Afar

Ethiopia
Threat of war forces Castel to close northern plant

Located near a strategic front line, the BGI Ethiopia brewery – which had already suspended operations until 2023 due to the first Tigray war (2020–2022) – has once again had to close its doors.

Ethiopia
Oromo Liberation Army takes plunge to join anti-Abiy Ahmed coalition

The rebel group from the Oromia region is included as one of the seven members of the Alliance for Survival, alongside the Tigray People's Liberation Front and the Fano. Its decision was the subject of intense internal negotiations in the run-up to the joint declaration.

Ethiopia
Local banks reluctant to lend to Tigrayan businesses

Although the threat of renewed war is looming, five financial institutions have signed on to a programme to support the recovery of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in northern Ethiopia. The EU and German funded initiative is trying to adapt to a deteriorating security environment.

Djibouti
Guelleh clan targets ports authority head over revenue investments

The audit involving Great Horn Investment, and by extension its boss, exposes the rivalries at play over the succession to Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, who has begun his sixth and potentially final term as head of state.

Ethiopia
Afar region bolsters security efforts as dissident forces gain momentum

The defection of soldiers to join Afar rebel group Uguugumo poses a serious threat to Addis Ababa. Federal authorities are working with regional leader Awel Arba to limit the number of renegade fighters.

Palace Intrigues
Faure Gnassingbé, Andry Rajoelina, Abdelmadjid Tebboune

Intrigues big and small: every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

West AfricaThe 50th anniversary summit of ECOWAS in limbo

MadagascarAndry Rajoelina's Paris trip fails to go unnoticed

AlgeriaDJ Snake shakes things up with impromptu concert in Algiers

Ethiopia
Tsadkan and Getachew court figures for peace council amid fears of new conflict

The Council for Peace and Change launched by the ousted Tigrayan leaders is attempting to recruit more members by promising a transition to elections. However internal rivalries and its potential for instrumentalisation on a new war front are calling this objective into doubt.

Madagascar
Ex-foreign minister Christine Razanamahasoa eyes diplomatic return

With strong ties to Western partners, the minister, replaced by Alice N'Diaye at the last reshuffle, is poised to re-emerge on the international stage.

Ethiopia
Addis Ababa and Mekele prepare tense end to Tadesse Werede's term

Unless renewed, the term of the president of the temporary administration in Tigray could end on 8 April. The matter is at the heart of an intense political tug-of-war between the federal government and the TPLF.

Ethiopia
Swiss entrepreneur Josua Gehrig again in federal court's sights

The owner of Elim Farms has been accused of funding the Tigray People’s Liberation Front during the Tigray war.

Ethiopia
Armed opposition to TPLF in Tigray tempted to return to the fold

In Mekele, young politician Shewit Bitew has set about shutting down the Tigray Peace Force, which he had nonetheless established last year. The opposition militia has become caught up in the power struggles affecting the region's main party.

Madagascar
Junta and Rajoelina face off from afar at SADC and AU

Colonel Michaël Randrianirina must submit a detailed roadmap for the transition by the end of February, as demanded by the regional organisation of Southern African states, while the African Union is not currently considering lifting Madagascar's suspension.

Eritrea, Ethiopia
Afars an unknown entity in Abiy's plans for port of Assab

In its quest for access to the Red Sea, the Ethiopian administration is sounding out the Afars for support. This community, spread across the border with Eritrea, is not entirely in favour of the armed struggle option.

Ethiopia
Abiy Ahmed keeps Tigrayan opposition on a tight leash

Several leaders of the Tigray Peace Forces have been detained by soldiers of the Ethiopian National Defense Force.