News in Brief
Ethiopia Suggests Meeting of Bureau of the Assembly of the AU to End Impasse over GERD Talks
Ethiopia presents its case on the GERD to the UN Security Council
Africa and the African Union
The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) marked yet another milestone on its ambition to establish a Regional Cancer Centre of Excellence (RCCE) after Workneh Gebeyehu led a ceremony that laid the foundation stone of the Centre together with The Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa., The 200,000-square-metre land that was donated by the Government of Ethiopia will be the home of the state-of-the-art Centre. In his opening remarks, the IGAD Executive Secretary said that the Cancer Centre “manifests our commitment to cooperate and collaborate to take cancer care closer to the communities and will serve to drive IGAD’s regional integration agenda through the provision of healthcare at a regional level”. Dr Workneh applauded IGAD member states for the moral and material support for the initiative. Speaking at the event, Ms. Lia Tadesse, the Minister for Health of Ethiopia said the establishment of this treatment, training and research centre marks a key milestone in the fight against cancer for the IGAD region and the African continent as the centre will significantly contribute to building stronger, and more resilient health systems.
The African Union expresses its deepest condolences to the family and the people of The Republic of Chad following the untimely passing of President Idriss Déby. The late President Déby played a key role in promoting the African Union’s Agenda to promote peace and security and was an ardent supporter of the Union’s efforts to create an environment of security and stability, especially within the Sahel region. The African Union stands in solidarity with the Government and People of the Republic of Chad during this difficult time and joins them in mourning the loss of a champion of Africa’s endeavours to provide a peaceful, secure and stable continent.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat commended on Tuesday (April 20) the exhaustive fact-finding report on the role of France in connection with the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, commissioned by the Government of Rwanda in 2017 from the law firm of Levy Firestone Muse LLP, and released on 19 April 2021 after submission to the Rwandan Cabinet. This report builds on Rwanda’s Mucyo Report of 2007, with a new focus on the French political officials who “enabled a foreseeable genocide” in Rwanda in 1994. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission salutes the political courage of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Emmanuel Macron of France for these moves toward a more shared understanding, which merit the endorsement of Africa as a whole.
Ethiopia
President Sahle-Work Zewde took part in the inauguration of Congo-Brazzaville President Denis Sassou Nguesso on Saturday (April 17). The inauguration of the re-elected incumbent president took place in Brazzaville yesterday and was attended by leaders from more than 20 countries. President Sahle-Work also held discussions with leaders on the sideline of the inauguration ceremony. The discussion focused on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the Ethio-Sudan border dispute, the latest development in northern parts of Ethiopia, and upcoming general elections.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in response to the letter of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok dated 13, April 2021 said the way forward on the GERD negotiations is to request the Chairperson of the African Union, President Felix Tshisekedi to call the meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of the Sudan Abdalla Hamdok. (See article)
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Sunday (April 18) that Ethiopia, in developing Abbay River for its needs, has no intention of causing harm to lower riparian countries. According to the Premier, heavy rains last year enabled successful 1st filling of the GERD while the presence of the GERD itself has undoubtedly prevented severe flooding in neighboring Sudan. Ahead of the 2nd filling, Ethiopia is releasing more water from last year storage through newly completed outlets and sharing information, Abiy twitted. The next filling takes place only during heavy rainfall months of July/August, ensuring benefits in reducing floods in Sudan, he added.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated Information Network Security Agency’s (INSA) new headquarters building on Saturday (April 17). The new building, which contains six blocks of 14 and 17-storey edifices, was built at a cost of 2.1 billion birr on 7,550 square meters of land in the capital Addis Ababa around Wello Sefer. The new INSA headquarters also houses the Ministry of Peace, Artificial Intelligence Center and Financial Intelligence Center offices. Beyond infrastructure, the INSA headquarters carries the vision of enabling the realization a leading African cyber institution.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has expressed government’s commitment to holding a free, fair, democratic and peaceful election. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed convened Regional Presidents and National Election Board leadership on Thursday (April 22) to follow up on the direction provided in the meeting of last week.
