News in Brief Prime Minister Abiy addresses House of Peoples’ Representatives 6th year, first Extraordinary Session Ethiopia, Sudan to resume cross-border trade Lessons learned to better manage Ethiopian migrants in Lebanon EU Senior Officials’ visit to Ethiopia Africa and the African Union Ten African Heads of State including Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed have issued a strong call to other world leaders to increase their funding to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) or risk jeopardizing Sustainable Development Goal targets for eradicating poverty and hunger, particularly in Africa. IFAD said in a press release issued on Monday that Africa…

News in Brief 37th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union Meets Virtually President Isaias Afwerki pays a three-day visit to Ethiopia Africa and the African Union The African Union Commission announced on Thursday (October 15) that the African Trade Observatory (ATO) – a mechanism being implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) to help the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) function when it goes live in 2021 – has begun testing the online dashboard to give real-time trade statistics to African users. Such information will include intra-continental trade flows (traded values, traded quantities, the…

News in Brief Triumphs, challenges, and the way forward: President Sahle-work’s opening speech at joint Session of HPR, HoF Total peace in Sudan is on the horizon, and it is achievable Africa and the African Union The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in the framework of the European Union (EU) initiative ‘Team Europe’ donated on Thursday (October 08) 900.000 COVID-19 test kits to the African Union (AU) / Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). An EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flighty delivered the test kits In Bole International Airport at Addis Ababa. A press point following…

News in Brief Press Release on Irregular Migrants in KSA 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly and High-Level Commemoration Event on the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations High-Level Events on the Sidelines of UNGA75 Somalia: A Promising Progress UN, AU Peace and Security Councils Conclude Joint Seminar and Annual Joint Consultative Meeting Africa and the African Union The African Union Commission in partnership with International Labour Organization (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) on Wednesday (September 30) launched virtually the second edition of the report on Labour Migration Statistics in…

News in Brief A friend in Need: Ethiopia Accompanying South Sudan in Peaks and Valleys “Dine for the Nation”: A call to the Diplomatic Community to Engage in Gorgora, Koysha, Wonchi Projects SM Redwan Urges International Community to address external debt of Landlocked Developing Countries Stakeholders establish a Joint Forum on tourism promotion and marketing in Ethiopia Africa and the African Union The AU Commission announced on Wednesday (September 23) that the Director of the African Union’s Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, Dr. John Nkengasong, has been awarded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) 2020…

News in Brief Floods in Sudan: What Lesson to Take? FM Gedu says Least Developed Countries need to recommit for the 2030 Development Agenda Africa and the African Union The AU Commission celebrated on Tuesday (September 15) the International Day of Democracy under the theme “COVID-19: A Spotlight on Democracy”. This theme is pertinent given that COVID-19 is an unprecedented public health emergency in contemporary times. A statement issued by the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, H.E. Minata Samate Cessouma, reaffirms the unwavering commitment of the African Union and its 55 Member States to the noble goals of Agenda…

News in Brief Africa’s Peace and Prosperity Begin at Home, says PM Abiy Ahmed U.S. House Democrats call to reconsider decision to cut aid for Ethiopia Africa and the African Union Heavy rainfall is expected in Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan over the coming week, the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) warned. According to a statement issued on Monday (September 8) by IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Center, heavy rainfall above 200 mm is expected in parts of western Ethiopia, south-western Sudan and north-western South Sudan that might result in flooding. A meeting convened by the African Union Commission on…

News in Brief Sudan’s Peace Deal: a good example of home-grown African solutions to African problems Press Release on the Tripartite Negotiation on the GERD Press Release on Ethiopian Migrants in Beirut Press Release on Ethiopian Migrants in Saudi Arabia State Minister Redwan Hussien Briefs African Ambassadors on current situations in Ethiopia Africa and the African Union The Ministers for Internal Security and Ministers in charge of Migration Issues of the Member States of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held a virtual ministerial meeting on the Impact of COVID-19 on People on the Move in the IGAD Region on…

News in Brief Joint Press Communiqué of the meeting between Ethiopia, Sudan Prime Ministers Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed meets with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in Khartoum, Sudan Annual Meeting of Ambassadors and Mission Leaders  Underway Abay River: a Kaleidoscope of Literature, History, Law, Political-Economy and Philosophy   Africa and the African Union The World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday (August 26) warned that millions of refugees across Eastern Africa, who rely on the agency to survive, will face serious hunger and malnutrition. This is due to vital donor funding being reduced due to the socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.…

News in Brief Ambassador Dina Mufti delivers Ministry’s bimonthly Press Briefing Shared Consensus on GERD is absolute, says Gedu Andargachew   Africa and the African Union The UN on Thursday (August 20) reported that in a survey conducted in sub-Saharan Africa by WHO, the survey has found that schools are fully open only in 6 of the 39 countries surveyed.  As a result, WHO and UNICEF are urging governments in Africa to promote the safe reopening of schools while taking measures to limit the spread of the virus.  They say the impact of extended education disruption is significant.  Poor nutrition,…