PM appoints new deputy whips, senior officials
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has appointed three deputy government whips who would represent his government for the remaining years of the current parliamentary term.
Government proposes creation of Reconciliation, Administrative Boundaries commission
Amid the multifaceted instability and identity-based conflict, the Government of Ethiopia has presented two separate draft proclamations before the House of People’s Representatives (HPR) to aid the establishment of an Independent Commission on Reconciliation and another one on Administrative Boundaries and identity Issues with a mandate to conduct research and present recommendations for the government.
Reform reaches AU
Though it has only been seven months since he assumed power, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s (PhD) pace in reforming in the country – including foreign relations – has grabbed the attention of the nation with many applauding the change and some wary of it.
Chairwoman steps up
The former opposition leader, Birtukan Mideksa who has been at odds with the ruling government has been chosen to lead the controversial and perhaps one of the most important democratic institutions in Ethiopia– the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE).
Belated AU report on sexual harassment sees light of day, reveals wrongdoings
After being pressured to act by different actors, including the secretary-general of the United Nations, António Guterres; the African Union and its chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat has released a belated “high-level” report on sexual harassment and other serious allegations as a direct reaction to a petition signed by 37 anonymous women inside the headquarters of the African Union.
ONLF army returns to Somali from Eritrea
Following the deliberation between the Government of Ethiopia and the leaders of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) since September in the capital city of the neighboring Eritrea and having signed a peace deal; the army of the ONLF, on Wednesday, November 21, 2018, returned to the Somali Regional State from their base in Eritrea.
Contentious standing committee election ends with Tesfaye Daba retaining post
Prominent Member of Parliament, Tesfaye Daba has retained his chairmanship role of the Foreign Affairs Standing Committee of the House of People’s Representatives despite being dropped first from the original list of the 10 nominees presented by House Speaker last month.
Passport politics:
On November 5, 2018, the Office of the Prime Minister’s Office (OPM) announced the appointment of Billene Seyoum as Press Secretary of the PM. Following her appointment, information regarding her Canadian citizenship came out, and it created quite the social media buzz in subsequent weeks.
Security officers blame ongoing crackdown for delayed salary
The recent alleged grand corruption and gross violation of human rights, which resulted in a wave of arrests of high ranking intelligence chiefs and military officers, has disgruntled low-raking security personnel, who claim that the matter have led to the delay of their salary payment The Reporter has learnt.
Blue calls for the institutionalization of reforms
Semayawi Party a.k.a. Blue calls on the government of Ethiopia to focus on building institutions to sustain the ongoing positive reforms in the country; the party expressed its concerns specifically with regards to the sluggish progress towards the reestablishment of democratic institutions such as the Electoral Board, Human Right Commission and the Institute of the Ombudsman, and the repealing of some legislations that hinders the democratization process in the country.
