Is it true that as many as 15,000 people died while building the dam over the past 14 years? Yes, that is true. No Individual Tribute for Simegnew Bekele With the inauguration of its landmark dam on the Nile, Ethiopia is on the verge of realizing a centuries-old national ambition. The project has come at a great cost, marked by both sweat and bloodshed. Yet, the journey doesn’t seem over. The government has already hinted at future projects on the Nile. Indeed, the GERD has been a truly national effort, with countless Ethiopians from all walks of life contributing to its success and leaving their mark. Within this effort, former chief project manager of GERD Engineer Simegnew Bekele is widely remembered for his immense dedication and ultimate sacrifice. Are there any specific tributes planned to honor his legacy and the well-being of his family (he left behind three minor children)? We believe the GERD is the legacy of everyone. Why don’t we talk about those securit...
Warning: This report contains descriptions of rape and sexual violence. Names of victims have been changed and identifying details omitted to protect their privacy and safety. Enat was at home with her eight-year-old niece when the soldiers came one Sunday morning, she says. The Ethiopian army was carrying out searches of homes in the Amhara region on 5 January this year, as part of a crackdown on a growing rebellion launched by local militias known as Fano. Enat says three men, dressed in army uniform, entered her home in South Gondar and began asking questions about her family background and whether Fano fighters had visited the beer hall where she worked. Enat, 21, said they had. "How could we lie? How can we hide the truth?" Enat says, noting that Fano - an Amharic word loosely translated as volunteer fighters - is made up of locals. Things quickly escalated. After asking questions about her family background, Enat says the soldiers began insulting her, th...
What a massacre reveals about Abiy Ahmed’s Ethiopia The killing of civilians is part of a disturbing pattern Photograph: Getty Images May 29th 2025 | Nairobi T wo months ago, in the early afternoon of March 31st, gunfire erupted in Birakat, a town in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia (see map). Panicked residents ran for cover as the Ethiopian army battled local militias. Five hours later the guns fell silent, briefly. But after the army had taken control of the town, according to three eyewitnesses, a massacre began. https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/05/29/what-a-massacre-reveals-about-abiy-ahmeds-ethiopia