News in Brief
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy holds discussions with political parties
Kenya hosts the Global Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Ambassador Tibor Nagy in Ethiopia
A High-Level Roundtable: “Sustaining Collaboration for a Peaceful and Secure Africa”
An Ethiopia-China Trade and Investment Forum
AU Peace and Security Council concludes a visit to Somalia
News in Brief
Ethiopia
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed met with the leaders of over 80 political parties this week on Tuesday (November 27). Discussions covered the reforms required to ensure elections in 2020 would be free and fair. The newly appointed Chairperson of the National Election Board, Ms. Birtukan Mideska, also attended. Opening the discussion, Dr. Abiy said the meeting would launch a platform where political parties, could hold continuous dialogue and find common solutions to problems. (See article)
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, led the Ethiopian delegation to the Global Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi this week (November 26-28). (See article)
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Tibor Nagy made a three-day visit to Addis Ababa this week (November 28-30). He met Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh and led the US delegation at the sixth annual U.S.-African Union High Level Dialogue. (See article)
A high-level Roundtable discussion on “Sustaining Collaboration for a Peaceful and Secure Africa” was held on Thursday (November 29) in Addis Ababa. Organized by the Institute for Security Studies, it brought together representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the AU Commission and IGAD, Addis Ababa-based ambassadors and representatives of regional and international organizations. (See article)
An Ethiopia China Trade and Investment Forum was held in Addis Ababa on Friday last week (November 23). It brought together representatives from Chinese firms from China‘s Zhejiang province and Ethiopian companies as well as the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) and the Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC). (See article)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia is making a series of new appointments at the Ministry’s headquarters in Addis Ababa and in Ethiopian diplomatic missions abroad. Ministry Spokesperson, Meles Alem said appointment of new ambassadors would be announced shortly. He noted priority areas for the country’s 59 diplomatic missions were a commitment to maximize friends and strategic partners, economic diplomacy, engaging the Diaspora in national affairs, and providing better consular services.
Ethiopian Airlines was given the 2018 Best Airlines in Africa Award for the 7th year running by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) on Tuesday (November 27). Ethiopian’s CEO,
Tewolde Gebremariam, said the award testified to the soundness of the Airline’s “fast, profitable and sustainable growth plan, Vision 2025 and its associated business model.”
Djibouti
French tidal energy technology developer Blue Shark Power System signed an agreement on Tuesday (November 27) to deliver 120 MW of tidal power to Djibouti. After a feasibility study and tests next year, delivery of the first turbines is scheduled for the first half of 2020.
Eritrea
An EU delegation visited Asmara this week and met Presidential Advisor, Yemane Ghebreab, to discuss Eritrea’s rapprochement with Ethiopia, the impact in Eritrea, and on the Horn and ways the EU could best support these developments.
Kenya
The Global Blue Economy Conference was held in Nairobi this week (November 26-28). Organized by the governments of Kenya, Japan and Canada, It was attended by over 4,000 delegates including some twenty heads of state, environment-friendly civil society organizations, environmental experts and business people to discuss ways to harness the potential of the oceans, seas, lakes and rivers to improve the lives of all, particularly in developing states. (See article)
Somalia
President Mohamed Abdullahi visited Kampala for a one-day official visit on Saturday (November 24). His talks with President Museveni focused on peace, security and defense, as well as education, trade and investment. President Museveni commended the progress made by the Somali President in implementing the Tripartite Agreement between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, describing it as a step in the right direction of ensuring peace, stability and prosperity of the region.
President Mohamed Abdullahi held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Friday last week (November 23) on his way back to Mogadishu from Italy. They discussed strengthening relations “through increased win-win cooperation”. President Mohamed said Turkey was a valuable partner in Somalia’s development and progress.
President Mohamed Abdullahi held a telephone conversation with Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar on Sunday (November 25) to discuss political, security and economic developments in Somalia, and the efforts of both countries in combating terrorism and extremism to enhance the unity and stability of Somalia. Last year, the Qatar Fund for Development pledged to support the Somali economy through a USD200 million package of projects in infrastructure, education, economic empowerment and the re-establishment of state offices and institutions.
