News in brief
The concept of Medemer and Ethiopia’s Foreign Policy
Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt agree to continue trilateral technical discussions on GERD
UNECA East Africa meeting regional integration in Asmara
Tadjourah-Balho road: another step in Ethiopia-Djibouti economic integration
UNAMID’s mandate extended by a year
UN Security Council told reliable funding needed for AU peace operations
Women peacekeepers, civil society, crucial for Horn of Africa peace efforts
Africa and the African Union
The Security Council highlighted the growing partnership on matters of peace and security between the United Nations and African Union (AU) on Wednesday (October 30) amidst calls to bolster overall effectiveness. Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative and Head of the UN Office to the AU, introducing the Secretary-General’s annual report on the partnership, said, “The partnership between the African Union and the United Nations continues to grow from strength to strength.” (See article)
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and the AU’s Permanent Observer for the African Union, Fatima Kyari Mohammed, told the UN Security Council on Monday (November 4) that the Council should do more to support women peacekeepers and civil society leaders on the front lines of conflict. They were briefing the Council on the UN/AU recent joint solidarity mission to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan. (See article)
The Board of Governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a record capital increase of 125% at last week’s extraordinary shareholders’ meeting in Abidjan. The Governors of the AfDB, representing shareholders from 80 member countries, approved an increase, boosting the Bank’s capital base from 93 billion USD to 208 billion USD. African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, said the capital increase showed the shareholders have “tremendous faith” in Africa and the Bank.
The African Union–European Union High Level Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation was held at the African Union Commission Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Thursday (November 7). It serves as a platform for regular exchanges on research and innovation policy and aims to formulate and implement long-term priorities to strengthen Africa-Europe cooperation. It has so far focused on implementation of two long-term, jointly funded Research and Innovation Partnerships on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture and on Climate Change and Sustainable Energy, as well as on the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership
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The 3rd African Union Specialized Technical Committee meeting on Migration, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons opened at experts level on Monday (November 4) at the African Union Commission. The meeting under the theme “The Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa” considered and recommended to the AU Executive Council key policy and operational documents.
Ethiopia
Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo over the telephone on Friday (November 1). Mr. Pompeo highlighted the importance of the strong partnership between the United States and Ethiopia and the United States’ support for Ethiopia’s reforms. They also discussed regional issues and Secretary Pompeo asked for the Prime Minister’s support in encouraging sustainable implementation of South Sudan’s peace agreement.
Prime Minister Dr Abiy met with General Stephen Townsend, the Commander of the United States Africa Command on Tuesday (November 5). They discussed strengthened short- and long-term capacity building support for the national army- building on the reform work within the National Defense Forces. The Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to professionalizing the national army and ensuring it is a non-partisan and non-political entity in support of democracy
Prime Minister Dr Abiy has vowed to take proportionate measures against perpetrators of recent violence. In a statement on Sunday (November 3), he said a total of 86 people including 4 women had been killed during violence in Oromia and Harari Regional States and the Dire Dawa City administration. Ten had died during clashes with law enforcement bodies. He said: “We have to stop those forces who are trying to pull us two steps back while we are going one step forward.” The Prime Minister said the government will be taking legal and proportionate enforcement measures to maintain peace and security.
The Office of the Prime Minister in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed members of the diplomatic community and international organizations in Ethiopia on the medemer concept on Tuesday (November 5). (See article)
Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan have reaffirmed “their joint commitment to reach a comprehensive, cooperative, adaptive, sustainable, and mutually beneficial agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.” Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew attended a meeting in Washington with the Foreign ministers of Egypt and Sudan and with US Treasury Secretary and World Bank Group President to discuss the technical details of the filling and operation of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on Tuesday (November 5). (See article)
Finance Minister Ahmed Shide met and held talks with Sultan Al Jaber, head of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in Abu Dhabi on Monday (November 4). Their discussions covered ways of strengthening relations in logistics and supply of oil.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mrs. Hirut Zemene and Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Political Affairs held the first Ethiopia/UAE Political Consultative Meeting in Abu Dhabi on Thursday (November 7). The UAE Assistant Minister commended the growing relations as demonstrated by successive dialogue through high level meetings and a rising trade, tourism and investment flow. Mrs. Hirut Zemene said the current meeting was a testament to the shared vision and commitment the two countries in further developing their relations. The two sides reviewed current regional and international developments and discussed issues of common concern.
