A Week in the Horn 26.7.2019
Chatham House Prize 2019 nominees include Prime Minister Dr. Abiy
France’s Finance Minister and French-Ethiopia economic cooperation
EU providing €800m for peace and security in Africa
Kenya opens Africa’s largest wind power project
AUHIP discusses regional integration with Somalia president
News in Brief
Africa and the African Union
The European Union and the African Union announced the signing of a €800 million funding agreement for the 2019-2020 action plan of the African peace facility on Monday this week (July 22). The agreement was signed by Neven Mimica, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development and Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission. (See article)
The African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) led by former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, visited Mogadishu at the end of last week (July 20) for talks with President Mohamed Abdullahi on pursuing the objectives of regional integration in the Horn of Africa. The delegation also held consultative meetings with Somali civil society, and IGAD, AMISOM and UNSOM officials. (See article)
IGAD has called for a strengthening of cooperation with China in regional peace and security initiatives. It issued a statement on Tuesday (July 23) following a recent meeting between IGAD officials and a Chinese delegation from the Institute of African Studies of the Zhejiang Normal University in China. IGAD said the two sides agreed on the need for a balanced approach in enhancing peace and security and development efforts after discussing areas of cooperation between IGAD and China.
Ethiopia
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed is one of three shortlisted for the Chatham House Prize, an award in the field of international affairs, presented to the person, persons or organization deemed to have made the most significant contribution to the improvement of international relations in the previous year. Other nominees are Sir David Attenborough and the BBC Natural History Unit; and the Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir. (See article)
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy met and held excellent and constructive talks with visiting French Economic and Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire on Monday (July 22). During his visit, M. Le Maire also co-chaired the First French Ethiopian Bilateral Committee Meeting on Economic Cooperation with Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide. (See article)
Prime Minister Dr Abiy met Neven Mimica, European Union Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, on Monday (July 22). Mr. Mimica confirmed the EU’s continued support for Ethiopia’s reforms and reiterated the EU’s firm political commitment to Ethiopia’s democratization journey. During his visit to Addis Ababa, the Commissioner also met with AU Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the Horn of Africa Parfait Oninga.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu Andargachew delivered the message of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt in Alexandria on Thursday (July 25).
EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, signed budget support funding of €36 million with Finance Minister Ahmed Shide on Monday (July 22). This will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in two key sectors, forestry and industry, become more sustainable and mitigate the consequences of climate change. In forestry, it will support improvement in forest management and reduce deforestation; for industry, the focus will be on boosting energy efficiency, improving energy management and curbing fossil fuel use in cement manufacturing. €33 million will be channelled through the Ethiopian government and an additional €3 million will go to make measurement, reporting and verification systems compliant with Paris Agreement standards.
The 8th African Space Leadership Congress on Space Science and Technology for Sustainable Development will be held in Addis Ababa in December. The three day congress, under the theme “Prospects and Challenges of African Space Development,” is intended to capitalize efforts to address key socio-economic challenges and harnessing the opportunities that space science and technology might provide. The focus will be on assessment of space programs in Africa; space research and development; space policy, strategy and implementation and participation of the youth and women in aerospace.
Ethiopia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Markos Tekle, met Ambassador Stéphanie Rivoal, Secretary General of the Africa-France Summit, on Friday last week (July 19). Ambassador Rivoal brought an invitation to the Summit to be held in Bordeaux in June next year. The Summit will focus on sustainable cities and would make a significant contribution to the socio-economic growth of the African continent, said Ambassador Rivoal.
Ambassador Fitsum Arega, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the US, participated in the second Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom at the State Department in Washington on Thursday last week (July 18). The Ministerial, an important platform for religious freedom, brought together more than hundred countries from across the world.
Djibouti
Rear Admiral Simi (Italy) took over as Force Commander of the EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta on Tuesday (July 23) in a ceremony in Djibouti. Operation Atalanta is responsible for countering piracy and monitoring fishing activity off the Somali coast. The occasion was attended by the European Union Ambassador in Djibouti, Ambassador Kulach, local Djiboutian authorities and international partners. EU NAVFOR and its international partners, including the Combined Maritime Forces, has reduced the impact of piracy off the Horn of Africa to a minimum.
