Young Ethiopian activist

Misalee Ali Saeed, 15 year old Ethiopian human rights activist, appears on Canadian television as one of Winnipeg's city heros.

City Hero (watch the TV clip from CITY TV )

Misalee's website, Abugida

Ethiopia "at Crossroads"

...In testimony before the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, [Deputy Assistant Secretary of State] Yamamoto said, "It is incumbent upon Prime Minister Meles, his government and the various elements of the multifaceted opposition to demonstrate to the world, but, more importantly, to Ethiopians, the sincerity of their professed commitment to democracy through their actions as well as their words."

Ethiopia "at Crossroads," Warns US Official (Washington File, DC) 28 March, 2006

Update: View Webcast Video

More explosions target civilians

A blast on a minibus killed one person and injured three others in Addis Ababa on Monday in the latest of a series of mysterious explosions in the Ethiopian capital...

Explosion on bus in Addis kills one, injures three (Reuters) 27 March, 2006

Bird flu ayaders

So far in Africa, the H5N1 virus linked to the dreaded avian flu (bird flu) has been detected in Nigeria, Niger, Egypt and most recently, Cameroon. No human cases of the H5N1 strain have yet been found in Africa. Late last month, the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development disclosed signs of avian flu had been observed in Endibir woreda of the South State. Subsequent samples sent to a laboratory in Italy turned out to be negative for the existence of a bird-flu-like disease, but the damage was already evident in the poultry market with chickens reportedly selling for as low as 8 Birr, previously 35 Birr.

As the scare subsides, and the faithful prepare to end the fasting season with Easter celebration, poultry prices are sure to rise back to normal. Similar scares are bound to happen in the future, and it's no less likely for Ethiopia to be next to record a positive H5N1 strain. The impact on the economy would be devastating and authorities would have no remedy other than containment of affected regions. How would a nation with few resources even begin to combat the virus if it eventually starts to spread between humans? Containment and massive doses of anti-viral drugs have in the past prevented large scale epidemic in China, but not before many already died. Ethiopia does not have large stockpiles of anti-viral drugs, so one can only hope the Ministry of Health has a rapid containment plan at work.

...The World Health Organization recommends countries should stockpile enough anti-viral drugs to cope with a pandemic, which it estimates would affect 25% of the population, but warns that developing countries in particular are likely to fall well short.

Bird flu: Country preparations (BBC) 21 February, 2006

ION update: 03/24/06

Confrontation in Afar region
Indian Ocean Newsletter N° 1174 25/03/2006

Tension is growing among the population in the Afar region where a new murderous attack has taken place.

A commando composed of Oromos attacked an Afar encampment at Hadalé’ela (near the village of Shoarobit) on the evening of 6 March, in zone five of the Afar Regional State in Ethiopia, situated on the edge of the Amhara Regional State, which in this zone is inhabited by Oromos. Among the attack’s 13 victims was an 85 year old local dignitary, highly respected throughout the Afar region: Hamadou Hamad known as Assafa. His death caused a considerable amount of emotion among the Afar and this killing was reported by Radio Asmara (Eritrea) in several languages in order to prop up the accusation that the Ethiopian government was responsible for murdering its own citizens. However, one source close to the Ethiopian regime rejected responsibility for this attack, attributing it to Oromo Liberation Front (OLF, opposition) rebels, which Addis Ababa constantly tries to incriminate.

The Ethiopian Afar are accusing the Addis Ababa regime in increasing numbers of encouraging the insecurity that is afflicting their community. The government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was trying, according to them, to exacerbate inter-ethnic conflicts in order to stay in power by dividing the Ethiopian populations among themselves. In zone 3 of the Afar Regional State, regular bloody skirmishes take place between Afar shepherds and strongly armed Issas, without any intervention by the Ethiopian army to bring them to an end.

Meanwhile, zone 2 of the Afar region is directly ruled by the Tigray Regional State. To be sure, this region is not only considered as strategic due to its position on the border with Eritrea and Djibouti, it is also sought after for the mining and agricultural potential of the Awash valley. About 5,000 hectares of land have been attributed to Tigrayan businessmen who benefit from banking facilities. The working of salt at Afdera (near the Erta Alé volcano) resulted in frequent skirmishes last year between the Afars and the Ethiopian army which was defending the Tigrayan investors settled in this zone.

Embassy reviews its security plan for the French
Indian Ocean Newsletter N° 1174 25/03/2006

The French Consul to Addis Ababa, Franck Simaer, last week wrote to the French residents in this city to verify their presence in the country and to ask them to return the security forms as soon as possible. To be sure, the Consul has the task of constituting a reliable database (with the full details of each person’s address and its exact location) of all French people living in the Ethiopian capital, both for administrative reasons and in case of security problems. Anyone not replying to this questionnaire will be removed this week from the register of French people in Ethiopia and from the French Embassy’s security plan. In fact, these questionnaires should have been returned by the end of January 2006. The security plan of the French community in Addis Ababa relies, among other things, on a network of communication based on cutting Addis Ababa into five sectors, which no longer corresponds the present-day distribution of the French community. A mission of specialists hence came from France last year, to propose a more adequate organisation to be rolled out progressively, based on cutting up Addis Ababa into six security zones. Hence, Simaer asked those interested in taking part in the scheme to add a photo of their home as seen from the access road and also the GPS coordinates.

