News in Brief

40th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council concludes deliberations

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen says peaceful and prosperous Africa is within reach if AU member states stand together

France special envoy to the Horn of Africa meets Ethiopian Foreign Minister

Ethiopia’s Delegation Visit in Saudi Arabia: a new chapter for further trust and cooperation

Ethiopians in the Diaspora firm solidarity with Homeland: What sparked the momentum?

Africa and the African Union

The two-day session of the African Ministers of Foreign Affairs was held from 02 to 03 February at the Headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, convening physically for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020. Leaders of State and Government have started to arrive in Addis Ababa on Thursday (February 03) to participate in the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union to be held from 5th to 6th February 2022. (See article)

The Government of Ethiopia will provide the necessary support to expedite the construction of African institutions and embassies which have secured land in Addis Ababa, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Dina Mufti said on Wednesday (February 02). It is to be recalled that the Government of Ethiopia had granted land for the construction of embassies of African countries and institutions in the capital city. The spokesperson said that the government is ready to provide support for the countries and institutions to quickly commence and finalize their construction as soon as possible.

The African Union has suspended Burkina Faso from all its activities in response to last week’s military coup, effective until constitutional order is restored, the AU said on Monday (January 31). Burkina Faso had already been suspended from the West African regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Ethiopia

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed along with his delegation travelled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Sunday (January 29), for an official working visit. The Prime Minister met with Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss issues of mutual interest. “My greatest appreciation to my brother His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the warm welcome accorded to my delegation and I,” Abiy tweeted. The two leaders have discussed bilateral and regional issues, exploring ways of further strengthening ties between the two countries.

 Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia had a meeting from 02 to 03 February 2022 with various ministers of African member states on the margins of the 40th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council. Accordingly, he met the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Namibia, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cameroon, Tunisia and Morocco to discuss issues of bilateral concern.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister,  Demeke Mekonnen received at his office on Tuesday (February 01) the special envoy of France to the Horn of Africa,  Ambassador Frederic Clavier. The two sides discussed the situation in Ethiopia and regional and bilateral issues of common concern.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen exchanged a phone call on Friday (January 28) with Foreign Minister of Sweden Ann Linde. Demeke spoke in detail about the peace initiatives the Government of Ethiopia has been undertaking, in particular, the recent release of prisoners and the proposed dialogue. Despite the government’s decision to halt the advance of its troops to the Tigray region, the TPLF has demonstrated its intransigence by attacking adjacent regions, such as the Aba’ ala district in the Afar region, hindering the flow of humanitarian aid to the region.  Ann Linde lauded the peace initiative of the government, pledged to support it, and expressed hope that it would pave the way for lasting peace in Ethiopia. She reiterated that Sweden would continue to work with Ethiopia on development projects reaffirming her country’s support for the all-inclusive reform process in the country.

A high-level Ethiopian delegation led by Finance Minister Ahmed Shide has paid a visit to Saudi Arabia over the week. The delegation met with high-ranking Saudi officials, including the interior minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, and others, to address bilateral issues and the situation of Ethiopian nationals in the country. Finance Minister Ahmed Shide also met with his Saudi counterpart, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, to discuss ways to improve financial and economic relations between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia. (See article)

Since 2018, Ethiopians in the Diaspora have shown huge interest in homeland issues and have begun to enormously engage in the country’s socioeconomic and political life. The diaspora, in particular, stands in solidarity with fellow Ethiopians during tough times. The reaction of Ethiopians in the Diaspora following the Tigray People Liberation Party (TPLF) attack on federal military bases in Tigray in November 2020 is a case in point here. Their actions showed a dramatic shift compared to what we observed a couple of years ago. So what was the catalyst for this shift? (See article)

Ethio telecom announced that it has generated over 28 billion birr in revenue from telecom services during the first half of this Ethiopian fiscal year. The report covers the company’s business performance from July 2021 to December 2022. Briefing journalists on Monday (January 31), Ethio Telecom CEO Firehiwot Tamiru said the obtained revenue achieved 84.7 percent of the target plan and shows a 6.7 percent increment compare to the previous same year.

