News in Brief
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen welcomes Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia who responded to the #GreatHomeComing Challenge
The Ministry of Justice to investigate crimes in Amhara and Afar regions
On the Proclamation for the establishment of the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (Excerpts from Ambassador Dina Mufti’s weekly press briefing)
Reasons behind the decision to temporarily halt the advance of government defense forces to Tigray (Excerpts from FDRE Government Communication Service Statement)
Africa and the African Union
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Thursday (December 30) said in a statement that he is following with deep concern the serious current political tension in Somalia. The Chairperson appeals for utmost restraint and calls for continued engagements and dialogue between the President and Prime Minister in order to find a political solution to the present situation. The African Union recommits to scale up its support towards durable peace and stable polity in Somalia, he said.
The European Union (EU) and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said the cross-border response on the health and socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in the IGAD region is fundamental to ease the pandemic. In a press release, IGAD said that it is working with member states to strengthen cross-border COVID-19 and other epidemic disease surveillance. EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response Regional Coordinator Dr. Girum Hailu said the IGAD cross-border committee meeting held in different member states sought to promote swift measures to curb the pandemic and its health and socio-economic impacts. IGAD identified 47 major cross-border committee meeting sites in the eight-member states to coordinate and facilitate the authority’s efforts to contain the virus and its challenges, he added.
Ethiopia
President Sahle-Work Zewde on Thursday (December 30) bid farewell to the outgoing ambassador of Niger. The President asked the ambassador to convey Ethiopia’s gratitude to the President and the government of Niger for their constant position and positive role based on principle, wisdom and African unity during their two years tenure at the UN Security Council. She said Niger has made Ethiopia and indeed Africa proud. She thanked the ambassador for all his efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Niger during his six years stay.
President Sahle-Work Zewde on Friday (December 24), made a virtual statement opening the Futures of Education session at the RewirEd Summit in Dubai. She presented the report, prepared by the International Commission she chaired, entitled REIMAGINING OUR FUTURES TOGETHER. The President, in her report, outlined steps to co-create a new social contract for education through an invitation to continued engagement.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in a statement, on Friday (December 24), said that the government’s decisions to halt the advancement of troops to Tigray are not guided by emotion, rather they are made to ensure lasting benefit to the country and the people. In related news, the FDRE Communication Service has issued a statement on the same day explaining why the Ethiopian Defense Forces, after successfully completing liberating TPLF occupied areas in East Amhara and Afar regions, are ordered to vigilantly remain in areas under its control and avoid advancing any further. (See Excerpts)
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday (December 26) expressed condolences on the passing away of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. “I join other world leaders in expressing my sadness at the passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu who has been the embodiment of the struggle for liberation. Ethiopia sends its condolences to the people and government of South Africa,” the Prime Minister Twitted.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday (December 27), has welcomed Ethiopian Diaspora returning home in response to the Great Ethiopian Home Coming Challenge. “A nation can be symbolized with an extended family. The strength of the foundation of a family is identified during trying seasons rather than jovial times. Tribulation helps members of some families to form bond while it forces others to fall apart,” he noted.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Saturday (December 25), wished a Merry Christmas and a festive holiday season to those celebrating the day. “Wishing all those worldwide celebrating this day a Merry Christmas and a festive holiday season,” he tweeted.
Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has attended and delivered remarks at the welcoming ceremony of the Great Homecoming Challenge held at “Wodajinet Park” in Addis Ababa. He thanked Ethiopians, people of Ethiopian descent, and friends of Ethiopia who have come home accepting the Great Home Coming Challenge. He also appreciated Ethiopians in the Diaspora for the contributions that impacted the life of Ethiopians in economic, social, and political arenas. After highlighting the human and material cost that Ethiopia has incurred because of the terrorist TPLF’s destructive acts, he said the country would stand tall by overcoming its challenges. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister finally called on the Home Comers to continue supporting the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the government.
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Birtukan Ayano, the leader of the operational sector of the committee established to facilitate the Great Homecoming Challenge, on Monday (December 27) said the committee has finalized schedules to smoothly run various events. She thanked Ethiopians, people of Ethiopian origins, and friends of Ethiopia for positively responding to the challenge reaffirming their continued support and unwavering commitment to stand by Ethiopia in times of its needs.
