News in Brief
The Age-old Greed for the Blue Nile Waters
Ethiopia invites the AU to jointly investigate alleged human rights violations in Tigray at AUPSC Summit
On allegations of sexual violence in Tigray
Africa and the African Union
The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) held a meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government on 9 March 2021 under the chairmanship of President Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, the Chair of the month for March 2021. The Summit considered two agenda items. The first item was Sustainable Peace in Africa: Climate Change and its Effects on Peace and Security in the Continent. The second item was the Follow up on the Implementation of Paragraph 15 of the Decision on Silencing the Guns of the 14th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union. The last agenda item was Any Other Business (AoB) during which Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, has briefed the Summit on the current situation in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. (See article)
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat met with Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia on Thursday (March 11) to discuss the modalities of engagement of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) in the investigation of alleged human rights violations in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The principle of the investigation was proposed by Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, during a Summit-level meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council held on 9 March 2021. The Chairperson of the Commission welcomed the readiness of Ethiopian Government to cooperate with the African Union’s Treaty Body. The Chairperson expressed his appreciation to the Government of Ethiopia for its openness to engage with the African Union and stated his confidence that the ACHPR will deliver on this important task.
The African Union Commission last week has held a briefing session on the endorsement of Dr Arkebe Oqubay, Africa’s sole candidate for the post of Director General of UNIDO. The Commission invited resident Heads of Mission in Addis Ababa to inform that the 38th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union held on 3 and 4 February 2021, unanimously endorsed the candidature of Dr Arkebe Oqubay as the sole African candidate for the post of Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, delivered a message on the occasion of the International Women’s Day (March 8). The theme of the International Women’s Day for the year 2021,: “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 World” reflects the determination of the international community to support Gender equality and the Empowerment of women, through their participation and representation at the level of all decision-making bodies, he said in a statement.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat on Saturday (March 6) strongly condemns the terrorist attack perpetrated against the Lul Yemeni restaurant in Mogadishu that led to a number of casualties. The Chairperson extends his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and wishes a quick recovery to the injured. The Chairperson reaffirms that the AU remains committed to working with the Government and peoples of Somalia to further consolidate peace and security in the country.
Ethiopia
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday (March 9) delivered a statement to the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) on current situations in Northern Ethiopia. In his testament, Abiy said claims of deliberate mistreatment of citizens in Tigray Regional State are baseless and aimed at sowing seeds of discord. He said Ethiopia expresses its will to openly engage the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in undertaking investigations jointly with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen last week briefed Ambassadors and representatives of members of the United Nations Security Council in Addis Ababa on the current situation in Tigray. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said the Government has intensified its efforts to fully and effectively address the humanitarian needs in the Tigray region and enormous progress has been achieved since the law enforcement measure has come to a successful conclusion. He indicated that unfettered humanitarian access, including to international media has been granted, issuance of clearance to the region for humanitarian actors has now been expedited by addressing bureaucratic hurdles and the process of carrying out joint investigation on human rights violations is underway.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen held a phone conversation on Monday (March 8) with Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affair, Marc Garneau on issues of mutual concern. In briefing the Canadian Foreign Minister on the current situations in Tigray, Demeke reiterated the fact that unfettered access has been given to humanitarian support and the media too. Although the government has been covering 70 percent of the humanitarian support needs in the Tigray region, the international community’s assistance, including Canada is very much appreciated, he said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen welcomed to his office Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Evgeny Terekhin on Wednesday (March 10) to discuss issues of mutual concern. Speaking about the investigations on alleged atrocities committed in Tigray, Demeke reiterated Ethiopia’s stance that was reflected in the recently delivered statement of H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to the African Union Peace and Security Council on the Current Situation in Northern Ethiopia. In this regard, he said, Ethiopia has expressed its will to openly engage the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in undertaking investigations jointly with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, adding that the government has also signaled its willingness to collaborate with relevant UN agencies for these investigations.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen welcomed US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Geeta Pasi at his office on Monday (March 9). The two sides commended the longstanding and fraternal relationship that exists between Ethiopia and the United States. Noting the multifaceted relationship between the two countries, particularly in education, health, and security issues, they underscored the need to scale it up with expanded engagements. Ambassador Geeta said Ethiopia is the focal point for the US in the region and called on to work together for peace and security.
Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia conferred on Thursday (March 11) with Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, Foreign Minister and Special Envoy of the President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. They discussed issues of common concerns and Ethiopia’s role in the peaceful solution to the problem of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Demeke assured that Ethiopia has always been consistent in its support for a fair, just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution consistent with the principles and purposes of the AU Constitutive Act and the UN Charter. Ethiopia will stand with and support the position of the role of the African Union in the peace process under the auspices of the UN and ready to contribute its share, he added.
About 40 resident ambassadors and diplomats in Addis Ababa paid a visit to Mekelle city on Wednesday (March 10). Dr. Mulu Nega, Chief Executive of the Interim Administration of Tigray and colleagues briefed the ambassadors about current situations in Tigray, particularly on the rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts as well as security issues in the region. Challenges and results achieved in rebuilding damaged infrastructures, reopening public service institutions, rehabilitating IDPs, and delivering humanitarian supports were discussed in detail.
There is a huge awakening in Ethiopia in recent years in terms of accelerating internal developments as well as in regional engagements. One of the national focuses in this regard is a quick adjustment to the management and engineering works of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (the GERD) as well as displaying a genuine desire for a negotiated settlement on the dispute over the filling and operation of the GERD. Such a national determination emanates from a quick completion of the GERD so that more than 55 % of Ethiopians would enjoy access to electricity like any other people near and far. (See article)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on international relief agencies to meaningfully enhance the current 30 percent contribution in aid supply in Tigray State. In his weekly press briefing on Tuesday (March 9), Spokesperson of the Ministry, Ambassador Dina Mufti said that 70 percent of the relief supply has so far been given by the government whereas donors have limited participation in covering the remaining 30 percent. Despite the entitlement of unlimited humanitarian corridors by the government, donor agencies have so far only contributed 30 percent of the total aid in Tigray, Dina elaborated. Cognizant of the growing humanitarian need, Ethiopia requires donor agencies to increase their relief supplies.
In his latest biweekly media briefing to local media on Tuesday (March 9) Ambassador Dina Mufti, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified Ethiopia’s long standing position on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) vis a vis Egypt’s and Sudan’s position to get third parties involved in mediation process. “The GERD issue can be solved under the auspices of the ongoing African Union-led negotiation which does not necessitate the involvement of a different party over the issue as a mediator,” Ambassador Dina said, adding “Ethiopia strongly believes that African problems can be solved through African Solutions and the African Union and the DRC are perfectly capable of coming up with win-win solutions to all.”
Five factories in Tigray region have become fully operational, the Interim Administration of the region disclosed. This was disclosed at a regular weekly meeting of the Emergency Coordinating Centre (ECC) chaired by the Minister of Peace, Muferihat Kamil on Tuesday (March 8). During the meeting, representatives of the Interim Administration of Tigray Region provided an update on the overall situation. The meeting was concluded by stressing on strengthening to simultaneously work on both emergency aid and rehabilitation and normalization of the region.
The Ethiopian government takes allegations of human rights abuses and crimes, including sexual violence extremely seriously. In this regard, it is fully committed to the Zero-Tolerance Policy on Sexual Exploitation and Violence. That is why it has set up a task force composed of the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children and the Ministry of National Defense to look into the matter. The government is working to ensure full accountability of all perpetrators. (See article)
Eritrea
Twenty-one patients have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 in tests carried out on Wednesday (March 10) at Quarantine Centers and OPD Services in Gash Barka and Central Regions. Out of these, thirteen patients are from Quarantine Centers in Om-Hajer (5), Adibara (4), Agordat (2), Goluj (1), and Ali Ghidir (1), in the Gash Barka region. The other eight patients are from OPD Services in Asmara, Central Region. On the other hand, fifty-four patients who have been receiving medical treatment in Gash Barka (53), and Anseba (1), Regions have recovered fully and have been discharged from these facilities. The total number of recovered patients to-date has accordingly risen to 2592 while the number of deaths stands at seven. The total number of confirmed cases in the country to-date has increased to 3009.
