Content: Fineline

  • Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn was in New York last week…

    Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn was in New York last week, addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations. Speaking to heads of state on the second day of the Assembly, it was his second time to take the podium since he assumed the custodianship of the historically powerful and paternalistic Ethiopian state, gossip recalled. Hailemariam […]

  • The Ethiopian 2006 fiscal year promises to be a year of change…

    The Ethiopian 2006 fiscal year  promises to be a year of change up on Lorenzo Te’azaz Road, those at the gossip corridors anticipate. If nothing else – and little is in store in substantive policy changes – there is no doubt there will be a change of guard in many federal agencies, including those whose […]

  • The Administration of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn…

    The Administration of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn could be one with a few too many influential advisors, directing his decision making process, gossip observed. Politicians, such as Abay Tsehaye, Bereket Simon and Abadula Gemeda, are possibly his closet allies, while chiefs of the army, Samora Yenus (Gen.), and the intelligence, Getachew Assefa, have as much […]

  • If there was anyone among the EPRDFites who was too busy last week…

    If there was anyone among the EPRDFites who was too busy last week, none would have come close to Teodros Adhanom (PhD), the minister of Foreign Affairs, gossip claims. Also a politbureau member of the TPLF, he had to juggle between two crucial meetings that were both impossible to miss, according to gossip. Up in […]

  • European Parliament (EP) to fury, back in mid-July, gossip observed…

    It could only be a misunderstanding, which led to a delegation from the European Parliament (EP) to fury, back in mid-July, gossip observed. Led by Barbara Lochbihler of Germany, and with Jörg Leichtfried of Austria, Jacek Protasiewicz of Poland and Jean-Jacob of France making up the team, the mission from the EP’s Subcommittee on Human […]

  • A pattern has begun emerging recently within the administration of…

    A pattern has begun emerging recently within the administration of Hailemariam Desalegn, gossip observed. His could be defined as an administration with an unusually high dose of advisers.  Each of these has the potential, and ambition, to influence the manner in which he makes decisions on state affairs. Indeed, one notable source of brainpower behind […]

  • Hailemariam Desalegn, who is cruising the delicate world of Ethiopia’s…

    Hailemariam Desalegn, who is cruising the delicate world of Ethiopia’s intricate politics, is moving slowly but surely in asserting his executive power, gossip observed. Not even a year since his historic, but accidental ascendance to the summit of the powerful Ethiopian state, he is seen bringing his political allies closer to his orbit. Too, he […]

  • Ever since taking up residence, nine months ago…

    Ever since taking up residence, nine months ago, at the State House in Arat Kilo, Hailemariam Desalegn and his political allies have been plotting their path to rearranging the government inherited from Meles Zenawi, gossip noticed. Yet, what was once a highly concentrated powerbase, with the Napoleonic Prime Minister, is now being challenged by those […]

  • Finally, the much expected restructuring of federal agencies…

    Finally, the much expected restructuring of federal agencies and reshuffling of their ministers and director generals, by the administration of Hailemariam Desalegn, appears to have arrived, gossip disclosed. In a way, it is a sign that Hailemariam and his allies within the Revolutionary Democratic camp have reached a crucial phase of power consolidation, which has […]

  • It is perhaps time for the Ethiopian authorities to send a delegation…

    It is perhaps time for the Ethiopian authorities to send a delegation of wise men and women from their administration to Phnom Pen, Cambodia, in order to get a lesson or two on how to fend off the impending storm from the World Bank’s Board of Directors, gossip advises. Very soon – September this year, […]

  • For those who like the idea of being superstitious…

    For those who like the idea of being superstitious, no other month is more enticing than the month of May, gossip observed. Closer to domestic politics, it was in May 1991 that the most notorious military dictator, Mengistu Hailemariam (Col) fled the country, ushering in the advancing rebels, who then took control of Addis Abeba. […]

  • No doubt, people were stunned by the national security agency’s swiftness

    No doubt, people were stunned by the national security agency’s swiftness in putting to jail prominent businessmen and some of most powerful government officials, accused of corruption. Their action has ignited several speculations throughout the city’s gossip corridors, capturing the imaginations of many, with the main discussion revolving around whether it was prompted by political […]

