Latest news with #Abiy
Arabian Post
19 hours ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Ethiopia Emerges as Africa's Leading Wheat Producer
Ethiopia has surged ahead to become Africa's largest wheat producer, with output surpassing that of Egypt by a factor of three, according to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. This achievement marks a significant milestone in Ethiopia's agricultural sector, underscoring its rising role in continental food security and economic development. Prime Minister Abiy announced this development during a national address, highlighting the government's concerted efforts to boost domestic wheat production through investment in modern farming techniques, improved seed varieties, and expanded irrigation infrastructure. Ethiopia's agricultural transformation aligns with its broader strategy to reduce dependency on imports and bolster self-sufficiency in staple crops, particularly wheat, which remains a key dietary component across the country. Wheat production in Ethiopia has experienced sustained growth over the past decade, driven by a combination of favourable climatic conditions, government policy support, and increased mechanisation of farms. According to official figures, Ethiopia's wheat output now stands at approximately 6 million tonnes annually, compared to Egypt's 2 million tonnes, reflecting a tripling in production levels. This dramatic rise places Ethiopia at the forefront of wheat cultivation in Africa, a region that has historically relied heavily on imports to meet demand. ADVERTISEMENT Agricultural experts point to the Ethiopian government's Green Revolution initiative, which has prioritised the dissemination of high-yield seeds, fertiliser subsidies, and expanded access to credit for farmers. These measures have helped smallholder farmers increase productivity, contributing significantly to the national wheat harvest. Furthermore, irrigation projects such as those along the Awash River basin have mitigated the effects of erratic rainfall, enabling more consistent and scalable wheat farming. Ethiopia's ascent in wheat production has broader implications for regional food stability. As a net importer of wheat for decades, the country's enhanced capacity can potentially reduce its reliance on international markets, shielding it from global price volatility. This shift is particularly relevant given the rising global demand and supply disruptions that have characterised agricultural commodities in recent years. Egypt, long the continent's largest wheat producer and consumer, has faced its own agricultural challenges, including water scarcity linked to the Nile and limitations on arable land. Despite ongoing efforts to boost domestic wheat output, including investments in research and improved cultivation practices, Egypt's production growth has been comparatively modest. The country remains the world's largest wheat importer, sourcing heavily from Russia, Ukraine, and other international suppliers. Ethiopia's wheat boom is not without challenges. The sector faces risks from climate variability, pest outbreaks, and logistical constraints in transportation and storage. Additionally, ensuring that increased production translates into improved livelihoods for rural communities requires ongoing attention to market access, fair pricing, and agribusiness development. Experts stress the need for continued investment in extension services and rural infrastructure to sustain productivity gains. On the international front, Ethiopia's growing wheat production positions it as a potential exporter within the East African region, where several countries depend on imports to satisfy their domestic consumption. Neighbouring nations such as Kenya, Sudan, and Djibouti could benefit from more reliable and affordable wheat supplies sourced from Ethiopia's expanding agricultural base. The government has also indicated plans to promote value-added processing industries linked to wheat, including flour milling and bakery sectors, to maximise economic benefits domestically. Developing these downstream industries aligns with Ethiopia's industrialisation agenda and aims to create employment opportunities while reducing food price inflation. While Ethiopia's agricultural transformation has gained global attention, it remains critical to balance intensification with sustainable land management practices. The Ministry of Agriculture has emphasised the integration of conservation agriculture principles to preserve soil fertility and biodiversity. International development partners continue to support these efforts through funding and technical assistance, recognising the importance of climate resilience in ensuring long-term food security.
The Star
17-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Ethiopian PM calls for homegrown AI to propel Africa's dev't
ADDIS ABABA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called on African countries to exert concerted efforts in the development of homegrown artificial intelligence (AI) to propel the realization of continental development ambitions. Abiy made the remarks while addressing an AI-themed high-level meeting held Saturday in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, under the theme "Leveraging AI for Africa's Prosperity and Collaboration." Noting that the African continent is entering a transformative era in its development trajectory, the prime minister said homegrown AI can serve as a catalyst for inclusive prosperity by injecting a pivotal momentum into the achievement of the African Union's 50-year continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063. "Today, we stand on the verge of a new era, one that holds the promise of inclusive prosperity for our continent, driven by homegrown innovations in AI, and holds the potential of accelerating the implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063," Abiy said. He underscored the need for Africa to shape AI on its own terms, saying Ethiopia is investing in AI-related digital infrastructure and skills development, and is working to translate its vision into tangible impact.
