News in Brief
Ethiopia Places a Particular Importance on the Peace and Stability of South Sudan
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Ethiopia
National Public Consultation on Transitional Justice Policy Options Commences
High-level Ethiopian delegation participates in the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council
Africa Needs Urgent Mobilization of Resources to Boost efforts to Reduce Poverty
Ethiopian Delegation Participates in Puntland Economic Corridor and Investment Conference
Africa and the African Union
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, met with African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat in Addis Ababa on Thursday (March 14) to discuss shared global and regional priorities. The meeting forms part of the Biden administration’s effort to show deference to the region and avoid perceptions of an overbearing US role.
Recent data indicate that Africa faces a serious threat of further slipping into poverty. Due to recent global catastrophes, a large portion of the African population faces the risk of becoming indigent unless swift action is taken to ensure an all-inclusive recovery. The numbers speak volumes. Declining economic growth, constricting fiscal space, rising debt, commodity shocks, and tightening international financial conditions are other constraints for combating poverty and inequality. The 55th Session of the ECA’s Committee of Experts of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development took place in Addis Ababa over the week to discuss future directions and determine agenda items. (See article)
African countries have made commendable progress in implementing the regional integration agenda and promoting intra-regional trade, but more work is needed to accelerate the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and the ratification of the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment. This was said by Stephen Karingi, the Director, Regional Integration and Trade Division, in his presentation on the Assessment of progress on regional integration in Africa on Wednesday (March 15). The report, which is based on monitoring frameworks and tools, including the indicators developed by the ECA, the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank was presented to experts meeting ahead of the 20–21 March ministerial segment of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Africa’s economic growth is projected to rise slightly to 3.9% after a considerable decrease to 3.6 per cent over the past year in 2022, says an overview report of recent economic and social developments in Africa by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Presenting the report’s analysis at the on-going Experts meeting ahead of the 55th Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Adam Elhiraika, ECA Director, Macroeconomics and Governance Division centered the complex economic and financial picture on the confluence of shocks that slowed down the global economy. These include the COVID-19 pandemic impact, the rise in prices fueled by the conflict in Ukraine and extreme weather patterns.
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) successfully hosted the ECA 2023 Hackathon, which took place from February 27 to March 1 at the Palais des Congrès Conference Center in Niamey, Niger, under the theme of leveraging digital technologies for climate resilience and adaptation. The Hackathon received over 90 applications from young innovators and tech enthusiasts across the five regions of Africa. Participants explored and presented innovative solutions to address climate change concerns, which will contribute to positive and sustainable development across the continent.
Ethiopia
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday night with a brief to review the cessation of hostilities in the Tigray region and also look into reports of human rights violations. On Wednesday (March 15), Blinken’s first meeting was with Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen. He then met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. They discussed the significant progress in implementing the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement following the silencing of the guns in northern Ethiopia. (See article)
On the same news, during brief remarks made at the start of an official meeting between US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, Blinken sounded optimistic about the November peace deal signed between the Ethiopian federal government and Tigrayan forces. “It’s very, very good to be back in Africa, especially to be in Ethiopia at, I think, a very important moment, a moment of hope given the peace in the north that is taking hold and that continues to move forward,” he said. “There’s a lot to be done, but the most important thing is to continue to deepen the peace that is now taking hold in the north,” he added. The meeting was attended by other high-level officials, including U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Tracey Ann Jacobson and Ethiopian Ambassador to the U.S. Seleshi Beleke.
In related news, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Wednesday that Washington will provide more than $331 million in humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia during the 2023 fiscal year. “This assistance includes $12 million through the State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and more than $319 million through the U.S. Agency for International Development,” he said.
In its official statement released on Thursday (March 16), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia rejected the “irresponsible statement” attributed to the Foreign Minister of Egypt threatening Ethiopia with yet another ‘all options are open’ declaration. Such a threat constitutes a flagrant breach of the United Nations Charter and the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the statement noted. This also stands as a clear violation of the Agreement on the Declaration of Principles on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), signed on March 23, 2015, between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan. Egypt must cease its callous and unlawful pronouncements, the Ministry said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called upon all concerned actors to take note of Egypt’s flagrant violation of principles of international relations, underscoring that no interest can be advanced through threats and intimidation.
