News in Brief

HR 6600: What is at Stake?

International Community shall break its silence and call a spade a spade

Scaling up Energy Connectivity between Ethiopia and Sudan (Statement of Ethiopian Embassy, Khartoum, March 10. 2022)

Lebanon values its long-standing relations with Ethiopia: Prime Minister Najib Azmi Mikati

Africa and the African Union

The African Union Commission co-organized a webinar with Landmark University of Nigeria to situate the role of Universities in implementing the African agribusiness youth strategy within the context of Agenda 2063. The virtual meeting took place on the 15th of February, 2022.

The African Union has launched a campaign to rally more action to the commitments on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. The “What African Women Want” campaign was launched on International Women’s Day on 8th March 2022, to popularise and advocate for the speedy and full implementation of the African Union Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (2018-2028); as well as advocate for the implementation of programmes earmarked as part of the African Women’s Decade of Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion (2020-2030); at the national, regional, continental and global levels for women to realise, enjoy and benefit from their rights and expand the spaces for empowerment.

Ethiopia

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has spoken by telephone on Tuesday (March 8) with Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of Ethiopia. The Prime Minister and the Secretary-General discussed the humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas, as well as the political dialogue in Ethiopia.

The governing party of Ethiopia, Prosperity Party (PP), has begun its first congress in Addis Ababa today (March 11). Some 1,600 members of the party will take part in the three-day congress to be held under the theme “From Challenge to Elevation.” Additional 400 invited guests without voting rights will also attend the congress. Sister parties of different countries, local competing political parties, elders, scholars and prominent personalities are also invited to attend the meeting. The main agendas of the congress include reviewing the reform journey, consolidating achievements attained, and correcting weaknesses.

In related news, delegations of the ruling parties of South Sudan, Djibouti, South Africa, Turkey and Uganda arrived in Addis Ababa on Friday (March 11) as invited guests to the first congress of Prosperity Party, the ruling party in Ethiopia. High-level government officials received the dignitaries at Bole International Airport.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Dina Mufti commented on the current situation between Russia and Ukraine during the Ministry’s weekly briefing on Thursday (March 10). He said: “As Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a statement over the week, we all are interdependent wherever we live and a problem that occurs at one corner of the world affects the other corner, particularly vulnerable people. Ethiopia is not an island, so the Russia-Ukraine situation, just like the COVID-19 Pandemic, concerns us since the issue has the potential to cause political and economic upheavals.” “Ethiopia believes that Russia, Ukraine and all concerned parties would get peaceful alternatives to the current status quo. We believe that “the multilateral institutions and international norms we have built collectively need not be a site of isolation but a mechanism for problem solving,” he added. “Last week the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. Ethiopia did not cast its vote and the decision is consistent with our nonalignment policy.”

H.R. 6600, which passed without debate, hearing, or constituent involvement in the Foreign Affairs Committee, is a legislative move that will affect Ethiopians in the same way that the war has harmed the country thus far. So, what is at stake here? (See article)

The Aggression of the terrorist Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) against the Northern Zone of the Afar Region in Ethiopia has continued and is entering its third month. The shelling of Afar with the terrorist group’s heavy artilleries seems to cease to raise eyebrows anymore. However, the fact of the matter is that the TPLF force has injured and massacred thousands of innocent people through its indiscriminate shelling of Afar areas and deliberate shootings of individuals after occupation. (See article)

The 83rd Standing Committee of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme meeting took place in Geneva from 8-10 March 2022. During the meeting, Ambassador Mahlet Hailu underlined Ethiopia’s longstanding tradition of hospitality for those seeking safety. She stated that despite the adverse impact of covid-19, the diverse socio-economic and political challenges within the country, Ethiopia did not shirk away from its commitment. Underscoring the burden and responsibility are not equally shared, she requested to explore new avenues for increased effective responsibility and burden-sharing.

The 4th Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church (EOTC), His Holiness Abune Merkorios passed away last week on Friday (March 04) having received medical treatments over the weeks. President Sahlework Zewde and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have expressed condolences over the passing away of the 4th Patriarch of EOTC, His Holiness Abune Merkorios. His holiness funeral will be held on March 13 at Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing [NYSE:BA] last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the intent to purchase five 777-8 Freighters, the industry’s newest, most capable, and most fuel-efficient twin-engine freighter. The Memorandum of Understanding to order the 777-8 Freighter will enable Ethiopian Airlines to meet expanding global cargo demand from its hub in Addis Ababa and position the carrier for long-term sustainable growth, it was indicated.

