24 Ethiopian migrants drown off Yemeni coast

The Yemeni interior ministry said Monday that 24 Ethiopian migrants were found dead after their boat sank off the Yemeni coast.

In a statement posted on its website, the ministry said the boat sank off the Red Sea coast of Yemen's southwestern province of Taiz, Xinhua reported.

It said the rescue operation has been launched to search for survivors off the port city of Al-Makha. The statement did not tell when the boat sank.

It was the second accident in the Yemeni waters in less than a month. On Dec 7, about 70 Ethiopean

Ethiopia is One of the Top Ten Worst Jailers of Journalists

December 17, 2014

More than 200 journalists are imprisoned for their work for the third consecutive year, reflecting a global surge in authoritarianism. China is the world’s worst jailer of journalists in 2014. A CPJ special report by Shazdeh Omari.

The Committee to Protect Journalists identified 220 journalists in jail around the world in 2014, an increase of nine from 2013. The tally marks the second-highest number of journalists in jail since CPJ began taking an annual census of imprisoned journalists in 1990, and highlights a resurgence of authoritarian governments in countries such as China, Ethiopia, Burma, and Egypt.

China’s use of anti-state charges and Iran’s revolving door policy in imprisoning reporters,

Ethiopia: Release protestors, stop crushing political opposition

On 5 and 6 December, security services in Addis Ababa arrested an estimated 90 people during attempts to stage a demonstration by a coalition of nine opposition political parties. The arrests are the latest manifestation of the authorities’ hostility towards the political opposition ahead of the general election scheduled for May 2015. The Ethiopian authorities must ensure the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested for peaceful participation in, or the organization of, the demonstration, and all others imprisoned in Ethiopia for the peaceful expression of their political opinion.
Amnesty International is concerned that in the period ahead of next year’s poll such instances of the authorities cracking down on political opposition will intensify.
The nine-party coalition was attempting to stage a demonstration in Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square on 6 December as the culmination of a series of activities calling for a free and fair election.
The exact number of people arrested has not been established, but the political parties involved report

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS 2014

Any hopes for improvements in press freedom following the August 2012 death of Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi were dashed in 2013 as new prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn remained firmly on the course of his predecessor, resisting calls for a more open media environment. The government continued to wield the draconian antiterrorism law to stifle dissent, targeting both print and online journalists—even in absentia—while charges such as “outrages against the constitution” or “defaming the government” were levied against other critical voices. Ethiopia remained the second-worst jailer of journalists in Africa in 2013, after Eritrea.

While the constitution guarantees freedom of the press, the 2005 criminal code contains many provisions that limit this right, including restrictions on “obscene” communication, criminal defamation, and criticism of public

Ethiopia Issues Unfamiliar Investor Warning Over War with Eritrea and Famine

Ethiopia issues unfamiliar investor warning over war and famine

Javier Blas

Every country tapping the global sovereign bond market details the dangers investors face in its prospectus, often in a boilerplate section enumerating possible problems – such as fiscal deficits or taxation issues – that is largely ignored.

But the document sent by Ethiopia to international investors ahead of its foray into the global sovereign bond market is somewhat different. Far from a boilerplate, it includes a list of unfamiliar hazards, such as famine, political tension and war.

The document, seen by the Financial Times, is a sobering reminder of the risk of investing in one of Africa’s less developed nations. With gross domestic product per capita at less than $550 per year, Ethiopia is the poorest country yet to issue global bonds.

In the 108-page prospectus, issued ahead of its expected $1bn bond, Ethiopia tells investors they need

Ethiopia 2015 elections: An opportunity to change course and increase freedom of expression

According to a schedule released by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, the country will go to the polls to elect a new government on 24 May 2015. This will be Ethiopia’s fifth national election.
Campaigning is expected to begin officially on 14 February 2015, ending on 21 May 2015. The final result will be announced on 22 June 2015.

PREVIOUS ELECTIONS

The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has claimed victory in every election since the fall of the Derg regime and the adoption of a new constitution in August 1995. The EPRDF, led by the late Meles Zenawi, claimed victory in the elections of 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010.

The 2005 elections were marked by violence and became a turning point for the country. As the results came in, it became

Ethiopia Tests Thousands for HIV in Record Attempt

Ethiopian officials say more than 3,300 people were tested for HIV Sunday in the rural region of Gambella, a massive turnout that exceeded expectations among AIDS campaigners who had hoped to test 2,000 people.

