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President Commutes Death Sentences of Dergue Officials

Dec 19 , 2020

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President Sahle-worq Zewde has approved a motion to commute the death sentences of two former Dergueofficials to life imprisonment. The Office of the Attorney-General tabled the motion, and the President approved it on December 11, 2020. Berhanu Bayeh (Col.) and Addis Tedla (Lt. Gen.) have been sheltered inside the Italian Embassy since the EPRDF took control of Addis Abeba in 1991. Former acting Prime Minister Hailu Yimenu and the Military Commander in Eritrea, Tesfaye Gebrekidan, were also part of the group that took refuge in the Embassy but have since passed away. The officials were sentenced to death in absentia for their alleged role in killings committed during the Dergue regime. Despite persistent requests from the EPRDF government, Italian authorities refused to hand over the officials due to the EU's policy against capital punishment. The commutation may allow the officials to be released on parole.

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Customs Commission Puts Government Transactions on Mesob

Public institutions must now process customs-related transactions through Mesob, a new electronic platform introduced to reduce manual procedures in government trade operations. The Customs Commission has directed the institutions to use the platform for customs clearance, transit processing, import and export procedures, transaction verification, and related services. Mesob became operational for public institutions on July 20, 2026, for customs services. Institutions must complete intern...

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Addis Grants Extra Month for Residential Lease Renewals

Lessors and tenants in Addis Abeba have an extra month to renew residential lease agreements after the City Administration extended the registration deadline from August 6 to September 5, 2026. The Addis Abeba Housing Development Corporation attributed the extension to public requests for more time. Officials said it would ease congestion at registration centres and allow residents to complete the process more conveniently. The renewal exercise began in early July, following the introducti...

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Government Procurement Goes Digital with 597b Br Turnover

More than 597 billion Br in government purchases passed through Ethiopia's electronic procurement platform during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, widening the use of digital systems in public finance. The platform was used by 172 federal institutions and 196 affiliated entities during the year. More than 135,000 suppliers were registered to provide goods and services through the system, which is intended to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in public procurement. The governmen...

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