Ethiopia arrests 2 journalists from independent paper-CPJ

Getachew Worku is being held without charge. (Ethio-Mihdar)

New York, November 5, 2013--Ethiopian police have arrested without charge two editors of the leading independent Amharic weekly Ethio-Mihdar, according to local journalists.
Police in the town of Legetafo, northeast of the capital Addis Ababa, on Monday arrested Getachew Worku in connection a story published in October alleging corruption in the town administration, according to Muluken Tesfaw, a reporter with the paper, who spoke to Getachew shortly after his arrest. Getachew has not been charged, he said.

On Saturday, police arrested Million Degnew, the general manager of the newspaper, and Muna Ahmedin, a secretary, said Muluken and local journalists. Muna was released the same day but Million remains in custody without charge, Muluken said.

Africans must speak up for journalist jailed in Ethiopia-The Gurdian

Comment: Ethiopia today is reminiscent of apartheid South Africa, where anyone who questions the state is a terrorist
The award-winning Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega will turn 45 this month in Kaliti prison outside Addis Ababa whilst serving an 18-year sentence as a convicted terrorist. The government in Addis would have the world believe he is a reckless, even racist, agitator bent on violent revolution. Yet, a review of the evidence against him and his writings reveals a thoughtful and principled man whose only crime has been to urge, peacefully and publicly, Ethiopia's rulers to deliver on their long broken promise of peaceful, democratic reform.

"Democracy is so important to Ethiopia, because we need it to moderate the differences between civilization and civilization," Eskinder said in a 2010 interview. "I hope the EPRDF (the ruling party) will be pragmatic enough to realise reform would be the better option, even for itself," he added. "I believe in forgiving… that we shouldn't have any grudge against the EPRDF, despite what it has done. I believe that the best thing for the country is reconciliation. I believe in the South African experience, that model."

Ethiopia on heightened alert for attacks by Somali militants

Reuters) - Ethiopia has put its police and security forces on heightened alert after receiving strong evidence that Somalia's Islamist al Shabaab group is planning attacks in the country, officials said on Tuesday.

The move came three weeks after officials said two Somali suicide bombers accidentally blew themselves up while preparing to kill football fans
during Ethiopia's World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria.
Al Shabaab has vowed to exact revenge on Ethiopia for sending troops to Somalia to fight the al Qaeda-linked militants, alongside African Union forces from Uganda, Burundi and Kenya.

Iraqi Football Team to friendly face Ethiopia, Syria in Amman

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi national football team will travel to the capital of Jordan, Amman, next Thursday to face the Ethiopian and Syrian teams in friendly matches.The Head of the Iraqi Delegation, Ali Jabar, stated to IraqiNews.com ”The Iraqi delegation will leave Baghdad heading towards Amman next Thursday to play two friendly matches preparing to face the football team of the Saudi Arabia within the Asian championship, which will take place in Damam city on 15/ November.”
”The coach of the Iraqi team will reveal the lineup of the Iraqi team within upcoming two days,” he concluded.
http://www.iraqinews.com

World Cup Play-off: FIFA Names Gambia Referee for Nigeria/Ethiopia Match

World football-governing body, FIFA, has appointed Gambian official, Bakary Papa Gassama as the Referee for next week’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Ethiopia in Calabar.

Gassama, 34, became an international referee in 2007 and has officiated several high-profile qualifying matches and at tournaments.

The Gambian will be assisted by Angesom Ogbamariam (Assistant Referee 1) from Eritrea, who was born in 1971 and had been an international assistant referee since 1999. Felicien Kabanda from Rwanda, 42 and who has been an international assistant referee for 11 years, will be
Assistant Referee 2.

Ethiopia aims to lift coffee exports to offset price fall

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia plans to increase coffee exports by a third by the end of the 2013/2014 fiscal year to help counter a fall in revenues due to lower coffee prices, the head of its coffee exporters association said on Monday.

Coffee exports from Africa's biggest producer hit a record high of 198,706 tonnes in 2012/13 but earnings of $744.9 million were lower than 2011/12, when sales of 169,391 tonnes earned Ethiopia $833.1 million.

The World Bank says international prices for coffee declined by about a third between the two periods.

Ethiopia intensify Nigeria preparations

Ethiopia's preparations are in top gear after the arrival of Finland based Fuad Ibrahim in camp ahead of the do or die Nigeria return leg on the 16th November.

Despite the cancellation of an intended friendly against Burkina Faso coach Sewnet Bishaw has been conducting training in Addis Ababa with 23 players in camp .

Bishaw is delighted that the morale in camp was upbeat and he was happy with the training programme. He told supersport.com that: