News in Brief

Ethiopia participates in the 6th AU-EU Summit in Brussels

International Community’s soft-pedal on the Afar’s suffering

Egypt and Sudan should embrace the GERD project for their own benefit, says Ambassador Redwan Hussien

Africa and the African Union

The sixth European Union-African Union summit kicks off on Thursday (February 17) in Brussels, with the aim of strengthening and recalibrating the economic and strategic partnership between European and African countries. The two-day conference will present a unique opportunity to lay the foundations for a renewed and deeper AU-EU partnership with the highest political involvement and based on trust and a clear understanding of mutual interests. Leaders are expected to discuss how both continents can build greater prosperity. The aim is to launch an ambitious Africa-Europe Investment Package, taking into account global challenges such as climate change and the current health crisis. They should also be talking about tools and solutions to promote stability and security through a renewed peace and security architecture. (See article)

Ethiopia

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is in Brussels, Belgium, to take part in the EU-AU Summit, on Wednesday (February 16) held talks with European Council President Charles Michel. The prime minister wrote on Twitter that he had a fruitful discussion with President Charles Michel about EU-Ethiopia relations. “I am happy to meet my friend President Charles Michel before the EU-AU Summit. We had a fruitful discussion about EU-Ethiopia relations as well as regional and continental issues of mutual significance.”

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday (February 16) arrived in Brussels to participate in the 6th European Union-African Union (AU-EU) Summit. Upon arrival at Brussels Airport, the Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by high-level government officials. The leaders of the EU and the African Union (AU) as well as their respective member states will meet for the 6th European Union-African Union Summit in Brussels from 17-18 February 2022.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday (February 13) has inaugurated the new state-of-the-art skyscraper headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) built at a cost of 303.5 million USD. The CBE headquarters, which is the tallest building in East Africa and the third tallest in Africa, has taken 5 years and 11 months to complete. The building is over 209 meters tall and has 53 floors with a total built-up area of 165,476.4 square meters. The newly inaugurated headquarters consists of a tower, commercial center, and conference center.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday (February 13) said that the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) is expected to join global financial competitions. The Prime Minister has inaugurated the new state-of-the-art skyscraper headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) built at a cost of 303.5 million USD. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the premier described the bank as a wealth of financial expertise and knowledge in Ethiopian banking history. The premier added that the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) is a testament to Ethiopia’s capacity in building institutions and passing them on to future generations.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Saturday (February 12) said the production of coffee and wheat cluster farms in Jimma zone and around Jimma city has yielded encouraging results. The Prime Minister visited the wheat cluster and irrigation farming as well as other agricultural development activities in the Jimma zone of the Oromia regional state. The prime minister was accompanied by several government officials including the president of Oromia Regional State, Shimeles Abdissa. The premier said the production of coffee and wheat cluster farms in Jimma zone and around Jimma city has yielded encouraging results.

The Afar region has been a subject of the TPLF’s renewed attacks. Constants shelling of the city killed many and displaced others besides destroying infrastructure. Surprisingly enough the international community seems to prefer silence to condemn the TPLF and call a spade a spade. (See article)

State minister Ambassador Redwan Hussien on Saturday (February 12) said Egypt should encourage Ethiopia to finish building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam quickly because it would serve Egypt as a lifeline and a water bank in drought seasons, taking their own request and account. We told Sudan that we are ready to exchange data regularly to meet their concerns for the security of their smaller dams, but their position now serves the interests of a third party than that of the Sudanese people, he added. He said Sudan and Egypt should not hold on to their stance because Ethiopians cannot wait indefinitely, expecting the green light to utilize their resources. (See article)

The Spokesperson of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Ambassador Dina Mufti said H.R. 6600 (Ethiopia Stabilization, Peace, and Democracy Act) threatens to regress the peace initiatives that the government of Ethiopia has been undertaking so far. In an interview he has had with ENA, the Ambassador underscores that the bill calls for the imposition of sanctions and unwarranted measures against the people and government of Ethiopia undermining all the positive steps taken to ensure peace in the country.