Plan and Development Minister, Fitsum Assefa (Ph.D.) discussed on Thursday (February 03) with a high delegation led by Michael Joseph, Chief Executive of Safaricom Kenya on activities being carried out by the Global Partnership for Ethiopia in the telecom sector. During the meeting, the Minister noted that Ethiopia, based on the homegrown economic reform, has opened up the market for competent companies in order to enable users to access quality services. Safaricom representatives, themselves, expressed gratitude to the government of Ethiopia for giving them the opportunities to enter the market in the country.

The U.N. Children’s Fund, UNICEF on Monday (February 01), warns three years of successive drought in Ethiopia’s lowland regions of Afar, Oromia, The Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ and Somali is threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Failed rains over the past three years have dried up water wells, killing livestock and crops, pushing hundreds of thousands of children and their families over the edge. UNICEF predicts 6.8 million people will need life-saving humanitarian aid by mid-March.

Chief Administrator of the Somali Regional State, Mustafa Omer briefed the UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for East Africa, Daniel Endries on Monday (January 31) about the drought situation in the Somali region. Mustafa stated that he and the UN humanitarian coordinator have agreed on the immediate need for scaling up ongoing response activities and the importance of timely response as the needs are huge. The Somali Region has established a coordinating committee working with various stakeholders to scale up humanitarian response in the region.

Two Italian companies; Rimorchiatori Riunti Group and GE car Group have expressed interest to conduct a pre-investment visit to Ethiopia in order to explore opportunities in the country. The companies have shown interest to invest in Ethiopia in areas of logistics, transport, and vehicle assembly. The assertion came at a time when owners and founders of the companies held a discussion over the week with the Ethiopian Ambassador to Italy, Demitu Hambisa.

Eritrea

The Eritrean Minister of Foreign Affairs Osman Saleh Mohammed has arrived in Addis Ababa on Thursday (February 04) to attend the 40th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and 35th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly for Head of States and Government.

Djibouti

Djibouti’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Yonis Ali Guedi said Djibouti is working to increase electric power distribution aiming to achieve a 100 percent electrification rate by 2035 besides promoting access to clean, carbon-neutral and affordable energy. In an interview on Saturday (January 29), Guedi said the availability of clean energy would allow the generation of more wealth and achieve sustainable and comprehensive economic and social development.

Djibouti has planted last week trees accorded by the government of Ethiopia, with the goal of turning Djibouti green and mitigating the effects of climate change. The tree-planting ceremony was held in the presence of the Mayor of Djibouti City, Fatouma Awaleh Osman, and representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture of Djibouti. The government of Ethiopia is working to expand the campaign to neighboring countries with a view to creating a green Africa by providing seedlings.  

Kenya

Kenya is set to formulate the agenda of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) for the month of February as it takes over the leadership of the Council for the month-long period. President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to present the AU PSC agenda during the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union to be held from 5th to 6th February, 2022.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda was in Nairobi on Thursday (February 3), discussing with Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta bilateral and regional affairs. Kagame who was hosted at the State House in Nairobi said in a tweet that “a lot was covered” during the productive ‘brief’ working visit. The two leaders also discussed a wide range of areas of cooperation between the two countries including trade and transport, according to Kenya’s state house. Also discussed are emerging issues concerning the region and the continent.

Somalia

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Abdisaid Muse Ali on Wednesday (February 02) attended the 40th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Minister said that this is an important week for Africa and look forward to constructively engaging with colleagues on pressing issues concerning our continent. 

Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of State, on Tuesday received Mohamed Hussein Roble, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Abu Dhabi. At the beginning of the meeting, Sheikh Shakhbout welcomed the Somalian PM and reiterated the UAE’s support for efforts that lead to peace and prosperity in Somalia, pointing to the strong historical and fraternal relations between the UAE and Somalia, and the keenness to strengthen partnership across various sectors.  For his part, the Somalian Prime Minister expressed his pride in the strong relationship between Somalia and the UAE, pointing out that there are many opportunities to further develop them.

