#AS_Editorial: No more cannon fodder! There is something profoundly wrong when a government or political authority, unable to persuade its citizens to fight, decides instead to drag them into war. From coercive militia recruitment, arbitrary detention, and extortion in Oromia, Amhara, and parts of southern Ethiopia to recent forced conscription campaigns in Tigray, a disturbing pattern is emerging: when political conflicts remain unresolved, ordinary citizens are increasingly being forced to pay for the failures of those who wield power. The stories are strikingly similar: young people detained while traveling or working; farmers pressured into militia training; families forced to pay enormous sums for the release of detained relatives; quotas imposed on local authorities; and livelihoods disrupted as young men disappear into military camps. This is not national renewal. It is national decadence. addisstandard.com/?p=59207

News: #Ethiopia army chief accuses foreign powers of ‘pushing, supporting and supplying’ new armed alliance Birhanu said Ethiopia's current security challenges were part of a broader strategy by what he described as the country's “historical” and “contemporary” adversaries, who, he alleged, were no longer capable of confronting Ethiopia through direct military invasion. He alleged that Eritrea, which he referred to as “Shaebia,” acts as an intermediary between external powers and armed groups inside Ethiopia, claiming that the TPLF and Eritrea could not independently confront the federal government. “Neither #Shaebia nor the #TPLF can achieve anything alone - even if combined - unless pushed, supported, and supplied by #Sudan, #Egypt, and powers beyond,” Birhanu said. addisstandard.com/?p=59642

News: #ILO, #UNHCR expand decent work initiatives for refugees, host communities in #Ethiopia The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have strengthened their partnership in Ethiopia to expand refugees’ and #host_communities’ access to decent work, market-relevant skills and sustainable livelihoods. The two #UN agencies signed a Supplementary Understanding on 25 September to expand cooperation on economic inclusion, employment and livelihood opportunities for #refugees and host communities, according to the ILO. According to the ILO, joint interventions under the PROSPECTS Partnership in Ethiopia have reached more than 524,000 refugees and members of host communities with socioeconomic services since the partnership was launched in the country. addisstandard.com/?p=59631

News: #Rwanda’s Bank of Kigali joins #China payment network as #Africa’s de-dollarisation drive expands Addis Abeba — Rwanda’s Bank of #Kigali has become the first financial institution in the country and the first headquartered in East and Central Africa to directly connect to China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (#CIPS), as financial ties between Rwanda and China deepen. Business Insider Africa reported that the agreement was signed by Bank of Kigali on 8 September in Xiamen, China, during the second CIPS Cross-Border Bank-Enterprise Cooperation Event. The connection will enable more direct payments between Rwandan and Chinese financial institutions and could reduce the number of intermediary banks involved in some transactions, according to the bank. The development is expected to facilitate transactions for Rwandan businesses importing goods from China and exporters selling products to the Chinese market. CIPS is China’s principal infrastructure for clearing and settling cross-border transactions denominated in the renminbi. The system differs from SWIFT, which primarily provides secure messaging for financial institutions to transmit payment instructions rather than directly settling funds. Rwanda is not abandoning SWIFT, with Business Insider Africa reporting that the country is expected to continue using both systems for different purposes. The move comes amid wider efforts in parts of Africa to increase the use of local currencies in international trade and reduce reliance on the US dollar. Business Insider Africa cited China’s recent discussions with Egypt on increasing bilateral trade and investment settlements in their respective national currencies. China is Rwanda’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching about $1.76 billion in 2024, according to the report. China accounted for 26.7% of Rwanda’s imports in the first quarter of 2026, valued at about $355.5 million, while it represented 25.8% of Rwanda’s domestic exports, worth nearly $95 million. The Bank of Kigali’s CIPS connection therefore comes as trade between the two countries continues to expand, potentially giving Rwandan businesses a more direct channel for renminbi-denominated transactions.

#Commentary: The Ground Beneath #Ethiopia’s Capital: #Finfinnee, #Addis_Abeba, and the politics of territorial recognition In this commentary, Hambisa Belina argues that Finfinnee/Addis Abeba is simultaneously an #Oromo place, a diverse municipality, Ethiopia’s federal capital, and a Pan-African diplomatic centre, but these identities do not carry equal institutional weight. He describes this imbalance as an “imperial-capital enclave” shaped by historical incorporation, material dependence on surrounding territory, and weak institutional links with #Oromia. Hambisa further contends that recognition alone is insufficient: “What remains missing is a dependable institutional path for making it matter.” addisstandard.com/?p=59597

News: Internet disrupted in #Tigray as renewed fighting triggers panic-buying Watch

Rubio again says #Sudan war cannot end without pressure on external backers addisstandard.com/brief/n-59… He declined to name them, saying, “you know who they are.” Among the reported external links, the #UAE has been repeatedly accused of supporting the #RSF, including through a military training facility in #Ethiopia’s #Benishangul_Gumuz region. On the #SAF side, international assessments have cited Egypt’s longstanding military support; and strategic diplomatic and economic links involving #Turkey, while #Russia has also maintained strategic ties with Sudan’s SAF-led military authorities. #Saudi_Arabia has also played a prominent mediation role, although it denies its alleged military backing for SAF.