Ambassador Fisseha Shawul, Director General of Neighboring and IGAD Affairs at The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, and Brigadier General Bulti Tadesse from the Ministry of Defense on Saturday (February 12) briefed Military Attaches of foreign missions residing in Addis Ababa on the belligerent acts of the TPLF and measures taken.

The House of People’s Representatives on Tuesday (February 15) has approved the lifting of the state of Emergency with a majority vote while 63 members voted against and 21 abstained. It is to be recalled that the Council of Ministers had declared a nationwide state of emergency effective, November 2, 2021, as the TPLF and its allies posed a serious threat to the very existence and sovereignty of the country. The threat has reached a stage where law enforcement could be implemented by regular operation, it was indicated.

Fighters affiliated with the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) deliberately killed dozens of people, gang-raped dozens of women and girls in the Amhara region, according to a new report released on Wednesday (February 16) by Amnesty International. Some as young as 14 were raped by TPLF forces and looted private and public property in two areas of northern Ethiopia’s Amhara region, it was indicated. The atrocities were perpetrated in and around Chenna and Kobo in late August and early September 2021, shortly after Tigrayan forces took control of the areas in July, the report mentioned. The attacks were often characterized by additional acts of violence and brutality, death threats, and the use of ethnic slurs and derogatory remarks. Amnesty International interviewed 27 witnesses and survivors, including some who helped to collect and bury the bodies, the report said.

Eritrea

The National Council of Eritrean Americans (NCEA) strongly deplores the House Foreign Affairs Committee bill introduced by Representatives Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and Young Kim (R-CA) concerning the war in Ethiopia. The NCEA, in a statement issued on Saturday (February 12) says, the bill “The Ethiopia Stabilization, Peace, and Democracy Act,” instead of bringing peace and stability, will only encourage the party that has been obstructing peace in the Horn of Africa for three decades to continue with its reckless and destructive adventures. “It rewards the belligerent group, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, for dragging the region into mayhem.”

Djibouti

Djibouti announced its support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s bid to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh, following an earlier statement of support from Mauritania, which affirmed full backing for the Kingdom’s bid to host the 2030 event. The announcement was made in an official letter received by the Saudi embassy in Djibouti from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Djibouti.

The Emirates News Agency (WAM) on Friday (February 11) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Djibouti Information Agency (Agence Djiboutienne D’Information) in the news service exchange and media content fields. This came during a meeting between Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of WAM, and Abdoulrazak Ali Dirneh, Director-General of Djibouti Information Agency, and in line with the distinguished relations between the UAE and Djibouti in various fields.

Kenya

Ethiopia and Kenya on Tuesday (February 15) agreed to ensure peace and security along their common borders as they are crucial for the economic integration of the two countries. Ethiopian Federal Police Commissioner General Demelash Gebre Michael held talks with his Kenyan counterpart Hillary Nzioki Mutyambai today. On the occasion, the two sides discussed ways of working together to combat terrorism along with the border areas. Kenyan Inspector General Mutyambai said the officials have agreed to cooperate in ensuring peace and security along with the border areas. According to him, a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed to that effect.

Somalia

The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Mohamed Hussein Roble on Tuesday (February 15) met with International Partners to discuss a number of issues related to the completion, transparency, and security of the country’s elections. The Prime Minister said that he is committed to holding the elections on time and that no one is to be abused in the process.

The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Mohamed Hussein Roble received the new Ambassador to Somalia, Larry André Jr. in his office on Saturday (February 12). The PM and the Ambassador discussed strengthening the bilateral relations, the completion of the elections in the country, security and the fight against terrorism, and the role of the US in the fight against the drought in the country.

