News in Brief
Second Round of the South Sudan High-level Revitalization Forum…
…with growing international pressure for a real and urgent peace agreement
An Ethiopian Business Diplomacy Delegation in Japan
China-Ethiopia ties are an example for all of Africa
UK-Ethiopia solar energy co-operation
Corruption: Top of the Agenda at the 30th AU Summit
News in brief
Africa and the African Union
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari officially launched 2018 as the “African Anti-Corruption Year”, following the theme of the 30th AU Summit: “Winning the fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”. Appointed as the AU Champion to deal with the theme, President Buhari made a solemn vow to the AU Assembly to do his best to ensure that the anti-corruption agenda received the attention it deserves and make the necessary impact in 2018 and beyond. (See article)
The second phase of the IGAD-led High-level Revitalization Forum for South Sudan opened on Monday (February 5) in Addis Ababa. The focus for this session, due to last for two weeks, is on matters of Governance, interim arrangements, a permanent ceasefire and security arrangements. The first phase of the Revitalization Forum ended successfully on December 21 with signing of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities and on unhindered delivery of humanitarian access. The session was opened by Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister and Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers, together with the AU Commission Chairperson. (See article)
Ethiopia
Speaking at an event marking the inauguration of the new premises of the Hungarian Embassy on Wednesday (February 7), State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Hirut Zemene noted the re-opening the Embassy signalled the firm commitment of the Hungarian government to further strengthen the long standing ties of friendship between the two countries. She said existing strong people-to-people relations were being enhanced through the number of Ethiopians who have studied in Hungary.
An Ethiopian Business Diplomacy Delegation, led by State Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Aklilu Hailemichael took part in two Ethiopian Business and Investment Seminars, held in the cities of Kobe and Nagoya in Japan this week (February 6 and 7) as well as visiting a number of companies and holding talks with local officials. (See article)
Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Ambassador Berhane Gebre-Christos says that China-Ethiopia ties represent the best type of relationship that two nations can have. He described them as an excellent example for Africa and for the rest of the world. (See article)
In a press briefing on Thursday (February 8), Meles Alem, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ethiopia and Russia will be celebrating the 120th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The two countries established diplomatic relationship in 889, during the reigns of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia and Tsar Nikolas II of Russia. The celebrations will include various cultural festivities in both Addis Ababa and Moscow.
Dr. Engineer Seleshi Bekele, Minister for Water, Irrigation and Electricity headed a delegation to the UK last week to exchange best practices with British companies on renewable energy. Dr. Seleshi signed a Memorandum of understanding to develop a project to supply off-grid solar energy to hundreds of villages in Ethiopia. (See article)
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Mark Lowcock visited Ethiopia last week (January 27-29) to look at the ‘New Way of Working’ under which humanitarian and development actors collaborate to build climate-resilient communities and at the camps for internally displaced people.
The Federal Attorney General announced pardons for 746 suspects and prisoners, including Eskindr Nega and Andualem Arage, on Thursday (February 8), following a decision by the Executive Committee of EPRDF.
The House of People’s Representatives has appointed Ambassador Samia Zekaria as Chairperson of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia. The House also appointed a Deputy Chairman and seven members of the Board. Ambassador Samia was previously Director General of the Central Statistical Agency and most recently the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Nigeria.
Ethiopia has assumed the chairmanship of the Nairobi Chapter of the Group of 77 and China Group of Developing Countries. The Ambassador of Ethiopia to Kenya, Ambassador Dina Mufti, who received the chairmanship from Pakistan, pledged to reinforce the group’s efforts in letting the voices of developing countries being heard in global diplomacy.
Ethiopia is hosting the next Regional Nile Day on February 22, the annual commemoration of the establishment of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) in 1999. The event brings stakeholders and policy makers from the Nile Basin member states, Ethiopia, Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with Eritrea as an observer. It provides an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of Nile cooperation, and exchange experiences, views and ideas on topical issues related to the cooperative management and development of the shared Nile Basin water and related resources.
A $500,000 project for the preservation of Bete Golgotha Mikael Church in Lalibela was launched on Saturday (February 3) by U.S. Ambassador Michael Raynor and Minister for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Hirut Woldemariam. The work is being funded by a grant from the U.S. Embassy through the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), with matching funds from the World Monuments Fund.
Ethiopian Airlines announced last week that it had signed an Agreement with Guinea Airlines, for strategic partnership in management, maintenance and training. Ethiopian Group CEO Tewolde Gebre Mariam said the partnership is in line with the recently launched African Single Air Transport Market. He said it was a trilateral partnership with Guinea, ASKY Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines to fill an air connectivity vacuum. He added: “The time has come for Africans to join hands as one and reclaim our rightful place in the global aviation industry.”
Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it is launching a 3rd daily flight between Johannesburg and Addis Ababa from April. It will also start direct flights from Addis Ababa to Chicago effective as of June 2, 2018. Chicago will be the Airline’s 4th destination in the U.S. and the 7th in the Americas.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy tour will arrive in Addis Ababa on February 24, which gives Ethiopian fans the chance to experience football’s most prestigious prize. Junedin Basha, President of the Ethiopian Football Federation said the occasion would be a big draw for the country’s youth. The 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy tour kicked off last September in host country Russia, and will visit more than 50 countries, ten in Africa, travelling 126,000 kilometers in the nine months before the tournament, being held June 14 to July 15, in Russia. The trophy, which will arrive in Ethiopia from Sudan, will stay two days in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia will host the next Championship of African Nations (CHAN) tournament scheduled for 2020. The Total African Nations Championship (or CHAN) is played between the best national teams of African countries, exclusively featuring players active in the national championships and qualified to play in the ongoing season. Expatriate players, regardless of where they play, are not qualified. The Championship alternates with the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
