News in Brief
UK Foreign Minister for Africa pays a three-day visit to Ethiopia
UK Foreign Minister for Africa calls on the Deputy Chairperson of the AUC
Joint AU-IGAD Statement on the Recent Developments in Somalia
Africa and the African Union
The African Union’s Labour Migration Advisory Committee (LMAC) last week convened a virtual conference where health policy experts discussed ways to better manage the labour market for health workers in Africa. This was the last of three online meetings in which LMAC examined changes in labour migration governance in Africa in the context of disruptions caused by the coronavirus. In the three virtual exchanges, labor market stakeholders took stock of COVID-19’s impact on African migrant workers in and outside the continent. They also examined emerging issues in labour migration including in the informal economy, and strategies to protect labour migrants and build resilience in the face of disruptions such as pandemics.
The German Epidemic Preparedness Team, on behalf of the Government of Germany, has donated SARS-CoV-2 extraction and test kits, capable of conducting 1.3 million tests, to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). A first batch of the test kits was handed over on Wednesday (July 27) to the Africa CDC by Heiko Nitzschke, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Amira Elfadil Commissioner for Social Affairs and Qian Keming the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, on Monday (July 27) held an online MoU Signing Ceremony on the Project of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Headquarters Building (Phase I). Elfadil in her remarks highly appreciated the Government of the People`s Republic of China and with particular President Xi Jinping for the strong and continuous commitment of leadership assisting Africa in building the necessary capacity for control and prevention of diseases in the continent.
The African Union Commission last week on Friday (July 24) received medical supplies from the Republic of Korea that will boost the continental capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The consignment included 2 million masks were given by the Republic of Korea to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to be distributed to the AU Member States.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia on Thursday (July 30) reported a record 805 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID19). The overall number of coronavirus infections in the country has now reached 16, 615. The Ministry also registered 10 COVID 19-related deaths, bringing the death toll to 263. Some 78 patients have recovered from the virus, taking the total number of recoveries to 6,763. There are now 9,587 active cases of which 134 are in severe condition.
Ethiopia has so far planted more than 4.1 billion trees out of the intended 5 billion, attaining 83% of the set target for this year. The Green Legacy initiative steering committee presented their mid-term performance report on Thursday (July 30) in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed. Officially launched on June 5, 2020, this year’s initiative has thus far marked an 83% success rate, said Oumer Hussien, Minister of Agriculture, while presenting the report. The Prime Minister praised the progress and called on all stakeholders to play their part in ensuring Ethiopia meets the 2020 set target.
U.S. aid organization Mercy Corps on Thursday (July 30) opened a call for expressions of interest in designing, building and operating several mini-grids at three refugee camps around Jigjiga, a city in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia at the border with Somalia. The three camps host refugees from Somalia. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates 14,951 refugees lived at the Kebribeyah camp in February, with 12,120 at Aw Barre and 11,994 at Sheder.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday (July 29) said it faces a critical funding shortfall to meet the needs of refugees in Ethiopia. The UNHCR said it received only 72.2 million US dollars out of the total 385.1 million dollars required to meet the basic nutritional, education, health and accommodation needs of refugees in Ethiopia. As of June 30, 2020, the UNHCR registered 766,563 refugees and asylum-seekers in Ethiopia, most of whom are housed in refugee camps in six regional states, it said in a monthly fact sheet. Ethiopia now hosts the second- largest refugee population in Africa, after Uganda.
A joint forum established to tackle FDI challenges in Ethiopia held its regular meeting on Tuesday (July 28) to discuss challenges to foreign investors following reports from relevant sector offices. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu Andargachew & Ambassador Girma Biru, macroeconomic advisor to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, led the discussion.
Undersecretary of State (Minister for Africa) of the United Kingdom, James Duddridge paid a three-day visit to Ethiopia from July 27-29/2020. During his stay, he met senior Ethiopian Government officials and discussed bilateral as well as other issues of common interest. Mr. Duddridge has led fruitful discussions with President Sahle-Work Zewdie, Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, Foreign Affairs Minister Gedu Andargachew, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy , Dr. Eng. Sileshi Bekele and High-level officials of the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health. (See article)
The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Kwesi Quartey, on Monday (July 27) received the United Kingdom Minister for Africa, Mr. James Duddridge (MP) at the AUC on a familiarization tour and to introduce himself to the leadership of the Commission. (See article)
JLL, one of the world’s leading real estate investment and advisory firms, on Monday (July 27) released its overview of the Hotel industry in Ethiopia. The report examines the factors that make Ethiopia a unique tourist destination as well as the impact of COVID-19 on tourism in the region. As of March 2020, international arrivals in Ethiopia decreased by 35.5% year-on-year to 118,950 mainly due to decreased flights, as well as cancellations by Ethiopian Airlines, which flies to over 80 destinations worldwide from Addis Ababa.