Turkish and Somali foreign ministers spoke via telephone on Friday (February 11) about several issues, according to diplomatic sources. Top Turkish diplomat Mevlut Cavusoglu conveyed his condolences to his Somali counterpart Abdisaid Muse Ali for those killed earlier this week in terror attacks in the East African country. Muse Ali conveyed well wishes to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and first lady Emine Erdogan after they tested positive for the coronavirus last week and congratulated Turkiye for its domestically developed Turkovac COVID-19 vaccine.

South Sudan

President of South Sudan Republic Salva Kiir Mayardit on Tuesday (February 15) received, in his office in the capital Juba the Vice President of Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and the accompanying delegation. The Meeting discussed the development of bilateral relations between the two countries and means of developing them further for serving the interests of the peoples of the two countries.

Dr. John Gai Yoh, Founder, and Chairman of the South Sudan Center for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) on Saturday (February 12) received Ambassador Nebil Mahdi and exchanged views on bilateral and regional issues. In the course of the talks, Ambassador Nebil said institutions like the CSPS have a great role in linking the two countries socio-economically.

Despite the changes in governments, all Ethiopian leaders have proven Ethiopia’s commitment and support to the People of South Sudan is steadfast.” He also expressed the Embassy’s interest to work in cooperation with the institution to facilitate collaboration with its counterparts in Ethiopia.

Sudan

The Vice-President of the Sovereign Council and chairman of the higher committee to follow up on the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement of the Republic of South Sudan, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, participated Wednesday (February 16)  in a meeting of the presidency of the Republic of South Sudan, headed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and attended by the Vice-Presidents, Dr. Riek Machar, James Wani Igga, Hussein Abdel-Bagi Akol, Taban Deng and Rebecca Nyandeng along with military leaders from the Army, the Security Service, and the Police Forces.

The President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, received in his office at the Republican Palace on Monday (February 14) the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hamad bin Mohamed Hamid Al-Gunaibi, and appreciated the role of the United Arab Emirates in supporting the transitional period and its keenness to consolidate its relations with Sudan in all domains. The UAE Ambassador handed Gen. Al-Burhan an official invitation from the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to visit the United Arab Emirates.

The President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan on Sunday (February 13) has lauded the role being played by the African Union to support peace and stability in the African Continent, in general, and Sudan, in particular. Al-Burhan who met, at his office, the visiting AU delegation headed by the Chairman of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat stressed the necessity for unifying regional and international efforts to solve the current political crisis in the country. Al-Burhan briefed the AU officials on the government‘s vision of ending the crisis, while, the AU Commission delegation affirmed that it came to Sudan to meet all the parties and listen to their views to have a comprehensive vision that will contribute to the AU vision to solve the current crisis in Sudan.

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Ethiopia participates in the 6th AU-EU Summit in Brussels

The Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) met on 17–18 February 2022 commencing their 6th EU-AU Summit held in Brussels, Belgium. The summit is said to have presented a unique opportunity to lay the foundations for a renewed and deeper AU-EU partnership with the highest political involvement and based on trust and a clear understanding of mutual interests. EU and AU heads of state and government also participated in a series of roundtables, together with a selected group of external guests who are experts in their respective fields. Topics of ranged from investment, health, agriculture, education, and economic integration to peace and security and climate change. Upon the conclusion of the two-day summit, European and African leaders lay the foundations for a renewed and deeper partnership and inked their commitments in a joint declaration on a joint vision for 2030.

An Ethiopian delegation led by Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed has participated in the summit. In delivering remarks at the Summit, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister raised the main point that the two continents should continue to work together. He appreciated the announced €150 billion EU investment in Africa and called on members of the European Union to consider the severe impact of the pandemic on Africa in taking financial measures affecting the partnership of the AU and EU member states. The Prime Minister stressed the need to join hands between the two continents in fighting the covid-19 pandemic. The premier also noted the importance of integrating the economies of the two continents in line with the ideals of Agenda 2063. According to Ethiopia’s ambassador in Brussels, Ethiopia’s initiatives proposed by Prime Minister Abiy are adopted in the AU-EU declaration helping define the partnership between the two continents and outlining major areas of cooperation.

