News in Brief

US-Africa Leaders Summit Revitalizes Ethiopia-US Relations

Ethiopian Embassy in London co-organizes Coffee Exhibition

Africa and the African Union

The African Economic Conference 2022 kicked off on Friday (December 23) in Balaclava, Mauritius, with speakers in the first plenary session calling for the continent to find alternative models of climate financing away from debt instruments. Speaker after speaker reminded developed countries to keep their promise to help pay for the damages caused by climate change in Africa. African governments were also advised to improve their governance systems to attract private financing to mitigate climate change.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemned in the strongest terms on Wednesday (December 21) the reported attempted coup d’état in the Gambia. In full support of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) statement and in conformity with the 2000 Lomé Declaration, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections & Governance, and the Accra Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government, the Chairperson furthermore strongly rejects any attempt at an unconstitutional change of government in the Gambia or any other Member State. The Chairperson reaffirms the continued and unwavering support of the African Union to the government and people of the Gambia.

Regarding the U.S.-Africa Summit, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, announced at the end that the successful U.S.-Africa summit, the first after an 8-year hiatus, is yet another strong demonstration of the Biden Administration’s commitment to reset the strategic US-Africa partnership on a basis of mutual respect and common interest for the mutual benefit of our peoples.

Ethiopia

A high-level delegation led by  Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, took part in the second US-Africa Leaders Summit, which was held from December 13–15, 2022, in Washington, D.C. The Ethiopian delegation included Mrs. Zinash Tayachew, First Lady; Ambassador Redwan Hussien, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister;  Gedion Timotios, Minister of Justice; Melaku Alebel, Minister of Industry; Gebremeskel Challa, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration; and Ambassador Tesfaye Yilma, State Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others. (See article)

The African Union Commission convenes the second meeting of the Senior Commanders of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and TPLF to follow-up on the implementation of the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA), the official statement issued on Thursday (December 22) confirms. The meeting finalised the Term of Reference (ToR) of the Joint Monitoring, Verification and Compliance Mechanism (JMVCM). The meeting also discussed the implementation of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process.

The humanitarian aid delivery and reconstruction activities in Tigray have gained momentum, following the Pretoria peace agreement, according to Government Communication Service (GCS). Briefing the media on Saturday (December 17), Government Communication Service State Minister Selamawit Kassa said the government has been working in its capacity to implement the agreement with full commitment. Humanitarian aid has been delivered via Afar-Abala, Gondar-Mytsebri-Shire, and Kombolcha-Kobo-Alamata corridors via road transport, she added. According to her, unfettered humanitarian aid has been delivered in all corridors. Up until December 14, more than 93,000 metric tons of food and nutrition have been delivered, the state minister revealed.

The peace agreement signed between the Government of Ethiopia and the TPLF will encourage Korean companies to invest in Ethiopia, South Korean Ambassador Seokhee told Ethiopian News Agency on Thursday (December 22). Ambassador Kang Seokhee said that South Korea and Ethiopia have enjoyed a special friendship over the last several decades. He stated that the embassy will thus collaborate with South Korean and Ethiopian businesspeople, and that he hopes investment will increase in the coming year.

The Government of Ethiopia confirmed the peaceful release of six Djiboutian Army personnel held hostage by the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) militants. Ambassador Fesseha Shawel, Director General of African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday (December 21) that the Government of Ethiopia secured the release of the soldiers through meticulous intelligence and police operations. According to Ambassador Fesseha, community leaders and the administration of the Afar Regional State played critical roles in the process. He stated that the army members were handed over to the Djiboutian administration, emphasizing cooperation between Ethiopia and Djibouti over peace and security issues. Six Djiboutian Army soldiers went missing on October 6, 2022, after the “Armed FRUD” attacked the Djiboutian army post in Garabtissan, in the Tadjourah Region.

The Embassy of Ethiopia in Djibouti stated on Friday (December 23) that 253 vulnerable Ethiopian migrants who were attempting to cross the sea to Yemen were safely returned back to Ethiopia after being rescued from an overcrowded boat in Djibouti. The 253 Ethiopian migrants, including 98 women, were crammed aboard the small boat by the traffickers, endangering their lives and necessitating an immediate response and successful migrant rescue.

Last week, the Ethiopian Embassy in the United Kingdom and Ethiopian Coffee Importers and Distributors collaborated to host a coffee exhibition showcasing various types of Ethiopian coffee. The exhibition was attended by various high-level guests from both countries, including ambassadors, invited guests, and visitors. The exhibition also brought together UK and international coffee buyers and roasters with Ethiopian green and roasted coffee suppliers. (See article)

The Ministry of Health (MoH), in close collaboration with the Ethiopian Country Office of the World Health Organization (WHO-Ethiopia), hosted on Wednesday (December 21) an Inter-Country Coordination Meeting of the Cross-Border Pastoral Project on Using Innovative Digital Solutions for Improving Access to Health Care Services and Nutrition Information in Cross-Border Pastoral Communities.

