It is official. The era of despot Cabdi Illey is over in the Somali region. After closed door deliberations, the DDSI party had elected Mr. Ahmed Shide as the new leader which officially ends the 11 year painful rule of Illey. This selection will pave Mr. Shide as the new president of the region very soon. Also, the Liyu police has been disbanded as the security force of the Somali region. For the last few days the Liyu have been looting and pillaging communities while abandoning their positions. Also, members of Illey family are been investigated by the authorities for the theft of millions of dollars. It is an end of a painful chapters for a lot of Somalia. A very small group of blood thirsty group, created and organised by the Tplf and Cabdi Illey have been overthrow thanks to the Oromo uprising. While many Somali including my self were looking to preserve the old order for the sake order and continuity, millions of Somalia want the total demise and the removal of the tyrants who oppressed them for so long. Just like the Oromo celebrated the demise of the Tplf order, for the millions of Somalis the end of Illey and his henchmen is a great relief and a new era of freedom. There were some security concern about the disbanding of the Liyu police and the threat of anarchy and outlaws in the countryside, yet for most people, their disbanding was a relief. Analysts believe that the Liyu is too criminal or murderous to be a force that might fight for independence or even tribal reasons. They were trained to kill and abuse Somali and will not be needed in a land where people are seeking justice and freedom. It is mind boggling how a small ruthless group had managed to oppress and control millions of Somalia for so long. They acted like there is no one else but themselves. Now, Illey and his supporters must accept the new order and collaborae for the peace and development of all Somali. He and Tplf wanted to finish off the Somali and createa long civil war between the Somali and Oromo. There were a lot of victims, but we hope the worst to be over. He gambled to the lives of thousands of Somali to save the Tplf order. After he lost the gamble, he continued to the destructive route until it is too late.

Very sad news. Nothing is known yet from the police, but the media is reporting that he died from gun shot and the hand gun colt has been found in the car.

galbeedi, Why didn't you bring the most important news for you, the oil well to be drilled announced by Abiy? Why this go around to bring civil war among Somalis? What do you gain? Why is the area where the pipeline to pass more useful to you than the area where the prospective well is? Why cover with Iley why not say the main motivation for you the trade route?

Ethiopia's new PM Abiy Ahmed says several people have been killed in an explosion that hit a rally he was speaking at earlier on Saturday. He described it as an "unsuccessful attempt by forces who do not want to see Ethiopia united". Mr Abiy was whisked away immediately after the blast, thought to be from a grenade thrown amid thousands of people in the capital's Meskel Square. Ethiopia has been riven by years of sometimes violent protests. Mr Abiy only became prime minister after his predecessor Hailemariam Desalegn unexpectedly resigned in February. He is the country's first leader from the ethnic Oromo group, which has been at the centre of nearly three years of anti-government protests that have left hundreds of people dead. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44586187

The Ethiopian government wants it for its local politics, just propaganda The Opposition in Somalia wants SFG seen in bad light The poor people are left to waste time and talk nonesense over something meaningless Farmaajo says yes we signed MOU Kyre in Scandinavia says is nothing It looks to me another UAE created or pushed issue. Confirmation will come when Federal state or parliament or senate members mention about it. Why not just fix and work on Somalia. There is nothing much a Somalia government can do about Ethiopia even if it tries. How come Kenya which is wealthier than Ethiopia and probably better government accept it cannot be more influential than Ethiopia in foreign relations? I understand nationalism, but this kind some Somali have is simply self=destructive.

https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-farmajo-in-addis-ababa-for-igad-summit

