UN opens library in Addis Ababa

The secretary-general of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon inaugurated a library in Addis Ababa on 31 January, as part of the UN scheme "Thank You Small Library" (TYSL). Located in Keykokeb primary school in Arada sub-city woreda 2, the principal...

Work starts on Bole Airport to Meskel Square road

Work on the reconstruction of the road that links Bole International Airport to Meskel Square in Addis Ababa was officially inaugurated by the city’s mayor on 6 January The new road, which follows the track of the old one, is...

Swedish journalists to ask for pardon

Two Swedish journalists sentenced to 11 years in prison in Ethiopia have decided to ask for a pardon rather than appeal their case. They were found guilty in December of promoting the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) , considered a...

Google holds g|Ethiopia in Addis Ababa

Internet search engine giant Google is holding its first g|Ethiopia conference in Addis Ababa from 7-8 February. The event will see business leaders, entrepreneurs and community representatives come together to see what Google has to offer. The first day involves...

China to build railway between Addis Ababa and Djibouti

A Chinese state-run firm is to build the final section of a new railway line that will link its capital Addis Ababa to its neighbouring Red Sea state of Djibouti. Under the deal signed by Ethiopia on 16 December, the...

Swedish journalists found guilty of supporting terrorism in Ethiopia

An Ethiopian court has found two Swedish journalists guilty of helping and promoting the banned Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebel group, and entering Ethiopia illegally. On 21 December in Addis Ababa, Judge Shemsu Sirgaga ruled that reporter Martin Schibbye and...

Major Road to be constructed in Addis Ababa

A major road is to be built from Addis Ababa's central Meskel Square to Bole Airport. The $60 million agreement for the 4.3km long and 40m-wide road has been signed between Addis Ababa City Roads Authority (AACRA) and the China...

New AU headquarters in Addis Ababa to open in January

The recently-completed conference centre of the new headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa has passed an internal quality inspection, and the entire finished complex is due to be inaugurated in January by Chinese president Hu Jintao. The...

Addis buildings to go higher

Addis Ababa city government is planning to lift a previous height restriction on commercial buildings according to the Ethiopia’s news agency ENA. In future 55 floors will be the maximum permitted, compared with the present level of 20. The exact...

Traffic accidents take their toll on Africa

Road accidents are the second cause of death for the 5-44 age group on the African continent and it is estimated that they cost African countries about $10 billion a year, or two per cent of the continent’s GDP. The price...