News: #Addis_Abeba police impose indefinite #motorcycle ban citing security, traffic concerns amid northern #Ethiopia fighting, holidays approach Addis Abeba — The Addis Abeba Police Commission has imposed an indefinite ban on two-wheeled motorcycles in the capital, citing security and traffic concerns as the city prepares for the upcoming #Meskel and #Irreecha holidays amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia. The ban takes effect Friday, 25 September, according to a notice issued by the Addis Abeba Police Commission. The directive exempts police motorcycles and Code 4 motorcycles. The police said some individuals suspected of robbery and theft had been apprehended while using motorcycles, adding that investigations into the cases were ongoing. It said motorcycles were frequently used by suspected criminals to move between locations and transport stolen property. The Commission also cited what it described as widespread traffic violations among motorcycle riders, including running red lights, colliding with other vehicles and fleeing the scene, riding without helmets and using faded or obscured license plates. According to the police, the restriction is intended to prevent crimes allegedly involving motorcycles and address traffic violations in the capital. The announcement comes as Addis Abeba prepares for Meskel, the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of the finding of the True Cross, and Irreecha, the Oromo thanksgiving festival. Both celebrations traditionally draw large gatherings in and around the capital, increasing demands on security and traffic management. The ban also comes amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia, where hostilities between federal and Tigrayan forces have intensified since Tuesday, raising broader security concerns across the country. The police Commission urged motorcycle owners and riders to comply with the directive and warned that legal measures would be taken against those who violate the ban. The Commission did not specify when the restriction would be lifted, saying motorcycle riding would remain prohibited indefinitely.

News: Internet disrupted in #Tigray as renewed fighting triggers panic-buying Internet connectivity was disrupted in northern #Ethiopia on Friday as renewed fighting between federal forces and Tigrayan forces intensified, with online monitor NetBlocks reporting a regional disruption and AFP confirming difficulties connecting by phone to sources in Tigray. “Network data indicate a subnational internet disruption in northern Ethiopia corresponding to reports of a telecoms blackout in Tigray,” #NetBlocks said on Friday. The Tigray region experienced a prolonged communications blackout after fighting began in November 2020. Internet and telephone services were largely cut off for much of the two-year war, with connectivity remaining severely restricted through 2021 and 2022. The blackout also disrupted humanitarian coordination, banking, businesses and other essential services, prompting the UN to call it “de facto blockade.” addisstandard.com/?p=5962

A (permanent) seat at the table of power: #African leaders press #UN for Security Council reform They want to help make the decisions — not just watch them unfold. As in years past, African leaders attending the U.N. General Assembly this year are demanding a reform of the powerful #Security_Council that would include permanent seats for countries from the continent in the global body’s highest decision-making structure. Many African heads of state who addressed the meeting since it began on Tuesday have decried the continent’s lack of permanent representation in the Security Council as it navigates global security issues that directly and indirectly affect their populations and governments. These include the war between #Russia and #Ukraine, the ongoing #Israel-#Hamas conflict and, more recently, the U.S. war with #Iran — issues that all loom large at this year’s General Assembly. The 15-member Security Council has five permanent members — the United States, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and China — that hold veto power. Other nations, which do not, are elected by the General Assembly rotate in and out every two years on a staggered basis. Africa holds three of those nonpermanent seats. The representation question is becoming more urgent While the calls for Africa to be represented permanently on the Security Council have often been debated by the General Assembly, many said the global conflicts currently faced by the organization made it more urgent for the body to be more inclusive. According to most African leaders, the unfair representation in the Security Council has created doubt about the credibility of the organization and its oft-trumpeted commitment to multilateralism and equality among nations. apnews.com/article/africa-un…

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News: #Tigrayan authorities accuse #AU of failing Pretoria after the bloc urges de-escalation Addis Abeba — Tigrayan authorities have accused the #African _Union (AU) of failing to ensure the implementation of the November 2022 #Pretoria peace agreement, shortly after the bloc called for “utmost restraint” and an immediate de-escalation amid renewed military tensions in northern #Ethiopia. The AU expressed concern over the reported seizure of civilian airports by Tigrayan forces and escalating hostilities in Tigray and #Afar, while the Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau said the regional government’s repeated appeals for AU intervention had gone unanswered. addisstandard.com/?p=59602

News: Dawud Ibsa-led #OLF urges immediate “genuine peaceful negotiations” to end #Oromia conflict Watch

News: #EU expresses concern over new armed groups’ alliance; #UN warns of wider #Horn conflict The European Union and the United Nations have expressed grave concern over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in northern Ethiopia, following renewed fighting between Tigrayan and federal forces. EU Ambassador to Ethiopia Sofie From-Emmesberg said the bloc was also deeply concerned by the military activity and the takeover of the airports in Tigray. She further said the EU was concerned about the formation of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Coalition for Survival, an alliance announced on 20 September by seven opposition and armed groups, including the #TPLF. addisstandard.com/?p=59591

