Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s East African Tour: State Visit to Tanzania
The Commemoration of the Victory of the Battle of Adwa at 128
NEWS IN BRIEF
Africa and the African Union
The African Union on Friday (March 8) officially launched the 4th CAADP Biennial Review Report and he Post-Malabo Roadmap at its Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the participation of the Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security from AU Member States. The Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) is Africa’s policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security, nutrition, economic growth, and prosperity.
The African Union Commission disclosed on Saturday (March 2), the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, participated in the High-Level Segment of the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC55) on 27 February 2024 and briefed the Council on the State of Human Rights in Africa, in particular the right to development.
The African Union Commission on Thursday (March 7) in collaboration with the Ghanaian Government and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Africa Office held a high-Level anti-doping forum on the sidelines of the 13th Edition of the African Games in Accra, Ghana. The forum was aimed at facilitating open and constructive dialogue among African sport ministers and key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive regional strategy against doping in the sports in Africa.
The AU Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) on Friday (March 8) revealed that it recognises information, communication and technology (ICT) as a major tool for empowering graduates and ensuring they contribute to social economic development by ensuring they not only have universal access but also ensuring they enhance the quality of provision and delivery, of services. CESA stated, ICT opens up possibilities for innovation, entrepreneurship and employability; flexibility in pedagogies; beating the limitation of time and space for varied learner needs; and enhancing confidence and dignity of graduates at all levels.
Ethiopia
President Sahle-Work Zewde travelled to Tigray Region on Saturday (March 2) and together regional dignitaries celebrated the 128th Anniversary of the Victory of the Battle of Adwa at the historic scene, the impregnable Adwa mountains. Speaking at the commemorative occasion, she said, “the victory of Adwa has shown that Ethiopians can unite and win, even against an unmatched and well-equipped force…It is a victory that we should be very proud of and cherish.”
The Council of Ministers, in the presence of Premiere Abiy Ahmed held its 100-day performance review of the second quarter of the fiscal year on Tuesday (March 5). The review, among others, included presentations on activities undertaken, focusing on four sectoral areas of governance and justice, social, and economic sectors.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday morning (March 8) conferred with the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Ethiopia Country Manager in Ethiopia on the Bank’s various projects in the country. The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to congratulate AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, on receiving the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership on Wednesday (March 6) at a high-level ceremony held in Lagos, Nigeria.
On Friday (March 8), Prime Minister Abiy welcomed at his office, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and held productive discussions on wide-ranging bilateral and multilateral issues of shared interest. PM Abiy wrote in a social media post after the talks, Ethiopia and Denmark “share longstanding ties that provide a solid foundation for further collaboration.”
On Monday (March 4), the Prime Minister had an audience with the community members and representatives from the South West, South, Central Ethiopia, and Sidama regions and listened to concerns of the participants regarding development and relayed feedback in which he emphasized the significance of unity for achieving common goals. Similarly, met and discussed with community members from all sub-cities in the Capital Addis Ababa on Thursday (March 7) on various issues including city development, food security initiatives in the city, youth engagement, housing schemes among other topics.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Taye Atse Selassie, on Thursday (March 7) received at his office and held discussions with Danish counterpart Lars Løkke Rasmussen, on bilateral, regional and global issues of shared interest. Formal diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and the Scandinavian country began in 1967.
Minister of Labor and Skills Muferiat Kamil during an exclusive interview with Ethiopian News Agency(ENA) on Thursday (March 7) divulged that the Government has been prodigiously working on formalizing outgoing labour migration, that have hitherto been dominated by the informal sector in the form of customary brokerage to connect Ethiopians for job opportunities overseas. She told ENA, Ethiopia has been implementing several initiatives towards improving labor migration governance and skills in the country by developing clear national policy frameworks, legal instruments as well as signing international labor treaties, it was indicated.
The House of Peoples’ Representatives’ Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs Standing Committee led chaired by Dima Negewo, on Thursday (March 7) , hosted and held discussions with German Federal Parliament’s (Bundestag) Foreign Affairs Committee delegation led by Stefan Keuter on ways of further enhancing relations, during a meeting in Addis Ababa. Chairperson Dima stressed the significant role such continued engagement to foster more bilateral cooperation through parliamentary diplomacy.
The prominent Pan-African carrier, Ethiopian Airlines on Tuesday (March 5) announced its plans of fleet expansion with the acquisition of state–of-the-art 777X jets from Boeing. EAL noted, this move will enable it to provide unparalleled service and comfort to our passengers whereby demonstrating our dedication to staying at the forefront of aviation technology.