The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is set to launch the first edition of the Tech African Women program (TAW) with the objective of providing training to young African females with idea-stage tech startups. TAW is a 5-month entrepreneurship program targeting female-led and idea-stage tech startups in Ethiopia, Senegal, Tanzania, and Tunisia, providing solutions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Some eight idea-stage startups from Ethiopia, Senegal, Tanzania, and Tunisia, who went through an intensive three-month incubation phase since the end of September, will be pitching their projects during the event in order to win a prize, UNECA has announced.

Ethiopia participates in a traditional food and beverage tasting party organized by the Association of Accredited Correspondents at the United Nations. The Permanent Mission of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva participated in a traditional food and beverage tasting party organized by the Association of Accredited Correspondents at the United Nations (ACANU) in Geneva on Friday, December 16).

Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Shitaye Minale, presented her letters of credentials to President Alassane Dramane Ouattara in a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday (December 21).

On Wednesday (December 21), President Kaguta Museveni bade farewell to the outgoing Ambassador of Ethiopia to Uganda. Alemtshay Meseret at State House, Entebbe. The president thanked the ambassador for concretizing the already existing cordial relationship between the two sister nations.

Djibouti

The World Bank and the European Union Delegation in Djibouti, on behalf of the European Union, signed an Administration Agreement this month to support the development of Djibouti’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The 3.9 million Euro contribution will support the World Bank’s MSME Business Development Project in Djibouti, which provides services to MSMEs, including access to digitalization, improved accounting practices, credit applications, business plans, and legal and marketing strategies. It will also support the creation of a virtual “one-stop-shop” where MSME’s can go to one place to access permits and other services. The European funding will be channeled through the World Bank’s MENA Regional Umbrella Multi-donor Trust Fund Program.

Ethiopia’s overseas investment, (NOC Djibouti), has unveiled a modern service station worth over 200 million Djiboutian franc in Djibouti. The service station, which is equipped with a cutting-edge and efficient distribution system that complies with the latest international standards in terms of safety and environmental protection, was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by the Minister of Energy in charge of Natural Resources of Djibouti,  Mr. Yonis Ali Guedi, NOC Djibouti Country Chairman, Mr. Fassil Woldemariam, representatives of the Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti, and other notable guests. NOC Djibouti has dedicated a significant amount of resources to the construction of this station, which will serve as a valuable asset for Ethiopia and the local community.

A special flight of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry has delivered 100,000 doses of the Sputnik Light coronavirus vaccines to Djibouti, the ministry press service told Interfax on Wednesday, saying it was a humanitarian shipment. “A special flight of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry delivered humanitarian aid – 100,000 doses of the Sputnik Light vaccine for the prevention of novel coronavirus caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus, as well as 100,000 disposable syringes — to the population of the Republic of Djibouti on December 20,” the press service said. “The delivery was made on orders from the Russian government, at the request of the Republic of Djibouti,” it said.

Kenya

Kenya and Somalia vow to end violent extremism. Kenya and Somalia have committed to ending violent extremism, Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said on Friday (December 16). Duale said the two countries will partner in areas of trade and investment as they foster peace and security. The Cabinet Secretary said the commitments were made by President William Ruto and his Somali counterpart, Hassan Mohamud, during bilateral talks during the US-Africa Leaders Summit.

Kenya Airways (KQ) plans to resume commercial passenger flights to Djibouti, ending a two-year hiatus that saw the carrier drop operations at the destination when it resumed international flights in August 2020. President William Ruto has said talks with Djibouti President Ismail Omar are advanced and could see Kenya’s national carrier resume flights to that country. Details on the frequency of the flight type, ticket charges as well as the timing of the KQ flight to Djibouti remain unclear.

Somalia

The Security Council adopted a resolution on Wednesday (December 21) to delay the drawdown of 2,000 personnel of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) for six months. Pursuant to Resolution 2628 of March 31, which reconfigured the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) into ATMIS, the AU was expected to withdraw 2,000 ATMIS personnel by December 31 as part of the mission’s phased drawdown. The draft in blue extends the deadline for this drawdown until June 30, 2023, while reconfirming the commitment of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) for ATMIS to exit Somalia by December 31, 2024.

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud said Monday that soldiers who have been training in Eritrea for months would begin returning to the country in the coming days. “Before the end of this December, they will start to return, and in January, they will be back,” Mohamoud assured a forum organized by the Somali diaspora during his visit to the United States. “We have settled everything on this issue, and God willing, we will not have any delay after that.” Mohamoud, who promised to bring the soldiers home during his spring election campaign, visited them at training camps in Eritrea in July.

