News in Brief

Ethiopia participates at the 1055th African Union Peace and Security Council video conference on “Interdependence between peace, security, and development in Africa”

South Sudan President reaffirms solidarity with the people of Ethiopia

Ethiopia participates in the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of Turkey – Africa Partnership Summit

Ethiopian Human Rights Commission calls UNHRC’s call for special session on Ethiopia repetitive, counterproductive to ongoing implementation processes

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Dina Mufti’s Weekly press briefing (Excerpts)

Africa and the African Union

The 3rd Africa-Turkey Summit is expected to enhance Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity. The transition from the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU) highlighted the need to promote African integration and the African continent ‘as one’ on the international stage, defend Africa’s common interests and strengthen Africa’s position in the global economy and the international community. These objectives are reinforced in both the Constitutive Act, which mandates the AU to “encourage international cooperation”, and in the Agenda 2063: Aspiration 7 which envisions “Africa as a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partner”. Achieving this will entail improving Africa’s place in the global governance system; improving Africa’s partnerships, and refocusing them to respond to African priorities for growth and transformation, while ensuring that the continent can finance its own development and reduce aid dependency.

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Executive Secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu on Thursday (December 16) affirmed at the conclusion of the budget approval meeting at the level of ambassadors that was chaired by Sudan in Mombasa, Kenya, that IGAD has made significant progress in the year 2021 in delivering tangible benefits to member states. He said that IGAD has made significant progress in the year 2021 in delivering tangible benefits to member states through programs and projects implemented despite challenges of covid-19 and the security situation currently experienced in the region. He stressed that they continued to implement several crucial reform initiatives such as the digitalization agenda to improve institutional efficiency and minimize operational costs.

The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, has delivered his State of the Region Address today (December 17). He listed out the challenges that each member state has been facing in the passing year. He also laid out plans of the bloc to accomplish in the upcoming fiscal year.

Ethiopia

President Sahle-Work has arrived in Abidjan on Thursday (December 16) to discuss the current situation in Ethiopia and to strengthen the bilateral relations with Côte d’Ivoire. She has met the Ethiopian community as well as the officials of the African Development Bank. President Alassane Ouattara later Twitted that he has discussed the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries and the political situation in Ethiopia, as well as the ways and means to preserve peace and stability in Ethiopia. “I salute her leadership and her commitment to the development of our continent.”

In related news, President Sahle-Work Zewde met with African Development Bank President  Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina while on a working visit to Côte d’Ivoire. Meeting on Thursday (December 16) at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, they discussed Ethiopia’s current and post-Covid-19 development priorities.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his delegation today on Friday (December 17) has arrived in Istanbul, Turkey to participate in the Third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit. The third Africa-Turkey Partnership Summit will be held under the theme “Enhanced Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity” It is to be recalled that Ethiopia and Turkey signed water and military financial cooperation in the presence of leaders of the two countries – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in August 2021.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen on Thursday (December 16) conferred with President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit on bilateral issues of mutual interest. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke briefed President Salva Kiir on the plan for an all-inclusive dialogue in Ethiopia and related issues. President Salva Kiir, for his part, assured Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke that he is confident that Ethiopia is able to solve its problems and reaffirmed his country’s support to the territorial integrity, peace and stability of Ethiopia. (See article)

African countries have to exert efforts to avert their security challenges by designing inclusive development policies that focus on rights of the youth and women in line with the principle of African solution to African problem, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen urged. Demeke on Wednesday (December 15) made the remark at the webinar meeting of the 1055th African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) held under the title of “Integration of Peace, Security and Development in Africa.” (See article)

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen on Wednesday (December 15) said that Ethiopia has built resilience and preparedness to effectively respond to natural hazards that might happen in the future apart from the ongoing military measures against the terrorist TPLF Group. The Deputy Premier delivered working directives to executive bodies regarding the activities to be carried out by the National Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Committee.