ETHIOPIA TPLF Denounces Ethiopia’s Peace Deal With Eritrea, Calls for Emergency Meeting TESFANEWSJUNE 13, 2018 | 1,007 | 32 COMMENTS | ALGIERS AGREEMENT, BADME, BORDER WAR, EPRDF, ERITREA, TPLF “The Badme horse is out of the barn and gone. Badme is water under the bridge. There is nothing that can be done legally to undo it or challenge it. There can be no buyer’s remorse. Ethiopia cannot go back to December 2000 and undo the Algiers Agreement. Once Meles signed on the dotted line in the Algiers Agreement, it was all over. The fate of Badme was sealed. The Decision of the Boundary Commission will be implemented without ifs or buts.” – Prof. Al Mariam Anti-peace TPLF today denounces the recent decision by the ruling EPRDF coalition to unconditionally accept the Algiers Agreement and as well as the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission’s decision as “fundamentally flawed” and calls for an emergency meeting. BY ETENESH ABERA | ADDIS STANDARD Astatement released by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the ruling EPRDF’s oldest member, called Ethiopia’s recent decision to accept fully the Ethiopia-Eritrea Algiers Agreement and the subsequent decision by the boundarycommission and to partially and/or wholly privatize major state-owned companies have “fundamental flaws”. The statement also called for the executive and the council of ruling party EPRDF, led by the new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, to hold an emergency meeting to review these and other issues of importance. In an unprecedented move after a day-long meeting by the 36 Executive Committee members of the ruling EPRDF, a statement released on June 05/2018 by the politburo said “Ethiopia will fully accept the December 12, 2000, Algiers Agreement”, a peace agreement between the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia, which established a special boundary commission. The executive also decided to open up Ethiopia’s economy both to Ethiopian and foreign investors by making partial or full privatizations in key state-owned enterprises including industrial parks, railway projects, sugar factories, hotels and other manufacturing industries. TPLF’s statement came after a two-day emergency meeting by the executive of the TPLF which took place between today and yesterday in Mekelle city, the capital of the Tigray regional state in northern Ethiopia. It further said that EPRDF’s decision both on Eritrea and the economy “failed to take into account” the “fundamental leadership deficit and its damages visible within the EPRDF coalition and failed to evaluate the progress in the recent “deep reform” agenda the party, as a collective, was undertaking in order to solve the mounting challenges it was facing. But it also condemned the decision on the bases that it was made public without the consent from the 180 EPRDF council members, as party doctrine dictates; the participation of EPRDF’s five satellite parties representing Ethiopia’s periphery i.e: parties that represent the Ethiopian Somali, Harari, Afar, Benishangul and Gambella regional states; and without due consultation with relevant bodies.

[Bloomberg] Ethiopia’s prime minister appointed a new army chief of staff with a specialist’s background on Eritrea, days after authorities said they’d implement a peace deal with their Horn of Africa neighbor and long-standing foe. The appointment of Seare Mekonnen marks the first change at the top in 17 years in Ethiopia’s army, which plays a dominant role in the country that has Africa’s biggest population after Nigeria. He belongs to the Tigrayan ethnic group that’s largely held the top ranks of the military, security and intelligence services since the then-rebel Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front seized power. His appointment was announced late Thursday by Fana Broadcasting Corp., which is funded by the ruling party. Named one of three deputy chiefs of staff earlier this year, Seare also previously headed the military’s northern command, whose jurisdiction covers areas bordering Eritrea. Eritrea declared independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after decades of conflict, and the nations have been at odds after a 1998-2000 border war that claimed thousands of lives. A peace deal signed in 2000 was never implemented, with Ethiopia refusing to recognize a monitor’s findings on ownership of a disputed town. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed pledged in April that the country will “resolve problems” with Eritrea. Abiy also named Adem Mohammed as new director-general of the National Intelligence and Security Services, Fana reported on Thursday. Adem, an ethnic Amhara who previously commanded Ethiopia’s air force, was also appointed as a deputy chief of staff earlier this year. Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-07/ethiopia-appoints-new-chief-of-staff-for-powerful-military

I had these statements made here in SOL country long before Abiy, Lema, Shiferaw, Gebyehu, Mekonen etc were candidates: 1. Who ever is next PM of Ethiopia should show respect to the Somali people in Ethiopia, they were among the top saviours of the country called Ethiopia 2. First group of countries to visit Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia 3. Second group will include Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the quarelling Bedews etc 4. Then US, European, China, Russia etc May schedule has failed big time. Kenya from second group has joined my first group, but biggest failure of my schedule is Somalia not visited. Who is at fault for this what I consider catastrophic failure? BTW did Mr. Madoobe know this schedule before I did, that would be another failure in the schedule as well. I was hopping Bay and Bakool or Puntland would be first to visit Addis after visiting Jigjiga. Mr. Bixi should visit Jigjiga ASAP.

