News in Brief

Ethiopia’s Green Legacy initiative is about to hit a four-year Milestone: what’s been achieved?

Prime Minister office Press briefing on PM Abiy Ahmed Official visits to Nigeria, Kenya and participation at AU Summit in Malabo

Ethiopia says forging global partnerships and depoliticization of water issues key to face water challenges at Dushanbe Water Conference

Ethiopia participates in IGAD-Saudi Arabia High-Level Discussion on migration in Djibouti

Africa and the African Union

African Union delegation on Saturday (June 04) held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki stated, “We held wide-ranging discussions with President Putin alongside President Macky Sall to reiterate the African Union’s position for the need for a political solution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and its grave human and economic costs to the Region and the world.”

African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki on Wednesday (June 07) held discussions over the phone with the U.S Secretary of State. The Chairperson stated “I received a phone call from US Secretary of State   Blinken to exchange views on regional issues with an emphasis on food security, particularly its effects on Africa. We also discussed Continental issues of mutual concern.”

Ethiopia

Addressing the inauguration of President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on Thursday (June 09) Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reiterated the commitment of Ethiopia to the people and government of Somalia. “As you start your endeavour to rebuild Somalia, we will be with you. And I’m sure you will succeed,” the Prime Minister said. “I am extremely happy to see a smooth transition of power in Somalia. The incremental steps taken to harnessing democratic process within the whole region will positively shape our collective standing.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, paid a visit to the Afar Regional State to assess the humanitarian supply facilitation to the Tigray Region at the Serdo and Semera Checkpoints.  Awel Arba, President of the Afar Regional State and other high-level federal and state officials accompanied him. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister mentioned the laudable activities of the regional government and people of Afar in facilitating the humanitarian aid process to support the people of Tigray despite the attacks of the Tplf in the region that killed and displaced many people. He called for support for displaced people in Afar who are also victims of drought. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also encouraged the people and regional government of Afar to vigilantly check items passing through the checkpoints.

The 2022 edition of the Green Legacy Tree Planting Initiative will be begun within the next two weeks, according to Billene Seyoum, the Prime Minister’s Office Press Secretary, who also noted that the Initiative is expected to surpass its objective of planting 20 billion tree seedlings in the upcoming rainy seasons. The initiative is about to hit a four-year Milestone. What’s been achieved so far? (See article)

Press Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, Billene Seyoum, gave a press briefing on Tuesday (June 07) about the recent visits of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) and other developments to the media. (See article)

State Minister Ambassador Redwan Hussien and Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa met on Friday (June 03) to discuss latest developments in Ethiopia and the region. The trust-building initiatives of the Ethiopian government, efforts to facilitate unfettered flow of humanitarian support to affected people in Tigray, and the peace initiatives of Olusegun Obasanjo under the African Union were the scope of the discussion.

Ambassador Tesfaye Yilma is appointed State Minister for Political and Economic Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, effective June 08, 2022. Ambassador Tesfaye has been serving as Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the African Union and UNECA. It is to be recalled that Ambassador Redwan Hussien was appointed as a National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister (with the rank of Minister). Ambassador Redwan has been a State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia since 27 December 2019.

The United States on Wednesday (June 09) welcomes the progress in securing more regular access to humanitarian assistance to communities in need in the Afar, Amhara, and Tigray regions of Ethiopia. “In the past seven days, more than 1,100 trucks have reached Tigray to deliver life-saving food, malnutrition treatment and health supplies, and other essential relief items to those who are most vulnerable as a result of the hard work of all the humanitarians committed to saving lives.” “We particularly appreciate the cooperation of the Government of Ethiopia, Afar regional authorities, and Tigrayan regional authorities to facilitate the delivery of this assistance, as well as the efforts of the United Nations agencies, international organizations, U.S. government partners, and humanitarian organizations across Ethiopia.” The State Department said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with Wafa Marketing and Promotion, organized a forum on the revised Ethiopian Commercial Code and the agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area. The 62-year-old Ethiopian Commercial law has been amended to take into account the development of information and technology and the current changes, the discussion noted. It is also underlined that the revised law encourages efficiency and that local and foreign companies can enter the business through online registration.