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Aklilu Haile Michael welcomed a Chinese delegation led by Xingbao Hu, Vice Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Henan sub-council on Monday (November 4). The State Minister urged Chinese investors to invest more, stressing the availability of an educated and easily trainable workforce and favorable climate suitable for investing in agriculture. Minister Hu noted Henan province had the biggest agricultural university in China and various modern agriculture related industries. He invited the State Minister to take part in the Henan 2020 World Economic Forum as an opportunity to promote Ethiopia’s investment options.
An Ethiopian Delegation headed by Dr. Lia Tadesse, State Minister of Health and Ambassador Mulu Solomon, Ambassador to Germany, participated in the 6thGerman African Healthcare Forum held on Wednesday last week (October 30) in Berlin. State Minister Dr. Lia noted the deployment of more than 40,000 health workers as part of the Government’s commitment to healthcare for all. She said determinants of healthcare also needed private support and requested German companies to participate in pharmaceutical manufacturing, tertiary healthcare services and digitalization of the healthcare. The delegation also participated in “Women in Global Health Breakfast Meeting”, a meeting of high-level professional women and corporations and personalities from all part of the world who are contributing to the global health sector
The Mayor of Washington Ms. Muriel Bowser, is visiting Addis Ababa this weekend at the invitation of Engineer Takele Uma, Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa. The two cities signed a sister city agreement and protocol of friendship in 2013, and in celebration of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s visit to Washington last year, Mayor Bowser proclaimed July 28, 2018 “Ethiopia Day in DC.” The Washington DC metropolitan area, home to more than 30,000 members of the Ethiopian Disapora, has the largest population of Ethiopia-born people in the United States.
Ethiopia celebrated Cyber Security Week starting Monday (November 4) for the first time to raise awareness and build national cyber security capacity. The celebration, organized by the Information Network Security Agency (INSA), is being held under the theme “attention to cyber security. Ms. Efrah Ali, Director General of INSA, said all members of society need to pay attention to cyber security to prevent the increasing number of cyber-attacks. INSA said Ethiopia had experienced nearly 800 cyber-attacks between 2012 and 2018. Zeyinu Jemal, State Minister of Peace, said the celebration is timely and would help to raise awareness. The celebration continues until November 10.
The United States provided training on counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), WMD detection, interdiction and investigation training to 28 experts from the Ethiopian National Defense Force, Federal Police Commission, Immigration, Nationality and Vital Events Agency, Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, Ethiopian Customs Commission, Ethiopian Radiation Protection Authority), and the Addis Ababa City Administration Fire and Disaster and Risk Management Commission. Participants were given understanding of international and interagency cooperation on proliferation issues such as dual-use materials and equipment, the role of export control regimes, border security and terrorism.
Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority Director-General Getachew Dinku told the Law, Justice and Democracy Affairs Standing Committee of Parliament on Monday (November 4) that it had been taking corrective measures against irresponsible media in the country. Presenting the EBA’s performance report he said some media outlets were mixing journalism with activism and behaving unethically and unprofessionally. They also attacked one another and created tensions rather than serving the public. He said licenses will be cancelled and transmissions blocked unless this stopped.
The International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology, in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation and Ethiopia Jobs Creation Commission (JCC) on Thursday (October 31) launched a USD 50.5 million five-year initiative aiming to give 100,000 youngsters secure dignified and fulfilling work along honey and silk value chains. The More Young Entrepreneurs in Silk and Honey (MOYESH) project is part of ongoing efforts to alleviate youth unemployment or underemployment in Ethiopia.