Eritrea
Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the sanctions imposed on Eritrea on Monday (July 22). A presidential decree said that in view of the UN Security Council adopting the Resolution 2444 on November 14, 2018, the measures imposed on Eritrea by presidential decree of July 22, 2010, were terminated.
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund concluded an Article IV Consultation with Eritrea on Monday (July 22). It noted that although Eritrea had emerged from a long period of conflict and international sanctions which had left the economy in a difficult situation, the country’s authorities had made considerable progress on development goals, notably in the health and education sectors.
Kenya
President Kenyatta launched Africa’s largest wind power plant on Friday last week (July 19). The Lake Turkana Wind Power project wind farm, on the eastern shores of Lake Turkana, has 365 turbines and delivers 310 megawatts of renewable power to Kenya’s national grid. (See article)
Somalia
President Mohamed Abdullahi presided over the graduation ceremony of 152 Somali National Army officials from the Turkish Somali military academy on Wednesday (July 23). The base has the capacity to train at least 1,500 soldiers at a time. At a ceremony attended by the Speaker of the Upper House, Abdi Hashi, Deputy Defense Minister, Abdullahi Olad Roble and SNA Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General, Abdi Hassan Mohamed, the President thanked the Turkish government for its support to train and equip the Somali armed forces. He underlined the importance of training senior military officials and called on the new officers to focus on undertaking their national duty.
The head of AMISOM and Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Ambassador Madeira met the Independent Expert on the Human Rights Situation in Somalia Mr. Nyanduga on Tuesday (July 23). He assured him AMISOM conducted all operations in full compliance with its obligations under International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law and the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. AMISOM, he said, had strengthened internal oversight and accountability mechanisms to ensure enhanced compliance and accountability. It had also provided training to more than 500 Somali security forces personnel on human rights, gender issues, child protection and prevention of sexual violence in armed conflict.
IGAD condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Al-Shabab against the Mayor’s Office in Mogadishu on Wednesday (July 24), which left a number of civilians dead and others wounded including the city’s Mayor. IGAD expressed deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of victims and wished speedy recovery to those wounded.
The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors approved grants of $28.86 million for water and sanitation and roads projects designed to improve livelihoods in Somalia on Friday last week (July 19). $11.99 million from the Bank’s Transition States Facility is for an urban water and sanitation project for Kismayo and Baidoa to benefit around 200,000 urban and peri-urban people; and $16.86 million for a Road Infrastructure Project to enhance connectivity through rehabilitation of some 247 km of roads and construct a new 100 km feeder road. The European Commission is also providing a grant of $47.11 million for the road infrastructure project. The Bank currently has 12 ongoing projects in Somalia with a total commitment of $109.13 million, in agriculture, water and sanitation, multi- and social sectors.
The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Mrs. Pramila Patten, conducted a five-day visit to Somalia last week (July 14-18). The purpose of her visit, at the invitation of the Federal Government, was to get first-hand knowledge of challenges and engage with national authorities on how best to support efforts in addressing conflict-related sexual violence. She held meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister, the National Security Advisor, the Speakers of Parliament and the Human Rights Committees of both Houses as well as the Attorney-General. She also visited Baidoa. The Government has now committed to work with UN and Mrs. Patten’s Office to develop a new National Action Plan to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.
The Speaker of Somali parliament appointed an interim 15-member parliamentary commission to prepare a draft electoral law on Sunday (July 21).
South Sudan
Following a series of consultations meetings (July 12-23) the Forces for Freedom and Change announced they had agreed to form a FFC leadership council. It said the Sudanese Revolutionary Front had agreed with the Forces for Freedom and Change on the transition to civilian authority and the linking between it and peace issues. They had reached agreement on the political and constitutional documents, and in a statement on Thursday (July 25), the FFC said this paved the way for a deal with the Transitional Military Council and the formation of the transitional government.
A military statement issued on Wednesday this week (July 24) has named senior military officers and politicians arrested after a coup attempt. They included the Chief of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Major General Hashim Abdel Muttaab, Commander of the Armoured Corps, Major General Nasr al-Din Abdel Fattah, the commander of the Khartoum Region, and the Commander of the Popular Defence Forces. Politicians arrested included former Foreign Minister, Ali Karti; former Minister of Minerals, Kamal Abdel Latif; the Secretary-General of the Islamic Movement,
Zubair Ahmed al-Hassan.
