Fugitive members of the TPLF suspected of being involved in terrorist plots have been arrested and extradited to Ethiopia from Djibouti, Federal Police announced on Monday.
The fugitives are among those who participated in the attack on the Northern Command of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and members of Federal Police that fled to neighboring countries.
The extradited terrorist fugitives are Habtom Gebresilassie Wolyu, Mesele Tamene Eshetu and Col. Mohammed Berihu Nur.
Accordingly, the Federal Police Commission’s Criminal Investigation Bureau will take the suspects into custody and commence its investigation on the case.
It is known that the Federal Police Commission, in collaboration with the Defense Forces and other security institutions, has been hunting down and prosecuting TPLF leaders and military officers on suspicion of treason. (ENA)
*****
Court freezes assets of 19 members, leaders of TPLF in Addis Ababa
The Federal Peace and Security Task Force announced that asset freezing measures were taken against members and leaders of the TPLF including let-Gen Tadesse Worede (Wodi Worede) over terrorism acts.
According to the statement issued by the task force on Monday, it stated that the finances of 141 individuals suspected of supporting TPLF and Shene groups has been restricted as part of the anti-terrorism measures.
Let-Gen Fiseha Kidanu (Fiseha Manjus), Maj.-Gen Abebe Teklehaimanot (Jobe), Maj.-Gen Halefom Ejigu (Wodi Ejigu), Maj.-Gen Tesfaye Gidey, Brig-Gen Haileselassie Girmay (Wodi Etenbey), Brig-Gen Migbe Haile, Brig-Gen Teklay Ashebir (Wodi Ashebir), Isayas Woldegiyorgis, Hassen Shifa are also among the members and leaders of the TPLF whose assets have been frozen.
In addition, the statement indicates that 14 individuals who were allegedly delivering logistics and financial supports to the terrorist groups and attacking the military in guise of fake uniforms of the national army, have been arrested by the joint forces of the national defense force and the federal police commission. (FBC)
****
Agency to build 5 bln Birr worth Cluster Center
AA Working Premises Development Administration Agency (WPDDA) said it will build an international standard cluster center worth over five billion Birr.
WPDDA General Director, Hassik Bederu, told the Ethiopian Press agency (EPA) on Tuesday that Addis Ababa City administration was on its way to build an international standard cluster center.
“The project is going to be built on 100 hectares around the Akaki Kality sub-city and the construction of the center will commence in the coming Ethiopian new fiscal year. It is expected to accommodate 800 enterprises which will guarantee 40,000 jobs,” said the director.
According to Hassik, experts have finalized the design of the center and the agency is waiting for the city administration to allocate budget.
The Center, expected to attract foreign investors to invest in Addis Ababa, will include a youth innovation center, display and selling area, show room, power substation, agro processing, cafeteria, offices, and other facilities with an international standard.
The WPDDA was established in 2020 to bring an economic transition and adjust a good work environment. (The Ethiopian Herald)
****
South African company to construct 500,000 houses in Addis with USD 4.2 bln
The Addis Ababa City Administration has signed an agreement with a South African housing company, ‘Property 2000 South Africa’ to build 500,000 houses in the city at a cost of USD 4.2 billion.
The full cost of the construction of the houses will be covered by the Company and the city administration will provide the construction site with the necessary infrastructures and import duty-free inputs.
Deputy Mayor of the City, Adanech Abeibei and Company Chairperson Napo Eddie Modise signed the agreement.
During the occasion, Adanech said the agreement will enable Property 2000 South Africa housing company to construct 500,000 houses that will be handed over to low and middle income residents of the city with very low interest loans to be paid in 30 years.
Adanech further indicated that the city administration is working to address the urgent housing problems of city residents.
It was pointed out that more than 650,000 city residents have been registered by the city administration and are waiting for condominium Houses. (ENA)
****
Kenya warns full lockdown on flights to and from Somalia
Kenya on Tuesday warned of a possible declaration of a full lockdown on all flights operating in the Kenya-Somalia airspace.
In a letter dated May 27 by Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry said it has ‘noticed the misuse of humanitarian flights for bilateral and political matters contrary to the NOTAM and public notice to missions.’
“The ministry reiterates that humanitarian flights must strictly be used for humanitarian purposes to avoid a possible declaration by the Government of Kenya of a full lockdown on all flights.”
Kenya last month suspended all flights to Somalia, with the exception of humanitarian deliveries and medical evacuation flights, according to a notice by the aviation regulator, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
In the latest statement by Kenya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that it must be furnished with the list of passengers and goods to be transported to Somalia before clearance is issued. (CGTN)
*****
South Sudan faults extended sanctions by UN
South Sudan said on Monday that the continuous extension of an arms embargo and other sanctions by the United Nations Security Council is unhealthy for a peace deal to be implemented in the country.
The UN Security Council on May 28 extended for another year the arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze for targeted individuals on South Sudan until May 31, 2022. The council expressed its readiness to adjust the measures in light of conditions on the ground.
Thomas Kenneth Elisapana, acting spokesman for South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said these punitive measures undermine the sovereignty of the nation and jeopardize the progress of implementing the revitalized agreement.
“If the international community really needs the improvement of the situation in South Sudan for the betterment as it alleges, then the government thinks it is the right time to lift the sanctions,” Kenneth said in a statement issued in Juba.
He said the lifting of sanctions would help the parties in the revitalized transitional government of the national unity, to collaborate with partners for the well-being of South Sudanese. (Xinhua)
****
Sudan to review naval base deal with Russia
Sudan is reviewing a deal signed with Russia to allow the construction of a naval base after some clauses were found to be “somewhat harmful,” a top military official said.
For decades, Sudan was dependent militarily on Russia because of the crippling sanctions imposed by Washington against the government of the now-ousted president Omar al-Bashir.
But since his 2019 overthrow, Sudan has moved closer to the United States, which removed Khartoum from its blacklist last year.
“This deal was signed under the former National Salvation Government,” armed forces chief of staff General Mohamed Othman al-Hussein said in an interview broadcast late Tuesday. He said “talks to review the deal to serve Sudan’s interests” have been held with a visiting Russian delegation last week.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Bashir in 2017 on establishing a naval base in Port Sudan, on Sudan’s Red Sea coast.
No announcement was ever made by the Sudanese side but Russia said it had signed a 25-year agreement with Sudan in December last year to build and operate the base. (The Defence Web)
*****
ICC urges Sudan to hand over those accused of committing war crimes in Darfur
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Fatou Bensouda urged the Sudanese government to hand over those accused of committing war crimes in Darfur to the ICC.
Bensouda made the demand at a press conference in Sudan’s capital Khartoum after concluding a visit to Darfur. A team of ICC investigators will arrive in Sudan in the coming period to collect further field evidences, she said.
Bensouda further urged the victims to communicate and cooperate with the ICC investigators when they come to Sudan, stressing protection for the witnesses who testify before the court.
During 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012, the ICC issued arrest warrants against former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, former defense minister Abdul-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, former interior minister Ahmed Mohamed Haroun and around 21 other government officials for allegedly committing genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region.
The transitional authorities in Sudan have earlier expressed readiness to cooperate with the ICC regarding the suspects of committing crimes in Darfur. (CGTN)