Energy connectivity is a key factor in facilitating mutual growth and cooperation for neighbouring countries like Ethiopia and Sudan, a statement issued by the Ethiopian Embassy in Khartoum stated on Thursday (March 10). “Ethiopia, in light of this objective and bringing about economic integration with Sudan and its neighbours, is striving to make available much needed hydroelectric power at an affordable market price.” (See article)

Consul General of Ethiopia in Beirut, Temesgen Oumer, conferred on Tuesday (March 9) with Najib Azmi Mikati, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lebanon and exchanged views on the current situation in Ethiopia and regional issues, including ways to strengthen bilateral ties between the two sides. (See article)

The Cuban Ambassador to Ethiopia, Jorge Lefebre Nicolás, granted an interview to the Ethiopian channel EBC, in commemoration March 5, of the 44th anniversary of the victory in the Ogaden War, a fact known in Ethiopia as the Victory of Karramara. He recalled that in the Ogaden the Ethiopian troops, with the internationalist support of the Cuban combatants, defeated the aggression against the territorial integrity of Ethiopia, promoted from Somalia.

Algeria supports the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia to solve its challenges through dialogue, Ambassador Salah Francis Elhamdi said on Thursday (March 10). In an exclusive interview with Ethiopian News Agency, the ambassador stated that the planned inclusive national dialogue would help all the parties to understand one another and find a compromise. According to him, Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra had discussions with Ethiopian authorities on ways of bringing sustainable peace to the country during his visit to Ethiopia.

The French Ambassador to Ethiopia, Rémi Maréchaux on Thursday (March 10) gave a press briefing to the media upon the 125th Anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Ethiopia and France. France is ready to provide technical assistance to Ethiopia in the national dialogue process although Government has not yet expressed interest to this end, the Ambassador stated. The relationship between Ethiopia and France started when Emperor Menelik and the French delegation signed the first agreement in 1997 to cooperate in the education, railway construction, music, and film industry.

The UAE, through the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), provided relief aid to people affected by the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, including 50 tonnes of food, health supplies and children’s food supplements, benefitting thousands of displaced families in several provinces. The aid was sent to support Ethiopian families affected by the events taking place in the country, particularly women and children. Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, Secretary-General of the ERC, on Thursday (March 11) said the UAE has always supported the Ethiopian people through many humanitarian crises and assisted vulnerable segments of the population.

Glocare Pharma Manufacturing PLC inaugurated on Wednesday (March 09) its pharmaceuticals investment project at Kilinto Industrial Park. The factory installed by Glocare Pharma is the first pharmaceuticals manufacturing company to commence production at the park, according to the Ethiopian Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC). The investment is believed to add a significant value to the sector by substituting imports, contributing to export, creating employment opportunities, improving access to medicine and transferring knowledge and skills, the Corporation added.

The U.N. said measles cases continue to be reported since December 2021 in Doloado and Bokolmayo woredas of Liban Zone, in Somali Region, “with about 700 new cases and 12 deaths recorded as of 3 March.” The news comes at a time when Somali region is already struggling with severe drought that left “more than three million people significantly impacted by the drought, including about 2.4 million people in need of immediate water support, according to the U.N. “Serious shortage of pasture and limited water availability for livestock continue to cause animal deaths, with more than 900,000 livestock (the main livelihood of thousands of people) reportedly perished in drought-affected areas in the region to date.”

Eritrea

President Sahle-Work Zewde bade farewell to the outgoing Ambassador of Eritrea in Ethiopia, Semere Ruwsom on Thursday (March 10). President Sahle-work thanked the Ambassador for his contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries over the past three years.

International Women’s Day, 8 March, was commemorated at regional level in Massawa featuring cultural and artistic programs. At the occasion, Ms. Jim’a Raki, head of the National Union of Eritrean Women branch in the Northern Red Sea Region, gave extensive briefing on the role and contribution of Eritrean Women in realizing their rightful place in the history of the country and called for reinforced participation in the national affairs.

Djibouti

Ethiopian Airlines, Air Djibouti, the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone (DIFTZ), and Société de Gestion du Terminal à Conteneurs de Doraleh (SGTD) signed the Sea-Air Logistics Model Agreement on Thursday (March 03). The partnership will strengthen regional connectivity by utilizing an innovative multimodal transportation system developed by the Djibouti port and free zone authorities, Air Djibouti, and Ethiopian Airlines.