Djibouti
Ethiopia and Djibouti have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to effectively respond to common security concerns, bolster border security preparedness as well as engender qualified police personnel. The MoU was signed on Thursday (March 11) in Djibouti by Commissioner General of Ethiopian Federal Police Commission, Demelash Gebremichael and Director of Djiboutian National Police Force Colonel Abdillahi Abdi.
Djibouti becomes the second country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to receive vaccines against COVID-19 following the arrival of the first shipment of AstraZeneca/Serum Institute of India (SII) vaccine last week at Djibouti International Airport. The vaccines were delivered with UNICEF’s support through COVAX, a coalition co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) that ensures fair and equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to countries regardless of their income.
Kenya
Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde travelled to Kenya on Monday (March 8) for a one-day official tour that will see her hold talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta. President Zewde was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo. President Kenyatta hosted her at State House in Nairobi, where discussions took place on matters of mutual interest and others touching on the region.
Somalia
The spokesman of the Ministry of Information, Ismael Mukhtaar Omar, disclosed that former president of Somalia, Ali Muhammad died in Nairobi, Kenya. The Somalia government has declared three-days mourning for the former president and also appointed a National Funeral Committee. Muhammad who died at age 82 was the fourth President of Somalia. He was in power from January 26, 1991, until January 1997.
Somali National Army, SNA, on Thursday (March 11) killed 18 al-Shabab militants and injured several others during operations in several locations in Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, local media reported. SNA Operation Commander in the region, Abdalla Mustaf told the state news agency, SONNA that the operations were aimed at neutralizing terrorists who often plant landmines on the main roads in the region.
Somali diplomat Nuur Mohamud Sheekh has been named the spokesman for the regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), part of the organisation’s new approach to be reachable. IGAD Executive Secretary, Dr. Workneh said in a statement on Wednesday (March 10) that the decision to appoint Mr Sheekh as spokesperson followed his shown ability to build links between Igad and other organisations as well as “strengthening collaborations” with member governments.
South Sudan
Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia met on Tuesday (March 9) South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir Mayardit at his residence in Juba. They pledged to scale up relationships between the two countries by expanding vital engagements and noted the importance of scaling up cooperation on Regional Stability and Capacity Building schemes. The two sides further noted the role of the successful completion of the law enforcement operation in the Tigray region to regional peace and underscored the only viable way to solve the Ethiopia-Sudan border issue is dialogue.
Sudan
Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Hamdouk and the accompanying delegation on Wednesday (March 10) concluded a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia during which Dr. Hamdouk and the accompanying delegation met with the Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdul-Aziz. The meeting represented a new start for the bilateral relations between Sudan and Saudi Arabia which are based on the common interest and the benefit, security, stability and well-being of the two brotherly peoples.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrived in Khartoum on Saturday (March 6) for a one-day official visit. Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Head of Sudan’s Transitional Military Council (TMC), met with President Al Sisi.
President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan met at his office at the Republican Palace on Thursday (March 11) UK’s Special Envoys for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea Julian Riley and for Sudan and South Sudan Robert Fairweather. The meeting reviewed bilateral relations between Sudan and Britain and ways and means of boosting them further besides regional issues of mutual concern. In a press statement after the meeting, Julian Reilly affirmed his country’s readiness to support the transition period in the economic and political fields. For his part, the Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Robert Fairweather, said that the meeting with the President of the Sovereignty Council dealt with how to cooperate between Sudan and Britain to persuade non-signatories to the Juba Peace Agreement for Sudan to come to Khartoum.
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The Age-old Greed for the Blue Nile Waters
There is a huge awakening in Ethiopia in recent years in terms of accelerating internal developments as well as in regional engagements. One of the national focuses in this regard is a quick adjustment to the management and engineering works of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (the GERD) as well as displaying a genuine desire for a negotiated settlement on the dispute over the filling and operation of the GERD. Such a national determination emanates from a quick completion of the GERD so that more than 55 % of Ethiopians would enjoy access to electricity like any other people near and far.
To state the obvious, this desire of Ethiopia has been for long blocked by Egypt and the Western world with their powerful financial institutions denying Ethiopia access to resources to meet its development needs through utilization of its water resources. The unjustified usual preconditions put forward are that Ethiopia has to first agree with Egypt. So in a way, Egypt has long enjoyed a veto power on the Nile at the expense of other riparian states and in particular to the detriment of Ethiopia.
