🇪🇹🇸🇴 Ethiopian airlines refutes report of suspending flights to avoid Somali airspace
Ethiopian Airlines on Friday evening denied media reports claiming that it would reroute flights to avoid Somali airspace, which had previously been utilized for flights en route to Asia.
BBC Amharic reported that the airline has suspended flights to Somalia, choosing instead to fly towards Djibouti before proceeding over central Asia. The company arrived at this decision due to the lack of "reliable air traffic services" from Somali air traffic controllers, citing Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew.
However, the airlines stated that the report about the CEO's comments on the Somali airspace situation is inaccurate and distorted. "Ethiopian Airlines has not stopped flying over the Somali airspace and Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO did not state that it is unsafe to fly over Somali airspace. Accordingly, we request BBC Amharic to correct the report it has issued on the subject," it said.
#Ethiopia #Somalia
@africaintel
Ethiopian Airlines on Friday evening denied media reports claiming that it would reroute flights to avoid Somali airspace, which had previously been utilized for flights en route to Asia.
BBC Amharic reported that the airline has suspended flights to Somalia, choosing instead to fly towards Djibouti before proceeding over central Asia. The company arrived at this decision due to the lack of "reliable air traffic services" from Somali air traffic controllers, citing Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew.
However, the airlines stated that the report about the CEO's comments on the Somali airspace situation is inaccurate and distorted. "Ethiopian Airlines has not stopped flying over the Somali airspace and Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO did not state that it is unsafe to fly over Somali airspace. Accordingly, we request BBC Amharic to correct the report it has issued on the subject," it said.
#Ethiopia #Somalia
@africaintel
🇪🇹🇹🇿 Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed official visit to Tanzania, sealed trade deals
Tanzania and Ethiopia this week signed bilateral agreements targeting agriculture, trade, energy and air transport and aviation technology exchange.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday witnessed the signing of agreements strengthen trade between the two countries.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation said on Friday that the two leaders agreed to deepen trade and bilateral relations that would create new opportunities for trade between Tanzania, with a population of over 61 million, and Ethiopia, with a population of more than 100 million people.
Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation January Makamba said that the MoUs would open up new markets, investment and trade in key sectors, especially in coffee and tea.
#Ethiopia #Tanzania
@africaintel
Tanzania and Ethiopia this week signed bilateral agreements targeting agriculture, trade, energy and air transport and aviation technology exchange.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday witnessed the signing of agreements strengthen trade between the two countries.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation said on Friday that the two leaders agreed to deepen trade and bilateral relations that would create new opportunities for trade between Tanzania, with a population of over 61 million, and Ethiopia, with a population of more than 100 million people.
Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation January Makamba said that the MoUs would open up new markets, investment and trade in key sectors, especially in coffee and tea.
#Ethiopia #Tanzania
@africaintel
🇪🇹 Ethiopian Airlines places order for eight Boeing 777X jets
Ethiopian Airlines has agreed to purchase eight Boeing 777-9 widebody jets, with potential for up to 12 additional aircraft orders, the companies said in a statement.
Major airlines are in a race to place new orders for fuel-efficient widebody jets to keep operating costs down and to cater to booming international travel demand.
The order from Ethiopian Airlines comes as Boeing faces increased scrutiny due to a January 5 incident when a door plug blew off a brand new 737 MAX plane mid-flight.
The 777-9 will support the East African airline's plans to grow and renew its fleet in size, range and passenger capacity to reach high-demand markets in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, it said.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
Ethiopian Airlines has agreed to purchase eight Boeing 777-9 widebody jets, with potential for up to 12 additional aircraft orders, the companies said in a statement.
Major airlines are in a race to place new orders for fuel-efficient widebody jets to keep operating costs down and to cater to booming international travel demand.
The order from Ethiopian Airlines comes as Boeing faces increased scrutiny due to a January 5 incident when a door plug blew off a brand new 737 MAX plane mid-flight.
