Terrified Tigrayans seek to flee renewed tensions in north Ethiopia

This photograh taken on May 24, 2024 shows a general view of the city of Mekele, capital of Ethiopia's region of Tigray. (AFP)
This photograh taken on May 24, 2024 shows a general view of the city of Mekele, capital of Ethiopia's region of Tigray. (AFP)
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Updated 16 March 2025
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Terrified Tigrayans seek to flee renewed tensions in north Ethiopia

This photograh taken on May 24, 2024 shows a general view of the city of Mekele, capital of Ethiopia's region of Tigray. (AFP)
  • “A war between Ethiopia and Eritrea could break out at any moment,” said General Tsadkan Gebretensae, senior strategist for the Tigray forces in Getachew’s administration, in remarks published this week

ADDIS ABABA: Residents sought to flee mounting tensions in the Tigray region of Ethiopia as a political faction confirmed they had seized control of the town hall in the state capital Mekele.
Ethiopia’s most northerly state, which borders Eritrea, saw a devastating conflict between Tigrayan rebels and the federal government in 2020-22, which claimed up to 600,000 lives, according to some estimates.
The tensions come from an internal power struggle within Tigray between Getachew Reda, head of the state’s regional administration, and Debretsion Gebremichael, head of the dominant local party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
“People are in terror that if armed conflict breaks out, it will be worse than the war they endured,” said Solomon Hagos, a university lecturer in Mekele, who asked for one of his names to be changed for security reasons.
Another resident said people were trying to flee.
“We were trapped in Mekele during the previous war, we do not want that to happen again,” said Mihret, 27, who only gave one name.
“We are trying to leave the region, and we went to the airport, but all the flights are full. We are looking for ways to leave the region; we are afraid,” he added.
Debretsion’s faction seized control of Mekele’s town hall on Thursday to reinstate its chosen mayor and the local radio station.
A spokesman for Debretsion said: “The previous elected mayor was fired by Getachew, which was not legal. So now the previous one has been put back in place.”
Armed supporters of Debretsion also took over the municipality in Adigrat, Tigray’s second-largest town near the Eritrean border, ousting the mayor appointed by Getachew.
“We are afraid of a new siege, of a civil war between Tigrayans,” said Mehari Gebremariam, a civil servant in Adigrat.
The tensions threaten to draw in Eritrea, which has a history of war with Ethiopia, adding another layer of fear among locals.
A war between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 1998-2000 resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was lauded for finally reaching a peace agreement with Eritrea when he came to power in 2018 and won the Nobel Peace Prize.
But relations have soured since the end of the Tigray conflict in 2022.
Eritrea claimed in February that Ethiopia was waging an “intense campaign” against it.
A security source told AFP on condition of anonymity that armed Ethiopian convoys were heading toward the region of Afar, which borders Eritrea, in recent days.
“A war between Ethiopia and Eritrea could break out at any moment,” said General Tsadkan Gebretensae, senior strategist for the Tigray forces in Getachew’s administration, in remarks published this week.
The tensions have led to panic in Mekele.
“People are currently rushing to withdraw from banks because they fear the political tensions could lead to a suspension of basic services,” Hagos told AFP, adding that he had stocked up on food for fear of coming inflation.
He said locals could not cope with the idea of another war.
“Our people are exhausted. Our economy is devastated,” he said.

 


Sheikh Mohammed visits UAE pavilion at Osaka-Kansai Expo

Sheikh Mohammed visits UAE pavilion at Osaka-Kansai Expo
Updated 7 sec ago
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Sheikh Mohammed visits UAE pavilion at Osaka-Kansai Expo

Sheikh Mohammed visits UAE pavilion at Osaka-Kansai Expo
  • Dubai ruler praises the pavilion’s design, which draws inspiration from the traditional ‘Al Areesh’
  • “Today I also met with our unsung heroes and our mission at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan,” Sheikh Mohammed noted

OSAKA: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, visited the UAE Pavilion at the Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan on Friday.
The Dubai Ruler said on X, “I was delighted today to visit Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan. I was even more delighted to visit the UAE Pavilion at the Expo.”
The Dubai ruler praised the pavilion’s design, which draws inspiration from the traditional ‘Al Areesh’, — the ancient houses built from palm fronds and trunks
“I admired the design of our national pavilion, which is inspired by the palm tree and is based on a new concept of ‘Al Areesh’, the ancient houses built from palm fronds and trunks. The content of Al Areesh, however, speaks about our projects in space, our future initiatives in the health sector and our progress in sustainability projects. Our pavilion represents our commitment to the authenticity of the past and our passion for the future,” he added.
He highlighted that while the structure honors tradition, its content showcases the UAE’s ambitious projects in space, health care innovation, and sustainability initiatives.
He also extended special thanks to Sheikha Mariam bint Mohammed bin Zayed for her supervision of the pavilion’s design and development, noting her excellence in presenting the UAE’s story to the world.