Djibouti
President Guelleh and Mrs. Dagmawit Moges, Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport inaugurated the Tadjoura-Balho Road on Wednesday (October 6). (See article)
Eritrea
The 23rd meeting of the UN Economic Community for Africa’s Intergovernmental Committee of Experts and Senior Officials (ICSOE) was held in Asmara this week, attended by some officials and economic stakeholders representing the 14 countries served by ECA’s sub-regional office. The meeting was opened by Foreign Minister Osman Saleh. (See article)
Somalia
U.S. General Stephen Townsend, commander of AFRICOM, discussed U.S. and Somalia security developments with President Mohamed Abdullahi and National Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mohamed Ali Barise, on a visit to Mogadishu on Tuesday (November 5). General Townsend said: “U.S operations help to build critical Somali defense capability and counter-terrorist plots and plans…Our actions keep Somalia, the region, and the U.S. safer and more secure.” General Townsend, who met with some of the approximately 700 U.S. service members deployed to Somalia, said: “Security and stability are critical to stronger government, stronger economies and increased trade,” adding “this also requires continued efforts and coordinated support from the international community to make it work.”
The World Bank’s country office in Somalia was opened on Sunday (November 3) by World Bank Vice President Hafez Ghanem who also held talks with President Mohamed Abdullahi, Prime Minister Khayre and other senior government officials. The opening of the country office expressed the bank’s confidence in Somalia’s recovery process and the debt relief decision point which Somalia hopes to reach by next February. Mr. Ghanem was accompanied by Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu, the International Finance Corporation Regional Director for Eastern Africa.
Denmark’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod visited Mogadishu on Wednesday (November 6) and held talks with Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khayre on Danish support for economic development, reconstruction and rebuilding projects. He also met with Ahmed Isse Awad, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for talks on enhancing bilateral relations and a new multi-dimensional Somali-Danish strategic partnership.
Somalia’s cabinet on Thursday last week (October 31) approved a draft budget of $459.5 million about $130 million more than the previous fiscal year. The government said the increase was the result of salary increments for government soldiers. Prime Minister Khayre said that following the long Somali National Army reform process, the government had now directed attention and focus “to improve the economic quality of our army.”
Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, chairing the Ministerial Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Somalia on Sunday (November 3) in Doha, said Qatar would continue to be a key supporter of Somalia and spare no effort to provide assistance for development plans and programs in Somalia in partnership with the United Nations and the World Bank. Among those attending were the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Azerbaijan as well as Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Isse Awad.
Kuwait has expressed its determination to hold a donor conference next year to support education in Somalia. Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister for International Organizations Affairs announced this on Sunday (November 3) at the ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Somalia. He said Kuwait through its non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council, had spared no effort in urging the international community for further efforts to back the Somali people.
The Turkish government has pledged to host a conference to negotiate the Somali government and Somaliland authorities. Speaking at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Somalia Contact Group meeting in Doha on Sunday (November 3), Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, “We offer a facilitating and mediating role in the negotiations between Somalia and Somaliland.”
Uganda plans to deploy more police personnel to serve under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Formed Police Unit, a senior police officer confirmed on Friday (November 1). Grace Turyagumanawe, Director of Peace Support Operations in the Uganda Police Force, said, “Preparations are underway to ensure that we deploy a second formed unit as it was agreed on recently”. The UN Security Council authorized AMISOM to deploy up to 1,040 police personnel under the police component, which includes Individual Police Officers and five Formed Police Units (FPUs).
The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Wednesday (November 6) that the rains that have caused floods in Hirshabelle, Jubaland and South-West States are expected to continue with moderate to heavy intensity this month and 547,000 people have been affected of whom 370,000 are displaced. Belet Weyne in Hirshabelle has been worst hit with nearly three-quarters of the city inundated and over 270,000 forced to flee their homes. Farmland, infrastructure, and roads have been destroyed. UN agencies, including WPF, UNCIEF and UNHCR are scaling up humanitarian response, providing food to address short-term nutrition needs, as well as potable water, sanitation, shelter and health assistance.
Sudan
The Security Council has extended the mandate of the Darfur peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) for one year. In a meeting on Thursday (October 31), the Council unanimously decided that “the Mission will maintain its current troop and police level until 31 March 2020, keeping all team sites other than the sector headquarters in South Darfur, with drawdown plans following that date to be decided upon.” (See article)
An EU delegation led by Jean-Christophe Belliard, Deputy Secretary-General of the European Union External Action Service, made a two-day visit to Khartoum for talks with government officials last week. It said the purpose of the visit was to continue dialogue with the Sudanese government and support political and civil forces. Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday (October 30) that the EU would be releasing €466 million ($520mn) in economic and humanitarian support.