The Somali military on Thursday (December 22) liberated the strategic town of Runirgod in the middle Shabelle region from the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab terrorist group, the Defense Ministry said. In a news conference in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia’s Defense Ministry spokesman Abdullahi Ali Anod said the government forces, backed by locals, were engaged in fierce fighting with terrorists to liberate the Runirgod.

The U.S. military announced that airstrikes carried out by American forces killed 15 al-Shabab fighters in Somalia’s Hirshabelle State. Two separate airstrikes were carried out in “collective self-defense,” the U.S. military in Africa announced Sunday, with the first occurring on Dec. 14 and the second on Dec. 17, according to a report from Voice of America. The strikes were made at the request of the Federal Government of Somalia in support of Somali National Army forces, with the first strike killing seven militants and the second killing eight al-Shabab fighters.

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US-Africa Leaders Summit Revitalizes Ethiopia-US Relations

A high-level delegation led by  Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, took part in the second US-Africa Leaders Summit, which was held from December 13–15, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

The Ethiopian delegation included Mrs. Zinash Tayachew, First Lady; Ambassador Redwan Hussien, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister;  Gedion Timotios, Minister of Justice; Melaku Alebel, Minister of Industry; Gebremeskel Challa, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration; and Ambassador Tesfaye Yilma, State Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others.

At the summit, the Prime Minister held extensive and fruitful discussions with Joseph R. Biden, the President of the United States of America, and members of his cabinet on strategic, bilateral, regional, and global issues in the context of Ethiopia’s partnership with the United States of America. The list in the US side included Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor to President Biden, Ambassador Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representatives (USTR), and leaders of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC). In addition, discussions were also held with the Foreign Relations Committee of the House of Peoples Representatives of the U.S. and individual members of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.

During the discussions, the Prime Minister briefed U.S. officials on the objectives and achievements of Ethiopia’s reform journey over the last four years. He underscored the depth of the political reform that provided opportunities for thousands of previously exiled political leaders to return home and actively participate in the institutionalization of democracy in Ethiopia, including by serving as senior leaders in the current administration. He also highlighted the special attention his administration attaches to gender equality and, as a result, the current active role of women leaders in the political and justice sectors of the country.

 Abiy also elaborated on the remarkable reforms and institutional transformations that Ethiopia has embarked on, including the security sector reform, which brought tremendous transformation in the reconfigurations of Ethiopia’s security forces in a manner that reflects the multiethnic and multicultural colors of Ethiopia, the focus on the development of human capital, including school feeding and primary education programs, and the economic reform with the view of improving the country’s ease of doing business and opening opportunities not only for Ethiopians but also other stakeholders (both investors and traders) from partner countries. The processes of decentralization and accountability were also emphasized during the discussions.

The Prime Minister also drew the attention of U.S. officials to how the TPLF group had abused the people of Ethiopia and the resources of the country over the past decades. While Ethiopians from all corners of the country demanded reforms as a direct result of such abuses, the group’s reaction to reverse the gains of the reforms and its insistence on maintaining its grip on power as a source of economic exploitation and corruption have become a major source of contention. The Prime Minister stressed that an attempt to reverse the reforms was nothing short of an attack on the democratization efforts in Ethiopia. He underlined the importance of proper understanding by the people and Government of the United States of America of this glaring reality and extending their support to the people of Ethiopia.

The United States officials, on their part, while reassuring their support for the success of Ethiopia’s reform initiatives, expressed their concern over the consequences of the conflict in Northern Ethiopia and stated the need for implementing the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) reached in Pretoria in all its letters and spirit. They also underscored the importance of fast-tracking the process of resetting the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Ethiopian delegation also stressed the need for deepening the two countries’ strategic partnership, the required flexibility from the U.S. actors to get out of the deep anti-Ethiopian misinformation campaign, the commitment of the government to implement CoHA, and the return to normalcy. It is also stated that the implementation of the agreement requires the parties to uphold their commitment for Ethiopia to have only one national defense force and complete the DDR process as agreed. On the issues of accountability and human rights, it was underscored that efforts must recognize the work done so far and should not undermine national institutions. The Ethiopian government also expressed that humanitarian supply and restoration of basic services in the conflict-affected areas have always been government priorities. The Prime Minister also assured the U.S. officials that there would be no backtracking in the implementation of the agreement and stated that the U.S.’s support remains critical.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Prime Minister met with World Bank Group President David Malpass and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. In addition, he also met with executives of American multinational companies and investment groups interested in working in Ethiopia, as well as Ethiopian Diaspora leaders residing in the U.S.