“Today I also met with our unsung heroes and our mission at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan, who welcome more than 15,000 visitors daily, conveying our story to the world and adding new friends to our country every day,” Sheikh Mohammed noted.
“Our relationship with Japan dates back to 1972. Today, our relations with all countries of the world are strong through our global participation and hosting of international events. We also share our unsung heroes, young men and women, who travel the world to convey our story, our identity, our culture, and our passion for the future,” he added.


Saudi, Indian militaries complete first army-to-army talks

Saudi, Indian militaries complete first army-to-army talks
Updated 25 April 2025
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Saudi, Indian militaries complete first army-to-army talks

Saudi, Indian militaries complete first army-to-army talks
  • Discussions in New Delhi focus on Sada Tanseeq drill, knowledge sharing
  • Agreement follows Indian PM’s visit to Kingdom earlier this week

NEW DELHI: The first army-to-army talks between the Indian Army and the Royal Saudi Land Forces have resulted in an annual defense cooperation plan that includes joint drills, expert exchanges, and operational logistics, India’s military said on Friday.
The talks took place in New Delhi on April 23-24.
“Discussions focused on the annual defense cooperation plan, covering joint exercise Sada Tanseeq, training, military education, domain expert exchanges and engagements in areas of mutual interest,” the public information arm of the Indian Ministry of Defense said on X.
“Both sides also explored avenues of collaboration in operational logistics, battlefield management systems & niche technologies to enhance interoperability and capability development,” it said.
The Sada Tanseeq exercise, the first edition of which took place in Rajasthan in January and February, aims to enhance interoperability and joint operational capabilities between the two nations’ land forces, particularly in semi-desert terrain.
The exercise involved 90 troops from both sides focusing on training for operations under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which pertains to actions regarding threats to peace, breaches of peace and acts of aggression.
The talks in Delhi followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia and meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman earlier this week.
During the visit the two sides expanded the Saudi-Indian Strategic Partnership Council to include a ministerial committee for defense cooperation and agreed to enhance defense industry collaboration.
“It is significant that the first army-to army staff level talks were held immediately after the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the crown prince, who decided to form a ministerial-level defense cooperation committee to give a push to already deepening defense and strategic relations between India and Saudi Arabia,” defense and strategic affairs expert Ranjit Kumar told Arab News.
“The two countries have already conducted joint army exercises in 2021 and 2023. Later, the navies of the two nations have also organized two rounds of joint naval exercises. These are indicative of growing proximity between the Indian and Saudi defense forces, which may lead to new strategic equations in the region.”


Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Ecuador coast

Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Ecuador coast
Updated 25 April 2025
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Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Ecuador coast

Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits Ecuador coast
  • Monitors said the epicenter was near the Pacific coast of Esmeraldas

QUITO: A shallow 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of Ecuador early Friday, the US Geological Survey reported, and was felt as far away as the Andean capital Quito.
AFP reporters felt the shake before 7:00 am local time (1200 GMT).
Monitors said the epicenter was near the Pacific coast of Esmeraldas, at a depth of about 35 kilometers (22 miles).
There were no immediate reports of victims or severe damage and Ecuadoran authorities said there was no tsunami risk.
Ecuador sits on one of the most geologically active zones on Earth, and the fault between the Nazca and South American plates runs along its coast.


UN food, refugee agencies plan deep cuts as funding slashed, memos show

UN food, refugee agencies plan deep cuts as funding slashed, memos show
Updated 25 April 2025
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UN food, refugee agencies plan deep cuts as funding slashed, memos show

UN food, refugee agencies plan deep cuts as funding slashed, memos show
  • The humanitarian sector has been roiled by funding cuts from major donors, led by the US
  • WFP director Stephen Omollo said that the cuts were necessary due to the “unprecedented funding environment“