News: #Ethiopia, #Djibouti announce refined petroleum pipeline linking #Damerjog to #Dewele Ethiopia and Djibouti have announced a new cross-border pipeline to transport refined petroleum products from Damerjog in Djibouti to Dewele in eastern Ethiopia, with storage terminals planned at both ends. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the project alongside Djiboutian President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh and African industrialist Aliko Dangote during his visit to Djibouti. Today’s announcement builds on earlier plans for fuel-storage and pipeline infrastructure linking Djibouti’s port facilities with Ethiopia. addisstandard.com/?p=59586

#Opinion: Beyond the Degree: Rethinking how #Ethiopia’s universities can better prepare graduates for work Ethiopia’s higher education challenge is shifting from access to outcomes, with research highlighting persistent gaps between university curricula and labour market demands, writes Alex Ezat Parnia. He argues that graduate unemployment, particularly among engineering graduates, underscores the consequences of this mismatch. The author notes, “Knowledge remains necessary. But it has simply stopped being sufficient on its own.” addisstandard.com/?p=59565

News: Dawud Ibsa-led #OLF urges immediate “genuine peaceful negotiations” to end #Oromia conflict The Oromo Liberation Front (#OLF), led by Dawud Ibsa, has called on the federal government and the ruling Prosperity Party (#PP) to immediately embark on what it described as “genuine peaceful negotiations” to end the prolonged conflict in Oromia. In a statement issued on 24 September, the OLF said eight years of conflict in Oromia had resulted in extensive loss of life, destruction of infrastructure and economic resources, and worsening hardship for civilians. The party argued that reliance on military force had failed to resolve the conflict and instead allowed it to persist and expand. addisstandard.com/?p=59579

News: President Taye warns ‘forces of destruction and mayhem’ in #UN address #Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie warned “forces of destruction and mayhem” to respect the right of people in the #Horn_of_Africa to live in peace and prosperity, as renewed fighting between federal forces and #Tigrayan forces threatened to unravel the four-year-old Pretoria peace agreement. “Our message to forces of destruction and mayhem is loud and clear. We urge them to respect the sacred right of the people of the Horn of Africa to live in peace and prosperity,” President Taye said while addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. addisstandard.com/?p=59575

News: #Eritreans plan ‘revolution’ in Tel Aviv warehouse, organize across #Ethiopia, #US and #Europe Addis Abeba — An Eritrean diaspora movement operating across several countries, including #Ethiopia, says it is organizing to challenge President Isaias Afwerki’s government and eventually return to Eritrea as part of what it describes as a democratic revolution. In a report published by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, members of the movement said they are coordinating activities from communities in the #United_States, #Sweden, #Germany, #Israel and Ethiopia. The group, known as #Brigade_Nhamedu, says it has emerged as a new opposition force after what its members describe as years of ineffective efforts to challenge the Eritrean government. Dawit Teferi, a Canadian-Eritrean businessman identified by Haaretz as the movement’s finance manager, said the opposition had undergone a transformation since 2022, with “new faces, new voices and also new methods.” The movement's leadership reportedly includes figures responsible for finance, diplomacy, community organizing and military affairs. Beyene Gerezgiher, identified as its leader, is based in Addis Ababa, according to Haaretz. The group says it seeks to mobilize Eritreans living abroad and eventually facilitate their return to the country. Haaretz reported that the movement estimates about two million Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers live across the countries where it operates. Eritrea has been ruled by Isaias Afwerki since independence from Ethiopia in 1993. The country has not held national elections, while its constitution has not been implemented and independent media remain banned. The government has also faced longstanding international criticism over indefinite national service, restrictions on political freedoms and alleged arbitrary detention. Eritrean authorities have consistently defended the country's political system and national service program, citing national security concerns and the threat posed by regional instability.

#Sudan rejects #US remarks questioning government legitimacy Sudan on Wednesday said it "upholds its national sovereignty" and called on #Washington to engage positively with the #African country's government, pushing back ​on remarks by the US State Department calling into question its legitimacy. The ‌US withheld a visa for Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ahead of his scheduled visit to New York for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, making his attendance contingent on ​his agreeing to a 90-day ceasefire, sources told Reuters. Sudan's war, which erupted in ​April 2023 following a power struggle between the military and the ⁠Rapid Support Forces, has displaced more than 14 million people and created one of ​the world's worst humanitarian crises. US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement ​on Tuesday that neither the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary nor either of their respective leaders "represent legitimate, constitutional governance for Sudan." In a statement on Wednesday, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign ​Affairs and International Cooperation said it strongly rejected the statement and called on Washington ​to engage positively with the Sudanese government. "The government of Sudan emphasizes that any peace initiative intended to ‌succeed ⁠and endure must be grounded in respect for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and legitimate national institutions," the statement said. "It must also address the root causes of the war's continuation — foremost among them, negative foreign interference." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday ​described trying to mediate ​an end to ⁠the conflict in Sudan as frustrating. reuters.com/world/africa/sud…

#News_Alert: #Tigray says armed forces ordered into ‘defensive combat’; reports of fighting emerge Watch