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...
‘I have been in the jungle, struggling for my people.’ For the past 20 months, Ethiopia’s Amhara region has been torn apart by a bloody conflict between federal forces and a coalition of militia known as Fano, who demand full Amhara control of all territory they regard as part of their homeland. It’s a war in which the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) has been accused of extreme human rights abuses, and indiscriminate drone strikes by the military have killed hundreds of civilians. The conflict is largely waged in the rural highlands, but Fano has also managed to penetrate urban areas – raids that have triggered a violent response by the security forces. A woman who runs a small coffee stand in the regional capital, Bahir Dar – who asked not to be named for her personal safety – said her brother, a tuk-tuk taxi driver, was one such casualty. He had been on the streets when Fano launched a night-time attack on 26 August. “The police detained him as a suspect,”...