A Week in the Horn

19.04.2024

NEWS IN BRIEF

Ethiopia

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, on Tuesday (April 16) conferred with the Deputy Executive Director of World Food Programme (WFP) on ways of further boosting cooperation in buttressing Ethiopia’s development endeavours and ongoing humanitarian assistance efforts.

An Ethiopian delegation led by Minister of Water and Energy, Habtamu Etefa, participated at the two-day ((Wednesday – Thursday (April 17-18)) Fourteenth Session of the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Ethiopia was elected as a member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for a term of four years (2025-2029) on Saturday (April 13). CSW was established in 1946 to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide.

State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, met with the Secretary-General of the Addis-based Organisation of Southern Cooperation, Manssour Bin Mussallam, on Tuesday (April 16) and exchanged views on how to further enhance cooperation and ways to work closely between Ethiopia as a host and the OSC.

Ethiopian Investment Commission Commissioner, Hanna Arayaselassie, during a presser on Thursday morning announced the issuance of a new directive that aims to regulate the participation of foreign businesses in previously Ethiopian-dominated areas including, import-export, wholesale and retail.

European Union High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič on Tuesday (April 16) published a statement expressing EU’s solidarity with the people of Ethiopia. The EU recognizes the central role of the Government of Ethiopia in their efforts to respond to these challenges, with the support of the international community, the statement read.

An Ethio-USA Business and Investment Forum was held on Thursday (April 18) on the margins of the 2024 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) in the US Capital. The Forum was organized by Ethiopian Embassy in Washington DC in collaboration with Wafa Marketing and Promotion and brought together about 150 business representatives from both countries and provided the opportunity to discuss enhancing investment and improving ease of doing business.

The Governments of Ethiopia and the United Kingdom together with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on Tuesday (April 16) convened in Geneva, Switzerland, to address the urgent need for increased humanitarian funding for the country, pledging a total of almost USD 630 million (See Article).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Spokesperson, Nebiyu Tedla on Thursday morning (April 18) gave the bi-weekly press briefing of the Ministry to local and Addis-based media houses. Ethiopia is one of the leading countries that are raising voices for Africa to have a permanent seat at the UN Security Council by strengthening its participation in the multilateral institutions of which it is a founder, the Spokesman noted (See Article).

Somalia

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud on Wednesday (April 17) convened a high-level security conference in the Capital Mogadishu and discussed the threat posed by Al-Shabaab terrorist group on the Capital and other regions of the country.

South Sudan

President Salva Kiir Mayardiit on Tuesday (April 16) hosted at his residence the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and discussed bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest, during the latter’s three-day working visit to the Horn of African country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation James Pitia Morgan on Wednesday (April 17) held bilateral talks with former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok on the Sudanese peace process at the margins of the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and neighboring countries in Paris, France.

Africa and the African Union

The Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) Department of the African Union Commission in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH partnership for strengthening cybersecurity project, held a workshop on Cyber Diplomacy for the embassies and permanent Missions of the AU Member States in Addis Ababa, at the AU Headquarters from Monday to Tuesday (April 15-16).

President Sahle-Work addresses the Third International Cooperation Forum

The Third International Cooperation Forum (IC Forum) 2024 was held in Basel, Switzerland from 11 to 12 April 2024. The event brought together over 1700 participants from 100 countries with the aim of discovering new pathways for tangible and sustainable progress towards peace. The forum was convened under the theme ‘What is Peace?‘ to facilitate critical dialogue on world peace.

In her keynote address, President Sahle-Work Zewde touched upon different aspects of peace including: the current situation, the role of global institutions in securing peace, lessons for securing peace from the experience in Africa, the role of women in nurturing peace and on the importance of solidarity.

On the global scene, the President stated that our world is facing multiple and, in many ways, interconnected challenges. She explained that the world has re-entered an era of global competition, and the scourge of war is devastating the lives and wellbeing of civilians in most corners of the globe. According to the President, this is creating a cycle of tension, mistrust and discord, and global partnership is being undermined and needs to be critically addressed by all. She underlined that everyone must stand firm to harness harmony, stability, and prosperity for all nations, regardless of their geographical location or socio-political circumstances.

The President asserted that the world needs to show commitment to enable the international institutions to function. She emphasised the necessity of the current global institutions to be revitalized to create a better and peaceful world for all. She encouraged all countries regardless of their economic or military status to be held to same global rules governing humanity.