Having this experience since the British colonization of Egypt and Sudan as well as through the 1929 and 1959 agreements of the UK, Egypt, and later Sudan, Ethiopia was left with a single option of going it alone to lay the foundation of the GERD. Therefore, come the next Ethiopian rainy season, the unfair stance of Egypt and its allies would come to rest for good.
That would be a huge relief to Ethiopia and the region in terms of peace and security in the sense that the long policy of Egypt of direct invasion, encirclement, and destabilization of Ethiopia to prevent it from developing its water resources would lose its meaning so that peace would prevail in our sub-region. When Ethiopia completed the GERD soon, there will be no earthly reason not to celebrate the electrification of the 65 million-plus Ethiopians. This, of course, shall be achieved without causing significant harm to downstream countries unlike what Egypt, Sudan, and their allies would want us to believe.
These days, we are hearing that upon the proposition of Sudan and with the endorsement of Egypt, they came up with an idea of a “Quartet” i.e. the US, the UN, the EU, and the AU to co-mediate the dispute over the GERD. One fact is clear here: Changing the mediators doesn’t change the root cause of the dispute. Secondly, we have an AU-led process just about to commence with the leadership of the President of the DRC after taking over from South Africa. Therefore, Egypt and Sudan with their allies are displaying utter contempt to the AU and the DRC by denying even a chance to try to commence the mediation. Thirdly, with the intransigence of Egypt joined recently by Sudan and trumpeted by their allies, there will be no solution unless a compromise is obtained from Egypt and only from Egypt. Fourthly, Ethiopia has not so far been formally informed of the proposal for the quartet mediation. This is an utter contempt to Ethiopia that it could be forced to accept without prior consultation. Ethiopia, a sovereign and proud un-colonized nation, abhors being taken for granted.
The usual trash we hear from Egypt and Sudan is that the GERD would impinge on the interests and water needs of Egypt and Sudan. Which interest and water needs are they talking about here? Is it the 55.5 billion cubic meters of Egypt’s self-allocation and 18.5 billion cubic meters thrown out to Sudan by Egypt? That is 75% of the Blue Nile and when water loss from evaporation, natural losses, and water mismanagement are added that constitutes over 90% of the Blue Nile. Is this what Egypt is talking about the interests and needs of Egypt and Sudan that Ethiopia has to serve as a sacrificial lamb? Where are then, the needs of Ethiopia as a source of 86% of the Blue Nile and the only country having significant tributary as to both the Blue Nile and White Nile? So simple. Before anything else, let’s ask for what achievement is sought after-with the quartet mediation?
In any case, it is unclear what made Egypt and Sudan believe that the quartet will succeed where the AU has not failed. For Ethiopia, we have passed through unbearable agony with the involvement of the West from November 2019-February 2020 in Washington. No wonder with this national renaissance project, we have every reason to feel once beaten, twice shy. Ethiopia has ample tips and its own analysis that the good parts of the expected quartet are already pro-Egypt because of their many considerations. No logic convinces Ethiopia that quartet members are righteous devoid of bias in favor of their own national interest.
A double standard is not acceptable to Ethiopia. Egypt should have drawn a lesson and negotiate in good faith as it experienced bombardment of the UK, France, and Israel when it moved to nationalize the Suez Canal to secure internal finance to build the Aswan High Dam. The same applies here to Ethiopia that no matter what, the GERD would be completed with internal resources from Ethiopians.
This is not being unilateralist but Egypt and Sudan are helping Ethiopia to behave the way it does. Egypt rather has always been unilateralist when in 1929 and 1959 committed historical error that considered Ethiopia non-existent. Egypt created fait accompli with its so junior partner Sudan when they signed the 1959 agreement leaving no room and water allocation neither to Ethiopia nor the other riparian states. No ground to accuse Ethiopia of being unilateralist or creating a fait accompli.
The repeated warnings of Egypt and Sudan these days are that if Ethiopia fails to budge into their wishes and whims, Ethiopia will face serious political and security consequences. It is in preparation for that consequence that Egypt and Sudan have signed a military pact last week and did a military exercise six months ago. Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia have passed through these practices. Egypt tried to invade Ethiopia and had gotten annihilated in 1875 at ‘Gundet’ and in 1876 ‘Gura’ (both present-day Tigray) when the Egyptian army was commanded by European and American officers according to Richard Greenfield. That military attempt continued now coupled with supporting all and any Ethiopian outlaw groups as well as trying in vain to incite Ethiopia’s neighbors until this day.
That part of the unwarranted threat of use of force is not a matter here. Nevertheless, Egypt has circulated a document recently titled “Memorandum on the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam” of 39 pages with more than 39 contradictions on each page but at best it is crocodile tears or at worst a poison coated with honey.
The objective of the document is to scuttle the AU-led process which Egypt and Sudan are responsible for five times postponement of the rounds of negotiations during the chairmanship of South Africa. We will continue to watch out again attempts to shoot the bird before it flies with the DRC at the helm.
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Ethiopia invites the AU to jointly investigate alleged human rights violations in Tigray at AUPSC Summit
The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) held a meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government on 9 March 2021 under the chairmanship of President Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, the Chair of the month for March 2021. The Summit considered two agenda items. The first item was Sustainable Peace in Africa: Climate Change and its Effects on Peace and Security in the Continent. The second item was the Follow up on the Implementation of Paragraph 15 of the Decision on Silencing the Guns of the 14th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union.
The discussion on the first item explored scores of issues related to climate and security nexus, while the second dwelt on the specific issue of Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, an item which could only be considered by Heads of State and Government based on the decision of the Assembly referred as /AU/Dec. 693 (xxxi). The last agenda item was Any Other Business (AoB) during which Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, has briefed the Summit on the current situation in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia.
The Council was addressed on the first and second agenda items by President Uhuru Kenyatta President of the Republic of Kenya and Chairperson of the AU, President Felix Tshisekedi president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Chairperson of the African Union, President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa and outgoing chairperson of the AU, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission as well as a range of distinguished briefers.
Highlights of the debate on the negative effects of climate change revolved around the growing threat this problem is causing to socio-economic development in Africa and its implication for sustainable peace, security, and stability on the continent. The importance of collective and sustained efforts in mitigating the effects of climate change, the role of Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms, and the need for better coordination and synergy have been underscored.
Ethiopia believes that Africa needs to broaden interdependence and cooperation for the promotion of robust African common position, including overcoming the challenge caused by the impact of climate change on sustaining peace and security on our continent. The serious problem that humanity continued to face from the reality of climate change, for Ethiopia, emanates mostly from a lack of political commitment to implement globally agreed principles including climate financing.
It has to be recalled that the Government of Ethiopia has launched the Green Legacy Project to replace lost forests and initiate a public movement of planting trees across the country. This experience and our commitment to the implementation of the African Green Wall Project running from Senegal to Djibouti remain unwavering. Climate change should not be considered as the primary cause of conflict but a risk factor that has to be addressed comprehensively, and too much securitization of climate change would not be a substitute for the need to strengthen collective efforts to address economic development and youth unemployment.
During the briefing under AoB Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed informed the Heads of State and Government on the background to the current situation that “since April 2018 Ethiopia undertook unprecedented reforms towards the revitalization of true democracy.” While the three decades preceding his administration were characterized by TPLF’s power control through the divide-and-rule tactics, which generated mistrust and animosity among societies. He recalled that the Federal Government tried everything in its power for over two years to avoid what had happened in Tigray on 4 November 2020, during which TPLF’s audacious act resulted in the attack of Ethiopia’s security of last resort. With the damage done to our Northern Command, the TPLF has committed the highest crime and treason. The perpetrators of this deliberate and heinous crime will be brought to justice under the law of the land.
Prime Minister Abiy has also emphasized that the rule of law measures by the Federal Government were constitutionally sanctioned by the House of People’s Representatives, and bringing the criminals to justice is ongoing. On the other hand, the Priority of the government currently is on building the Tigray region and ensuring that life returns to normalcy. He noted Ethiopia has mobilized 70% of the resources needed for humanitarian assistance, while the uproar for unfettered access by the international community has not pushed their 30% contribution anywhere up to the talk.
This fact demonstrates the huge attempt of politicizing the issue of human rights and humanitarian assistance, and Ethiopia strongly believes in the principle that ensuring accountability for violations of human rights and addressing humanitarian situations is the sovereign responsibility of the Federal Government. It must be underlined that respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and unity of Ethiopia is not for negotiation, and any pressure that proliferates instability of the country must be avoided at all cost.