The Ethiopian delegation also held sideline meetings with the leadership of Slovenia, France, Sweden, and Germany, including the managing director of the World Bank. Discussions included the underreported causes of the conflict in Ethiopia and measures that the government of Ethiopia has been undertaking to give new impetus to the country’s economy. The leaders appreciated the peace and dialogue efforts of the Ethiopian government and the encouraging humanitarian aid process in conflict-affected areas. They noted the importance of supporting Ethiopia, an anchor state in the Horn of Africa.

In their joint vision declaration, the continents expressed their commitment to renewed partnership in promoting common priorities, shared values, international law, and preserving their interests and common public goods. The leaders, in the joint declaration, stated that their goal is: “to consolidate a renewed Partnership for solidarity, security, peace and sustainable and sustained economic development and prosperity for our citizens and for our future generations, bringing together our people, regions, and organizations.”

The joint declaration also states that the EU and AU leaders are committed to addressing the immediate opportunities and challenges, as well as the long-term possibilities offered by their renewed Partnership. The challenges in this regard range from fighting the Covid-19 Pandemic to providing fair and equitable access to vaccines. In this regard, “The EU reaffirms its commitment to provide at least 450 million vaccine doses to Africa, in coordination with the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) platform, by mid-2022,” the declaration stated. The declaration indicated that the plan in fighting the pandemic also includes pledges by the EU to support some African countries to build vaccine manufacturing capabilities, make debt restructuring and provide debt relief measures for AU member states in addition to supporting scientific cooperation for a better future.   

One of the huge news of the Summit was the announcement of the EU 150 billion Euros worth Global Gateway Investment package comprising an Investment, a Health, and an Education Package. In line with the common 2030 vision and AU 2063 Agenda, the joint declaration indicated, the two continents will jointly work on three packages: Investment, Health, and Education. Investments in Energy, digital transformation, job creation, transportation, and human development will be given priorities for investment in addition to works on equitable access to essential health services and quality education, among others. Leaders of the two continents, under the Global Gateway Investment package, envisage boosting regional and continental economic integration, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area. “We will work gradually towards the progressive and mutually beneficial integration of our respective continental markets.”

The two continents have also declared their desire to continue cooperating on common security issues, such as combatting instability, radicalization, terrorism in line with the maxim of “African Solutions to African Problems” They have pledged to tackle the root causes of conflicts and support African-led Peace Support Operations and cooperate on cyber security issues.

Pledging to study the root causes of irregular migration and displacement, the leaders declared, to work on projects that aim to “preventing irregular migration, enhancing cooperation against smuggling and trafficking in human beings, supporting strengthened border management and achieving effective improvements on return, readmission, and reintegration, including promoting voluntary return and facilitating sustainable reintegration of returned persons, as well as enhancing migration dialogues between the two Continents and delivering on their key priorities.”

Regarding cooperation in multilateral fora, the two sides pledged to work together to promote effective multilateralism within the rules-based international order, with the UN at its core. They also promised to provide necessary political support in reforming the WTO, supporting Africa’s hosting of COP 27 in Egypt in 2022, and work on a new WHO international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

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International Community’s soft-pedal on the Afar’s suffering

More than 300,000 people were displaced when the TPLF attacked areas bordering Afar and Tigray. The intense artillery fire has injured and killed the most vulnerable people, and there have been deliberate burglaries. People who have been displaced are being sheltered in various makeshift centers, and many people have reportedly been unable to access shelters.

The inhabitants of Afar State, on the other hand, have not received adequate attention, and the international community is mostly ignorant of the pastoralists’ humanitarian catastrophe and the dying community. The international community has made no strong statements condemning the TPLF’s renewed expansion or its routine acts of terrorism. 

