Ethiopia daily brief, 27-Oct-26 The Orthodox Holy Synod reports 60 faithful killed in attacks in Arsi Zone, Oromia. Clashes in Moyale enter a fifth day, pushing tens of thousands to flee into Kenya. Parliament has approved all 22 of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's new cabinet ministers. Ethiopia inaugurates the long-stalled Megech Irrigation Dam near Gondar. The birr weakens slightly, and the securities exchange gains a ninth trading member. TOP STORIES * Ethiopian Orthodox Holy Synod Reports 60 Killed in Arsi Attacks The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Holy Synod says 60 faithful were killed in attacks in Merti and Shirka woredas, Arsi Zone, Oromia, between October 21 and 25, 2026: 14 in Gora Silingo on October 20 and 46 in Tiruta, Chole, and Birbo on October 24, plus 20 homes burned and over 20 hospitalized. A Diocese Office report calls the killings extreme cruelty against innocent citizens. Residents told Addis Standard that attacks beginning the evening of October 24 killed at least 48 civilians, including women, elderly people and at least six children under 15. The Synod warns against killings, displacement and property destruction targeting Orthodox Christians and plans talks with senior government officials. The Reporter Magazine; also Addis Standard * Moyale Conflict Enters Fifth Day, Residents Flee Fighting in Moyale town, Borena Zone, Oromia, has entered a fifth day and has not stopped, the town's communication office says. Gunfire continues and residents have fled to Kenya and nearby kebeles. The office says the conflict was sparked by raising the Somali Region flag, and a young girl at the scene was shot dead; office head Qalichi Iba Boneya says it is escalating. Addis Standard reports the clashes have spread across seven districts, killing civilians, destroying property and forcing tens of thousands to flee to Kenya. Residents say schools have closed, electricity and telecommunications are disrupted, and many fled without adequate food, water or supplies. Sheger FM; also Addis Standard * Ethiopia Inaugurates Megech Irrigation Dam Near Gondar Ethiopia has officially inaugurated the Megech Irrigation Dam Project serving Gondar and its surrounding community, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says. The dam holds 185 million cubic meters of water and will irrigate more than 17,000 hectares, directly benefiting tens of thousands of farmers. Abiy says it also supplies clean drinking water, supports fisheries, urban agriculture and tourism, and urges public participation in development. Fana reports the project stalled for 19 years at a cost of 17 to 20.7 billion birr including inflation; the administration replaced the contractor and, through close follow-up and a new shift arrangement, brought it to completion. The figures are as announced, not independently measured. Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce; also Fana (Amharic) * Ethiopia's Parliament Approves New Cabinet Ethiopia's seventh Parliament approved Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's new cabinet on October 8, 2026, in a session lasting about an hour. All 22 ministers passed unanimously, according to Addis Fortune. The report appeared on social media and has not been confirmed on Parliament's own channels. Addis Fortune (@addis_fortune) POLITICS * Ethiopia to Set Up Body Monitoring National Dialogue Recommendations Ethiopia plans to soon establish an institution to monitor implementation of the National Dialogue's recommendations, Ethiopian Reporter reports. Ethiopian Reporter (@EthioReporter) SECURITY * Kore Zone Officials Say Attacks From West Guji Exceed Their Capacity Kore Zone officials, South Ethiopia Regional State, say armed groups from West Guji are killing civilians and looting property and livestock, and stopping the attacks is beyond the zone's capacity. Addis Maleda (Telegram) * Egypt to send troops to Somalia before AUSSOM transfer Egypt plans to deploy troops to Somalia under a bilateral military cooperation agreement before moving about 1,000 personnel into AUSSOM. Addis Standard (@addisstandard) ECONOMY * Ethiopian Birr Weakens Slightly Against Dollar Across 29 Banks The birr weakened slightly against the dollar last week on the boards of 29 banks, according to Addis Fortune, which gives no further figures or reasons. Addis Fortune (@addis_fortune) * Ethiopia's central bank issues foreign exchange auction notice No. 31 The National Bank of Ethiopia has published a notice for Foreign Exchange Auction No. National Bank of Ethiopia (Telegram) BUSINESS * Prize Worth Investment Bank Joins Ethiopian Securities Exchange as Ninth Trading Member Prize Worth Investment Bank S.C. became the ninth Trading Member of the Ethiopian Securities Exchange on October 22, 2026, receiving its certificate at the ESX head office in Addis Ababa after obtaining its license from… Ethiopian Securities Exchange; also stockmarket.et (Telegram), Addis Fortune SOCIETY * Ethiopia Rated "Not Free" in Freedom House 2026 Internet Report Freedom House's Freedom on the Net 2026 report, "Seismic Shifts on the Global Internet," keeps Ethiopia "Not Free" with a score of 30 out of 100, among the lowest of 38 countries assessed for June… Capital Ethiopia FOREIGN RELATIONS * Ethiopia Urges Hydro-Diplomacy as Egypt's El-Sisi Calls Water Security a 'Red Line' Ethiopia has called for stronger regional cooperation and hydro-diplomacy on shared rivers during its third Water and Energy Week, opened 26 October. Addis Standard (@addisstandard) --- The Observatory · https://observatory.mgorsky.net/archive/224/