Nazir Manek [Bloomberg] Landlocked Ethiopia is planning to build a navy, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said during a briefing of the heads of the country’s National Defense Force. “Following the efforts made to build capacity of our national defense, we built one of the stronger ground and air forces in Africa,” the ruling party-funded Fana Broadcasting Corp. reported Abiy as saying on Friday. “We should build our naval force capacity in the future.” Two calls to the mobile phone of Abiy’s national security adviser, Abadula Gemada, didn’t connect. Ethiopia currently has a civilian Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute on Lake Tana. It trains more than 500 marine engineers and electro-technical officers each year and plans to increase this to more than 1,000 officers annually, according to its website. Abiy’s government in May agreed to develop Port Sudan on the Red Sea and agreed with Djibouti to swap shares in state-owned ports, airlines, and telecommunications. It also agreed to acquire land at Kenya’s Lamu Port for “logistical facilitation,” according to a joint communiqué issued after a meeting between Abiy and Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta. Earlier this year, Ethiopia took a stake in a port in Somaliland, a semi-autonomous part of Somalia that aspires to statehood and borders Djibouti. Somaliland will host a naval base for the United Arab Emirates. i wonder who's coastline this navy will be stationed?!! Link : https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-01/ethiopia-shakes-up-board-at-military-affiliated-corporation

Somalia, Ethiopia discuse bilateral relations 26th May 2018 John Snow MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali PM Hassan Ali Kheire and his delegates have arrived in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, after receiving an official invitation. The delegation led by PM Khaire was warmly welcomed by senior Ethiopian government at airport in the capital, according to officials at Somali Embassy in Addis. Mr. Khaire has held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, discussing crucial bilateral issues of mutual benefit to both countries. Somali PM Khaire says he had held a very constructive meeting with his Ethiopian counterpart in Addis. “We both reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthen the brotherly relations between our two countries and people”, he said. The Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed has pledged to continue supporting Somalia and its people as Ethiopian forces fighting Al Shabaab in Somalia as part of African Union mission in Somalia. By Abdirisak Mohamud Tuuryare from Mogadishu, Somalia

Ethiopia acquires ownership stake in Port Sudan Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has been in Khartoum during the past two days, struck a deal with the Government of Sudan that gives Ethiopia an unspecified amount of ownership stake in Port Sudan. A number of countries, including wealthy Gulf states, are increasing their investments in sea ports on the Red Sea as they compete for influence in a strategic corridor vital to shipping lines and oil routes. More from Reuters: (Reuters) – Ethiopia and Sudan have agreed on a deal allowing the Horn of Africa nation to take a stake in Sudan’s largest sea gateway port of Port Sudan, officials said on Thursday. Several countries including wealthy Gulf states have ramped up investments in seaports along the Red Sea and East Africa’s coast as they vie for influence in a strategic corridor that is vital for shipping lanes and oil routes. While the likes of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey are using some of the ports for military purposes, Ethiopia – which lost its access to the sea following the secession of former province Eritrea in 1993 – is aiming to strike deals in a bid to diversify outlets and reduce port fees. The deal between Addis Ababa and Sudan was reached in Khartoum on Thursday at a meeting between Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. “The leaders of both countries agreed to develop Port Sudan together,” said Meles Alem, spokesman for Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry. “This deal entails that Ethiopia will be a shareholder of the port as well,” he told Reuters. No financial details of the agreement were disclosed. Another official said that the agreement would enable Ethiopia to have a say in the level of port handling fees. The deal comes two days after Ethiopia reached a similar arrangement over the Port of Djibouti, Djibouti’s main gateway for trade. “Access to a diversified range of ports is a strategic imperative for the government of Ethiopia. That is perhaps one of its most important priorities in terms of trade and development,” said Ahmed Salim, vice president at the Teneo global advisory firm. Ethiopia’s involvement supported the financing and development of the Sudan and Djibouti ports, he added. Djibouti had been seeking investors for its port since it terminated the concession for Dubai’s state-owned DP World to run the port in February, citing a failure to resolve a six-year contractual dispute. The agreement with Ethiopia gave Djibouti the option of taking stakes in state-owned Ethiopian firms. The companies that it may look to invest in include Ethiopian Electric Power and Ethio Telecom – one of Africa’s last remaining telecoms monopolies. It was not clear if Sudan’s agreement involved a similar arrangement with Ethiopia. Djibouti’s location is of strategic value to countries such as the United States, China, Japan and former colonial power France, all of which have military bases there. The deal with Djibouti also followed Ethiopia’s agreement to acquire a 19 percent stake in the Port of Berbera in the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland. DP World retains a 51 percent stake there, while the government holds the rest. Meanwhile, Khartoum’s deal with Ethiopia came in the wake of another arrangement signed with Turkey, which wants to rebuild Suakin – a ruined Ottoman port city on Sudan’s Red Sea coast – and construct a dock to maintain civilian and military vessels. Qatar has also agreed to develop the same port to the tune of $4 billion.