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Humble wife's viral billboard birthday surprise for husband
A touching birthday tribute from a wife to her husband has captured the hearts of millions after going viral on TikTok, amassing over 3.5 million views. In a TikTok video, user @apiknadia surprised her husband, Abiy, with a 15-second birthday message displayed on a digital billboard in the bustling Bukit Bintang area. ALSO READ: Wife recovers over RM10,000 in coins from bathroom door thanks to husband's habit The video, which appeared on a giant LED screen, celebrated Shafik's 36th birthday and paid tribute to his dedication as an ice lorry driver. 'I want to tell the people of Bukit Bintang — I'm proud of you, Abiy,' she wrote in the caption. 'I'm happy and proud even though my husband is just an ice lorry driver who doesn't wear a uniform,' she revealed in the comments. Netizens flooded her comments with heartfelt messages and praise for her touching tribute and unwavering support for her husband. 'How sweet of you to highlight that he works for the family,' one user called immi ani commented. 'It's so sad to watch. Because our husbands are also like that—simple in appearance and working hard for the family. Even though their bodies hurt, they just smile. It makes me think of my own husband. Happy birthday to your husband, sis,' lenrena3 wrote. 'A wife's effort truly cannot be beaten,' cikbungaross commented.
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Mass arrests and beatings: how Ethiopia went from celebrating journalists to jailing them
When Ethiopia was chosen by the United Nations to host the global celebrations for World Press Freedom Day in May 2019, it held a glitzy ceremony in the capital, Addis Ababa, attended by nearly 1,000 people. The prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, had come to power a year earlier promising to end decades of repression and usher in an unprecedented era of freedom. Exiled news outlets were invited back to Ethiopia, journalists were released from prison and a host of new publications sprang up. But any hopes of a lasting press freedom were dashed in 2020 with the outbreak of war between Abiy's military forces and local rulers in Tigray, Ethiopia's northernmost region. Amid mounting allegations of atrocities, the government restricted journalists' access to Tigray and imposed a communication blackout, cutting off the region's phone and internet. Ethiopia clamped down on independent media, claiming it was protecting national security and describing the rebels in Tigray as terrorists. Initially, the government refused to term the conflict a war and instead referred to it as a 'law-enforcement operation', anticipating a swift victory. By the time the conflict ended two years later, about 600,000 people had been killed and nearly 10% of women aged 15 to 49 in Tigray had been raped. According to Reporters Without Borders' annual press freedom index, Ethiopia went from being 110th out of 180 countries in 2019 to 145th this year, as mass arrests and the detention of media workers across the country took their toll. Press freedom is in worrying decline in many parts of the world, with widespread attacks on journalists - last year was the deadliest on record - and the shutting down of news outlets due to economic hardship. We are running a series of pieces exploring the threats and challenges faced by media around World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, created to remind governments of their duty to uphold freedom of expression. 'My trouble started on the first day of the war,' says one Ethiopian journalist. 'I wrote an article about Ethiopia descending into a civil war and pro-government activists started labelling me a mercenary, a CIA agent. 'These people had hundreds of thousands of followers [on social media] and were sharing my picture.' Soon, online threats morphed into physical ones. 'While I was driving, people would roll down their window and say they would come and kill me,' says the journalist. 'In the comments of the social media posts, people were pointing out my address, saying they knew my house and would attack me. I was confronted in a restaurant, a parking lot … I was an easy target.' Eventually, they fled, joining at least 53 other Ethiopian journalists and media workers exiled since the war began in 2020, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Since 2019, at least 200 journalists have been arrested, according to Ethiopia Press Freedom Defenders. Although the Tigray war is over, the restrictions on media have continued as conflict flares in other parts of the country, human rights groups say. The CPJ counts 12 journalists behind bars in Ethiopia, putting it among the worst countries in Africa for jailing journalists. Two journalists have been killed, including Dawit Kebede Araya, a reporter for the regional broadcaster Tigrai TV, who was gunned down by an unidentified attacker near his home in Tigray in January 2021. In 2022, the Dimitsi Woyane TV station in Tigrai was hit by a drone strike. The CPJ did not attribute either to the government, but called for an investigation. Several independent media outlets have been shut down. Two foreign correspondents for the Economist and the New York Times have been deported. One Ethiopian journalist was arrested after fleeing to Djibouti and charged with terrorism offences for his coverage of conflict in Amhara, another region of Ethiopia beset by conflict. Muthoki Mumo, CPJ's sub-Saharan Africa representative, says: 'Authorities often invoke anti-terror and hate speech laws, as well as state-of-emergency provisions, to suppress critical reporting and to hold journalists behind bars on vague allegations and charges, amid seemingly indefinite investigations.' Amir Aman Kiyaro, a freelance videographer for the Associated Press, was detained in 2021 at his home in Addis Ababa after returning from a trip to Oromia, Ethiopia's biggest region, to report on a rebel group there. At the time, war was creeping close to Addis Ababa and a state of emergency was in place that curtailed civil liberties. Amir was detained for four months but never charged. State media outlets accused him of colluding with the rebels, who are classed as terrorists. 