An Ethiopian delegation led by State Minister Redwan has attended the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of Turkey – Africa Partnership Summit. In his remarks, State Minister Redwan underscored the growing constructive engagement of Turkey in Africa since the inception of Turkey – Africa Partnership based on mutual benefit, mutual trust, and respect. (See article)

State Minister, Ambassador Redwan Hussien said: “no one would have any legitimate and honorable reason to pick up arms while there is every opportunity to sit down and discuss and solve problems and also address concerns in a civil manner.” He said this during an online Interview with ‘TVJ Smile Jamaica’. He was accompanied by Honorary Consulate for Ethiopia in Jamaica, Ms. Yodit Hylton who had reflected on the #NoMore rally held in Jamaica last week. Please click here for the whole video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6GfMz2Qmuc

The spokesperson of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Dina Mufti, gave the Ministry’s biweekly press briefing on Tuesday (December 14) to the media. In his presentation, the Ambassador focused on political diplomacy, the current humanitarian situation and battlefront updates, unjustified and politically motivated attacks on Ethiopia from various corners, and the impressive activities of Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian descent living abroad over the week. (See excerpts of the briefing)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia on Thursday (December 16) called on ambassadors of African countries in Addis Ababa to protest the UN Human Rights Council’s call to hold a special session on Ethiopia. The call is politically motivated and ignores all the Ethiopian government’s commitment to applying the recommendations of the joint UN-EHRC investigative report on the alleged human rights abuses in Tigray.

In a letter addressed to the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), Madam Nazhat Khan, and to members of the HRC, as well as Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on Thursday (December 16) said setting up a new body to investigate the entire period since 3 November 2021 is repetitive, counterproductive to ongoing implementation processes, and further delays redress for victims and survivors.

Senator Jim Inhofe on Thursday (December 16) urged the Biden Administration to take real steps to undo the sanctions against the democratically elected government of Ethiopia and roll back termination of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) benefits to the country. Removing Ethiopia from AGOA is devastating to a nation that has been such a great partner of the US over the years, he said. “Ethiopia has long been one of our best trading partners in Africa, in part because its airline has a majority of Boeing’s fleet. And because of that many planes across the continent are being maintained in Ethiopia.” the senator underlined.

Ethiopians, people of Ethiopian origin, and friends of Ethiopia in Den Haag, the Netherlands, on Thursday (December 16) have staged a peaceful demonstration today (Wednesday 15) as part of the #NoMore movement that protests undue interventions in the domestic affairs of Ethiopia. The demonstrators opposed economic and political pressures that some corners have continued to make Ethiopia give in to unfair demands.

The Ethiopian Embassy in the UK in collaboration with the “Defend Ethiopia UK Taskforce” on Monday (December 13) had held a fundraising event to support displaced people in Afar and Amhara regions. Ambassador Teferi Meles thanked Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian origin in the UK for gathering 370,000 Euros so far to support IDP’s created by the TPLF’s invasions of the two regions.

Ambassadors of many countries resident in Addis Ababa on Saturday (December 11) have attended an art exhibition organized Embassy of Bangladesh in collaboration with local artists in the capital and Makush Art Gallery. Various paintings drawn by Ethiopian artists and other works of art depicting the culture and history of Bangladesh and the country’s relationship with Ethiopia have been showcased in the art exhibition.

Members of the Rastafarian community in Jamaica joined by Pan-Africanists and members of the Ethiopian community in Jamaica on Sunday (December 12) held a rally under the slogan of #NoNore against undue interference in the domestic affairs of Ethiopia. The wider population of peace-loving people across Jamaica and elsewhere have joined the peaceful demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica. The demonstrators also called on the western media to stop fake news and misinformation on Ethiopia.

