2006 Year review

The year was to say the least quite eventful in all spheres. The economy has apparently grown, life is more expensive and we have ended the year embroiled in yet another war.
Enjoy this condensed version of the top news items of the year.

January

Parliament forms enquiry commission

Under pressure from the international community, parliament set up a commission to investigate the June 8 and November 1 killings.
The investigation commission consisted of religious leaders from the four major religions in Ethiopia: the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Muslim Community, the Catholic Church and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church.

Foreign experts review HPR code of conduct
In a surprise move, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi allowed foreign experts to review the code of conduct of the House of People’s Representatives, one of the agenda items that had long been cited by opposition parties as being a pitfall in the democratization process in the country.

Dashen introduces payment card

Dashen Bank marks a milestone in Ethiopian banking by introducing a payment card system, making it the first private bank to offer clients electronic payment systems.

Schools spend shaky week

The arrest of opposition members and other matters leads to a wave of protests and disturbances in several public high schools with students breaking school property and clashing with security forces. Following the disturbances, Dr Sintayehu Wolde Michael, Minister of Education said damaging school property was not a solution to any problem.

February

Donors consider aid cuts to Ethiopia

The World Bank, the European Commission and donor countries particularly Britain, decided to stop direct budget support to Ethiopia amounting to 375 million USD. The decisions were soon implemented by donor countries.

Explosions rock city
A wave of bombings hit Addis Ababa in early February. The perpetrators are yet to be apprehended and brought to justice.
Bombs were set off in over 12 locations including taxis, sidewalks, cafes and other spots and caused the deaths of several people and injured scores.

US firm to prospect oil

The Ministry of Mines and Energy [MOME] granted a petroleum exploration license to American company Afar Exploration. Afar Exploration had applied to be granted for rights to search for oil reserves in Afar regional state.
CBE president commits suicide
The chief of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Gezahegn Yilma, reportedly committed suicide, leaving many shocked and wondering why. Gezahegn, who joined the CBE in 1982, served both as Assistant Vice- President and as Head of the Corporate Market Planning Department before taking over the presidency.

Pension fund replaces provident kitty
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With a suggestion that sent shock waves and alarmed employees across the country, the Employees’ Federation forwarded that the government should handle provident funds and administer them as pension funds. Just the thought of it led many to remove their money from their employers for fear of losing it.

March

Private radio on the cards

Hopes for private radio in Ethiopia became reality as the Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority (EBA) gave two private operators broadcast licenses. They are: Zami Public Connections and Tinsae Fine Arts & Adei Promotions.

‘Charges could be considered as being disproportional’: Louis Michel, EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid

Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, said there were signs of confidence to break the current political impasse in the country.
He was also quoted as saying that the charges of treason and attempted genocide could be disproportional.

Meles forwards options for city government
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, proposed two options for the takeover of the Addis Ababa city administration until new elections are held after one year.
The PM said either the ad hoc committee of city electees gathers 70 signatures until April 18 or he would set up a one-year caretaker administration.

Gilgel Gibe III: Ethiopia biggest ever power generating tunnel

The Government passes a bill for the construction of the largest power generating tunnel in the country at a cost of billions of birr.
Sources told Capital that the proposal presented to the Prime Minister’s Office by Italian construction company Salini is expected to generate an astounding 1,875 MW.

April

Japan PM in Addis

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan made an official three day visit to Ethiopia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit was the first to Ethiopia by a Japanese leader since diplomatic relations were set up in the early 1920.
Koizumi met with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to discuss on several matters.

Fuel prices increase 25%
Fuel prices increase by 25% for the first time last year.
The Council of Ministers though reluctant about the measure, was persuaded by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to make the price change.

Caretaker calls Addis job ‘next to impossible’

Berhanu Deresa, former Disaster Prevention and Control Office (DPCo) head during the Derg regime, quoted as saying that managing Addis Ababa would be ‘next to impossible’ as he took over the Addis Ababa Administration from departing mayor Arkebe Equbay.

Bush daughter’s discrete visit to Ethiopia

Barbara Bush, one of US President George W. Bush’s twin daughters, made a discrete visit to Ethiopia last year, touring World Food Program (WFP) sites.
Though the US embassy in Addis denied to confirm the visit, it would not be the first time that Ms. Bush undertook a clandestine trip to Africa. In July 2005, it was reported that the President’s daughter visited South Africa.