Ethiopia and Djibouti agree to work together on security, education, training and peacekeeping. This was stated at the 9th Ethio-Djibouti Defense Chiefs of Staff meeting which was held in Addis Abeba last week. The agreement was signed in the presence of Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, ENDF Chief of Staff, and his Djiboutian counterpart, General Zakaria Cheikh Ibrahim, as well as the Ambassador of Djibouti to Ethiopia. On the occasion, Field Marshal Berhanu Jula noted that the agreement reached between the two countries’ Joint Defense Committee on strategic and technical cooperation is of great significance to regional peace and security. And as the seat of several continental and international establishments, the two countries will continue to strengthen their role in peacekeeping missions. General Zakaria Cheikh Ibrahim on his part said that previous agreements signed between the two countries’ federal police were playing vital roles to prevent various cross-border crimes.

Somalia

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Laura Jaramillo, held a virtual mission from February 22 – March 7, 2022, to conduct the first stage of the second and third reviews of Somalia’s economic program supported by the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. At the end of the mission, Jaramillo issued a statement saying “Notwithstanding COVID-19 and drought, the Somali authorities have preserved macroeconomic stability, supported by use of the 2021 general SDR allocation.”

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo arrived in Doha on Saturday (March 05) evening on a working visit to Qatar. The President and his accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Doha International Airport by the Director of the Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim Yousif Fakhro, Qatari ambassador to Somalia Hassan bin Hamza Hashem and Somali ambassador to Qatar Abdul Razzaq Farah Ali.

Prime Minister of Somalia Mohamed Hussein Roble met on Wednesday (March 11) with United States Ambassador to Somalia Larry Andre. The Two sides discussed the election process and the need for the parliamentary elections to be efficiently completed as agreed upon by the Members of the National Consultative Council (NCC) on March 15th. PM Roble welcomed the pace of the election, with 80% of the members of Parliament elected so far. He added that any delay in the election process is unacceptable, urging state presidents to complete the parliamentary elections by March 15, as previously agreed.

The Pentagon wants President Biden sign off on sending several hundred special operations troops into Somalia to help stop the spread of the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab terrorist group, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday (March 10). Defense leaders want Biden to reverse orders made by then-President Trump in his final days in office, when he directed roughly 700 Army Green Berets, Navy SEALs and Marine Raiders to withdraw from bases in Somalia, administration officials told the Journal.  The commandos, who had been training local fighters to defend against al-Shabaab, were mostly moved to nearby Djibouti and Kenya. Now the U.S. military wants to White House to move those forces back to Somalia, the officials said.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Tuesday (March 8) celebrated International Women’s Day by paying special tribute to the role of female peacekeepers for their contribution towards a peaceful, safe and secure Somalia. This year’s International Women’s Day was observed under the theme: “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” The ceremony, held in Mogadishu, was attended by a cross-section of women serving with the AMISOM military, police and civilian components. Also in attendance were female officers of the Somali security forces.

Somalia celebrated its National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai on Monday (March 07) with a flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza and a colourful cultural performance by the Somali Student Dance Troupe. Saleh Saif Al Shehhi, Deputy Director of the Department of Arab Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, welcomed Ahmed Daahir Mohamed, Head of Mission, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the United Arab Emirates, at the event.

Sudan

The President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, General-Abdel Al-Fattah Al-Burhan left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday (March 10) for an official visit. Al-Burhan was accompanied by the Acting Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance as well as the Director of the General Intelligence Service.

President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo met on Wednesday (March 10) with gold producers in the country, in the presence of the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Jibril Ibrahim. The gold producers (residues companies, concession companies, and traditional miners) pledged to deposit all their production of the metal in the treasury of the Central Bank of Sudan as of tomorrow.

Head of the Sudanese Businessmen and Employers Federation, Hashim Al-Subat has affirmed the importance of promoting economic and investment cooperation, facilitating the flow of goods, and increasing the volume of trade exchange between Sudan and South Sudan. This came when Al-Subat received on Tuesday (March 09) in his office South Sudan Ambassador to Khartoum in the presence of alternative Secretary-General and the General Director of the Federation, Mohamed Ahmed Al-Zain, and Abu-Bakr Mohamed Noor respectively.

South Sudan

South Sudan on Wednesday (March 09) has called on the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei to protect civilians from bloody attacks. The call comes after a recent attack by Misseriya herders that resulted in the death of 27 people in the disputed border area on March 6.

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HR 6600: What is at Stake?

The House Foreign Affairs Committee last month proposed HR66- Ethiopian Stabilization, Peace and Democracy Act. If enacted, passing through all the law-making procedures, the bill would sanction individuals and suspend U.S. security and financial assistance to the Ethiopian government. It would also require the U.S. to oppose loans by international agencies, such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The Ethiopian government recognizes and appreciates the United States’ and the West’s desire for peace in Ethiopia. Every Ethiopian also wants to see that. However, it is clear that the bill will neither help to stabilize Ethiopia nor foster peace and democracy. Instead, the bill undermines the Ethiopian government’s effort to end the war by preventing it from receiving support from international allies.