Foreign Minister Asma Abdallah discussed support for Sudanese government and normalization of bilateral relations with Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, Ambassador Tibor Nagy and US Special Envoy for Sudan, Ambassador Donald Booth, on Wednesday (November 6). Ambassador Nagy said the U.S. is a steadfast partner of the people of Sudan in their pursuit of peace and security.
Sudan’s first-ever satellite was launched by China on Sunday (November 3). The Sovereignty Council announced it would be used to develop research in space technology, acquire data as well as discover natural resources for the country’s military needs. Sudan’s Institute of Space Research and Aerospace (ISRA) was established in 2013.
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The concept of Medemer and Ethiopia’s Foreign Policy
The Office of the Prime Minister in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed members of the diplomatic community and international organizations in Ethiopia on the concept of medemer on Tuesday (November 5). In a session opened by State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Markos Tekle and moderated by Billene Seyoum, Press Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, the philosophy of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed was propounded in terms of the fundamentals of medemer; and medemer and politics, economics and foreign affairs. As we noted earlier, the Prime Minister’s book, “Medemer”, was published last month in Amharic and Afar Oromo; it will appear in English next month.
Abebe Abebayehu, Commissioner of Ethiopian Investment Commission presented the fundamentals of medemer, noting that the “key point in medemer is that it takes into account the needs of creating balance between the direct and indirect needs of human beings.” Medemer, he stressed, calls for bringing together whatever is essential to our betterment and avoiding what he emphasized was an Ethiopian tendency to demolish what has been built to start from scratch. Medemer is pragmatic; it involves togetherness, building on the past, while acknowledging and correcting problems and looking to the future. It is built on co-ordination, synthesis, balance and concurrence, and moves from imported conceptions to home-grown solutions based on national realities, and accumulated wisdom.
In explaining the political side of medemer, Deputy Attorney General Dr. Gedion Timoteos said: “medemer calls for facing matters as they are on the ground rather than what we imagine them to be.” Medemer in politics, he said, encourages pragmatism not dogmatic viewpoints: centrist, ‘big-tent’ politics, to create an inclusive democracy, allowing for national reconciliation, consensus, institution building, and creation of a civic and democratic culture. Dr. Nemera Mamo, an economic expert and senior advisor to the Prime Minister presented the economic side of medemer. He said medemer encourages building an open and competitive economy with partnership between a capable and market-friendly state and a wealth-creating private sector where state intervention is taken as necessary. It involves strengthening public financial management arresting inflationary pressures, promoting structural reforms and diversifying economic growth, and providing incremental expansion of past development.
Lencho Bati, an advisor to Prime Minister Abiy covered medemer and foreign policy, emphasizing the twin concepts of independence and inter-dependence as well as on the importance of building on positive assets. He focused on three major points: new developments that demand new policies; objectives to be met; and mechanisms to implement. Globalization, current global trends and regional geo-politics necessitate a new trajectory for Ethiopia’s foreign policy. Unlike the cold war era, today’s world is multi-polar with different interests pushing and pulling from many directions and further complicated by the rise of populism and nationalist extremism in many countries. Africa was not immune to what is happening globally. African states might not directly participate in super-power struggles for dominance; they might have been able to witness relative stability, economic progress and some efforts for regional integrations at least in the economic arena; nevertheless, they were still subject to abject poverty, displacement, post-election violence and conflicts to secure economic resources. In addition, the Horn of Africa, which now included new states, was facing new challenges. These included the growth of military bases in and around the region; internal strife mainly instigated by ethno-centric rhetoric and interests; susceptibility to terrorist activity; and competition for natural resources driving countries into conflict.