Rahel Gettu, an official with the U.N. Aids agency in Ethiopia, said they believed they broke the world record for the number of HIV tests carried out in one day. She said their claim was yet to be

Increasing military presence in Gambella

Following the violent clashes between Mezhenger and government forces near the Southern and Gambella borders, which claimed the lives of local militia and at least 50 members of the Federal police members in the past few weeks, a large presence of the Ethiopian Defense Forces is now being observed.

ESAT’s reporter said that there has been a fear that a war could break out in the area since last week, and schools have been closed. Despite the fears and tension in the area, no conflict has since arisen; the

Zone 9 Case Sees 11th Court Delay

By: Siobhan Hagan, IPI Contributor

The International Press Institute

 VIENNA – An Ethiopian court this week delayed proceedings for an 11th time against six bloggers and three independent journalists, who were arrested in April in connection with their activities as part of the Zone 9 collective.

The court at a hearing on Tuesday adjourned the case until Nov. 12, 2014. The nine defendants, who were arrested in Addis Ababa on April 25 and 26, have now been in pre-trial detention for over six months.

The bloggers and journalists are being held on charges of alleged terrorism and inciting violence as a result of their contact with foreign human rights organisations and opposition political parties. They are being prosecuted under Ethiopia’s controversial, 2009 anti-terrorism law.

After a joint mission to Ethiopia with the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) last

Human rights campaigner says African Union should move headquarters out of Ethiopia

JOHANNESBURG –  An Angolan journalist and human rights campaigner says the African Union should move its headquarters out of Ethiopia because of concerns about freedom of expression there.

Journalist Rafael Marques de Morais said Tuesday night in Johannesburg that the African Union, which represents 53 countries on the continent, is hypocritical to keep

Amnesty Says Ethiopia Detains 5,000 Oromos Illegally Since 2011

Ethiopia’s government illegally detained at least 5,000 members of the country’s most populous ethnic group, the Oromo, over the past four years as it seeks to crush political dissent, Amnesty International said. 

Victims include politicians, students, singers and civil servants, sometimes only for wearing Oromo traditional dress, or for holding influential positions within the community, the London-based advocacy group said in a report today. Most people

Land grabbing fuelling violent conflict in Gambela region

The ongoing tension and violent conflict in the Gambela region is a major concern for peace and stability in a troubled region. Gambela is home to five indigenous communities and hosts over 250,000 South Sudanese refugees fleeing political upheaval. At the heart of the current conflict is the government's development policy and the uncontrolled influx of migrants acquiring lands in the indigenous people’s territories.

A country largely dependent on international food aid and financial assistance, Ethiopia pursued the

GULF OF ADEN BOAT SINKING LEAVES 66 DEAD IMMIGRANTS FROM SOMALIA, ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA

Sanaa ( AFP + DIPLOMAT.SO) – Scores have drowned in the Red Sea in recent weeks trying to cross to Yemen making this year’s death toll the highest in years, the UN’s refugee agency said Friday.

“There’s been a sharp increase this year in the number of migrants and asylum seekers losing their lives in attempts to get to Yemen, mainly from the Horn of Africa, with more deaths in 2014 than in the last three years combined,” UNHCR spokesman William Spindler told reporters.

Thousands of people fleeing lawless Somalia and the iron-fisted regime in Eritrea, among other troubled

Ethiopian authorities convict journalist in Addis Ababa

Nairobi, October 15, 2014--An Ethiopian court on Monday convicted journalist and magazine owner Temesghen Desalegn in connection with a 2012 defamation case, according to news reports and local journalists.

The Federal High Court in the capital, Addis Ababa, found Temesghen guilty of incitement, defamation, and false publication in connection with a series of opinion

Independent Ethiopian Journalist Temesgen Desalegn Arrested

Ethiopian journalist Temesgen Desalegn has been arrested by Ethiopian police today, October 13, 2014 for articles he wrote before 2013.

