News in Brief

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed lauds agreement between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar

Diplomats and Leaders of International Organizations in Addis Ababa get briefed about current situations in Ethiopia

A Glimpse at Ethiopia’s participation in DOHA Forum 2022

Ethiopia participates in the 60th parliamentary Assembly of OACPS and the 41st OACPS -EU joint Parliamentary Assembly

On the Joint Report of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (Press Statement)

Africa and the African Union

Ministers from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Member States whose dockets include the Blue Economy sectors endorsed the IGAD Blue Economy Strategy (2021-2025) on Tuesday (April 1), in Addis Ababa. The IGAD Blue Economy Strategy and its Implementation Plan intend to structure the Blue Economy implementation at both national and regional levels while increasing cooperation and regional integration, and strengthening support to the member states to effectively translate policies into concrete actions.

Ethiopia

President Sahle-Work Zewde received the credentials of five newly appointed ambassadors to Ethiopia on Wednesday (April 06). The ambassadors who presented their credentials are from Cote d’Ivoire, Seychelles, Jordan, Benin, and Congo.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed welcomed key agreement reached by President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar on Sunday (April 03). “We welcome today’s key agreement reached by President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar,” Abiy stated. The premier said Ethiopia stands in solidarity with South Sudan and continues to stand ready to support efforts towards lasting peace and development. (See article)

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated on Saturday (April 02) a book published in the Amharic language entitled “The Betrayed Northern Command” authored by Sergeant Gashaye Tenaw. The premier congratulated the author for writing the book. The book describes the TPLF’s betrayal of the Northern Command and the campaigns carried out subsequently from the law enforcement operation to the multinational campaign.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen had a virtual meeting Wednesday (April 06) with Ethiopian Mission leaders in Europe and Canada and Ethiopian community leaders in the Diaspora on current situations in the country. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister appreciated the multifaceted efforts of Ethiopians in the Diaspora for standing to protect their country’s interests, mentioning the #Nomore movement as a case in point. He called on for more vibrant cooperation between Ethiopian missions and the Ethiopian community in the diaspora.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen received at his office on Friday (April 01), Dr. Annette Weber, EU Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. The two sides discussed current situations in Ethiopia, particularly the humanitarian issue in the Tigray region and geopolitical matters of common concern. Discussing the Humanitarian situation in the Tigray region, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said the recently declared Humanitarian truce would address the humanitarian aid needs of the people in Tigray.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, and the Minister of Justice, Dr. Gedion Timotheos briefed the Diplomatic Community and Representatives of International Organizations accredited to Ethiopia on Thursday (April 07) about the current situation in the country. The briefing by the two high-level officials covered a wide range of issues, including national, regional and multilateral matters that addressed the concerns of the international community. (See article)

A delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen attended the 20th Doha Forum in Qatar which was held under the theme: “Transforming for a New Era”. The two-day forum draws high-level government officials and CEOs and deliberated critical global and regional developments providing clear directional and actionable recommendations. (See article)

The Ethiopian delegation led by Speaker of the House of Peoples Representatives, Tagesse Chaffo, on Tuesday (April 05)  has concluded its mission in partaking in the 60th OACPS and the 41st OACPS-EU Joint Assemblies. During the two assembly sessions, the Ethiopian delegation promoted Ethiopia’s position on the issues of shared deliberations, such as the new Post-Cotonou OACPS-EU partnership agreement, the COVID Pandemic, and its economic and social impacts, as well as the current global peace and security situation. (See article)

The Ethiopian Embassy in Berlin celebrated the 126th anniversary of the Victory of Adwa on Sunday (April 3) virtually in the presence of the Dean of African Ambassadors’ Group in Berlin, Ethiopia’s Honorary Consuls in Germany, the Republic of Poland, and the Slovak Republic; Representatives from Ethiopian Community and Friendship Associations, and Think Tanks. Ambassador Mulu Solomon Bezuneh, Ethiopian Ambassador in Germany briefly highlighted the History of the battle of ADWA and its significant contribution to the struggle and freedom of other African people and beyond.