A national public consultation on “Transitional Justice Policy Options” officially commenced on March 6, 2023, in the presence of distinguished, high-ranking government officials. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister; Tagesse Chafo, Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives; and other senior government officials and stakeholders from various civil society organizations and contending political parties were in attendance during the inaugural event. (See article)
The 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council kicked off in Geneva on February 27, 2023, with the high-level week and is scheduled to continue until April 10, 2023. A high-level delegation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia led by Gedion Timothewos has taken part in the high-level segment of the session. (See article)
An Ethiopian delegation led by the Speaker of the House of Federation, Agegnehu Teshager, took part in the 146th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Manama, Bahrain, from March 11–15, 2023. Addressing the assembly, Agegnehu highlighted the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic in Ethiopia and the world at large. He underscored the role of peace in ensuring democracy and development and protecting human rights. Agegnehu affirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to continue its peacekeeping contribution.
The East African 4th Regional Ministerial Forum on Migration kicked off on Monday (March 13) in Addis Ababa. Government ministers from 11 countries across East and Horn of Africa (EHOA) have gathered in Addis Ababa to participate in the 4th regional forum that focuses on the benefits of migration for sustainable development and economic growth in the region, while also enhancing the protection of migrant workers, according to the State Minister for Foreign Labour Affairs at the Ministry of Labor and Skills, Asegd Getachew. It is indicated that the Ministers will also seek to establish consensus on regional common approaches and priorities, as well as promote social dialogue in the formulation and implementation of evidence-based, human rights-based, and gender-sensitive labor migration governance initiatives and frameworks in order to foster greater labor mobility.
China supports the efforts of the Ethiopian government and people to achieve national peace, unity, and development, said Xue Bing, special envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The special envoy, while addressing members of the press in Addis Ababa on Tuesday (March 14), said the basic public services and humanitarian aid had resumed gradually, and the preparation for the interim administration in the Tigray region had made positive progress. The special envoy said Ethiopia has entered a new stage with hopes for peace and a focus on development. He said that as Ethiopia’s good brother, friend, and partner, China is sincerely pleased about the progress and extends its congratulations.
On Friday, (March 10), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa to provide grant aid of up to 2,615 million yen for the Project for the Development of Water Supply Facilities in Small Towns in Oromia Region.
Ethiopia unveiled on Thursday (March 16) a five-year eGovernment strategy and enterprise architecture implementation project in the presence of high officials of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and representatives of the European Union delegation in Addis Ababa. The project is aimed at delivering all government services through the use of information and communication technologies. It was stated at the launch ceremony that the project would be implemented with financial and technical support secured from the European Union (EU).
International experts drawn from various countries are currently taking part in a conference underway in Addis Ababa focusing on the transitional justice mechanisms Ethiopia put in place to ensure accountability. The Ministry of Justice has organized the conference in partnership with the African Union Commission. Addressing the conference, State Minister of the Justice Ministry, Antenalem Agidew, affirmed the resolution of the government to make the transitional justice mechanism successful. Antenalem added that the government has set up a team of independent experts and put in place mechanisms to carry out the tasks bestowed on the group, pledging all the necessary support to its activities. The Director of Governance and Conflict Prevention at the African Union, Patience Zanelie Chiradza, said the AU is ready to contribute to the success of the transitional justice mechanism. Patience Zanelie Chiradza stressed the need to draw on and apply the best experiences of countries that are successful in the implementation of transitional justice mechanisms based on the Ethiopian context.
Eritrea
President Isaias Afwreki received and held talks at the State House on Monday (March 13) with Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Vice Chairman of the Sudan’s Sovereign Council. At the meeting focusing on bilateral relations between Eritrea and the Sudan, President Isaias underlined Eritrea’s stance and firm belief that the problem in Sudan could only be solved by the Sudanese people themselves without interference from foreign actors. Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, in congratulating Eritrea for renewing its membership in the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in which it played a significant role in its establishment, said that there will be a meeting of foreign ministers of member states in the near future. Sudan is currently the chair of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development.
President Isaias Afwerki and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Republic of Somalia held an extensive discussion at the State House on Monday (March 13), focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and regional issues of interest to the two countries. At the meeting, the two leaders agreed on the imperative of seeking enduring solutions to Somalia’s problems by the people of Somalia themselves without interference from external forces. Speaking to Erina, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said that the visit was part of the continuous consultation effort and that he had conducted a fruitful discussion with President Isaias Afwerki on the current and future trajectory of warm bilateral ties between the two sisterly countries; recent developments in Somalia, and Eritrea’s modest and ongoing support to strengthen Somalia, as well as other issues of mutual interest.
