Content: Fineline

  • The Revolutionary Democrats at a crossroad?

    The Revolutionary Democrats find their state of affairs at a crossroad, gossip observed. Although they may have little by way of differences in their core ideological standings, which is a centre-left position on the ideological spectrum, recent developments show that groups are emerging within the ruling party along two major lines, gossip reveals. There are […]

  • The first potentially divisive policy on strategic affairs appears to have surfaced…

    Ever since the passing of their chief priest back in August 2012, the first potentially divisive policy on strategic affairs appears to have surfaced in the camp of the Revolutionary Democrats, gossip revealed. It is about the speed in which the nation’s economic frontiers need to open to foreign competition, claims gossip. It all begun […]

  • Norway has had a new emissary, Andreas Gaarder, for some time now.

    Norway has had a new emissary, Andreas Gaarder, for some time now. His priorities appear to be focusing on cooperating with the host country on earth’s climate change and promotion of a green economy, gossip observed. He has a tough call to make though, according to gossip. In a political landscape where society is ever […]

  • Many in the gossip corridors found it perplexing to see the administration shooting…

    Many in the gossip corridors found it perplexing to see the administration shooting itself in the foot last week. Bordering to political naivety, the office in Sufian Ahmed’s Ministry outlined potential risks in its prospectus to would be sovereign bond buyers, as brought out by the Financial Times. The paper could not have contained its […]

  • A mild difference of views appears to have emerged between senior ministers both on Menelik II and Africa avenues…

    A mild difference of views appears to have emerged between senior ministers both on Menelik II and Africa avenues, gossip claims. The dispute concerns whether to hire a lobby or public relations firm for the Ethiopian state, an issue Messers Tedros Adhanom (PhD) and Redwan Hussien, ministers of Foreign Affairs and Government Communications Affairs Office, […]

  • Ethiopia’s Parliament has these haphazard moments where it shows its zeal for a bite…

    Ethiopia’s Parliament has these haphazard moments where it shows its zeal for a bite, gossip observed. Whispers says that in the post-Meles years, MPs take themselves and their roles seriously, they try to hold the administration and its top brass to account, grilling them on legislative affairs and performance matters. One of these rare moments […]

  • A Candidate for the top job at the African Development Bank (AfDB)

    Come December 31, 2014, Ethiopia will likely declare its fielding of a candidate for the top job at the African Development Bank (AfDB), the continent’s most important financial institution, gossip disclosed. After a tenure of two five-year terms as president of the AfDB, which is owned by 78 nation-states including 20 out-of-region countries, the institution’s […]

  • The frantic effort to patch up documents in a bid to produce the second generation of the nation’s GTP..

    The frantic effort to patch up documents in a bid to produce the second generation of the nation’s Growth and Transformation Plan is in the making. The two able technocrats, Getachew Adem and his boss, Mekonnen Manyazewal, state minister and minister, respectively, of the National Planning Commission (NPC), are putting their figures on the crude […]

  • Fineline-The embattled leaders of South Sudan have had enough with Addis Abeba…

    A story in the international media suggests that the embattled leaders of South Sudan have had enough with Addis Abeba – the main destination of negotiations to bring peace since civil war broke out almost two years ago. They feel that the leaders in Addis Abeba have developed a partisan mood towards one side. Some […]

  • A tug of war between the government of Djibouti and the Sheikhs of Dubai…

    Despite a tug of war between the government of Djibouti and the Sheikhs of Dubai, a senior official of the latter, Ahmed Bin Sulayem (Sultan), believes DP World – an Emirati marine terminal operator – will have its operations in Djibouti normalised “very soon”. How soon is yet to remain clear, in light of DP […]

  • The Revolutionary Democrats could get hard-headed…

    The Revolutionary Democrats could get hard-headed, thus a source of frustration to their earnest friends here and abroad, gossip observed. Often deeply ideological and at times distrustful of the intent of advices made to them, they are perceived of being resistant to policy recommendations coming from their international development partners. Those assigned by international finance […]

  • The migration of highly skilled and experienced personnel from…

    The migration of highly skilled and experienced personnel from the public to the private sector remains pervasive, gossip observed. This has a highly stressful impact on the political and bureaucratic elite in the government, who are unable to find a replacement within a short space of time. One reason for the high staff turnover in […]

