Understanding Sergey Lavrov’s trip to Ethiopia

International Commission of Human Rights Experts visit Ethiopia

News in Brief

Africa and the African Union

The head of the African Union Commission praised the deal signed on Friday (July 22) in Istanbul to resume grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Moussa Faki Mahamat welcomed “the signing by Russia and Ukraine of agreements under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the export of grain and agricultural products via the Black Sea,” read a statement issued late on Friday.

The second China-Africa Peace and Security Forum Ministerial Meeting was held via video link on Monday (July 25). Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe attended the meeting. The forum features the theme of “Strengthen solidarity and coordination to achieve common security”. Nearly 50 ministerial leaders and senior representatives from the African Union (AU) and African countries attended the forum.

Ethiopia

The Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, arrived on Tuesday (July 26) in Addis Ababa for a working visit to Ethiopia. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen and other high-level government officials welcomed the Russian Foreign Minister upon his arrival at Bole International Airport. During his stay in Ethiopia, Lavrov met with President Sahle-Work Zwede, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign minister Demeke Mekonnen and African Ambassadors residing in Ethiopia.  (See article)

The International Commission of Human Rights Experts (ICHREE) visited Ethiopia from July 25 to 29, 2020. The ICHREE members had meetings with Demeke Mekonen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, Dr Gedion Tomothewos, and the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce. (See article)

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen held discussions with the European Union’s Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber (Ph.D.) at his office on Wednesday (July 27), and the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer on Friday (July 29), where he underlined Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment to the ongoing peace process.

Ambassador Birtukan Ayano, Ethiopia’s State Minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated today (July 26) that Ethiopians in the diaspora should play a constructive role by sharing their experiences in the process of peacebuilding in the country. The State Minister made this statement at a forum on the “Eid to Eid Program” where participants from the diaspora, who came to Ethiopia for the event met with the members of the National Dialogue Commission.

The Ethiopian government on Wednesday (July 27) disclosed that more than 209 al-Shabab fighters have been killed after a failed incursion from neighboring Somalia by the militant group. In a statement issued Wednesday, the Ethiopian Federal Government Communication Service said the coordinated security operation is underway by federal and Ethiopia’s Somali regional security forces against remnants of al-Shabab fighters following their failed incursion.

In related news, a concerted push by al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab to expand from Somalia into Ethiopia appears to have been “largely contained,” according to a senior U.S. military official, though he cautioned that the terror group was likely planning more such attacks in coming months. Almost 500 al-Shabab fighters first crossed into eastern Ethiopia last week, clashing with Ethiopian forces along the border. “It appears that the Ethiopians have largely contained and defeated this incursion,” General Stephen Townsend, the outgoing commander of U.S. Africa Command, said on Thursday (July 28) during a call with the Washington-based Defense Writers Group.

The United States announced on Wednesday (July 27) that it was providing an additional $488 million in critical humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia “as an historically unprecedented drought threatens the survival of more than 8.1 million people.”

Kenya

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday (July 22) held bilateral talks with his Tanzania counterpart Samia Suluhu Hassan in Arusha, Tanzania. At the meeting held at the end of the 22nd Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit, the two leaders discussed an array of subjects of mutual interest to the People and Governments of Kenya and Tanzania, it is reported.

Kenya Power Company has signed a Power Purchase Agreement with Ethiopian Electric Power to actualize power trade from November 1. The agreement was signed by the company’s acting managing Director Geoffrey Muli and Ethiopian Electric Power Chief Executive Officer Ashebir Balcha at Stima Plaza on Thursday (July 28). According to the firm, “in the first three years, Kenya will get a maximum firm capacity of 200 megawatts (MW) and thereafter a maximum firm capacity of 400 MW for the remainder of the 25-year PPA.” The agreed tariff will see Kenyans enjoy clean, reliable, and affordable power.

Three Kenyan police officers were injured Monday when al-Shabab militants attacked a security camp in the border region of Mandera, local police said on Tuesday (July 26). Northeastern Regional Police Commander George Seda said Tuesday the officers were at the El-Ram Anti-Stock Theft Unit camp when they were attacked by the terrorists at about 2 a.m. in Kutulo area.

Somalia

President Hassan Sheikh of Somalia held an official State visit to the Republic of Egypt on Sunday (July 24), received by his host, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt, with an official ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. The two leaders discussed strengthening cooperation and deepening the historical ties between the two countries.