The 777-9 will support the East African airline's plans to grow and renew its fleet in size, range and passenger capacity to reach high-demand markets in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, it said.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
🇪🇹 Talks open between Ethiopia and Tigray authorities
Representatives from Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray regional state have started talks in Addis Ababa to end the delays in implementing the Pretoria peace agreement.
Challenges in implementing the agreement have caused tensions, prompting the African Union to mediate discussions to find a resolution.
The Pretoria Agreement addresses issues such as power-sharing, regional autonomy and resource control, aimed at resolving the conflict's root causes through negotiation.
Getachew Reda, who is the interim president of Tigray's administration, has announced that no further bilateral meetings will be held with the federal government until all pending issues are resolved.
Kenya's ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta and Nigeria's ex-President Olusegun Obassanjo are among the mediating team.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
Representatives from Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray regional state have started talks in Addis Ababa to end the delays in implementing the Pretoria peace agreement.
Challenges in implementing the agreement have caused tensions, prompting the African Union to mediate discussions to find a resolution.
The Pretoria Agreement addresses issues such as power-sharing, regional autonomy and resource control, aimed at resolving the conflict's root causes through negotiation.
Getachew Reda, who is the interim president of Tigray's administration, has announced that no further bilateral meetings will be held with the federal government until all pending issues are resolved.
Kenya's ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta and Nigeria's ex-President Olusegun Obassanjo are among the mediating team.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
Forwarded from War Noir
🇪🇹 Glitch allows Ethiopia bank customers to withdraw millions
Ethiopia’s largest commercial bank is trying to retrieve millions of dollars withdrawn by its customers after an incident it described as a systems glitch.
More than $40m were reportedly withdrawn from the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, or transferred to other banks, when customers found out they could take out more cash than they had in their accounts.
It took several hours before the institution froze all its transactions.
A cyber attack has been ruled out as the cause of the glitch.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
Ethiopia’s largest commercial bank is trying to retrieve millions of dollars withdrawn by its customers after an incident it described as a systems glitch.
More than $40m were reportedly withdrawn from the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, or transferred to other banks, when customers found out they could take out more cash than they had in their accounts.
It took several hours before the institution froze all its transactions.
A cyber attack has been ruled out as the cause of the glitch.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
💰🇪🇹 IMF mission on visit to Ethiopia finance ministry official said.
An International Monetary Fund staff mission is in Ethiopia, a senior finance ministry official said on Thursday.
Last month, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack had said the fund would send a mission to Ethiopia to discuss its request for a loan programme.
In December, the Paris Club of developed creditor nations said Ethiopia's agreement with its bilateral creditors, other than China, to suspend debt payments until 2025 could be voided if the country does not secure an IMF loan by March 31, 2024.
In the same month, Ethiopia became Africa's third default in as many years after it failed to make a payment on its $1 billion Eurobond.
Ethiopia is also in talks with IMF to borrow around $3.5 billion under a reform programme, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters in December.
#IMF #Ethiopia
@africaintel
An International Monetary Fund staff mission is in Ethiopia, a senior finance ministry official said on Thursday.
Last month, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack had said the fund would send a mission to Ethiopia to discuss its request for a loan programme.
In December, the Paris Club of developed creditor nations said Ethiopia's agreement with its bilateral creditors, other than China, to suspend debt payments until 2025 could be voided if the country does not secure an IMF loan by March 31, 2024.
In the same month, Ethiopia became Africa's third default in as many years after it failed to make a payment on its $1 billion Eurobond.
Ethiopia is also in talks with IMF to borrow around $3.5 billion under a reform programme, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters in December.
#IMF #Ethiopia
@africaintel
🇪🇹🇸🇦 Ethiopia to resume repatriating citizens from Saudi Arabia
Ethiopia is set to begin the third phase of repatriating 70,000 of its citizens from Saudi Arabia.
Ethiopia's foreign ministry says the citizens "are in a difficult situation" in the Gulf country.
The repatriations will begin in two weeks.
Saudi Arabia had asked foreign workers residing in the country without legal rights to leave or face jail time.