An African Union Peace and Security Council delegation made a three-day working visit to Somalia this week (November 26-28) to assess the security and political situation. The delegation was led by Ambassador Mohamed Idriss, Djibouti Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, and met Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre and other senior Federal Government officials as well as visiting Baidoa. (See article)
The Ministries of Constitutional Affairs and of Women and Human Rights held a three-day conference in Mogadishu this week (November 25-27) on human rights within the context of the constitutional review process. It also discussed inclusion of persons with disabilities in the political process, gender equity and political representation of women, strategies of achieving equity and the plight of the internally displaced persons.
The new US Ambassador to Somalia, Ambassador Donald Yamamoto, says Somalia could achieve security and stability by strengthening its institutions and economy. He hoped to build on the unprecedented rapprochement among Somalia’s neighbors to create new opportunities for the country.
U.S. Marine General, Thomas D. Waldhauser, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), visited Mogadishu on Tuesday this week (November 27), meeting President Mohamed Abdullahi and Somali defense officials.
South Sudan
The first meeting of the Joint Defense Board (JDB) was held on Sunday (November 25) in Khartoum. The military leaders of the signatories to the revitalized peace agreement discussed details of implementing security arrangements including troop disengagement, cantonment, and joint training before the formation of unified forces. The Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) welcomed the formation of the JDB and said it was ready to support the Parties by monitoring the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements as agreed in the R-ARCSS.
Sudan
Foreign Minister El-Dirdeiry Ahmed met the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, in Brussels on Friday last week (November 23) and asked the EU to provide additional support to meet the needs of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. The Commission of Refugees says Sudan is hosting around 2 million refugees from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, Somalia, Central Africa Republic, South Sudan, Yemen and Syria.
The Defense ministers of Sudan and Egypt agreed at a meeting in Khartoum on Sunday (November 25) to establish a joint border protection force to combat terrorism and cross-border crimes as well as build a strategic partnership for military cooperation.
Minister of Oil and Gas, Azhari Abdel-Gadir, said on Friday last week (November 23) that a million barrels of South Sudan crude oil have been pumped through the Sudanese pipeline and were now ready for export in Port Sudan. After visiting South Sudan’s Unity oilfield last week, he said it would resume production at the end of December.
South Africa and South Sudan signed a one-billion-dollar agreement to develop South Sudan’s oil industry on Friday (November 23). Funding will come from Central Energy Fund of South Africa. The MoU includes construction of a refinery, a new pipeline and oil exploration as well as training of workers and engineers.
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Prime Minister Dr. Abiy holds discussions with political parties
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed held his first consultative meeting with the leaders of over 80 political parties this week on Tuesday (November 27). They deliberated on issues to serve as a basis for further dialogue between the competing political parties, mainly focusing on the necessary reforms required to ensure that the elections due in 2020 will be free and fair as well as the shared responsibilities of all as the Prime Minister underlined.
During his inaugural speech in April this year, Dr. Abiy promised to make substantive reforms on pressing issues including socio-economic and political affairs. He told Parliament, after taking the oath of office, that he would work to enhance the democratic space, ensure the prevalence of good governance, justice and the rule of law, to tackle the country’s economic challenges and improve social conditions of the people. He also promised he and his government would prioritize building a system that responded to the country’s political, economic, and social conditions and which was governed by the will of the people and which served the people. In his speech he also noted that bringing about a consensus among all stakeholders and realizing sustainable development might be the major task.
Since coming to power, Dr. Abiy has launched a whole series of measures. These have included holding intensive and inclusive discussions with sections of the society within the country. He also engaged with members of the Ethiopian Diaspora in North America and Europe, and calling leaders and members of exiled political parties as well as prominent opposition individuals in exile to return home and resolve differences through dialogue. He has released political prisoners, started reform of the justice system and democratic institutions. He also reorganized his cabinet paying special attention to gender parity and appointing a new President of the federal Supreme Court and last week a new Chair of the National Electoral Board, Ms. Birtukan Mideksa, a former judge and opposition politician who returned from exile in the United States.
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Tuesday’s consultative meeting was in line with Prime Minister’s previously declared intention to widen the political space and ensure full participation of all political parties in the country’s political reforms. Opening the discussion, Dr. Abiy said that the initiative aimed to launch a platform where political parties, including the ruling EPRDF, could hold continuous dialogue on issues of the national agendas and find common solutions. There was a need to consider how and when to conduct discussion with political parties as well as how to resolve issues through dialogue. Dr. Abiy indicated that the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) would use the ideas raised at the meeting as a benchmark to design its own program.