Ethiopian Ambassador in Italy, Demitu Hambisa on Saturday (April 02) called on the Ethiopian Diaspora to positively respond to the Eid-to-Eid call of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The Ambassador made the call during a virtual meeting she had with Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian origins residing in Malta.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken on Saturday (April 02) welcomed the delivery of humanitarian assistance over recent days to Ethiopians in the Tigray and Afar regions. “We urge all parties to build upon this positive step to ensure progress toward a secure, stable, and prosperous Ethiopia,” the secretary twitted.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) disclosed that it has transported 200 tons of humanitarian aid to the Tigray Regional State of Ethiopia. The ICRC convoy carrying medical assistance, food, and water treatment supplies arrived in the Tigray region on Sunday (April 03), through Afar, it was indicated. A spokesperson for the ICRC, Fatima Sator told the media trucks carrying 200 tons of food, medical and water treatment supplies have been delivered to the Tigray region.

The Government of Ethiopia issued a statement on Wednesday (April 06)on the joint Amnesty international and Human Rights Watch report on alleged crimes and human rights violations committed in Welkait. Pledging to closely examine the contents of the report, the statement questioned the political and ethnic undertones of the report. (See Statement)

Eritrea

Eritrean Society organization in Sweden on Monday (April 04) held its annual meeting under the theme “Successful Society for Victorious Eritrean Nationalism”. At the meeting in which over 100 representatives of the Eritrean communities from across Sweden took part, Mr. Yonas Mana, Charge d’Affairs at the Embassy of Eritrea in the Scandinavian countries indicated that the ‘Eritrean Society Organization’ has played a major role in organizing Eritreans and introducing the Eritrean culture in Sweden called for reinforced effort in highlighting the Eritrean nationalism.

Kenya

Field marshal Birhanu Jula on Wednesday (March 30) met with General Robert Kariuki Kibochi, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces. They have agreed to strengthen cooperation in bilateral and regional security issues, including hosting capacity building training sessions and sharing experiences in peacekeeping. The two sides noted the need to exploit opportunities for cooperation and cement longstanding ties between the two countries. They further pledged to empower East Africa Standby Force (ESAF) as member states. General Kiboch also expressed his delight to host Field Marshal Birhanu in Kenya.

Somalia

The UN Security Council on Thursday (March 31) voted unanimously for a new African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab insurgents have been seeking to overthrow the fragile government for more than a decade. The current African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) is composed of 20,000 soldiers, police and civilians helping local authorities fight against the jihadist insurgents.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo on Thursday (April 06) dismissed Prime Minister Hussein Roble’s decision to expel an African Union envoy over misconduct. In a letter dated April 6, PM Roble had notified the African Union Commission Chairperson that the Somali Government had declared Mozambican diplomat Francisco Madeira persona non grata “for engaging in acts that are incompatible with his status” as representative of the African Union Commission and is ordered to leave Somalia within 48 hours.

South Sudan

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar launched public consultations on the reconciliation process in a sign of good working relations between the two leaders. The process to establish a Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing (CTRH) Commission as envisioned in the 2018 peace deal was unveiled in the capital, Juba on Tuesday (April 05).

Ethiopian Ambassador in South Sudan, Ambassador Nebil Mahdi on Tuesday (April 05) met with Hon. Gabriel, Changson, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of South Sudan. The two sides have exchanged views on ways of revising agreements between the two countries in the fields of Higher Education and signing new MOUs. They have also discussed expanding capacity-building programs for staff and scholarship opportunities for South Sudanese students in Ethiopia being committed to enhancing relationships between the two nations.

A delegation from the Ethiopian Electric Authority on Saturday (April 02) held a discussion with Hon. Peter Marcello, Minister of Energy and Dams of the Republic of South Sudan. Andualem, Deputy CEO of the Authority, while briefing the Minister, said in the near future Ethiopia’s green energy capacity will be growing to more than seventy thousand gigawatts, predominantly utilizing environment friendly sources. To avoid the challenges of the dry seasons, as well as to make the energy supply reliable, he said, the Ethiopian Government is diversifying the energy sources.

Sudan

The President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), Gen. Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, met on Tuesday (April 05) in his office at the Republican Palace, the ambassadors of the Troika countries in Khartoum, which include the United States of America, Norway and Britain. Ambassador Lucy Tamlyn, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Sudan, said in a press statement, after the meeting, that the meeting of the Troika countries with President Al-Burhan was frank and constructive.

