Fitch Ratings, the global credit rating agency, has downgraded Ethiopia’s Long-Term Foreign Currency (LTFC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR). The downgrade also affects the rating of Ethiopia’s sole outstanding Eurobond, which has been lowered to ‘C’ from ‘CC’.

According to Africa News Agency, Fitch noted that it generally does not assign outlooks to sovereign ratings that are ‘CCC+’ or lower. This adjustment reflects a significant shift in the agency’s assessment of Ethiopia’s creditworthiness.

Windhoek – A 29-year-old Tanzanian woman is scheduled for a bail hearing in the Opuwo Magistrate’s court this Thursday. She is charged with the alleged trafficking of protected plant species in Namibia.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, the suspect, Diana Mashiku, was arrested with Namibians Veisiruaije Tjavara (25), Jennifer Simataa (37), and Tjivinda Unatavi (31). They were found in possession of 46 Adenia pechuelii plants, reportedly harvested from the wild without a permit. The incident occurred between October 21 and November 10, 2023, at Okandombo in the Kunene region.

Muyunda described this case as indicative of a broader trend, where international poaching syndicates collaborate with local enablers in Namibia. These enablers reportedly persuade community members to extract unique plant species like Adenia pechuelii, commonly known as ‘Elephant’s Foot’, for minimal compensation. These plants are then smuggled across borders and sold to collectors for considerable amounts.

In the past two years, Namibian authorities have confiscated 666 indigenous plants, not counting illegal timber. Of these, 430 were Adenia pechuelii, leading to 16 criminal cases and the arrest of 37 suspects. Most arrests have resulted from the efforts of the Blue Rhino Task Team, a collaboration of various units within the Namibian Police Force and the MEFT Investigations Unit, which focuses on intelligence-led investigations.