It was when the phone rang that things got sticky in Gode (Telegraph)

In few other countries would a phone call arouse such strength of feeling. But during my three days under armed guard in Ethiopia last week, I discovered the true meaning of "walking on eggshells". Whenever I was brought before Jamal or another official, I felt as if one careless gesture or ill-chosen word could land me in prison....more

Ethiopian refugees by Sudan

UNHCR urges the government to abide by this important principle of international law, which is also an integral part of Sudan's National Interim Constitution. UNHCR also urges authorities to abstain from any further deportations....more

Dismissive Ethiopia tests US indulgence (FT)

When the US objects to Ethiopian policies – such as a crackdown on political opponents that killed scores of people in 2005 and a scorched-earth campaign against separatist insurgents this year – it is ignored. When America gives implicit acquiescence – as it did over the Christmas invasion of Somalia and Ethiopia’s bitter border dispute with Eritrea – the US goes through the motions of diplomatic pressure and claims to have been rebuffed....more

Ethiopia's 'secret war' forces thousands to flee (Telegraph)

Ethiopia will receive £130 million of British aid this year - more than any other African country. Critics say that Mr Meles is using his favoured position - and Ethiopia's standing as a key Western ally in the war on terrorism - to avoid any protest over his behaviour....more

Rescuing Ethiopia (vanguardngr)

From the manner the trial was conducted, it is doubtful if the accused persons were given fair hearing. Zenawi did everything to hang those who dissented with him. Abraham Tetmke, state prosecutor, asked the court to impose death penalty on some of the accused just for standing up against official trampling on their political rights....more

UN Warns of Humanitarian Crisis in Ethiopia's Somali Region (Political Affairs)

“We will see a major crisis develop in the next month unless there is a resumption of livestock trade and export, commercial and humanitarian food distribution, urgent healthcare, and access by government service providers and humanitarian
partners,” stated Paul Hebert, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Ethiopia, in a report issued on 5 October. Hebert led a mission to the Somali region between 30 August and 5 September.

Meanwhile, legislative moves in the United States to cut aid to Ethiopia are unlikely to have a dramatic impact on its internal policies, an analyst with a leading think-tank said.

"It is going to have some limited effect," Tom Cargill of Chatham House said of the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act, which has been passed by the House of Representatives but has yet to be approved by the Senate or President George W Bush.

"It is symbolically important because it shows there is a range of views in the US about Ethiopia, but we should not read too much or too little into it." ...more

Rebel ONLF welcomes passing of Ethiopia Democracy & Accountability Act (Sudane Tribune)

As noted by the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Dr. Jandayi Frazer "A political solution is needed in the Ogaden that will both end the region’s historic marginalization and restore the commercial trade with Somalia to prevent a humanitarian crisis. "...more

Ethiopia Democracy & Accountability Act is a major step: OLF (Sudane Tribune)

The passage of H.R. 2003 is a major step in the right direction. The Bill brings to the forefront the political crisis in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian government’s large-scale human rights violations. Moreover, the Bill sends a clear signal that promoting democracy and human rights are the ways to defeat international terrorism. To the contrary, the support of undemocratic regimes actually creates conditions on which extremism could thrive....more

Ethiopia rebels back U.S. pressure on government (Reuter)

We believe the Oromo people would have everything to gain and nothing to lose from the advancement of human rights, democracy, independence of the judiciary and the supremacy of the rule of law and freedom of the press, which (the bill) calls for," the OLF statement said.

"The bill...(highlights) the Ethiopian government's large-scale human rights violations," the OLF added, calling for the U.S. Senate and president to sign the bill into law....more

U.S. House Passes Historic Ramadan Resolution (USinfo)

Washington – A resolution recognizing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and expressing the "deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world" was adopted in the U.S. House of Representatives October 2 by a vote of 376-0....more

Somalia: President Yusuf Loses His Grip on Power (allafrica)

