Ethiopia daily brief, 22-Oct-26

• Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed threatens Eritrea with severe consequences if they do not negotiate for Red Sea access.
• UN agencies warn that funding shortages are severely threatening essential health and nutrition services in conflict-hit regions.
• Reports confirm a drone strike hit an elementary school in Ethiopia's Amhara region, leading to reported casualties.
• The International Monetary Fund has postponed the sixth round of loan disbursement review for Ethiopia until around 2027.

TOP STORIES

* Ethiopia's Abiy Threatens Eritrea Over Talks
  Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed threatens Eritrea with
  Borkena

* Reported Drone Strike Hits Elementary School in Ethiopia's Amhara Region
  Borkena reports that the Ethiopian Defense Force executed a drone strike on an elementary school in South Gondar, Amhara region. The incident occurred Tuesday morning while classes were in session. According to Anchor Media, many children and some students were wounded or killed. However, neither the government nor the defense force has confirmed the casualty numbers.
  Borkena

* UN warns funding gaps threaten health services in Ethiopia's conflict-hit regions
  OCHA warns that funding shortages threaten essential health and nutrition services across Ethiopia's conflict-affected areas. In Amhara, only 16 of 57 required mobile health and nutrition teams are operating. Furthermore, 10 of those 16 teams are expected to shut down by the end of October due to continuing funding constraints.
  Addis Standard (@addisstandard); also The Reporter Magazine

* IMF Delays Ethiopia Loan Review to Around 2027
  The International Monetary Fund has postponed the sixth round loan disbursement review under Ethiopia's extended loan facility agreement until around 2027. This revision follows an earlier prediction from the IMF that the review would occur in the coming October.
  Ethiopian Business Daily (Telegram)

POLITICS

* Ethiopia's PM Names New Federal Police Deputy Commissioner
  PM Abiy Ahmed appointed Lt.
  ENA (Telegram); also Addis Standard

ECONOMY

* Ethiopia Plans Two Nuclear Reactors Totaling 2,400 Megawatts
  Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed plans for Ethiopia to build two nuclear reactors, totaling 2,400 megawatts, within the next 10 years.
  Addis Maleda (Telegram)

SOCIETY

* Ethiopia Charges 13 in Labour Certificate Corruption Case
  Ethiopia's Ministry of Justice charged 13 people regarding corruption involving the labour market information system, including fraudulent COC approvals.
  Ethiopian Business Review (Telegram)

* Drought in Abergele Leaves Over 72,000 Needing Food Aid
  An El Niño-driven drought in Abergele leaves over 72,000 residents needing emergency food aid.
  Tikvah Ethiopia (Telegram)

FOREIGN RELATIONS

* Rubio's Rebel Remarks Draw Response in Ethiopia
  U.S.
  Borkena

* Ethiopia Asks UN to Address Eritrea's Role in Region
  Ethiopia’s foreign minister urged the UN special envoy to note the regime’s destructive role in destabilizing the region.
  Addis Standard (@addisstandard)

* UN Holds Talks With New Tigray Interim Administration
  The United Nations recently held talks with the newly formed Tigray interim administration to discuss various issues of concern.
  Ethiopian Reporter (@EthioReporter)

* Eritrea's UN envoy tells US there is no Ethiopia-Eritrea "crisis"
  Eritrea's UN ambassador tells U.S. diplomats there is no
  Addis Standard (@addisstandard)

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The Observatory · https://observatory.mgorsky.net/archive/179/