Content: Fineline

  • Fine Line: the Revolutionary Democrats are a political force capable of generating policies

    More often than not, the Revolutionary Democrats are a political force capable of generating policies designed with good intent, but variable results, gossip noticed. Take for instance the kind of lending policy they have, which in effect discriminates the indigenous businessperson, not only against a foreign investor, but also an Ethiopian with a different passport […]

  • Fine Line: Political leaders in Ethiopia

    Political leaders in Ethiopia rarely have issues that spill over and involve personalities from the wider region, gossip claims. This appears to have changed, however, when it comes to a former TPLF veteran fighter, gossip disclosed. Mulugeta G. Hiwot, aka Chaltu, is a tall and charismatic man, whose intelligence and reputation for getting things done […]

  • Fine Line: A new culture of corporate generosity cropping up in Addis Abeba

    There appears to be a new culture of corporate generosity cropping up in Addis Abeba, gossip observed. Yet it is a far detached from the traditional corporate responsibility, whereby companies share a small fraction of their bottom lines to promote and support the wellbeing of the society in which they operate, according to gossip. Very […]

  • Fine Line: Sufian Ahmed was dispatched to Beijing last week

    Sufian Ahmed, the long serving Ethiopian finance guru, was dispatched to Beijing last week, hoping to see some of China’s key policymakers, gossip disclosed. His visit was prompted by a growing concern inside Hailemariam Desalegn’s administration that the Chinese may soon hold back on releasing loans they have already committed to, claims gossip. For instance, […]

  • Fine Line: Hailemariam Desalegn is evolving into a prime minister

    Hailemariam Desalegn is evolving into a prime minister at ease with himself when dealing with regional issues and military affairs, gossip noticed. It could perhaps be because, within a turbulent sub-region where the country he leads happens to be an oasis of stability, he is required to spend more time with his generals, intelligence officers […]

  • Fine Line:A power reshuffle within the high brass of the Oromo Peoples’ Democratic Organisation

    A power reshuffle within the high brass of the Oromo Peoples’ Democratic Organisation (OPDO), has resulted in a lofty position in the federal government being occupied by a female for the first time, gossip disclosed. A series of rearrangements have taken place in the top leadership of the OPDO and the Oromia Regional State, subsequent […]

  • Fine Line: The profound leadership crisis in the Oromia Regional State resurfaced

    The profound leadership crisis in the Oromia Regional State resurfaced last week, following the inevitable resignation of Alemayehu Atomsa, chief of the regional government and chairman of the OPDO, the ruling party in the region, gossip observed. Soon  after he was elected to these offices back in 2010, Alemayehu fell ill and has thus been […]

  • One of three individuals close to the late Meles Zenawi …

    One of three individuals close to the late Meles Zenawi during his last days, in August 2012, was Kassu Illala (PhD). The other two were his widow, Azeb Mesfin, and his long time close confidante, Brehane G. Kirstos, gossip disclosed. Whilst serving as Ethiopia’s ambassador to the EU in Brussels, Kassu had hosted the late […]

  • Those active on social media platforms were bitter…

    Those active on social media platforms were bitter last week about the inconvenience of living in Addis Abeba, gossip noticed. There is no adequate transport, electricity, water, internet or mobile communications network, so have they claimed. In a way, most are questioning Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s administration on its competence to properly provide public services […]

  • Fineline- The Revolutionary Democrats bestowed upon themselves the…

    For a poor country like Ethiopia, with an ever expanding appetite for building the entire physical infrastructure of the nation, nothing sends a chill down the spines of those entrusted with the job as much as finance, gossip observed. The Revolutionary Democrats bestowed upon themselves the historical burden of such a colossal responsibility. But, running […]

  • Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn was in his trademark gracious…

    Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn was in his trademark gracious mood early last week when he received an America delegation led by the Republican Senator James (Jim) Inhofe. While the Senator from Oklahoma praised Hailemariam for Ethiopia’s involvement in helping warring faction of South Sudan conclude a peace deal, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister said as much about […]

  • Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn is known by…

    Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn is known by those frequenting the power corridor on Lorenzo Te’azaz Road for his favourite adage – a developmental state will always remain cash strapped – gossip disclosed. Indeed, he runs an administration besieged by a massive funding gap between what it needs to pay to accomplish its objectives by the […]

  • Shiferaw Jarso, director general of Ethiopia’s Sugar ….

