2020 in Ethiopia explained

Events of 2020 in Ethiopia.

Incumbents

• President

Sahle-Work Zewde

• Prime Minister

Abiy Ahmed

Events

Ongoing

• Benishangul-Gumuz conflict
• Tigray War
• House demolition
• OLA insurgency
• Educational crisis in Ethiopia since 2020

January–March

• 7 January – Orthodox Tewahedo Christmas in Ethiopia and Eritrea
• 19 January – Timkat, celebration of Epiphany in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches
• 14 February – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo begins a visit to Senegal, Angola, and Ethiopia.^[1]
• 20 February – The Netherlands returns a stolen crown to the Government of Ethiopia.^[2]
• 29 February – Egypt says it will use "all means" to defend its interests in a dispute with Ethiopia and Sudan over the new dam on the Nile River.^[3]
• 2 March – Victory of Adwa Day
• 13 March – 1st case of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia^[4]
• 25 March – At least 60 people believed to be migrants from Ethiopia are found dead in a cargo container in Tete, Mozambique.^[5]

April–June

• 13 April – 14,000 cases of COVID-19 and 788 deaths have been reported across Africa. Cases by country: Comoros – 0, Djibouti – 214, Eritrea – 34, Ethiopia – 71, Kenya – 197, Madagascar – 106, Malawi – 13, Mauritius – 324, Mozambique – 21, Rwanda – 126, São Tomé and Príncipe – 4, Somalia – 25, South Sudan – 4, Tanzania – 32, Uganda – 54, Zambia – 43, Zimbabwe – 14^[6]
• 24 April – One million people in Ethiopia face hunger due to crop destruction by locust swarms. Swarms have been reported in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and Tanzania.^[7]
• 8 May
  • Bereket Simon, former Communications Minister for the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, was convicted of corruption and sentenced to six years of prison. Tadesse Kassa, a former TIRET Corporation board member, was also convicted.^[8]
  • A hospital in Kilembe, Uganda and a small town Somalia are washed away in flooding; an unspecified number of people are killed.^[9]
  • Hundreds protest when the government destroys 7,000 homes and a market in Kariobangi, Kenya.^[10]
• 12 May – Sudan pushes Ethiopia to resume discussion related to the $4.6 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile River.^[11]

July–September

• 1 July – 166 people are killed in protests after the death of Ethiopian singer Hachalu Hundessa.^[12]
• 29 August – 2020 Ethiopian general election^{[13] [14] [15]}
• 4 September – Elections are announced for 8 September in Tigray Region.^[16]
• 7 September – Journalists are banned from observing the elections in Tigray. The government says the elections are illegal.^[17]
• 9 September – The 2020 Tigray Regional Election is held in Tigray, even with the Government of Ethiopia condemning it.

October–December

• 3 November – At least dozen of peoples were massacred in ethnic violence in Gawa Qanqa, southwest Ethiopia.^[18]
• 4 November – "Scores, probably hundreds" of civilians are killed in Aksum in the Tigray conflict, northern Ethiopia.^[19]
• 7 November – The Ethiopian parliament voted to endorse the creation of an interim government for the northern Tigray region
• 9 November – Up to 500 civilians were alleged to have been killed in a massacre in the town of Mai Kadra. Most of the victims were Amhara people, but there are conflicting reports regarding the aggressors, Amnesty International suggesting that both Tigrayan forces and Ethiopian federal forces were involved in the massacres.^[20]
• 14 November – multiple rockets launched from Ethiopia hit Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia may destabilize the entire Horn of Africa.^[21]
• 15 November – 25,000 refugees flee from Tigray, to Sudan while the Federal Ethiopian Government invades the Ethiopian region of Tigray.^[22]
• 17 November – Mekelle was hit by an air strike, killing two civilians and injuring several others.
• 18 November – The Prime Minister was reported as saying that the Ethiopian Army was advancing on Mekelle, and had captured the cities of Shire and Axum.
• 25 November – The Organization of African Unity sends ex-presidents Joaquim Chissano (Mozambique), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), and Kgalema Motlanthe (South Africa) to Addis Ababa to negotiate a peace.^[23]
• 27 November – The first of four United Nations humanitarian flights land in Khartoum carrying 32 tons aid from the UNHCR.^[24]
• 28–29 November – Seven to eight hundred civilians are massacred by the Ethiopian National Defense Force and Eritrean Army in the Aksum massacre.^[25]
• 8 December – Tigray conflict: Government forces shoot at and temporarily detain representatives of the United Nations as they try to reach the Tigray Region. Camps holding 100,000 refugees in Eritrea are said to be without food.^[26]
• 15 December – Sudan says that "Ethiopian forces and militias" ambushed Sudanese army forces near Jabal Abutiour, Sudan. Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok visited Ethiopia briefly on 13 December to discuss the security situation.^[27]
• 17 December – The U.N. pledges US$35.6 million in civilian aid for the Tigray Region, including $25 million for Ethiopia and $10.6 million in Sudan.^[28]
• 21 December – Tigray conflict: The African Union says the military action of the Ethiopian government in Tigray was "legitimate".^[29]
• 23 December – The Amhara Mass Media Agency says that dozens of people have been killed along ethnic lines in Benishangul-Gumuz Region. Attacks in September and October in the same region killed 14 and displaced 300 people.^[30]
• 28 December
  • Reuters Group cameraman Kumerra Gemechu, 36, is arrested for undisclosed reasons.^[31]
  • Banks reopen in Mekelle.^[32]
• 31 December – The government human rights commission says 76 people were killed and 200 wounded in June and July during unrest following the killing of Haacaaluu Hundeessaa. The commission said a total of 123 people were killed and at least 500 were injured.^[33]