Ethiopia Asks UNSC to Urge Egypt, Sudan to Return to Tripartite Negotiation on GERD on Tuesday (April 20). Ethiopia has called upon members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to urge Egypt and Sudan to return to the tripartite negotiations on the first filling and annual operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and respect the AU-led process. In a letter addressed to the current President of the UNSC, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Socialist Republic of Vietnam on 16 April 2021, Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen recalled that the AU-led process has enjoyed the full support of the UN Security Council on the basis of the principles of complementarity and in the spirit of finding African solutions to African problems. However, Egypt and Sudan are not negotiating in good faith and are not ready to make the necessary concessions to reach a win-win outcome, he said. He further stated that the two countries chose to “scuttling” the negotiation and “internationalizing” the issue to exert undue pressure on Ethiopia. The letter affirmed Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment and trust over the AU-led tripartite negotiation and expressed the country’s gratitude for the genuine efforts of South Africa and now the Democratic Republic Congo to address the matter in the spirit of African solutions for African problems. (See article)
Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia had a discussion on Thursday (April 22) with Mr. Oleg Ozerov, Ambassador-at-Large, and Head of the Secretariat of Russia-Africa Partnership Forum held on 22 April 2021. The two sides discussed preparations for the Second Russia-Africa Summit which will be held in 2022 in Africa.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen and EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Ambassador Janez Lenarčič held talks on Tuesday (April 20). The two sides discussed the commendable efforts that the government has been undertaking so far and ways to mitigate observed challenges in delivering humanitarian support to affected people in the Tigray region, according to a statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the discussion, Commissioner Lenarčič appreciated the improved access in the region that cut bureaucratic hurdles while he pointed out that the intensification of the campaign in the region made some rural areas inaccessible to humanitarian support. He commended the agreement of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and UN to jointly investigate alleged human rights violations in the region and appreciated the announcement of the withdrawal of Eritrean troops, underscoring the need to expedite the process. Deputy PM Demeke said on his part commendable improvements have been registered so far in improving the lives of many people in Tigray, although the government is still facing enormous challenges to tackle there. The government is ready to mitigate the problems observed in the region and partners would register better results in this regard if they constructively engage in supporting the government’s genuine efforts than wasting time in throwing unnecessary criticisms, he said. Regarding the visa extension request by partners, Demeke said the government is further making consultations on the issue while the quest for access to communication equipment by humanitarian partners in the region will be handled by the guidelines that have been recently distributed regarding the matter.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen held talks with International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission to Ethiopia Maureen Achieng at his office on Saturday (April 17).In their discussion, the two sides covered Ethiopia’s measures in curbing illegal migration and experiences in addressing the needs of repatriated citizens
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen held telephone conversation with Vietnam Foreign Affairs Minister Bui Thanh Son on Thursday (April 22). The two sides exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and coordination at multilateral forums on the occasion of the two nations marking the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, according to Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
The European Union (EU) has announced on Monday (April 19) new funding of 53.7 million Euros in humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable people in Ethiopia, including those affected in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Commissioner for Crisis Management at EU, Janez Lenarčič said humanitarian needs even basic survival needs like food security, health and shelter are growing. According to a statement from EU, the key priority remains to ensure humanitarian access to all those in need in Tigray. At the same time, the safety and security of humanitarian personnel must be ensured, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Sileshi Bekele disclosed on Sunday (April 18) that the construction of two bottom outlets (BO) of the GERD that provides release of water into the downstream has been completed, tested, and become operational. The 2 BOs have a capacity of passing the entire annual Abbay flow in a year, provide assurances of the flow of water to downstream at no time water interrupted, the Minister Twitted. According to him, the other 13 outlets are under construction adding a huge capacity of water release. In the rainy season, these BO guarantee flow while filling takes place as inflow exceeding outflow at the reservoir. As such GERD is important for power generation for the needs of Ethiopia, the Minister stated. “It removes flood risk in Sudan like the one that occurred last season, saves losses of water in flood plains and GERD is not a concern for harm. It is designed smart as filling and construction go in parallel, constructed as high quality & state of the art modern facility. Rests on meters square area,” Sileshi pointed out.
Briefing the media on Tuesday (April 20), Spokesperson Dina Mufti stated that “the fake stories flowing from the Sudanese side about capturing 61 Ethiopian soldiers is not true. The truth is that they have captured about 61 Ethiopians, of which 59 are farmers residing in the border areas, but portray them as captured soldiers which are not the case.” According to him, only two of them are militias and 59 farmers. As a matter of fact, there is no military confrontation right now between the two countries. “There is no way that this side or the other side captures soldiers from the battlefield. Yet they are trying to portray that there is a military confrontation between the two countries,” he elaborated. Citing the critical need for resolving the confrontation amicably, Dina stressed that Ethiopia is still committed to a peaceful resolution.
Djibouti
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, has sent a cable of congratulations to President Ismail Omar Guelleh of the Republic of Djibouti on the occasion of winning a fifth term in the presidential elections in the Republic of Djibouti. In his cable, HRH the Crown Prince wished the President all success, stressing keenness on enhancing bilateral relations, and wishing the President good health and happiness as well as the people of Djibouti steady progress and prosperity.
