- Federal forces entered Adwa and Adigrat as TPLF fighters withdrew, with flights resuming to Mekelle.
- NaMA accuses the Tigray Peace Force of violence in Raya; the TPF denies the claims.
- The National Bank of Ethiopia scheduled six foreign exchange auctions totalling 840 million dollars through December.
- The IOM raised the death toll from a Djibouti boat sinking to 139 migrants.
- General Tadesse Werede and other former TPLF officers have reportedly been freed.
Top stories
Ethiopian forces enter Adwa as flights resume to Mekelle
Witnesses say Ethiopian government forces and an allied militia entered Adwa without a fight on Sunday, after TPLF fighters withdrew. Adwa lies about 40km from Eritrea's border. Ethiopian Airlines also resumed flights from Addis Ababa to Mekelle on Sunday, the first since September 23; Ethiopian forces captured Mekelle last week.
Al Jazeera · according to witnesses, reported by AFP/Al Jazeera
Ethiopian forces enter Adigrat in Tigray
Ethiopian government forces entered Adigrat in northern Tigray, near the Eritrean border, after rebel fighters withdrew. Al Jazeera reports that the move heightens tensions with neighbouring Eritrea, which cut diplomatic ties with Ethiopia the previous week. The government's own channels have not carried the report.
Al Jazeera
NAMA Accuses Tigray Peace Force of Violence in Raya; TPF Rejects Claims
The National Movement of Amhara (NaMA) says the Tigray Peace Force carried out killings, forced displacement, identity-based intimidation and attacks on returning internally displaced people in the contested Raya Alamata area of Southern Tigray, including firing on returning civilians in Alamata, Bala and Korem, blocking civilian transport on October 3 and restricting Amharic instruction. NaMA says the TPF's entry after TPLF forces withdrew began a bid for political and administrative control, and calls for federal forces and human rights investigations. TPF media head Mengistuab Tesfaye denies the claims.
Borkena; also Addis Standard
Ethiopia's central bank plans six dollar auctions through December
The National Bank of Ethiopia has scheduled six foreign exchange auctions, each offering 140 million dollars to commercial banks, running through December and covering the second quarter of the Ethiopian fiscal year. The first, the 30th sale, was held on Tuesday, October 13. The quarterly allocation rises 68 percent to 840 million dollars from 500 million.
Addis Fortune (@addis_fortune); also Birr Metrics
Security
General Tadesse Werede and former TPLF officers released
Sources say General Tadesse Werede and other former TPLF officers, once held in Mekelle and moved northward fearing handover to Eritrea, are freed and safe with national defence forces.
Addis Admass · reported by Addis Admass; attributed to unnamed sources
Sheger FM report on ongoing conflicts and economic reform
Sheger FM reports continuing conflicts in Amhara, Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz exposing rights violations, and renewed fighting in Tigray, plus IMF joint economic reform work.
Sheger FM
Tigray crisis deepens as conflict resumes, federal officials welcomed in regional cities
Fighting resumed in Tigray roughly three weeks ago, raising grave humanitarian concern.
DW Amharic
Ethiopia sees proliferation of government-organised armed groups despite national dialogue unity recommendation
A July 2019 E.C. national dialogue recommended one unified security force, but Addis Maleda reports government-organised armed groups proliferating: Tekeze Guard, Raya Guard, Amhara Peace Force; in Oromia, Geda Commando, Kore Negenya, Gachana Sirna.
Addis Maleda (Telegram)
Economy
Ethiopia opens its first gold refinery
Ethiopia's first gold refinery, announced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, launched October 10 in Bole Lemi Special Economic Zone, Addis Ababa, as National Precious Metals Refinery.
Reuters (Ethiopia, via Google News); also Amhara Media Corporation
Ethiopian Federal Judges Suspend VAT Registration Rule for Lawyers
Federal judges have suspended enforcement of a directive requiring lawyers to register for value-added tax, and ruled the challenging lawyers need not post a financial bond, following their litigation against the requirement.
Addis Fortune (@addis_fortune)
Business
KEFI Resumes Tulu Kapi Gold Project Development
KEFI Gold and Copper restarted Tulu Kapi gold development after the "Genji Incident" halt—a fatal early-September incident beginning September 4, resolved September 10 after talks with community leaders.
Capital Ethiopia; also Ethiopian Business Daily (Telegram)
Society
Boat capsizes off Djibouti, killing at least 139 migrants
The Djibouti migrant boat sinking death toll is revised to at least 139 dead, 84 missing, after more recoveries; IOM earlier reported 109 dead, 116 missing.
Addis Standard (@addisstandard)
Sent by the Observatory.