Addis Standard

13/12/2025

News: ’s President El Sisi plans visit this month for talks with Trump, ’s GERD expected on agenda

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is planning a visit to Washington later this month for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, with discussions expected to include Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam ( ) on the Nile, The National reports, citing sources familiar with the preparations.

According to the report, intends to seek direct U.S. engagement in its long-running dispute with Ethiopia over the Nile dam, which Egypt views as a threat to its share of the river’s waters.

The sources said President El Sisi is expected to ask President Trump to press Ethiopia toward a framework under which the dam would be operated jointly by experts from Nile Basin countries, alongside representatives of the African Union.

The National further reported that Egypt is also seeking U.S. backing for a new ….

The planned visit comes amid a shift in U.S. policy toward Africa, after Washington unveiled a new National Security Strategy that signals a recalibration of its engagement on the continent, with particular attention to the conflict-prone Horn of Africa.

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13/12/2025

New Marburg virus case confirmed in after ten-day gap

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed a new case of virus disease, the first reported in ten days, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 14.

In a statement issued on 12 December, 2025, the ministry said one additional case of the virus was recorded, marking the first confirmation since 02 December, 2025.

The newly confirmed patient is currently under medical follow-up at General Hospital, the ministry said, without providing further details on the individual’s condition.

The latest confirmation raises the total number of Marburg virus cases to 14 since the outbreak was first detected in Jinka town, Region.

According to the ministry, a total of 1,765 laboratory tests have so far been conducted nationwide, with 14 people testing positive for the virus. Of those confirmed cases, eight people have died, while four have recovered.

The ministry added that two patients are currently receiving medical treatment after testing positive for the virus.

Following the newly confirmed case, the Ministry said it has intensified surveillance, monitoring, and control measures to contain the spread of the virus.

13/12/2025

News: expresses regret over ’s withdrawal, calls for renewed engagement

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said it has taken note of Eritrea’s decision to withdraw from the regional bloc, expressing regret over the move and urging Asmara to reconsider its position, a day after Eritrean authorities announced their formal exit citing the organization’s alleged failure to meet the aspirations of the region.

In a statement issued following Eritrea’s notification through a formal Note Verbale, IGAD recalled that Eritrea had self-suspended its participation in the organization for nearly two decades before formally rejoining in June 2023, after the 14th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government.

At the time, IGAD said, Eritrea was unanimously welcomed back by all member states, reflecting a shared commitment to inclusivity, regional solidarity, and renewed cooperation.

The statement comes after Eritrea announced yesterday that it had informed IGAD of its withdrawal, accusing the bloc of long-standing failure to uphold its mandate and of playing what it described as a “deleterious role” in regional affairs, particularly targeting Eritrea.

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13/12/2025

: Kidnapped prosecutor released in , officials say

Authorities in West Shewa Zone have confirmed the release of a prosecutor who was abducted earlier this month while traveling to work.

The West Shewa Zone Prosecutor’s Office said Shibiru Guta Megersa, prosecutor with a visual impairment who is serving in Ejersa Lafo woreda, was released on the night of 11 December, 2025, after being held for several days by what officials described as “armed groups operating in forested areas.”

According to the office, Shibiru dropped off around 8:00 p.m. on an asphalt road in Adami Gotu kebele of Waliso district, in Southwest Shewa Zone. He was found early the following morning, on 12 December.

The office added that the prosecutor is currently unwell and receiving medical treatment at a nearby health facility.

Shibiru was reportedly abducted on 08 December, 2025, while returning to his duty station by vehicle after visiting his family.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, and authorities have not disclosed further details regarding the circumstances surrounding his release.

13/12/2025

News: Call for respect of , sovereignty as , other key states mark Algiers agreement anniversary

EU and a group of partner countries have renewed calls for respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity in Ethiopia–Eritrea relations, as renewed tensions overshadow the 25th anniversary of the Agreement, the accord that formally ended the 1998–2000 war between the two neighbors.