Djibouti
The African Risk Capacity Group and the Government of Djibouti on Thursday (March 16) signed the first-ever multi-year, multi-peril agreement on the African continent to protect the most climate-vulnerable communities. The agreement means that Djibouti now has access to five years of disaster risk management capacity building and disaster risk insurance coverage offered by the ARC Group. The agreement covers two of the country’s most prevalent hazards: drought and excess precipitation.
The Chinese-built Addis Ababa-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway, also known as the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, has won acclaim for boosting regional integration and prosperity as it marked its fifth anniversary of operations. This came as senior Ethiopian and Djiboutian government officials, the Chinese diplomatic community in Ethiopia, and management contractors of the 752-km transnational railway celebrated the anniversary at the Lebu Railway Station on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, last week on Wednesday. Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide said during the occasion that over the last five years, the railway has shown remarkable achievements in the areas of operation, maintenance, and capacity building. Shide commended the railway’s crucial role in streamlining Ethiopia’s export-import trade, and boosting people-to-people relations between the two neighboring countries, as well as technology transfer with better coordination among Chinese and local experts.
Somalia
An Ethiopian business delegation led by Consul General Dagnachew Yitbarek took part in the “Puntland Economic Corridor and Investment Conference” in Garowe. The conference took place from March 13–15, 2023, and discussed the business environment, opportunities, and challenges of Puntland State of Somalia in attracting Foreign Direct Investment. The conference brought around 300 participants from different countries and business companies. Chamber of Commerce of Somali Regional State of Ethiopia, Directors and Board members of Shebelle Bank, TABAARAK Groups in Ethiopia, the Consulate of Ethiopia in Garowe, Ethiopian Airlines, Director and board members of Gara’ad Port of Puntland, Chinese, German, Indian, Italian, Kenyan, and EU delegations, as well as Puntland’s local and international companies, participated in the conference. (See article)
A military court in Somalia has ordered the executions of three al-Shabab militants who it said pretended to be doctors and soldiers to carry out bombings and shootings. The military appeals court in Mogadishu ordered the executions carried out on Wednesday (March 15) of three men it said were al-Shabab militants who disguised themselves to carry out deadly attacks in the city.
At least five people were killed and 11 others wounded, including a regional governor, in a suicide attack on Tuesday (March 14) in southern Somalia, police said; the bombing was claimed by Al-Shabaab militants. A vehicle laden with explosives ploughed into a guest house hosting government officials in Bardera, 450 kilometers west of the capital Mogadishu, said Hussein Adan, police commander for the area. “The explosion destroyed most parts of the building, and five security guards died in the blast,” Adan said.
The United Nations Refugee Agency is calling for urgent support to help tens of thousands of Somalis who fled fighting in a disputed border town in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland. The refugee agency is seeking urgent support for an estimated 100,000 Somalis who have fled to Ethiopia’s Somali region. The Somalis were displaced by fighting in the town of Las Anod, the center of a conflict in Somaliland.
South Sudan
A delegation from Sudan and Ethiopia arrived in Juba Monday morning (March 13) to shore up the Revitalized Peace Agreement. The Sudanese delegation was headed by Gen. Shams-Eddin Kabbashi, a member of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), while Ethiopia is represented by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. Kabbashi is the current chair of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is also a key guarantor of the revitalized peace agreement signed between the South Sudanese parties.
In related news, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday (March 13) held talks with President Salva Kiir on bilateral issues amid tensions within South Sudan over the 2018 peace agreement. Abiy also held discussions with First Vice President Riek Machar on the challenges hindering the implementation of the peace deal. (See article)
The UN Security Council voted on Wednesday (March 15) to renew for one year the UN mission in South Sudan. Thirteen of the fifteen members voted in favor of the resolution that extends the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until March 15, 2024. China and Russia abstained. According to a UN statement, the mission, one of the most expensive in the world with an annual budget of 1.2 billion dollars, “will maintain its force at a ceiling level of 17 000 troops and 2 101 police officers”.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit inaugurated the largest water supply project in Juba on Thursday (March 16), which will provide safe and clean drinking water to over 25,000 people. Speaking during the commissioning of the water supply in Juba on Thursday, President Kiir said the water facility will provide clean drinking water to one-third of the city’s population. “This new water facility of 10,800 cubic meters (m3) will increase Juba’s daily water supply capacity from 7,200 m3 to 18,000 m3, a level enough to provide for more than one-third of Juba’s population,” said Kiir.