The Transitional Sovereignty Council held on Monday (April 04) a regular meeting at the Republican Palace under the chairmanship of the council’s President, Gen. Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan. The council congratulated at the outset of its meeting the Sudanese people on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. In a press statement, the spokesperson of the council, Dr. Salma Abdul-Jabar said that the council has heard briefings by the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council on the outcome of his visits to Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt and Chad and his briefings to the leaders of the three countries on the situation in Sudan.

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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed lauds agreement between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar

South Sudan President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar, signed an agreement on Sunday (April 3), showing further commitment to abide by the provisions of the 2018 peace agreement. The agreement, among others, dictates the appointment of the opposition Generals into a unified command structure within a week and the graduation of Unified forces within 2 months. According to the new peace agreement, 60% of the command posts go to Salva Kiir’s camp and 40% to the opposition. The two sides, in addition to immediately ceasing media propaganda and hostilities, have agreed to abide by the ceasefire and session of hostilities agreements and not to encourage, facilitate or motivate the defections to either side. The terms of the agreement also include preparations for phase 2 within one month while building trust among the Presidency.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed wrote on his social media pages welcoming the key agreement reached by President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. He said: “Ethiopia stands in solidarity with South Sudan and continues to stand ready to support efforts towards lasting peace and development.” Earlier to the signing of the agreement, Prime Minister Abiy had sent a delegation led by the Minister of Justice, Dr. Abraham Belay to deliberate his concerns over news stories that seemed to further stall the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and the oppositions.

In conveying Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s messages to the President of South Sudan, Abraham Belay expressed Ethiopia’s concerns, as a friendly country, regarding the issues observed lately over the implementation of South Sudan’s Peace Deal further affirming his country’s commitment to providing all the necessary support for the successful implementation of the deal. President Salva Kiir, on his part, appreciated the unwavering stance of Ethiopia to support peace and stability efforts in South Sudan further extending appreciation for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s concern and Initiative to send a delegation to South Sudan. The issue observed recently in the country has roots in the complex nature of the implementation of the Peace Deal, the President said, reaffirming the proper handling of the case. President Kiir also briefed the Ethiopian delegation about the current state of the implementation of the peace deal. The Office of the President, later on, issued a statement indicating that the President had, “a solution-oriented meeting with Dr. Abraham Belay, Ethiopian Minister of Defense,” where the minister delivered Prime Minister Abiy’s message that discussed “issues of bilateral relations, regional security, and development”.

Dr. Abraham also had a meeting with First Vice President Riek Machar as part of the Ethiopian delegation’s effort to seek first-hand information on the challenges facing the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and the progress made so far.  The First Vice President appreciated Ethiopia’s role in bringing about the South Sudanese Peace Deal and called on Ethiopia to continue its support for the success of the deal. The First Vice President Press Unit, later on, issued a statement on the meeting of Machar and the Ethiopian Delegation: “Dr. Abraham Belay pledged the government of Ethiopia’s readiness to continue supporting the implementation of the agreement and working hand in hand with the South Sudan government to strengthen the bilateral ties between Juba and Addis Ababa.”

The Ethiopian delegation, which was accompanied by the Ethiopian Ambassador to South Sudan, Ambassador Nebil Mahdiai, also met and discussed with Tat Gatluak, President Kiir’s security advisor and Angelina Teny, the Minister of Defense of South Sudan.

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Diplomats and Leaders of International Organizations in Addis Ababa get briefed about current situations in Ethiopia

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, and the Minister of Justice, Dr. Gedion Timotheos briefed the Diplomatic Community and Representatives of International Organizations accredited to Ethiopia on Thursday (April 07) about the current situation in the country. The briefing by the two high-level officials covered a wide range of issues, including national, regional and multilateral matters that addressed the concerns of the international community.

In this framework, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister mentioned the recently declared humanitarian truce and subsequent measures taken to allow unfettered access to humanitarian aid to the Tigray region as manifestations of Ethiopia’s commitment to end the conflict peacefully. He said humanitarian issues should not be bound by preconditions and political interests further calling on the international community to expedite support in this regard and put pressure on the TPLF to reciprocate appropriately. Speaking more on the peace initiatives of the government, he said Ethiopia has continued to be committed to the peace efforts of the African Union Commission Chairperson High Representative, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Regarding the Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch’s joint report, he reaffirmed the government’s position to closely examine the matter further stressing the unacceptable political contents of the report which went beyond the mandates of the organizations.