Ethiopia participated in the second high-level international decade for action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028, which was organized by the Government of Tajikistan in cooperation with the United Nations and its entities in the city of Dushanbe. The meeting was aimed at supporting sustainable development and integrated management of water resources, while promoting cooperation and partnership to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. (See article)

The World Bank provided 195 million USD for the delivery of COVID-19 vaccine and to support the health sector in Ethiopia. The funding will support Ethiopia’s efforts to make COVID-19 vaccines available nationwide and rehabilitate public health facilities located in conflict-affected areas, according to the Ministry of Finance. In addition to providing current financial assistance to the health sector, it will also help to increase the coverage of COVID-19 vaccine in Ethiopia, which is currently less than 30 percent, Country Director of the World Bank for Ethiopia, Ousmane Dione said.

A delegation led by the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, arrived in Türkiye on Wednesday (June 08) to take part in the “EFES 2022 Military Exercise” organized by the Türkish government. During his visit Field Marshal Berhanu met with his counterpart, General Yaşar Güler, Chief of the General Staff of Türkish Armed Forces (TAF) to discuss bilateral issues, according to ENDF. Citing the Ethiopian Embassy in Türkiye, ENDF said that furthermore an agreement has been reached between the two countries to work together in capacity building and cooperation in military support.

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), together with the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and the Mastercard Foundation on Sunday (June 07) launched a digital service that will provide sustainable public health emergency information to the public in five different languages. The Digital Platform, 8335, developed by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and the Mastercard Foundation, provides public health emergency information such as COVID-19, yellow fever, cholera, and guinea worm and the recent outbreak of Monkeypox has also been added to the information system so the public is aware and can take the necessary precautionary measures.

The 114th Council of Ministers Session of the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) commenced its ordinary session on Wednesday (June 08). The meeting is taking place in a hybrid format on the 8th and 9th June, 2022 in Brussels, Belgium. Semereta Sewasew, State Minister of Finance of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FE), who is participating in the Ministerial meeting virtually addressed the meeting on issues pertaining to the reform activities of the OACPS, updates related to the signing of the new OACPS-EU partnership agreement, impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and the current global situation and the economies of developing countries and the development on the current political situation of Ethiopia.

The National Bank of Ethiopia urged citizens not to engage in “illegal” transactions in digital currencies. The central bank on Monday (June 06) said digital currencies like crypto-currencies and Bitcoins haven’t been recognized by the NBE as a transactional and payment method. “Ethiopia’s national currency is the Ethiopian Birr, with any financial transaction in Ethiopia to be paid in Birrs, according to the law,” the NBE said in a statement.

A delegation led by Endalew Mekonen, State Minister for Trade and Regional Integration of Ethiopia paid a visit to the port operation at Djibouti’s Doralleh Multi-Purpose Port on Monday (June 06). The working visit was jointly organized by the government of Djibouti, the USAID and Catholic Relief society. During the visit, the joint team was able to discuss and deliberate the bulk cargo operation at Doralleh Multi-Purpose Port as well as the aid bulk cargo that is currently being transported to different parts of Ethiopia through Djibouti ports.

A delegation from the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and Sinqe Bank led by their respective Presidents paid a three-day working visit to Djibouti on Thursday (June 09), where they held discussions with various public and private stakeholders this week. During the visit, a delegation led by Abie Sano, President of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, while acknowledging the fact that CBE Djibouti Ltd has made considerable progress over the past two years underscored the need to scale up efforts to expand its presence in Djibouti and the region.

Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Evgeny Terekhin affirmed the commitment of his country to support the Green Initiative Legacy of Ethiopia on Thursday (June 09). “The Embassy of Russia in Addis Ababa is working to contribute its share to the realization of the Green Legacy Initiative of Ethiopia. “We are planting indigenous trees on the premises of our Embassy which has a large area of coverage in the capital,” “We are also replacing old trees with the new indigenous ones so as to contribute to the efforts of the country to restore natural resources thereby contribute to greenery endeavors in the capital,” he added.

Ethiopian Ambassador to Italy, Demitu Hambisa participated in the Rome Africa Regional Group- European Union platform on Tuesday (June 07). The Platform discussed priorities identified by the European Union-African Union (EU-AU) Summit on 17-18 February 2022 in Brussels, Belgium. The two blocs discussed ways to enhance a global agri-food system transformation, smallholder farmer productivity, food security, sustainable development, trade, and partnership. 

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to Japan, Tefera Derbew met with Kazumasa Kimura, Executive Officer for New Business Development Africa Division COO of Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Hiroumi Ohara, Manager of power and infrastructure group of Africa Division on Wednesday (June 08). Ambassador Tefera briefed the investment opportunities, incentives, investment policies, and competitive advantages in the manufacturing, energy, and pharmaceuticals sector in Ethiopia and has called the company to invest in Car assembly, fertilizer production, pharmaceuticals, and energy generation among others.

Ethiopia’s Ambassador in Beijing, Teshome Toga held a discussion on Thursday (June 09) with Gao Lei, the vice president of CGCOC Group and Managing Director of the East African Branch on ways in which the company can make investments in the Green Development Projects focusing on Solar Energy, Electric City Bus and Juncao Technology in Ethiopia. During the discussion, Ambassador Teshome noted that the Ethiopian Government has committed to carrying on Green Development Projects and doing so encouraging companies like CGCOC Group. Co. Ltd. to invest in Ethiopia.

Eritrea

President Isaias Afwerki received on Thursday (June 09), at his office in Adi-Halo iconic Eritrean Professional Cyclist Biniam Ghirmay. On the occasion in which Ambassador Zemede Tekle, Commissioner of Culture and Sports as well as heads of the National Cycling Federation took part, President Isaias said that the victory Biniam registered at Giro d’Italia beyond shining the image of Eritrea has significant contribution to inspiring the youth sportspeople in the country.

Djibouti

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) held an official work visit to Djibouti after attending the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected president of Somalia.

Ethiopia’s Ambassador in Djibouti, Berhanu Tsegaye on Tuesday (June 07), addressed the issue of migration at the IGAD – Saudi High-Level Discussion, during which a Kingdom of Saudi Arabia delegation led by  Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Kattan, Advisor at the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, participated.  Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti,  Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and Ambassadors from IGAD member states also took part in the High-Level discussion. (See article)

Somalia

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was inaugurated as the 10th president of Somalia Thursday in a colorful ceremony attended by hundreds of people, including the leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. In his inaugural speech, Mohamud warned that in addition to the danger posed by al-Shabab, severe drought poses an immediate threat to the country. (June 9).

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph.D.) attends the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected president of Somalia. Prime Minister Abiy delivered remarks during the inaugural ceremony. “I stand here today to offer you Ethiopia’s support, and as you know, as you start your endeavor to rebuild Somalia, we will be with you, and I’m sure you will succeed!”

The President of Kenya, attending the inaugural ceremony of the new Somali President on Thursday (June 09), said he will open the Somali-Kenyan border, noting that Kenya’s progress depends on Somalia’s progress. “Kenya is a brother you can count on,” said Uhuru Kenyatta.

South Sudan

Ambassador Xue Bing, Chinese MFA Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs met on Thursday ((June 09) with envoys of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan and exchanged views on implementing the Outlook on Peace & Development of Horn of Africa.

South Sudanese await the arrival next month of Pope Francis, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and Moderator for the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields, church leaders say they have completed 95 percent of the preparatory work ahead of the historic visit. The South Sudan National Police Service says officers are prepared to provide security and handle traffic on the day of the Pope’s visit.