In her address, the President discussed the lessons that can be drawn from Africa’s experience in securing peace. She noted that while Africa is one of the continents most plagued by conflict and instability worldwide, it is also the continent with the greatest experience in using mechanisms for conflict resolution, such as the panel of wise, which brings together elders and other individuals with leadership experience to resolve disputes. As an illustration of the African Union’s experience mediating and peacefully resolving conflicts in northern Ethiopia, the president cited the appointment of a high-level representative and a high-level panel to reach the Pretoria Peace Agreement. This process, which was led by the African Union and owned by Ethiopia, put an end to hostilities in the region and silenced the guns.

The President spoke in detail about the vital role that women play in nurturing peace and emphasised the need for women to be given the freedom to fulfil these tasks. Aside from raising future generations and providing daily sustenance for their families, the president expounded on the impact of conflict on women, stating that women are the most affected by conflict and have various obligations during times of conflict. If communities are to put hostilities behind them and refocus on healing, rehabilitation, and rebuilding, it is only natural that women be empowered to play roles in resolving conflicts and maintaining peace, the President underlined in her remarks.

On the importance of solidarity for world peace, the President emphasised the need for people all across the world to share the agony of those around them. The president appealed to all to stand for peace and for development of all people around the world.

On the sidelines of the Forum, a bilateral meeting took place between President Sahle-Work Zewde, and Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation. During the meeting, the two Presidents discussed a wide range of issues and expressed their desire to strengthen the existing trade, investment, and development cooperation between their countries and explore new areas of cooperation.

Similarly, during her stay in Switzerland President Sahle-Work also held talks with Ethiopians living in Switzerland, and called upon them to strengthen their ties with their country, to help their compatriots at home and be a voice for peace. She underlined that, no matter their differences with governments of the day, they need to be focused on promoting Ethiopia’s development as “country is above all”.

High-level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Assistance Efforts in Ethiopia

A High-level Pledging Event co-hosted by the Governments of Ethiopia and the United Kingdom together with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) was convened on 16 April 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland. During the conference, participating Member States pledged more than 610 million US Dollars to support the humanitarian assistance efforts in Ethiopia and came up with a Joint Communique. The conference addressed the pressing humanitarian situation unfolding in Ethiopia that is mainly characterized by a convergence of climate-related disasters, and other challenges.

During the high-level pledging event, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie thanked co-hosts, UK and OCHA as well as other partners present for showing their solidarity with the People and government of Ethiopia. He emphasized that Ethiopia has taken lessons from previous humanitarian crises and it has put in place a robust and effective policy and institutional arrangements. He reaffirmed the determination of the Government of Ethiopia to save lives and protect community resilience. Minister Taye, announced that the government has already allocated a total budget of 250 million US Dollars to address emergency needs. Ethiopia has also put in place an effective national system to prevent, prepare and recover from manmade and natural disasters. It has integrated disaster risk management system with long term development and resilient initiatives. He underscored that development, building resilience and responding to disaster remains critical in Ethiopia’s determined effort to protect communities. In this regard, he stressed that effective policy frameworks, conducive institutional arrangements are indispensable to overcome climate induced challenges. The Minister also highlighted the commitment of the Ethiopian Government to further strengthening robust and strong partnership with our development partners to enhance engagement in line with national development programs.

He expressed his gratitude to all development partners stressing that Ethiopia “highly values its partnership with our development partners.” He reiterated the Government’s unwavering political commitment and readiness to act with the highest sense of urgency to respond to the unfolding humanitarian situation with all capacities at its disposal. The Ethiopian Government is also taking long term sustainable game changing solutions to transform the Ethiopian economy particularly its agricultural sector. In this regard, he highlighted successful national development initiatives that have continued to register remarkable results such as the national wheat production, the national flagship nutrition program called “Bounty of the Basket”, Productive Safety-Net Program and the Green Legacy Initiatives as a state that bears primary responsibility to ensure sustainable development and prosperity to its citizens. The Government of Ethiopia is determined make food insecurity history.

The government of UK co-hosted the High-Level Event and pledged 100 million British Pounds and urged participating partners to make concrete financial pledges. Speaking at the closing event, the Deputy Minister for Development and Africa of the UK, Andrew Mitchell, implored international partners that has not yet made pledges but spoke with passion to stand in solidarity with the People and Government of Ethiopia and to contribute accordingly.

The UNOCHA Deputy Director, Joyce Msuya, during a panel discussion session as part of the Pledging Event called for the international community’s concerted effort to arrest the humanitarian challenges in Ethiopia. The World Food Program Deputy Executive Director, Carl Skau, on his part, also underscored that the WFP in partnership with the Government of Ethiopia, has put in place a revamped and reformed food distribution system and urged the international community to scale up its financial support to address the funding gap.