The country hosts an estimated 750,000 Ethiopians, more than half of whom are in the country illegally, according to the UN migration agency IOM.
They include workers, job seekers and refugees fleeing conflict in the Horn of Africa nation.
Human rights groups have previously said that some Ethiopian migrants have faced rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, including torture and killings.
Saudi Arabia has repatriated more than 350,000 Ethiopians since 2017, according to IOM.
#Ethiopia #SaudiArabia
@africaintel
Ethiopia is set to begin the third phase of repatriating 70,000 of its citizens from Saudi Arabia.
Ethiopia's foreign ministry says the citizens "are in a difficult situation" in the Gulf country.
The repatriations will begin in two weeks.
Saudi Arabia had asked foreign workers residing in the country without legal rights to leave or face jail time.
The country hosts an estimated 750,000 Ethiopians, more than half of whom are in the country illegally, according to the UN migration agency IOM.
They include workers, job seekers and refugees fleeing conflict in the Horn of Africa nation.
Human rights groups have previously said that some Ethiopian migrants have faced rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, including torture and killings.
Saudi Arabia has repatriated more than 350,000 Ethiopians since 2017, according to IOM.
#Ethiopia #SaudiArabia
@africaintel
🇪🇹 Ethiopia to let foreigners own property, PM says
Ethiopia aims to pass legislation to let foreigners own real estate as part of the country's broader plan to open up the economy and attract investors, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
Currently foreigners are barred from owning houses in Ethiopia, either residential or commercial buildings.
State TV said Abiy told a meeting of large taxpayers in the capital Addis Ababa that his government was finalising a new law to let foreigners own real estate property although he did not say when the legislation would be introduced in parliament.
"We will introduce a law which will allow foreigners to own property," he said, adding that the government also intended to amend existing laws to open up the country's retail sector, which is currently restricted to Ethiopians only.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
Ethiopia aims to pass legislation to let foreigners own real estate as part of the country's broader plan to open up the economy and attract investors, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
Currently foreigners are barred from owning houses in Ethiopia, either residential or commercial buildings.
State TV said Abiy told a meeting of large taxpayers in the capital Addis Ababa that his government was finalising a new law to let foreigners own real estate property although he did not say when the legislation would be introduced in parliament.
"We will introduce a law which will allow foreigners to own property," he said, adding that the government also intended to amend existing laws to open up the country's retail sector, which is currently restricted to Ethiopians only.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇪🇹 Glitch allows Ethiopia bank customers to withdraw millions Ethiopia’s largest commercial bank is trying to retrieve millions of dollars withdrawn by its customers after an incident it described as a systems glitch. More than $40m were reportedly withdrawn…
🇪🇹 Ethiopian bank recovers over $10m lost during glitch
Ethiopia’s largest commercial bank has said it recouped more than three-quarters of money it had lost after a technical glitch allowed clients to withdraw or transfer more money than they had in their accounts.
In a press statement on Tuesday the head of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Abe Sano said more than $14m was withdrawn from cash machines or transferred to other accounts during the incident that took place on 16 March.
More than $10m has already been recovered, Mr Abe said.
Initial reports by local media said the amount of money transacted during the glitch could be as high as $40m.
Many of the transactions were made by university students.
According to the bank’s chief, thousands of clients returned the money voluntarily.
He added that those who haven’t done so could face criminal charges.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel
Ethiopia’s largest commercial bank has said it recouped more than three-quarters of money it had lost after a technical glitch allowed clients to withdraw or transfer more money than they had in their accounts.
In a press statement on Tuesday the head of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Abe Sano said more than $14m was withdrawn from cash machines or transferred to other accounts during the incident that took place on 16 March.
More than $10m has already been recovered, Mr Abe said.
Initial reports by local media said the amount of money transacted during the glitch could be as high as $40m.
Many of the transactions were made by university students.
According to the bank’s chief, thousands of clients returned the money voluntarily.
He added that those who haven’t done so could face criminal charges.
#Ethiopia
@africaintel