A Week in the Horn 7.6.2019
News in Brief
President Sahle-Work Zewde in Vancouver for the 2019 Women Deliver Conference
Somalia’s President makes a one-day visit to Addis Ababa
UN Security Council reduces the number of AMISOM troops in Somalia
Germany launches its “Africa Connect” fund
Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing sets up a Tourism Marketing Council
The passing of Rita Pankhurst, life-long friend of Ethiopia
News in Brief
Africa and the African Union
The Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, Gerd Müller, launched a new funding program for private investment in Africa, “Africa Connect” on Tuesday this week (June 4). (See article)
The African Continental Free Trade Agreement legally came into effect at midnight on May 30, though the signatories have until July to work out the details of operation. Of the 52 nations which have signed the preliminary endorsement of the Agreement, 24 have now ratified it. The Agreement aims to create a single continental market for goods and services with free movement of goods, people and investments, similar to the European Union, boosting trade in Africa and strengthening Africa’s position in global trade. The UNECA estimates it has the potential to boost intra-Africa trade by over 50%.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday (June 4) elected Ethiopia as a Vice-President of the 74th Session of the General Assembly. Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Professor Tijjani Muhammad-Bande has been elected president of the General Assembly for the 74th session starting in September. Cabo Verde, Congo, Tunisia and Zimbabwe were also elected Vice Presidents by the 193-member General Assembly, one of the six main organs of the United Nations, and the only one in which all Member States have equal representation.
Ethiopia
President Sahle-Work Zewde attended the three-day 2019 Global Women Deliver Conference, the world’s largest conference on gender equality and the health, human rights and wellbeing of girls and women, in Vancouver, Canada this week (June 3-5). She also held talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and met with representatives of the Ethiopian Diaspora. (See article)
President Sahle-Work Zewde arrived in Paris on June 6 to attend the Women’s World Cup as guest of honour. She will deliver a key note speech during the session “Change Making and Empowerment through Football”, on the topic of “Overcoming Cultural and Social Barriers”. The Women’s World Cup, the international football competition contested by FIFA women’s national teams, started in Paris on Friday (June 7).
Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi paid a one-day official visit to Ethiopia on Sunday (June 2). He was welcomed at Bole International Airport by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew and other senior government officials. He held talks with Prime Minister Dr. Abiy on bilateral and regional issues. (See article)
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed met Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Dr. Richard Sezibera for bilateral discussions last week. They also planted seedlings in the compound of the Office of the Prime Minister.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu Andargachew held discussions with Egypt’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ambassador Osama Abdel Khale on Wednesday (June 5). The Minister emphasized the need to strengthen the longstanding relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt in trade, investment and tourism and called on Egyptian companies to seize the lucrative investment opportunities in Ethiopia. Ambassador Khalek said he would work to encourage Egyptian companies to invest in Ethiopia.
Engineer Aisha Mohamed, Minister of Urban Development and Construction headed a delegation which included the mayors of Bahr Dar, Gambella, Semera, and Jigjiga cities to the UN-Habitat Assembly in Nairobi last week (May 27-31), Ethiopia has been elected as the representative for the Eastern Africa Sub-region to the newly established Executive Board of UN-Habitat. (See article)
State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Markos Tekle received copies of credentials of the newly appointed United Nations Development Programme Country Representative, Turhan Saleh on Monday (June 3).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia expressed its deepest condolences over the passing away of Rita Pankhurst, librarian and historian and international advocate for women’s rights, a life-long friend of Ethiopia. She was buried at Trinity Cathedral on Tuesday (June 4), in the presence of many of her Ethiopian friends, colleagues and family. Among those attending was Mrs. Hirut Zemene, State Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry extends its profound sympathy to the family and friends of Rita Pankhurst. (See article)
The Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing, in conjunction with Ethiopian Airlines Regional Office, has set up an Ethiopian Tourism Destinations’ Marketing Council in China. It aims to encourage marketing of Ethiopian tourist destinations for China’s tourists, and increase the flow of Chinese tourists to Ethiopia. (See article)
Ambassador Fitsum Arega, Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ewunetu Belata, Consul-General in Minnosota, and Dr. Birhane-meskel Abebe, Consul-General in Los Angeles, held a meeting with members of the Ethiopian Diaspora in Minneapolis at the weekend. During the meeting, the first of its kind, the Heads of Mission explained the changes and progress Ethiopia was making and encouraged the Diaspora community to forge unity and contribute more to the on-going reform process.
The CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde Gebre Mariam, has been re-appointed to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors. This is in recognition of the fast and sustainable growth of Ethiopian Airlines and Ato Tewolde’s significant contribution to African aviation industry. The IATA Board represents 290 airlines in over 120 countries, carrying 82% of the world’s air traffic.
FIFA has announced that the 70th Congress of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) will take place in Addis Ababa in May 2020 at the African Union headquarters.
Somalia
President Mohamed Abdullahi held talks with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on the sidelines of the OIC summit in Mecca at the end of last week. They discussed collaboration in economic development and technical education
The United Nation Security Council, adopting Resolution 2472 (2019) on Friday last week (May 31), renewed the mandate of AMISOM for another year, but reduced the number of AMISOM troops by another one thousand. (See article)
Sudan
The AU Peace and Security Council, following a meeting on Thursday (June 6), suspended, with immediate effect, the participation of Sudan in all AU activities until the effective establishment of a civilian-led Transitional Authority. This it said was the only way to allow the Sudan to exit from its current crisis. If the Transitional Military Council (TMC) failed to hand-over power to a civilian-led Transitional Authority, it would impose sanctions.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, at the head of a delegation which included Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedu Andargachew, arrived in Khartoum on Friday (June 7) for talks with the head of the Transitional Military Council, Lt. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy also held discussions with members of the Forces for Freedom and Change. He expressed Ethiopia’s commitment to fostering peace in the region and underlined that a prerequisite for restoring peace in Sudan is unity.
IGAD has called on Sudanese stakeholders to return to the negotiation table and work in good faith and in the spirit of compromise. In a statement issued on Wednesday (June 5) IGAD underlined the need to preserve the peace and stability of the Sudan and called on all Sudanese stakeholders to exercise maximum restraint and ease the increasing tension. It reaffirmed “its continued engagement on the situation in the Sudan, in coordination with the African Union” and said it stood “in support and solidarity with the Sudan and its people as they strive to overcome current challenges.”
General al-Burhan, in a speech on Tuesday (June 4), called for general elections within seven months. He announced a caretaker government would be formed to hold accountable former officials “involved in corruption or other crimes”, to achieve lasting peace, to create a conducive environment for elections and ensure public freedoms and human rights. He announced that previous agreements with opposition groups over a transitional government were cancelled.
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President Sahle-Work Zewde in Vancouver for the 2019 Women Deliver Conference
President Sahle-Work Zewde left for Vancouver, Canada at the weekend to attend the three-day 2019 Global Women Deliver Conference, which officially opened on Monday (June 3). Women Deliver is the world’s largest conference on gender equality and the health, human rights and wellbeing of girls and women. Women Deliver brought together over 8,000 world leaders, academics, change-makers and other stakeholders to the Vancouver Convention Center. This year’s conference focused on the key role of power for progress and change, how power operates at the levels of the individual, of structures and of movements. President Sahle-Work addressed various sessions of the conference.
During her visit President Sahle-Work also held talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who expressed his appreciation for the President’s attendance at Women Deliver and for her leadership in advancing gender equality for Ethiopians. They discussed the importance of investing in grassroots women’s organizations to drive lasting change and welcomed the launch of the Equality Fund. The two leaders spoke of their shared commitment to advancing Women, Peace and Security and support for the Elsie Initiative.