On Saturday (March 2), Ethiopians from all walks of life, both at home and around the world colourfully celebrated the 128th of the commemoration of the Victory at the historic Battle of Adwa against Italian aggression (See Article).
Refugees and Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) in partnership with National ID Program (NIDP) with support from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) launched an initiative to include refugees and asylum seekers in the country the recently inaugurated national biometric digital identification schemed dubbed Fayda aiming to facilitate refugees’ and asylum seekers’ access to basic services.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Meles Alem, during his bi-weekly press briefing at the MFA Headquarters on Thursday (March 7) said, Prime Minister Abiy’s state visits to Kenya and Tanzania were immensely fruitful in advancing multifaceted cooperation between Ethiopia and the East African countries.
On Tuesday (March 6), the Ethiopian Embassy in Algiers participated in the Oran Invest Expo held in Algerian City of Oran from 4 to 7 March 2024. Ethiopian Ambassador to Algeria, Nebiat Getachew, on the occasion highlighted Ethiopia’s untapped investment potentials in tandem with the several reforms by the Government to representatives of Algerian businesses present.
The Ethiopian Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI) on Tuesday (March 5) launched a “Ground Station as a Service” initiative, involving the reception of satellite data for different countries, organizations and users. Satellite Operations Director Melaku Muka said, the SSGI has begun generating revenue through receiving satellite data, and processing and analyzing them for various organizations and countries on a payment basis.
Djibouti
On Wednesday (March 5), the French Foreign Legion (Légion étrangère) announced that the 4th Company of the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) has been deployed to Djibouti for a period of four months, the former homeland of this particular regiment. FFL is a corps of The French Army, officially referred to as the Land Army established in 1831 to admit foreign nationals into the defence forces and comprises several land and air specialties including infantry, cavalry, engineers, airborne troops.
The Swiss-Headquartered Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A – commonly known as MSC – in a statement published on Tuesday (March 5) announced that Container ship MSC Sky II was hit by a missile on the previous day southeast of Aden and east-southeast of the Bab El-Mandab Strait while en route to the Port of Djibouti from the Yemeni Port City of Aden.
Kenya
President William Samoei Ruto witnessed on Wednesday (March 6) the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Kenya and the United Arab Emirates that will create the first-ever mega data centre powered by geothermal energy. The agreement between Kenya’s EcoCloud and UAE’s G42 will see the construction of a 1GW mega data centre, thus propelling Kenya’s digital economy to greater heights, State House revealed afterwards in press statement. He also presided over the signing ceremony of an MoU Kenyan Biovax Institute and Emirati Hayat Biotech at State House Nairobi. The President, a social media post said, the deal is part of the administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) to boost our country’s capacity in the research, development and manufacture of vaccines, both for humans and animals.
The President on Monday (March 5) congratulated Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the next Prime Minister of Pakistan. In a social media post, Ruto said, “Your victory is a testament to your bold and progressive leadership. Kenya looks forward to working with you in escalating our ties for the prosperity of our citizens.”
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs on Thursday (March 7) announced that Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir SingOei and Kazakh Ambassador to Kenya Barlybay Sadykov witnessed by External Affairs Assistant to Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Erzhan Kh. Kazykhan, inked an MoU for Political Consultations between respective Foreign Ministries as a reaffirmation of mutual commitment to stronger relations.
On Tuesday (March 5), Members of the East Africa Legislative Assembly (Bunge la Afrika Mashariki in Kiswahili) gathered at the Kenyan Parliament Buildings in the Capital Nairobi for the official opening of the special plenary sitting during the inaugural session of the 5th Assembly. President Ruto, in his opening remarks said, the East African Legislative Assembly plays an important role in advancing the integration of the East African Community (EAC) and other regional interests.
Over the week, Kenya hosted 7th Session of the Kenya-Egypt Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) from 5th to 7th March, 2024. Preceded by a meeting of Senior Officials’ meeting the JCC (commonly known as Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC)) touched upon bilateral, continental and global issues of common interest. The Ministerial segment was co-chaired by Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi and Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Sameh Shoukry.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi on Monday (March 5) participated in a gathering of members of the African Diplomatic Corps put together by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (MFDA) to exchange ideas and to explore avenues.
