News in Brief
Ethiopia participates in the 13th Sir Bani Yas Forum in UAE
An overview of the week since Ethiopia’s Peace Pact
London hosts third UK-Ethiopia Investment and Trade Forum
Africa and the African Union
On Tuesday (November 07), the African Union issued a press release following the meeting of the Chief of the General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force and leader of the TPLF military wing in Nairobi, Kenya, on the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. The press release clarified the meeting held after the agreement on the cessation of hostilities and stated that it is consistent with Article 6(d) of the CoHA peace deal.
Ethiopia
On the margins of the COP27 meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) held bilateral discussions with leaders of several countries and heads of regional and international organizations.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, participated in the 13th Sir Bani Yas Forum, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates from November 4–6, 2022, in Abu Dhabi. (See article)
Ambassador Meles Alem, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered the bi-weekly press briefing to the media and asserted that the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) is a clear testament to Africa’s ability to solve its own problems. It also demonstrated that it never lacks ideas and wisdom to give solutions to problems. The spokesman stated that various countries and international organizations have welcomed the agreement and pledged support for its full implementation.
Ethiopia’s Government and the TPLF signed a cessation of hostilities on (November 2, 2022) after talks mediated by the African Union (AU), a diplomatic breakthrough in the two years’ conflict in Northern part of the country. The Agreement is being applauded by Ethiopians from all corners of the country as well as by the international community. (See article)
Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to enhance their bilateral business and investment partnerships. Lelise Neme, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission, met with Fahad Alhumaydani Almotaire, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia.
The 4th Ethio-Canada Business and Investment Forum was held in Toronto, Canada (November 07). At the forum, the Minister of State for Trade and Promotion of the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, Kasahun Gofe, said trade relations between the two countries will be further strengthened and that it was able to promote the opportunities that Ethiopia has.
On Tuesday (November 09), Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) announced that the testing of transferring power to the Ethio-Kenya high voltage direct current converter station and transmission line project had been completed successfully. The project manager, Tewodros Ayalew, confirmed the trial of transmitting power on the 500 KV high power transmission line project in Ethio-Kenya has officially started.
The Ethiopian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Rashid Mohammed, met with Kossam Mupezeni, Director for Africa, Asia, and Pacific Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe, and noted that Ethiopia wishes to update the areas of bilateral cooperation with Zimbabwe with a view to fully harness the joint cooperation mechanism. Ambassador Rashid suggested that the Joint Ministerial Commission Meeting form the basis for greater development and achievements in Ethio-Zimbabwe relations.
Nasise Challi, Minister of Tourism; Selamawit Dawit, State Minister of Tourism; Ambassador Teferi Melesse; and Henok Wubeshet, Regional Manager of Ethiopian Airlines, officially opened on Monday (November 06) the Ethiopian pavilion at the 43rd edition of the World Tourism Market in London. (See article)
Intensive training on the dimensions of new Ethiopian diplomacy has been started on Monday (November 06). A group of diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia are gathered in African Leadership Excellence Academy for a three-week training that aims to define the directions, dimensions, and domains of Ethiopian diplomacy.
National committee of Repatriation of Citizens from Saudi Arabia and other Countries announced this week (November 8) that the repatriation of citizens from Saudi Arabia will resume in two weeks. The National Committee members drawn from 16 sector offices convened to discuss preparations completed to resume repatriations. The meeting also overviewed the progresses that have been achieved so far.
Kenya
Commercial Bank of Kenya expressed its interest in engaging in the country’s financial sector. A delegation of the bank’s senior officials visited the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC). The delegation commended the Ethiopian Government’s latest decision to open up the financial sector to foreign banks.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Nairobi (November 09) for his first official visit. President Ramaphosa was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and Mining Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya. The two-day state visit will enable South Africa to deepen economic, political, cultural, and social relations with Kenya, the leading economy in the East African region.
In his speech at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Kenyan President William Ruto urged developed countries to invest in Africa to save the world from the negative effects of climate change.
Eritrea
At the invitation of President Isaias Afwerki, President Hassan Shiek Mohamud of the Federal Republic of Somalia arrives in Asmara in the afternoon on Thursday (November 10) for a four-day official visit. Upon arrival at Asmara International Airport, President Hassan Sheik Mohamud was accorded a warm welcome by President Isaias Afwerki. The senior Somali delegation includes Mr. Abshir Omar Huruse, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia.
South Sudan
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a statement on Friday (November 04) following the signing of the “Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)”. It stated the agreement signifies a momentous step towards peace and highlights, first, to all Ethiopians that their leadership is concerned with their safety and prosperity.
The President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, met on Wednesday (November 09) with a high-level United Nations delegation led by the Undersecretary-General for Peace Operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and the Chef de Cabinet of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Courtenay Rattray. The meeting between the President and the UN officials focused on issues related to peace and security in the country.
