Understanding Humanitarian Impact: Insights from Sharon Eubank Sharon Eubank, the Director of Humanitarian Services for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been at the forefront of humanitarian relief since assuming the role in 2011. Under her leadership, the department’s budget has increased fivefold, enabling the church to engage in numerous relief projects across the globe. Eubank’s forthcoming book, “Doing Small Things With Great Love: How Everyday Humanitarians Are Changing the World,” scheduled for release on September 16, further explores the dynamics of effective humanitarian efforts. The Evolution of Humanitarian Services Humanitarian Services initiated in 1985, initially responding…
Author: Abren
Enhancing Ophthalmology Training in Sub-Saharan Africa Introduction In efforts to combat preventable blindness in Sub-Saharan Africa, innovative initiatives are underway to improve ophthalmology training for local professionals. Samsung has partnered with VisionCare, an international NGO, to provide state-of-the-art display technology in hospitals across Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia. This collaboration is part of the transformative project, “Open Your Eyes, Africa! See Together, Africa!” The Role of VisionCare in Eye Health VisionCare has made significant strides in expanding access to eye care in regions grappling with high rates of preventable blindness. Recognized with the Samsung Ho-Am Award for Social Service in 2025,…
Ethiopia Celebrates the Inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Addis Ababa, September 16, 2025 — The Amhara region witnessed vibrant public rallies as residents celebrated the recent inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). This monumental event marks a historic achievement for Ethiopia, reflecting national pride and unity. A Historic Milestone On September 9, 2025, Ethiopia officially inaugurated the GERD amidst fanfare, attended by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and several African leaders. The completion of the dam, funded entirely by Ethiopian citizens and the government, highlights the collective effort and determination of the nation to undertake significant…
In a surprising but strategically sound turn of events, Somalia eased tensions with Ethiopia through a deal brokered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Ankara Declaration, as it’s being called, not only provides a face-saving exit for both countries but also positions Somalia for a stronger future—one grounded in pragmatic diplomacy rather than regional rivalry. For context, Somalia’s initial alignment with Egypt—an archrival of Ethiopia—came as a response to Ethiopia’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a de-facto independent region that Somalia considers part of its sovereign territory. Egypt, ever wary of Ethiopia’s growing influence sought to draw Eritrea into a broader…
In towns and cities across the Amhara Region, people ignored threats by Fano insurgents not to demonstrate in public Hundreds of thousands of people in dozens of cities and towns across Ethiopia’s Amhara region have taken to the streets in a powerful demand for peace. Amid a year of violent conflict between the government and the Fano rebels, demonstrators are calling for an immediate end to the armed conflict, the restoration of safety and security, and the return of normalcy to their daily lives. Demonstrators defied threats by Fano not to come out onto the streets. The Fano, a group…
Port competition in the Horn of Africa has escalated in recent years, with growing geopolitical tensions and strategic interests at play. One of the latest developments in this rivalry is Djibouti’s decision to offer Ethiopia a concession to operate the port of Tadjoura. This move further complicates the already complex dynamics between the region’s key players and underscores the importance of port access for landlocked Ethiopia, whose rapid economic growth has made it a critical market for port operators and neighboring countries. Ethiopia, with a population of 130 million, has experienced remarkable economic expansion over the past two decades, positioning…
The Ethiopian Capital Markets Authority (ECMA) has introduced its inaugural regulatory guidelines for the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX), aiming to build investor confidence ahead of the exchange’s imminent launch. The Ethiopian government has been working for four years to establish a securities exchange as part of its broader economic reform and liberalisation agenda. This includes the recent decision to allow the Ethiopian birr (ETB) to float freely and open up strategic sectors such as banking and telecommunications to competition. The exchange’s debut will feature several significant state-owned enterprises, including Ethio Telecom, the Ethiopian Insurance Corporation, and the Ethiopian Shipping and…
Washington, D.C. – October 20, 2024 – The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) Governor Mamo Mihretu, alongside CEOs from several leading Ethiopian banks, gathered at the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington to discuss recent banking reforms and financial restructuring initiatives designed to modernize the nation’s banking sector. During the event, Governor Mamo addressed concerns from the Ethiopian diaspora regarding the floating exchange rate of the Birr and the significant regulatory changes underway. He noted real progress towards convergence between the parallel exchange rate and the newly established market-based bank exchange rate over the past two months, a natural result of the free…
Deepening rifts between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the interim administration of the Tigray region in Ethiopia have led to significant political shifts, culminating in the displacement of TPLF hardliners from the regional capital, Mekelle. For months, the TPLF’s old guard and the interim regional government, led by Getachew Reda, have engaged in a blame game over the region’s botched recovery, marked by military defeats, what many claim to be “loss of territory”, and a breakdown in law and order. These tensions have roots in the discord that emerged in 2019 when the newly formed Prosperity Party, led…
Addis Standard published a piece earlier in the month titled “Op-ed: Red Sea is not the Suez Canal: What will be the outcome of Egyptian intervention in Ethiopia’s sea access quest?” It was authored by Miessa Elema Robe, who holds a PhD in Political Science and International Relations and is currently serving as head of the press secretariat at the Addis Abeba City Administration. He relevantly referenced the Moldovan-Ukrainian land swap of 1999 as a lesson for the Horn of Africa, which will be elaborated on. His article cited the New York Times’ 2015 piece about how “Time-Worn Village in Moldova Springs…