South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been appointed a special envoy to South Sudan after President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined his functions in the government, according to South African media. Ramaphosa said the deputy president’s role in South Sudan meant he would also be involved in other peace missions in Africa. South Africa has soldiers involved in peace missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Mozambique, and other parts of the continent.
Sudan
The governments of Ethiopia and Sudan have signed an agreement to cooperate in the fields of information communication, digital technology, and telecommunications. The agreement was signed by the Ethiopian Minister of Innovation and Technology, Belete Molla, and Sudan’s Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Information, Adel Hassan Mohamed Al-Hussein. A joint technical committee will be established to monitor and enforce the implementation of the agreement.
The Security Council voted last week on Wednesday to extend for one additional year the mandate of sanctions imposed on Sudan, despite Khartoum’s calls to lift them. The mandate now runs until March 12, 2024. Sudan has repeatedly demanded that the Security Council lift the UN arms embargo on the Darfur region imposed following a war that started in 2005.
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a temple dating back around 2,700 years, to a time when a kingdom called Kush ruled over a vast area, including what is now Sudan, Egypt, and parts of the Middle East. The temple remains were found at a medieval citadel at Old Dongola, a site located between the third and fourth cataracts of the Nile River in modern-day Sudan. Some of the temple’s stone blocks were decorated with figures and hieroglyphic inscriptions. An analysis of the iconography and script suggests that they were part of a structure dating to the first half of the first millennium B.C.
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Ethiopia Places a Particular Importance on the Peace and Stability of South Sudan
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made a one-day visit to the Republic of South Sudan on Monday (March 13). The purpose of the visit was to encourage the parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) to settle any disagreements that developed during the agreement’s implementation through dialogue. The President of the Republic of South Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayaradit, welcomed Prime Minister Abiy and his delegation upon their arrival at Juba International Airport. The two leaders discussed a variety of bilateral, regional, and multilateral concerns. During the visit, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also met with First Vice President Riek Machar at the Presidential Office in Juba. They discussed the status of the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
After the 2013 political crisis and the subsequent failure of the first agreement (ACRSS) in 2016, among the political parties and groups trying to solve the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed played a significant role in the negotiations for the R-ACRSS. The South Sudan’s rival parties together signed a revitalized peace agreement on September 12, 2018 in Addis Ababa, which has provided a beacon of hope to the people of South Sudan.
In 2020, parties to the 2018 (R-ARCSS) implemented its power-sharing arrangements, with Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit serving as president of the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) of the Republic of South Sudan and Riek Machar as First Vice President. After a brief delay due to COVID-19, the R-ACRSS implementation has made significant achievements in terms of constituting the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity, establishing Transitional National Legislative Assembly and regional bodies, and establishing all relevant institutional mechanisms to implement the peace process. Recently, it has also made considerable progress in terms of unifying the national defense forces and passing various bills that were needed to implement the peace process. The 36-month transition period ended last month and was replaced by the 24-month road map to end the transition. Currently, parties are working to implement the remaining tasks of the transition and preparing to hold an election in December 2024 that will end the transition.
However, at this critical juncture, there has been disagreement among the major political parties about the agreement in regard to the decisions made without prior consultation. The case in point was when the President dismissed the Minister for Defense and Veteran Affairs, who is from the opposition party, and announced the swap of the Ministries between the SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO. In addition to other related complaints, the SPLM-IO expressed its resentment over the decision of the president and called out to the stakeholders and guarantors of the agreement to look into the cases that raise political tension in the country. The President and First Vice President were able to meet and discuss the matter after some delay, but were unable to find amicable solutions, hence the declaration of impasse. The visit of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came during this particular period and succeeded in bringing the two principals to the table for discussion and dialogue. In a half-days’ worth of efforts, Prime Minister Abiy could be able to mediate the leaders of both parties to come to the discussion table, where both the President and First Vice President would agree and commit themselves to resolving the disputes amicably.