So, a new approach to foreign policy is needed, and drawing on the concepts of medemer this aspires to meet five objectives. The first objective is to strike a balance between cooperation and competition. Cooperation without competition stifles creativity; competition without cooperation limits growth. Secondly: to secure national dignity for Ethiopian citizens whether at home or anywhere else in the world through safeguarding national interest, encouraging multi-nationalism, asserting the State’s sovereignty, and ensuring safety and dignity of citizens. The third objective is to secure national interest on the principle of objective interest rather than relative interest that is to secure one’s interest based on one’s needs rather than wants. Lencho said the basic question one should ask is “have I secured what I should get, rather than what I want to get?” The last objectives underline the priorities for engagement and for neighbourliness, to strive for regional integration through pursuing common interests, strengthened global and regional cooperation, and enhanced diplomatic engagement.
Mr. Lencho also explained the mechanisms to implement the concept of medemer and shape the foreign policy of the country. These involve the development of strong foreign relations institutions along with leadership, professionalism and building sustainable institutions are cited as specific mechanisms that help build strong foreign relations institutions. It also requires the creation of an all-rounded national capacity which can effectively, and alternately, use ‘soft power’ and ‘hard power’ options as necessary. Thirdly, there should be an emphasis on building multidimensional diplomacy through strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations, encouraging the sense of pan-Africanism, coordinating with civic institutions and conducting public diplomacy.
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Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt agree to continue trilateral technical discussions on GERD
Foreign Ministers Gedu Andargachew of Ethiopia, Sameh Hassan Shoukry of Egypt, and Ms. Asma Mohamed Abdalla of Sudan met in Washington on Tuesday (November 5) together with US Treasury, Secretary Steven Mnuchin and World Bank Group President David Malpass to discuss technical details of the filling and operation of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Following the meeting, they issued a joint statement reaffirming “their joint commitment to reach a comprehensive, cooperative, adaptive, sustainable, and mutually beneficial agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.” They also agreed “to establish a clear process for fulfilling that commitment in accordance with the 2015 Declaration of Principles.”
The ministers agreed to hold four technical governmental meetings at the level of Ministers of Water and that the World Bank and the United States would support and attend the meetings as observers. The Ministers also agreed to work toward completion of an agreement by January 15, 2020, and said they would attend two meetings in Washington, on December 9, 2019 and January 13, 2020, to assess and support progress.
If no agreement was reached by January 15, 2020, the foreign ministers said that Article 10 of the 2015 Declaration of Principles would be invoked. Article 10 covers the Principle of Peaceful Settlement of Disputes, and says: “The Three Countries will settle disputes, arising out of the interpretation or implementation of this agreement, amicably through consultation or negotiation in accordance with the principle of good faith. If the Parties are unable to resolve the dispute thorough consultation or negotiation, they may jointly request for conciliation, mediation or refer the matter for the consideration of the Heads of State/Heads of Government.”
The three ministers also reaffirmed the significance of the Nile to the development of the people of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan, the importance of trans-boundary cooperation, and their shared interest in concluding an agreement.
The ministers also had an unscheduled meeting with US President Trump to discuss the GERD. Afterwards, he tweeted: “Just had a meeting with top representatives from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to help solve their long running dispute on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, one of the largest in the world, currently being built. The meeting went well and discussions will continue during the day”
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UNECA East Africa meeting regional integration in Asmara
Further regional integration is key to sustain the exceptional economic growth experienced by East Africa over the past decade; and “How to leverage new opportunities for regional integration” was the theme of the 23rd meeting of the UN Economic Community for Africa’s Intergovernmental Committee of Experts and Senior Officials (ICSOE) taking place in Asmara, Eritrea for the first time this week (November 5-7). About 300 decision makers and economic stakeholders attended the meeting, representing the 14 countries served by ECA’s sub-regional office which serves Burundi, Comoros, RD Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
Opening the meeting, Eritrea’s Foreign minister Osman Saleh said: “the Horn of Africa, after decades of conflict, is breathing air of hope, togetherness, peace and stability, critical to regional integration.” He said peace and stability were the critical prerequisite of regional integration, new opportunities that we can leverage for regional integration. He spoke of the need to design pragmatic polices and measurable projects and transform existing infrastructural capacities, human and physical, without which enhancing regional trade or economic integration, would not succeed. He said it was necessary to create synergies to ensure coherence and sustainability and said Eritrea’s view of regional integration was “guided by simple and doable vision; that is building strong regional blocks”, adding “we should not be trapped in overlapping and ambitious regional gatherings and forums. Gauging our real capabilities entails prudence.”