“While the region severely needs acute humanitarian aid, the response has been entirely disproportionate,” according to the Afar Pastoralist Association, one of the region’s most active local humanitarian organizations. The international community and the mainstream media are both silent on the TPLF’s current invasion.”

“Humanitarian help is significantly more due to a large number of displaced persons.” Another difficulty is that they are in a state of disarray. There’s no food, no water, and no other supplies. People who have been forced to leave their homes are at risk of famine, dehydration, and disease. To reach the displaced, the organization even used camels and a team of alternative health professionals, although just a few. Because of the long-range tanks and heavy fire, many people are afraid to come to the refuge. They are so worried that they refuse to go on asphalt roads; they do not want to be together, and they do everything they can to keep their families safe,” the groups said in a statement.

When compared to the material and human destruction TPLF caused to the region, the federal and regional administrations’ responses pale into insignificance. It should be noted that the TPLF’s re-invasion occurred while the federal government was in the midst of rehabilitation programs for the TPLF’s previous destruction.

The renewed invasion of Afar by the terrorist group has far reaching consequences beyond the Afar region. According to the UN, recent violence has rendered the only overland route into Tigray, the Afar city Semera, impassable for humanitarian convoys. The group’s attack on the humanitarian supply route demonstrates its contempt for the people of Tigray, as well as its profiteering mindset in causing and deepening the region’s food crisis.

The World Food Programme’s (WFP) silence on the TPLF’s more than 1,000 hijacked trucks, combined with the international community’s indifference to the newest unjustifiable provocations on humanitarian supply lines in the Afar region, is placing countless lives in danger. People continue to suffer because the TPLF chose the road of devastation over peace.

The federal government, on the other hand, upheld its promise to a peaceful resolution of the issue by lifting the state of emergency three months ahead of schedule. The state of emergency inquiry board has been given a month to complete any pending work and report back to the appropriate entity. Legal bodies are also required to complete emergency law-related matters as part of the normal judicial process.

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Egypt and Sudan should embrace the GERD project for their own benefit, says Ambassador Redwan Hussien

Ambassador Redwan Hussien said Egypt should encourage Ethiopia to finish building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam quickly because it would serve Egypt as a lifeline and a water bank in drought seasons, taking their own request and account. We told Sudan that we are ready to exchange data regularly to meet their concerns for the security of their smaller dams, but their position now serves the interests of a third party than that of the Sudanese people, he added. The State Minister made the remarks during an interview he had last week with Al Arabiya, an Arabic-language satellite television channel based in Dubai.

He said Sudan and Egypt should not hold on to their stance because Ethiopians cannot wait indefinitely, expecting the green light to utilize their resources. He said Ethiopia provided more opportunities for Egypt and Sudan to benefit from the dam, notwithstanding their failure to appreciate it. He said Ethiopia must now use its resources, causing no significant harm to downstream states. The dam is a beckon of regional cooperation and integration than an issue of bickering, he added.

Regarding the recent political situation in Sudan, Ambassador Redwan said all parties must realize that Sudan comes first, and the interest of the Sudanese stands above all appeals. If parties act calmly and rationally by putting the interest of the Sudanese people above everything else, he said they would find a way to overcome their differences. Asked if there is any Ethiopian initiative to resolve the Sudanese crisis, the Ambassador said the Sudanese people have the wisdom to solve their problems without external intervention. He noted that military power would not give a lasting solution to the border conflict between Ethiopia and Sudan, necessitating genuine proposals on the table as Ethiopia did.

Speaking on aid access to Tigray, he said the government of Ethiopia did everything it could and cooperated with humanitarian operators to ensure unfettered access into the region. However, the rebels chose to obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid to advance their political agenda, he added.

On foreign hands meddling in the conflict in Ethiopia, he said, the government knows that many have interests to weaken Ethiopia. He said many of these interventions are manifested through attempts to downplay and discourage even the positive deeds of the Ethiopian government.

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