By Teshome Toga Chanaka* April 15, 2020 The outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was significant in the calendar of Chinese as it coincided with the beginning of the new Chinese spring festival, with an estimated movement of over 60 million Chinese throughout the country. Since its startling outburst in Wuhan, China, towards the end of 2019, COVID-19 has now become a global pandemic. At the early stage of the spread of the virus not few wrongly perceived it as a predicament solely affecting China. The reluctance and the pretense of hesitancy not to take the matter seriously and lack of…

News in Brief   African Union Bureau of Heads of State and Government Hold Second Virtual Summit to Tackle COVID-19 IGAD Ministers of Health Call for Action to Combating COVID-19 Highlights of Government’s Video briefing about the Status of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ethiopia Leaders Reaffirm Support to the WHO and its Leader   Africa and the African Union President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Union, convened the second teleconference of the Bureau of the African Union Heads of State and Government to track the progress of…

By Negus Kebede April 06, 2020 Reversal of Multilateralism? It is plain as the noses on our faces that the viral influence of the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving to be a colossal stress test for multilateralism, and engaging a reverse gear of multilateralism by some governments posing a jeopardy to pandemic response capacities of individual countries. The unfolding manifestations are global supply chain breakdowns with most nations hoarding medical supplies and implementing travel bans and airport border closures, prompting some to say globalization seems to be in a sorry state. At this point, it might look rather insensitive to gauge…

News in Brief Leaders of IGAD member States Vow to join hands to fight COVID-19 AU Calls for continental Coordinated Response to arrest the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic   Africa and the African Union   The Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Monday (March 30) convened an Extraordinary Summit via Video Conference to deliberate on a regional IGAD strategy to combat the spread of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) in the region. (See article) President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Arica, in his capacity as Chairperson of the…

News in Brief Abiy-Jack Ma Covid-19 Initiative further Solidifies Solidarity in Africa Jack-Ma’s Donation adds Muscle to Africa’s Fight against Covid-19 Ethiopia Pleads G-20 Countries to Carry Covid-19 burdens together with Africans   Africa and the African Union   Africa’s response to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak received a boost on Sunday (March 22) as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Government of Ethiopia received a consignment of medical equipment from the Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundations. The shipment included over 1.5 million laboratory diagnostic test kits and over 100 tons of infection prevention…

News in Brief ECA: Coronavirus crisis could seriously dent Africa’s already stagnant growth President Museveni calls for urgently convening a Summit of the Nile Basin Commission… … and President Sahle-work visits Rwanda Former President Dr. Mulatu Teshome Delivers PM Abiy Ahmed’s Message on GERD to EU and French Officials Africa and the African Union Jack Ma, China’s richest man, has pledged to donate 20,000 testing kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields to each one of the 54 African nations to help the fight against coronavirus. In a statement issued on Monday (March 16), Ma…

News in Brief President Sahle-Work Zewde Pays a Visit to Kenya FM Gedu says the Nile should be a Major Source of Cooperation than Conflict AU-EU Experts meet to consult on Developing an African Human Security Index Head of UNMISS Gives Press Statement on the Current Political Landscape in South Sudan   Africa and the African Union   The African Union has asked Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia to seek a compromise to end their dispute on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The Union also called on international partners to provide their immediate support to…

News in Brief Statement on the Arab League`s “Resolution” Concerning the GERD Statement on the Negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam UNMISS Head Reports on the Peace Process in South Sudan to the UN Security Council Khartoum Hosts IGAD-EU Informal Ministerial Meeting 10th AU-EU Meeting: a building block to further cooperate on Issues of the Economy, Climate, Security, and Migration   Africa and the African Union Special Representative and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) David Shearer, presented his report on the situation in South Sudan’s peace process to members of the UN Security Council on…

  News in Brief FM Gedu Andargachew Pays an Official Visit to Italy A New Episode in South Sudan’s Peace Process… … and the International Community Welcomes Formation of R-TGoNU Embassy Holds a Business Forum in India   Africa and the African Union   The African Union (AU) held on Saturday (February 22) an emergency meeting of ministers of health in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The meeting was to agree on a continental strategy to strengthen preparedness response to the Coronavirus outbreak by member states. The African Union Commission has been engaging Member States to learn and assess their…

News in Brief PM Abiy’s Visit to UAE: a Reflection of Citizen Centered Diplomacy Secretary Pompeo Visits Ethiopia Ethiopia Satisfied with 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government South Sudan on the Eve of Forming a New Pre-transitional Government Ethiopia Takes Part in the 18th Africa Fine Coffee Conference and Exhibition   Africa and the African Union Director, Africa CDC, Dr. John Nkengasong last week on Friday (February 14) gave a follow-up press briefing to provide updated information to the media on the ongoing Coronavirus disease outbreak. The briefing provided information about the status of…