Sudan
Following a series of consultations meetings (July 12-23) the Forces for Freedom and Change announced they had agreed to form a FFC leadership council. It said the Sudanese Revolutionary Front had agreed with the Forces for Freedom and Change on the transition to civilian authority and the linking between it and peace issues. They had reached agreement on the political and constitutional documents, and in a statement on Thursday (July 25), the FFC said this paved the way for a deal with the Transitional Military Council and the formation of the transitional government.
A military statement issued on Wednesday this week (July 24) has named senior military officers and politicians arrested after a coup attempt. They included the Chief of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Major General Hashim Abdel Muttaab, Commander of the Armoured Corps, Major General Nasr al-Din Abdel Fattah, the commander of the Khartoum Region, and the Commander of the Popular Defence Forces. Politicians arrested included former Foreign Minister, Ali Karti; former Minister of Minerals, Kamal Abdel Latif; the Secretary-General of the Islamic Movement, Zubair Ahmed al-Hassan.
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Chatham House Prize 2019 nominees include Prime Minister Dr. Abiy
The Chatham House Prize, a distinctive and unique award in the field of international affairs, is presented to the person, persons or organization deemed by members of Chatham House to have made the most significant contribution to the improvement of international relations in the previous year. A short-list of nominees is selected from a list submitted by the research programmes and departments of the institute and the recipient is determined by Chatham House’s membership on a one-member, one-vote basis. The nominees for the Chatham House Prize 2019 are: Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed; Sir David Attenborough and the BBC Natural History Unit; and the Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed is nominated for his efforts to transform civic leadership and advance plural politics and free speech in Ethiopia, as well as for ending decades of hostility with Eritrea, progressing gender equality and injecting hope for a more peaceful and integrated Horn of Africa. The nomination notes that within months of coming to power, Dr. Abiy “sought to rehabilitate Ethiopia’s authoritarian regime, releasing thousands of political prisoners, decriminalizing opposition groups and initiating reforms to repressive laws. He appointed a gender-balanced cabinet along with the country’s first female head of state and first female president of the Supreme Court. Ethiopia moved from being one of the world’s worst jailers of journalists to a country with growing press freedom.”
The nomination emphasized the Prime Minister’s swift action to bring about peaceful relations with Eritrea, which it points out paid immediate dividends, bringing neighbouring countries into the fold and boosting plans for regional integration. “The speed at which he opened civic space and moved to dismantle the politics of animosity and suspicion in the sub-region has been striking given Ethiopia’s entrenched political, security and economic challenges. He has fostered optimism about his potential to help develop good governance and effect positive change in national, regional and global affairs.”
The nomination says “his dramatic appearance on the political scene in 2018, and the once unimaginable achievements registered within such a short period, make him a source of hope for the youth in Ethiopia and throughout Africa. He has become one of the new faces of African leadership, one promoting ethical leadership, rights and freedoms, despite the risks this incurs, and his actions deserve recognition on the international stage.”
Sir David Attenborough and the BBC Natural History Unit are nominated for the sustained impact of the TV series Blue Planet II in galvanizing public engagement on the critical problem of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. This series forcefully communicated “the damage being done by discarded plastics to the world’s oceans and marine wildlife, bringing long-standing scientific work to public attention. The subsequent discussion generated clear behavioural and policy change.”
Ms. Jakobsdóttir is nominated for her commitment to Iceland’s progressive policy agenda in the areas of gender equality and female economic inclusion. She has been Prime Minister of Iceland since December 2017 and “her coalition government has continued Iceland’s path-breaking approach to tackling systemic gender inequality and the economic exclusion of women by confronting workplace harassment and domestic abuse; working to pass an extension to Iceland’s shared parental leave laws; and implementing a world-first policy aimed at eliminating the gender wage gap.”
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France’s Finance Minister and French-Ethiopia economic cooperation
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed visited France in October 2018 on his first trip to Europe, discussing the strengthening of economic ties between the two countries with President Emmanuel Macron. Earlier this year, in March, President Macron made a return visit to Ethiopia during which he visited Lalibela and Addis Ababa. During his stay in Lalibela he visited the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Rock-Hewn Churches where he had an unprecedented reception. He had earlier, at Prime Minister Abiy’s request, pledged support to an agreement for a new system to protect the churches. During President Macron’s visit, five agreements were signed, to strengthen bilateral relations, including a Memorandum of Understanding to increase Promotion of French Investments in Ethiopia, a Joint Declaration on Financial Support to Ethiopia’s Economic Transition, allowing for 100 million euros support, and a Joint Declaration on Heritage Cooperation as well as a military cooperation accord allowing for air cooperation and joint operations, opportunities for training and equipment purchases and French support for the building of an Ethiopian navy.
