Breaking Free, Egypt’s President Mursi Removes Generals
CAIRO (Reuters), Aug. 12, 2012 – Egypt’s Islamist President Mohamed Mursi dismissed Cairo’s two top generals and quashed a military order that had curbed the new leader’s powers, in a move that further stamped his authority on the country and its army.
There had been much debate over the fate of Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, 76, who until Mursi’s election in June had ruled Egypt as head of a military council since Hosni Mubarak was toppled last year. The timing of Sunday’s announcement to replace him as armed forces head was nevertheless a surprise.
However, an embarrassing debacle for the army on the border with Israel, where 16 Egyptian troops were killed by Islamist militants a week ago, may have given Mursi the opening he needed to step up the pace in rolling back the military’s influence, pushing aside Tantawi and military chief of staff Sami Enan. Read more…
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Ethiopian premier’s absence draws attention, speculation
Where in the world is Ethiopia’s prime minister?
**FILE** U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets Feb. 23, 2012, with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at the London Conference on Somalia. (Associated Press)
By Ioannis Gatsiounis – Special to The Washington Times
Aug 13, 2012 (The Washington Times) – The question is not a geographical brain teaser but a concerned query about the well-being of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who has not been seen in public for two months, and about Ethiopia’s commitment to U.S. counterterrorism efforts in neighboring Somalia.
Ethiopian officials say Mr. Meles, 57, is recovering from an undisclosed illness, but he has not been seen or heard from since he attended the G20 summit in Mexico in mid-June.
In his absence, the government has continued to brook little dissent from the media, activists and members of opposition parties. It also has announced that Ethiopian troops will remain in Somalia to help defeat al Shabab, the al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants who have ruled large areas of the Horn of Africa nation.
What’s more, government insiders say that Mr. Meles has been grooming his deputy, Foreign Affairs Minister Hailemariam Desalegne, to succeed him.
But no succession plan has been announced publicly, and Mr. Meles‘ hold on power has been near absolute, with little in the way of institutional capacity to accommodate a transfer of power. Read more…
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Media restrictions tighten in Ethiopia
One of the last remaining independent newspapers was recently shuttered by the government
By Mohammed Ademo
Aug 13, 2012 (Columbia Journalism Review) – Government charges against of one of Ethiopia’s last remaining independent newspaper editors on Friday and a recent forced shutdown of that paper’s presses capped a grim month of media repression in a country already deemed one of the most restrictive in the world by press freedom advocates.
On August 1, 12 days after authorities shuttered Feteh and seized 30,000 printed copies to prevent them from reaching readers, Temesgen Desalegn, the editor of the Amharic language weekly, said the Ethiopian police summoned him for an interrogation. He was charged on three counts: encouraging youth rebellion against the government and its constitution, defamation, and agitating the public by spreading false reports, he wrote in a statement posted (in Amharic) on Facebook. Read more…
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IN PICTURES: Qeerroo in London Celebrates Olympics Victory of Oromiyaan Olympians
Aug 13 (Gadaa.com) On the conclusion of the 2012 London Olympics on August 12, the Qeerroo in London held a ceremony to celebrate the phenomenal achievements of Oromo Olympians. The ceremony was held in conjuction with the Men’s Marathon event. Read more…
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Ethiopia and Kenya agree to enhance security on border
Kenya haS deployed marine police to patrol Lake Turkana and counter the Merrile while Ethiopia has stationed forces check and restrain intrusionS by the Merrile
Aug 13, LODWAR (Xinhua) — Kenya and Ethiopia have stepped up joint security along its border at Turkana County to stop any further ritual killings by the Merrile warriors, officials said on Sunday.
Last week, six Kenyans were shot dead by Merrile warriors in what suspected to be ritual killing, prompting officials from the two countries to hold talks over security at the common border.
The killings bring to 14 people including three police officers at the porous border.
Fishing activities at the Lake Turkana has also been frustrated by insecurity due to tribal clashes. Read more…
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