Vera Songwe, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission in Africa, insisted on the importance of increasing regional trade and implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area: “By trading more among ourselves, we can build the equitable and balanced economies which can hold the promises the youth is looking for, and realize the dream of a prosperous Africa. In East Africa alone, the implementation of the AfCFTA could result in 1.8 billion USD welfare gains and the creation of 2 million new jobs.” In a statement, the ECA, noting that East Africa has been experiencing strong economic performance with an average growth rate of 6.6 percent since 2014, stressed concerted efforts as the sub-region “is still facing structural challenges.” It referred to climate change, refugee crises and health risks as transnational issues affecting several countries and underlined that regional challenges required a regional response.
The meeting encouraged tourism as a priority sector for development. Dr. Hirut Kassaw, Minister for Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia, noted reliable statistics were a pre-requisite for effective evidence-based policies and in line with global and regional agendas, she argued that the development of the tourism industry was one of the top priorities which would allow Eastern Africa to reach its development targets.
Other issues covered included strengthening regional cooperation, from the socio-economic and political standpoint as well as issues of regional trade and job creation. It analysed regional economic and social performance and held sessions on the importance of innovative financing solutions for clean and affordable energy and the need for increased private sector engagement, currently limited by regulatory and business constraints. It noted the need for Public-Private Partnerships to focus on sustainability, affordability and citizen’s participation.
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Tadjourah-Balho road: another step in Ethiopia-Djibouti economic integration
The 112-km road from the new port of Tadjourah in northern Djibouti to the border at Balho was inaugurated on Wednesday (November 6) by President Ismail Omar Guelleh together with Ethiopia’s Transport Minister, Mrs. Dagmawit Moges, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Djibouti, Ambassador Abdulaziz Mohammed, ministers, diplomats and government officials. President Guelleh said the road was essential for Djibouti’s economy and was equally important in forging a further step in the progress towards economic integration between Djibouti and “our neighbour, Ethiopia.” The President said the road would connect the city of Tadjourah to the Afar Regional State in Ethiopia and then on to Mekelle via Balho at the Djibouti border.
Minister Dagmawit congratulated the Government and people of Djibouti on the completion of the road and said it marked another milestone in the effort to expand the level of integration between the two countries. She said it significantly increases the efficient and effective flow of goods between Djibouti and Ethiopia and would be vital in reviving the economy of the northern regions, and improve the conditions and way of life of the populations on both sides of the border. The Tadjourah-Balho corridor will lighten up the road traffic at Djibouti and Doraleh ports. Tadjourah is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a potash handling system with a capacity of 2,000 tonnes per hour. The port will also play a key role in importing goods into Ethiopia.
Minister Dagmawit emphasized that integration was not mere rhetoric. It already embodied comprehensive and real interconnecting infrastructures in the new railway, as well as electricity, water, and telecom networks, the Djibouti-Dawale-Dire Dawa road, the Dikil-Galafi Road project and the new Tadjoura-Balho road, and the natural gas pipeline project from the Ogaden to Dimerjog Port. These all vividly showcased the high level of infrastructural interconnectivity and Minister Dagmawit stressed the importance of collective endeavors in finishing the joint projects planned and in progress.
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UNAMID’s mandate extended by a year
The UN Security Council has extended the mandate of the African Union‑United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) by a year to October 31, 2020. Unanimously adopting resolution 2495 (2019), the Security Council, on Thursday last week (October 31), made it clear the Mission’s priorities would now be support for the peace process and for peacebuilding activities, as recommended in the recent special report of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General. The Mission is also tasked with the protection of civilians, facilitation of humanitarian assistance, monitoring of human rights particularly gender‑based violence and abuse of children, and support for sustainable return of displaced persons. The Council welcomed the launch of peace negotiations, hosted by the Government of South Sudan in Juba, on 14 October, and called upon the Government of Sudan, the Darfur armed movements and all other stakeholders to participate fully and to demonstrate progress in advancing the negotiations with the goal of creating a fair and comprehensive peace.