Ethiopians, Eritreans, people of Ethiopian and Eritrean origin, and friends of Ethiopia and Eritrea in Den Haag, the Netherlands, have staged a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday (December 15) as part of the #NoMore movement that protests undue interventions in domestic affairs of Ethiopia. The demonstrators opposed economic and political pressures that some corners have continued to make Ethiopia give in to unfair demands. They have also condemned the substandard stories of some notable media outlets on Ethiopia that kept on circulating misinformation about the country and its government with malicious intent. Participants have also echoed the idea that proposes Africa to have a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

Eritrea

Eritrean nationals in Italy, Switzerland, and Kenya on Thursday (December 16) expressed resolve to strengthen organizational capacity and participation in national affairs. At a meeting representatives from 16 cities in Italy conducted on 11 and 12 December in Torino,  Fesehatsion Petros, Eritrean Ambassador to Italy, gave an extensive briefing on the objective situation in the homeland and regional developments.  Ghirmay Habtemicael, head of Public and Community Affairs at the Eritrean Embassy also presented charted out programs for 2022.

Djibouti

As part of the #NoMore movement, Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia in Djibouti on Saturday (December 11) held a rally to denounce foreign countries’ interference in the country’s internal affairs. The participants also raised funds to support the joint Ethiopian forces and civilians displaced by the terrorist the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). At the rally, they condemned the meddling of some western countries in the internal affairs of Ethiopia and urged the international media to stop propagating fabricated news.

Kenya

Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD) held its annual meeting in Mombassa, Kenya aimed at adopting the IGAD Budget for the year 2022, following an overview of the performance of the IGAD Budget of 2021. The three days meeting that was held from December 15-17, 2021 gathered experts of member state countries forming a committee of finance & planning to deliberate on the budget performance of 2021 as well as discuss the key challenges and opportunities. On the final day, Ambassadors of member states including Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti, Berhanu Tsegaye, and the Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu have discussed major milestones achieved and challenges encountered to best understand how to effectively manage budgetary issues.

Somalia

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Thursday (December 16) travelled to Turkey to attend the 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul, SONNA reported.nAt the Summit, African Heads of State, government officials, Investors and Experts will discuss the future of bilateral relations and cooperation, security, migration, Trade and infrastructure between turkey and African countries.

Somali Foreign Minister Abdisaid Muse Ali met on Thursday (December 16) with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu at the 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. “It was a pleasure to have a bilateral meeting in Istanbul on the sidelines of the 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit with Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. I thanked Turkey for their unwavering support to Somalia and we agreed to intensify our bilateral partnership in areas of security cooperation and economic development,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisaid Muse Ali, said in an official publication.

South Sudan

The East African economic bloc, Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Friday (December 10) suspended South Sudan over unpaid dues. ”It is worth mentioning that we have been suspended from IGAD because of unpaid dues. Moreover, there were 15 vacancies which we were supposed to occupy, “said Information Minister Michael Makuei in Juba. He added: “The Foreign Affairs Minister made a presentation to the Cabinet requesting the payment of all the dues. A resolution was passed three weeks ago directing all the arrears be paid by the Finance Ministry.”

Sudan

Prime Minister, Abdullah Hamdouk, on Thursday (December 16) pursuant to the provisions of the Constitutional Document for the year (2019) and its amendments, and based on the recommendation of the Minister of Federal Government, and after reviewing Cabinet Resolution No. (104) for the year 2021, Resolution No. (623) terminated the assignment of the mandated state governors.

The President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, General-Abdel Al-Fattah Al-Burhan on Thursday (December 16) received a telephone call from the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov. The Russian Minister conveyed the greetings of the Russian President Vladimir Putin and his full support to make a success the Transitional Period in the country to reach a civil state via free and transparent elections. Lavrov expressed his full support to the consensus reached on November 21.

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Ethiopia participates at the 1055th African Union Peace and Security Council video conference on “Interdependence between peace, security, and development in Africa”

The members of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union had a meeting on Tuesday (December 14) under the banner of “Interdependence between peace, security, and development in Africa”. The Council was moderated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, and President of the Council for December. Representatives of the African Development Bank, NEPAD, and United Nations were present at the webinar.

In his opening remarks, Demeke Mekonnen said peace, security, and development are the top priorities of the continent.  Terrorism, coup d’etat, civil war, and unjust distribution of wealth are security threats that drag the continent’s development projects and programs, he said.