  • Africa to celebrate the 50th anniversary…

    Less than two weeks are left for Africa to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of its continental body. There are no less than 80 events planned to be held not only in the host city, Addis Abeba,  gossip disclosed. All member countries will have something to stage on May 25, 2013, while all […]

  • The Chinese have once again proved to be reliable with projects

    The Chinese have once again proved to be reliable with projects, if they are to be judged by their promise to complete the Africa Avenue(Bole Road), one of the most expensive roads in the country. Without producing excuses that are the national pastime, and trading blames, they will certainly open the road with a major […]

  • Countries do not behave like individuals and ignore each other…

    Countries do not behave like individuals and ignore each other for an eternity, simply because their leaders harbour mutual distrust. They have all but permanent enemies, as the adage would have it. The bilateral relationship between Ethiopia and Qatar, the tiny state in the Middle East with a loud voice through a globally accessible satellite […]

  • It is not unusual and, in fact, it’s rather expected…

    It is not unusual and, in fact, it’s rather expected to see the rank and file of a ruling party return to its base energised after a political convention. Away from their daily routine in the affairs of public governance, they seem to enjoy the fellowship with people of a  similar world view. If there […]

  • The Revolutionary Democrats have now concluded a series of meetings

    The Revolutionary Democrats have now concluded a series of meetings in four towns. Leaders and delegates of parties in the ruling coalition, which are described as national parties, congregated in Meqelle, Bahir Dar, Adama (Nazareth) and Hawassa (Awassa) early last week. They were not only present to discuss their policy documents in the form of […]

  • Leaders of the TPLF…

    Leaders of the TPLF, late last week, completed their highly anticipated central committee meeting, in Meqelle town. If there were any surprises, it only came from the complete absence of any whatsoever, gossip disclosed. They have decided on the interim agenda of focusing on the growth blueprint of the ruling partly, aka the Growth & […]

  • The launching of a commercial bank…

    How often does this country see the launching of a commercial bank? Not as frequently as the case would have been two years ago. And, when was the last time a Prime Minister graced a gala dinner hosted by founders of a private bank? Never, until last Thursday, March 7, 2013. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn […]

  • An awkward moment for Saudi

    It ought to have been an awkward moment for Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Finance, Ibrahim Al-Assaf, mid last week, when he met Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. Only a day before, headlines spread across the world’s media, after Khalid Bin Sultan, Saudi’s deputy defence minister, made remarks, directed atEthiopia, in a rather hostile tone. In Cairo […]

  • Nick Clegg’s rare visit to Addis Abeba

    Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom, had a rare visit to Addis Abeba two weeks ago. The Deputy Prime Minister was requested to launch girls’ education programs in Afar and Somali regional states, financed by British taxpayers, at a preparatory school in Addis Abeba, located a few metres from the UK Embassy, […]

  • Hailemariam Desalegn, prime minister, summoned some of his senior officials

    True to his promise, Hailemariam Desalegn, prime minister, summoned some of his senior officials in the macroeconomic team to his office up at Lorenzo Te’azaz Street last week. Among these officials were two or three who are locked in a feud over the availability and stock of the nation’s foreign exchange reserves, gossip disclosed. The […]

  • Fineline-The Revolutionary Democrats

    To their credit, the Revolutionary Democrats have been hard at work and building the nation’s physical infrastructure. From road to telecom infrastructure; and from dams used for electric generation or irrigation to housing, they seem to have achieved a considerably impressive record over the past two decades. Their housing program in particular – designed to […]

  • Fineline-Bankers, in private or state owned banks

    Despite what any of the bankers, in private or state owned banks, may say about the state of the foreign exchange stock, the reality appears to have caught up with the Ethiopian authorities through the economic jurisdiction, gossip disclosed. Such is contrary to the official line of narrative, dictated upon bankers by the mighty central […]

  • FINELINE- The most hectic weeks for Addis Abeba

      Here comes one of — hosting close to 37 heads of state, two vice presidents, and three prime ministers; not to mention their delegates, which number close to 4,000 in total. Add to that mix the near complete bulldozing of the whole town, to the frustration of motorists and commuters alike. There will also […]