Addis Standard

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝 https://youtu.be/Df3ehSo1rco?si=Wlwiz4a6REkBSDMQ

#Just_In: Missile, drone attacks trigger fire at #Fujairah petroleum site as #UAE reports intercepting missiles fired from #Iran Addis Abeba – A fire broke out at a petroleum industrial facility in Fujairah following a reported drone attack launched from Iran, according to the emirate’s media office. The alerts mark the first such attacks since the #US-#Iran ceasefire came into effect. The fire report came shortly after the UAE Ministry of Defense said four missiles had been fired toward the country. The Ministry said that its defense system is “currently engaging with missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran”. “The Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in various parts of the country are the result of the UAE air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones,” it said in a statement on X. https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02zzn2QQjdnWVXkdan2QMNmfGMAqjy5ns9cKyTDrTskRuNmN8gZMUkLEcxjCLoimqhl

News: No crude oil export left #Kuwait in April for first time since 1991, tanker tracker reports Although #Ethiopia does not import crude oil due to the absence of domestic refining capacity, its fuel supply is closely tied to Kuwait’s refining sector. The Al-Zour Refinery, Kuwait’s largest refinery, reached full production capacity of 615,000 barrels per day in February, shortly before the outbreak of war, marking four years since test runs began in 2020. Its average refining rate had already reached about 507,450 barrels per day during the 2024/25 fiscal year. Shortly after the conflict began, three vessels carrying 120,000 metric tons of gas oil and 60,000 metric tons of jet fuel destined for Ethiopia were stranded in the Arabian Gulf, with no official update on whether they have since departed. https://addisstandard.com/?p=56758

Drone strike kills six relatives of #Sudan Shield commander in Al-Jazira Addis Abeba - A drone strike in central Sudan has killed six members of the family of Sudan Shield Forces commander Abu Agla Keikal. Local sources told Sudan Tribune that the strike, suspected to have been carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (#RSF), targeted Keikal’s family home in Al-Kahli Zaidan village, eastern Al-Jazira State, on Saturday evening. Witnesses told the outlet that a drone hovered over the area before launching multiple missiles at the residence. Among those killed was Major Azzam Keikal, described as a senior figure within the Sudan Shield Forces and the commander’s brother. https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid029L9AjQTCLmzRapcquiuyCCCKyNxKWd7f6ZVfBy3YV4PFHSbcAviL3REGM5NnbPzMl

#Ethiopia: New bank credit regulation to ensure industry receives fair share of financing in the making, PM Abiy PM Abiy said the regulation, expected “within the next few weeks, perhaps in less than a month”, aims to correct what he described as imbalance in credit allocation. Beyond the credit gap however, Ethiopia’s industrial sector has been grappling with layers of challenges including conflicts. In its December 2025 assessment, Africa Risk Control (ARC) has warned that conflict-related pressures continue to shape Ethiopia’s operating environment heading into 2026, despite signs of gradual improvement in national stability indicators. https://addisstandard.com/?p=56750

#Op_ed: Elections Deferred: Why repeated term extensions threaten #Somaliland’s democratic future For more than three decades, Somaliland has stood out in the Horn of #Africa as a rare enclave of stability and democratic promise. Yet Adam Daud Ahmed warns that this reputation is now at a critical juncture, citing repeated mandate extensions—most recently a 27-month delay approved in April 2026—as evidence of a shift from emergency practice to political norm. By allowing elite bargaining and the House of Elders (#Guurti) to bypass electoral deadlines, Somaliland risks weakening both domestic legitimacy and the “moral authority” it depends on for international recognition. President Cirro, the author argues, now faces a choice between preserving the status quo or showing the “constitutional courage” needed to end institutionalized delay. https://addisstandard.com/?p=56755

#Iran fires missiles at #US Navy vessel in #Strait_of_Hormuz Addis Abeba – Iran has fired two missiles at a U.S. Navy vessel attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian media reports cited by Reuters. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the vessel was “targeted in a missile attack after ignoring a warning from the naval forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Citing local sources, the outlet claimed the ship was hit and “unable to continue its course… and was forced to retreat and flee the area.” There has been no immediate confirmation or comment from the United States regarding the missile attack, which reportedly occurred earlier today. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said the American military would escort vessels through the strait and respond “forcefully” to any interference. President Trump added that the US will begin “Project Freedom” on Monday to “guide” stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz.