FDRE Ministry of Justice has announced that it has started an investigation into the crimes committed by the TPLF terrorist group in the Amhara and Afar regions since the government’s declaration of the Unilateral Humanitarian Ceasefire last June. The Ministry has announced that a standardized checklist is prepared to carefully document extrajudicial killings, injuries, displacements, destructions on heritage sites, public and private properties and bring perpetrators to justice. (See article)
The House of Peoples Representatives has approved the draft proclamation for the establishment of the National Dialogue Commission with a majority vote, and 13 abstinence, and 1 against. It is to be recalled that on December 10, 2021, the Council of Ministers discussed the draft proclamation establishing the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission and passed a draft proclamation it referred to the house. In a biweekly press briefing on Thursday (December 30), Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dina Mufti has expounded on some of the core issues of the draft Proclamation for the establishment of the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission. (See excerpts)
The Council of Ministers on Thursday (December 29) discussed the draft regulation issued to determine the purpose and function of Ethiopian Investment Holdings. Ethiopian Investment Holdings is said to mobilize multiple government resources into one institution and create effective company management. It will also be a strategic development and investment tool that will greatly enhance the country’s economic growth and competitiveness by maximizing the economic benefits of these resources. The council discussed the bill extensively and decided to implement it from the day it was published in the Federal Negarit Gazette.
The Council of Ministers on Thursday (December 30) had a deliberation, among others, on the agenda submitted by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum over the proposed agreement with eight companies that showed interest to involve in the production and enrichment of coal in various parts of Ethiopia. The proposed agreements are presented to the council, including the contribution of the projects to the government and the local people, as well as other details. After deliberating on the proposed agreement, the council decided on the signing of the agreements with the FDRE Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.
Ethiopia in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) on Tuesday (December 28) has unveiled a climate-resilient forest and landscape restoration program. The program will be implemented by the Ethiopian Agricultural Ministry and KOICA, it is stated in the launching ceremony. Close to 10 million USD has been appropriated for the program to be implemented in selected drainage systems in several parts of the country. KOICA is said to finance the program.
Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration on Monday (December 27), has issued a statement calling the U.S to reconsider its decision to terminate Ethiopia’s eligibility for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The Government of Ethiopia deeply regrets the decision of the US government to terminate the continued eligibility for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
RT’s journalist Paula Slier on Tuesday (December 28) exposes the brutality of TPLF against civilians in the Amhara region after contacting victims of gang rape and torture witnesses of lootings and vandalism committed by soldiers of the terrorist organization. Paula Slier contacted victims of gang rape, torture, and mass shootings who are receiving medical treatment in Debre Birhan and witnessed the brutality of the TPLF and its supporters. “Largely because the hospitals in the areas that were under fighting were completely destroyed, Debre Birhan Hospital which is located 130km from Addis Ababa is the main health facility in the area,” she said.
Ethiopia’s Ambassador in Algeria, Nebiat Getachew had a meeting with Youssef Delileche, Director General of African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria. The two sides discussed bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues of common concern. Ambassador Nebiat also commended the government of Algeria for hosting the 8th High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa held recently in Oran in Oran, Algeria.
Ambassador Jamal Bekir, Head of the FDRE Consulate in Bahrain had a conversation with Dr. Khalid Al Ohaly, President of the Arabian Gulf University. The two sides discussed opportunities to strengthen cultural and fraternal relations between Ethiopia and the Middle East. Ambassador Jamal Beker also spoke about the situation in Ethiopia, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts. Dr. Khalid Al Ohaly, on his part, underscored the importance of creating linkages among higher education institutions in Ethiopia and the Middle East in research and capacity building.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has learnt with dismay the passing away of Dr. Kassa Kebede. He had served his country assuming various positions, including being an ambassador of Ethiopia in Geneva. The Ministry and its staff express condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased.
Djibouti
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Sudan, Ambassador Abdalla Omar Al-Bashir received in his office on Thursday (December 29) the Djiboutian Ambassador to Khartoum. The Djiboutian Ambassador expressed his country’s desire to boost cooperation with Sudan in education, health, training, and agricultural investment fields. The Djiboutian diplomat expressed his thanks to Sudan for providing agricultural land to Djibouti for investment in East Sudan, besides scholarships for Djiboutian students at the International University of Africa and some Sudanese Universities. The Undersecretary of the Ministry, on his part, affirmed the firmness of Sudanese-Djiboutian relations due to the strong ties between the two sisterly countries, expressing Sudan’s desire to strengthen its relations with Djibouti.