In a statement marking the anniversary, the European Union reaffirmed its full support for the agreement and for the border as determined by the Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission, urging both countries to respect each other’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

It further called on the two sides to resolve any tensions or disputes through peaceful and diplomatic means, stressing that adherence to these principles remains essential for the stability of the wider region.

In a joint statement marking the anniversary, the governments of , , , , and the reaffirmed their “longstanding support” for the Algiers Agreement and the principles it upholds, including the borders established by the Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC).

The five governments called for respect for the “sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of both Ethiopia and Eritrea,”

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13/12/2025

Daily News | Friday, December 12, 2025

Today’s top stories Addis standard:-Ethiopia and Eritrea are back in the spotlight as regional tensions intensify.-UN Secretary-General António Guterres urge...

13/12/2025

News: U.S. ends Temporary Protected Status for nationals, citing improved conditions

The Department of Homeland Security ( ) has announced the termination of Ethiopia’s Temporary Protected Status ( ), ending protections that have allowed eligible Ethiopian nationals to live and work legally in the U.S. since the designation was first granted in 2022.

A spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ( ) emphasized that the program is intended to be temporary.

The termination triggers a 60-day grace period for affected Ethiopian nationals to depart the United States unless they have another lawful basis to remain.

DHS warned that after 13 February, 2026, Ethiopian nationals who remain in the country without valid status may face arrest and removal. Individuals who are removed through enforcement actions may also be barred from returning to the U.S. in the future, according to the statement.

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13/12/2025

accuses of violating the peace deal as M23 rebels seize a key eastern Congo city

The remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz came as more than 400 civilians have been killed since the Rwanda-backed rebels escalated their offensive in eastern ’s South Kivu province, according to regional officials who also say that Rwandan special forces were in the strategic city of Uvira.

Waltz told the U.N. Security Council that the U.S. is “profoundly concerned and incredibly disappointed with the renewed outbreak of violence” by M23.

“Rwanda is leading the region towards increased instability and war,” Waltz warned. “We will use the tools at our disposal to hold to account spoilers to peace.”

He called on Rwanda to respect Congo’s right to defend its territory and invite friendly forces from neighboring Burundi to fight alongside Congolese forces. He also said the U.S. is engaging with all sides “to urge restraint and to avoid further escalation.”

The rebels’ latest offensive comes despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement signed last week by the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Washington.

The accord didn’t include the rebel group, which is negotiating separately with Congo and agreed earlier this year to a ceasefire that both sides accuse the other of violating. However, it obliges Rwanda to halt support for armed groups like M23 and work to end hostilities.

The rebels’ advance pushed the conflict to the doorstep of neighboring Burundi, which has maintained troops in eastern Congo for years, heightening fears of a broader regional spillover.

https://apnews.com/article/congo-rwanda-m23-trump-fighting-minerals-2de3a2c8e36ace7b2dc1114161168830

12/12/2025

: ’s Crises: Confronting manufactured peace, broken trust, and the unraveling of continental mediation

Ethiopia’s ruling party’s latest attempt at peace-making has once again revealed a familiar and failing pattern: fragmented processes, opaque negotiations, and the quiet complicity of continental bodies entrusted with preventing conflicts.

On 4 December 2025, state media reported that the Regional Government and the Amhara Fano People’s Organization ( ) had signed a “peace agreement” in Addis Abeba.

Representatives from the African Union ( ) and Intragovernmental Authority on Development ( ) were introduced as mediators, and both institutions publicly praised the agreement. The federal government celebrated it as a response to public demands for peace.

AFPO’s leadership, however, swiftly rejected the deal as “illegitimate” and “unauthorized,” challenging not only the agreement’s validity but the credibility of the AU and IGAD.

What is also distinctive about this latest announcement is the revelations that Ethiopia’s internal conflicts are evolving into direct liabilities for continental institutions expected to uphold regional stability.

For Ethiopia, this pattern is only a repeat of the past. A year earlier, in December 2024, the Oromia regional government announced a “breakthrough agreement” with an individual once a member of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). But the group promptly clarified that the deal involved only a former commander and a small circle around him, not the organization.