President Hassan S. Mohamud of Somalia received in Mogadishu a delegation from USAID led by its Administrator, Ambassador Samantha J. Power on Sunday (July 24). The President expressed his appreciation for the USAID’s long-standing support to Somalia and its people. The President has also emphasized his government’s strong determination to address the ongoing humanitarian and drought crisis, intensify the fight against terrorist groups and prioritize political stability, democratization and reconciliation, it is reported.

South Sudan

President Salva Kiir Mayardit held a visit to Kampala on Thursday (July 28) to attend a regional Inter-Ministerial conference, on Migration, Environment and Climate change. Speaking to the media at Juba International Airport upon departure, the Press Secretary in the Office of the President Hon. Ateny Wek Ateny said the regional leaders will also discuss and adopt one stand on Nile River dredging, which will be presented at the 27th UN Climate Change conference that will be held in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt, from 6 to 18 November 2022. The President is expected to hold a sideline meeting with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, one of the guarantors of the Revitalized Peace Agreement to discuss the proposed roadmap that will pave way for the transitional period.

Sudan

The Metema-Gallabat dry port on the Ethiopia-Sudan border has resumed service as of 21 July, according to Biks Worke, the Administrator of Western Gonder zone in the Amhara regional state of Ethiopia. In a message in connection with the resumption of the dry port service, Biks said praised the “century-old” relationship between the two countries and pleaded with the local people “to work to strengthen [this relation]… and the continuation of the brotherhood between Ethiopia and Sudan.”

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Understanding Sergey Lavrov’s trip to Ethiopia

As his final stop on a four-nation tour of Africa, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian minister of foreign affairs, arrived in Addis Abeba on Tuesday. The minister met with high-ranking Ethiopian officials during the two-day working trip, including President Sahle-Work Zewde and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen.

The officials talked about how to enhance bilateral ties and global issues.

Diversifying Bilateral Ties

Diplomatic ties between Ethiopia and Russia are among the strongest and oldest in collective memory. Long-standing friendships, alliances, and sympathies have always underpinned these relationships. However, past record shows that the two countries have focused more on political and security issues than on economic cooperation.

Russia has a rather small presence in Ethiopia when compared to other nations. It does not invest as heavily in infrastructure as the Chinese do or have the same extensive footprint in development assistance as the west. In a nutshell, trade and investment partnerships are significantly outflanked by security relations.

The two sides have noticed this gap, and Sergey’s visit is significant in this regard. During the talk with the Ethiopian President, Sahle-Work emphasized the need for Ethiopia and Russia to broaden their political ties in a variety of areas, including the economy, trade, agriculture, and energy.

Sergey, for his part, emphasized the necessity of expanding trade ties with Ethiopia. According to Lavrov, his conversation with Foreign Minister Demeke covered a wide range of topics, including trade, investment, economics, transportation, and current dynamics.

The necessary steps being taken to make the intergovernmental commission efficient and effective in terms of economy and commerce demonstrates the two countries’ steadfast commitment to diversified relationships. It’s anticipated that Addis Abeba will host it.

Demeke informed Lavrov that Ethiopia is interested in increasing the amount of coffee, oilseed, and pulse exports to Russia during the discussion between the two foreign ministers.

“We are ready to welcome Russian companies to invest in the fields of agriculture, energy and mining. We appreciate the effort of the Russian Government to encourage Russian investors to invest in Ethiopia. We are confident that the opening of the Coordination Committee on Economic Cooperation with African Countries (AFROCOM) will boost Russian business ties with Africa,” Demeke said. 

Further promoting shared Bilateral and Multi-lateral values

The discussion, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonen, “reaffirmed that Ethiopia and the Russian Federation have shared values and interests in a variety of areas.” The concepts of non-interference, respect for territorial integrity, and international law are instances of values the two states share.

In terms of bilateral relations, Demeke appreciated Russia’s unwavering support during difficult times of need, particularly in the recent struggle to safeguard Ethiopia’s sovereignty. “More recently, the Russian Federation stood with us during the last two years opposing the undue pressure put on Ethiopia in the agenda of the UNSC,” he said.

The DPM also underscored that Ethiopia will remain consistent in its position regarding the crisis with Ukraine and will continue to call for a peaceful negotiated settlement between Russia and Ukraine.