Relocating to Ethiopia
Indian Ocean Newsletter N° 1174 25/03/2006

The leather goods manufacturer Pittards Plc is to close its British factor in Leeds and relocate part of its activity to Ethiopia. To be sure, Pittards won the contract to manage the Ethiopian Tannery Share Company (ETSC) in August 2005, for a period of five years. Part of the activity to manufacture shoes and other bovine leather products (for Timberland and Adidas) previously carried out in Leeds, will be relocated to Ethiopia.

Early human skull found

Yet more discovery of bones in Ethiopia linking origins of humans to apes...And this smart brother from the appropriately named Stone Age Institute knew well enough to bring his team to Ethiopia, birthplace of mankind, yet a place still operating with Stone Age mentality.

...The skull appeared "to be intermediate between the earlier Homo erectus and the later Homo sapiens," Sileshi Semaw, an Ethiopian research scientist at the Stone Age Institute at Indiana University, told a news conference in Addis Ababa.

Skull discovery could fill origins gap (Reuters) March 24, 2006

More on Ethiopian Customs Authority

An earlier post regarding Ethiopian Customs Authority stirred some people (apparently someone reads my rantings) to e-mail their own experiences, and what they dread each time they land in Addis. High on the list was being directed to that special window where you may empty your wallet paying import taxes on an extra electronic gadget found in your luggage. I for one recall an old cell phone stuffed into my carry-on luggage as I rushed to catch my plane, cost several times what I paid for it on arrival in Addis, at least according to the gumruk bible the lady kept looking at. Jetlagged and furious, I was just about to open my mouth, when she took another look at the phone, and with a "Aha, k'oy ande...," she turned and began punching a few keys into a computer. I thought, surely, she realized her mistake and will return with a more sensible figure, but I was forgetting where I was. Lesson number one: Having hope in Ethiopia is a set-up for bitter disappointment, at least with official matters. My beat-up cell phone had a built in camera (standard nowadays) which did not even work after being dropped one too many times, but would now cost twice the earlier quote, argh! There goes my vacation money. And here's the kicker, I could either leave the phone with Customs, or take the phone out the airport, but either way I had to pay the same full amount...Huh? Lesson number two: Never ask why to Ethiopian government workers, they take it personal.

I was instructed my payment of 200% tax may be refunded in full, but only when requested twenty-four hours before departure, a little clause they hope you pay little attention to. A near miracle is what it takes for anyone to get necessary signatures and appropriate receipts from individuals at the airport and officials at Customs' Gergie warehouse before you ever see your money again. All this to be done on your last day, no less. The Gergie warehouse is a giant corrugated iron facility subdivided into various departments and offices, and if you're lucky enough to find the appropriate office, you'll find the same ancient excuse, "just stepped out," or possibly in sebseba, "meeting,"...At the tea house, I'm sure. And so you wait, and wait, and after waiting some more, wonder if it's all worth it. But damn-it, that's exactly what they want, and I can understand why travelers will give-up the chase early in order to spend the last few precious hours with family prior to flying out. I persevere, but only because I was informed earlier of what to expect from Customs, and had finished all personal matters prior to departure.

Two more officials later, I finally get to the desk where my refund is to be issued. The Customs agent is very personable, even asks me to take a seat and offers to call for tea, or coffee...I guess not too many travelers make it this far, I politely decline his offer. He then asks if I want my money in the form of a check to be cashed at a bank in town, or in cash upfront...Although not at first, I realized he was not kidding. "Cash, please!"

Lesson number three: Leave cell phone behind before flying to Addis.

Charges dropped against 18 suspects

...Half of those whose charges were dropped on Wednesday were being tried in absentia. Five work for the Voice of America, Amharic service in Washington.

Ethiopia court drops charges against 18 suspects (Reuters) March 22, 2006

St. George to heal our wounds

St. George's 4-0 shocking defeat on Sunday of former champions Hearts of Oak in the African Champions League caused such excitement, one could presumably forget, if not but for a fleeting moment, the trials which had befallen the city in the past few months. The Ethiopian club's second round defeat of the Ghanaian squad followed the stir they caused in the first round last month with their 1-0 victory over the Egyptian club ENPPI. Lack of talent was never Ethiopia's problem, but rather sound financial backing. Ethiopia was a founding member and previous champion of the African Nations Cup...But I'm sure we're all tired of living in the past. With support from their current billionaire patron, Saudi-Ethiopian business tycoon Sheik Al-amoudi, St. George may well be poised to restore Ethiopia's long forgotten football credentials. Viva Georgis!

Climate of fear

Two steps forward and three steps back, the country moves from a climate of high hopes and open debates, back to one of fear and suspicion.

..."Oh, no, that would not be wise," said a law professor when asked if a reporter could observe a class where students were to discuss the ongoing trial of 131 opposition leaders, publishers, journalists and human rights activists. Despite boasting about the openness of debate in his class, the professor declined to give his name.

Ethiopia gripped by fear of regime (Washington Times) March 21, 2006