Advisor at the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah met in Riyadh Tuesday Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity in the Republic of Djibouti Ouloufa Ismail Abdo. During the meeting, the two sides discussed issues of common interest relating to humanitarian and relief affairs as well as the humanitarian projects being implemented by KSrelief in Djibouti, where they have implemented 16 projects in the health, food, among other sectors.
Kenya
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on Tuesday held talks with peace in Ethiopia and Somalia topping the agenda. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the telephone talks between the two leaders centred on regional security issues of mutual interest, “including the situations in Ethiopia and Somalia”.
Somalia
Turkey’s foreign minister and his Somali counterpart discussed bilateral relations in a phone call on Thursday (December 30). Mevlut Cavusoglu and Mohamed Abdirizak Mohamud discussed the bilateral relations as well the latest developments in Somalia, according to officials from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Somali forces on Thursday killed nine al-Shabaab terrorists as they thwarted an attack on the country’s strategic town of Balad, state media and officials said. “The Somali National Army (SNA) has killed at least nine Al-Shabaab terrorists in an ambush in parts of Bal’ad district in Middle Shabelle region this morning,” Somali National News Agency (SONNA) reported citing a senior military official.
The Federal Government of Somalia represented by Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, Minister of Defense, Abdisaid Muse Ali, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Abdullahi Mohamed Nor, Minister of Internal Security discussed with Dr. Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, the Director of Conflict Management of AUC and Ambassador Francisco Madeira, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of AU Commission, the future of a reconfigured AU-Transition Mission in Somalia.
South Sudan
The Ethiopian Embassy in South Sudan hosted a Christmas reception to journalists from Local and international Media houses based in Juba. On the occasion, Ambassador Nebil Mahdi remarked how genuine journalism is becoming a rarity these days. He said the kind of reporting and framing of events, for instance, the conflict in Ethiopia is an important illustrator of the case in point.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom on Wednesday (December 29) has expressed recognition of the hard work and dedication of the Ethiopian Battalion in Tambura, with regard to providing security to people of the Western Equatoria State of South Sudan. According to the letter sent to Colonel Kefyalew Regassa, Commanding officer of the Battalion; the Battalion has risen to the challenge of maintaining continuous UNMISS presence, engaging with all stakeholders, facilitating dialogues, and providing security to IDPs in the face of difficult conditions.
Sudan
President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, on Tuesday (December 28) met a delegation of the Higher Coordination Council for the Center, where the delegation affirmed their support for the Armed Forces in safeguarding the security and sovereignty of the country. Head of the Higher Coordination Council for the Center, chieftain (nazir) of Al-Hassanyah tribe, Habani Yusuf Habani, said in a press statement that the delegation included the native administrations, Sufi sects and a number of actors in the community of the central states.
The First Vice – President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, received on Wednesday (December 29) in his office the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Sudan, Ali bin Hassan Jaafar, and appreciated the firmness of the relations between Sudan and Saudi Arabia in all domains. In a press statement, the Saudi Ambassador said that the meeting has discussed several important aspects related to the distinguished bilateral relations, affirming the continued support of Saudi Arabia for the security and stability of Sudan.
The Governor of the Blue Nile Region, Gen. Ahmed Al-Umda, has affirmed the importance of joint work with the Ethiopian side in the field of procedures to facilitate the return of the displaced persons and refugees following the signing of the Juba Agreement for Peace of Sudan and the resulting various gains, top of which is self-autonomy. This came in his address Wednesday in Asosa city, Ethiopia, to the opening sitting of the Conference for Development of Border Relations between the Blue Nile and the Ethiopian Beni-Shangul Region. The Governor of the Blue Nile Region has praised the initiative of the Beni-Shangul Region’s government and its invitation to the Blue Nile regional government to participate in the conference, and the positions of the Ethiopian government at the federal level and the hospitable Ethiopian people for the warm reception and hospitality in the Ethiopian region of Beni-Shangul. He said that the conference convenes at a time when the region is witnessing many complications that are hoped to be resolved wisely and peacefully.
