Worancha ወራንቻ

Leadership crisis grips UDJ Members of the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ) that oppose the resignation of the former president, Gizachew Shiferaw (Eng.), and his replacement, Belay Fikadu, are accusing the new leadership of violating the principles and the bylaws of the party. This was disclosed at a press conference held at Sarem Hotel on  Saturday where Ayele Semeneh, member of national council and eastern zone coordinator, Sida Haile, Sidama zone representative and Birhanu Fekena, western zone coordinator of the party, argued that new leadership had seized power illegally. In their statement, the three members claimed, “The leadership of the party is overtaken by groups who are driven by some forces from the diaspora and the resignation of the former president is illegal and forceful.” They claimed that, “the leadership of the party is controlled by groups who have a hidden agenda and it is overriding the culture of the party that is mainly resolving its pr

The Ethiopian Federal Democratic Unity Forum (Medrek) has called for the cancellation and re-election of public observers whom will be tasked with following up and observing the May national election at all levels. The observers' election was conducted throughout the country on December 21. During a press conference delivered by Beyene Petors (Prof.), Merera Gudina (PhD) and Gebru Gebremariam, president, head of external affairs and secretary of the party, respectively, the party accused the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) for siding with the ruling party – the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). The press conference that was held yesterday at the headquarters of the party located around Sidist Kilo near the Addis Ababa University main campus focused on different issues  surrounding the upcoming election. According to the president, the major reason to demand for re-election is that the party believes that the candidates who ran for

Djibouti plays host to some of the world's most powerful militaries including China, France, Japan, Russia and the US. And aside from hosting the logistical hub for US military operations in East Africa and the Arabian Gulf, France, the former colonial power, maintains its largest military base in Africa in the East African country. Camp Lemonnier, a 500-acre base housing some 3,200 US soldiers and civilians, sits on the long sea road abutting Ambouli International Airport. Djiboutian soldiers guard the gate, and across the road ageing yellow taxis bake in the 40-degree heat. At the next junction is Djibouti's new police training academy, built with money from the US. Local police graduates now stand guard over what is the most internationalised military zone in the world. Next to the police academy is Japan's military base, then those of Italy and Germany. Further along is France's Camp Monclar. Under an international anti-piracy programme, Russia has n

Federal government plans to take over the entire corridor of 25km between Hawasa and Shashamene. Both Sidama Zone or SNNPR and Oromia have not been consulted yet. Major cities in Oromia are administered in what is termed as “special zone.” Jimma and its surrounding is special zone; Addis Ababa and its surrounding is special zone; Adama and its surrounding is special zone. Now the federal government of Ethiopia is considering to create one for Shashamane because, sources disclose, the city is becoming home for ”nations and nationalities” and economically very significant to be left for the regional government. In fact, the federal government wants to take over the entire corridor of 25km between Hawasa and Shashamene. And both Sidama Zone or SNNPR and Oromia have not been consulted yet. The plan will land on table presumably after 2015 election and EPRDF secures majority in the house that is already decided at the council of ministers in their last successive meetings. As a tr