Ethiopia’s sovereign government has declared a cease-fire, released political prisoners, and launched a series of efforts to hold a comprehensive national dialogue, leaving no stone untouched. President Biden reached out to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on January 10, 2022, and promised to continue diplomatic efforts based on “Constructive Engagement,” emphasizing the importance of the US-Ethiopia relationship and the potential to strengthen collaboration on a variety of issues.

The extreme-handed and one-sided bill was prepared in the midst of all these positive trajectories. H.R. 6600, which passed without debate, hearing, or constituent involvement in the Foreign Affairs Committee, is a legislative move that will affect Ethiopians in the same way that the war has harmed the country thus far. So, what is at stake here?

Peace in Ethiopia and the wider Horn

The bill calls for the suspension of all security assistance to Ethiopia’s government, weakening Ethiopia and increasing instability in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia is a crucial stabilizing force in the Horn of Africa, as well as a trustworthy security ally for the United States and other international partners. The bill’s ill-conceived goal of limiting Ethiopia’s military power might only benefit Al-Shabab and other extremist groups to further disrupt the region.

Terrorists and extremist militant groups have been increasingly active in Africa, notably in the Horn of Africa. The African Union Commission’s Special Representative for Somalia and the head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira, recently stated that terrorism-related violence has surged in Somalia. “Al-Shabab has been primarily responsible for the violence, which has included IEDs, mortar attacks, ambushes, and targeted assassinations of senior government officials, Somali security forces, and civilians”. But it is not only al-shabab in the picture but also what could be a resurgent Islamic State, as credible reports indicate that the group carried out two improvised explosive device attacks and detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in November 2021 and January 2022, respectively.  “With regards to a possible resurgence of the Islamic State, this must be judged within the context of Daesh’s emerging regional presence in East Africa,” Madeira said, referring to IS by its Arabic acronym. “One that is characterized by a proliferation of funds, equipment, and transfer of terrorist tactics.” As a result, decapitating Ethiopia at a time when Al-Shabab and IS are getting increasingly advanced weaponry would be irresponsible.

The region is also troubled by armed conflict or insurgency, such as the one waged by the TPLF against Ethiopia’s democratic government for the past 15 months. There are also recurring security threats such as electoral/political violence, human and drug trafficking, and international crimes (piracy). There is also an increasing trend of military takeover of power on the continent, as 2021 saw a higher number of coups than previous years. With all of these threats, the United States should help, not undermine, Ethiopia, Africa’s second-largest democracy.

Covid–19, Conflict, Drought, Surge in cost of living: and now Economic Sanction?

In the last year and a half, Ethiopia’s COVID-19 status has changed dramatically. While the first wave impacted Africa more slowly than other regions in the first half of 2020, the second wave has hit Africa much harder and is showing no signs of slowing down, especially with the emergence of the highly transmissible Delta variant. Ethiopia might not be immuned from a third wave, with the pandemic’s negative effects exacerbated by a slew of other crises, including a locust outbreak, conflict in several parts of the country (the worst of which is in the north), and widespread flooding, all of which have serious implications for food security and poverty reduction.

On top of that, drought, exacerbated by climate change, threatens to overwhelm East Africa’s already stretched humanitarian disaster infrastructure. According to the United Nations World Food Program, more than 13 million people are anticipated to go hungry as a result of the drought, which has destroyed crops and cattle. Arid conditions have already reduced food production and killed an estimated 1.5 million animals, a significant loss that has worsened food insecurity throughout the region. More than 6 million Ethiopians are projected to require food assistance due to the drought.

To make matters worse, Ethiopia, which imports wheat from Ukraine and Russia, is already experiencing a surge in the cost of basic food items as a result of the current Ukraine situation. The two countries export over a quarter of the world’s wheat and half of the world’s sunflower products, such as seeds and oil. War, according to analysts, could have a negative influence on grain supply and perhaps quadruple world wheat prices. Last year, more than 40% of Ukraine’s wheat and corn exports went to the Middle East and Africa, and supply disruptions could hamper availability in these regions.

HR 6600 now calls for more severe economic sanctions. Punishing the government for trying to feed its people despite enormous local and global economic disasters is morally reprehensible. Even more industrialized economies are being challenged by the global economic reality today, even if they are not as economically challenged as Ethiopia. The dire situations call on the US and its allies to boost economic assistance rather than withhold it. Above all the bill threatens to regress all the gains secured due to the long-standing and fraternal relations between the two countries. We should not allow this bill to cast its shadow on our vibrant bilateral relations.

