Opinion: Eritrea’s own Newspaper Haddas Erta is calling out the worrying State of Affairs in Ethiopia

The current situation in Ethiopia is being witnessed by everyone. It is very worrying not only for the people of Ethiopia but also for the entire region. – Due to the slow process of nation-building, peoples are divided by narrow politics, not only by ethnicity but also by smaller groups. -The ‘country army’ is too busy in relentless civil conflict, its bodies scattered everywhere, captured by the mob and ‘Enough of the war! We’re tired!” He has reached a fantasy where he complains openly. – Much of the country is out of control, with the government confronting its people, drone massacres of its own citizens, and destruction of public and national property itself It is awaiting relief.- Wrong economic policies introduced to get a little bit of credit from the world’s financial institutions have increased the rate of recession and made people’s livelihoods unbearable” (Haddas Ertra Eritrea, 08.03.2025).

It is rich of Asmara to call out Addis Ababa. We know this was a short-lived alliance between the President for Life Isaias Afewerki and the King who happens to be called Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed Ali. These two signed an agreement and became allies. They fought together against a common enemy, until Abiy ditched the whole war and made another agreement with the leaders of Tigray with the Pretoria Agreement. That all has made things go sour and the friendship between Abiy and Afewerki hasn’t been the same.

Now we are seeing the Shabait own Newspaper, the state owned press of Eritrea speaking out loudly about how the lives of the neighbour is. That is really telling of the friendship and how the Asmara navigates the political landscape of Addis Ababa. Not like Abiy has been closed or been co-ordinated as in the past. No, it is going bad and this is a sign of it. As the Eritrean State Press wouldn’t write like this or come with sort of commentary if things was going good.

Yes, the things the Eritrean Press could be true regardless of what is going on in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, if we knew there was going good between the neighbours. We know Eritrea wouldn’t write something significantly bad about Ethiopia. As a partner and ally, it would be more friendly and a posh-piece.

Now we are seeing a total disarray between Asmara and Addis Ababa. That the State Owned Press writes this and says this. It is rich of the Eritrean Press speak of nation building and narrow politics. When the Eritrean government is all bound by President and there is no other serious authority. That’s why they shouldn’t call other people out before they hold a serious election and builds institutions that can show their works. Alas, we know that won’t happen because that breaches the ego and the mastermind of Afewerki. So, let’s get serious before they throw shades at the crippling and self-destructive manner of Abiy. Abiy has his own sins and wants to consolidate power by the means of guns or cronyism. Therefore, it is really unique to read this commentary from Eritrea.

We can wonder how Eritrea would react if a piece like this was published in the Ethiopian Herald or Fana Broadcasting Company? That’s what I would wonder about and how they dissect it. Most likely… Shabait itself would write a retort. You can wonder if Addis Ababa will respond to this one. However, a brother is calling another brother out…

Well, time is a wasting. Abiy is in a sea of trouble and now Afewerki’s minions is mocking him too. Peace.

Ethiopia: Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC) – Press Release (06.03.2025)

Ethiopia: The USAID termination is hurting Addis Ababa hard

“Over 85 percent of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Ethiopia have paused operations following the Trump administration’s clampdown on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), sources told The Reporter. CSOs working on human rights, peace, health, and development issues have especially been affected by the cutoff of funding from the US Agency, while others are also facing serious disruptions, according to the sources. “Large CSOs in Ethiopia used to access up to 70 percent of their funding from USAID. Now they’re in crisis,” a representative of a prominent CSO told The Reporter, speaking anonymously. “We’ve suspended five of our projects due to the aid suspension.”” (Ashenafi Endale – ‘USAID funding freeze leave over 85pct of Ethiopian nonprofits crippled’ 01.03.2025, The Reporter Ethiopia).

The ones not thinking the termination of the USAID contracts, grands and programs haven’t seen it or thought of the impact. The Prosperity Party and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia must be feeling a pinch.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali should be stressed in his palace. As the Ministry of Health has to stop paying employees and medical personnel. The USAID paid for at least 5000 people for the PREFAR program alone. The medicines and treatment against HIV/AIDs have now been stopped. Therefore, we know things are only getting worse.

Just like all other Humanitarian Assistance in coordination, funded and logistically delivered through the USAID will also be hit. This will cause more trouble in Ethiopia. As these sorts of programs have been used to feed the internally displaced people and the ones who are living in refugee camps, as they have needs awaiting ability to return home or safe travels to Sudan or elsewhere, which they fled warzones across the border from Ethiopia. Therefore, there is millions of people in need and this USAID terminations will only create more suffering.

There is already knowledge of disruptions of humanitarian assistance earlier in February when the USAID paused the payouts. Now that things are terminated, we can only imagine the damage it does to the World Food Programme and UNAIDS or any other bilateral organization who is helping the needy in Ethiopia.

The Prime Minister and FDRE must be worried, as they have no leverage and have little to fight for here. Unless someone wants to fill in the void. The USAID terminations and such are hitting the Ministries. This is hurting an economy that was already weak and tumbling over the years of internal conflict. The warlords of Addis Ababa need foreign funding, because it doesn’t have enough domestic revenue. That’s why Prime Minister will feel the pinch and lack of easy money.

The PM needs viable funding and external support to cover his deficits, as his not creating or able to have enough stability to make it a rising market. Ethiopia has a big need for assistance, both government and citizens, as the state are accustomed to foreign assistance and aid. Abiy knows this and has lost a vital source in the loss of USAID.

Now the PM has to either find money or let people go. Neither are the money that can vanish or misuse, as the FDRE needs to find other sources to cover their deficits. That’s we should worry about what will happen now. The innocent lives are the ones that is in the purge and abandoned by the USAID. The FDRE have also left them behind, because they expected someone else to pay their tab. The EPRDF and PP haven’t changed this and only allowed for this to happen. As there was no Plan B if the USAID stopped to operate. There was always the idea that the foreigners would come in as saviours. Now we have to wait and see, but this will create more insecurity and possible famine as well. Therefore, things aren’t looking good for Ethiopia. Peace.

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