Sudan

The tripartite mediation mechanism consisting of the United Nations, the African Union, and the IGAD opened on Wednesday (June 08) talks in Khartoum which aim at bringing military and civilian parties to agree on a path toward restoring democracy and civilian rule in Sudan.

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Ethiopia’s Green Legacy initiative is about to hit a four-year Milestone: what’s been achieved?

The 2022 edition of the Green Legacy Tree Planting Initiative will be begun within the next two weeks, according to Billene Seyoum, the Prime Minister’s Office Press Secretary, who also noted that the Initiative is expected to surpass its objective of planting 20 billion tree seedlings in the upcoming rainy seasons.

18 billion seedlings have been planted across the country since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched it in 2019 to solve various environmental concerns by promoting a green culture.

In 2019, 4 billion seedlings were planted, including the famous record-breaking planting of 353 million seedlings in one day, and 5 billion seedlings were planted in 2020. Over 6 billion trees have also been planted by the year 2021.

The initiative’s implementation will be completed during the upcoming rainy season. “This year marks the end of the four-year green legacy challenge that began in 2019,” she explained.

According to Billene, this program is being promoted in conjunction with urban agriculture and backyard agriculture activities in order to partially alleviate the challenges posed by the global food crisis. Green Legacy’s overarching goals, on the other hand, are to combat the recurring drought and maintain self-sufficiency efforts.

Green Legacy: Climate Change and Drought

In recent years, countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan have experienced greater and more frequent floods and droughts. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, addressing the African Union’s Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, stressed that the Horn of Africa subcontinent is one of the areas affected by climate change, which includes severe drought.

Drought has caused damage in Ethiopia, killing tens of thousands of animals and driving tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. National actions are being implemented to increase the effectiveness of natural disaster risk management. The work done with the help of partners has helped to reduce the overall socioeconomic consequences.

“Lessons from our prior experiences with recurrent droughts in the Horn of Africa region have shown us the importance of better preventive actions,” he said. According to the Prime Minister, Ethiopia has started implementing the Green Legacy Initiative, which will assist the country grow billions of trees per year to mitigate the consequences of climate change.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also participated in Stockholm 50+ summit this week and shared Ethiopia’s contribution toward ensuring a healthy planet in all forms, which include an ambitious undertaking to become a green society by planting various types of eco-friendly seedling and combating environmental degradation.  “This year we will exceed our four years milestone. This initiative has already paved the way for collaboration and solidarity in the sub-region as we have been sharing our green legacy initiative with neighboring countries in the spirit of unity. Now, in the final year of our four-year target, we will surpass the set goal,” he underlined.

Green Legacy: Contributions to Food Security

Green Legacy is about more than just being environmentally conscious. It also aims to help Ethiopia’s Grand Plan to achieve food self-sufficiency. This involves planting edible plant seedlings as well as assistance with cluster farming and irrigation-based lowland wheat cultivation.

More than 500 million edible plant seedlings will be among the billions of seedlings prepared this year. The Avocado, Papaya, Mango, and Apple fruit seedlings that will be planted are important not only for food self-sufficiency but also for increasing economic benefits. Aside from the edible seedlings, the green legacy is critical in preventing land deterioration.

“With increasing pressures on water supplies and topsoil erosion, due to various factors including land degradation, our enhanced Green Legacy efforts aim to address a number of these intertwined issues to ensure agricultural productivity and food security,” PM Abiy said recently while he visited farmlands in North Shoa Zone, Amhara Regional State.

Farmers are finally seeing results from cluster farming and irrigation-based lowland wheat growing, thanks to a combination of attention from the government. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), stated that Ethiopia’s diligent efforts to enhance wheat production have given the country the capacity to export 1.5 million to two million metric tons of the crop to neighboring countries in the near future.

The AfDB President said he learned from Premier Abiy that Ethiopia covers 650 thousand hectares of land with wheat and produces 2.6 million metric tons of the crops while speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Annual Meetings in Accra, Ghana.

