Disease alert in flood-hit Africa, (BBC)

Scores of people have died and much of the continent's most fertile farmland has been washed away in what is being described as a humanitarian disaster.

The UN said more rain was expected and warned that the need for food, shelter and medicine was urgent.

Some 17 countries have been affected in West, Central and East Africa....more

Ethiopian festival enlivens Trafalgar Square of London, (Ethiomedia)

We Muslims of the World owe you, Ethiopians, for our own very existence. When our forefathers were persecuted, you took us in. We the Muslims of the World are here today because of you, Ethiopians. Your "Negus" refused to hand over the early Muslim refugees whom the Prophet Himself instructed to go Ethiopia to save our faith from extinction. Not only once did you save the lives of the Muslim refugees, but twice. When the persecutors demanded to hand over the Muslims under his protection the Negus said: "even if you give me a mountain of gold, I will not surrender these men to you." Therefore, I would like to thank Ethiopians for what they did 1,500 years ago and wish you today a happy new year and a happy millennium....more

Ethiopia Rejects Eritrean Ethiopian Boundary Commission's Authority (again)!, (Africanpath)

If Ethiopia will not abide by the decisions of a commission convened under its own authority, the suggestion by its Premier that another may be necessary in the future lacks credibility. Further, as the decisions of the EEBC are "final and binding," no changes are allowed to be made without the expressed approval of both parties, however, Eritrea has stated numerous times, "we will [not] compromise our sovereignty or territorial integrity."...more

Eritrea: New strategies on Ethiopia’s affairs (Africanpath)

One important thing is, Isayas will not try to humiliate Ethiopian EPRDF government in the north of Ethiopia, like in Afar because it will affect Eritrea in the long term. Isayas knows that gaining short term benefits in expense of long term damages has been the mistakes of many Ethiopian governments. So his focus will be in southern Ethiopia for a long time. Especially I am sure he will never support the Afar liberation movements. But one thing that I don't understand is, if he helps the Ogadenis separate from Ethiopia wouldn't he start a chain of unstoppable events towards more and more ethnicities seeking secession? If this chain of events moves north and to the creation of Tigrai and Afar republics, the existence of Eritrea will be in deep danger! This indirectly harms Eritrea’s interests. Maybe Isayas already have a plan for that. No body knows....more

INTERVIEW-Ethiopia says deaths do not deter Sinopec, (Reuter)

The attack was one of the worst on Beijing's growing energy interests in Africa, which range from Angola to Sudan and Ethiopia....more

Hailu Shawel to face angry supporters in Washington when he arrives today (Ethiopian Review)

Because of his age and worsening health condition, Ato Hailu may retire in a matter of few months. It would be sad if he leaves Kinijit in disgrace after contributing so much for the struggle to bring freedom and democracy to Ethiopia. Great leaders often have sad endings. After leading the U.K. to victory against Nazi Germany, Winston Churchill was defeated at the post-war election, and later on he was forced out of his party’s leadership. Our own Atse Haile-Selassie’s fate was even worse — he was murdered by his own officers and buried unceremoniously. These leaders could have made a graceful exit at the right moment. But they chose to be forced out. There are examples of great endings, too, such as Nelsen Mandela of South Africa. History now remembers these leaders’ positive achievements more than the mistakes they made at the sunset of their career. No matter how Ato Hailu decides to end his political career, when the dust settles he will be remembered in the history books as a national hero who worked tirelessly to bring a better future for Ethiopia....more

Some modesty, please, (Al-Ahram)

With a few exceptions, the West is wrong about the Arabs just as the Arabs are wrong about the West. This is true in politics as in culture. Muslims number 1.4 billion or so around the world. They are a majority in 57 countries (hence that number of members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference) and a substantial minority in many others, including India and Ethiopia. There are 16 million Muslims in Russia alone. One out of five people on this planet are Muslims. One out of every three countries is dominantly Muslim. So I ask you, are all these people guilty of terror?

It is wrong to lump all Muslims together or reduce Islam to one of its many strands. It is wrong to identify all Muslims with Islamists, or a small minority within them. But this is exactly what those who speak about the "Islamic threat" or "Islamic peril" do. Those who speak of Islam in tones of hostility forget that it is a creed embodying the cultural heritage of hundreds of millions of people.

There are people in our world who say that Muslims have a natural "penchant" for terror and aggression. They say so because they overlook the subtleties of Islamic beliefs, law and systems. They fail to recognise the diversity and varied spectrum of communities that live under Islam. ...more

Ethiopia detains three men linked to opposition politician( Sudane Tribune)

Bazezew said the only connection between the four men was fundraising efforts to buy a car for Birtukan Mideksa in August. Birtukan, a top opposition politician, was among 38 opposition members released from prison last July. They had been held for more than two years after security forces shot 193 civilians protesting electoral fraud. The trial attracted international condemnation and strong pressure from the United States to free the accused, who emerged from prison with strong support in many of their neighborhoods. Such support motivated a group in the neighborhood to buy Mideksa a car, Bazezew said....more

Eritrea backs Somali opposition against Ethiopia (Reuter)

ASMARA (Reuters) - Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has backed a new Somali opposition alliance, saying arch-foe Ethiopia's fight against insurgents in Mogadishu was doomed to fail, state media reported on Saturday.