Calling for the resumption of the trilateral negotiations of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister underscored Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment to engaging in the AU-led process.

The two officials have also expressed Ethiopia’s reservation over the decision of the UN Human Rights body to conduct another investigation into human rights violations in Tigray disregarding Ethiopia’s willingness to implement the recommendations of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) joint investigation. Adding on this the Minister of Justice reiterated the establishment of the Inter-ministerial Taskforce following the publication of the Joint Investigation by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The newly proposed investigation also undermines the institutional independence of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission besides wasting time and financial resources through duplications of efforts, the two officials said.

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A Glimpse at Ethiopia’s participation in DOHA Forum 2022

The DOHA Forum, which has been around for 20 years, is an international forum that brings together people from all over the world to discuss pressing global issues, stimulate idea exchange, and make concrete recommendations.

DOHA Forum 2022, with the theme “Transforming for a New Era,” held a series of debates on geopolitical alignments and international relations, the financial system and economic development, defense, cybersecurity, and food security, as well as sustainability and climate change.

The two-day summit was officially opened by a keynote speech by Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which highlighted some of the world’s most immediate problems, including refugee crises caused by wars and income disparity, Afghanistan, and Qatar’s diplomatic mission.

“The new age we dream of – and one I personally work for – is the era of peace, security, and coexistence for all,” he said. “[It is] the era of social justice, the era where all people can access their basic needs, education, health, water resources and live with dignity where they can fulfill themselves and exercise their lifestyle and culture.”

The Transitioning to a New Era session also discussed the shock faced by the global economy during the coronavirus pandemic, which necessitated the need for leaders and policymakers to come together to develop political innovations aimed at saving most lives and avoiding permanent damage. As for the Climate Dialogue: Finance session, the discourse revolved around more than $3 trillion to mitigate the effects of global warming, especially on the poorest and most vulnerable communities.

Ethiopia sent a delegation to the forum, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, at the invitation of Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. On the sidelines of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke met with representatives from several countries and leaders of international organizations.

In this context, he met with Khalifa Jassim Al-Kuwari, the Director-General of the Qatar Fund for Development, which handles Qatar’s foreign aid and international development initiatives. Demeke praised the Qatar Development Fund’s extensive socioeconomic assistance to Ethiopia, which he said has greatly improved diplomatic relations between the two countries. The discussion between the two sides also included updates on the construction of a specialized kidney-care hospital in Addis Ababa which was pledged to be financed by Qatar Fund for Development.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also provided a wide range of information on Ethiopia’s vast investment potential in agriculture, mining, technology, manufacturing, and services, which Qatari investors would be interested in. On his part, the director general indicated that Ethiopia is on the path to growth and that the Qatar Development Fund will continue to engage positively in a variety of sectors.

The Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also met Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to discuss bilateral relations and current issues to further cement friendly relations between Ethiopia and Turkey.  Demeke also expounded on the encouraging steps the government has been taking to maintain peace and security in the country. To this end, he mentioned the commencement of an all-inclusive national dialogue aimed at addressing key issues.

The Turkish counterpart lauded the declaration of indefinite humanitarian truce by the Ethiopian government and expressed that Turkish-Ethiopia relations are continuing to blossom, particularly since Abiy Ahmed’s visit to Turkey last year.

Following the forum’s success, the deputy prime minister met with Ethiopian community leaders in Qatar as well as Qatari business groups currently investing in Ethiopia.

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Ethiopia participates in the 60th parliamentary Assembly of OACPS and the 41st OACPS -EU joint Parliamentary Assembly

A high-level delegation of Ethiopia led by Tagesse Chaffo, Speaker of the House of the FDRE, has taken part in the 60th Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) which was officially launched on March 31, 2022, in Strasbourg, France. Ethiopia is the founding member of the OACPS- constituting 79 member countries with its Secretariat based in Brussels.

The OACPS Assembly had kicked off its meeting by deliberating on the outcomes of the various committee meetings that dwelt on the status of peace and security issues in the region, ways and means to collaborate in managing the adverse impacts of the COVID pandemic, and strengthening the stature of the OACPS to make it fit for purpose to the current global reality.

