‘PM Abiy said release Tsege or I resign’
Ethiopian opposition leader, Andargachew Tsege, says he was released from prison after the country’s prime minister threatened to resign.
Andargachew, a co-founder of the Ginbot 7 opposition movement, spent four years in prison after being accused of plotting a coup against the Ethiopian government. He was sentenced to death in 2009.
After being pardoned in May 2018, Andargachew held a 90-minute meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has introduced a series of reforms since taking office in April.
British passport-holder Andargachew has subsequently re-joined his family in London.
Chicago joins Ethiopian global network
Ethiopian Airlines has started services to Chicago as of June 10, 2018.
The inaugural flight to Chicago was announced at a colorful ceremony held in the presence of US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Michael Raynor, members of the diplomatic corps, Ethiopian executive management members, and invited guests.
Group CEO of Ethiopian, Tewolde GebreMariam said “The flight will further boost the growing economic and people-to-people relations between the U.S. and Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular by enabling greater flow of trade, investment and tourism,”
Ambassador Raynor, for his part said, “The US Government and the American Embassy in Addis Ababa will continue to support the growth of the airline.”
Chicago is Ethiopian fourth destination in the U.S. and the seventh in the Americas.
Ethiopia, Egypt agree to work together beyond Nile
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) held talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo.
During the talks, the two leaders agreed to work together beyond Nile and other bilateral issues as well as affirmed their commitment to set up a joint fund for infrastructure development such as energy.
They agreed to cooperate on Somalia and South Sudan peace process. Egypt also appreciated Ethiopia’s new initiative to end Ethio-Eritrea stalemate.
Moreover, Egypt freed 32 Ethiopian prisoners following the visit of PM Abiy.
Ethiopian Premier also vowed not to harm Egypt’s water interest. “I swear to Allah that Ethiopia will not do any harm to Egypt’s water,” said Prime Minister Abiy.
For his part, Sisi described Egypt’s relations with Ethiopia as “strategic,” promising to maintain cooperation with the Ethiopian side for the best interests of both nations.