Temesgen was the editor in chief of the critical newspaper, Feteh, which was closed by government order. The Ethiopian government filed over 100 lawsuits against him, some of which he is still fighting. He has also been arrested briefly in 2013. He worked as the editor in chief of another critical magazine, Addis Times before it also

LONG JAIL SENTENCES FOR THREE MAGAZINE OWNERS

They fled the country before the trial and were convicted in absentia

Ethiopia’s federal supreme court yesterday sentenced three magazine owners in absentia to more than three years in prison on charges of “inciting violent revolts, printing and distributing unfounded rumours and conspiring to unlawfully abolish the constitutional system of the country.”

The three, who fled the country when the prosecution was mooted, are Addis Guday publisher Endalkachew Tesfaye, Lomi publisher Gizaw Taye and Fact publisher Fatuma Nuriya. Their jail

Government using taxpayer's money to train Ethiopia's security forces while British man is held there on death row

The Government is using taxpayers’ money to train security forces in Ethiopia who are currently holding a British father of three on death row, The Independent has learnt.
Andargachew “Andy” Tsege, from London, was seized at an airport in Yemen on 23 June and resurfaced in Ethiopian detention two weeks later, in what his family believe was part of

United States expels Ethiopian Embassy gunman

by Abebe Gellaw

The United States has expelled the Ethiopian Embassy gunman who opened fire at peaceful protesters last Monday, Ethiopian embassy sources confirmed to the Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT).Ethiopian

Ethiopia UPR: States must not ignore reality for free expression in Ethiopia

Mr. President,

ARTICLE 19 notes with appreciation that Ethiopia has accepted recommendations to implement fully its Constitutional protections for freedoms of expression, assembly and association, as well as to encourage political debate ahead of the 2015 elections.

However, this apparent openness to cooperation is in stark contrast to the reality on the ground in Ethiopia, where an unprecedented crackdown on freedom of expression continues to escalate in advance of the coming elections.

During its UPR, Ethiopia denied that any journalists are in prison. This is not true. ARTICLE 19 has documented that the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation has been used since its enactment in 2009 to prosecute 22 journalists and bloggers. The Proclamation defines “terrorism” so broadly that it encompasses any exercise of legitimate dissent that the Government wishes to crush. The Zone 9

UN experts urge Ethiopia to stop using anti-terrorism legislation to curb human rights

UN experts urge Ethiopia to stop using anti-terrorism legislation to curb human rights

GENEVA (18 September 2014) – A group of United Nations human rights experts* today urged the Government of Ethiopia to stop misusing anti-terrorism legislation to curb freedoms of expression and association in the country, amid reports that people continue to be detained arbitrarily.

The experts' call comes on the eve of the consideration by Ethiopia of a series of recommendations made earlier this year by members of the Human Rights Council in a process known as the Universal Periodic Review which applies equally to all 193 UN Members States. These recommendations are aimed at improving the protection and promotion of human rights in the country, including in the context of counter-terrorism measures.
“Two years after we first raised the alarm, we are still receiving numerous reports on how the anti-terrorism law is being used to target journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and opposition politicians in Ethiopia,” the experts said. “Torture and inhuman treatment in detention are gross violations of fundamental human rights.”
“Confronting terrorism is important, but it has to be done in adherence to international human rights to be effective,” the independent experts stressed. “Anti-terrorism provisions need to be clearly defined in Ethiopian criminal law, and they must not be abused.”
The experts have repeatedly highlighted issues such as unfair trials, with defendants often having no access to a lawyer. “The right to a fair trial, the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to freedom of association continue to be violated by the application of the anti-terrorism law,” they warned.

“We call upon the Government of Ethiopia to free all persons detained arbitrarily under the pretext of countering terrorism,” the experts said. “Let journalists, human rights defenders, political opponents and religious leaders carry out their legitimate work without fear of intimidation and incarceration.”
The human rights experts reiterated their call on the Ethiopian authorities to respect individuals’ fundamental rights and to apply anti-terrorism legislation cautiously and in accordance with Ethiopia’s international human rights obligations.
“We also urge the Government of Ethiopia to respond positively to the outstanding request to visit by the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of peaceful assembly and association, on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and on the situation of human rights defenders,” they concluded.
ENDS
(*) The experts: Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson; Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai; Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye; Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst; Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Gabriela Knaul; Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Juan Méndez.
Special Procedures is the largest body of independent experts in the United Nations Human Rights system. Special Procedures is the general name of the independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Currently, there are 38 thematic mandates and 14 mandates related to countries and territories, with 73 mandate holders. 

Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity

ohchr