On Wednesday (November 09), South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, received credentials from five ambassadors accredited to the Republic of South Sudan. The accredited diplomats include three (3) resident ambassadors from the European Union, the Republic of France, and the Kingdom of Norway, and two (2) non-resident ambassadors from the Kingdom of Belgium and the Italian Republic.
Djibouti
The Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti organized a two-day briefing on Wednesday (November 09) for the diplomatic community based in Djibouti on the Cessation of Hostility Agreement signed in Pretoria, the achievements made thus far, and a path forward to reconstruct and rehabilitate conflict-affected regions. The two-day meeting, which includes four sessions for 31 representatives of the diplomatic community in Djibouti, is currently addressing terms of the agreement such as disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration; humanitarian aid; reconstruction efforts; the restoration of basic services; the Federal Authority in Tigray; the role of the African Union; and observers.
Somalia
President Hassan S. Mohamud joined other world leaders in the official opening of the 2022 United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and delivered Somalia’s COP27 national statement, emphasizing the critical impact of climate change on Somalia as well as the need for long-term global solutions and innovative financing to deal with weather extremes.
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Ethiopia participates in the 13th Sir Bani Yas Forum in UAE
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, participated in the 13th Sir Bani Yas Forum, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates from November 4–6, 2022, in Abu Dhabi. The Sir Bani Forum is an exclusive international gathering convened to discuss geopolitical events and their relevance to the Middle East, the impact of ongoing regional conflicts, and the most promising trends towards peace and stability in the region.
During the sideline events of the Forum, the Minister held a bilateral meeting with the United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.H Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and briefed him about the recent peace agreement reached between the government and the TPLF. Mr. Abdullah, on his part, welcomed the peace agreement and reiterated his country’s support of any kind for the implementation of the peace agreement. Speaking on bolstering the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, the Foreign Minister reiterated the commitment of the UAE Government to elevating partnerships, including in the areas of trade and investment, to the highest possible level.
The Ethiopia-UAE trade relationship is steadily growing from time to time; although it has not yet reached the ceiling, it is getting bigger and bigger. The trade relations between Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the past five years have surpassed 2.5 billion USD, according to the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration.
Areas of focus for UAE investors in Ethiopia are food security-oriented agriculture, such as processed meat and dairy products, viable investments like mining, renewable energy; and supportive investments, namely, infrastructure, dry ports, industrial zones, hotels and tourism, communication, and transport services. In addition to its trade and investment relations, the UAE also participates in tourism, developmental financing, and social relations.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, also held discussions with Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye. Mr. Demeke highlighted a peace agreement that was signed between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF. He explained that the government is carrying out many activities to ensure lasting peace. He also underscored the activities that are being taken to further strengthen the longstanding friendly relationship between the two nations. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Mevlut Cavusoglu, on his part, expressed the happiness of the Turkish government that the peace agreement was signed to resolve the conflict in northern Ethiopia through dialogue. The Minister, emphasizing that the peace of Ethiopia has made a great contribution to the stability of the region, indicated that Turkiye will provide all-round support in the effort to ensure peace in Ethiopia by implementing the peace agreement. He also assured that the work being done to increase Turkey’s bilateral relations with Ethiopia in all fields will continue.
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An overview of the week since Ethiopia’s Peace Pact
Ethiopia’s Government and the TPLF signed a cessation of hostilities on (November 2, 2022) after talks mediated by the African Union (AU), a diplomatic breakthrough in the two years’ conflict in Northern part of the country. The Agreement is being applauded by Ethiopians from all corners of the country as well as by the international community.
On the weekend, Ambassador Redwan Hussien, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Dr. Gedion Timothewos, Minister of Justice, briefed the International Community based in Addis Ababa about the Peace Deal including the process during the agreement, the contents of the agreement, the next steps in the implementation of the deal, and expectations from friends and partners.
A number of nations and international, continental, and sub-continental organizations, as well as groups of big partners, have sent messages expressing their positive acceptance of the agreement and their support for its implementation. Friends and partners of Ethiopia have conveyed their willingness to support the efforts to rebuild the areas affected by the war, to resettle the displaced, and to return the demobilized to a peaceful life.
The Implementation
Among the steps taken toward the implementation of the agreement is the establishment of a telephone hotline between the Ethiopian government and TPLF to help maintain the ceasefire struck last week.
“The first sign of progress after the signing of the agreement is the fact that between them they have exchanged a hotline,” AU chief mediator Olusegun Obasanjo told a news conference in Nairobi.
The hotline will address any flare-up in fighting and coordinate disengagements, given the challenge of fully communicating with all the units to stop fighting.
In a conversation with the Ethiopian Media Service, Ambassador Redwan said, “We communicate as specific occurrences take place in each situation. We won’t have a phone issue since we’ve signed an agreement.”
Another development is the meeting between the commanders of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and the TPLF in Nairobi, Kenya. This is being done as per the agreement and is regarded as a good beginning in the implementation of the agreement.