The Prime Minister noted Ethiopia’s continued commitment to building peace in the Horn of Africa, which he said was making a strong contribution to stability and prosperity in the region. He welcomed recent significant reforms and the transformation in Ethiopia and took note of the elections planned for 2020. They discussed the importance of investing in infrastructure to support growth and change.
President Sahle-Work and Prime Minister Trudeau underlined the deep and warm relationship between Canada and Ethiopia, which is reflected in strong people-to-people ties and shared values of diversity and inclusion, particularly in the context of federalism. They looked forward to strengthening bilateral cooperation and agreed on the importance of staying in close contact. President Sahle-Work commended Canada’s strong partnership with Ethiopia, which had continued through some difficult times. She also noted the Ethiopian government’s commitment to strengthen its bilateral economic cooperation with Canada.
During her visit to Vancouver, President Sahle-Work Zewde met with members of the Ethiopian Diaspora community. She urged the Diaspora to strengthen their unity and contribute their support to their country of origin. “We should stand united to build Ethiopia,” she said, adding “We have no other choice than to work together to build our country. Do all you can for Ethiopia.” Representatives of the Diaspora pledged to do all they could to support the government’s call for engagement in development.
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Somalia’s President makes a one-day visit to Addis Ababa
Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi paid a one-day official visit to Ethiopia on Sunday (June 2). He was warmly welcomed at Bole International Airport by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew and other senior government officials.
During his visit, he held talks with Prime Minister Dr. Abiy at his office. Discussions centered on bilateral and regional issues, and the two leaders also reiterated their commitment to take the two countries’ bilateral relations to greater level through strengthening cooperation on bilateral issues. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy visited Somalia just a year ago when the two leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and to collaborate with the African Union in seeking solutions to problems on the continent. They also pledged to enhance diplomatic and trade activities and remove all trade and economic barriers.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional peace and security and further strengthening their cooperation on regional matters. President Abdullahi has been part of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy’s initiatives for regional peace and security and economic integration in the Horn of Africa region.
Before his departure for Mogadishu, the President and the First Lady of Somalia together with Prime Minister Dr. Abiy planted seedlings in the compound of Prime Minister’s office.
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UN Security Council reduces the number of AMISOM troops in Somalia
The United Nation Security Council, adopting Resolution 2472 (2019) on Friday last week (May 31), renewed the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for another year. The Council condemned the recent Al-Shabaab attacks in Somalia and elsewhere, and expressed its deep concern over the loss of civilian lives from Al-Shabaab terrorist activities. It paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifices made by AMISOM forces, and authorized the Member States of the AU to maintain the deployment of AMISOM until 31 May 2020. It also expressed its grave concern at the humanitarian situation in Somalia.
The resolution authorized AMISOM to continue to deploy a minimum of 1,040 police personnel including five Formed Police Units, but specified a reduction in the levels of uniformed AMISOM troops by one thousand to a maximum level of 19,626 by 28 February 2020. This, it said, was in line with the Transition Plan and the gradual handover to Somalia Security Forces. The reduction should take place unless the Security Council decided to adjust it by taking into account the progress of the Transition Plan, the ability to provide effective, accountable Somali security forces, or AU, UN or Federal Somali Government threat assessments of conditions on the ground.
The resolution defined AMISOM’s strategic objectives: The gradual handing over of security responsibilities from AMISOM to the Somali security forces with the aim of Somali security institutions taking the lead by 2021; reducing the threat posed by Al Shabaab and other armed opposition groups with a view to enabling a stable, federal, sovereign and united Somalia; assisting the Somali security forces to provide security for the political process, for stabilization efforts, reconciliation, and peacebuilding as well as relevant support to Somali police and authorities to create a secure environment in the build-up to elections with the aim of fully handing over security responsibility to Somali security institutions.
It underlined AMISOM’s priority tasks: To maintain a presence in the sectors set out in AMISOM’s Concept of Operations, prioritizing the main population centers; to mentor and assist Somali security forces, including where necessary the police; to secure key supply routes including those essential to improve the humanitarian situation and those supporting delivery for the Transition Plan; to assist Somali security forces to enable the Somali authorities to carry out their functions of government, including efforts towards stabilization, coordinated with Federal government ministries, reconciliation, peacebuilding, election preparation and security for key infrastructure; to conduct offensive operations; to reconfigure AMISOM in support of the Transition Plan and in favor of increasing police personnel within the authorized AMISOM ceiling; to ensure its own security and that of United Nations personnel; and to assist the Federal Government and the Federal Member States to implement the total ban on the export of charcoal.
Given all this, and the continued security threat of Al-Shabaab, the decision to reduce the AMISOM troops at such a critical juncture is something of a surprise. It is hardly helpful to the ability of the mission to achieve its objectives. AMISOM has significant logistic and financial constraints which continue to affect the ability to achieve its mandate. In fact, the Africa Union Peace and Security Council, and the AMISON Troop and Police Contributing Countries, as well as the three African members of the Security Council, have all expressed their concern over this decision. A troop cut in AMISOM will have a negative impact on AMISOM’s efforts to maintain its recent gains in fighting Al-Shabaab, which, as the Security Council has noted, remains a potent threat to the peace and stability of Somalia.
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Germany launches its “Africa Connect” fund
The Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, Gerd Müller, launched a new funding program for private investment in Africa, “Africa Connect” on Tuesday this week (June 4). An Ethiopian delegation led by Ethiopia’s ambassador to Germany, Ambassador Mulu Solomon participated in the ceremony which attracted high-level members of the German public and private sectors.
The Africa Connect program is part of the Development Investment Fund. Its goal is to promote investment and create jobs. In addition, it aims to support regional business locations and industries of the future by strengthening clusters that could be interesting for small and medium-sized enterprises from Germany. It should also promote new job and training partnerships with companies and training institutions in Africa as well as provide targeted support to funds that reduce currency and financing risks.
German and European companies will be able to apply for loans through the new program for their projects in Africa, if the projects add value on the ground. It will also allow for African firms to get support if they have European shareholders or long-term contracts with European partners. It will offer loan and equity financing to European and German Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) seeking to invest in Africa, equity financing for African SMEs as well as the establishment of a network offering advice to potential investors. According to the ministry, the program will include the creation of training, skilled jobs and new perspectives for young people. Loans from 750,000 up to four million euros will be possible for three to seven years.
Minister Mueller said “the German economy should be involved in the development” of countries such as Ethiopia, Ivory Coast or Ghana which had achieved significant economic growth. In addition to “Africa Connect,” two other elements of the Development Investment Fund will also be launched this year: One is “Africa Grow”, to provide growth capital for small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa; the second is the “Economic Network Africa,” which offers package for external economic support and development cooperation.
Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance Olaf Scholz explained earlier that Germany wanted to use the Development Investment Fund to promote trade and investment over a period of three years, primarily for those countries that are taking part in the Compact with Africa. He said the project consisted of three components, to be launched in the course of this year. With the Africa Connect investment fund, the aim was to make it easier for German companies to enter the African market despite existing risks. This would be done by promoting the financing of loans and investments by small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa. Secondly, the Economic Network Africa would be for small and medium-sized enterprises and support companies more effectively if they want to enter the African market. Thirdly, the Africa Grow Investment Fund would support African companies with high growth potential through equity financing, primarily in countries that are members of the Compact with Africa. It would also be supplemented with business consultancies.
The Development Investment Fund, which came out of the “Marshall Plan” for Africa that Mr. Mueller presented in January 2017 with the twin objectives of increasing trade and development in Africa and reducing migration across the Mediterranean, aims overall to concentrate on fair trade, increased private investment, economic development, entrepreneurship, and job creation and employment. It is also intended to support follow –up investments of at least €2 billion from German SMEs toward African investments.
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Ethiopia elected to the Executive Board of the UN Human Settlements Program
The UN Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) held the first session of the UN-Habitat Assembly at UN-Habitat headquarters in Nairobi last week (May 27-31). The theme of the Assembly was “Innovation for Better Quality of Life in Cities and Communities”, with a sub-theme of “Accelerated Implementation of the New Urban Agenda towards Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals”. The occasion brought together UN Member States, UN specialized agencies, local authorities and non-State actors, including civil society, youth and women, the private sector and academia.
During its first session, the Assembly established the Executive Board of UN-Habitat and elected its members. It also reviewed and approved the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan (2020-2025) and reviewed progress in implementation of the New Urban Agenda. Ethiopia was elected a member of the Executive Board of the United Nations Human Settlements Program to represent the Eastern African Sub-Region for the next four years. The Executive Board is the new governing body to ensure Member States oversight of UN-Habitat’s operations and to improve its accountability, transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness. Set up under UN General Assembly resolution 73/239, it is expected to provide greater efficiency in decision-making, help build trust, and attract sufficient, sustainable, and predictable funding. It will oversee the implementation of UN-Habitat‘s normative and operational activities, adopt decisions on programmatic, functional and budgetary issues, and implement resolutions and other decisions taken by the UN-Habitat Assembly.
Ethiopia received 8 out of 11 votes from the Eastern Africa Sub-region in a regional vote of confidence in its competence to deliver, its dedication to multilateralism, and its commitment to African causes. Its delegation to the UN-Habitat Assembly was led by Engineer Aisha Mohamed, Minister of Urban Development and Construction. The delegation also included the mayors of Bahr Dar, Gambella, Semera, and Jigjiga cities.
In her opening statement, Engineer Aisha Mohamed congratulated the Committee of Permanent Representatives for successfully conducting and finalizing the new governance structure for the United Nations Human Settlements Program. She underlined Ethiopia’s significant contribution to the process, as a chair of the Group of 77 and China for the year 2018. She also underlined her appreciation of the Bureau of the Committee of Permanent Representatives for the remarkable work undertaken during the negotiations on the governance of the United Nations Human Settlements Program and the preparation for the first Session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly. She acknowledged the work done by the Extended Bureau on which Ethiopia represented the African Group in its capacity as the Chairperson of the African Group Technical Committee.
The representatives of Burundi and Niger, in their capacity as the Chairperson and Rapporteur of the African Union Housing and Urban Development Specialized Technical Committee (STC-8), delivered the African statement at the opening and closing sessions respectively. They coordinated the African Group during this United Nations Habitat Assembly.
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Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing sets up a Tourism Marketing Council
The Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing has set up an Ethiopian Tourism Destinations’ Marketing Council in China (ETDMCC). The Council, established on May 31, is the result of an initiative developed by the Embassy and the Ethiopian Airlines Regional Office. It aims to bring new impetus and a real shift in the marketing of Ethiopian tourist destinations for China’s outbound tourism market and significantly transform and increase the flow of Chinese tourists to Ethiopia. The Council includes members of the Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing and the three Consulate General offices in China, Ethiopian Airlines officials, professionals and private citizens residing in Beijing, prominent personalities and representatives of Ethiopian students studying in China.
Ambassador Teshome Toga said the creation of the Council was a response to the difference between the potential of China outbound tourism and the numbers attracted to Ethiopia. In recent years, the number of Chinese tourists travelling abroad has been steadily increasing, encouraged by the growth in national income, the rise in middle-class households, extra holidays, easing of travel restrictions and a greater desire to experience different cultures and activities. Ethiopia, in line with elements of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative has been granted an “Approved Destination Status” for Chinese tourists. There is now tremendous potential for further cooperation and for the products Ethiopia can offer to Chinese tourists.
Ambassador Teshome said the Council would work to harmonize the Embassy’s and the Airlines’ tourism promotion plans and harness resources to help implement the destination marketing strategy through the active support and involvement of the Ethiopian community and friends of Ethiopia in China. He underlined the importance of an organized approach to properly utilize the potential to help Ethiopia reach its sustainable development goals, balance its trade deficit and increase foreign exchange earnings. He noted the government of Ethiopia was already implementing a National Tourism Policy to expand institutional capacity and expand facilities. Ambassador Teshome said the bilateral relationship between Ethiopia and China had been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, a relationship that heralded a new chapter of all-round strategic relations, including increased people-to-people interaction and tourism promotion.
Negus Kebede, the Minister Counsellor for Foreign Trade and Tourism at the Embassy said raising awareness and knowledge of possible destinations and events, encouraging the numbers of Chinese people to visit Ethiopia, and expanding the network of destinations available, were the major strategic directions the Council could employ. Yared Berta, Ethiopian Airlines’ Regional Director for China, North Korea and Mongolia, emphasized that Ethiopian Airlines would play a catalytic role in promoting Ethiopia as an important global tourism destination. He noted it was working to increase the current one million tourists per annum to 10 million as envisaged in the airlines’ Vision 2030.
The aims and role of the ETDMCC includes promotion of Ethiopia’s unique brand of “Land of Origins”, encouraging Ethiopian Airlines’ services in China and expanding its customer base, increasing the numbers of Chinese tourists visiting Ethiopia; engaging those who have already visited Ethiopia and friends of Ethiopia in China, to share experiences; and to forge strategic partnerships with Chinese tour and travel operators and tourism institutions. The Council will also align its activities with members of the tourist sector in Ethiopia.
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The passing of Rita Pankhurst, life-long friend of Ethiopia
Rita Pankhurst passed away on May 30, 2019, aged 92, just over two years after her husband Richard who died in February 2017. Rita Eldon came to Ethiopia over sixty years ago in 1956, and married her husband, historian Richard Pankhurst, a year later. In recognition of their positive contributions and their life-long support for Ethiopia, Richard and Rita were awarded honorary citizenship of Ethiopia. They are both buried in Kiddist Selassie Menbere Tsebaot Church cemetery, Trinity Cathedral, reserved for prominent Ethiopian patriots and important figures who have contributed greatly to Ethiopia. Rita’s mother-in-law, British suffragette campaigner, artist, writer, and champion of Ethiopia, Sylvia Pankhurst (1882-1960) was accorded a state funeral attended by Emperor Haile Selassie in the same Cathedral, almost sixty years ago. Richard was a notable historian and scholar of Ethiopia, who over the last seventy years, contributed enormously in shaping Ethiopian historiography with a stream of publications and articles on almost every aspect of Ethiopia’s past.
A formidable scholar and activist in her own right, Rita worked as a librarian in the National Library of Ethiopia from 1956 to 1962 before becoming Director of the University Library of the then Haile Selassie I University, for over a decade, 1964 to 1975. As the librarian of the University in the 1960s and early 1970s, she was largely responsible for providing the basis for the education of the students of what was then the country’s only University for many years. Most of those now in government, business and academia owe much to her efforts as librarian and to her support for numerous voluntary and non-government organizations, including her notable advocacy for women’s rights. She published a number of articles on the place and role of women in Ethiopia.
The family returned to England in 1976 and Rita took charge of the Library Services of the City of London Polytechnic, remaining its director until she returned to Ethiopia in 1987. In this capacity Rita was instrumental in acquiring the Fawcett Library which contained women’s suffrage campaign records. The Fawcett collection served as the nucleus for the internationally renowned Women’s Library, now in the custodianship of the London School of Economics.
After her return to Ethiopia in 1987, Rita edited academic books and university thesis and was active in the civic life of Addis Ababa as well as devoting much energy to her advocacy for women’s rights, and to voluntary work, including the United World Colleges–Ethiopia, the Society of Friends of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies, the Ethiopian Gemini Trust and other bodies.