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Rebecca Miano in an interview published on The East African on Sunday (March 3) said, the Ministry of Trade is preparing to conduct public awareness and disseminate information on the recently Euopean Parliament ratified Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as soon as it is ratified by the Kenya National Assembly. She added, the EPA after parliamentary ratification will come into force in two to three months’ time.
Somalia
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud on the margins of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Saturday (March 2)held bilateral talks with Türkiye counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on bilateral and regional issues of mutual concern including enhancing defence and economic cooperation and peace and security in Somalia and the Horn.
The President on Tuesday (March 5) met at Villa Somalia with Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik and discussed bilateral ties, development, counter-terrorism cooperation and the stabilization of areas that the Government refers to as “liberated from Khawaarij”. FM Kravik was in Mogadishu for an official visit.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud attended on Thursday (March 7) the graduation ceremony of Somalia army personnel, who graduated from the Mogadishu-based Türkiye military base and defence university, Camp TURKSOM. The fresh graduates will be part of the special forces of the Gorgor Special Division mainly based in Mogadishu, Tosmurib and Beled Hawo, while maintaining TURKSOM as their main base.
On Thursday (March 7) Somalia and Türkiye signed an offshore oil and natural gas cooperation deal that will grant the latter with an unprecedented opportunity to explore, evaluate, develop and produce oil found in the Horn of African country’ land and sea blocks. Ministers of Energy Abdirizak Omar Mohamed and Alparslan Bayraktar, on Somalia and TUrkiye sides respectively inked the Agreement that Minister Bayraktar aims “to strengthen Turkey’s presence in the Horn of Africa with new cooperation in the field of energy.”
During a brief ceremony held at the Headquarters of the East African Community (EAC) on Monday (March 4) in Arusha, Tanzania, Minister of Commerce and Industry Jibril Abdirashid Haji, presented the instrument of ratification to the bloc’s Secretary-General Peter Mathuki, completing Somalia’s admission process and granting it full membership.
The Government revealed on Tuesday (March 5) the killing and capture of scores of terrorists belonging to Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, commonly known as Al-Shabaab, in a military operation in the lower Juba region.
South Sudan
President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday (March 6) was briefed by National Parliament (NP) Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba on NP’s activities and the need to reopen the August House during the first week of April this year, Office of the President announced.
Chairman of the Ceasefire & Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring & Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) Maj Gen Hailu Gonfa on Thursday (March 7) briefed IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu on the South Sudan peace process, with emphasis on the current status of the ceasefire and security arrangements. Previously known as IGAD Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (MVM), the CTSAMVM, was established to monitor the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) signed by the Parties of South Sudan in January 2014. In the wake of the signing of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) on 17 August 2015 in Addis Ababa the body became the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) and is mandated with monitoring, verifying compliance and reporting to IGAD Council of Ministers (IGAD-CoM) and the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) on the progress of the Implementation and also Violations of the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements (PCTSA) under Chapter 11 of the 2018 R- ARCSS.
Sudan
During a meeting with AU High-Level Panel on the Resolution of the Conflict led by Mohamed Ibn Chambas on Wednesday (March 3) in the capital city of the Red Sea state, Port Sudan, Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council and Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan called for the restoration of Sudan’s full membership to the continental organisation. According to local media reports, a statement issued by the Sovereign Council echoed Al Burhan’s confidence and that of Sudan “in the African Union’s potential solutions, but only if the state regains its full membership and the organization treats it as such.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addressing a 15-member Security Council meeting on Thursday (March 7) urged the warring parties in Sudan to agree to halt hostilities during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, resonating the spirit of the British-initiated draft resolution and tabled to the UN Security Council recently, that urges a truce for the upcoming Ramadan, in the ongoing fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s East African Tour: State Visit to Tanzania
As part of his East African tour, a high-level Ethiopian delegation led by Prime Minister Abiy, after a momentous State Visit to Kenya paid a two-day State Visit to Tanzania (1-2 March 2024). The State Visit was the outcome of an official invitation by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassen, which the Premiere accepted promptly. On arrival at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Prime Minister Abiy accompanied by First Lady Zinash Tayachew and high-ranking Ethiopian government officials, was warmly welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, January Makamba and Ethiopian Ambassador to Tanzania, Shibru Mammo.
During the historic State Visit, PM Abiy and his gracious host President Samia Suluhu, discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern and expressed their commitments to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries on various mutual strategic interests.
The leaders also expressed the importance of expanding the cooperation into the business sectors and encouraged the business communities of both countries to explore and utilize opportunities available for engagement within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while reiterating the need to create enabling business environment to boost trade and investment.