  • Ethiopia’s foreign policy is anchored on…

    Ethiopia’s foreign policy is anchored on three pillars: economic diplomacy, engaging members of the Diaspora and promoting a stable geopolitical landscape in the region. The command centre of these national aspirations, on Menelik II Avenue, appears to be overly preoccupied with the issue of the Diaspora, judging by a recent report the Minister, Tedros Adhanom […]

  • Heads of State Arrive for US-Africa Leaders’ Summit

    Several heads of state from the African continent descended this week on Washington DC, to attend the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit. It appears to be part of a great rivalry between countries, such as China, primarily, but also Japan, India and Turkey. All have their respective editions of summits with African leaders, gossip observed. Considering that […]

  • General Uneasiness in the Camp

    There is a general sense of uneasiness in the camp of the Revolutionary Democrats exactly one year before the national elections to be held in May 2015; not for reasons many may suspect though, gossip observed. Losing the election to their electoral challengers next year is the least of their worries, claims gossip. Their understanding […]

  • The bilateral relation between Ethiopia and China…

    The bilateral relation between Ethiopia and China has never been at the height of its glory as it appears now, gossip observed. Ever since 200 Chinese laborers arrived in the highlands of Ethiopia in January 1868, building the road that led to the well known expeditions by Robert Napier’s (Gen.), against Emperor Tewodros, the Chinese […]

  • Fineline: Hailemariam: Uncovering a Leader’s Style

    For a nation that has a history of leaders who held a patriarchal place in the populace they ruled, the issue and style of leadership remains an intense subject of interest, gossip observed. All the more for a leader whose predecessor was not an absolute monarch nor a military dictator, but no less commanding in […]

  • The photos widely published in the local press…

    The photos widely published in the local press, showing the friendly looking leaders of Ethiopia and Egypt rather glosses over a relationship of mistrust and mutual suspicion, gossip observed. Smiling directly into his eyes and holding Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s hand, Egypt’s newly elected president, Abdul Fettah Al-Sisi, had an after lunch session with him […]

  • The Minister of Finance & Economic…

    The Minister of Finance & Economic Development (MoFED), Sufian Ahmed, addressed MPs last week, presenting the administration’s most important bill of the year, the budget. Ever expanding from year to year, the new budget bill consists of the largest ever federal spending. Inching ever closer to the 10 billion dollar mark – double to what […]

  • Fine Line: The Prime Minister made a brief remark on the reason of his unexpected presence …

    On the lighter side of things, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has had a surprise visit to an upscale high school in Addis Abeba last week, where he addressed students and their parents not as the top most senior government official of the country. He was there at the International Community School (ICS) as “a proud […]

  • Fine Line : In the absence of a revolutionary change ….

    In the absence of a revolutionary change in government, or a political shift due to the electoral defeat of an incumbent, successive leaders often prefer policy continuity. This is true of the current leaders of the Revolutionary Democrats, who swear by their commitment to pursue the policies of their predecessor. Indeed, none among them appear […]

  • Fine Line: Salva Kiir (Gen.), president of the battered young nation, and his archrival, Riek Machar (PhD), faced each other late last week in Addis Abeba

    After almost half a year of mutual disdain and hostility, with each of the warring parties committing gruesome acts against the other, Salva Kiir (Gen.), president of the battered young nation, and his archrival, Riek Machar (PhD), faced each other late last week in Addis Abeba. So much has been reported on this conflict, while […]

  • Fine Line: The student unrests occurred in many of the universities across the Oromia Regional State

    The student unrests occurred in many of the universities across the Oromia Regional State and at the flagship university in the capital last week were instigated following the disclosure of Addis Abeba authorities’ desire to incorporate zones found in the outskirts of the capital to a draft master-plan. There is hardly any in the Revolutionary […]

  • Fine Line: There is a sense of general uneasiness in the camp of the Revolutionary Democrats

    There is a sense of general uneasiness in the camp of the Revolutionary Democrats, exactly one year from the national elections – to be held in May 2015; not for reasons many may suspect though, gossip observed. Losing the election to their electoral challengers next year is the least of their worries, claims gossip. Their […]

  • Fine Line: There is little as magnificent …

    There is little as magnificent, glaring and dedicatory in illustrating the energy and determination of the Revolutionary Democrats than the Addis-Adama Expressway, gossip observed. Sceptics of their rule might have felt that the late Meles Zenawi had his head in the clouds when inaugurating the construction of the six-lane super highway, thereby heralding his project […]