Sudanese authorities have deployed over 2000 troops at the former UNAMID Super Camp and recovered some assets looted by former rebels and civilians, said the foreign ministry in Khartoum. On Friday, combatants of a signatory group looted the northern part of the under liquidation camp in El-Fasher four days after its handover to the state authorities. The Sudanese foreign ministry on Sunday (December 26) “strongly” condemned the looting of the UNAMID base and confirmed that elements affiliated with an armed group were involved in the looting.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen welcomes Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia who responded to the #GreatHomeComing Challenge
Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia thanked Ethiopians, people of Ethiopian descent, and friends of Ethiopia who have come home accepting the Great Home Coming Challenge. He said this while delivering remarks in the welcoming ceremony held at ‘Wodajinet/Friendship Park’ in Addis Ababa. Demeke appreciated Ethiopians in the Diaspora for the contributions that impacted the life of Ethiopians in economic, social, and political arenas.
He appreciated the commitment of Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia in the Diaspora to stand for justice in Ethiopia, protest false and unsubstantiated information on Ethiopia in international media. After highlighting the human and material cost that Ethiopia has incurred because of the terrorist TPLF’s destructive acts, he said the country would stand tall by overcoming its challenges. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister finally called on the Home Comers to continue supporting the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the government.
Present at the ceremony, the Mayor of Addis Ababa City Council, Adanech Abebe, expressed her immense satisfaction over all the activities of Ethiopians in the Diaspora regarding Ethiopian issues.
The Deputy Director-General of Ethiopian Diaspora Agency, Dr. Mohammed Idris, also addressed the audience detailing available services and activities to carry out together with the Home Comers, including visits to uprooted people and areas destroyed by the TPLF.
Participants have visited a Bazar hosted to market services and encourage buying of Ethiopian-made products. Similar welcoming events will be held in various regional states.
According to the Great Home Coming Calendar, participants in the Home Coming Challenge, among others, are scheduled to visit tourist destination sites in Ethiopia, including celebrating Gena (Ethiopian Christmas) at Lalibela and Timiket (Ethiopian Epiphany) in Gondar. The Home Comers will also participate in seedling projects, fundraising events to support families of Ethiopian soldiers, rehabilitation and restoration projects as well as a forum on pan-Africanism.
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Ministry of Justice to investigate crimes in Amhara and Afar regions
The Ministry of Justice has announced over the week that it has started investigating the crimes committed by the TPLF terrorist group in the Amhara and Afar regions since the government’s declaration of the Unilateral Humanitarian Ceasefire last June.
The statement issued last week on Friday (December 24) further indicated that the Ministry’s Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Team has already launched a criminal investigation into the northern part of the country to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of the TPLF terrorist group. Earlier, the ministry had issued a statement detailing a series of attacks that the terrorist TPLF had carried out in three zones of the Amhara and Afar regions.
Currently, the ministry has formed various investigative groups and sub-groups to further probe into the crimes committed by the TPLF in the Afar and Amhara regions that are liberated recently by the military and other coalition forces. The investigative teams are conducting extensive investigations into the loss of life, displacement, destruction of property, and other injuries sustained in the terrorist attacks in the stated regions, the statement indicated. The ministry pointed out that a thorough investigation would be carried out in a short period to identify the members of the terrorist group who have been actively involved in criminal activities.
The statement of the Ministry also revealed that the investigative teams are comprised of members of the Federal Police Commission, the State Police, the State Judiciary, and other support agencies. Accordingly, the Investigation and Prosecution Committee, headed by the Ministry of Justice, has set up a criminal investigation team and two subgroups under the team in Afar Region. The ministry has also set up a criminal investigation team in 10 woredas in the North Shoa Zone of Amhara State, including Shoa Robit and 8 Woredas in South Wollo, and Oromo Special Zone, and various woredas in Wollo, including Dessie and Kombolcha and Gashena. According to the ministry, on the day the statement was issued, a criminal investigation team was sent to Wagamra and Woldiya.
Checks are being made with the participation of experts with better knowledge and long-term experience in international criminal law to ensure that criminal investigations are carried out in accordance with international standards, the statement said. The ministry highlighted that this will help maintain the quality and consistency of investigations, and will allow other countries to discharge their obligations to co-operate in filing criminal charges or extraditing convicted individuals to Ethiopia.