'As an independent journalist, I wanted to talk to people and document the situation on the ground,' he says. 'They were portraying me as having committed a cardinal sin, something very terrible, just for doing my job.' Last month, police detained seven journalists at the privately owned Ethiopian Broadcast Service. On 23 March the outlet had aired claims by a woman who said she had been raped by soldiers in 2020. The woman later recanted her allegations and the outlet's founder apologised, saying it has discovered the allegations were fabricated after the programme had aired. Police accused the journalists of terrorism and working with 'extremist' groups to overthrow the government. 'If you are not promoting what the government wants, you are seen as against the system,' says an editor. 'Every week, we get letters from government offices complaining about our coverage. 'It's not because we publish wrong facts, but because we are reporting on things like conflict and inflation, things that are seen as critical.' Most journalists now practise self-censorship, says the editor: 'Many independent media just repeat government statements. I ask the journalists, 'Why do you do that?' They say, 'I have children, I need to survive.'' Tsedale Lemma, founder of Addis Standard, one of Ethiopia's leading independent media outlets, says the police and security services routinely flout legal protections for media workers. 'We're nowhere close to protecting the media from this coordinated assault the government is waging against it, whether it's mass arrests, disappearances of journalists, the mass defamation of journalists or the delegitimisation of their work,' she says. Addis Standard has had repeated run-ins with the government. In 2020, a senior member of its newsroom was detained without charge for two months. In 2021, the government briefly suspended the outlet, halting work in its newsroom for a week. Late last year, its video team were detained for a day as they were reporting on people migrating to Addis Ababa. Just two weeks ago police raided the Standard's office and the home of an employee, confiscating computers and phones, and detaining three managers, one of whom was assaulted, Tsedale says. 'We're operating as if we're under this total state of emergency, [and] this constant cloud of fear doesn't give journalists the confidence to stay the course with you,' says Tsedale. 'No matter how many resources you spend training and mentoring them, they are always on the lookout for a safer, secure job.' Another editor shares similar stories about colleagues being detained while covering news and held for days at police stations. With Ethiopia gearing up for its general election in 2026, he fears further clampdowns. 'In two years, we won't have any independent media left if things continue like this.' A government spokesperson did not reply to messages seeking comment on the state of press freedom in Ethiopia. It has previously said several independent media outlets are highly partisan and do not adhere to proper journalistic ethnics regarding impartiality and verifying facts, instead advocating for certain ethnic groups within Ethiopia's multi-ethnic federation of more than 80 different peoples.
Reuters
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Ethiopia's PM Abiy appoints new leader of Tigray administration
ADDIS ABABA, April 8 (Reuters) - Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday appointed Tadesse Worede to lead the interim administration in the northern Tigray region, where divisions in the ruling party have sparked fears of a renewed war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Tadesse, the administration's deputy president for the last two years, was a top commander in the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) during the 2020-2022 war with Ethiopia's federal government, which killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions from their homes. Eritrean forces fought in support of Ethiopia's federal army during that conflict, but relations between the longtime rivals have since soured over an agreement ending the conflict signed in November 2022. Analysts say Ethiopia's neighbour Eritrea was unhappy at being excluded from the deal, which allowed the TPLF, with which it remains deeply hostile, to govern Tigray. Last year the TPLF split into two factions, with a dissident group led by Debretsion Gebremichael accusing Tigray's interim administration - led initially by TPLF spokesperson Getachew Reda, whose two-year term has now expired - of selling out Tigrayan interests. Debretsion's faction, which seized the town of Adigrat last month, has denied administration accusations of allying with Eritrea, heightening the risk of a regional war. Last month Eritrea ordered a nationwide military mobilisation, according to a human rights group. Ethiopia deployed troops toward their shared border, although Abiy has sought to downplay the prospect of conflict. Tadesse, who analysts say has stayed largely neutral over the TPLF split, has agreed to eight commitments including the return of people displaced by the war and demobilisation of combatants, according to a letter shared by Abiy's spokesperson Billene Seyoum. "(Tadesse) has a clear understanding of both the strengths and shortcomings of the previous administration, and many believe he is well-positioned to guide Tigray through this critical transition," Abiy wrote on X. "It is my hope that (Tadesse) will seize this historic opportunity to help the people of Tigray realize their aspirations for peace and development," he added.