Jack Ma Foundation’s Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative (ANPI) selects Top 50 Finalists of 2020 “Africa’s Business Heroes” Competition. Ethiopians are included in the list. Top 50 finalists were selected from over 22,000 applications across all 54 African nations representing 21 countries in the continent. Half of the finalists are female. Finalists are engaged in 18 sectors like agriculture, AI, e-commerce, fashion, healthcare, renewable energy and ICT.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday (July 27) convened the Investment and Job Creation National Committee to evaluate the national jobs creation activities taken over the past year and to set a direction for the year ahead. The National Committee reported that out of the national target of creating 3 million jobs in one year, 3,387,079 jobs have been created nationwide in the agriculture, industry, and services sector.
Athlete Haile Gebresselassie on Monday (July 27) has presented the first electric car fully assembled by Hyundai Motors in Ethiopia to Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed today. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed said the electric car present has come at a time when the government is working to transform Ethiopia’s greening and climate change resilient aspirations into concrete action through the Green Legacy Initiative and Sheger and Entoto Parks. “I received the first electric car fully assembled in Ethiopia. No emission cars can help reduce pollution,” the Premier tweeted.
Ethiopian Airlines on Monday (July 27) announced resumption of flights to three African Countries, Benin, Cote D’Ivoire and Cameroon. Cotonou, Abidjan and Douala are among the West African destinations which the Ethiopian Airlines has resumed flights to. Ethiopian Airlines announced the resumption of its flight to Dubai four times a week within enhanced health and safety measures.
FAO and Russia have signed a $10 million contribution agreement aimed at boosting efforts to control and eliminate desert locusts in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda. The agreement was signed on Monday (July 27) by FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Russia to the Rome-based UN Agencies Victor Vasiliev during a virtual ceremony.
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed on Sunday (July 26) said Ethiopia has been increasing its COVID 19 testing capacity as a local company is set to commence production by October 2020. The premier disclosed that the government received the first installment of 1 Million COVID 19 testing kits donated by the local company engaged in the production of the medical supply in response to efforts underway to curtail the pandemic. “Daily testing can now be further increased in the next 3 months, while locally produced testing kits available by October 2020,”, Dr. Abiy said.
Nearly 15 million children have been vaccinated against measles in Ethiopia in an effort by the health authorities to maintain essential health services, even as they battle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The nationwide campaign which wrapped up this weekend was conducted under the leadership of the Ethiopian Ministry of Health with support from World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Eritrea
The Eritrean Ambassador to the UK, Estifanos Habtemariam, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Head of Ethiopian Mission, Ambassador Ababi Demissie on Thursday (July 30). Discussions focused on the current situation in Ethiopia, bilateral and regional issues, and how to ensure sustainable peace in the Horn of Africa. Ambassador Estifanos congratulated the people and Government of Ethiopia on the first phase filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which, he said, will mutually benefit neighbouring countries and enhance regional economic integration.
On Thursday (July 30), 14 patients have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 in tests carried out in Adibara (13) and Ghiremaika (1) Quarantine Centers in Gash Barka region. All the patients are nationals who returned from Sudan recently. On the other hand, 34 patients who were receiving medical treatment in hospitals in Gash Barka region have recovered fully and were released from these facilities on Thursday. The total number of recovered patients to-date accordingly stands at 225. The total number of confirmed cases in the country to-date is 279.
Djibouti
Djiboutian and Ethiopian troops serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) last week on Thursday (July 23) delivered medical supplies to the Administration of Hiran region to support health facilities and boost healthcare services in the region. This was the second delivery of medical supplies to benefit local communities, following a donation made to Beletweyne General Hospital two weeks ago. The supplies, which included a variety of drugs and cartons of syringes, were handed over to the Governor of Hiran region, Ali Jeyte Osman, at a function held at Hiran Regional Hospital, in HirShabelle State and attended by top health officials.