Sudan

The President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and General Commander of the Armed Forces, Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, on Wednesday (February 02) announced that the Joint Supreme Council for Security Arrangements has issued a number of decisions aimed to impose the prestige of the state and to make final solutions to ensure that security breaches are not repeated. In a press statement after he chaired the third meeting of the Supreme Council for Security Arrangements, Gen. Al-Burhan stressed that the decisions that will be implemented as of Wednesday would return the situation to its normal condition and are considered the actual start to implementing the security arrangements clause. Al-Burhan said that the meeting was held for monitoring the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement – the Darfur track – and to discuss the formation of a joint force to protect citizens, pointing out that the recent events necessitated a move to take positive and decisive steps in implementing security arrangements.

The Head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission to Sudan, Volker Perthes, and the mission’s team on Wednesday (February 02) held five sittings as part of the consultations on the peace process in Sudan. The consultation sittings were with female academicians and experts in gender, the signatories of the east track in the Juba agreement for peace in Sudan, the Sudanese Free Forum for Unity, a group of veteran military men and war victims and the Free Revolutionary Youth Forces.

The acting Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ali Al-Saddiq, on Wednesday (February 02) received in his office the new Ambassadors of Canada and India to Sudan and received copies of their credentials. Ambassador Al-Saddiq has praised the level of relations between Sudan Canada and India, expressing his aspiration to strengthen further Sudan relations with Canada and India in all areas of cooperation, wishing the two ambassadors success in their missions and a good stay in Sudan.

South Sudan

Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of South Sudan, received and held a meeting with the delegation of Ethiopia led by Tagesse Chaffo, Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives (HPR) on Tuesday. Tagesse was accompanied by Omod Ujulu, President of Gambella Region, Ashadli Hassan, President of Benishagul Region, Ambassador Feseha Shawel, Director General for IGAD Countries and Ambassador Nabil Mahdi, Ambassador of Ethiopia to South Sudan. The meeting centered on security issues in the regions bordering South Sudan and Ethiopia, according to the statement from the Office of the President of the Republic of South Sudan.

South Sudan is currently coordinating mediation efforts aimed at resolving the political crisis in neighbouring Sudan, an official disclosed. “Our brothers in Sudan have accepted the region to mediate and South Sudan has been asked to lead in the coordination of the efforts to mediate. His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit has been talking to heads of state and governments of IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] member states and they have asked to lead the process”, South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs minister,  Mayiik Ayii Deng told the media on Wednesday.

South Sudan has welcomed the appointment of a new force commander for United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA). The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres on Tuesday (February 01) announced the appointment of Nigeria’s Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr as force commander for the peacekeeping mission in the disputed region. Sawyerr succeeded Maj Gen Kefyalew Amde Tessema from Ethiopia.

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40th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council concludes deliberations

The 40th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council (Ministerial Session) of the African Union was held from 02-03 February in Addis Ababa at the Headquarters of the Union. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, and foreign Ministers of member states and representatives of international institutions have attended the opening session.

The session was held under the theme, ‘Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the human capital, social and economic development.’ During its two-day deliberations, the ministerial session addressed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, terrorism, coup d’etat in African states, and the socio-economic progress of the continent.

Delivering an opening speech at the session, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson spoke on the efforts of the Commission in combating the Coronavirus pandemic that needs 454 billion dollars to put the wounded economy back on track. In this regard, Africa has crafted a COVID-19 vaccination strategy to vaccinate at least 60% of the continent’s population and expedited the process for the full operationalization of the Africa CDC.

The Chairperson also noted the proliferation of conflicts and unconstitutional changes of governments that threatened the peace and stability of the continent. He said: “the threats are in different phases; intra-state conflicts, growing crisis in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and Southern Africa, threaten to destabilize by large scale, our states that have been fragile due to the deficit of political, social and economic governance. The resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government which has dangerously been increasing over the last few months is a sign of great deficiency.”