Real peace will not be manufactured through televised ceremonies or sealed in secret corridors. It requires confronting Ethiopia’s crises directly. This moment demands clarity and courage.

For Ethiopia, this means genuine negotiations with OLA, Fano, TPLF, and all other armed actors - rooted in transparency and accountability, not political expediency. It also requires the AU, IGAD and …

https://addisstandard.com/?p=54039

12/12/2025

News: opposition parties reject ongoing dialogue conference, call for inclusive transitional government

Six opposition parties in Tigray have rejected the ongoing National Dialogue Conference, describing the process as illegitimate and excluding key political actors. In a joint statement issued on Friday, the parties said the forum lacks credibility and fails to provide the foundations needed for meaningful negotiations.

The statement was signed by the Tigray Independence Party ( ), Tigray, the National Congress for Greater Tigray ( ), Tigray Generation Party, Tigray, and Tinsa’e Sebia Enderta Party.

The parties said the conference—established under Regulation No. 29/2 by what they described as a body “claiming to be the Interim Administration of Tigray”—is dominated by a single armed group and was launched without clarifying its mandate, purpose, powers, membership, or inclusivity.

They argued that the forum does not have the consent of all political forces in the region.

While reaffirming that dialogue and consensus are essential to resolving Tigray’s political crisis, the parties said repeated attempts to engage with members of the current conference produced no shared understanding.

Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=54037

12/12/2025

’s fallout hits

In a development that could redraw the map of Yemen’s conflict, the Southern Transitional Council ( ) announced that it had taken control of wide areas in the country’s south, including the city of .

For nearly a decade, the coastal city has served as the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, backed by .

The STC, which seeks an independent , said several senior officials had left Aden, including the prime minister and the head of the eight-member body that replaced the presidency.

The backs the STC in the civil war, now nearing its tenth year. The council has previously clashed with other factions within the -backed government.

Since 2022, the STC has been part of an administration governing southern areas outside the reach of the Houthis, who have controlled Sanaa since 2014.

About a week ago, the STC launched a military operation called “Promising Future,” through which it asserted control over all southern provinces, according to Amr al-Beidh, a senior STC official. He said the council is now focused on unifying theaters of military operations to strengthen coordination and beef up preparedness, support stability and security in the south, and confront the Houthis if there is a decision to move in that direction.

Al-Beidh added that Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council—formed in 2022 to replace the presidency—had left Aden, as had Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Buraik, even though the STC did not ask them to leave.

https://alhurra.com/en/8761

12/12/2025

: withdraws from , again; cites ‘failure to meet aspirations of the region’

Eritrea has officially informed the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) of its decision to withdraw from the regional bloc, according to a statement released by the country’s Ministry of Information.

Asmara said its withdrawal stems from what it characterized as IGAD’s persistent failure to uphold its mandate, serve the interests of the region, and maintain neutrality among member states.

Eritrea recalled that it “played a pivotal role when IGAD was revitalized in 1993,” contributing alongside other member states to strengthen the body as “the primary vehicle for the enhancement of regional peace and stability” and as a foundation for economic integration.

The Horn of Africa's country latest departure from the regional bloc comes after diplomatic efforts within IGAD commenced to bring Asmara back into the fold on 8 July 2018. Then-IGAD Executive Secretary Amb. (Eng.) Mahboub Maalim praised Ethiopia and Eritrea’s rapprochement following the commitment to implement the Algiers Agreement.

However, its formal rejoining occurred only in June 2023, when Eritrea re-entered the regional bloc it had left 16 years earlier. It resumed its activities in IGAD after it took its seat at the 14th Ordinary Summit in Djibouti.

Eritrea’s fraught relationship with IGAD has seen earlier attempts at rapprochement. In July 2011, Asmara moved to reactivate its membership in the bloc, four years after walking out in protest over what it said was IGAD’s position on “Ethiopia’s military intervention in Somalia”.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=54029