Deng Dau Malek, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan, and Ambassador Mesganu Arga, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, delivered a joint statement on the visit. Both ministers reiterated that the two leaders exchanged views on matters of bilateral relations and regional stability. In his statement, Deng said “South Sudan values its historic ties with Ethiopia and appreciates Ethiopia’s keen interest in [protecting] its peace and stability”. Whereas Ambassador Mesganu said, “Ethiopia places a particular importance on the peace and stability of South Sudan and stands committed to a peaceful resolution of issues.” Ethiopia has contributed thousands of peacekeepers over the course of a decade to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Ethiopia
In his bid to solidify the longstanding bilateral relations between the two fraternal nations, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken paid a two-day visit (March 15–16, 2023) to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
During his stay, he met with Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and conducted bilateral consultations with Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. The Secretary also met with Daniel Bekele, Commissioner for the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, as well as representatives of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. He visited the Joint Emergency Operation Program center, where he announced humanitarian assistance by the US worth $331 million. He had interactions with Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, at the occasion. Secretary Blinken gave a press statement at Addis Ababa University, during which he reflected on the purpose and outcomes of his visit to Addis Ababa. He also met with Mussa Faki Mahamet, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
Discussions with Ethiopian higher officials and other stakeholders mainly focused on the normalization of relations with the USA and the consolidation of progress on implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the TPLF. In this regard, the Secretary appreciated the speedy implementation of the Agreement and recognized the remarkable progress in providing humanitarian access to those in conflict-affected areas in the Afar, Amhara, and Tigray regions. He similarly noted, with satisfaction, the resumption of basic services in Tigray and neighboring regions.
Concerning accountability for alleged human rights violations, the Secretary recognized the launch of the Transitional Justice Mechanism as an appropriate mechanism to manage issues related to human rights in a holistic manner. He emphasized the importance of ensuring accountability to realize sustainable peace in Ethiopia. He also reiterated his administration’s strong support for the National Dialogue Commission and its ongoing work to remedy the multifaceted challenges in Ethiopia. To this end, he pledged U.S. assistance in the effective implementation of these mechanisms.
On normalization, the Secretary of State underscored the US’s readiness to revitalize relations between the two countries and looked forward to further consultations on issues of common concern, including the fight against terrorism as well as efforts in addressing the effects of climate change and food security.
On his part, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister highlighted progress on the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and said that it is progressing very well. He expressed Government’s strong commitment to its full implementation. He further elaborated on measures that the Government is undertaking in areas of accountability, especially the launch of the Transitional Justice Mechanism, which includes truth telling, reconciliation, and bringing to justice those who are alleged to have committed grave human rights violations.
Despite internal challenges associated with conflict and drought, as well as external challenges exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the implementation of the domestic economic reform agenda is well on track. In this connection, he underscored that the United States’ support for Ethiopia in securing financial assistance from international institutions is highly appreciated. The utmost understanding and support of USA to address challenges of reform, climate change, and institutional capacity building have been highlighted by Demeke.
The Minister called upon the US to take a balanced position on the issue of the GERD and urge Egypt to cease internationalizing the Nile issue and come to a win-win approach. The two sides also agreed to collaborate in dealing with regional issues. The secretary has concluded his successful visit to Ethiopia and was seen off by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia.
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National Public Consultation on Transitional Justice Policy Options Commences
A national public consultation on “Transitional Justice Policy Options” officially commenced on March 6, 2023, in the presence of distinguished, high-ranking government officials. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister; Tagesse Chafo, Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives; and other senior government officials and stakeholders from various civil society organizations and contending political parties were in attendance during the inaugural event.
In his remarks at the inauguration ceremony, Demeke reiterated the perennial need to foster the germinal seeds of transitional justice in Ethiopia in order to consolidate the dividends of the peace process across the country. He said Ethiopia is a nation with heterogeneous yet shared value systems and requires the concerted effort of its citizenry to resolve disagreements through mutual understanding and dialogue. Demeke also recalled the miscellaneous conspiracies by saboteurs and skirmishes that burdened the people of Ethiopia and threatened the country’s sovereignty and national security. In this regard, he reiterated, stakeholders need to play key role in forging solutions to internecine conflicts and foreign-induced conspiracies to lay a solid foundation for peace and effectively implement the proceedings of transitional justice policy options in the country.