As PINR forecast on September 19, the failures of the two national conferences aimed at devising a political formula for Somalia -- the National Reconciliation Conference (N.R.C.) sponsored by the country's internationally-recognized Transitional Federal Government (T.F.G.), and the Somali Congress for Liberation and Reconstitution (S.C.L.R.) organized by the political opposition based in Eritrea -- have led to a continuation of Somalia's spiral into political fragmentation and conflict. As an armed insurgency against the T.F.G. ratcheted up significantly in Somalia's official capital Mogadishu, rifts opened up in the transitional institutions, with conflict surfacing between the T.F.G.'s president, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, and its prime minister, Ali Mohamed Gedi; parliament demanding accountability from Gedi's government; and the arrest of Somalia's chief supreme court justice, Yusuf Ali Harun, followed by the sacking of the public prosecutor who initiated the case by Gedi and the prosecutor's refusal to leave his post....more

Flight from Ethiopia(CPJ)

However objectionable these conditions were, they got much worse for the press in 2005. In May of that year, contested parliamentary elections led to violent clashes between opposition groups and the ruling EPRDF party. At least 15 journalists were imprisoned on claims of antistate activity for articles that criticized the government’s handling of the civil unrest. Several others were detained on years-old charges and held without bail....more

Increased Threats to Civil Liberties Exacerbate Poor Governance in Ethiopia (Freedom House)

“In the new millennium, Ethiopia must allow civil society, political opposition, and media to not only function but to flourish,” said Daniel Calingaert, deputy director of programs at Freedom House. “It can do so quite simply by amending the draft press and NGO laws to reflect international standards and then adhering to those standards.”....more

Ethiopia angry at proposed U.S. aid sanction(reuter)

The bill, which still needs U.S. Senate approval and a presidential signature, would also deny U.S. entry visas to any Ethiopian government official involved in what it calls human rights violations, unless the president authorized a waiver....more

Ethiopia bill faces Bush backlash (FT)

Known as the Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act, the bill would ban “non essential US assistance” if Ethiopia obstructed US efforts to further human rights, democracy, independence of the judiciary and freedom of the press. It would restrict security assistance and impose travel restrictions on Ethiopian officials accused of human rights violations unless Ethiopia met the conditions – although the legislation would give the president a waiver to prevent such measures from taking force....more

Germany's Merkel kicks off Africa tour with plea for democracy(AFP)

"We are in favour of further openness of the country, of the political system," Merkel said at a joint press conference with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Addis Ababa.

"We have the interest to see this society more open and the opposition's rights protected," she said, adding: "The respect of human rights is among the factors very conducive for development."...more

US targets Ethiopia for sanctions (BBC)

The US representatives approved the Ethiopian Democracy and Accountability Act on Tuesday, which puts Ethiopian government officials at risk of being denied entry visas over human rights violations.

It also threatens to withhold military aid of at least $1.5m

Mr Payne said the bill was bipartisan and secured unanimous approval....more

Q & A with President Isaias Afwerki(LA Times)

There is a process of transformation in any society. The political process is part of that social and economic transformation. You may tell me there is a constitutional monarchy here, or elections there, or multiple political parties over there. It's a mockery. It's become fashionable to pretend to be democratic, to pretend to have a constitution and multiparty-system. But those systems undermine all the processes that would lead to participation of the population. It's a matter of providing equal opportunities, not a political document, that guarantees your rights. It's not putting your vote in a ballot box that will guarantee you good living standards....more

A calm voice from embattled Eritrea(IHT)

Democratic or not, there is a certain easygoingness in Asmara, at least on the surface. The streets are spotless, and when Isaias drives through town, it is not in a motorcade with whirling sirens and sunglassed police officers. Instead, there is just one car, a white BMW, and the president rides shotgun....more

Ethiopia and the State of Democracy Hearing House has approved H.R. 2(Nazret)

Lawmakers passed the bill Tuesday on a voice vote.

The measure authorizes $20 million in each of the next two years to promote human rights, democracy and economic development in Ethiopia.

The legislation would also restrict U.S. security assistance and other aid to Ethiopia because of concerns about the country's human rights record.

The Bush administration would still be allowed to provide funds for joint counter-terrorism operations and Ethiopia's participation in peacekeeping missions.

To become law, the bill must win approval from the Senate and be signed by President Bush....more