication Affairs Office,  http://www.gcao.gov.et/web/en/-/calm-has-been-restored-in-parts-of-the-country-affected-by-protests  
Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and home to many breathtaking tourist destinations. Its people's time honored traditions and wonderful hospitality have won plaudits by all who had the chance to visit this African country of proud history and culture. Ethiopia offers a wider array of historic, natural as well as cultural tourist attractions than any other country in the region making it one of the most coveted tourist destinations in the world. As widely reported by the media over the last few weeks, however, there have been incidents of protests that in some cases have turned violent thus resulting in the loss of life and destruction of property in the western part of the Amhara Region and many towns in Oromia regional State. Though these incidents are regrettable, at the present the situation has more than stabilized and normal life has resumed amid preparation for the celebration of the just begun Ethiopian New Year. The Government fully acknowledges that the protests have mainly been legitimate expressions of the frustrations of the youth with various governance issues. Even at their most violent, the protests have not be directed against foreigners or other travelers. What was mostly aired during the protests was the demand for better access to and benefit from the overall development that is being achieved throughout the country. It cannot be overstressed that the restoration of normal public activity is a function of candid consultation between government at all levels and society in the affected areas. The close interface between the main stakeholders of peace and stability is certain to consolidate and deepen the present much improved environment and the resumption of development activities in each localities of the affected areas. In this light, it bears to mention the alarmist reporting in many in the media is unhelpful and only plays to the advantage of rejectionist elements abroad bent on undermining the present peace and calm in the Amhara and Oromia regional states. As the steady flow of foreign visitors clearly indicates, these parts of Ethiopia are as open to business as ever. The government of the federal democratic republic of Ethiopia will continue to deliver on its promises to its people. And needless to say, peace and stability will continue to thrive.
Happy Ethiopian New Year! Office of the Government Communication Affairs, FDRE, 10th September, 2026


- Economic Development -

17 September 2016  Ethiopia Raised over 1.3 Billion Birr for GERD Construction in the Fiscal Year
The Ethiopian Herald,  http://onlineethiopia.net/2016/09/ethiopia-raised-etb1-3-billion-gerd/
The Office of National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation for the Construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) said that over 1.3 billion Birr has been secured from various income generating schemes for the construction of the Grand Dam last fiscal year. Office Deputy Director-General Fikirte Tamir said the stated sum was obtained from bond sales and donation, lottery, 8100 text message and sports activities from Ethiopians and the diaspora and other schemes. Fikirte added that pledges are still being made by the public to support the building of the dam through finance , knowledge , material and labor.
The Office planned to raise 1.8 billion Birr from bond sales, lottery, exhibitions and music concerts as well as sports festivals this fiscal year, she said.
According to her, out of the total 12.4 billion Birr pledged till last fiscal year, close to 8.8 billion Birr has been collected. Over 216 million people have participated in natural conservation activities covering 4.7 million hectares of land along the dam in the same period, it was learned.

20 September 2016  Regional powers back studies on impact of Ethiopia's Nile dam.
Reuters, Reporting by Khaled Abdelaziz; Additional reporting by Omar Fahmy in Cairo; Writing by Asma Alsharif; Editing by John Stonestreet,  http://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-ethiopia-dam-idUSKCN11Q178
Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia commissioned studies into the environmental and economic impact of a $4 billion dam on the Nile that Addis Ababa aims to make the centerpiece of its bid to become Africa's biggest power exporter.
The 6,000-megawatt Grand Renaissance Dam, situated close to Ethiopia's border with Sudan and being built by Italy's largest construction firm Salini Impregilo SpA, is due for completion next year.
It has become a bone of contention between Ethiopia and Egypt, downstream from the dam and relying almost exclusively on the Nile for agricultural, industrial and domestic water use. Addis Ababa has complained Cairo has pressured international donors and lenders to withhold funding for the project, while Egypt has sought assurances the dam will not significantly cut the flow of water to its rapidly growing population. Egyptian state news agency MENA said the two countries plus Sudan signed contracts on Tuesday tasking two French firms, BRL and Artelia, with conducting studies into the dam's impact. Gilles Rocquelain, BRL Director General, said the studies would start in late 2016 and take 11 months. The leaders of the three countries signed a co-operation deal in Khartoum last year to pave the way for a joint approach to regional water supplies. In all, Ethiopia plans to spend some $12 billion on harnessing its rivers for hydro power production in the next two decades.

