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China's Huajian Shoe manufacturing giant currently employs more than 1500 Ethiopian in its factory outside Ethiopia's capital.

Ethiopia - Boating Accident Kills Five On Lake Tana

Source: Sudan Tribune

Addis Ababa — At least five people died when a boat carrying 110 passengers overturned on Lake Tana in Ethiopia's north western region of Amhara on Monday, police told Sudan Tribune. The boat was travelling to attend a religious event at an island monastery in the Derji area of Lake Tana, which is the source of the Blue Nile River.

Local residents helped the rescue operation. "The boat overturned when it was only 20 meters away from reaching the port" Amhara's regional police commission information officer, Solomon Mohamed, told Sudan Tribune.

The cause of the accident is yet to be announced, however initial reports blame bad weather conditions. "There was heavy rain that led into sudden strong wave which is believed to be cause to the accident" the police spokesperson added.

Reached by phone, a survivor said that the boat which belongs to the government owned Tana Transport Enterprise (TTE), was overcrowded. The captain of the boat survived and is reported to have told accident investigators that the boat may have overturned after passengers moved suddenly to one side of the boat.

No arrests were made in connection with the accident. Lake Tana which covers an area of 2,156 sq km has 37 islands among them some 20 have churches and monasteries that have ancient religious relics and historic treasures.

Every year thousands of tourists visit Lake Tana's historic churches and monasteries. With the flow of tourists to Lake Tana increasing by over 45% in 2012 compared to the previous year the religious sites are a valuable source of income for Ethiopia.

Ghana's Black Stars To Camp In Ethiopia And SA Ahead Of World Cup Qualifiers

Ghana’s national team will pitch camp in Ethiopia and South Africa to prepare for next month’s crucial 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Sudan and Lesotho.

The Black Stars had originally planned to camp in Kenya and play a friendly against the Harambee Stars on 1 June.

But they opted out of the friendly citing the unavailability of some players.

Coach Kwesi Appiah has now announced on the Ghana FA’s website that his team will camp in Addis Ababa and Johannesburg ahead of the matches against Sudan and Lesotho respectively.

High altitude training in Addis Ababa will put the Black Stars in shape for the game against Sudan and Lesotho where the altitude is also high.

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Ethiopian corruption watchdog arrests 51 suspects, most from tax, customs and business sector photo AfDB

Ethiopian corruption watchdog arrests 51 suspects, most from tax, customs and business sector

Source: AP

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian authorities have carried out another wave of arrests that brings the number of people detained on suspicions of corruption to more than 50.

Berhanu Assefa of the country’s federal ethics and anti-corruption commission says at least 51 people have been arrested in the past few weeks. He said the list of suspects could grow longer.

The latest campaign of arrests started May 10 with the arrest of a senior Cabinet minister. Twelve others, including the minister’s senior aides, their family and prominent businessmen were also arrested.

Most of those arrested are tax and customs officials and businessmen. Ali Sulaiman, the head of the commission, told parliament that the tax collections and customs sector have been identified as corruption-prone areas that hold back the country’s economy.

AU Headquarter in Addis Ababa Ethiopia

AFRICAN UNION CELEBRATES 50TH YEAR

By KIRUBEL TADESSE

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — African nations this week mark the 50th year since the founding of a continentwide organization that spearheaded efforts to liberate Africa from colonial masters. Now leaders want to map out the next 50 years of political and economic integration.

Konjit Sinegiorgis was a young diplomat tasked with distributing documents to the assembled heads of state when the founding congress of the Organization of African Unity was held in May 1963. Sinegiorgis said the OAU "brilliantly" accomplished its primary task.

"Its primary mandate was to liberate Africa from the shackles of colonialism and apartheid. I think in that regard it has done brilliantly," said Konjit, now Ethiopia's ambassador to the African Union, the successor to the OAU.

The weeklong 50-year celebrations culminate Saturday in the Ethiopian capital where African leaders will be joined by foreign dignitaries including United States Secretary of State John Kerry. African leaders will also consider Agenda 2063, a blueprint they say will bring socio-economic and political transformation to the continent.

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