May

Uranium found

An astounding development as the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MoME) granted a discovery certificate to two individuals that found traces of uranium reserves.
The individuals, namely Neguse Assefa Webe and Mohamed Weshe Gelo found the uranium in Oromia region.

President Clinton to visit Ethiopia

Visits by famous people were plentiful last year as former US President William Jefferson Clinton visited Ethiopia late last year. The president came here for a working visit to the HIV center set up by the Clinton Foundation. The Clinton Foundation and Yale University forged a partnership to address pressing health care needs in Ethiopia through the Ethiopian Hospital Management Initiative (EHMI).

Iacona property tops bank’s auction list

Iacona Engineering, one of the more prominent and pioneering companies in the country has topped the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia’s (CBE) list for an auction put up earlier this month. The company which is involved in wood and metal products was put up for auction at a benchmark price of 13,083,471.34 birr.

First ever interchange for Addis

The Addis Ababa City Roads Authority (AACRA) signed an agreement with a Chinese company for the construction of a complex interchange at Gotera. Over 150 houses are to be demolished, costing the AACRA over 150 million birr in compensation.

June

Banks obtain war loss compensation

The impossible seemed to have happened as banks enjoyed a compensation payment from the government according to guarantees given five years ago in relation to outstanding loans for businesses which subsequently lost property at the ports of Assab and Mitsewa, during the Ethiopia- Eritrea war eight years ago.

Pleading guilty, 60 major shops reopen after PM’s green light
Businesses closed in connection with the May 2005 elections re-opened after 9 months of closure under the direct orders of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Nile Petroleum to enter Ethiopian fuel distribution market

Established in 1954 as a subsidiary of TOTAL, Nile Petroleum is to enter the oil distribution market in Ethiopia by January 2007.
The oil company plans to be the third to become operational after National Oil Company (NOC) and Yetebaberut Biherawi Petroleum (YBP).

Yamamoto nominated Ambassador

President George W. Bush has nominated New Yorker Donald Y. Yamamoto to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Yamamato was earlier Deputy Director of the office of East African Affairs.

July

AU endorses IGAD Somalia peace mission

The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) on Friday passed its final decision for the immediate deployment of the IGAD Peace Support Mission to Somalia (IGASOM).
The Peace and Security Council in its 62nd meeting adopted the decision in support of deploying IGASOM based on the decisions of the Extraordinary Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 5th 2006.

Djibouti to host COMESA

Djibouti was chosen to host the summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), from November 15th-16th, 2006. A ministerial preparatory meeting preceded the summit to formulate the agenda, while the First Ladies of African Presidents and Prime Ministers held a meeting to discuss issues related to upgrading the socio-economic status of women and measures to be taken against AIDS. With the arrival of hundreds of COMESA state leaders and businessmen, Djibouti is hurried to complete the construction of a brand new five-star hotel and a luxurious cruise ship.

Addis Ababa gets 5 bln birr budget

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has approved a budget of 5.16 billion birr for the coming fiscal year. The new budget set for the coming year exceeds that of this year by 1.1 billion birr and according to the city administration, would be spent on covering social needs. About 84% of the total budget goes to central bureaus while the balance is for sub cities. The Addis Ababa City Administration has several unfinished projects and is getting ready to set several others in motion, hence the 1.1 billion birr increase in the total budget.

August

‘Selam’ throws new light on evolution

‘Selam’, the 3.3 million year old fossil of a three year old child, captured global headlines this week, although critics have asked why it took so long to make the find public.
“The discovery is a very crucial one, but I believe that it was announced very late. It must have taken the scientist over four years to finally come out with it and I say that they should have done it much earlier,” Zane DeZeuw, a Dutch archeologist in Ethiopia, said.

Barroso arrives in Addis

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso made a first ever visit to Ethiopia on September 30.
Ambassador Tim Clarke, Head of the European Commission Delegation in Ethiopia stated earlier in the week the president’s visit would include strengthening ties with the AU.
Barroso also held discussions with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on bilateral relations between Ethiopia and the EU. Barroso’s visit was also to sign a 55 million euro support program to the AU for its capacity development effort that will be signed on October 2, 2006.