Ethiopia, Djibouti May Swap Stakes in Airlines, Ports By Nizar Manek Bloomberg Deal politically endorsed while details pending, minister says Landlocked Ethiopia views tiny Red Sea state as key partner Ethiopia and Djibouti agreed to swap stakes in strategic public enterprises including airlines, ports and telecommunications companies, as the Horn of Africa neighbors pursue deeper economic integration. The deal would include exchanges of shares in Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise, Africa’s biggest carrier by revenue, Djiboutian Finance Minister Ilyas Dawaleh said in an interview. Shareholdings in companies such as the Doraleh Container Terminal and in a new oil terminal, Ethiopian Telecommunications Corp. and Djibouti Telecom SA will also be swapped, he said. While the deal has been politically “endorsed,” the two countries will form a committee to work out the details, Dawaleh said by phone April 30. Ethiopian Information Minister Ahmed Shide confirmed the agreement in a text message. The pact came as Ethiopia’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, made his first foreign visit at the weekend to Djibouti, the tiny state located where the Indian Ocean meets the Red Sea and that’s become a strategic hub for the U.S. and China. Landlocked Ethiopia -- which the International Monetary Fund ranks as the fastest-growing economy on the continent -- is trying to boost its export-oriented manufacturing, making it reliant on neighboring nations with ports. Dawaleh said Abiy told Djiboutian officials that both countries should start referring to their state-owned enterprises as belonging to all, rather than one nation. Abiy said in a statement on his Facebook page that officials from both countries “underlined the importance of working towards the realization of complete economic integration of the two economies.” He didn’t elaborate.