Somalia
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said he was willing to negotiate with stakeholders in Somalia’s political crisis in order to find a solution. Mohamed made the announcement on Sunday (April 18) night during an unannounced visit to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he met with President Felix Tshisekedi, the current chair of the African Union (AU). Through his Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Farmaajo said the federal government of Somalia welcomes the AU to facilitate the talks.
Somalia on Thursday welcomed an African Union (AU) initiative to facilitate constructive dialogue between warring political leaders that will culminate in holding free, fair and transparent polls in the country in accordance with the constitution. Osman Dubbe, Somali information minister lauded efforts of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) which met on Thursday (April 22) to discuss how best the pan African body can support Somalis to break the political stalemate to pave way for elections.
The top general of U.S. Africa Command told a Senate panel on Thursday (April 22) that the Trump administration’s decision to reposition troops outside of Somalia has created fresh challenges in the fight against al-Shabab terrorists. “There’s no denying that the repositioning of forces out of Somalia has introduced new layers of complexity and risk,” Army Gen. Stephen Townsend said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. “Our understanding of what’s happening in Somalia is less now than it was when we were there on the ground, physically located with our partners,” he told senators at a briefing to review the U.S. military posture in Africa, as well as where U.S. Central Command operates in the Middle East and parts of Asia.
South Sudan
The European Union (EU) Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic on Thursday (April 22) announced up to €43.5 million in humanitarian aid for South Sudan. The funds, according to the EU, will be used, among others, to help those most in need, including with protection and food assistance, as well as those affected by man-made and natural disasters. Commissioner Janez Lenarcic was in South Sudan for a three-day working visit.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Saturday (April 17) held a meeting with his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa and discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to the ongoing implementation of the revitalized peace agreement. The two presidents, the South Sudanese presidency said in a statement, also discussed ways of strengthening and deepening the bilateral relations between South Africa and the East African nation. Kiir is on a three-visit to South Africa on the invitation of his counterpart.
Sudan
Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Prof. Yasser Abbas reviewed on Wednesday (April 21), at his office, with the US Change D’ Affaires in Khartoum, the latest developments and the obstacles impeding the assumption of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam negotiations, as well as, the US investments following the country’s reintegration in the international community.
The Head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the accompanying delegation arrived, Friday, in the Chadian capital of N’Djamena to attend the funeral of the late Chadian President, Idriss Deby Itno, and to condole the Chadian people and the family of the loss. Al-Burhan who was accompanied by the TSC Member, Al-Taher Abu-Bakr Hajar, Foreign Minister, Dr. Mariam Al-Sadig Al-Mahdi, and Minister of Finance, Dr. Jibril Ibrahim received, at the airport by the Deputy Chairman of the Chadian Transitional Council, Sudan’s Charge D, Affaires in Chad and the Chadian Ambassador in Khartoum.
Foreign Minister, Dr. Mariam Al-Sadig Al-Mahdi received on Thursday (April 22), at her office, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Sudan, Axel Bisschop. The UNHCR official presented a detailed report for the situations of the refugees in the country and the role being played by the government in hosting them. He pointed out that the situation in Sudan after the revolution reduced asylum and migration, and even encouraged return, explaining that the UNHCR is doing its best to accommodate the refugees and provide their basic needs. Meanwhile, the minister lauded the big role being played by the commission, in this connection, affirming Sudan’s government support to make a success the UNHCR efforts.
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Ethiopia Suggests Meeting of Bureau of the Assembly of the AU to End Impasse over GERD Talks
Ethiopia said on Thursday (April 22) the way forward on the GERD negotiations is to request the Chairperson of the African Union, President Felix Tshisekedi to call the meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of the Sudan Abdalla Hamdok.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in response to the letter of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok dated 13, April 2021, stated that assuming the negotiation process as a failure is not right because we have seen some tangible results including the signing of the Declaration of Principles (DoP) and the establishment of the National Independent Scientific Research Group (NISRG) and its work in relation to stage based filling schedule.
The letter also cites the Kinshasa meeting, the understanding reached on the resumption of the stalled AU led trilateral negotiation, the agreement reached on the continued and enhanced role of the observers, namely EU, South Africa, and United States, and the need for the current AU Chairperson to use resources at his disposal for the effective discharge of his facilitation role.