On his part, Tagesse Chafo told the participants that effecting transitional justice in the polity is good to create a system that does not condone human rights abuses and sow hatred, intolerance, and acrimony among the populace while perpetuating injustice.
The Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC) also commended the deliberations, as they would create an unprecedented opportunity to build, solidify, and dispense justice, thereby laying the groundwork for reconciliation and the consolidation of peace. The Director of the Council, Henok Melesse, said the transitional justice process has immensely underwritten reconciliation and justice in many countries around the world. He further expressed his high hopes that the transitional justice policy options would gradually help victims of grave human rights violations access justice and receive fair treatment for the unconscionable suffering they went through.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, during his address at the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, lauded the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement while urging for the full implementation of the transitional justice mechanism. He said, “I am glad to report that the National Consultations on Transitional Justice Policy Options opened yesterday, with the support of my Office; to be followed by consultations across the country with people who have been affected by the conflict.”
On March 11, 2023, the capital of Tigray Regional State, Mekele, successfully hosted the first and historic consultative forum on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) under the auspices of the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC). While lauding the feat, Ambassador Teshome Toga, Commissioner of the NRC, tweeted participants from the federal level; all concerned regional states, including Tigray, took part in the forum, and mutual awareness and understanding was reached. Ambassador Teshome has been appointed to lead the recently established National Rehabilitation Commission of Ethiopia in January 2023. The commission, on the other hand, was established on December 30, 2022, to rehabilitate citizens who will disarm and enable them to lead a normal civilian life in line with the peace agreement.
To recap, a draft document titled “Policy Options for Transitional Justice” was first released for stakeholder consultations in January of this year as per the findings of a rigorous study conducted by scores of experts. As clearly stipulated in the policy document, transitional justice is a process that seeks to build a system of sustainable peace, reconciliation, stability, and rule of law by breaking with a past culture of atrocities and injustices. Dealing effectively with past violations using transitional justice mechanisms contributes to the advancement of rule of law and sustainable peace, the document notes.
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High-level Ethiopian delegation participates in the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council
The 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council kicked off in Geneva on February 27, 2023, with the high-level week and is scheduled to continue until April 10, 2023. A high-level delegation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia led by Gedion Timothewos has taken part in the high-level segment of the session.
In the speech he delivered to the Council on February 28, Gedion drew the attention of the Council to the statement he made to the 49th Session of Council, during which he expressed his optimism that the people of Ethiopia would ‘opt for peace and reconciliation’. Gedion recalled the assertion he made at the time that the collective wisdom of the Ethiopian people would inevitably lead to peace and reconciliation. According to the Minister, the path of peace pursued by the people of Ethiopia has resulted in the signing by the Ethiopian Government of the Agreement for Lasting Peace through Permanent Cessation of Hostilities on November 2, 2022, in Pretoria, South Africa.
Gedion seized the occasion to draw the attention of the Council to the fact that the Peace Agreement signed with the TPLF is driven by the strong commitment of the Ethiopian people to the principle of African solutions to African problems as well as to a peace process that is Africa-led and Africa-owned, a peace process that also gives due recognition to the complementary role of the multilateral and international efforts. The Minister further stated that, in line with the peace agreement, national consultation aimed at adopting the Transitional Justice Policy had been conducted and efforts were being deployed to make sure that it was prepared in a way that met international standards, focusing on accountability, truth telling, redress for victims, and reconciliation,a process to be spearheaded by the Inter-Ministerial Task Force that had been created as per the recommendation of the Joint Investigation of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.
Minister Gedion touched upon the current engagement with the UNHRC and the Joint Investigation of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. In this regard, he mentioned that Ethiopia had requested the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to deploy human Human Rights monitors ‘in the part of the country affected by the conflict’ and to assist Ethiopia in the ‘design and implementation of the Transitional Justice Policy’. As for the establishment of the International Commission of the Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE), the Minister regretted a lack of readiness on the part of the latter to work with the Ethiopian side to find a common ground for cooperation, notwithstanding the fact that the Commission’s establishment was rejected by African Members of the Council and Ethiopia’s opposition to it.