In his remarks Dr. Abiy suggested a three phase inter-political party discussion. The first phase should focus on reaching consensus regarding the place and time of dialogue, as well as identify the agendas to be discussed. The second phase should cover building democratic/electoral institutions. The third phase, which could be held after the forthcoming election, should focus on establishing a sustainable political culture. The Prime Minister said achieving consensus on a common national agenda was fundamental to lay the foundation for a stable political culture and bring about prosperity. He said being open to dialogue appears to be the essential instrument to avoid unnecessary polarization and to turn differences into assets. He also stressed the need to always put the country and the will of its people above everything else.
The Prime Minister noted that building the required system included creating trusted democratic and judicial institutions which were critical to realize a democratic society and to establish a sustainable and stable political culture. He reiterated his government’s commitment to continue to uphold the principles of the rule of law. He also called on the heads of other political parties to come together and play their part in the democratization process, adding that obedience to the law was fundamental to advance a democratic system. He said any amendments to the laws of the country, including the constitution, should be considered together and in accordance with the law. He stressed elections were a pillar of any democratic system and this was necessary to build an unshakable and independent electoral system. He said: “Political parties need to discharge their responsibilities in setting up such sustainable electoral systems and laws”, and he called on the leaders of all parties to cooperate to make the next election free, fair and credible. He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to play a constructive role in this regard.
Political leaders who attended the occasion included Dawd Ibsa of the Oromo Liberation Front, Dr. Merera Gudina of the Oromo Federalist Congress, OFC; and Dr. Berhanu Nega of Patriotic Ginbot 7 as well as representatives of the Ogaden National Liberation Front among others.
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Kenya hosts the Global Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi
In the face of the enormous pressures facing oceans, seas and marine resources, from plastic pollution to the impacts of climate change, there is growing international recognition of the need to develop these in an inclusive and sustainable manner for the benefit of all. They are central to the 2030 for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, particularly SDG 14. The Global Blue Economy Conference was held in Nairobi this week (November 26-28). Organized by the governments of Kenya, Japan and Canada, It was attended by over 4,000 delegates including some twenty heads of state, environment-friendly civil society organizations, environmental experts and business people to discuss ways to harness the potential of the oceans, seas, lakes and rivers to improve the lives of all, particularly in developing states, as well as women, youth and indigenous communities. The Ethiopian delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu.
Dr. Workneh noted the conference would be able to build on the momentum of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 2015 Climate Change Conference in Paris and the UN Ocean Conference 2017’s “Call to Action”, to which Ethiopia had contributed significantly. He stressed that Ethiopia, under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy, was committed to policies and programs to improve the lives of all Ethiopians. It was strongly committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda and to preserving the environment. Ethiopia, he emphasized, was already experiencing the direct effects of climate change, presenting the necessity to switch to a sustainable development model. It had, therefore, initiated a Climate-Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) initiative to build a green economy to help the country realize its ambition of reaching middle-income status by 2025.
Ethiopia, he said, was investing significantly to increase the fisheries sector and make it sustainable. One aspect of this was the building of major hydro-power infrastructure to increase the potential for fisheries development, and help to ensure food security. He said water-energy-food nexus was central to Ethiopia’s water policy and water resources development. He said there were some 60 million people without access to electricity in Ethiopia. The Government was aggressively engaged in a massive rural electrification program not least because provision of energy was critical to attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. Equally, the Minister stressed, there was vital need to create jobs for the youth and modernize different sectors of the economy, whether service, agriculture or manufacturing. This necessitated the need to harness water resources sustainably. Countries should take extra measures to protect seas, oceans, lakes and rivers from pollution as part of the process of making cities and communities more resilient, inclusive and prosperous, and tackling climate change, improving sustainability and protecting marine areas. Dr. Workneh said without concerted action, the SDGs would be unachievable. All this should involve collaboration with other states, other levels of Government in Africa, civil society, the private sector, international organizations and the world community of Nations.
President Mohammed Abdullahi of Somalia called on fellow African leaders to take a lead role in ending illegal fishing in African waters. He spoke of the constant violations of Somalia’s territorial waters by foreign vessels, and said that the main challenge that Somalia faced in its environment “included illegal fishing, dumping of dangerous waste and charcoal burning.” Underlining the strategic and economic importance of the Somali coastline, the longest in Africa, he said the government acknowledged that country’s unexplored resources could help end poverty, and deal with the lack of power and the shortage of water.
