Ethiopia, landlocked since Eritrea's independence in 1991, is experiencing tensions over access to seaports. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has denied intentions of waging war for seaport access, despite assertive rhetoric and historical claims to Red Sea ports. Ethiopia's interest in port diversification has grown due to economic challenges and sanctions following war crimes in the Tigray region. Neighboring countries have refused to negotiate port access that compromises their sovereignty. Domestic support for Abiy has waned due to policy failures and military actions in the Amhara region. Analysts suggest Abiy's seaport rhetoric is a distraction from domestic issues and unlikely to lead to military action given Ethiopia's weakened military and the potential for international sanctions.

Ethiopia, landlocked since Eritrea's independence in 1991, is embroiled in a dispute over port access, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed denying intentions of war to secure a seaport. Ethiopia's reliance on Djibouti's port, costing over a billion dollars annually, has prompted considerations of alternatives in Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan. Abiy's assertive rhetoric on the issue echoes his stance on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, suggesting a 'geographical prison' for Ethiopia's growing population. However, domestic challenges, including civil war aftermath, economic sanctions, and political dissent, cast doubt on the feasibility of military action. Neighboring countries have refused to negotiate port access that compromises sovereignty. Experts view Abiy's port rhetoric as a distraction from domestic issues or a strategy to regain nationalist support. Abiy's 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for peace with Eritrea and adherence to international boundaries suggests a non-military approach, despite the political and military risks of such a venture.

Ethiopia's Afar minority, comprising about two percent of the country's population, is facing a challenging recovery after being drawn into the civil war that began in late 2020. The conflict, primarily between Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers against Tigrayan forces, spilled into the Afar region, resulting in over half a million deaths and significant civilian suffering. The Afar, traditionally pastoralists, were neutral until the war's spillover forced them to defend their land. Despite a ceasefire agreement in November, the region grapples with famine, atrocities, and mass displacement. The Afar Pastoralist Development Association and the International Committee of the Red Cross highlight the immense humanitarian needs and the destruction of infrastructure and health facilities. Eyewitnesses recount atrocities, including the shelling of the Afar town of Yallo, which resulted in civilian casualties and severe injuries.

For over a year, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's troops, along with allied forces from neighboring Eritrea, have been fighting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread atrocities, including ethnic cleansing, rapes, and massacres. The conflict has been marked by a lack of transparency, with restricted access to the Tigray region for press and humanitarian aid. Despite Ahmed's claims of no civilian casualties, investigations by foreign media have exposed the brutality of the conflict. Under international pressure, the Ethiopian government allowed a UN investigation in collaboration with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, which concluded that all parties committed atrocities. However, the report has been criticized for evenly distributing blame and omitting significant events such as the Mahbere Dego massacre, which was documented through mobile phone footage and verified by media outlets.

A report by Amnesty International alleges that Eritrean soldiers systematically killed hundreds of civilians in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, specifically in the city of Axum, on November 28. Soldiers were reported to have executed males of fighting age, with the violence leaving the streets filled with blood. Over 40 witnesses provided testimony for the 25-page report. Despite Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's claims of precautions to prevent civilian casualties, his forces, along with Eritrean soldiers, have been implicated in various atrocities. A communications blackout has made verification difficult, but satellite imagery supports claims of mass graves. The war has left thousands dead, over two million displaced, and 4.5 million in need of emergency assistance, with Ethiopia hesitant to allow humanitarian access to Tigray.

The conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region has led to outrage as the historical al-Nejashi mosque, one of Africa's oldest mosques, suffered significant damage. Reports of the mosque being bombed and looted by Ethiopian and Eritrean troops have surfaced, with the International Association of Muslims in Tigray recording several deaths. The Ethiopian Heritage Preservation Authority plans to inspect and repair the mosque and a nearby church, but skepticism remains about the sincerity of these efforts. The government has been silent on the issue, and the damage to the mosque has been deeply felt by the Muslim community, marking a shocking event in the 21st century.

The article discusses the plight of over 100,000 Ethiopian domestic workers in Lebanon who are facing unemployment or abuse due to the country's economic crisis and political instability. During a state visit to the UAE, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met with Ethiopians in Dubai and promised solutions to their problems. Despite this, there are no apparent plans for an emergency evacuation from Lebanon. The UAE has agreed to loan Ethiopia $100 million to support business ventures, which may be linked to the diplomatic ties between the two countries. Ethiopians in the Middle East had the chance to address their concerns directly to the Prime Minister during events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The article by Zecharias Zelalem discusses the ongoing conflict in the Qellem Wollega district of Oromia State, Ethiopia, where the Ethiopian army has been accused of killing dozens of unarmed civilians suspected of supporting the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) rebels. The conflict has led to civilian deaths, displacement, and destruction of infrastructure. The government's decision to place the region under a command post has made it difficult for journalists to access accurate information. The OLA, which has been fighting for Oromo rights, has been engaged in a military campaign with the Ethiopian army and regional forces. Despite peace talks and a ceasefire, the situation has escalated due to the government's failure to keep promises and the mistreatment of former OLA fighters who surrendered. The article also covers the government's use of communication blackouts in the region, the role of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, and the lack of public awareness about the conflict due to limited media coverage.

Colonel Gebregziabher Alemseged, a former Ethiopian army commander known for his controversial role in Somalia, has been dismissed from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) after a decade of service. His departure from IGAD was made public through a notice in The Daily Nation, a Kenyan newspaper. Colonel Gebregziabher, also known as 'General Gebre,' is infamous for his alleged involvement in war crimes during Ethiopia's military campaign in Somalia from 2006 to 2008. Despite being recalled to Ethiopia, he continued to exert influence in Somali politics through his IGAD role. The article suggests that his dismissal may be linked to the new Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's efforts to reform the government and improve relations with Somalia. The publication of his termination by IGAD indicates a shift in the organization's approach and a possible move away from Ethiopian dominance within IGAD.