Acknowledging the legal and technical issues that need to be tackled for a win-win outcome, the letter also appreciates the AU-led process for providing the opportunity to the tripartite to deal with the most pressing issues in spite of the interruption nine times. “If parties negotiate in good faith results are within our reach,” says the letter, and “Ethiopia still believes that the best way forward is to continue the trilateral negotiation under the AU-led process to reach a win-win outcome.”
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Ethiopia presents its case on the GERD to the UN Security Council
On 16 April 2021, the President of the UN Security Council disseminated to members of the Council, Ethiopia’s submission on the trilateral negotiations on the GERD. The letter is submitted to communicate Ethiopia’s position and response to the submissions of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of the Sudan dated 12 and 13 April 2021, respectively.
Ethiopia assured the Council, the GERD project and the trilateral negotiation on the GERD do not constitute any threat to peace and security rather it would be a source of cooperation for the Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt and the region at large. It also explained the differences among the three countries on the first filling and annual operation of the GERD can only be resolved through negotiation. The letter also alluded to the need to preserve the principle of complementarity and give the African Union the opportunity to help the countries address the outstanding issues. On this basis, the letter submitted the absence of any ground that warrants the involvement of the global security body on the GERD matter.
GERD is an opportunity project heralding a new era of collaboration, economic integration and equitable benefit in the Nile Basin. Ethiopia’s letter recalled the discussion of the Council on the GERD matter in June 2020 that welcomed the African Union initiative to facilitate a negotiated solution in the spirit of finding “African solutions to African problems”. It also referred to the Council’s expressions of full support to the AU-led process. In this regard, the letter outlined Ethiopia’s best efforts to maintain the integrity of the tripartite negotiation under the auspices of the AU.
The letter cited the commendable work done by the Chairperson of the African Union for 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa. It also stated Ethiopia’s appreciation and encouragement for the continuation of the AU led process under the leadership of the current Chairperson of the AU- H.E President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It also exposed the coordinated efforts of Egypt and Sudan to make the AU process a failure. This efforts ranges from disrupting the meeting for no apparent reason to proposing a format that overtakes the process from the ownership of the countries as well as the African Union. It is to be recalled that the AU led negotiation process over the GERD began in June 2020. The Kinshasa meeting included, the process is disrupted nine times by Egypt and Sudan, for no tangible justification.
As to the formats of the negotiation, including the so called “quartet” arrangement that Egypt and Sudan claimed to have proposed, the letter disclosed the strange and inappropriate approach followed by Egypt and Sudan, whereby they failed to communicate the matter to the owner of the Dam. Noteworthy is also the tentative handling of the proposition by Egypt and Sudan where they dropped the “quartet” format with no significant deliberation in Kinshasa. On this basis, Ethiopia notified the Security Council, Egypt and Sudan are liable for the attainment of no substantial progress in the negotiations. As a result, the two lower riparian countries are blaming Ethiopia over their self-inflicted damage.
The letter also addressed the false alarm and sense of rush generated by Egypt and Sudan in the context of the second-year filling of the GERD. The pleas by Egypt and Sudan to suspend filling until agreement is reached has no basis in law or reason. This proposition is glaringly malicious as Egypt and Sudan that has a pact to hold a common position on negotiations on the Nile intend to commit Ethiopia to their age-old approach of blockading the Nile riparian countries from using the Nile waters.
The letter outlined the impediments faced in the negotiation were mainly has to do with the relentless efforts of Egypt and Sudan to elicit Ethiopia’s endorsement over their colonial treaty-based water monopoly over the Nile. Furthermore, the letter elucidated Ethiopia’s right to realize any water development project over the Nile despite the resistance from the two lower riparian countries.
Ethiopia brought to the Council’s attention its official note to the Secretary General of the UN submitted in March 2021, about the military drills and joint operation by Egypt and Sudan that are openly declared as warning against Ethiopia. The characterization of the GERD as a peace and security concern is only an admission of Egypt and Sudan’s plans and projects to destabilize Ethiopia and the region under the pretext of safeguarding their “water security”. The letter explained, the GERD is a hydro-electric dam Ethiopia constructs as part of its generational aspiration to alleviate poverty and realize dignified life for its people.
Emphasis is also given on the right of Ethiopia to utilize the River Abbay/Blue Nile independent of the approval of Egypt and Sudan. In this regard, the letter indicates the Nile problem awaits the policy reorientation by Egypt and Sudan to abdicate the obsolete hydro hegemony over the Nile and to adopt a policy suitable for the time and advance equitable and reasonable utilization of the resource. In this regard, the letter underscored Ethiopia’s readiness to continue the negotiations within the AU led process to reach a mutually beneficial negotiated settlement.