Akhri Sida uu R/Wasaraha Ethiopia Aby Ahmed ugu Qaybiyay Qoomiyadaha Ethiopia Wasiiradii uu Magacaabay iyo Oramada oo Si Buuxda ula wareegtay awooda Dalka. Posted by Subulaha News. Ababa(SBN)-Baarlamaanka dawladda Federaalka Itoobiya ayaa maanta ansixiyay golaha wasiirrada ee uu soo dhisay ra’isal wasaaraha dhawaan la doortay Mr Abiy Axmed Cali. Golaha oo ka kooban ilaa 16 masuul ayaa loo qaybiyay qoomiyadaha Itoobiya oo ay metelayaan xisbiyadoodu. 1) Mottuma Mekasa oo ah xisbiga Oromada OPDO waa wasiirka difaaca; 2) Siraj Fegessa oo ka soo jeeda xisbiga bulshooyinka Koonfurta Itoobiya ee SEPDM waa wasiirka gaadiidka’ 3) Shiferaw Shigute oo ah xisbiga SEPDM waa wasiirka beeraha iyo xannaanada xoolaha; 4) Ahmed Shide oo ka soo jeeda xisbiga Soomaalida Itoobiya ee ESPDP waa wasiirka isgaadhsiinta; 5) Berhanu Tsegaye oo ah xisbiga Oromada ee OPDO waa xeer ilaaliyaha guud; 6) Hirut Woldemariam oo ah xisbiga SEPDM waa wasiirka shaqada iyo arrimaha bulshada; 7) Teshome Toga oo ah xisbiga SEPDM waa wasiirka ganacsiga dawliga ah; 8/ Umer Husien oo ah xisbiga OPDO waa wasiirka maaliyadda 9) Ubah Mohamed oo ah xisbiga ESPDP waa wasiirka tignoolajiyada (ICT) 10) Ambachew Mekonen oo ah xisbiga Axmaarada ee ANDM waa wasiirka warshadaha; 11) Fozia Amin oo ah xisbiga OPDO waa wasiirka dhaqanka iyo dalxiiska; 12) Zanterar Abay oo ah xisbiga ANDM waa wasiirka horumarinta magaalooyinka iyo guryaynta; 13) Meles Alemu oo ah xisbiga SEPDM waa wasiirka Macdanta iyo Tamarta 14) Yalem Tsegaye oo ah xisbiga Oromada ee TPLF waa wasiirka haweenka iyo carruurta 15) Melaku Alebel oo ah xisbiga ANDM waa wasiirka ganacsiga 16) Amir Aman oo ah xisbiga ANDM waa wasiirka caafimaadka

Addis(SBN)Wararka naga soo gaadhaya wadanka Itoobiya ayaa sheegaya in uu hirgalay mid kamid ah qorshayaashii Raysal-wasaaraha cusub ee Abiye Axmed Cali, kaas oo ahaa in qoomiyada Tigreega awoodeeda aad looga dhimo. Xog rasmi ah oo soo gaadhay Wakaaladaha Wararka ayaa sheegaysa in ay iscasileen qaar kamid ah Janaraaladii ushashay qoomiyada Tigreega ee awooda badan kudhex lahaan jiray wadanka Itoobiya, aadna looqadarin jiray. Sida xogta aan kuhelayno waxaa shaqadii iskaga tagay Puntlanders General Takelabirhan Walde’aragay iyo General Kinfe Dangew oo labaduba udhashay qoomiyada Tigreega, waxaana lasheegayaa in Janaraaladan culays lagu saaray in ay shaqada katagaan kadib markii lagu eedeeyay in ay lunsadeen malaayiin lacag ah oo ay lahayd shirkada korontadu. Sidoo kale xogo oo aanaan wali la xaqiijinin ayaa sheegaysa in ay shaqiidii katageen taliyihii ciidamada Itoobiya General Samore Yonis iyo taliyihiin ciidanka sirdoonka General Getachew Asafa, kuwaas oo sida lasheegay cadaadis lagu saaray in ay shaqada iskaga tagaan ama la eryo Halka wararka qaarna sheegayaan in maalmahan is casili doonaan ama shaqada laga caydhin doono labadan general ayaa ah kuwii wadamku gacatooda ku jiray gaar ahaana Kililka 5aad Is casilaada Samore Yonis iyo Getachew Asafa ayaa haday rumowdo qoomiyadaha Oromada iyo Axmaarada uga dhigan guul taariikhi ah waxayna ahaayeen awoodaha kaliya ee kuhadhay gacanta qabiilka Tigreega, waxaana meesha kabaxaya cabsidii ay kaqabeen dhinaca ciidamada. Janaraalada is casilay ayaa lasheegayaa in ay shaqadii katageen kadib markii culays lagu saaray in ay sidaas yeelaan isla markaana looban qaaday aduun lacageed iyo waliba amaan lasiin doono, waxaana lasheegayaa in ay shaqada iskaga tagi doonaan saraakiil kale oo Tigree ah kuwaas oo hadaba lagu daba jiro. Xukuumada Cusub ee Abiye Axmed iyo Dameke Mokonen ay hogaaminayaan ayaa utafa xaytay sidii ay xididada ugu siibi lahaayeen qoomiyada Tigreega oo in badan talada wadanka looga dambeeyay.

