Africa’s politics and development hub, capital of Ethiopia
Syria has completed the final stage of forming its People’s Assembly in the northeast, with Hasakah and Ain al-Arab voting to fill the last 11 seats. The process follows recent reintegration of the region under Damascus and signals ongoing efforts to rebuild state institutions after years of conflict.
Millions of Ethiopians are voting in the 7th General Election as NEBE oversees more than 52,000 polling stations. The vote is viewed as a defining moment for the country’s democratic institutions, with digital registration and expanded media space marking a modernization of the process.
A crowded bus traveling from Dessie to Addis Ababa has veered off a mountainous road in Amhara, plunging into a ravine. Authorities say the death toll is rising as emergency services struggle to reach victims amid poor infrastructure. The crash follows a pattern of deadly road accidents on Ethiopia’s hazardous roads.
The Prosperity Party has secured a decisive majority in the House of Peoples' Representatives, with 438 of 501 seats reported by the electoral board. Voting did not occur in Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia due to security concerns, while turnout was high in areas where voting occurred. The government frames the result as a mandate for stability and continued reforms, but opposition voices warn of fear and intimidation amid ongoing tensions and regional disputes.
Drone strikes around El Obeid in North Kordofan have escalated, targeting fuel depots, water points and humanitarian aid convoys. The city, housing hundreds of thousands and thousands of displaced, faces risk of a Darfur-style catastrophe as both SAF and RSF intensify operations. International agencies warn civilians face escalating harm amid access challenges and potential siege.
Since late May more than 160,000 foreign nationals have returned or been repatriated from South Africa, with governments reporting 115,000 back to Zimbabwe and 56,000 to Malawi; many returns have followed protests that have targeted migrants, sparked violent attacks and diplomatic rows across Africa. Petitioners have asked the ICC to examine whether the violence and state failures constitute crimes against humanity.
Clashes have intensified between Ethiopian federal forces and the TPLF in western Tigray near the Sudan border. Civilians are fleeing, and both sides accuse the other of violating the Pretoria peace deal. The fighting follows months of deteriorating relations since the Pretoria agreement and raises fears of a wider conflict in the region.
A week of developments in Ethiopia shows a surge in climate resilience and digital security. The Green Legacy Initiative plants hundreds of millions of trees, while the government tightens cyber-security rules to protect critical infrastructure amid its digital expansion.
Independent Ethiopian outlets face escalating government pressure. Journalists detained or harassed, offices raided, and licenses revoked as authorities push for tighter control over reporting on unrest and elections. CPJ urges due process and the protection of press freedom.