President Kenyatta underlined the critical importance of food security and the question of how to feed a projected world population of nine billion people in 2050. He said the easiest approach was to increase community resilience and protect the environment. Food security is one of the four pillars of President Kenyatta’s “Big Four Agenda”, along with universal health care, affordable housing and manufacturing. Speaking at Global Forum for Governors and Mayors, held on the margins of the Conference, he also emphasized the need for collaboration among different levels of government and city-to-city partnership, and underlined the need to focus on coastal cities, many threatened by climate change.
The Blue Economy is a developing world initiative pioneered by Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) but relevant to all coastal states and countries with an interest in water beyond their national jurisdiction. The Blue Economy conceptualizes oceans as “Development Spaces” where conservation, sustainable use, oil and mineral wealth extraction, bio-prospecting, sustainable energy production and marine transport can be integrated. It aims to reduce environmental risks and it endorses the same principles of low carbon, resource efficiency and social inclusion as the Rio+20 Green Economy initiative. The core of the Blue Economy concept de-couples socioeconomic development from environmental degradation. It places renewed emphasis on the critical need for the international community to address effectively the sound management of resources in and beneath international waters by developing and refining international law and ocean governance mechanisms.
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U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Ambassador Tibor Nagy in Ethiopia
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Ambassador Tibor Nagy arrived in Addis Ababa on Wednesday (November 28) for a three-day visit that will include engagements focused on the United States’ relationship with Ethiopia and the sixth annual U.S.-African Union High Level Dialogue. During his stay in Addis Ababa Ambassador Nagy met with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of Defense, of Peace, and of Finance as well as the Ethiopian Investment Commissioner. In all the discussions, the Assistant Secretary and members of his delegation, had the opportunity to discuss and understand the vision of Ethiopia’s future and consider how the US could best contribute to the success of the current reform efforts.
Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Minister of Affairs briefed Ambassador Nagy on Thursday on the sweeping ongoing democratic and economic reforms taking place internally. He highlighted measures taken to respect human rights, respect for freedom of speech and the widening of the political space as well as the development of institutions accountable and responsive to citizens. He also explained the steps taken for gender parity in the cabinet and other governmental positions. Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh underlined the importance of sustaining the reform efforts by way of establishing strong democratic institutions. He urged the US government to support the institutional building and the reform process.
In the discussion on regional issues, Ambassador Nagy welcomed Ethiopia’s continued efforts to bring peace and stability to the Horn of Africa. He described the dawn of peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea as a breakthrough bringing overall peace to the region. He also appreciated IGAD’s effort to revitalize the South Sudan peace process. Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh described developments in South Sudan as promising and said the process was moving forward. He also highlighted positive developments in Somalia.
During his visit, Ambassador Nagy, who had previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia from 1999 to 2002, atte3nded the focused on promoting stronger trade and commercial ties between the United States and Africa, harnessing the potential of Africa’s youth, advancing peace and security through partnerships, and underscoring the United States’ enduring commitment to the people and nations of Africa.
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A High-Level Roundtable: “Sustaining Collaboration for a Peaceful and Secure Africa”
A high-level Roundtable discussion on “Sustaining Collaboration for a Peaceful and Secure Africa” was held on Thursday (November 29) in Addis Ababa at the Radisson Blu Hotel. The Roundtable, which was organized by the Institute for Security Studies, brought together representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, the AU Commission and IGAD, members of the ISS Advisory Council and Board of Trustees, Addis Ababa-based ambassadors and diplomats and representatives of regional and international organizations.
In its latest publication, “Violence in Africa, Trends, Drivers and Prospects to 2023”, the ISS suggested that while it might be unlikely for Africa to ‘Silence the Guns by 2020,” yet progress in advancing peace, stability and growth was evident. It said Africa might remain turbulent not only because of poverty and poor governance, but because it was growing and dynamic. It said effective responses to violent extremism in key countries could rapidly reduce armed conflicts and noted that the ballot not the gun was becoming the main source of political contestation, accompanied by a shift to urban rather than rural violence. In the long term, the ISS report suggested only much more rapid, inclusive economic development combined with good governance and development-oriented leadership would make Africa less vulnerable to violence and instability. A number of participants at the Roundtable acknowledged the fast and comprehensive reforms being undertaken in Ethiopia by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Opening the discussion, Dr. Roba D Sharamo, Director of ISS’ Addis Ababa Office and Regional Representative to the AU, Horn and East Africa, said the occasion aimed to deliberate on collaborative approaches and priority areas for action in coming years. He said the world and Africa continued to face diverse and complex human security challenges that required innovative thinking and responses, including terrorism and violent extremism, election-related disputes, poor governance and organized crime. Collaborative approaches for peace and security were key, he said, and solutions must be evidence-based, reflect the African context, and be sustainable.
Ambassador Said Djinnit, President of the ISS Advisory Council underlined the need for the African Union to adhere to the principle of non-indifference. He said: “We cannot sit idle without trying to address the problems that the continent is facing today.” He underlined the importance of investing heavily on governance, expanding harmonization in the AU and among Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and member states, ensuring financial independence and opening up the AU for Civil Society organizations, youth and women.
Other panellists included a representative for the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, who emphasized the importance of prioritizing the issue of governance, which he said, included the promotion of democracy, ensuring good governance, rule of law and human rights. In this connection, he asked how many of the treaties agreed by the AU had been ratified, domesticated, implemented and reported on. On issues of governance, participants exchanged views on ways of dealing with or minimizing corruption, reforming public service, decentralizing governance, urbanization, and issues related to education.
Participants attributed much of the scarcity of peace and security in Africa to the lack of financial independence, absence of harmonization and coordination among AU Member States and regional blocs, and the level of coordination between the AU and the UN and particularly between the African Union Peace and Security Commission (PSC) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Participants welcomed the recent bold decisions taken at the 11th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on the financing of the AU and the agreement on sanctions for member states which fail to fulfil their financial commitment. Equally, questions were raised in regard to the capacity of the African Union to enforce its decisions and implement sanctions where necessary. Speakers suggested “We are often good at crafting fantastic and beautiful decisions, but poor in implementing them.”
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An Ethiopia-China Trade and Investment Forum
An Ethiopia China Trade and Investment Forum was held in Addis Ababa on Friday last week (November 23) with the aim of extending cooperation between Ethiopia and China‘s Zhejiang province. The Forum was jointly organized by the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT Zhejiang), the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association, the Consulate General of Ethiopia in Shanghai, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Foreign Direct Investment Promotion and Technology Transfer Affairs Directorate General. The aim was to establish and maintain a good relationship between Ethiopian and Chinese companies from Zhejiang, and explore further investment opportunities in Ethiopian manufacturing industry.
The Forum brought together participants from the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), the Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC), Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China as well as representatives of a hundred Chinese companies and over 120 Ethiopian firms. Among those present were Chinese companies engaged in the manufacture of building materials, engineering logistics, machinery, energy equipment, agricultural and food processing products, environmental protection, trucks and auto parts, hotel management, household materials, as well as nuclear power and nuclear technology applications.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Aklilu Hailemichael, officially opening the Symposium, praised the cooperation that existed between Ethiopia and China and a relationship now in its 48th year. He highlighted the importance of Ethiopia to Chinese business interests as the gateway to Africa, with Addis Ababa as a political capital of the continent and Ethiopia a member of important regional trade groupings such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). He said Ethiopia itself offered spectacular opportunities for business and these were being constantly bolstered by the various regional interconnection projects currently being undertaken. Dr. Aklilu mentioned the reform measures which were opening up the economy through the partial liberalization of state-owned assets. They offered fertile conditions for foreign investors to do business in Ethiopia and he expressed confidence in the advent of a “Golden Age” which would see many more Chinese businesses collaborate with their Ethiopian counterparts.
Mr. Zhang Qingshan, Vice-Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Zhejiang Provincial Committee, praised the good relationship between Ethiopia and China for creating favorable conditions for Chinese Companies investing in Ethiopia. He welcomed the country’s business environment, rated one of the best on the continent, and an economy continuing to improve at a fast pace globally. Chinese business delegates, he said, had come to Ethiopia to be part of this promising investment environment. He encouraged others to invest in Ethiopia. The President of Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) Engineer Melaku Ezezew described the occasion as a viable platform to bolster cooperation in trade and investment and encouraged Chinese companies to invest in Ethiopia. He noted the importance of Ethiopia’s exports of coffee, oil seeds and leather to China and underlined the need for diversification. He said: “Ethiopians really feel at ease and friendly with Chinese businesses, and respect the significant achievement China has made”, and noted that China and Ethiopia had “developed multi-dimensional relations, with people-to-people, business-to-business and government-to-government relations being the cornerstone.”