United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa,  Vera Songwe, has also delivered a speech where she stressed the need to build resilience to tackle manmade and natural challenges that Africa is facing today. Speaking on the COVID-19 pandemic that shattered the economy of member states, she said: “the economic cost of managing the pandemic has been high. Debt to GDP has risen from 40% in 2014 to almost 70% today. While in 2014, only 4 African countries were at high risk of debt distress, today 17 countries are at high risk of debt distress. Already, 4 countries are in debt distress.”

She called on member states to work on employment opportunities for vulnerable groups whose livelihoods are shattered by the pandemic. Recalling the recent sale of 11, 200 bags of Ethiopian coffee in just 2 seconds in an online Chinese market, she emphasized that African states should strive to exploit cyberspace to benefit people working on small scale and medium level Enterprises.

The Executive Council session was concluded on Thursday (February 03) addressing a range of issues, including African Candidatures within the International System; the Implementation of Agenda 2063, and the election of members of the AU Peace and Security Council among others. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government is scheduled to hold on 5 and 6 February 2022.

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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen says peaceful and prosperous Africa is within reach if AU member states stand together

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen said a peaceful and prosperous Africa is within reach if AU member states stand together empowered by fresh thinking, strong collaboration, and unity of purpose. He said: “Africa needs to pay attention to new geopolitical developments at regional and international levels. We need fresh thinking, strong collaboration, and unity of purpose to pursue our foreign policy in the continent and beyond. It is high time to be committed to fully apply the saying, ‘African solutions to African Problems’.” 

The Deputy Prime Minister made the remarks while delivering a welcoming speech at a dinner reception on Wednesday (February 02) hosted in honor of participants of the 40th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU.

He thanked all who stood beside Ethiopia during its testing times, mentioning the orchestrated attempts of the international media, some institutions, and some members of the international community that tried to put undue political pressure on Ethiopia. “During the previous year, although we were faced with undue political and diplomatic pressure and interference from some members of the international community, the challenges Ethiopia endured did not break us as our African brothers and sisters stood in solidarity with us,” he said.

In the context of realizing Africa’s development aspirations as stated in agenda 2063, Ethiopia is building the GERD to achieve a dependable energy supply being confident that it would be a win-win project under the leadership of the African Union, he said. Ethiopia’s efforts to implement regional infrastructural projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) are based on the realization that Africa’s development aspirations, especially industrialization, cannot be realized without achieving a dependable energy supply, he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also spoke on Ethiopia’s commitment to democratization mentioning the transparent and democratic 6th general election and subsequent measures taken to make the cabinet of the new government inclusive of competing parties. He said the recent release of political figures, the formation of the national dialogue commission, and the lifting of the State of Emergency indicate the government’s commitment to ensuring lasting peace in the country.

He concluded his remarks wishing the ministers fruitful deliberations and a pleasant stay in Addis Ababa.

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France special envoy to the Horn of Africa meets Ethiopian Foreign Minister

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister,  Demeke Mekonnen, received at his office on Tuesday (February 01) the special envoy of France to the Horn of Africa,  Ambassador Frederic Clavier.  The two sides discussed the situation in Ethiopia and regional and bilateral issues of common concern.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister appreciated the longstanding relationship between the two countries, further underscoring the need to cement it with further engagements.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also appreciated the more balanced stance France has shown regarding the recent situations in Ethiopia.

 Demeke also briefed the special envoy about encouraging peace efforts that the government of Ethiopia has been undertaking lately. In this regard, he mentioned the establishment of the National Dialogue Commission, aiming to address critical national issues and create understanding among people. He said the release of high political figures from prison would accelerate the success of the dialogue, making it more inclusive. Although the government withheld its troops from entering Tigray to augment peace efforts, the TPLF’s renewed attacks on adjacent regions are threatening to curb expectations, he added.