GENEVA: The UN agencies for food and refugees plan deep cuts due to an unprecedented plunge in funding, including from former top donor the US, internal memos sent to staff show, raising questions about how to maintain hunger relief.
The humanitarian sector has been roiled by funding cuts from major donors, led by the United States under President Donald Trump, and other Western countries as they prioritize defense spending prompted by growing fears of Russia and China.
The World Food Programme, a Rome-based UN agency, warned last month that 58 million people are at risk of extreme hunger or starvation unless urgent funding for food aid arrives. Millions of people facing acute food shortages in Sudan could be affected, the WFP said on Friday.
In an internal memo sent to staff on Thursday and seen by Reuters, WFP director Stephen Omollo said that the cuts were necessary due to the “unprecedented funding environment,” with the 2025 donor outlook at $6.4 billion, or a 40 percent reduction versus last year. He did not name any countries responsible.
“We remain concerned that the situation shows no sign of improving,” he said, adding that the planned cuts might not be sufficient and that further downsizing was being explored.
“In this challenging donor environment, WFP will prioritize its limited resources on vital programs that bring urgently needed food assistance to the 343 million people struggling with hunger, and increasingly facing starvation,” the WFP said in a statement to Reuters.
The United States, Germany, Britain and the European Commission have been among the top donors in recent years, its website showed. WFP, like many United Nations agencies, relies entirely on voluntary donations.
The note to staff from UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) chief Filippo Grandi dated April 23 said that it planned an overall reduction in costs of 30 percent and that the number of senior positions would be cut in half.
“We will have to close some country offices, instead covering these countries through strengthened multi-country office structures,” Grandi said.
UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler told a Geneva press briefing that the agency has been severely affected by funding uncertainty. “We have had to respond to this by stopping a lot of work we have been doing in the field,” he said.
A second spokesperson later added that UNHCR was undertaking a comprehensive review of its operations, staffing and structures, declining to give a timeline since the review is ongoing.


Hope, apprehension and politics: Cardinals search for new pope

Hope, apprehension and politics: Cardinals search for new pope
Updated 25 April 2025
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Hope, apprehension and politics: Cardinals search for new pope

Hope, apprehension and politics: Cardinals search for new pope
  • “We have to make decisions for the whole Church, so we really need to pray for ourselves,” added Luxembourg’s Jean-Claude Hollerich
  • The conclave is likely to begin right after the nine days of mourning declared by the Holy See, which end on May 4

VATICAN CITY: Arriving in Rome after Pope Francis’s death, Catholic cardinals have admitted some apprehension at the responsibility of choosing his successor, as they begin setting out what they hope to see in the next head of the Church.
The task of choosing a new pope to replace the Argentine, who died on Monday aged 88, “is beyond us and yet requires us,” said French cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, summing up the mood after celebrating a mass on Thursday evening.
“We feel very small. We have to make decisions for the whole Church, so we really need to pray for ourselves,” added Luxembourg’s Jean-Claude Hollerich, a Jesuit who was a close adviser to Francis.
The conclave is likely to begin right after the nine days of mourning declared by the Holy See, which end on May 4, he said, adding that he was approaching the occasion with “great hope” but also “a certain apprehension.”
Cardinal electors — those aged under 80 — will choose a new leader for the 1.4-billion-strong Roman Catholic church behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel.
Playing out under Michelangelo’s frescoes, the process is often perceived as full of intrigue and machinations.
But Cardinal Francois-Xavier Bustillo, the bishop of Ajaccio in Corsica, said his fellow cardinals should eschew political games and listen to each other before deciding.
We must not act tactically or strategically,” he said. “We must serve and act responsibly.”

On Friday morning, all cardinals already in Rome — electors and those who are too old — gathered at the Vatican for their fourth meeting since Francis’s death.
Known as “general congregations,” these gatherings provide an opportunity to exchange views and discuss the priorities of the next pontificate.
With their trademark scarlet skullcaps, cardinals are not hard to spot around the colonnades of St. Peter’s Square — something that makes them an easy target for journalists hoping to get a steer on who the next pope might be.
“There’s a good atmosphere between us. It’s you who make the predictions,” Italy’s Fernando Filoni quipped to reporters as he entered a meeting. “We’re getting to know each other.”
Francis, who appointed 80 percent of the 135 electors eligible to choose his successor, prioritized the Global South and far-flung regions away from Rome when picking new cardinals.
British cardinal Vincent Nichols said the prospect of choosing the next pope was “quite intimidating frankly.”
Cardinals would do their “best work once the doors of the conclave have been shut,” he told the BBC, adding seclusion would allow for “peace and a prayerfulness between us.”
Yet cardinals have discretely begun work to narrow the list of candidates.
Asked whether the time had come for an African or Asian pope, Archbishop Hollerich replied: “Why not? But it’s not a given.”
Skills and personality were more important than geography, he said, adding that a pope would always be a unifying figure.
The ideal candidate would be a “simple man” who is “not too young nor too old,” “can connect with people” and “knows how to listen” to both those on the left and on the right, he said.
However German cardinal Gerhard Muller, a staunch conservative who was among the leading voices opposing Francis’s progressive approach, said the Church risked a schism if it elected another liberal.
“The question is not between conservatives and liberals but between orthodoxy and heresy,” he told British newspaper The Times.
Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras said he hoped for a pontiff who would carry Francis’s torch.
“A simple, humble person. A pontiff who will break up the power struggles in the Church,” he told Italian daily La Stampa.
Aged 82, he will not have a say in the selection but remains hopeful.
“I am convinced that in the end everyone will have common sense. Cardinals are not people without faith,” he said.