Following up on the agreements reached between Prime Minister Dr. Abiy and President Macron, a High-level French Government and business delegation, led by Economic and Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, arrived in Ethiopia on Monday (July 22). During his visit, M. Le Maire met and held excellent and very constructive discussions with Prime Minister Dr. Abiy.
Le Maire, together with Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, also co-chaired the First Bilateral Committee Meeting on Economic Cooperation. This committee, which will meet bi-annually, considered issues that need to be addressed in regard to economic cooperation between France and Ethiopia as well as business opportunities in Ethiopia for French and European companies. Discussions also covered the conducive environment that has been created for the private sector in Ethiopia and the measures being taken by the Government to ease any problems of doing business. Ahmed Shide said that France had agreed to advance cooperation with Ethiopia in energy, logistics and telecommunications sectors and decided to provide an additional €40 million to finance the digital ID project the country would soon be launching. He acknowledged the comprehensive support France was giving to Ethiopia, adding: “France is one of our major development partners, and we also have a similar strategic interest in the region and in global affairs.” He said France was supporting Ethiopia`s comprehensive reform agenda directly and indirectly. “We have been exerting maximum effort in mobilizing domestic resource, but a friendly country like France is supporting us significantly because we need external support to meet the huge costs incurred in implementing the reform programs.”
The Minister’s working visit to Ethiopia has had the effect of enhancing the already existing economic relations with a fresh spirit of cooperation and deepening the close economic relationship between Ethiopia and France. Minister Le Maire said: “Ethiopia is a key partner to France in the African continent.” He added that “the all-round bilateral relationship with the country has gained momentum and France wants to support the reform that has been introduced by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed and the government for the sake of reinforcing multilateral relationship with Ethiopia and the region at large.” He further stressed that France would work together with Ethiopia in order to bring lasting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa region. “Without political stability, you can’t attract development. That is why we are ready to reinforce cooperation to bring more stability in the region.”
During his visit, M. Le Maire visited the Headquarters of Ethiopian Airlines and met with its CEO Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam. After their meeting, the Minister said that France was looking at concrete projects to bring very positive and tangible outcomes. He added, “one single example I had this morning is the very interesting and fruitful discussion with the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines on how to strengthen the relationship with French Airbus.” The Ethiopian Aviation Group’s Flight Academy was financed by French Development Agency funds.
The excellent relationship between the leaders of the two countries has reached an historic peak, with France supporting Ethiopia`s comprehensive reform agenda both directly and indirectly; direct budget support is important encouragement for the comprehensive reform on which Ethiopia has embarked. Equally valuable is French assistance to Ethiopia in international institutions like the World Bank and other international financial development organizations. It underlines that Ethiopia and France have enjoyed a century-old friendship defined by mutual respect and trust. France was the only European colonial power in the region which had a consistently cooperative relationship with Ethiopia throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The railway line between Djibouti and Addis Ababa, which began in 1894 and was completed in 1917, was built by France. It had huge implications for the modernization of Ethiopia, giving access to the port of Djibouti. France today is a strategic partner of Ethiopia, supporting its development endeavors through bilateral cooperation programs, as well as through the EU. It is also a key partner for peace and security in the Horn of Africa. It has welcomed the bold reforms initiated by the Prime Minister to provide for the deepening of democracy and of the rule of law, and reaffirmed its support during the current transition phase.
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EU providing €800m for peace and security in Africa
The European Union and the African Union announced the signing of a €800 million funding agreement for the 2019-2020 action plan of the African peace facility on Monday this week (July 22). The agreement was signed by Neven Mimica, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development and Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
The funding will be used to support the African Union in its efforts to promote peace, security, and stability within the context of the continued implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture. AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki said: “This is a commendable milestone in long history of EU support to Africa, and is in line with the African Peace and Security Architecture and Africa-led efforts to silence the guns.” He took the opportunity to commend the African contribution to the recently revitalized Peace Fund. That, he said, demonstrated the commitment to African ownership of peace and security operations on the continent.