Give Ethiopia a chance to change; House should reject strongly worded resolution By Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Opinion Contributor — 04/10/18 07:00 AM EDT 24 The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill © Getty Images Today, the House of Representatives will consider a resolution that condemns human rights and governance conditions in Ethiopia. Now is the wrong time to consider this, and it should be rejected. Since being elected to the Senate, I have made 156 country visits to Africa. Eighteen of those have been to Ethiopia, where I have watched first-hand the economic transformation that’s occurred. Their middle class is growing, and they have become a regional superpower, who is a friend of the United States. Their military is professional and capable, and they are punching above their weight in the war against terrorism that continues to plague the continent. They promote regional peace and security by being one of the top troop contributors to UN peacekeeping missions around the world. The last few years have been tough domestically for Ethiopia on a number of fronts, but that’s not surprising for a country that’s continuing to transition from a communist to a democratic nation. The good news is that the Ethiopian government understands that human rights and governance conditions need to improve. That’s why the timing and negative, condescending tone of this resolution could not be worse and would work against the authors’ intent. It would undercut the new prime minister at just the time he needs to be encouraged. Just one week ago, Dr. Abiy Ahmed was sworn in as Ethiopia’s new prime minister on a mandate to improve these exact issues. He is a personal friend of mine; in fact, I was with him on my last visit in October, and we prayed together for Ethiopia’s disunity to be healed. During his inauguration, Prime Minister Abiy stated his commitment to accountability, justice, freedom, and the rule of law. He expressed his commitment to allowing true democracy (and by extension, political parties of all persuasions) to flourish, underscoring why he is the one who has what it takes to bring real change to Ethiopia. We should give Prime Minister Abiy the opportunity to prove himself as a national leader before having the full weight of the United States House of Representatives tossed against him. A heavy-handed, strongly-worded resolution condemning his government, so soon after being sworn in, will severely curtail Abiy’s ability to enact needed reforms. In fact, they could backfire by fueling opposition groups in Ethiopia to undermine his entire administration. Now is not the time to move a resolution with a tone like this. Ethiopia is a key friend, and Prime Minister Abiy deserves a chance at a strong start. The House can give him that by rejecting H. Res. 128. Inhofe is the senior senator for Oklahoma.

This was contentious issue in the 80s. Even within WSLF. The current governing party in the kilil the Somali Peoples Democratic Party was formed from 4 Somali parties and organizations including WSLF, SDL (Somali democratic league)..etc. In the 80s when EPRDF was started by TPLF and ANDM in northern Ethiopia, the Somalis were not sure whether will stay in Ethiopia or have to separate. Around 1988 the majority of Somali organizations including WSLF had decided that the Somali people will stay in Ethiopia under following conditions: Ethiopia should be federal The Somali people will be completely self governing EPRDF agreed to both conditions and actually championed for implementation. This was implemented to complete satisfaction of the Somali people. So most of Somali organizations did not see the need to be member of parties with other peoples. The Somali people can participate in the running of the country by Somalis joining ministries, aarmy, foreign service and all activities of federal government. So far this has worked fairly well for the autonomy of the Somali people, but there are times where it is necessary to be full member in political parties that have chance of governing the country. That is where the situation is right now.

All opposition without exception are so confused, become anxious and suspicious of each other. Everybody is suspecting somebody of making deals with the EPRDF. One of the opposition parties openly asked: "How can a country the size and prestige (empty prestige with starving people - mine) run without PM". They forgot the PM is still active until next PM is elected. Some have already accepted defeat and are thinking next cycle or next opportunity. Regions: Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Somali, Gambella, Benshangul Gumuz is all quiet and waiting. Oromia: lots of problems and particularly now competition between west Oromo mostly Protestant and Eastern mostly Muslims. The middle what can be termed as Amharized is still working in the stystem. South: Problem with one Ethnic, Gurage these are traders and business people scattered all over Ethiopia but home base is in South. Ginbot 7 is mainly Gurage. Hareri are watching carefully since they are sarounded by Oromo and not far from Somali, but no land connection. Is like city state. Addis and Dirdawa is all quiet.