The special envoy thanked Demeke for the briefing and expressed his country’s interest in strengthening relationships with Ethiopia, a linchpin state in the region. He further highlighted his country’s commitment to supporting rehabilitation efforts and the proposed all-inclusive dialogue that aimed to bring lasting peace to the country.

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Ethiopia’s Delegation Visit in Saudi Arabia: a new chapter for further trust and cooperation

A high-level Ethiopian delegation led by Finance Minister Ahmed Shide has paid a visit to Saudi Arabia over the week. The delegation met with high-ranking Saudi officials, including the interior minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, and others, to address bilateral issues and the situation of Ethiopian nationals in the country. Finance Minister Ahmed Shide also met with his Saudi counterpart, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, to discuss ways to improve financial and economic relations between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia.

The delegation which includes State Minister Ambassador Redwan Hussein, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Lencho Bati, President of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, Mufti Hajji Omar Idris, and other religious leaders and representatives of government institutions stressed that longstanding strategic cooperation and relationship between the two countries is crucial. During its four-day stay in Saudi Arabia, the delegation has met with the Ethiopian community and religious leaders, including Ethiopian businesspeople in the Kingdom.

Long-lasting solutions for Ethiopian Migrants 

Various discussions were held to improve the treatment of imprisoned Ethiopians, facilitate situations to repatriate some of them with the possibility of granting amnesty to sentenced Ethiopian prisoners. The conversations are believed to have yielded outcomes that might provide long-term answers to the issues Ethiopian nationals in Saudi Arabia face.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been a key destination for Ethiopian migrant laborers over the past three decades. It is difficult to estimate the number of Ethiopians who traveled to Saudi Arabia since migrants utilize both formal and informal or illegal channels. Ethiopia’s government uses all diplomatic measures to safeguard the rights and dignity of Ethiopian nationals there, as it is at the core of its foreign policy. 

The Ethiopian embassy in Riyadh has been working hard to address issues including arbitrary arrests, house searches without warrants, and mistreatment of Ethiopians in prisons. IOM documented 79,498 Ethiopian repatriation cases from the Kingdom in 2021 alone, more than double the amount recorded in 2020 (36,632). The Ethiopian government sources indicate that more than 40,000 Ethiopians were repatriated from Saudia Arabia in 2021 in just a couple of months. In June 2021 alone, approximately 9,000 Ethiopian nationals were repatriated, and roughly 32,000 were returned in July. Although the repatriation rate is a record high since May 2017 according to the IOM report, the problem remains pervasive, necessitating ongoing interaction from both the top and bottom divisions of government. The problems associated with Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia are multifaceted and could not be solved through a one size fits all approach. 

Forging strong economic and development ties

According to the discussion between the two finance ministers, both nations are eager to expand their trade and investment partnerships. The discussion will build on prior agreements in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure development, energy, industrial industries, and commerce. Saudi Arabia especially has a keen interest in investing in agriculture, which calls for cooperation to reap mutual benefits. Alongside human resources, Saudi eyes Ethiopia’s enormous irrigable farmlands with fertile soils and suitable climate for the production of a wide range of crops, fruits, and vegetables. Reports put Saudi Arabia alongside China and Turkey as the top three countries that bring the largest volumes of Foreign Direct Investment to Ethiopia. 

Regarding development assistance, the Ethiopian delegation, jointly with officials of the Saudi Fund for Development reviewed development projects being undertaken by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in Ethiopia. The delegation expressed gratitude to the government of Saudi Arabia for its continued humanitarian and economic development support to Ethiopia.

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Ethiopians in the Diaspora firm solidarity with Homeland: What sparked the momentum?

Ethiopians in the diaspora are said to be numerous, well-educated, and politically active. Despite their physical detachment, they stay in touch being interested in homeland issues. As a result, depending on how they are handled and engaged, they could employ their enormous potential to the benefit of their country. However, until Ethiopia’s 2018 political reform, the Ethiopian government’s relationship with Ethiopians in the Diaspora has been difficult for a variety of reasons on both sides. The underlying issue, however, can be attributed to the attitude of successive governments toward the Diaspora.