The formation of the group, including top Islamist leaders, in Asmara this week has generated yet more friction between Ethiopia and Eritrea after their border war of 1998-2000....more

Ethiopia's Meseret Defar sets world record in women's 2-mile, easily beats own mark

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — Meseret Defar set a world record in the women's 2-mile at the Van Damme Memorial meet Friday, smashing her own mark by almost 12 seconds.

The Ethiopian finished in 8 minutes, 58.58 seconds, shaving 11.89 seconds off the 9:10.47 mark she set in May at Carson, Calif.

Defar already has set two world records - in the 5,000 outdoor and the 3,000 indoor - early in the season. And last month she won the 5,000 at the world championships in Osaka, Japan.
The Associated Press

Ramadan begins across Muslim world( Al-Jazeera)

Ramadan, a month of day-long fasting, spiritual reflection and sometimes night-long revelry, has begun for most of the world's 1.2 billion Muslims....more

Ethiopia: Ogaden Leaders Accuse Govt of 'Genocide'

In July, a Human Rights Watch statement accused the government of widespread rights abuses. "Ethiopian troops are destroying villages and property, confiscating livestock and forcing civilians to relocate," said Peter Takirambudde, Africa director of Human Rights Watch. "Whatever the military strategy, these abuses violate the laws of war."

In the same statement, Human Rights Watch said that the ONLF targets civilians in their attacks. The OLNF representatives denied the charges during the interview. They acknowledged that civilians sometimes die, but contended that the government had armed civilians and said Human Rights Watch does not have full information....more

Mixed emotions in their year 2000 (chicago tribune)

More than 20 years after images of starving children with bloated bellies captured the world's attention, Ethiopians still suffer from chronic food shortages. Ethiopia ranks 170th out of 177 on the U.N. Human Development Index, which measures life expectancy, literacy and education for countries worldwide. Border disputes with neighboring Eritrea and rebel uprisings are challenging security in the country.

"You celebrate when you achieve something. What are we going to celebrate for?" asked Gebriel, 44, who left Ethiopia 24 years ago and returned in April to see his relatives in the capital city of Addis Ababa. "I have seen new roads, I have seen buildings, but I measure development if the government can provide the basic necessities for the people. That's what I call growth."...more

Ethiopia accuses Norway of aiding terrorists - paper(Reuter)

Norway contributes development aid to all three impoverished African countries, but Oslo has said its direct aid to Ethiopia would be cut by about a third, or by around $5.3 million, as its embassy will not have the manpower to manage the full amount...more

Ethiopians in Washington, DC Celebrate Their Millennium (VOA)

Among the organizers of the five-day events is area resident Neamin Zeleke. He says, “the occasion serves as an opportunity to reflect on our past, assert our present and envision a better tomorrow.”

Neamin rejects critics who say any form of millennium celebration at this time is inappropriate, given the political and economic conditions Ethiopians face back home.

“The millennium celebration here is not only about chifera or dankira or festivities and merriment. We have several events that deal directly with the suffering of our people,” he says....more

Norway contributes development aid to all three impoverished African countries, but Oslo has said its direct aid to Ethiopia would be cut by about a t

"A thousand years from now, when Ethiopians gather to welcome the fourth Millennium, they shall say the eve of the third Millennium was the beginning of the end of the dark ages in Ethiopia," he said.

Because it was never colonised, Ethiopia has always had a special significance for the rest of Africa - which was summed up by the chairman of the African Union, Alpha Oumar Konare.

"We thank Ethiopia for keeping up the flame of African unity," he said. ...more

Ethiopia gets set for new Millennium, (BBC)

The official feel to the Millennium has been reinforced by the fact that none of the independent events originally planned for the New Year period will actually be taking place.

An offer by the Rastafarian community to bring over reggae stars from the Caribbean was not encouraged.

A project by a restaurateur to feed 2,000 hungry children did not get permission to go ahead.

The Taste of Ethiopia exhibition is not happening either; the tourism and culture minister said darkly that it had failed because the organisers did not work with the concerned body and took a course of their own.

And the organisers of the Great Ethiopian Run, an annual event which had been timed this year to coincide with the Millennium and which was expecting more than 30,000 participants, were told less than two weeks before the race that they had to postpone it until after the New Year celebrations. ...more

Ethiopian Diaspora Begins Millennium Celebrations, ( VOANEWS)

Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic country with Amhara the predominant ethnic group. Ephrem Madebo, systems engineer for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration addressed the topic “Democratic Response to what he called the national question in Ethiopia. He proposed a decentralized federal government.

“I brought two alternatives. It could be federalism but not ethnic federalism. It could be interpreted in a way that the Ethiopian masses agree, or it could be kind of regional autonomy. Those are my two alternatives,” Madebo said....more

Tearful joy greets CUD leaders, (Ethiomedia)

The CUD delegates who arrived in Washington DC on Saturday are scheduled to tour major cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta and others. The Europe-bound CUD delegation is also on schedule to do likewise. A third delegation has travelled to South Africa, which is also another home to a considerable size of Ethiopian community.

...more

US, UN concern over Ethiopian rebel crackdown (AFP)

Human rights groups have accused the army of razing villages, displacing thousands of civilians and imposing an economic blockade on the region, which has suffered flooding and drought...more