Ethiopia Live Updates

• Ethiopia has declared a state of emergency in the country to help curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
• Home to some 110 million people, Ethiopia has recorded 55 coronavirus cases and two deaths to date.
• According to the country’s constitution, under a state of emergency, the Council of Ministers has “all necessary power to protect the country’s peace and sovereignty” and can suspend some “political and democratic rights”.
• On 16 March 2020, the office of the Prime Minister announced that schools, sporting events, and public gatherings shall be suspended for 15 days.
• On 20 March 2020, Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to 30 countries affected by the coronavirus. On the same date it was announced that anyone entering the country should undergo a mandatory self-quarantine for 14 days. Night clubs in Addis Ababa are also to remain closed until further notice.
• On 23 March 2020, Ethiopia closed all land borders and deployed security forces to halt the movement of people along the borders.
• On 25 March 2020, 4,011 prisoners were granted a pardon by the Ethiopian President in an effort to prevent the coronavirus spread. The pardon applies only to prisoners convicted of minor crimes who are serving sentences of up to three years and those who are about to be released.
• On 29 March 2020, Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to more than 80 countries.
• On 2 April 2020, the Federal Attorney-General granted a pardon for 1,559 prisoners.
• The pandemic has affected Ethiopia’s flower export industry significantly. After Europe was hit with the coronavirus, the demand for flowers has plummeted and the price dropped by more than 80%. A total of 150,000 employees in this industry are also at the risk of losing their jobs.
• Ethiopian Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, reported a 30% reduction in passenger traffic. The CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, reported a loss of $190 million in the months of February and March 2020.
• Ethiopia-born Saudi billionaire, Mohammed Ali Al-Amoudi has made the biggest private donation yet to coronavirus combat in Ethiopia. He donated the sum of 120 million birr (about $3.6m) to the Addis Ababa city administration on Tuesday.