News: Minister says #Ethiopia 'reinstates' full white diesel supply as #Middle_East war continues to disrupt imports, strains subsidy burden
Minister Ahmed did not explain how fuel imports resumed despite the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
However, the announcement comes amid visible signs of prolonged strain across the country. Long lines of trucks and heavy-duty vehicles stretching for kilometers have become increasingly common in several areas, reflecting persistent supply bottlenecks.
In the Tigray region, where fuel supply disruptions predate the Middle East crisis, acute shortages have halted ambulance services, crippled emergency referral systems, and forced patients to rely on costly private transport or forgo life-saving care altogether.
At the same time, repeated notices from police and local authorities point to a growing underground fuel market, fueled by shortages and limited access through formal distribution channels.
https://addisstandard.com/?p=56670
Majority of #US military sites in #Middle_East damaged by #Iran, CNN investigation reveals
At least 16 American military sites have been damaged in Iranian strikes, making up the majority of US positions in the Middle East, a new CNN investigation can reveal. The damage includes high-value targets, raising questions about America’s footprint in the region. CNN’s Tamara Qiblawi reports.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/01/world/video/us-military-bases-iran-strikes-images-invs-digvid
#Middle_East’s future may be decided in the Horn of #Africa
The Red Sea is becoming the center of global power
The next major geopolitical crisis may not begin in Tehran, Jerusalem, or Washington. It may begin quietly along the shores of the Red Sea, where East Africa meets the Middle East and where global trade, regional security, and ancient civilizations intersect.
When I was a child in Ethiopia, elders in my village spoke about the Red Sea not as a geopolitical concept but as a gateway to the world.
Traders, pilgrims, and travelers had crossed those waters for centuries, linking Africa with the Middle East and beyond. Long before modern shipping routes or naval bases, the peoples of the Horn of Africa understood something the world is only now rediscovering: whoever secures access to the Red Sea influences the bridge between continents.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-889691
#China warns #Middle_East at ‘critical juncture’ after #US extends #Iran ceasefire
Addis Abeba - China’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday urged all parties to prevent a renewed outbreak of conflict after the United States announced an extension of the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, warning that the region stands at a “critical juncture” between war and peace.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, Guo Jiakun said the situation remains fragile, stressing that the top priority should be preventing a resumption of hostilities.
“Relevant parties should exercise restraint and avoid actions that could escalate tensions,” Guo said, adding that China supports resolving disputes through political and diplomatic channels.
The spokesperson also called for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire to safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region, emphasizing Beijing’s support for ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation.
News Analysis: #Ethiopia pushes shift to electric transport as fuel crisis deepens
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics has called for an accelerated transition to electric and natural gas-powered transport, as authorities warn of mounting pressure on fuel supplies linked to the ongoing crisis in the #Middle_East.
In a statement issued on 17 March, the ministry said the country must reduce reliance on imported fuel and scale up alternative energy use, describing the electric vehicle policy introduced under Prime Minister #Abiy Ahmed as a “wise and farsighted decision” that is helping cushion the economy from global shocks.
The call comes a day after the Prime Minister urged Ethiopians to limit fuel consumption amid growing supply disruptions. “Due to the crisis in the Middle East, countries that purchase and use fuel are facing difficulties in obtaining it as needed,” Abiy said in a message on Monday, calling on citizens to prioritize “essential....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=55909
#Pentagon orders 2,000 #US airborne troops to #Middle_East as Trump administration advances 15-point plan to end war on #Iran
The United States has ordered approximately 2,000 soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to deploy to the Middle East, even as Washington advances a 15-point diplomatic proposal aimed at ending the war involving Iran, according to U.S. officials cited by The New York Times.
Two Defense Department officials told the outlet that the troop movement is intended to give U.S. President Donald Trump additional military options while his administration pursues a diplomatic initiative with Tehran.
The plan, reportedly sent to Iran via #Pakistan, reflects the administration’s effort to find an off-ramp to a conflict that has unsettled global markets and heightened regional tensions. https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02mMkCh2Hg7CwsodLEpQDzS1NuzJcVKBzwdWF8aWcaURdjqBoButpwaPMCG2qDVv9ql
News: Over 650, including govt officials, detained as #Ethiopia cracks down on illegal#fuel trade amid deepening shortages
Ethiopian authorities have detained 658 individuals, including government officials, in connection with illegal fuel trade and hoarding, as the country grapples with a worsening fuel shortage triggered by global supply disruptions, officials said. Authorities also seized more than 720,000 liters of fuel, which has since been returned to state control.