5 September 2016  ,The Nation's Renewable Energy Dev't Quest
Ethiopian Herald, Zelalem Girma,  http://allafrica.com/stories/201609050905.html
Ethiopia promotes the development of renewable energy sources including geothermal, hydro-power, solar and wind in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access and carbon neutral economic growth.
Water and Energy Ministry Senior Energy Analyst Yiheyis Eshetu told The Ethiopian Herald that the country plans to increase energy generation capacity from 9,515.27 GWh in 2014/15 to 77,343 GWh by 2024/25.
It is also on the right track in developing sustainable and carbon neutral energy technologies to register better achievement in energy security and equity as well as environmental protection, he added.
According to Yiheyis, the population is growing at 2.6 per cent annually and projected to reach 103 million by 2020. Thus, the demand for biomass fuels is expected to increase on average by 2.9 per cent a year. (…)


- Education -

16 September 2016  Ministry to Finalize Construction of 11 New Universities. 
Ethiopian Herald,  http://allafrica.com/stories/201609160614.html
The new 11 universities, whose construction was launched in five states in the past, will be finalized at the end of this Ethiopian budget year, said the Ministry of Education (MoE). Project Office Head at the Ministry, Samuel Kifle, said efforts will be made to complete the construction of all universities until June. The universities will begin enroling students in 2010 E.C. Works were underway to furnish the universities with the necessary laboratory, dining and other equipment that are essential for the teaching-learning process, including the construction of internet, electricity, water and other related infrastructure. Nine of the 11 universities will enrol a total of 16, 500 students in 2010 Ethiopian academic year. The remaining two universities will go under expansion project.


- Sport -

21 September 2016   Ethiopian PM blames Olympic protest on U.S.-based dissenters.
Siobhán O'Grady and Brian Stout, Foreign Policy, Chicago Tribune,  http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-ethiopia-protest-19805360-8013-11e6-9070-5c4905bf40dc-20160921-story.html
When Ethiopian marathoner Feyisa Lilesa held his arms in an "X" as he crossed the finish line for a silver medal last month at the Rio Olympics, he says he was culminating a political protest he'd planned for months. But top Ethiopian officials say he was put up to the stunt by U.S.-based opposition groups in order to protest the government's crackdown on demonstrations and further fuel controversial secessionist movements at home and in neighboring Eritrea. Speaking to Foreign Policy in an exclusive interview from the living room of his suite at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Tuesday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said he strongly believes that groups of anti-government Ethiopians based in the United States convinced the athlete to use the Summer Games as a protest venue. He also figures they helped get him from a Rio hotel to Washington, D.C. in time for a televised press conference last week. "It's me who sent him to Rio for the Olympics, and we expected him to come back after winning the medal," Hailemariam said, specifically naming members of the Oromo Liberation Front as having likely contributed to Feyisa's protest. "This is not the capacity of the man himself. It's something which has been orchestrated by someone else from outside." (…)


Kurznachrichten des Afrika-Vereins der deutschen Wirtschaft
http://www.afrikaverein.de/nachrichten/kurznachrichten/?country=1475

05.09.2016
Transportwesen: Addis Abeba setzt über 1.000 neue Taxis und über 500 neue Busse ein
Mit 500 neuen Autobussen und über 1.000 neuen Taxen soll der Stadtverkehr von Addis Abeba bis zum Beginn des neuen äthiopischen Jahres im September 2016 modernisiert werden. ...

05.09.2016
Erneuerbare Energie: Im Wasserkraftwerk GERD sind zwei Turbinen bereits installiert
Im umstrittenen Wasserkraftwerk Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) sollen nach seiner vollständigen Fertigstellung mit 16 Francis-Turbinen 6.000 MW an Energie erzeugt werden. Zwei von den genannten Turbinen sind inzwischen bereits installiert worden. Der neue Damm wird dazu beitragen, Äthiopien zu einem der weltweit größten Stromproduzenten zu machen, der aus dem Betrieb seiner Kraftwerke und aus dem Export von elektrischer Energie über US-$ 1,0 Mrd. jährlich erwirtschaften könnte. Bis es soweit ist, müssen allerdings die Missverständnisse zwischen Äthiopien und Ägypten zu diesem Thema geklärt werden. Kairo bezweifelt, dass der Betrieb des Kraftwerks den Wasserzufluss des Nils in Ägypten nicht beeinflussen wird. (Quelle: EBCAM 155/2016 – 11.08.2016 - mei)