To address the security challenges facing the continent, member states need to be committed to the principle of “African solutions to African problems”.  He also stressed the need to pursue inclusive development policies that focus on youth and women while respecting the right to development.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister called on member states to take concrete steps to end the cycle of violence and conflicts in Africa by tackling unfair distribution of wealth, reducing unemployment, expanding economic opportunities, and ensuring accountability.

The members of the Council, who participated in the meeting, on their part, said it was appropriate to present a timely discussion on peace, security, and development on the continent. They said money laundering, arms smuggling, undue foreign interference, attempts to change governments unlawfully, climate change, and the COVID-19 were the main challenges to peace on the continent.

Participants stressed the need for financial support for countries in conflict to help them emerge from conflict and build peace. They also called for a solution to the debt crisis in Africa.

They underscored that since development could not be achieved without peace, member states need to work together on security threats. The meeting highlighted the importance of cooperation among member states and stakeholders to work on good governance and post-conflict solutions to meet the goals of Agenda 2063.

In delivering closing remarks, Demeke stressed the need for African countries to speak with one voice and run development rights in tandem with other Civil Rights. He called on the African Union (AU) to work for peace, security, and development in the Horn of Africa.

He also spoke on the current situation in Ethiopia, particularly the conflict in the northern part of the country. He said, contrary to the Ethiopian government’s efforts to hold human rights abusers accountable for their actions, the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, rejected the joint UN-EHRC investigation report on Ethiopia. Demeke finally called on African member states and friendly countries to reject the proposal and stand by Ethiopia.

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South Sudan President reaffirms solidarity with the people of Ethiopia

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia,  Demeke Mekonnen had been in Juba on Thursday (December 16) for a one-day visit to South Sudan.

He had a fruitful discussion with President Salva Kiir on bilateral issues of common concern.

The discussion between the two high-level officials reviewed the longstanding relationship between the two countries with commitments to further cement it with extended engagements.

President Salva Kirr reaffirmed to the Deputy prime Minister and Foreign Minister that South Sudan will always stand in defense of Ethiopia’s peace, stability, security, and territorial integrity.

He said South Sudan would never accept undue interferences in the domestic affairs of Ethiopia and expressed his firm belief in Ethiopia’s capacity to solve its own problems through its own initiative.

 Demeke, on his part, had briefed the President on the rationale of launching the law enforcement operation and subsequent conflict that was imposed on the government by the TPLF.

 Demeke’s briefing also included the situations in the northern part of the country and the humanitarian supply to affected people by the conflict.

He said the reality on the ground is changing with new battlefield gains by the Ethiopian joint forces.

He also spoke in detail about the planned all-inclusive dialogue with stakeholders to return peace to Ethiopia.

The Deputy Prime Minister returned home after his successful one-day visit to South Sudan.

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Ethiopia participates in the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of Turkey – Africa Partnership Summit

An Ethiopian delegation led by State Minister Redwan has attended the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of Turkey – Africa Partnership Summit.

In his remarks, State Minister Redwan underscored the growing constructive engagement of Turkey in Africa since the inception of Turkey – Africa Partnership based on mutual benefit, mutual trust, and respect.

He also appreciated the active role of Turkey in Africa’s foreign direct investment, human resource development, and infrastructure, which would contribute to Africa’s economic and social development, as per the Agenda 2063 of the African Union.

State Minister called upon Turkey and other partners to support Africa’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery in the areas of agricultural modernization, industrialization, infrastructure development, and technology transfer. 

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Ethiopian Human Rights Commission calls UNHRC’s call for special session on Ethiopia repetitive, counterproductive to ongoing implementation processes

In a letter addressed to the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC),  Madam Nazhat Khan, and to members of the HRC, as well as Ms Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said setting up a new body to investigate the entire period since 3 November 2021 is repetitive, counterproductive to ongoing implementation processes, and further delays redress for victims and survivors.