The enforcement actions come as Ethiopia faces a sharp decline in fuel availability following disruptions to imports linked to ongoing instability in the #Middle_East.
According to #Kasahun_Gofe (PhD), Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, the arrests are part of intensified enforcement measures under a newly established task force mandated to monitor fuel supply and distribution nationwide.
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=56209
News: #Ethiopian state minister holds talks with Israeli, Saudi, Kuwaiti diplomats amid escalating #Middle_East tensions
Hadera Abera, State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, held separate meetings with diplomats from #Israel, #Saudi_Arabia, and #Kuwait on Monday, discussing bilateral relations and regional developments as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.
The meetings come amid an intensifying conflict involving the United States and Israel on one side and #Iran on the other, with Iran launching attacks targeting countries widely considered to be #US. allies in the region.
During a meeting at his office in Addis Abeba, Hadera held talks with Avraham Neguise, Ambassador of Israel to Ethiopia. According to the foreign ministry, the two sides discussed ways of strengthening longstanding bilateral relations between the two countries.
No further details of the discussion were disclosed by the ministry.
In a separate ......
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=55725
Mideast war presents 'serious risk' for #Africa: report
The #Middle_East war "presents a serious risk to Africa", the #African_Union and the African Development Bank (#AfDB) said in a report seen by AFP Saturday.
The conflict threatens to increase the cost of living and curtail growth on the continent, the report warned. The Middle East accounts for 15.8 percent of Africa’s imports and 10.9 percent of its exports, the report noted.
"The conflict, which already has triggered a trade shock, could quickly turn into a cost-of-living crisis across Africa through higher fuel and food prices, rising shipping and insurance costs, exchange rate pressures, and tighter fiscal conditions," it added.
The growth rate of most African countries continues to be slower than before the Covid pandemic, it noted. "A loss in output growth of 0.2 percentage points on Africa’s GDP is projected for 2026 if it (the conflict) exceeds six months," it said......
https://x.com/addisstandard/status/2041027269091573778?s=20
News: Horn of Africa risks becoming arena for Gulf rivalry as #Ethiopia drawn into power struggle
Intensifying competition among rival Gulf monarchies is increasingly shaping political and security dynamics in the Horn of #Africa, with Ethiopia emerging as a key focal point, according to an analysis published by AFP.
The Horn of Africa — comprising Ethiopia, #Somalia, #Djibouti, and #Eritrea — occupies a highly strategic position along one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes between the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean. Its proximity to the #Middle_East has made the region a growing arena for geopolitical and geo-economic rivalry among Gulf states.
“For Gulf states, the Horn of Africa is a crucial battleground for geopolitical and geo-economic competition,” regional analyst Anna Jacobs told AFP.
In Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates (#UAE) has established a particularly visible presence. A massive palace complex under construction on a ....
Read more: https://addisstandard.com/?p=55038
#Somali tuk-tuk drivers protest fuel hikes since war
Hundreds of #tuk-tuk drivers blocked a main road in the Somali capital #Mogadishu on Wednesday to protest increased fuel prices caused by the war in the #Middle_East.
Petrol prices have doubled in the city from around $0.60 to $1.25 since the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran on February 28.
Like many oil-importing countries, Somalia is feeling the effects of surging global oil prices as Iran's retaliatory strikes have targeted its Gulf neighbours and shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz.
"The federal government must intervene in this matter. We are facing livelihood problems as the prices of fuel are increasing every day," Ali Yare, one of the tuk-tuk drivers, told AFP.
"The merchants are increasing the prices to take advantage of the conflict in the Middle East, and they have no regard for others'......
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News: State Minister Ambassador Hadera holds talks with #Iranian Ambassador amid rising #Middle_East tensions
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador #Hadera_Abera held talks yesterday with Ali Akbar Rezaei, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of #Iran to #Ethiopia, focusing on bilateral ties and escalating regional developments in the Middle East, with both sides underscoring the importance of dialogue in advancing stability and collective security across the region.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in economic, trade, investment, and labor sectors, while exploring practical avenues for mutually beneficial collaboration.
No further details of the discussion were disclosed by the ministry.
Ambassador Hadera also held a separate meeting with Suliman Khalid Al-Dhayi, Ambassador of #Iraq to Ethiopia,......
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