Somalia
The UN on Wednesday (July 29) announced that a new joint analysis by WHO and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Somalia says that, by the end of June, some 108,000 children under the age of one might have missed out on their first measles and other vaccines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The agencies warn that, in the long term, this could translate to children living compromised lives, with low immunity, and becoming more prone to catching and spreading infectious diseases. You can read more about this online.
The acting prime minister of the federal republic of Somalia who is also the deputy prime minister has on Tuesday (July 28) toured the Mogadishu port. The acting Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Guleid was taken around by port authorities and was accompanied by officials. The acting PM also held a meeting with the finance minister Abdirahman Duale Beyle and the port authorities. He also warned the management and staff of the port against corruption. His tour comes barely less than a week after the parliament ousted the previous Prime Minister Kheire and president Farmajo named him for the position of the acting PM.
One civilian was killed and three others were injured in an airstrike conducted by the United States military in Somalia earlier in the year, the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a report. AFRICOM on Tuesday (July 28) released its second quarterly civilian casualty assessment report which it said was part of its commitment to improving transparency and accountability in its assessment and reporting of civilian casualty allegations. The incident occurred in early February in the vicinity of the town of Jilib in southern Somalia.
The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on trade and supply chains around the world. Not even the niche market in camels is immune. Somalia usually ships millions of camels, goats, sheep and cattle across the Red Sea to Mecca around this time of year for Islam’s hajj pilgrimage, which begins on Wednesday. This year Saudi Arabia has restricted the number of pilgrims to just 1,000 to contain the spread of the virus. That’s bad news for Somalia, which has the world’s largest number of camels and relies on livestock for 70% of its exports. Somalia sold $533 million worth of animals in 2015, the vast bulk of them to Saudi Arabia, according to the World Bank.
The African Development Bank (AFDB) on Tuesday (July 28) approved grants worth $25 million to Somalia to boost its national budget efforts to mitigate the national and regional impacts of the pandemic. The grants comprised of $15.06 million grant from the Regional Operations Envelope and a $10.04 million grant from Pillar 1 of the Bank’s Transition Support Facility which is under the bank’s COVID-19 Response Facility.
The African Union Commission and IGAD issued a joint statement on Saturday (July 25) regarding the recent developments in Somalia. The statement said the AU and IGAD took note of the vote of no confidence passed by the House of the People on the administration of Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, urged Somali leaders to show unity of purpose, commit to the agreements reached in Dhusamareb and called on the FGS to continue to advance the implementation of other key priorities including security sector reform, the fight against Al Shabaab, the Constitutional Review, the Judicial Services Commission, Human Right Commission and the Constitutional Court. (See article)
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has appointed on Sunday (July 26) Mahdi Mohamed Gulaid as the Caretaker Prime Minister following the removal of Hassan Ali Khaire from the position earlier on Saturday. Before his appointment to the position, Gulaid served as Deputy Prime Minister.
South Sudan
First Vice President Riek Machar and the Vice President for Services Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi on Wednesday (July 29) discussed ways to improve the roads between South Sudan and Sudan. After the regime change in Khartoum, the two neighbouring countries agreed to work together to open borders and promote trade and exchange between the two sides. Machar and Abdelbagi “discussed the importance of connecting to Sudan states in the northern part of South Sudan;” said Machar’s press secretary James Dak in a statement released after the meeting on Wednesday.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir and IGAD Special Envoy Ismail Wais on Wednesday (July 29) discussed the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement. Wais recently resumed his activities in Juba and met with several senior officials for the first time after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. On 14 July, the IGAD leaders urged the South Sudanese government to provide the needed money to expedite the implementation of the security arrangement. Also, they decided that if the Parties are not able to settle outstanding pre-transitional tasks on or before 13th August 2020, “the IGAD Chair will intervene to directly engage with Parties with a view to assist in concluding the pending matters”.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), reported on Tuesday (July 28) that, in an effort to alleviate health concerns in Wau Central Prison, peacekeepers recently donated medications, facemasks, soaps, sanitary napkins, and clothes to the prison’s wing for female inmates.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) announced on Monday (July 27) that it has continued to raise awareness about COVID-19. The Mission is helping to provide reliable information to people in Basukangbi, a remote village with no communications network, in Western Equatoria State. Peacekeepers spoke with local community leaders and others on the dangers of COVID-19 and how they can keep themselves and others safe. The UN Mission also helped to construct a road that will allow people to reduce the amount of travel time to the nearest town to sell their produce and buy essential supplies for their families.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) last week on Friday (July 27) said that, following renewed clashes in Jonglei on Thursday, the number of families seeking safety at the UN base in Pibor has climbed to 8,000. On Wednesday and Thursday, armed groups attacked and seized the village of Likuangole, which is 30 kilometres north of Pibor town, forcing people to flee to an area next to the UN base. Conditions are dire there due to widespread flooding. People have also fled to other areas where there is no shelter, water, food or health care available.