House Speaker Tagesse Chafo has expressed Ethiopia’s unwavering stance in playing its part in strengthening the institutional capacity of OACPS to make it fit for purpose, efficient, independent and a visible actor in the multilateral fora. He also pointed out important items that would enrich the Rules of Procedure of the OACPS EU joint parliamentary assembly under revision.

In the preparatory sessions of the political committee held ahead of the assembly, Dima Nego (Phd), Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Standing Committee of the House of Representatives took the opportunity to explain to the members of the assembly the current situation in Ethiopia and create understanding and support to our cause.

Following the 60th parliamentary Assembly of OACPS, the 41st session of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (#OACPS) and the European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly was officially opened on 1st April 2022, in Strasbourg, France.

In her opening remarks, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola underlined that the parliamentary cooperation between Europe and the OACPS, which is based on mutual respect, democracy promotion and rule of law would further continue under the new Post-Cotonou Partnership Agreement.

Ethiopian Parliament House Speaker, in addition to taking part in the opening ceremony, has delivered an intervention on the need to expedite the ratification of the Post Cotonou Agreement. He also stated the importance of creating a consultation mechanism in the implementation phase for ascertaining ownership.

The Summit deliberated political and security issues among the members of OACPS and European countries, the new post-Cotonou agreement, the COVID pandemic, and its global economic and social impacts, as well as climate change and other global issues of mutual concern.

During the two assembly sessions, the Ethiopian delegation promoted Ethiopia’s position on the issues of shared deliberations, such as the new Post-Cotonou OACPS-EU partnership agreement, the COVID Pandemic, and its economic and social impacts, as well as the current global peace and security situation. The delegation also familiarised participants with the current situation in Ethiopia during the sessions of the Political Committee of the OACPS, as well as through the range of bilateral meetings that House Speaker Tagesse Chaffo and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Standing Committee Dima Noggo (Ph.D.) had, with various EU and OACPS parliamentarians.

The participation of the Ethiopian delegation had made it possible to forge common positions on mutual interests with the OACPS-EU member countries. The Ethiopian delegation also helped make genuine reflections on matters of peace and security in Ethiopia, including development and reconstruction efforts.

The 41st Session of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly ended up deciding to hold its next session in Mozambique.

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On the Joint Report of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (Press Statement)

The Government of Ethiopia will carefully examine the content of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch’s report on allegedly committed crimes in Welkait. A cursory look at the report indicates that it covers sensitive political changes in the country, peace and security, and internal boundary matters, in addition to so-called findings on grave allegations of human rights. It makes allegations of ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The Government of Ethiopia is committed to holding accountable all those responsible for violations of human rights and humanitarian law. It is for this reason the Government established the Inter-ministerial Taskforce following the publication of the Joint Investigation by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Taskforce has held its second meeting today issuing various directives to expedite the investigation process. The investigating teams will closely examine this report and give it due consideration.

The Government, however, questions the validity of numerous political matters the two organizations felt necessary or in their remit to address. Firstly, matters of internal boundaries are dealt with by constitutionally mandated bodies. It is unwise for the activist organizations to pass judgments on such matters. They would know their report will now be used for political purposes. This attitude is certainly not acceptable. They failed to exercise due diligence.

The Government is also concerned about the ethnic undertones of the report that seem to apportion blame disproportionally while trying to exculpate others. This fuels hatred and makes reconciliation and healing more difficult. Responsibility is individual. All those responsible for the alleged violations will be held accountable. Sensational and journalistic reporting discredits the bulky report. Simply blaming one group does not serve the cause of human rights and peace. Other weaknesses in the report are also very apparent. They rely largely on alleged testimonies from certain groups.  The Government investigation team will examine this report despite such fatal weakness and unfair attack against the gallant forces of ENDF and allied forces.

This report comes after the indefinite humanitarian truce came into effect and aid has started to flow to the Tigray region. The Government expressed hope that this will lay the foundation for genuine efforts to end the conflict peacefully. The report unfortunately strays into making recommendations unhelpful for any peace effort. Nonetheless, the Government reiterates its commitment to seriously examine all allegations of violations of human rights and humanitarian law and make its findings public.

06 April 2022