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International Community shall break its silence and call a spade a spade

The Aggression of the terrorist Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) against the Northern Zone of the Afar Region in Ethiopia has continued and is entering its third month. The shelling of Afar with the terrorist group’s heavy artilleries seems to cease to raise eyebrows anymore. However, the fact of the matter is that the TPLF force has injured and massacred thousands of innocent people through its indiscriminate shelling of Afar areas and deliberate shootings of individuals after occupation.

The fighting is underway between the well-armed forces of the TPLF invading group and the Afar people’s forces daily in the villages of the occupied districts -Aba’ala, Berhale, Magale, konnaba and Erebti- adjacent to the Tigray region.

What’s more! The renewed Invasion of the TPLF has increased the number of displaced people at an alarming level. The suffering of the people in the area is beyond comprehension. The displaced people ranging from elders and women to children are suffering a lot. Some of them did not even reach their destination until now, and no one knows their condition. Many of them are wandering in the mountains and the desert of the Danakil depressions, the hottest place on earth that made survival without water, food, and shelter unbearably daunting. Some of the inhabitants who were unable to get out of the occupied districts are also reportedly being held as hostages in their own villages by the TPLF invaders. They are not only invaded, and their properties looted but left with destroyed livelihood with almost nothing to get by. What makes the situation worse is that they could not leave their empty households to get support somewhere else.

According to Regional sources, the number of displaced people has reached more than 500,000-half a million and it is increasing daily. They are sheltered in four temporary IDP camps (Dirma, Wayderkora, Gimbirida, Sirriba and Guyah) in Yallo, Afdera and Kori districts respectively, and they need humanitarian assistance urgently. The humanitarian situation is so critical now and it has become beyond the capacity of the Regional Government. International Humanitarian organizations should move quickly before many lives are lost. But no encouraging response is observed from humanitarian organizations so far. The support provided by the Regional Government is insufficient due to huge number of displaced people.

It seems the cries of displaced women, elders, and children in the Afar region fall on deaf ears. The indifference of the international community to the plight of the Afars seems a tacit approval of the misdeeds of the terrorist group. Double standards and indifferences only encourage the group to commit more massacres and continue the aggression on the Afar region.

We call on the international community to break its silence and call evil by its name. It is time to hold the TPLF accountable for committing atrocities in Afar. It is time to pressure the terrorist group to withdraw from the areas it has occupied recently in the Northern Zone (Zone two) of the Afar Region.

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Scaling up Energy Connectivity between Ethiopia and Sudan (Statement of Ethiopian Embassy, Khartoum, March 10. 2022)

Energy connectivity is a key factor in facilitating mutual growth and cooperation for neighbouring countries like Ethiopia and Sudan. Ethiopia, in light of this objective and bringing about economic integration with Sudan and its neighbours, is striving to make available much needed hydroelectric power at an affordable market price.

Currently, Ethiopia is regularly supplying electric power to Sudan more than the stated amount in the power supply agreement signed to connect the national grids of the two sisterly countries. Contrary to some erroneous reports and misinformation campaigns, the two countries are exerting efforts to increase the current amount of power supply arrangement to 1000MW upon construction of the necessary power transmission lines and finalization of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). In this regard, the two countries are jointly working with their development partners to have the power transmission lines ready in the near future. 

Moreover, the successful testing of power generating turbines and the commencement of power generation in GERD comes at a crucial time to bring the two countries a step closer towards meeting their energy demands and economic integration. 

Ethiopia and Sudan possess a huge potential to increase their energy connectivity. Hence, investing in various joint infrastructural development projects geared towards economic integration will inevitably facilitate mutual growth and cooperation.

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Lebanon values its long-standing relations with Ethiopia: Prime Minister Najib Azmi Mikati

Consul General of Ethiopia in Beirut, Temesgen Oumer, conferred on Tuesday (March 9) with Najib Azmi Mikati, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lebanon and exchanged views on the current situation in Ethiopia and regional issues, including ways to strengthening bilateral ties between the two sides.

During the meeting, Temesgen Oumer briefed the Prime Minister on the current developments in Ethiopia with reference to the path to peace and inclusive dialogue, humanitarian access and steps taken to address Human Rights violations.

The Consul General also took the occasion to explain about the commencement of initial power generation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and noted his government’s dedication to work with downstream countries based on equitable utilization of the waters of the Nile and through the ongoing AU facilitation on the tripartite negotiation.

The Prime Minister, on his part, appreciated the endeavor and current signals for peace and stability in Ethiopia and also stressed continuing the current process of negotiation taking the concerns among the three countries on the filling of the Dam. He further noted that the Republic of Lebanon values its long-standing relations with Ethiopia.

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