Addis Ababa: South Sudan President Salva Kiir has appointed his son, Maj. Gen. Atem Salva Kiir, as commander of the elite Tiger Division, the country’s presidential guard. Atem, 36, said he would work closely with the division’s commanders and troops, while addressing their concerns and creating a conducive working environment. The division is primarily responsible for protecting the president and other senior government officials. Atem previously served as commander of a special forces unit within the National Security Service. He joined the military in 2012 and has held various position...
Addis Ababa: Djiboutian President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has extended his condolences to the government and people of Ethiopia following a deadly landslide in the country’s Amhara region. The landslide struck the Tsadkane St. Mary Monastery in North Shewa Zone of the Amhara region, where at least 14 people were killed, according to local sources. The death toll could rise as the community continue to assess the impact of the disaster. Local sources said seven people were injured in the incident, including five who sustained serious injuries and two with minor injuries. As of publication, ne...
Addis Ababa: Drone strikes were reported in Merewa locality in the contested Raya Alamata area, where Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces are stationed, according to witnesses and local sources. Witnesses told Horn Frequency that the strikes occurred at around 8 a.m. on Aug. 9, following a prolonged military standoff between federal forces and TPLF fighters that has heightened tensions in the area. According to local sources, a TPLF contingent identified as Army 26 was targeted in three consecutive drone strikes. Sources said the strikes appeared to target alleged weapons depo...
Addis Ababa: The Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM) has rejected allegations that it has formed alliances with domestic or foreign actors working against Ethiopia’s current government, describing the claims as baseless. In a statement, AFNM Chairperson Zemene Kassie said any political or military partnerships pursued by the movement would be transparent and in the interest of the Amhara people, rather than the result of “shady or backdoor agreements.” Zemene also said the Fano movement had reached its current position without assistance from any external group. The statement accused the...
In the build-up to the country’s general election held in June 2026, various posts on social media spread disinformation aimed at tarnishing the reputation of female candidates, often weaponising gendered social norms about acceptable conduct. MistreSilasie Tamerat. Photo credit: Facebook/MistreSilasie Tamerat. In the months surrounding Ethiopia’s 7th General Election in June 2026, something was happening to female political candidates that did not happen to their male counterparts at the same scale or with the same apparent coordination. Women running for office from various...
Addis Ababa: South Sudan President Salva Kiir has appointed his son, Maj. Gen. Atem Salva Kiir, as commander of the elite Tiger Division, the country’s presidential guard. Atem, 36, said he would work closely with the division’s commanders and troops, while addressing their concerns and creating a conducive working environment. The division is primarily responsible for protecting the president and other senior government officials. Atem previously served as commander of a special forces unit within the National Security Service. He joined the military in 2012 and has held various position...
Addis Ababa: Renewed and intensified fighting between South West State militants and Somali federal forces near Baidoa since Sept. 3 has placed additional pressure on the city’s already overstretched health services, according to MSF. MSF East Africa said the South West State team at Bay Regional Hospital, working with MSF staff, has treated 71 people wounded in the recent fighting, including 15 women and 21 children. The medical organization said the continued arrival of wounded people is placing further strain on the hospital, which was already operating beyond its capacity. Fresh fighting h...
Edmonton: Ghana has repatriated its final batch of citizens from South Africa amid continuing xenophobic attacks and growing concerns over the safety of foreign nationals, the country’s Foreign Ministry announced. According to the ministry, the latest group of 41 evacuees brings the total number of Ghanaians repatriated from South Africa to 1,900 since the operation began in May 2026. Upon their arrival in Ghana, Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the government would continue supporting the returnees with reintegration, job placement and access to free health care services. G...
Addis Ababa: African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has condemned a fatal attack that killed two Ethiopian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and injured seven others in Jonglei State. Youssouf paid tribute to the Ethiopian soldiers who were killed and expressed solidarity with those injured. He called on South Sudanese authorities to conduct an immediate investigation and prosecute those responsible for the attack. The AU Commission chairperson also extended his condolences to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and to the f...
Addis Ababa: Ethiopian forces have shot down a drone that entered Ethiopian airspace in Bamado locality, Homosha Woreda, in Assosa Zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz region, according to local witnesses. Witnesses told Horn Frequency that they could not identify the model of the drone but said it had relatively small wings and appeared to be armed. They said ammunition debris was found at the site after the drone was brought down. Local residents said they believed the drone was targeting Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters who are reportedly operating inside Ethiopian territory. Witnesses said the...
Addis Ababa: Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has arrived in Addis Ababa ahead of the closing ceremony of Ethiopia’s National Dialogue conference, which is scheduled to conclude on Aug. 22. Kenyatta was invited by the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission to attend the closing ceremony of the conference, which has been underway for more than a month. The former Kenyan president has played a prominent role in recent regional peace efforts, including the peace agreement between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), alongside the Afri...