The Minister assured the Council of Ethiopia’s commitment to ensuring accountability and redress for victims and respect for international human rights and humanitarian laws. He called on the Council and member states to support Ethiopia in the implementation of the Transitional Justice Policy, which is due to be launched. The Minister concluded his statement by expressing his conviction that lasting peace shall be achieved in Ethiopia with the implementation of the peace agreement and the Transitional Justice Policy and Ethiopia’s readiness to closely work with the OHCHR and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.
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Africa Needs Urgent Mobilization of Resources to Boost efforts to Reduce Poverty
Recent data indicate that Africa faces a serious threat of further slipping into poverty. Due to recent global catastrophes, a large portion of the African population faces the risk of becoming indigent unless swift action is taken to ensure an all-inclusive recovery. The numbers speak volumes. Declining economic growth, constricting fiscal space, rising debt, commodity shocks, and tightening international financial conditions are other constraints for combating poverty and inequality. The 55th Session of the ECA’s Committee of Experts of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development took place in Addis Ababa over the week to discuss future directions and determine agenda items.
Speaking at the Committee of Experts meeting, the State Minister of Planning and Development Commission of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Nemera Gebeyehu Mamo, noted that in 2022, Africa was home to more than half of the world’s poor, which is more than 50% of the total population. He said that, in just one year, 546 million Africans—more than half the continent’s population—were living in poverty, which is a 75% rise since 1990. The impact of numerous compounding shocks, particularly those caused by climate change, the COVID pandemic, and the deteriorating global economic situation as a result of other global crises, put roughly 150 million Africans who were not poor at risk of becoming poverty-stricken just last year, he said.
According to the State Minister, inequalities are still pervasive throughout all of Africa. The majority of African economies fail to meet the sustainable development objectives and targets of Agenda 2030, which is less than eight years away. Reforming the global financial system and rerouting SDR at the IMF are essential to foster recovery and transformation in Africa. This will require a radical shift toward a global financial system that puts the needs of developing countries at the center of all decisions and mechanisms.
He also emphasized the significance of the urgent mobilization of internal and external resources and warned that failure to address these issues would likely impede efforts to reduce poverty, recover from recent shocks, and build resilience in order to achieve the goals of both Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063. These expenditures are necessary to finance investments in basic infrastructure and services, job creation, and social protections. While highlighting the negative impacts of the current world crises, he added that “this year must serve as a turning point for Africa” and cautioned not to miss the chance to take action.
The consequences of climate change on Africa’s economy and food security are already being felt, and long-term development depends on taking steps and implementing climate-resilient systems. Climate financing may help in the battle against poverty and inequality. The aim of COM 2023 and the work done by ECA in past years are closely tied to the climate funding that ECA has been endorsing.
The Acting Secretariat of the UNECA, Antonio Pedro, said during his opening remarks that this year’s theme, “Fostering recovery and transformation in Africa to reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities,” reflected the ongoing, compounding, and deepening multiple crises that Africa is facing, which are continuing to perpetuate and exacerbate levels of poverty and inequality that were already significant before these recent global shocks. “Africa currently leads in global poverty,” he said, emphasizing that Africa must take the initiative rather than just maintain the status quo and hope for the best.
According to the Secretariat, the recent crises have demonstrated the need for systemic change, and Africa is ideally positioned to be at the core of these global transformations. Instead of placing a heavy emphasis on efficiency as it has in previous decades, policymakers and experts from all over the world are now highlighting the need for developing resilient and sustainable systems. He declared that it is the generation’s responsibility to make sure that Africa accepts this shift and reaches its full potential.
In his subsequent remarks, he underscored that implementation must now take precedence over all other considerations and outlined a few ECA projects that are intended to provide Africa with a robust and sustainable future.
He claimed that close coordination with member states had been done on the creation of national AfCFTA implementation strategies in cooperation with the African Union Commission, the AfCFTA Secretariat, sister UN organizations, and other significant stakeholders. In 28 countries, national plans are currently in place. He noted that the creation of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund and the Niamey Declaration on Industrialization and Economic Diversification, two key advancements in this arena, should expedite progress. He went on to say that although substantial and extensive, the problems the Continent is facing are not insurmountable.
The Expert Committee’s agenda items also included studies, reports, and significant policy suggestions. Among the most important recommendations provided to tackle the dire poverty challenge confronting the continent were accelerating regional integration in Africa, adopting the AfCFTA, and offering ECA support. Aside from choosing the agenda items for the upcoming ministerial session, which will be held from March 20–21, 2023, the meeting decided on a new bureau and chair for the year 2023. Senegal handed over the next chairmanship to Uganda.