Sudan
Sudan on Tuesday (July 28) requested to postpone for a week the talks on filling and operation of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in order to conduct internal consultations. The announcement of the request came after the first meeting of the higher committee to follow-up the GERD negotiations, recently established by the Prime Minister with the aim of involving other ministries in the talks. A statement issued by the cabinet office said that the meeting was chaired by Abdallah Hamdok and attended by the cabinet affairs, foreign affairs, justice and irrigation ministers in addition to the Director-General of the General Intelligence Service and the Director-General of the Military Intelligence.
The African Union is to hold a three-way meeting on Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam project on August 3 with Sudan and Egypt, the Sudanese irrigation minister said on Monday (July 27). The talks between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan held under the AU’s South African presidency will cover “outstanding issues,” Yasser Abbas told reporters, without elaborating.
The European Union (EU) and the hybrid peacekeeping mission known as UNAMID have condemned the killing of 60 civilians in West Darfur and to hold accountable the perpetrators of the attack. On 25 July, gunmen killed over 60 people following an attack on Mesteri Village, north of Beida locality of West Darfur state. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) which was the first to report the attack did not identify the assailants. But the area is inhabited by the Massalit farmers who often have disputes with the Arab nomads during the agricultural season.
Sudan’s civilian state governors sworn-in Monday (July 27) nearly a year after the signing of the Constitutional Declaration. The oath of office ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace in Khartoum, in presence of the head of Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Prime Minister Abdallah Homdok and Chief Justice Neemat Mohamed Abdallah. All the 18 governors were present despite calls to reject the appointment by the National Umma Party (NUP), and the opposition to their by local leaders in eastern Sudan and Darfur. Hamdok delayed the replacement of military governor several times hoping that armed groups would sign a peace agreement.
Sudan’s Attorney General Taj Elsir Alhibe on Saturday (July 25) said that authorities have arrested several people involved in the execution of 28 officers in 1990. On Thursday 23 July, the office of the Attorney General announced they found a mass grave that most likely contains remains of 28 army officers killed on 23 April 1990 for plotting an attempted coup against the former President Omer al-Bashir. On Saturday, the prosecution continued the criminal investigation of the mass grave as it mobilized a 23-member team including forensic physicians, archaeologists and anthropologists.
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UK Foreign Minister for Africa pays a three-day visit to Ethiopia
Undersecretary of State (Minister for Africa) of the United Kingdom, James Duddridge paid a three-day visit to Ethiopia from July 27-29/2020. During his stay, he met senior Ethiopian Government officials and discussed bilateral as well as other issues of common interest. Mr. Duddridge has led fruitful discussions with President Sahle-Work Zewdie, Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, Foreign Affairs Minister Gedu Andargachew, Minister of Water, Energy and Irrigation, Dr. Eng. Sileshi Bekele and High-level officials of the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health.
The meeting between Duddridge and Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide on Tuesday (July 28) was followed by the signing of two grant agreements amounting to £105 million. The first grant agreement, amounting to £60 million, will be used for the implementation of land investment for the transformation phase 2 program. The program aims to bring transformative, systematic, and sustainable change in land certification and marketing system in Amhara, Oromia, Tigray and SNNP regional state. The second grant, amounting £45 million will be used channeled to Ethiopia’s economic transformation program, which is designed in line with an out-ward oriented, manufacturing-led, sustainable and inclusive growth program of Ethiopia. The program aims to support the Ethiopian government’s vision of export-led manufacturing growth through foreign and domestic investments. The program will be implemented in Industrial Parks (IPs) built-in Oromia, Amhara, Tigray and SNNP regional states.