As clearly stipulated in the joint communique issued after the High-Level Pledging Event, “all parties reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence in providing humanitarian assistance, ensuring that aid reaches those most in need without discrimination. The Government of Ethiopia also committed to undertaking a joint review exercise, aimed at ensuring a progressive environment for civil society organizations and NGOs, including to facilitate humanitarian operations.”

Second Generation Ethiopian Diaspora Home-Coming

The Government of Ethiopia has prepared and implemented structural and legal frameworks including the diaspora policy to connect the diaspora to its roots and to create a platform by which the diaspora can contribute to the nation building effort and to the development of the country. One of the objectives of the Diaspora Policy Implementation Strategy is to promote organized diaspora participation, and it has been pointed out in the policy that there is a need to pay special attention to the organized participation of the young diaspora.

From experience of countries, it is understood that when the second generation of the diaspora community have a complete understanding and connection with their home country, they serve as Goodwill Ambassadors of their country of origin in the destination country where they work, live and study. This in turn is invaluable to the generational endeavor of nation building. This is also evident from Ethiopia’s experience in 2021 when a national call for the “Great Ethiopian Home Coming” was made and members of the diaspora community from different parts of the world came to their homeland and brought about social, economic and diplomatic legacies. This program for second generation home coming is next phase of the first home coming call to return home.

Based on this,Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, made a national home-coming call for the Second generation of Ethiopians under the theme “Back to Your Origins”. The main objective of this national call is to enable second-generation Ethiopian Diasporas around the world to learn, understand and get immersed into the culture and history of Ethiopia, connect to their origins by creating social, cultural and psychological ties with Ethiopians at home and build a sense of patriotism so that they can contribute to their country’s development.

This homecoming call of the second-generation Ethiopian diaspora is sought to be implemented in three phases between December 2023 to September 2024, with each phase having its own specific thematic area that aligns with and reinforces the central theme.

The first phase “Connect to Your Multi-Cultural Roots” that enabled second generation Diasporas experience and get reconnected to the diverse cultures, traditions, customs and unique features of Ethiopia has been concluded recently. The second phase “Connect to Your Historical Roots” which aims to make second generation Diasporas discover the history of their homeland and understand their ancestral patriotism and selfless scarification waged to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of their country is undergoing currently. The third phase “Leave your Legacy, Savour your Holiday” designed to engage the second generation Diasporas to contribute to the national volunteerism initiative by participating in the green legacy program, giving hands to the needy through construction of houses, making donations for vulnerable communities and sharing their experiences to Ethiopians at home while savouring their vacations will commence during summer vacation time.

Ministry Says it has Protected National Interests, the Last Six Years

On Thursday, 18 April 2024, the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Nebiyu Tedla, delivered the bi-weekly press briefing of the Ministry. His presser, mainly focused on the achievements in foreign relations and diplomacy carried out the last six years and planned diplomatic activities this week.

Ushering in economic reforms, opening up fields that were closed to foreign companies and most importantly, the work done to ensure food sovereignty as an example were mentioned at the briefing.

He detailed the diplomatic achievement made for Ethiopia to become a BRICS member and said that the national effort to create a climate resilient economy has been done to gain international recognition with the help of green diplomacy.

Nebiyu also said, by signing the Pretoria Peace Agreement and adhering to it, Ethiopia has proven its strong desire for peace through its tireless efforts to solve African problems within an African framework.

He said that Ethiopia is one of the leading countries that are raising voices for Africa to have a permanent seat in the Security Council by strengthening its participation in the multilateral institutions of which it is a founder.

Nebiyu also touched on the successful operations that have hitherto been carried out that have made it possible for Ethiopia to protect its national interests by maintaining existing relations, opening new chapters of cooperation, and through diaspora and citizen-oriented diplomacy.

– ENDS –

A Week in the Horn is a weekly online publication dedicated to regional developments in the Horn of Africa. It aims to promote good will and fraternal relations among states of the region by highlighting major geopolitical events and publicizing news stories as well as feature articles. It features detailed commentaries, analyses and intelligent debate on weekly developments throughout the Horn of Africa region. It is an essential read for policymakers, the diplomatic community, think-tanks, academia, corporate executives and enthusiastic citizens, at large.

It is published by the Spokesperson’s Directorate General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, a leading diplomatic institution in Africa that boasts of inspiring Africa’s future.

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