On another well-deserved achievement, Prime Minister  Abiy Ahmed was awarded the “Outstanding African Leadership Award” in recognition of the Green Legacy Initiative at a special event organized by the American Academy of Achievement and the Global Hope Coalition in Washington, D.C. In his acceptance statement, the Prime Minister thanked the American Academy of Achievement and the Global Hope Coalition for extending a hand of friendship to the African continent and for recognizing Ethiopia’s Green Legacy initiative as an African success story. “We have no doubt that our Green Legacy story will motivate a global mobilization toward reconciling our modern civilization with our planet and ecosystems,” he underscored.

In conclusion, the Ethiopian delegation had fruitful and productive discussions with both U.S. officials and leaders of multilateral financial institutions in Washington, D.C. These engagements will reenergize Ethiopia’s long-standing bilateral relations and partnership with the United States of America, as well as with multilateral financial institutions.

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Ethiopian Embassy in London co-organizes Coffee Exhibition

Last week, the Ethiopian Embassy in the United Kingdom and Ethiopian Coffee Importers and Distributors collaborated to host a coffee exhibition showcasing various types and aromas of Ethiopian coffee. The exhibition was attended by various high-level guests from both countries, including ambassadors, invited guests, and visitors. The exhibition also brought together UK and international coffee buyers and roasters with Ethiopian green and roasted coffee suppliers.

The major sessions of the exhibition included a traditional coffee ceremony, presentations, a cupping session, coffee tastings, and coffee samples from Ethiopian roast coffee exporters. More than 30 exhibitors and traders, exporters, purchasers, and roasters from the UK side, as well as coffee companies, importers, and brokers, attended the exhibition.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Woubshet Demissie, Charge d’Affaires of the Ethiopian Embassy in London, spoke among other aspects about efforts between the UK and Ethiopia to promote trade and investment, the potential of the coffee industry to boost trade partnerships, and the varieties of Ethiopian coffee that the UK coffee industry can take advantage of. He mentioned the Embassy’s increased efforts in promoting Ethiopian coffee in previous years, and he stated that the Embassy has been organizing a series of virtual events, even during COVID, to promote our green and roasted coffee in the UK and European markets since 2020. He said there is a wide range of efforts to enhance trade and investment between Ethiopia and the UK generally and in the coffee industry particularly, but these efforts are especially exciting because Ethiopia is the origin of coffee.

Speaking about the need to further establish and boost connections between the industry players in the two countries, the ambassador stated that although Ethiopian coffee is notable for its finest quality, not enough marketing has been done. Thus, he recommended, there is a need to further promote Ethiopian coffee and enhance cooperation by creating a platform to establish enhanced links between coffee buyers, roasters, and suppliers, among others, in order to expand and upgrade the coffee market and increase coffee exports to the United Kingdom, which he says is currently lower when compared to some other European countries. “I know the market is increasingly demanding ethically sourced products, and people are willing to pay a premium for sustainably sourced products.” “Whether it is Fair Trade or organic certified, Ethiopia has a story to tell—and sell—in the United Kingdom,” he added.

Ambassador Woubshet commended the partners who helped organize the meeting, including Kamba Coffee, Lucyawi, Vayu Aviation, and the Ethiopian Coffee Company, as well as stakeholders such as the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, the Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association, and the UK Embassy in Addis Ababa, whose support contributed to the success of the exhibition.

 Denis Seudieu, Chief Economist at the International Coffee Organization (ICO), on his part, emphasized that as Ethiopia is the origin of coffee, an active member at the ICO, and one of the major coffee exporting countries, the industry gives a wide opportunity for cooperation. Representing the private sector, Minilik Habtu, representative of the Ethiopian Coffee Association and CEO of Typica Coffee, also added that the event offered another opportunity to showcase Ethiopian coffee.

As the country is one of the world’s leading producers, the Government of Ethiopia has paid due attention to maximizing coffee exports. The country enacted a new marketing and export policy to allow direct coffee exports by smallholders with a minimum of two hectares of land and by commercial farms to encourage vertical integration and improve coffee traceability. Following the new policy, coffee production in Ethiopia has grown steadily over the past consecutive years and has suitable growth potential.

The Government of Ethiopia implemented reforms in the coffee value chain to enhance coffee production, productivity, and exports. The reform is addressing challenges within the coffee sector through improved coordination among the government and the private sector players in the value chain, including financial institutions, the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), and all stakeholders.

Last month, the Embassy of Ethiopia in London, in collaboration with WAFA Marketing and Promotion and the Digital Marketing Association (DMA), also hosted the third UK-Ethiopia Investment and Trade Forum. 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.

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’s exports to the UK in USD represent less than 2% (1.3% in 2020) of total Ethiopian exports abroad, around 37 million USD, there is a 3% decrease in 2020 compared to the previous year. Ethiopia’s total imports from the UK, on the other hand, have steadily increased over the years, amounting to more than 240 million USD in 2020, accounting for nearly 2% (1.81% in 2020) of Ethiopia’s total imports in USD.