Lavrov for his part said “We have also been informed about the internal political situation. We have confirmed our support to the effort being undertaken by our friends in order to ensure stability in the country and find positive solutions to the existing internal crisis.”

Ethiopia and Russia share similar stances on issues on the global and regional agenda, according to the Russian Foreign Minister. And these approaches rely on adherence to international law, particularly the tenets of the UN charter and the respect for sovereign rights of states. Together with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Demeke decided to solidify bilateral ties.

Regarding the international sphere, the two countries concur that the Security Council should be reformed to take into account the current state of the world. Russia is in favor of giving Africa a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. In this regard, President Sahle-Work added that it is also necessary to review and renew the multilateral system of international relations.

The rising Multi-faceted challenges in the Horn

When it comes to the conflict in Northern Ethiopia, Deputy Prime Minister Demeke informed his Russian counterpart of the Ethiopian government’s unwavering commitment to guarantee access to humanitarian aid to affected people, cooperate and support the AU in its facilitation of peace negotiations, and make the National Dialogue all-inclusive.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam was also among the issues as Demeke expressed that Ethiopia is committed to the trilateral negotiations among Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt and that African Union shall continue facilitating the process.

Concluding their discussion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke applauded Lavrov’s dedication to taking Russia-Ethiopia and Russia-Africa relations to a higher level.

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International Commission of Human Rights Experts visit Ethiopia

The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (I.C.H.R.E.E) paid a visit to Ethiopia from July 25 to 29, 2020. The I.C.H.R.E.E members had meetings with Demeke Mekonen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, Dr. Gedion Tomothewos, and the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce.

It was on 17 December 2021, that the Human Rights Council established the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHRE). Subsequently, the Council’s President appointed experts mandated to conduct investigation into all allegations of violations of international human rights law, humanitarian law and refugee law in Ethiopia committed as of November 3, 2020.

The Government of Ethiopia (GoE) expressed its grievance regarding the establishment of the Commission. It viewed the process as founded on erroneous premises. More specifically, the fact that the resolution was adopted while Ethiopia accepted the recommendations of the joint investigation report, established the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce (IMTF) to ensure accountability and redress wrongs, and initiated independent criminal investigations by deploying a huge resource – forces the Government to question the appropriateness and sincerity of the Council’s initiatives.

Further, the GoE believes that the Council’s move flagrantly undermines one of the most settled principles of international law – that the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of human rights rests with states themselves. In this line, the joint investigation report itself re-confirmed that ‘the primary responsibility for addressing the violations found by the JIT rests with the Ethiopian Government, as part of its obligation to protect the rights of all persons under its jurisdiction. International mechanisms are complementary to and do not replace national mechanisms.

However, the GoE remains committed to collaborating with any human rights mechanism, including the Commission, where such engagement is founded on a genuine objective of protecting human rights. It is in this light that the GoE permitted the ICHRE’S visit to Ethiopia this week. The exclusive objective of the mission in Ethiopia is to discuss modalities for a possible future investigation conducted by the ICHRE in Northern Ethiopia.

In this light, it should be highlighted that any future investigation by the Commission will be contingent on having clarity and reaching a consensus on key matters including, a) how the Commission intends to ‘build upon’ the Join Investigation Report by the UNOHCHR and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) into the international human rights and humanitarian law violation alleged to be committed up to 28 June 2021; b) what the temporal and geographical focus of the investigations are/should be, and c) the Commission’s preparedness to pursue its activities without undermining current accountability and redress measures pursued by the GoE within the framework of the works of the Inter-ministerial Taskforce.

The bilateral meetings over the week that the Commission undertook with various stakeholders in Ethiopia were arranged within the framework of these broad objectives. During his meeting with the ICHREE members, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, “encouraged the ICHREE in their subsequent meetings to explore the possibilities of mutually acceptable modalities that will not repeat the work done thus far and complete the work of the Government on accountability.” Members of ICHREE, on their part, “outlined expectations from their visit and hoped that they would be granted access to undertake an on-the-ground investigation.

The meeting with the Ministry of Justice and the IMTF mainly focused on sharing views on the proposed modalities of future engagement of the Commission and understanding of progress made by the Ministry of Justice and the IMTF to ensure criminal accountability and redress in relation to violations committed in Northern Ethiopia and other parts of the country.

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