Rather than repeating the same process, the letter said, the next step should have been rehabilitation, restitution, and compensation, as well as prosecution of the perpetrators.

According to the letter, the proposal to set up a new investigative body would give parties to the conflict which have not yet acknowledged responsibility and taken steps to implement the JIT recommendations an option to reject the report in light of new investigations; and it may have the effect of undermining the work and voice of independent human rights institutions such as the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.

Please find here the whole report https://ehrc.org/the-commission-calls-on-the-human-rights-council-to-support-the-implementation-of-the-joint-investigation-recommendations-and-to-encourage-ongoing-independent-investigations-in-ethiopia/?fbclid=IwAR1IipJ3uYQ2sPTH8LjuQlCOIT62U7s8eD5fNr1AIlpWOQYP1IkfNEW1nHs

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Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Dina Mufti’s Weekly press briefing (Excerpts)

On the Current situation in north Ethiopia and the way forward

The tide of the war is flipped to the government side after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has decided to confront the enemy at the battlefronts. As you have heard, all of the areas in the Afar region and many of the areas in the Amhara region are in the hands of the Ethiopian joint forces. We are delighted by the united spirit of Ethiopians and their unwavering support to stand by their democratically elected leaders. With the impressive results that we have registered on the battle fields, we have:

• Shown to the world that the imagined strength of TPLF forces and their advance to Addis Ababa and encirclement of the city was not only exaggerated but absolutely false. Addis Ababa is safe.

• But we would like to ask the international community to take a visit to the liberated areas and witness the destruction of human lives, livelihoods and properties (both public and private). It is time to openly condemn the TPLF for its atrocities.

• To get the country back to peace, the government has recently announced the endorsement of a draft proclamation for the formation of a National Dialogue Commission.

On politically motivated pressures harassing Ethiopia

• Intensive lobbying to harass Ethiopia continues. The recent calls to “Evacuate Soon” failed. Now some corners are lobbying for relocating conferences destined to be held in Addis Ababa. In this regard, some forces are pushing ITU to relocate its conference in Addis Ababa that was scheduled to be held in June. The same entities are trying to relocate the AU summit that will be held in Addis Ababa in 2022.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has issued yesterday protesting the decision of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to set a special session on Ethiopia on Friday.

o The Ministry believes that it is a politically motivated move that deliberately ignored the Ethiopian government’s commitment that welcomed the findings of the UN-EHRC joint investigation report, and established a High-Level Inter-Ministerial Taskforce to implement the recommendations therein.

o Ethiopia believes that what should have been a priority for the Council was the urgent task of investigating the violations of human rights and atrocities committed by the TPLF terrorist group in the Afar and the Amhara Regional States.

On Citizen Centred Diplomacy

The past three weeks have been very impressive regarding the participation of Ethiopians, people of Ethiopian descent and friends of Ethiopia all over the world in showing solidarity with the people and Government of Ethiopia.

• The popular #NoMore Movements in almost all of the continents have echoed Ethiopia’s refusal to entertain any undue interference in its domestic affairs. The movement openly asked the mainstream media to stop fabricating news and disseminating unsubstantiated stories regarding Ethiopia, in particular the coverage of the conflict in the northern part of the country.

• The movement also stripped the hypocrisy off of the mainstream media since none of them were willing to cover the demonstrations in different cities, although they were able to gather huge crowds.

• But the NoMore rallies have resulted in changing the narratives on Ethiopia. Recent news stories on mainstream media have started to report, at least, the atrocities that the TPLF has committed in the Afar and the Amhara regions.

• Besides holding peaceful demonstrations, the participation of Ethiopians in efforts to support affected people (such as IDPs) financially and in kind have remained impressive.

• The government of Ethiopia would like to say two things to the Ethiopian people abroad

1. Ethiopia thanks you for all of the initiatives you have been taking in support of the people and government of Ethiopia

2. Ethiopia urges you to continue all the rallies and donations and to take part in the homecoming challenge for the upcoming Ethiopian Christmas.