“Ethiopia did not import wheat this year. Next year, we will cultivate two million hectares of wheat and we expect to export at least 1.5 million to 2million metric tons to Kenya and Djibouti.” Adesina quoted the PM.

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Ethiopia says forging global partnerships and depoliticization of water issues key to  face water challenges at Dushanbe Water Conference

Ethiopia participated in the second high-level international decade for action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028, which was organized by the Government of Tajikistan in cooperation with the United Nations and its entities in the city of Dushanbe. The meeting was aimed at supporting sustainable development and integrated management of water resources, while promoting cooperation and partnership to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

A high-level delegation, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Water and Energy, led by Ethiopia’s State Minister of Water and Energy, Abraha Adugna took part in the conference. Speaking at the event,  Abraha Adugna reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) which sets out to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. To realize the objectives of SDG 6, the Ethiopian Government has integrated it into its Ten-year National Development Plan further creating partnerships with local and external development actors, he said.

However, COVID-19 and Climate Change induced drought have threatened the implementation process that still needs intervention to address the needs of 50 million Ethiopians who have got no access to an adequate and safe inking water supply and 80 percent of the population who are subject to poor sanitation, he added. Expounding more on the challenges posed by climate change, the State Minister said: “The Horn of Africa is currently experiencing one of its most severe droughts in recent history, with more than 15 million people acutely food insecure in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Families are taking desperate measures to survive, with thousands leaving their homes in search of food, water and pasture. In the past 26 years, Ethiopia has experienced 8 ought episodes, five of them extending beyond one season with high frequency and severity. In this regard, we firmly believe that our efforts to ensure access to inking water must aim to cope with consequences of climate change.”

The State Minister said, supporting various engagements in environmentally friendly and efficient hydraulic infrastructure developments, such as the Green Legacy Initiative and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project; restore wetland ecosystem and foster regional partnership. He mentioned Ethiopia’s success in planting more than 18 Billion trees through mobilizing Millions of people since 2019.   “Despite the meagre financial resources at our disposal, we have been engaged in environmentally friendly and efficient hydraulic infrastructure developments that are in the best interest of our continent and the world at large. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) should be seen in this perspective,” he said. According to the State Minister, depoliticizing water issues and forging genuine partnerships are indispensable to tackle the common challenges we have faced regarding water. “If water issues are politicized it will be difficult to address common challenges. The realization of genuine partnership is not, of course, an easy task but one that requires wisdom, patience, commitment and spirit of cooperation.”

The outcome of the conference will produce a final declaration and a co-chair’s summary document will consolidate the critical views of the stakeholders on key actions and partnerships necessary to take the water sector agenda forward globally and provide valuable inputs for the preparation of the UN 2023 water conference at the United Nations headquarter.

On the sideline of the meeting, State Minister Adugna had a bilateral meeting with the Vice Minister and Special Envoy for water affairs of the Netherlands and discussed issues of mutual concern.

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Prime Minister office Press briefing on PM Abiy Ahmed Official visits to Nigeria, Kenya and participation at AU Summit in Malabo

Press Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, Billene Seyoum, gave a press briefing on Tuesday (June 07) about the recent visits of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and other developments to the media.

On the Official State Visit of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to the Republic of Nigeria:

Recalling the strong bilateral relations between the two countries since both countries opened their Embassies in respective capitals in the 1960s, Billene said, several official visits have been undertaken since then by both countries including President Buhari’s official State visit to Ethiopia after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assumed office. She said, in Abuja the two leaders have discussed bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern.  Billene reiterated currently, “Nigeria and Ethiopia are both working on several areas of bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of defense, aviation science and technology, industry, trade and investment and a plethora of other areas”.

Hence, part of their discussion entailed an agreement to enhance the cooperation in these fields among others, the Press Secretary added. Also “the third Etho-Nigeria joint Ministerial Commission Meeting will be held from June 13-14, 2022, where several memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed, particularly on these areas of cooperation and others”. To this end, Billene further elucidated, “the two leaders also reiterated their readiness to make the upcoming joint ministerial commission a success.”