Deaths

• 5 February: Abadi Hadis, 22, Olympic long-distance runner (2016 Summer Olympics).^[34]
• 29 June: Hachalu Hundessa, 34, singer.^[35]
• 8 November – Raphael Hadane, 97, Ethiopian-Israeli religious leader, Kahen of Beta Israel.^[36]
• 19 November – Kitilaa Guddata, 32, teacher from Sekela, Oromia Region; executed by Oromia Special Police Force.^[37]
• 12 December – Fikre Selassie Wogderess, 75, politician, Prime Minister (1987–1989); complications from diabetes.^[38]
• 17 December – Tesfaye Gessesse, 83, actor, General Director of the Hager Fikir Theatre (1974–1975).^[39]
• 29 December – Agitu Ideo Gudeta, 42, farmer, entrepreneur, and environmentalist^[40]

See also

• Battle of Mekelle (2020)
• Asmara rocket attacks
• Mai Kadra massacre
• Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
• 2020 in East Africa
• COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia
• COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
• Tigray conflict
• Transitional Government of Tigray

External links

• • Why there are fears that Ethiopia could break up (Desta Gebremedhin - BBC Tigrinya, 6 September 2020)
• Amnesty report describes Axum massacre in Ethiopia's Tigray (by Cara Anna, Associated Press, 26 February 2021)