The Forum looked for solutions to the opportunities and challenges to promote cooperation between Ethiopia and China substantively while drawing up a joint blueprint for economic development. It provided the opportunity for representatives from enterprises in Zhejiang Province to hold business-to-business talks with Ethiopian companies involved in a variety of industries. The Forum promised to help the Ethiopian government to achieve its five-year development agenda GTP II by promoting collaboration and development between the two countries. Chinese investors have set up facilities to improve productivity and performance of the industrial sector. According to the Investment Commission, Ethiopia licensed more than 1,290 Chinese investment projects last fiscal year, some 25% of the total licensed for the year. The Commission says, “Chinese investment and capital comprise the largest investment inflow to Ethiopia, with Chinese investors engaged in various sectors ranging from agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors including hospitality and tourism fields.” China is also Ethiopia’s largest trading partner with trade increasing at an average rate of 22% annually during the last decade.
On the margins of the meeting, two Memoranda of Understanding were signed between Addis Ababa University and Zhejiang Chinese Medical University; and between Zhejiang enterprises and Addis Ababa University. A liaison office in Addis Ababa was officially launched by the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade Zhejiang Provincial Committee (CCPIT Zhejiang) and China Chamber of International Commerce Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce (CCOIC).The Chinese delegation visited industrial parks and held discussions with the Ethiopian Investment Commission, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Foreign Direct Investment, Promotion and Technology Transfer Affairs Directorate General on ways of enhancing economic ties between the two countries. Under its Belt and Road initiative, China is seeking to refashion the ancient Silk Road linking Asia with Europe and Africa, one branch of which is passing up the Red Sea.
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AU Peace and Security Council concludes a visit to Somalia
An African Union Peace and Security Council which had been on a three-day working visit to Somalia, to assess the security and political situation, concluded its mission on Wednesday (November 28). The delegation, led by Ambassador Mohamed Idriss, Djibouti Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, held meetings with Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre and other senior Federal Government officials. The Prime Minister told the delegation: “10 years ago, Somalia was a country forgotten, with little hope for prosperity. Today we are re-emerging in the eyes of the international community and being a pride of the continent, as a functioning developing state and no longer a failed state.” Prime Minister Khayre highlighted his government’s key priorities, which include defeating terrorism. He affirmed its commitment to defend the gains won by AMISOM and the Somali security forces, and called on the African Union to remain an advocate for Somalia’s causes in international fora.
Ambassador Idriss said: “The AU Peace and Security Council takes the issue [of Somalia] seriously and will in the coming days examine the situation in Somalia.” He said findings from the visit would be shared with relevant bodies, including with leaders from the Troop Contributing Countries to AMISOM. He noted: “The military chiefs from the Troop Contributing Countries will meet on 30 November 2018. We hope that the outcome of this meeting will inform the adoption of the new Concept of Operations, which is the framework for AMISOM’s exit strategy.” Ambassador Idriss said the Peace and Security Council will be seeking to validate resolutions from the Military Operations Coordination Committee meeting, which brings together all military chiefs from the TCCs, key partners and the AMISOM leadership.
The AUPSC is keen to ensure the successful implementation of the Transition Plan within the framework of Somalia’s National Security Architecture, and the delegation looked at the progress made in the transitioning of national security responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali National Security Forces as laid out in United Nations Security Council Resolutions in 2017 and earlier this year, and in communiqués of the AU Peace and Security Council. It wanted to see that the Transition Plan was being carried out as planned, within the framework of the country’s National Security Architecture, and without undue strain on national security. It also wanted assurance that the Somali security forces were progressively being trained and capacitated, to take over full responsibility of the Somalia’s security. On the political front, it looked to get an update on the political situation in the country and the impending regional presidential elections and visited Baidoa, the capital of South West sate where presidential elections are due shortly.
The AU Special Representative for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Madeira said that by coming to Somalia, the AUPSC now had “a much better perception and understanding of the issues at stake in Somalia. And they are better informed on the decisions they are going to take and what action needs to be taken.”
