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News: CPJ calls for release of journalist #Salsawit Baynesagn, says detention without charge violates due process

The Committee to Protect Journalists (#CPJ) has called on #Ethiopian authorities to immediately release journalist Salsawit Baynesagn or bring her before a court and disclose any charges against her, saying her continued detention without judicial review raises serious due process concerns.

"Salsawit Baynesagn's detention without charge or without being brought before a court within 48 hours is a serious violation of her rights and a warning to Ethiopian journalists covering sensitive public issues," CPJ quoted its #Africa Director, Angela Quintal, as saying.

Addis Standard reported on 17 June, citing a family member, that journalist Salsawit Baynesagn had been held by Addis Abeba police since 8 June without being brought before a court.

https://t.co/29odpxfzKY

[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

#Tribute: Goshu Moges: A journalist who refused to be silenced

In this tribute, Adey Goshu Moges reflects on the life and legacy of her father, #Goshu_Moges, a pioneering Ethiopian journalist and founder of #Tobia, #Ethiopia’s pioneering independent magazine, who died on 4 June 2026 at the age of 89. Adey recounts how, throughout her childhood, her father was repeatedly imprisoned for his unwavering commitment to truth and freedom of expression.

She writes, "My father believed liberty began in the mind. His most prized possession was his freedom to think."

Remembering a life defined by courage, resilience, and principled journalism, Adey emphasizes, “He died still hoping for a free Ethiopia”—a vision that shaped both his life's work and enduring legacy.

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[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

#UN calls on #RSF to cease imminent offensive on #Sudan’s #el_Obeid

The United Nations has issued an urgent warning saying that Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) could imminently lay siege to el-Obeid, risking large-scale atrocities.

El-Obeid is the capital of the #North_Kordofan state in Sudan.

“We have seen this playbook before,” the UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, said, referring to North Darfur’s capital el-Fasher. “We know where it led then, and cannot now allow a repeat of the preventable atrocities we documented in el-Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp.”

El-Fasher fell to the RSF in October 2025, following an eighteen-month siege, which Middle East Eye reported caused widespread massacres, mass rapes, and looting by the RSF.

The UN concluded that these actions “bore the hallmarks of genocide”. Turk stressed that people across Kordofan face grave danger “in the absence of action to halt the imminent offensive and further military escalation”.

The warning comes amid a significant build-up of RSF troops and intensified artillery shelling and drone strikes in el-Obeid.

According to reports from the Ayin Network, consistent drone strikes targeting fuel stations and trucks have triggered an “acute fuel crisis”.

The crisis has paralysed local public transit and disrupted water treatment facilities, forcing residents to navigate el-Obeid on foot or in donkey-drawn carts, as they attempt to flee towards the neighbouring White Nile State.

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[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

News: Suspect in #Oromia courtroom killings of judge, ex-wife dies by suicide while under medical care

The Oromia Supreme Court has confirmed that the suspect accused of fatally shooting a judge and a plaintiff inside a courtroom in Walmara District, #West_Shewa Zone, earlier this month has died by suicide while under medical treatment.

Confirming the death of the suspect on Friday, the regional supreme court said that the suspect, Aknew Bekele, who had been in police custody while authorities collected evidence against him, died at St. #Paul’s Hospital in #Addis_Abeba, where he had been receiving medical treatment.

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[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

News: #Ethiopian Airlines takes delivery of its first Twin Otter Aircraft from #Canadian manufacturer

Canadian aircraft manufacturer #De_Havilland Canada announced that it has delivered the first of two Twin Otter Classic 300-G aircraft ordered by Ethiopian Airlines, marking the beginning of the carrier's planned expansion of its regional fleet.

In a statement issued on 18 June, the manufacturer said the aircraft is intended to support Ethiopian Airlines' efforts to expand regional connectivity by serving remote communities, tourism destinations, and lake regions across Ethiopia and the wider East African region.

https://t.co/TRC5vA5gsc

[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

#Africa #CDC chief says the continent needs to invest its own funds in Ebola response, vaccine

African officials must step up financing to respond and develop vaccines for the #Ebola outbreak in #Congo and #Uganda, the continent’s top health agency said on Friday, warning that the continent cannot continue to rely on foreign partners for its health needs.

The outbreak has claimed more than 200 lives out of 894 confirmed cases since May 15, with up to 35,000 contacts, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The number of cases is believed to be higher because the outbreak was confirmed weeks late.

Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya told The Associated Press in Addis Ababa, #Ethiopia’s capital, that the current outbreak — the worst ever at this stage — is yet another reminder for Africa to invest more in its health sector to reduce its reliance on foreign partners.

“If this outbreak was in #Europe, the #United_States or other continents, they would already have developed a vaccine and medicine,” Kaseya said.

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[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

#Trump envoy, #Iranian minister head to Switzerland for talks

#US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi were both headed to #Switzerland for talks, Axios said on Friday, as a ceasefire in Lebanon appeared to revive efforts to turn an interim Iran war pact ​into a lasting regional deal.

#Israel and #Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon on Friday after escalating fighting cast doubt over U.S.-Iran talks critical to reopening the Strait of Hormuz ‌and stabilising oil supplies.

That followed a 14-point memorandum the two sides signed this week to halt fighting and open a 60-day window to resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear program, as well as other thorny issues needed to forge a more durable deal.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance canceled plans on Thursday to travel to Switzerland for the talks, however, amid rising tension in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran.

With the ceasefire in place, Witkoff is heading to Switzerland to join Jared Kushner, President ​Donald Trump’s son-in-law, who is already there, Axios said. Araqchi plans to travel there on Saturday, it added.
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[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

News: #TPLF rejects #US visa restrictions, says #Washington overlooked failures in #Pretoria Agreement implementation

In a statement issued on 19 June, a day after the U.S. State Department announced the restrictions, the TPLF said it respects the #United_States' role in supporting peace efforts in the Horn of #Africa but expressed "deep concern" over the decision.

"The recent visa restrictions appear to be based on an incomplete and imbalanced assessment of the situation and place responsibility on the TPLF while overlooking the #Federal_Government of #Ethiopia's persistent failure to implement its obligations under the #Pretoria_Agreement," the statement said.

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[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

Today's headlines:

🇺🇸 U.S.-Iran talks delayed
🇪🇹 Ethiopia's Red Sea push draws attention
🇸🇩 New UN warning on Sudan

What happened and why it matters:

▶️ https://t.co/wDlBMJEIQi

[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

In-depth Analysis: Budget of Survival: As #Ethiopia’s economy adjusts, fixed-income workers’ pay the highest price

When Ethiopia unveiled its record 2.34 trillion Birr budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year, government officials presented it as evidence of a state mobilizing resources for reform, growth, and economic recovery. On paper, the budget marks another dramatic increase in public spending, continuing a rapid expansion that has seen federal allocations grow from 562 billion Birr in 2022/23 to nearly two trillion Birr within three years.

Yet beyond the headline figures lies a different reality unfolding in households, bus stations, workplaces, and markets across the country.

https://t.co/Pq4YD6hLdw

[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

"Access to maritime routes is a necessity, not a confrontation."

Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos places Red Sea access at the center of Ethiopia's foreign policy, while emphasizing dialogue, regional stability, and mutual benefit.

Watch the full story on our YouTube channel for key details and reactions.
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#Ethiopia #RedSeaAccess #HornOfAfrica #Geopolitics #AddisStandard

[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

News: #Somaliland president says several countries considering recognition, declines to name them as #IGAD voices concern

President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, says several countries are considering recognizing the self-declared republic following #Israel's recognition, but declined to identify them, saying announcements could come "soon."

He also said Somaliland maintains diplomatic channels with the #United_States, #Ethiopia, #Kenya, and the #UAE.

The remarks came as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) expressed concern over reports of Somaliland opening an embassy in #Jerusalem, warning against actions it said could undermine Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

News: #Ethiopia launches refugee integration strategy as #UNHCR faces over 90% funding shortfall

The strategy was unveiled yesterday during a high-level ceremony held at the #Adwa Victory Memorial in #Addis_Abeba, attended by senior government officials, representatives of international organizations, development partners, civil society groups, and refugee representatives.

Officials described the initiative as a major shift from Ethiopia’s traditional aid-dependent refugee encampment model toward a state-led development approach focused on long-term inclusion and self-reliance.

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[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

#Just_In: #Israel, #Hezbollah agree to ceasefire effective Friday after deadly escalation in southern #Lebanon

Addis Abeba - Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire set to take effect at 4:00 p.m. local time on Friday, according to a senior U.S. official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. The agreement was reportedly brokered by U.S. and Qatari negotiators with support from Iran.

“Hezbollah and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire,” the official said. “We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah are now in a ceasefire.”