Meeting the Undersecretary of State on Wednesday (July 29), Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Gedu Andargachew expressed gratitude for the continued development assistance offered by the Government of the UK to Ethiopia which is pertinent to the success of its development efforts. Mr. Gedu also informed the Minister that the new leadership in Ethiopia is willing to strengthen the cooperation with the UK in areas of common interest. The two have also exchanged views following Minister Gedu’s briefing regarding the status of on-going dialogue between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt on GERD and the role of AU in the negotiation process. The discussion between the ministers included the measures Ethiopia has been taking to curb the spread and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Gedu explained Ethiopia’s plan to plant 5 billion tree seedlings this year to help fight climate change and deforestation.
Mr. James Duddridge also held talks with Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Dr. Eng. Seleshi Bekele. Dr. Sileshi provided a briefing to Duddridge on the development activities that Ethiopia has been undertaking in the areas of safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, irrigation, watershed development and energy. Moreover, he briefed the UK Minister on the current status of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and its benefit to Ethiopia and downstream riparian countries. According to a tweet by the Ethiopian minister, “the Government of the UK anticipates for a win-win solution so that all three countries, i.e. Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, reach an agreement over the GERD negotiation.’’
During his last day of visit in Addis Ababa, Minister James Duddridge also met and discussed with President Sahle-Work Zewde, Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, and Oromia Regional State President Shimelis Abdisa. The minister also attended a press conference conducted on Wednesday following the conclusion of his visit. He said the United Kingdom (UK) has welcomed the continued tripartite negotiations between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). “We welcome President Cyril Ramaphosa’s mediation. We welcome the continued technical discussions on the dam.” He has also urged the countries to continue with their discussions as it is important for the development of the region. “The dam is not just power for Ethiopia, but it will be sold to Sudan, it will be sold across the region,” he stated. Duddridge has further indicated the importance of the African Union to resolving the dispute on the dam.
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UK Foreign Minister for Africa calls on the Deputy Chairperson of the AUC
The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Kwesi Quartey, on Monday (July 27) received the United Kingdom Minister for Africa, Mr. James Duddridge (MP) at the AUC on a familiarization tour and to introduce himself to the leadership of the Commission.
After exchanging pleasantries, the Deputy Chairperson expressed gratitude to the Government of UK for committing to donate $20 Million towards the AU COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund and UK’s continuous collaboration with the African Union.
Mr. Quartey highlighted the effects of COVID-19 on the continent, making particular reference to the interruption of the election process on the continent and scheduled high-level dialogue meetings between the AU and the UK.
In his response, Mr. Duddridge thanked the Deputy Chairperson for his warm reception, whilst noting that his office will exploit the possibility of a virtual meeting between the leadership of the AU and the UK Foreign Minister and leadership of the government of the UK to undertake the pending high-level dialogue meetings.
Both sides discussed topical issues of mutual interest such as peace and security, good governance, trade and investment, Brexit, Black Lives Matter and the ongoing integration process on the continent, focusing on the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) among others.
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Joint AU-IGAD Statement on the Recent Developments in Somalia
In a communiqué issued on Saturday (July 25), the African Union Commission and IGAD took note of the vote of no confidence passed by the House of the People on the administration of Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire. “This vote comes after the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member States (FMS) leaders reached an agreement in Dhusamareb to form a technical committee on election modalities for the 2020 national elections,’’ the statement added.
According to the statement, the African Union Commission and IGAD urged Somali leaders to show unity of purpose, commit to the agreements reached in Dhusamareb and respect the agreed timelines in line with the Provisional Federal Constitution. They further underscored the importance of ensuring that the agreed electoral model that will emerge from the technical committee is underpinned by broad based consensus involving parliament, political parties, civil society and other Somali stakeholders.
The African Union Commission and IGAD called on the FGS to continue to advance the implementation of other key priorities including security sector reform, the fight against Al Shabaab, the Constitutional Review, the Judicial Services Commission, Human Right Commission and the Constitutional Court. They further called for the sustained inter-governmental engagement between the Federal Government and the Federal Member States. The African Union Commission and IGAD stressed the need for all stakeholders to exercise restraint and avoid any action that may lead to instability.