    The whisper in the gossip corridors is not a pleasant one. Shiferaw Jarso, director general of Ethiopia’s Sugar Corporation, under a ministerial portfolio, is in the army hospital recovering from serious injuries obtained in a car accident, gossip disclosed. One of his security details is in a worrisome situation, according to gossip. Two weeks ago, […]

  • Mekonnen Manyazewal…

    The state of Djibouti presents a test to the wisdom and negotiating ability of a non-EPRDFite minister in the administration of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, gossip observed. A capable technocrat since his early career in a central planning commission under the government of Mengistu Hailemariam (Col), Mekonnen Manyazewal assumed the responsibilities of negotiating trade terms […]

  • Police investigators in South Africa were so hyper…

    Police investigators in South Africa were so hyper sensitive about a kidnapping case last week that they persuaded a local journalist in Cape Town to stop writing follow-up stories, due to active negotiations with the kidnappers, gossip learnt. It was rare to hear of a hostage taking and subsequent bid to extort ransom from a […]

  • The sudden departure last week of Miheret Debebe…

    It is not in the habit of the Revolutionary Democrats to offer a cordial farewell to people who have served them professionally, loyally and for a long time, gossip observed. Quite a large number of people, who once served in senior positions in the administration, would have a story tell of neglect and unceremonious departure […]

  • Tedros Adhanom (PhD) was a darling of the west…

    Serving as a Minister of Health, Tedros Adhanom (PhD) was a darling of the west, gossip recalled. He has a disarming personality, unlike many of the administration’s officials who struggle to package themselves beyond their largely perceived individuality of a cadre with a seemingly scripted rhetoric. Most diplomats based in Addis find him easily accessible, […]

  • François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande’s France . . .

    François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande’s France will pose a challenge to Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Paris this week, where his wisdom and courage will certainly be tested, gossip foresees. The current chairman of the African Union (AU) – whose headquarters are hosted in the country he leads – Hailemariam is set to lead out […]

  • In an economy where the biggest hurdles to business…

    In an economy where the biggest hurdles to business are access to land and finance, the government’s control of both chokes the private sector to near death. Such is the story in Ethiopia that many of the private sector leaders demonstrate an attitude that is demoralised and indifferent at best, gossip observed. Ironically, what ails […]

  • Addis Abeba has won a name for itself as an international…

    Addis Abeba has won a name for itself as an international conferencing destination. From the 3,000-delegates who met last week to discuss family planning, to the annual summits of the African Union (AU) heads of state, the political capital of Africa finds itself being extremely busy. Indeed, it now hosts thousands of people almost every […]

  • The late Meles Zenawi, influenced by the historical perspective…

    The late Meles Zenawi, influenced by the historical perspective of the Italian Pietro Salini, was convinced that Ethiopia had the potential to become an economic powerhouse in the Greater Horn of Africa, gossip recalls. Thus, he set out to realise, in 2008, a long lost national dream of exploring and exploiting what Salini had once […]

  • Like any country’s government…

    Like any country’s government, Ethiopia’s is one very keen to see the influx of foreign direct investment (FDI) to a destination promoted by a federal agency as “a land of opportunities.” Competition to attract FDI is cutthroat. Some countries travel great distances to attract foreign investors who arrive in a certain economy not only with […]

  • For far too long now, in fact ever since the formation of the Republic…

    For far too long now, in fact ever since the formation of the Republic, the Jubilee Palace on Menelik II Avenue has had no female resident, gossip recalls. The first resident of the State House, Negasso Gidada (PhD), had a wife who was a German national. She was thus unable or perhaps unwilling to claim […]

  • Who will be the next resident of the Jubilee Palace?

    For reasons that ought to be of no surprise, the larger public has been keen to discover who the next resident of the Jubilee Palace, on Menelik II Avenue, will be. The local media has been hard pressed to quench the information thirst, only able to provide wild speculations on individuals thought to have the […]

  • Fine Line

    For reasons that ought to be of no surprise, the larger public has been keen to discover who the next resident of the Jubilee Palace, on Menelik II Avenue, will be. The local media has been hard pressed to quench the information thrust, only able to provide wild speculations on individuals thought to have the […]