EU Commissioner Mimica said “Europe remains Africa’s first partner in the areas of peace and security. Since 2004, the African Peace Facility has provided €2.7 billion to support African solution to African problems. Most of the additional €800 million approved today will go to peace support operation led by our African partners.” The funding was approved by the Council of the Member States of the European Union (EU) in May.
Under this phase of the African Peace Facility, the EU will support the strengthening of conflict prevention, management and resolution structures and the mechanisms of the African Peace and Security Architecture. It will also assist AU efforts to establish a continental Human Rights and international humanitarian law compliance framework as well as an Early Response Mechanism to provide the African Union with quick funding for a number of pre-conflict activities: preventive diplomacy initiatives, mediation, fact-finding missions, and the first stages of peace support operations. The funding will help cover financing of capacity building, troop allowances, non-lethal equipment for African-led peace support operations, such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram, the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) or the G5 Sahel Joint Force. It will also support efforts of the AU to promote gender and human rights principles and practices in peace support operations.
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Kenya opens Africa’s largest wind power project
President Kenyatta launched Africa’s largest wind power plant on Friday last week (July 19). The wind farm of 365 turbines is on the eastern shores of Lake Turkana and is delivering 310 megawatts of renewable power to Kenya’s national grid through a 428-kilometre power line.
The Lake Turkana Wind Power project cost over $700 million and has taken nearly a decade to complete. The windmills, manufactured by Danish company Vestas, had to be brought one-by-one overland from Mombasa port, 1,200 kilometres away. It is the work of an international consortium of lenders and producers, which included the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank which loaned $200 million for the project. It has been the largest private investment in Kenya’s history, President Kenyatta said and is now delivering 15% of Kenya’s installed capacity.
Speaking at the launch, President Kenyatta said: “Today, we again raised the bar for the continent as we unveil Africa’s single largest wind farm. Kenya is without doubt on course to be a global leader in renewable energy.” The project, which lies in a natural corridor called “the windiest place on earth” promises to harness endless power at low cost, and reduce Kenya’s electricity costs. It is part of President Kenyatta’s promise to reduce Kenya’s dependence on fossil fuels and achieve 100% green energy next year; about 70% percent comes currently from renewable sources including hydropower and geothermal production.
Mugo Kibati, the chairman of the Lake Turkana Wind Power, the private consortium that runs the plant, said the day marked “an important milestone in the country’s steady march towards achieving self-sufficiency in power production.”
There are other operational wind farms in Africa, in Morocco with around 300 MW production, in South Africa where five wind farms produce a total of nearly 650 MW for the national grid, and Ethiopia with two wind farms producing 324 MW of the country’s output of 4180 MW.
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AUHIP discusses regional integration with Somalia president
The African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) led by former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, visited Mogadishu at the end of last week (July 20) for talks with President Mohamed Abdullahi on pursuing the objectives of regional integration in the Horn of Africa. The visit was under the mandate given to AUHIP by the African Union to encourage countries of the Horn of Africa to deal with matters of peace, security and economic integration holistically, in order to enjoy the benefits that come with regional integration.
The panel met the leadership of AMISOM, and members of the United Nations Mission in Somalia, of the diplomatic community, civil society and other stakeholders. Those present included the Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson to Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, and the UN Secretary-General’s new Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan. The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Madhi Mohamed Guled; Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ahmed Isse Awad; Lamamra Ramtane, the AU Special Envoy for Silencing the Guns; and Dr. Mohamed Guyo, the IGAD Special Envoy for the Red Sea.
Former president Mbeki told the meeting it was important that in discussing regional integration, the first and principal contact should be the countries of the Horn of Africa themselves. He said: “One of the matters which the continent needed to look at was the issue of addressing, in a holistic way, the challenges facing the Horn of Africa. The decision [of the AU] to help the Horn of Africa would have a positive impact on the continent as a whole, if the Horn of Africa moved towards integration.” Mr. Mbeki added: “That is essentially why we are here, to listen to what the Government of Somalia might say about the integration of the Horn of Africa and in that context, addressing all the other elements that need to be addressed.”.
Mr. Mbeki said planned integration of the Horn of Africa countries would hinge on three 
The visit by AUHIP to Somalia is part of a tour of countries in the region by AUHIP, seeking views on the issue of integration and other matters. It follows the visit of the panel to Kenya.