On participation in the African Union’s Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit in Malabo

Following the state visit to Nigeria, Billene stated, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accompanied by his Ministerial delegation headed to Equatorial Guinea to attend the African Union’s Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit in Malabo, “considering the environmental and human induced challenges that the continent, in particular, the horn region is experiencing” .

Clarifying the aim of the summit, Billene stated the participation in the summit was “aimed to highlight the need for concerted effort in addressing humanitarian needs not only domestically but also regionally and continent-wide”. To this end, she noted, “Prime Minister Abiy in his remarks at the summit emphasized Ethiopia’s commendation for the establishment of the African union humanitarian agency”. She said, Prime Minister Abiy in his remarks “underscored the need to be guided by the principles of Pan-Africanism and African shared values in the constitution or the makeup of the agency”. Prime Minister Abiy also briefed the summit on actions that Ethiopia has been in particular undertaking to address the vast humanitarian needs brought on to the country by natural disasters as well as by conflict.” She added.

On the Visit to Kenya:

Following the conclusion of participation in the Summit,  Billene said, as the last leg of the trip, “included a short stay in Nairobi, where the prime minister conferred with the Kenyan president on regional as well as bilateral issues of mutual concern.”

On the participation of United Nations Stockholm plus 50 Meeting

Press Secretary Billene also briefed about Ethiopia’s participation in Stockholm plus 50 engagements last week. She briefed virtually the Prime Minister relayed a message during the United Nations Stockholm plus 50 meeting.

Recalling that in May of last year the United Nations General Assembly had adopted a resolution to bring the global environmental community together in Stockholm ahead of the World Environmental Day, which was a day before, she said: “Prime Minister Abiy conveyed a message through video in that he highlighted the efforts that Ethiopia has been undertaking in the past three years in doing its share for building a healthy environment by planting around 18 billion seedlings as part of the green legacy initiative”. Adding “so as we all know a lot of developing countries particularly Ethiopia are also afflicted by climate change which they don’t necessarily contribute much towards”. “The initiatives that are being undertaken and progressing on the Ethiopian side is to circumvent and taking on adaptive and mitigation measures beyond our contribution to climate change”.

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Ethiopia participates in IGAD-Saudi Arabia High-Level Discussion on migration in Djibouti

Ethiopia’s Ambassador in Djibouti, Berhanu Tsegaye on Tuesday (June 07), addressed the issue of migration at the IGAD – Saudi High-Level Discussion, during which a Kingdom of Saudi Arabia delegation led by  Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Kattan, Advisor at the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, participated.

 Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Djibouti, Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and Ambassadors from IGAD member states also took part in the High-Level discussion.

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye, Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti, indicated that the IGAD region is currently facing an unprecedented influx of migrants, in addition to drought, humanitarian crises, and terrorism, all of which continue to be significant problems in the region.

The Ambassador underlined the issue of migration along the Ethiopia-Djibouti-Yemen route, which remains a major transit route for outgoing and incoming Ethiopian migrants. While recognizing the coordinated effort by the governments of Ethiopia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to repatriate tens of thousands of Ethiopians to their homeland, he stressed the importance of addressing migration at its source.

Although, the Government of Ethiopia prioritizes efforts to repatriate citizens, it was recommended that efforts be directed and bolstered toward addressing the situation at home, which helps in addressing the problem in a sustainable manner, and urged IGAD and partner states such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to take the steps necessary in this regard.

 Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Kattan, for his part, said his government attaches great importance to Africa and asserted Saudi’s commitment to strengthen its cooperation with IGAD member states in order to address migration, terrorism and other regional issues.

Calls were also made to support IGAD member states’ efforts to establish and run cross-border surveillance operation centers to monitor and control the movement of migrants and bring human traffickers to law enforcement bodies.