As the military commanders work out details on the disarmament of TPLF forces, the AU said that expected outcomes of the talks included “modalities for silencing the guns, humanitarian access, and the restoration of services in the Tigray region.”
Guns are silenced. What about the online violence?
One thing is to silence weapons and breathe in peace; another is to put an end to hate speech and calls for violence in the digital sphere. Ambassador Meles Alem, Spokesperson for Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that it is crucial that the media refrain from inciting hatred and division and instead emphasizes the advantages and lasting effects of the peace agreement.
In his biweekly media briefing, he called upon the diaspora to be a champion of peace instead of spreading delusion and hatred among themselves. The government encourages them to contribute to the recovery and development of the areas affected by the conflict.
Diplomacy with a New Spirit, Cooperation and Mutual Respect
It is obvious that the conflict resulted in some misunderstanding between the government of Ethiopia and its global partners. Efforts are underway to iron out differences and deepen ties with the international community now that the issues with specific nations and entities related to the conflict are a thing of the past.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Headquarter and Missions will make a concerted effort to create a chance for all to leave this chapter behind and intensify diplomatic engagement with a new spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.
There should be no place for second-guessing. The two sides agreed, and the country must move forward. “We also need to revitalize relations with partners,” Ambassador Redwan told the international community in his briefings last Saturday.
Ethiopia’s commitment to African Solutions to African Problems
The role of the African Union (AU) in reaching this deal is of paramount importance. Africa has demonstrated that it is a continent with an abundance of ideas and wisdom to solve its problems. The peace agreement will be exemplary for Africans in their bid to solve African problems with African solutions. The peace pact and its implementation, as well as the entire paradigm of the agreement, are testaments to Ethiopia’s principled position and send a message to international partners to cooperate and support the African solution to the problem, which has yielded notable results.
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London hosts third UK-Ethiopia Investment and Trade Forum
The Embassy of Ethiopia in London, in collaboration with WAFA Marketing and Promotion and the Digital Marketing Association (DMA), organized the third UK-Ethiopia Investment and Trade Forum on November 3, 2022. The forum was organized to promote Ethiopia’s investment opportunities to UK and multinational companies, along with the testimony of existing investors for further expanded investments. The forum brought together distinguished officials and investment communities in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, finance, ICT, etc. from the UK and Ethiopia’s business groups.
Gebremeskel Challa, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, recalled in his keynote speech that the United Kingdom was among the first countries to open an embassy in Addis Ababa, while Ethiopia is the first African country to open an embassy in London.
While noting that the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) signed in South Africa will open a new dawn for Ethiopians and lay a foundation for trade and investment, the Minister said, “Now is the right time to invest in Ethiopia.”
With the home-grown economic reforms in Ethiopia, the Minister underlined that the country is opening up huge space for the private sector. The Minister further emphasized the fact that increasing the export volume and ensuring the diversity of products remains a priority.
In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Teferi Melesse underlined that Ethiopia, as the second most populous country in Africa with more than 115 million people, has the most promising commercial opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing, infrastructure, energy, aviation, health care, and tourism sectors.
The ambassador said that apart from privatizing the telecom sector, #Ethiopia is opening up its financial sector to foreign investors. In such score, he encouraged the UK investors to seize the lucrative investment opportunities in Ethiopia.
He called up on affirmed Ethiopia’s incredible and diverse natural and human resources, which he said, could be used to improve the lives of its people and increase returns for the investing community. The Ambassador also noted that the UK’s position as the top financial services investment destination in Europe and the top global networked hub for markets, partnerships, and capacity development offers tremendous opportunities for Ethiopian exporters.
Ambassador Teferi further urged UK investors to explore the untapped investment potentials of Ethiopia and underlined the readiness of the Government of Ethiopia and the Embassy in supporting their economic engagement in Ethiopia.
Lawrence Robertson, Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom and Chairman of the All-Parties Parliamentary Group for Ethiopia and Djibouti, expressed his excitement with the South African peace agreement and pledged that UK investors will play their part in making use of investment opportunities in Ethiopia.
Participants from the Ethiopian Investment Commission, Ministry of Mining, and the Ministry of Trade made extensive presentations on investment opportunities, which were followed by Government-to Business (G2B) and Business- to- Business sessions (B2B). The forum, which had more than a hundred attendees, including twenty from Ethiopia, lasted for more than 14 hours and received positive reviews from the participants.
The wide range of excellent partnerships between Ethiopia and the United Kingdom, as well as strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, remain among the political, diplomatic, and economic priorities for both sides.That in mind, the trade volume between the UK and Ethiopia needs a robust effort for a wider impact. While Ethiopia export to the UK in USD takes less than 2% (1.3% in 2020), around 37 Million USD, of the total export of Ethiopia abroad and a decrease in 3%, for instance 2020, than it was a year earlier. Whereas, Ethiopia’s over all import from the UK shows a steady growth through the years, amounting for example in 2020, more than 240 million USD, taking similarly only nearly 2 % (1.81% in 2020) of the total import of Ethiopia in USD.
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