The Prime Minister expressed Ethiopia’s will to engage the African Commission on the Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) in cooperation with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission to investigate alleged human rights violations. ACHPR is an independent treaty body of the African Union with the mandate to investigate allegations of human rights. Any propaganda campaign beyond the limit cannot hinder exercising sovereign rights of the country, and that should not be entertained.
As a follow-up to the proposal by the Prime Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia met with Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, on 11 March 2021. The two senior officials discussed the modalities of engagement of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) in the investigation of alleged human rights violations in the Tigray region while cooperating with Ethiopia as a state party based on the provisions of its own charter.
During their discussion, Demeke reiterated how the Federal Government tried everything in its power to avoid what had happened in Tigray Region. Unfortunately but the resolution of such a problem cannot be done by one side alone. He added that regrettably, partners seem to be more interested in meddling in our internal affairs rather than providing the much-needed humanitarian support, and the subject of Human Rights violation appears to have been taken out of proportion as a tool for political pressure. He also emphasized no self-respecting government would accept such behavior.
He further explained that the Ethiopian national institutions, including the independent Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, are doing their level best, as the government has nothing to hide. He then requested the Chairperson to facilitate engagement with the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights to cooperate in the investigation of alleged violations in cooperation with such institutions the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, so that the truth can come out and accountability can be ensured.
Moussa Faki Mahamat on his part recalled the reiteration of the African Union principle of respect for constitutional order, territorial integrity, unity, and national sovereignty of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. He noted that strengthening Africa’s collective effort for peace and stability on the continent remains a priority for the Union. He expressed appreciation for the initiative of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to engage the AU Treaty Body to investigate any alleged violations, and reaffirmed the continued readiness of the African Union to support Ethiopia.
Following the discussion, the Chairperson issued a Press Statement in which he underscored his confidence that ACHPR will deliver according to expectations for the envisaged tasks. The Chairperson commended the Government of Ethiopia for the openness and its interest to engage with ACHPR in the investigation of the alleged human rights violations.
Ethiopia has always been loyal to the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the initiative to engage with African Union Institutions, in this case, ACHPR is in line with this long-standing tradition and commitment.
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On allegations of sexual violence in Tigray
As the Ethiopian government has made it clear time and again, the law enforcement operations in the Tigray region were conducted with utmost precaution to avoid collateral damage on civilians and civilian institutions. Members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, many of whom have had experiences participating in international peacekeeping operations, are aware of international principles and norms in relation to the protection of civilians as well as the zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and violence. Ethiopia is one of those first countries that subscribed to the Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians. The track record of Ethiopian peacekeepers in fulfilling their primary mandate of protecting civilians is well recognized. But if at all there is any misconduct by anybody, corrective measures will be taken, and the pertinent Ethiopian institutions, including the Ethiopian Defense Forces are conducting the necessary internal review in this regard.
The Ethiopian government takes allegations of human rights abuses and crimes, including sexual violence extremely seriously. In this regard, it is fully committed to the Zero-Tolerance Policy on Sexual Exploitation and Violence. That is why it has set up a task force composed of the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children and the Ministry of National Defense to look into the matter. The government is working to ensure full accountability of all perpetrators. The relevant government authorities and the independent Ethiopian Human Rights Commission have already been on the ground undertaking the necessary investigation to verify those allegations and bring perpetrators to justice.
The Ethiopian government has demonstrated its readiness to engage positively and constructively with all the relevant regional and international stakeholders in responding to the serious allegations of human rights abuses and crimes. It is on this basis that the government has been engaging with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence on several occasions. The Ethiopian government remains fully committed to continue working with these stakeholders in preventing conflict related sexual violence and fighting impunity.
The government has also expressed its willingness to collaborate with international human rights experts and, if need be, conduct joint investigations with the relevant bodies. And now, it has proposed to cooperate and engage with the AU mechanisms, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) in the investigation of alleged human rights violations in the Tigray region. Discussions are currently underway to look at the modalities for implementing this commitment. Therefore, prejudging the outcome of the investigations at this stage would be inappropriate and unacceptable.
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