News: Floods and landslides kill at least 18 in #Kenya At least 18 people have died in flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains in multiple parts of Kenya. The police stated on Sunday that landslides were reported in Tharaka Nithi, Elgeyo-Marakwet, and #Kiambu counties in the country’s central and eastern regions. They confirmed that 18 lives had been lost to these incidents and urged caution amid the challenging weather conditions. The East #African country is currently experiencing its seasonal March to May rain season, which usually peaks in the first half of May. However, experts have long warned that human-induced climate change is exacerbating weather conditions in Kenya and other #East_African countries. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/3/floods-and-landslides-kill-at-least-18-in-kenya

#Ethiopia: VOX Tigray report warns of “severe deterioration” of media environment in #Tigray A new report by #VOX_Tigray has documented what it describes as a “severe deterioration” of the media environment in Tigray over the past year, with conditions worsening sharply since early 2026 amid growing political pressure, arrests, and displacement of journalists. The report, sent to #Addis_Standard, based on interviews with media professionals and cross-checked accounts, paints a picture of a sector under strain from “physical threats, arbitrary arrest, surveillance, smear campaigns, editorial coercion, economic hardship, and displacement.” It situates the crisis within broader national trends of declining press freedom and heightened political polarization, both at federal and regional levels. https://addisstandard.com/?p=56747

#UAE charity pledges $300,000 to #Ethiopia Cardiac Center for pediatric heart care Addis Abeba - The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has pledged $300,000 in financial support to the Ethiopia Cardiac Centerto expand life-saving treatment and surgeries for children with heart conditions, according to the WAM. The funding announcement was made during an official visit to the center in Addis Abeba by a UAE delegation, including Mohamed Salem Al Rashdi, Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi, and Ahmed Sari Al Mazrouei. The visit took place on the sidelines of the Zayed Charity Run, scheduled to be held in the capital. Al Mazrouei said the contribution is aimed at strengthening the center’s capacity to treat children and aligns with the humanitarian mission of the charity run, inspired by the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. https://www.facebook.com/AddisstandardEng/posts/pfbid02fmQxPKzGWQaMRRzwLbUkZRXf473x8QuFpJcMDZnZWWXHCXY668BXSaQBvNzzb9uxl

News: #Iran warns #US Hormuz mission risks breaching ceasefire as tensions persist Addis Abeba – Iran has warned that a planned #United_States naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz could violate a fragile ceasefire, raising renewed fears of escalation in the ongoing war. #Tehran said #Washington’s plan to escort commercial vessels through the strategic waterway amounts to a “provocative” move that risks undermining ongoing truce efforts, stressing that increased US naval activity could be interpreted as a breach of agreed terms. US President #Donald_Trump has defended the initiative, aimed at reopening maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been severely disrupted for weeks amid blockades and military tensions. The operation is intended to guide stranded vessels and stabilize global supply routes. https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1Cy6E3f6Y9/

#World_Press_Freedom_Day: #Ethiopia slums to 148th in 2026 Global Index amid conflicts, crackdowns against independent media Independent media environment in Ethiopia has suffered yet another setback, falling to 148th place in the 2026 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index. Ethiopia’s score declined to 34.66 from 36.92 the previous year. Nowhere is this mounting pressure more evident than in the sustained #security and #administrative actions targeting #Addis_Standard. Over the past year alone, the outlet’s tri-lingual publication has been subjected to multiple crackdowns. https://addisstandard.com/?p=56743