The Security Council decided UNAMID should maintain its current troop and police level for the next five months, to March 31, 2020, and said UNAMID’ further drawdown plans after that date would be decided later. To inform consideration of drawdown options by that date, the Council requested another joint special report by January 31, 2020, to provide an assessment of the situation on the ground, details of progress in the peace process, information on the status of team sites previously handed over to the Government, and recommendations for the drawdown itself. The Security Council urged the Government of Sudan to abide by its commitment to use handed‑over UNAMID team sites exclusively for civilian purposes.
Security Council members underlined the importance of continued dialogue with the Sudan on the drawdown of UNAMID. The transition from peacekeeping to peace-building must be informed by conditions on the ground and through dialogue with all stakeholders including the African Union. There was agreement that all parties should fulfil their obligations in reaching a comprehensive peace. Delegates looked forward to timely recommendations for both the drawdown and for a follow-on to the Mission’s transition.
Sudan’s representative thanked the Security Council for extending the mandate for a year and for maintaining current troop levels. His Government had requested the extension in order to be able to build the necessary conditions for peace and to implement confidence‑building measures. He said the Government had started a study to consider the most effective UN presence after UNAMID, in coordination with the African Union National Commission on Peace and Security. The aim was to deal with the consequences of the conflict and bring about lasting peace. He said assistance in facing the economic crisis would certainly be requested, as would taking Sudan off the list of countries supporting terrorism. He pledged full cooperation with UNAMID and the international community in working towards mutual goals.
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UN Security Council told reliable funding needed for AU peace operations
“The partnership between the African Union and the United Nations continues to grow from strength to strength,” said Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union on Wednesday last week. She was briefing the Council on the Secretary-General’s annual report on the partnership between the UN and the AU, and detailed the mechanisms based on the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for an Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security. She highlighted the joint field visits and the frequent consultation between the Security Council and the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, most recently the annual meeting between the two bodies. She described their joint work in Africa in the past year, including the Central African Republic, and noted respect for deadlines in South Sudan was vital, along with close follow-up in coordination with IGAD. She emphasized preparations for elections and full implementation of the reconciliation process in Somalia, as well as continued concerns over Libya and the Sahel. The “Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020” initiative was an importance area for further collaboration, she said. Commending contributors to the African Union Peace Fund, she noted viable funding for African Union peace operations was a major challenge that needed to be addressed. She looked forward to further strengthening of the partnership between the two organization in a major meeting scheduled for February 2020.
Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer for the African Union, said one key achievement could be seen in the many joint field visits, most recently spearheaded by the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and the African Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security to the Horn of Africa. She stressed the importance of accelerating the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. In Libya, a cause for concern, the AU has openly expressed its need to be more involved. In Mali, the AU, UN and ECOWAS were collaborating towards building a more secure environment across the Sahel, including working to harmonize strategy. She said their combined efforts had contributed to positive recent developments in Sudan, where accelerated implementation of the country’s Constitutional Declaration on the Agreement Governing the Transition was a priority. She emphasized the importance for economic recovery of the removal of Sudan from the list of State sponsors of terrorism. Ms. Kyari also warned that many of the conflicts in Africa were exacerbated by the negative impacts of climate change and said there was an increasing need to enhance joint regional approaches to climate security, especially in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. She said the two organizations should improve joint work in technical areas such as mission planning and management, financial management and accountability for peace operations.
Security Council members welcomed the growing collaboration between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council and said regular meetings were an essential instrument in their partnership. They underlined the need to coordinate action to advance sustainable development in the interest of peace. Most speakers called for more predictable, sustainable and flexible financing through United Nations assessed contributions for African-led peace operations, if on a case-by-case basis. Others, underlining the importance of acting before conflicts broke out, said African operations should be enhanced and called for Security Council and the AU to implement standardized analysis procedures to examine potential conflicts. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, South Africa’s Minister for Defense and Military Veterans Affairs of South Africa and Security Council President for October, speaking in her national capacity as well as on behalf of the African members of the Security Council, said for collaboration to be efficient it should be formalized and structured. She emphasized the need for commitments from both Councils to result in tangible outcomes. “The debate on strengthening the partnership must move away from generalities about partnership and cooperation and towards decisive and practical steps,” she said. She welcomed the Secretary-General’s intension to conduct an assessment of the partnership as requested by the Council. She also welcomed the AU’s development of an expansive peace and security framework, critical to the initiative “Silence the Guns in Africa by 2020”, and announced Equatorial Guinea, as part of that effort, would be hosting a ministerial conference at the beginning of December.