In light of the recommendations made by the Joint UNHRC and EHRC investigation, the ministry has finalized working arrangements to investigate crimes in the Tigray region, the statement said adding that it would continue to assess how the investigation should be conducted in light of the current situation in the region.
The ministry pledged that it would conduct a comprehensive and in-depth criminal investigation in all areas that were captured by the terrorist group and called on all Ethiopians to provide information and assistance as well as necessary support for the investigation to ensure that those involved in crime do not escape legal action.
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On the Proclamation for the establishment of the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (Excerpts from Ambassador Dina Mufti’s weekly press briefing)
The House of Peoples Representatives has approved the draft Proclamation for the establishment of the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission.
A. Why National Dialogue and the setup of a Commission?
•To discuss opinions and disagreements on the most fundamental national issues
•To legally institute a system that facilitates the national dialogue process;
•To establish an institution with widespread legitimacy that could coordinate and lead the deliberations capably and impartially;
B. The Commission and Commissioners
•The Commission shall be accountable to the House of Peoples Representatives.
•The Commission shall have eleven (11) commissioners;
•The Chief Commissioner of the Commission, the Deputy Chief Commissioner and other commissioners shall be appointed by the House of Peoples Representatives
C. Objectives, duties and responsibilities of the Commission
The Commission will, among others,
•Facilitate consultation between the various segments of the society
•identify the root causes of the difference on fundamental national issues
•Plan to implement the results of the consultations;
•Conduct deliberations to improve the relationship among the different segments of the population as well as between the public and the government
•create a conducive environment for the building of a democratic system;
D. Criteria for the Appointment of Commissioners
•Anyone who shall be appointed as a Commissioner shall fulfil some requirements; among which are having Ethiopian nationality; being not a member of any political party; and not being convicted for committing any serious crime
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Reasons behind the decision to temporarily halt the advance of government defense forces to Tigray (Excerpts from FDRE Government Communication Service Statement)
The Ethiopian Defense Forces have successfully completed liberating TPLF occupied areas in East Amhara and Afar regions. The government ordered the forces to vigilantly remain in areas under our control on these fronts and avoid advancing any further. The reasons behind the decision are explained below.
1. The decision is made based on previous law enforcement mission experience in the Tigray region. It is to be recalled that the federal government, exercising its constitutionally legitimate power to freely re-deploy Ethiopian defense forces and military logistics outside of the Tigray region, issued an order to relocate the military to other areas following the national security assessment it had conducted in different parts of the country.
This, however, was met with a plea from the people of Tigray who unduly demanded the presence of the military within the Tigray region. Nonetheless, the same people who demanded the government to accept their request failed to denounce the TPLF and made no attempts to stop targeted attacks on our defense forces by the terrorist TPLF forces, let alone protecting them.
Following the first operation that aimed at putting in place rule of law and order through reclaiming looted properties, bringing perpetrators to court, ensuring justice, and reversing the status quo, the people of Tigray have exhibited some level of cooperation, which at later stages of the operation have turned into opening massive targeted attacks on our defense forces from behind. This act of betrayal was a repeat of TPLF’s attack on the northern command attempting to abort the legitimate actions of our government to lay solid foundations for peace in the region.
2. The decision to temporarily halt the advance of our defense forces to Tigray came also at a time where, as always, the TPLF is busy writing fiction on the Tigray massacre by collecting bodies of thousands of the TPLF forces who lost their lives in Afar and Amhara fronts and preparing burials in mass graves in Tigray. This is the usual attempt of the TPLF to run away from accountability and accuse the Ethiopian government of committing genocide and put the blame on our forces.
Such a plan by the TPLF is aimed at confusing the international community and demanding it to put pressure on the Ethiopian government on the basis of presenting fake genocide narratives. Hence, in order not to fall into this ruthless ploy, the Ethiopian government has decided not to command its forces to further advance into the Tigray region.
3. The Ethiopian government is well aware of the existence of foreign accomplices that echo the same unfounded calls demanding unjust intervention while the government has an obligation to protect the good name and faith it has on our forces.
This decision, therefore, takes into account the fact that the Ethiopian government would order its forces to advance further into Tigray, whenever deemed necessary under any circumstances, to defend the territorial sovereignty, national interests as well as peace and stability of Ethiopia.
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