The announcement follows a sharp escalation in fighting that left at least 18 people kileld in southern Lebanon after a series of overnight Israeli airstrikes, according to Lebanese authorities.

Israel's military also reported that four of its soldiers were killed during combat operations near Kfar Tebnit in southern Lebanon after their tank was struck.

The deaths of the soldiers triggered inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who said that “all of Lebanon must burn” following the military's announcement.

The ceasefire agreement comes a day after the United States and Iran signed a deal aimed at ending ongoing conflicts across the Middle East, including securing a permanent cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

U.S. officials have described the truce as a key component of broader efforts to stabilize the region and preserve ongoing diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran.

[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

News: Maritime routes ‘matter of national development’, #Red_Sea access ‘necessity’, not ‘confrontation’: FM Gedion

Ethiopia has moved to soften regional concerns over its pursuit of Red Sea access, with Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos describing maritime access as a “matter of national development” in his latest foreign policy speech, and stressing that the country’s quest for a sea outlet should be viewed as a “necessity,” not a “confrontation.”

The policy framing advanced by FM Gedion reflected a more cautious tone compared to earlier rhetoric surrounding Ethiopia’s maritime access agenda, including statements previously made by senior political and army officials.

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[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

#Commentary: The Fire Next Door: #Sudan, #Tigray, and #Ethiopia's strategic encirclement

In this commentary, Ambachew A. Anjulo argues that Ethiopia is confronting a precarious state of "strategic encirclement" as internal fault lines deepen and regional crises increasingly converge.

He contends that while #Addis_Abeba remains focused on maintaining post-election stability, the 2022 #Pretoria Agreement has effectively unraveled, with both the federal government and the #TPLF positioning themselves for a potential return to conflict. At the same time, a growing #Egypt-#Eritrea alignment, combined with the #Fano insurgency in #Amhara and Sudan’s protracted civil war, is placing Ethiopia under mounting strategic pressure and threatening to reinforce its landlocked status.

The author notes, "When your neighbor’s house is on fire, your own is in danger”—a warning that, he argues, now “reflects Ethiopia’s increasingly fragile security environment.”

https://t.co/iwM0L4eyKe

[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

News: Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization backs #UN rights expert’s #Eritrea report, calls for stronger international action

Red Sea Afar Democratic Organization (#RSADO) said the report provided a "credible assessment" of Eritrea's human rights situation and highlighted what it described as systematic repression by the Eritrean government, including alleged acts of transnational repression targeting #Eritrean citizens, refugees, asylum seekers, journalists, human rights defenders, and political activists living abroad.

https://t.co/kGgPqL8jG9

[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

News: At #G7 summit, #Kenya calls for better recognition of #Africa by international institutions

Kenya's President #William_Ruto attended the G7 summit after its host, #French President #Emmanuel_Macron, invited him during the Africa Forward summit held in #Nairobi a few weeks earlier. Ruto used the platform to advocate for Africa to be better recognised by international institutions.

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[Addis Standard @addisstandard]

#US-#Iran talks in #Switzerland postponed amid implementation uncertainties over preliminary ceasefire deal

Addis Abeba – Planned talks between the United States and Iran scheduled to take place at Switzerland’s Bürgenstock resort on 19 June have been postponed, according to Swiss and U.S. officials, casting uncertainty over efforts to implement a preliminary agreement aimed at ending recent hostilities and reopening key regional trade routes.

According to Reuters, the White House confirmed that U.S. Vice President JD Vance would no longer travel to Switzerland for the anticipated meeting, while Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) said the Bürgenstock gathering would not take place as planned. No alternative date was immediately announced.

The meeting was expected to focus on implementing a tentative agreement reached electronically between Washington and Tehran on 17–18 June. The understanding, referred to in some reports as the “Islamabad Memorandum,” was intended to establish a framework for ending recent military confrontations involving Iran, lifting the U.S. naval blockade, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and launching a 60-day process to negotiate a broader settlement covering Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and reconstruction efforts.

U.S. officials attributed the postponement to logistical complications and incomplete planning surrounding the event.

Other reports suggested that Iran’s negotiating team suspended travel plans amid continued regional tensions and Israeli military operations linked to #Hezbollah positions.

The Guardian reported that the cancellation came despite earlier expectations that senior officials from both countries would meet in Switzerland either for a formal signing ceremony or for technical discussions aimed at translating the preliminary understanding into a comprehensive agreement.