Cooperation in defense and security, addressing of illegal migration, collaboration in the aviation industry especially in areas of management, capacity building training, aircraft repair and maintenance, sharing of technologies and codes as well as cooperation in the field of tourism, ICT, education, health are among the areas discussed and agreed upon by the leaders.
To further strengthen the relation in the economic and social sectors, and Memoranda of Understanding in agriculture, energy trade, and cultural cooperation, which Premiere Abiy lauded as foundational for ongoing and reciprocal development. Ethiopia and Tanzania also inked Power Purchase Agreement to provide 400 MW of electricity to Tanzania through Kenya.
Ethiopia and Tanzania share a long history of solidarity and mutual support. The two countries have always stood together in times of difficulties and have worked closely to promote peace, stability and development in the region.
The relations date back to the days of the struggle for freedom and liberation of Africa from colonialism. The two countries were proponents of Pan-Africanism and played a significant role for the independence of Africa. The two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1964 and have been cooperating in bilateral, regional, continental and global shared interests ever since.
The Commemoration of the Victory of the Battle of Adwa at 128
On Saturday, 02 March 2024, Ethiopians, the Ethiopian diaspora and Friends of Ethiopia at home and around the world celebrated with pomp the 128th anniversary of the commemoration of the Victory of the Battle of Adwa, a hallmark of the triumph of black people over imperialist forces.
In a Message addressed to the Nation released on the eve of the celebrations on Friday (March 2) Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces, Abiy Ahmed Ali, stressed the perennial significance of the key tenets of the Victory of the Battle of Adwa in Ethiopia’s nation-building process. National unity, sacrifice of personal and group interests and relinquishing inharmonious differences for the greater national cause, committing to the ultimate sacrifice of life in defence of the Motherland, and the virtue of patience, are four among the main foundational values (tenets) that must be learned, taught, studied, preserved, protected and transmitted to posterity, the Premiere noted. In his Message Prime Minister said, ‘‘Today, we commemorated the event in a truly magnificent manner, but our focus remains on the future. Tomorrow, we will work diligently to construct an Ethiopia that embodies the strength and resilience of the Adwa Mountains, drawing inspiration from the values of Adwa victory. Achieving this vision necessitates the collective skill, maturity, and cooperation of each and every one of us.’’
President Sahle-Work Zewde travelled to Tigray Region on Saturday (March 2) and together with regional dignitaries celebrated the 128th Anniversary of the Victory of the Battle of Adwa at the historic scene, the impregnable Adwa mountains. Speaking at the commemorative occasion, she said, “the victory of Adwa has shown that Ethiopians can unite and win, even against an unmatched and well-equipped force…It is a victory that we should be very proud of and cherish.”
Spearheaded by the Ethiopian National Defence Forces and the Office of the Mayor, the commemoration was solemnly undertaken at the newly-inaugurated Adwa Victory Memorial Museum at the heart of Addis Abeba, were marked military parades, artistic performances and cultural shows reminiscent of the gallantry of our heroes and heroines that transcends generations. Speaking on the occasion,
Chief of Defence Staff, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula stated, the Victory at Adwa kindled the ray of hope in the arduous struggle against colonialism for freedom and liberation of fellow African brothers and sisters. It encouraged Black people, not only in Africa but also around the world, to marshal support and push through and through in their fight for independence, he added. The Field Marshal also called upon the current generation to preserve and protect the sense of unity, camaraderie and solidarity that spawned unity of purpose for the transcendental and decisive blow on any colonial ambitions on Ethiopian soil by expunging bellicose Italian forces on 2 March 1896.
In a commentary entitled “Adwa: Beyond Victory and National Pride” and published in The Reporter on 02 March 2024, former Minister of Mines and Mayor of Addis Ababa, Takele Uma Benti wrote, “The collective legacy of our nation can be remembered as we march towards a greater dawn of national unity, defying adversity together. If there is one lesson Adwa teaches us, it is how our grandfathers weathered the tides of their time and prevailed.” He asserted in his piece, “Freedom has always come at a cost. It carries implications that reach into the present and will continue to shape our future.”
In the same token, the 128th Adwa Victory celebrations was also celebrated colourfully at Ethiopian Embassies and Consulates around the world with various cultural and artistic performances in the presence of the Ethiopian diaspora, high-ranking host-country government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, friends of Ethiopia and the media fraternity.
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