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Ethiopian Delegation Participates in Puntland Economic Corridor and Investment Conference
An Ethiopian business delegation led by Consul General Dagnachew Yitbarek took part in the “Puntland Economic Corridor and Investment Conference” in Garowe. The conference took place from March 13–15, 2023, and discussed the business environment, opportunities, and challenges of Puntland State of Somalia in attracting Foreign Direct Investment. The conference brought around 300 participants from different countries and business companies. Chamber of Commerce of Somali Regional State of Ethiopia, Directors and Board members of Shebelle Bank, TABAARAK Groups in Ethiopia, the Consulate of Ethiopia in Garowe, Ethiopian Airlines, Director and board members of Gara’ad Port of Puntland, Chinese, German, Indian, Italian, Kenyan, and EU delegations, as well as Puntland’s local and international companies, participated in the conference.
The conference was officially opened by Ahmed Cilmi Cismaan Karaash, Vice President of the Puntland State of Somalia. In his opening remarks of the conference, the Vice President extended a very welcoming message and pointed out that there is a great opportunity and conducive business environment to invest in Puntland, which is welcomed by the state and people. He also honored Saed Abdilahi Deni, the President of the Puntland State of Somalia, who stands for investments and encourages businessmen to invest their capital and knowledge for the growth of the state and the betterment of the lives of the local people. Also, he promised to fulfill what is needed from the government to encourage FDI.
On his final remark, the Vice President expressed his gratitude to all participants gathered in the conference and particularly appreciated the Consulate General of Ethiopia and its business delegation taking part in the conference, which is very important to enhance the business and trade exchanges between Ethiopia and Puntland State of Somalia.
In his remarks at the conference, the FDRE Consul General, B. General Dagnachew Yitbarek, stated that Ethiopia and Puntland continue to enjoy cordial cooperation and time-tested friendship, which has evolved into collaboration and support in airline transport, education, security, and business.
He pointed out that Ethiopia and Puntland’s trade exchange is low despite great potential. The Consul General added that our efforts in solving the difficult problems of export, developing a system, and continuing consultation bear fruit in the area of trade and business development. He also conveyed gratitude to the Puntland government and stakeholders who realized the conference, which is a tremendous opportunity to consult and connect business and investment between Ethiopia and Puntland, in particular.
He also emphasized, among others, enhancing efforts in solving bottlenecks in trade, assessing opportunities, and the crucial use of Garaa’d Port and the opening of the Turdobi Customs Point. He also expressed appreciation, on behalf of the Government of Ethiopia, for the leadership of the Puntland State of Somalia in advancing the cooperation between Puntland and Ethiopia in different areas of mutual benefit and genuine interest. He also noted that the Ethiopian government has introduced the Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda and the 10-year Development Plan, which aim to maintain sustainable growth, a stable macroeconomic environment, and decent and high-value-adding job opportunities. The Consul General recalled that the Government of Ethiopia had identified the priority sectors, which are agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism, information, communication, the digital economy, and technology, and that realizing these key sectors in Ethiopia will help boost business and cooperation with Puntland people and the business community.
The consul general mentioned that despite the complex and multiple challenges Ethiopia and other countries of the Horn face in the region, Ethiopia strongly believes that it is high time to utilize business and trade, both at the government and private levels. In this regard, this conference would offer Ethiopia an opportunity to consult with and connect the business community, amplify common causes for development, and chart a new path to solve bottlenecks and challenges to trade and business with Puntland.
Following the remarks by Consul General Dagnachew Yitbark, the Deputy Head of the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia, in his deliberation at the panel discussion, joined the remark of the Consul General and said that Ethiopia has huge investment potential and untapped resources that make Ethiopia an investment destination for foreign investors. Thus, he called upon the Puntland State and its administration to reinvigorate cooperation with Ethiopia to utilize the opportunities, especially in the port services of Garaa’d and the economic corridor that connects Ethiopia and Puntland.
In addition, Yidnakachew Tekle Alemu, Minister Counselor at the Consulate General of Ethiopia to Puntland, delivered a presentation on the Ethiopian Government’s investment opportunities and incentives for those looking to invest in Ethiopia.
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