Notes and References

1. News: Larson. Krista. 14 February 2020. US secretary of state heads to Africa after long absence. Associated Press. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201119153849/https://apnews.com/article/615db8207fe5ea1ac30eec7c04c7840e. 19 November 2020.
2. News: Adebayo. Bukola. 20 February 2020. Dutch government returns stolen 18th-century 'precious crown' to Ethiopia. CNN. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210309003701/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/20/africa/ethiopia-crown-returned-intl/index.html. 9 March 2021.
3. News: 29 February 2020. Egypt: We'll use 'all means' to defend Nile interests. Associated Press. live. 20 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211014010930/https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-africa-egypt-c6c10037c4de31f60b731fd0ccd8ec28. 14 October 2021.
4. lia_tadesse. 1252535448221646848. 21 April 2020. Report#39 የኢትዮጵያ የኮሮና ቫይረስ ሁኔታ መግለጫ Status update on #COVID19Ethiopia. Lia Tadesse. Tadesse. Lia. 2 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200502060353/https://twitter.com/lia_tadesse/status/1252535448221646848. live.
5. News: 25 March 2020. More than 60 people found dead in cargo container in Mozambique. Al Jazeera. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211014194243/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/3/25/more-than-60-people-found-dead-in-cargo-container-in-mozambique. 14 October 2021.
6. News: Africanews. Coronavirus in 52 African countries: 14,400+ cases, 788 deaths, 2,823 recoveries. 13 April 2020. Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban.
7. News: Byaruhanga. Catherine. 25 April 2020. How do you fight a locust invasion amid coronavirus?. BBC News. live. 26 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210605155431/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52394888. 5 June 2021.
8. News: Endeshaw. Dawit. 8 May 2020. Ethiopia jails former minister for corruption. Reuters. live. 8 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200626142319/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-corruption-idUSKBN22K1PV. 26 June 2020.
9. News: Miriri. Duncan. Biryabarema. Elias. 8 May 2020. Ugandan hospital, Somali town washed away by East Africa floods. Reuters. live. 9 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200626155122/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-africa-floods-idUSKBN22K1UC. 26 June 2020.
10. News: Odula. Tom. 8 May 2020. Kenyans protest house demolitions amid virus restrictions. Associated Press. live. 9 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020233521/https://apnews.com/article/c62331ce3f0714699eb3d2b3bac8f315. 20 October 2021.
11. News: 12 May 2020. Sudan pushes Ethiopia to resume stalled talks over Nile dam. Associated Press. live. 13 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020233719/https://apnews.com/article/a008d924788c2bed4b76a00d60e8aaa1. 20 October 2021.
12. News: 1 July 2020. Ethiopia: Military deployed after more than 80 killed in protests. Al Jazeera. live. 2 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308053219/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/7/1/ethiopia-military-deployed-after-more-than-80-killed-in-protests. 8 March 2021.
13. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-election/ethiopias-electoral-board-sets-tentative-august-date-for-elections-idUSKBN1ZE0R3 Ethiopia sets tentative August date for elections
14. News: NEBE Says Impossible To Hold Election As Per Scheduled Due To COVID-19. 31 March 2020. fanabc.com. 31 March 2020.
15. Web site: 2020 . African election calendar 2020 . . 14 April 2019 .
16. News: Paravicini . Giulia . Ethiopia's Tigray region to holds poll, defying federal government . . 4 September 2020.
17. News: Ethiopia bars journalists from flying to Tigray regional vote, passengers say . . 7 September 2020.
18. News: Survivors count 54 dead after Ethiopia massacre, group says. Associated Press. 2 November 2020. 2 November 2020.
19. News: Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: 'Civilians massacred', says Amnesty International . 13 November 2020 . . 12 November 2020.
20. News: Abuelgasim . Fay . El-Mofty . Nariman . Anna . Cara . Shadowy Ethiopian massacre could be 'tip of the iceberg' . 12 December 2020 . . 12 December 2020.
21. News: Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: How the conflict could destabilise its neighbours . . 14 November 2020 . 14 November 2020.
22. News: Nearly 25,000 Ethiopians flee to Sudan: state media . 15 November 2020 . . 15 November 2020.
23. News: African envoys head for Ethiopia as ultimatum expires for assault . 26 November 2020 . . 25 November 2020.
24. Web site: 27 November 2020. First of four UN humanitarian airlifts for Ethiopia refugees lands in Khartoum. 10 December 2020. UN News.
25. News: Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: How a massacre in the sacred city of Aksum unfolded . 11 March 2021 . . 26 February 2021.
26. News: Anna . Cara . Ethiopia's forces shoot at, detain UN staffers in Tigray . 8 December 2020 . . 8 December 2020.
27. News: Sudan says officers ambushed by Ethiopian 'forces and militias' during patrol . 16 December 2020 . Reuters.
28. News: UN announces $35.6 mn aid for civilians from Ethiopia's Tigray . 17 December 2020 . . . 17 December 2020.
29. News: MELDRUM . Andrew . African Union says Ethiopia acted legitimately in Tigray . 21 December 2020 . . 21 December 2020.
30. News: Report says several dozen killed in latest Ethiopia massacre . 23 December 2020 . . 23 December 2020.
31. News: Ethiopia: Reuters cameraman Kumerra Gemechu arrested . 28 December 2020 . . 28 December 2020.
32. News: Banks re-open in Ethiopia's Mekelle for first time since war began . 28 December 2020 . Reuters . 28 December 2020.
33. News: 1 January 2021. Ethiopian rights body says security forces killed at least 76 in summer unrest after musician's killing. Reuters. live. 1 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210129194123/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-violence/ethiopian-rights-body-says-security-forces-killed-at-least-76-in-summer-unrest-after-musicians-killing-idUSKBN2962GC. 29 January 2021.
34. News: Dure. Beau. 5 February 2020. Ethiopian runner Abadi Hadis dies at age 22. NBC Sports. live. 20 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210121185925/https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020/02/05/ethiopian-runner-abadi-hadis-dies-at-age-22/. 21 January 2021.
35. News: 1 July 2020. Ethiopian singer Hachalu Hundessa shot dead in Addis Ababa. Al Jazeera. live. 2 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020133506/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/6/30/ethiopian-singer-hachalu-hundessa-shot-dead-in-addis-ababa. 20 October 2021.
36. News: 9 November 2020. Ethiopian High Priest Kes Raphael Hadane passes away. The Jerusalem Post. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210526002516/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/ethiopian-high-priest-kes-raphael-hadane-passes-away-648515. 26 May 2021.
37. News: Ethiopia's Oromia conflict: Why a teacher was killed 'execution-style' . 16 January 2021 . . 15 January 2021.
38. Web site: Ethiopia: Fikre Selassie Wogderess Former Prime Minister Passes Away at 75. www.geeskaafrika.com.
39. Web site: Ethiopia: Associate Prof Tesfaye Gessesse Passes Away At 84. www.geeskaafrika.com.
40. Web site: Omicidio Agitu Gudeta, confessa il collaboratore: violentata prima di ucciderla per uno stipendio non pagato. 30 December 2020. www.open.online.