September

At least 9 dead in Western Ethiopia clashes

Fresh clashes during the week have left more than 9 people dead in Dembi on the outskirts of Jimma, a provincial town in western Ethiopia, 500 kilometers from Addis Ababa. Police sources told Capital that the clashes started on October 1, when a group of Christians finished celebrating Mesqal (an annual celebration in commemoration of the finding of the True Cross) at a spot where there used to be a mosque. Two churches were set ablaze with the number of causalities still unknown.

Nigerian president visits Addis chamber

Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo arrived at Bole International Airport to, share experiences with members of the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Associations scheduled for Monday at the Sheraton Hotel, it was learnt.

Ethiopian soldiers are in Somalia: Meles

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in an unexpected move admitted for the first time official Ethiopian military presence in Somalia. Addressing parliament last week, the PM stated that military trainers were dispatched to Somalia to help the Temporary Federal Government (TFG).

Agriculture exports near 1 bln USD

At the marking of the World Food Day organized by the FAO and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD), the latter stated that Ethiopia has earned almost 1 billion USD from the export of agricultural products in the past fiscal year. World Food Day was marked on October 16 in Awash Fentale, about 265 km east of Addis Ababa in Afar Regional State.

Octorber

15 companies get green light for cement import

The Ministry of Trade and Industry announced it has given licenses to 15 companies that had applied to import cement.
In a press conference, Trade and Industry Minister Special Advisor Fantaye Biftu said that ten of the companies are undertaking construction projects and the remaining are businesses that will supply cement to the market.
The announcement came a week after Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced his government's short-term plan to facilitate the importation of cement to address rising demand resulting from the construction boom in the country.
In his address to the House of Peoples' Representatives Meles pledged to deal with the shortage by importing cement and increasing local production.

November

'China will forever be a good friend, good partner and good brother of Africa' Chinese President Hu Jintao
‘Trust and mutual confidence’ Meles Zenawi

China celebrated its relations with Africa on Saturday by pledging to double aid and offering 5 billion dollars in loans and credits by 2009, in a summit aimed at deepening ties with the continent.

Clear and present danger: Meles Zenawi

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, in a report he presented to the House of People’s Representatives (HPR) Thursday stated that the threat emanating from Somalia was a ‘clear and present danger’. In June this year, the PM had considered the situation in Somalia as actually ‘not a clear and present danger,’ as declared to journalists, which now indicates that the state of affairs has escalated. “The situation in Somalia is two faced. One is the problem among Somalis themselves and the other is the attack on Ethiopia.

Starbucks Chief meets Meles over coffee

Jim Donald President and CEO of Starbucks, one of the world's largest coffee-store chains arrived in Addis Ababa Monday November 27 to meet with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and relevant stakeholders to resolve the issues regarding the recent trademark dispute. Starbucks CEO was scheduled to meet PM Meles Tuesday morning. During his two-day visit, the Starbucks Chief were also scheduled to meet members of coffee cooperatives from Sidamo, Harar and Yirgacheffe.

December

Albright in Addis to advocate legal empowerment of poor

Former US secretary of State Madeleine Albright was in the country to promote legal rights for the poor. Dr Albright led a delegation of the Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor across Africa and other developing parts of the world to seek ways of ensuring that the poor are involved in economic and social development.

Find out who circumcised my daughter!
Khalid’s passionate plea from prison

A young Ethiopian father is tragically sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after allegedly circumcising his baby daughter - a severe crime in the United States and in much of the world. Khalid Adem, a resident of Atlanta, Georgia was found guilty and given such a stiff sentence partly to serve as a deterrent for future offenders. His family and friends however, maintain his innocence and are lobbying for a new hearing.

Mengistu Haile Mariam faces death sentence

The trial of former Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam and other top – Derg officials came to an end last Tuesday with the court ruling that the former military junta ruler and his officials were guilty of genocide. Only one defendant was acquitted.
Mengistu, who ruled Ethiopia for 17 years, was tried in absentia, along with other defendants accused of 210 counts involving genocide, crimes against humanity and systematic human rights violations. The longest ever trial in Ethiopia is set to end with the court passing sentence on Mengistu and officials who could now face the death penalty.