Ethiopian diaspora has begun to make a beneficial contribution to the country’s socioeconomic and political issues since 2018, in a dramatic shift. The diaspora, in particular, stands in solidarity with fellow Ethiopians during tough times. The reaction of Ethiopians in the Diaspora following the Tigray People Liberation Party (TPLF) attack on federal military bases in Tigray in November 2020 is a case in point here. Diasporas came out in full force to oppose the unwarranted attack and international meddling directed at Ethiopia. To this end, they organized and participated in a variety of events in host nations across five continents (Africa, the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia). Mass rallies and demonstrations, Social media campaigns, lobbying, and advocacy tools were effectively used to influence government and politicians. So, what was the catalyst for this shift?

Change in Perception: policy and Institution 

Prior to 2018, the focus on diaspora engagement was on the socio-economic potential of Diasporas for development, as part of a grand plan for poverty reduction. The Diaspora’s political roles, such as in democracy and good governance, are not included in official or unofficial diaspora interactions. As a result, ‘the government views the diaspora as a cash cow’ was the assumption among the wider diaspora communities. In 2013, Ethiopia published the first dedicated Diaspora policy paper. The document’s introduction was notable for acknowledging Diasporas’ role in encouraging Diaspora Participation in Good Governance and Democracy. However, because there was little trust in place, implementing this strategy was challenging at the time. So the situation demanded some unprecedented bold measures on the part of the government. 

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s tour to Europe and America in September and October 2018 to invite Ethiopia’s Diaspora to join in the country’s development created a lot of enthusiasm and interest. This visit marked the beginning of the process of mending the divide between Ethiopia’s Diaspora and the Ethiopian government. Abiy made it plain in his speech that the reforms that propelled him to power belonged to all Ethiopians including those living in the Diaspora. 

“you have extremely big highways, gorgeous malls, expensive vehicles, 24-hour energy supply, high-speed communications, and so on here in Washington. Why are you spending your days and nights on Facebook, YouTube, and Viber discussing Ethiopia’s issue? It’s because Ethiopianness burns brightly in your heart. Ethiopia belongs to all, including you. As a result, I invite everyone of you to construct a country that is sufficient for all of us.” Abiy Ahmed, Washington, D.C., 2018.

The new approach was well received by Ethiopians in the Diaspora because it defied their idea of what the Ethiopian government thinks of them: “Your remittances and investments are welcome, but not your political opinions”. Community-centered social activities and trade fairs began to be held inside the premises of Ethiopian embassies on a regular basis. There also has been a significant surge in Diaspora volunteers to provide different services.

In terms of establishing institutions, the Diaspora has been requesting the government to create a separate Diaspora Agency to address their proble This demand was materialized as the Ethiopian Diaspora Agency was established in March 2019 with the mission of ensuring the rights and dignity of Ethiopians living abroad, as well as providing the tools needed for the Diaspora to actively engage in the country’s development efforts. It also aims to provide an environment that permits the Diaspora to maximize knowledge and skills transfer while also increasing trade and investment. Effective data management was also given due attention in order to ascertain the true number of Ethiopian Diaspora across the world and the countries where they live.

Since then, the organization has worked to influence public perceptions of the Diaspora. It all started with the motto ‘my country for me, and me for my country,’ which challenged the widespread assumption that the government only looked to Diasporas for resources. It recognized the importance of adapting to the political situation of the international community, which “means that with the creation of the cross-border citizenship concept, the expansion of social media and the flow of ideas, and the progression of the second and third generations’ political ideas, the work of integrating Ethiopians into their homeland has become a global reality.”

Overall, the previous major obstacles to positive engagements of Ethiopians in the Diaspora, which can be attributed to a minimalist view of their potential and lack of distinct institutional structures, were both addressed after the 2018 political reform. This led to the peak point of diaspora constructive engagement in the history of Ethiopia.