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Women peacekeepers, civil society, crucial for Horn of Africa peace efforts
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and the AU’s Permanent Observer for the African Union, Fatima Kyari Mohammed, told the UN Security Council on Monday (November 4) that the Council should do more to support women peacekeepers and civil society leaders on the front lines of conflict. They were briefing the Council on the UN/AU recent joint solidarity mission to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan. They expressed optimism on developments in the region, and said these offered a unique window of opportunity for the Council to support new moves towards lasting peace.
Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohammed said: “The chance for peace in this region is real.” Not only was each country moving through a process of reform and transformation, if at its own peace, but women were playing a critical leadership role. Ethiopia now had its first woman President, and half of its Government ministers were women. She said in Somalia the mission met Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre and female ministers who were introducing reforms to address the challenges of women’s low representation in political life, she continued. She said: “There are islands of stability in [Somalia] that can be built upon,” but this required more central Government cooperation with federal member states, as well as a road map for transitional justice and social reintegration. Referring to meetings in Eritrea, she said relations between that country and its neighbours were nascent but making strides, and there was a unique opportunity for the international community to support greater integration and sustainable peace.”
The Deputy Secretary-General said the road ahead for the Horn of Africa would not be easy, but foundations had been laid for a transition from peace to sustainable development. Building on this required unity and cooperation across the region, and developments in one country would affect others. She urged the Council to stand ready to provide support to the “new dawn” taking shape in Sudan, adding that the opportunity in Sudan required putting aside usual ways of working; development investment would be needed alongside the political transition if the latter was to flourish. She said each country was headed in the right direction, adding:” We must seize this opportunity to invest in and support peace.” She noted the UN deployed less than 4% female peacekeepers. It was important to increase the percentage of women in security and peacekeeping forces, she said, and provide much more support, ensuring deployment kits were properly equipped for female peacekeepers.
Ms. Fatima Kyari said that the joint mission, the third to focus on women, comes amid a broader understanding that peace, security and development stand little chance without the full participation of women. Indeed, women are on the front lines of addressing climate insecurity, radicalization and violent extremism. She called on the Security Council to provide substantive support for women’s organizations and projects and said concerted efforts between the AU and the UN offered immense opportunities to bridge gaps in women’s leadership.
Ms. Kyari also highlighted the realities of women and girls who continue to suffer from exclusion, communal conflicts, internal displacement, unregulated migration and violent extremism. The mission had participated in the launch of the Ethiopian National Chapter of the African Women Leader’s Network and visited a shelter for women victims of human trafficking. In Djibouti, the delegation met with women parliamentarians, entrepreneurs and doctors who are leading transformation on the ground, as well as with President Ismail Omar Guelleh. In Somalia, it met with Prime Minister Khayre and other senior Government officials and visited the headquarters of AMISOM. She reaffirmed the AU commitment to women’s participation in AMISOM. In Sudan, Eritrea and elsewhere, the joint delegation explored the issue of gender inclusivity in school curricula and found more planning and resource allocation was needed.
Council members applauded improved relations between countries in the Horn of Africa, as well as progress in Sudan’s political transition. Welcoming implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan, they noted the importance of all parties keeping to the 12 November deadline. Speakers noted the key role of women in the development of federalism in Somalia and in fighting violent extremism. They should play an integral part in the Somali elections. They referred to the many challenges remaining in Eritrea and Djibouti and stressed the need for dialogue between them to continue. There was a clear opportunity to improve Eritrea’s relationship with the United Nations and other partners. Speakers underlined the importance of women’s leadership in transitional processes and said women should continue to participate in improving the situation in each country and in relations between countries. The importance of active participation of women in dialogue and cooperation was underlined. They noted the primary role and responsibility of countries of the region to protect women in conflict situations and address violations of their rights; and echoed calls to bolster the deployment of women peacekeepers whose abilities made them better able to relate to local communities.
