Categories

Archive

Ethiopian Politician Charged With Inciting Violence After Facebook Post About Protests in Oromia

A former spokesman for Ethiopia’s main opposition group the Blue Party has been charged with inciting violence after his Facebook post critical of the government’s response to the protests in Oromia went viral. Yonatan Tesfaye was reportedly charged on Wednesday Read more ›

Ethiopia Struggles with Frequent Power Cuts After Failed Rains

Ethiopia is experiencing power cuts and this may become a frequent phenomenon as low rainfall has left dams with depleting water levels. This week, there were two days of power cuts, which was reportedly caused by technical problems with the Read more ›

Ethiopia: Tripartite talks over renaissance dam resumes in Khartoum

The irrigation ministers of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan resumed their discussions over the contentious Grand Ethiopia Reniassance Dam (GERD) in Khartoum on Monday after an unexpected five-months long break. Egyptian daily Al Ahram reported that the official opening session of Read more ›

Uganda: Oil companies submit proposals to build refinery at Lake Albert

Four international petroleum companies have presented proposals to the Ugandan government for the development of the country’s first oil refinery in Buseruka Sub-county, Hoima district, western Uganda. The Ugandan government officially opened the bidding process in March this year, after Read more ›

Tanzania’s main mobile network service provider to undergo an upgrade

The partially state-owned Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited (TTCL) has contracted Japan’s NEC Corporation to upgrade its microwave network links across the country’s mainland, as well as in the Zanzibar island. According to a press release by NEC, “The government has Read more ›

Somtel Telecom to introduce LTE technology into Somalia

One of the largest telecommunication service providers in Somalia, Somtel Telecom, has partnered with France’s Alcatel-Lucent to provide Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology in the country. The high speed wireless data transfer system is expected to enable the telecom service Read more ›

Ethiopia: Court orders police to file charges against incarcerated ‘Zone 9’ bloggers and journalists

A court has directed the police to finalize its investigations and file charges against 6 members of a blogging community ‘Zone 9’, as well 3 journalists, who have been in custody for about 58 days Defense attorney, Amha Mekonnen, told Read more ›

Ethiopia and Egypt agree to resume discussions over renaissance dam

Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Tedros Adhanom, has revealed that an agreement has been reached with the Egyptian government to re-open tripartite talks – with Sudan – concerning the renaissance dam. He made this comment at the end of a three-day visit Read more ›

Egypt’s new president vows not to allow renaissance dam dispute escalate into crisis

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has vowed not permit the protracted diplomatic row with neighbouring Ethiopia evolve into a serious crisis. He made this comment during his inaugural address at the Qubba Palace on Sunday, adding that Egypt recognizes the value of Read more ›

World Bank approves funding for geothermal project in Ethiopia

The Executive Directors of the World Bank have approved a grant of over $200 million to support the Ethiopian government’s Geothermal Sector Development Project. Reports indicate that $178.5 million came from the bank’s International Development Association, while $24.5 million came Read more ›

Sudan: Journalists protest against repression

Numerous journalists gathered in front of the premises of the National Council for Press and Publications (NCPP) in Khartoum on Sunday to express their dissent against several limitations the state has imposed on the press. According to local sources, the Read more ›

Ethiopia and Egypt ready to resume talks over renaissance dam

Officials from Ethiopia and Egypt have voiced willingness to re-engage in negotiations to resolve their dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Tripartite talks between the water ministries of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan broke down earlier in the year Read more ›

4G LTE high speed internet to be installed across Rwanda by August

Rwandans will be able to access the internet on 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology by August this year. The Minister for Youth and Information Technology, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, who announced the news to the local media, has noted that Read more ›

Ethiopia’s textile industry booms

Ethiopia’s clothing sector is experiencing a spate of rapid growth which is set to transform it into one of the most important industries in the country. Driven by a conducive regulatory climate, cheap labour and the availability of high quality Read more ›

Kenya condemns foreign travel alert

Kenyan authorities have criticized a recent travel advisory from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia and France this week; which warns against visiting parts of the east African nation over concerns of impending terror attacks. The move Read more ›

Egypt accuses Ethiopia of delaying resumption of renaissance dam discussions

Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Nabil Fahmy, has accused Ethiopian authorities of stalling the resolution of the renaissance dam dispute after they have failed to respond to several requests from Egypt to restart the talks. However, he has insisted that the Egyptian government Read more ›

World Bank approves grant for hydropower project in Burundi

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors have agreed to provide $100 to jointly finance the construction of two hydropower stations in Burundi. The World Bank Director for Sustainable Energy Development in the Africa Region, Jamal Saghir, noted that the Read more ›

East African countries agree to construct oil refinery in Uganda

East African leaders from Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda have agreed on the process of implementing the construction of a regional oil refinery, which will be located in western Uganda. The member states made the mutual investment decision at a time Read more ›

Ethiopia campaigns to win Egypt’s support for renaissance dam

The Ethiopian government has heightened diplomatic efforts to secure the support of the Egyptian government for the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile. The $4.3 billion facility, which is set to be the largest Read more ›

Tanzania inaugurates Telecommunication Traffic Monitoring System

Tanzania’s Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has officially launched a telecommunication traffic monitoring system to facilitate the organization’s regulation of network operators in the country. The system, provided by SGS-Societe Generale de Surveillance & Global Voice Group, is expected to improve Read more ›

Ethiopia invites Media to Renaissance Dam construction site

The Ethiopian government has taken a number of foreign journalists on a tour of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) construction site. According to the Communication Affairs Office, the visit is to enable foreign media houses get some “first hand” Read more ›

Uganda joins Regional Electronic Payment Solution Platform

Uganda has officially launched the Common Market for East and Central Africa’s (COMESA) Regional Payment and Settlement System (REPSS). The electronic payment solution, which facilitates quick and safe transfer of funds from one COMESA member country to another through their Read more ›