17.05.2024
Transitional Justice Policy: Ethiopia’s Roadmap Toward Sustainable Peace, Justice and Rule of Law
Press Statement on US Ambassador’s “Policy Speech on Human Rights and Dialogue”
Addis Ababa Hosts the 3rd “Made in Ethiopia” (Ethiopia Tamirt) Expo
A Visual Journey of 120 Years of Ethiopia-US Bilateral Relations
NEWS IN BRIEF
Ethiopia
A statement made by the US Ambassador in Addis Ababa contained allegations and unsolicited advice to the Government of Ethiopia on how best to run the affairs of the country, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA Ethiopia) said in a press statement issued on Thursday (May 16). (See Press Statement)
President SahleWork Zewde on Wednesday (May 15) appointed 10 Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors and 14 Ambassadors. The appointment of the ambassadors was made pursuant to Article 71(3) of the Constitution of Ethiopia.
Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh said Azerbaijan’s modern government service delivery system can serve as a model for Ethiopia’s civil service reform. The visit to the ASAN Service Center in Azerbaijan is part of Ethiopia’s efforts to draw lessons and best practices that can be adapted to improve its own civil service reform agenda and public service delivery mechanisms.
During its 32nd regular session held on Wednesday (May 15), the Council of Ministers of Ethiopia passed decisions on a range of diplomatic, economic, and social bills. Accordingly, the Council deliberated on a bill put forth by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning two bilateral agreements concluded with Russia and Indonesia. The initial agreement involves the enhancement of the aviation sector between the governments of Ethiopia and Russia, while the second agreement pertains to visa waivers for bearers of diplomatic and service passports between the governments of Ethiopia and Indonesia.
The Ethio-China Fair, dubbed “CHINA – ETHIOPIA AGRICULTURE and MINING INDUSTRY COOPERATION FAIR,” was held in Addis Ababa on Thursday (May 16). Organized by the Ethiopian Investment Commission, Changsha Municipal Bureau of Commerce, and the Ethiopian Youth Entrepreneurs Association, the fair aimed to unite Ethiopian and Chinese business communities.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, had a discussion with the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adoye, in his office on Tuesday (May 14). Ambassador Taye affirmed that the Ethiopian government is fully committed to the implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie received at his office on Monday (May 13) Ahmed Hussen, the Minister of International Development of Canada. Ambassador Taye stated that Ethiopia values its longstanding and vibrant relationship with Canada. The two sides discussed a variety of topics, including areas of cooperation in the DDR process and addressing regional issues of common concern.
Ambassador Mesganu Arga, State Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Mike Hammer, the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, met on Tuesday (May 14) to discuss issues of mutual concern. Ambassador Mesganu emphasized the need for a renewed structural engagement between the two countries to further scale up relations. The discussion between the two sides noted the need for international level support for the DDR process and for the successful implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
Ambassador Mesganu Arga, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, had a meeting with Ambassador Stephen Auer, the German Ambassador to Ethiopia, at his office on Monday (May 13). During their discussion, Ambassador Mesganu expressed his gratitude for the strong and productive partnership between Ethiopia and Germany in various fields. The two sides discussed a wide range of topics that are of mutual interest, including bilateral and regional matters, as well as the current situation in Ethiopia.
Ambassador Mesganu Arga, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, had a meeting with Maika Oshikawa, Director of the WTO Accession Division, at his office on Wednesday (May 15). The two officials discussed better ways of expediting Ethiopia’s accession process to the WTO.
The Council of Ministers of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia adopts a Transitional Justice Policy on April 17, 2024, with a view to deploying human rights-based and context-specific transitional justice mechanism that fully takes into account and respect the views, needs, and aspirations of Ethiopians for achieving justice, reconciliation, democracy and sustainable peace. (See article)
The 3rd “Made in Ethiopia” (ETHIOPIA TAMRIT) Expo was held from May 9 to 13, 2024, at Millenium Hall in Addis Ababa. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched the “Made in Ethiopia” Expo, a national program launched in 2022 to create a competitive manufacturing industry by addressing the challenges facing the sector in a sustainable, integrated, and comprehensive manner. (See article)
The national reform in education would greatly contribute to the development of the manufacturing sector through nurturing professionals and conducting problem-solving research, the Education Minister said. Speaking at the Made in Ethiopia Expo on Sunday (May 12), Education Minister Prof. Birhanu Nega stated that, as part of the education sector reform, efforts are underway to bring education institutions to become centers of knowledge to support the national economy, including the manufacturing sector.
China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) has won acclaim for intensifying humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia as it marked its five years of operation in Ethiopia. A special ceremony was held last week on Friday in Addis Ababa to mark the fifth anniversary of the establishment of CFRD Ethiopia Office and the launch of the Chinese Enterprises Volunteer Project, with attendees including senior Ethiopian government officials, Chinese diplomats and representatives of Chinese enterprises.
Chinese investment is an essential driver of Ethiopia’s textile and apparel industries, an official said on Tuesday (May 14). Chinese investors are “the backbone of Ethiopia’s textile industry development,” said Aklilu Tadesse, CEO of the Ethiopian Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC), during discussions between officials from IPDC and the Ethiopian Investment Commission with potential Chinese investors interested in investing in Ethiopia’s textile and garment industry. Highlighting the sector’s significant contribution to the Ethiopian economy, Tadesse said that investments in textiles are a major catalyst for the country’s development and overall economic growth. He noted that the sector has created permanent and temporary job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians.
Six years after the commencement of the Ethio-Djibouti Railway’s operations, the Chinese Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has formally relinquished management responsibilities to the Ethiopian and Djiboutian governments. This transition of managerial duties was commemorated with a formal ceremony that took place in Addis Ababa last week on Friday, (May 10. CRCC has assumed management responsibilities since the commencement of operations of the Ethio-Djibouti Railway in 2018.
A delegation led by Qatar’s Military Attaché to Ethiopia, Brigadier General Mohammed Ali Al Hajri, met on Tuesday (May 14) and discussed with Brigadier General Kebede Regasa, Ethiopian Defense University Commander, various issues, including enhancing cooperation in military technology excellence between the two countries, according to the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF).
The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa has officially opened a photo exhibition dubbed “A Visual Journey of Bilateral Relations” at the National Museum in Addis Ababa, marking the 120-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ethiopia. (See article)
Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s leading airline, announced on Monday (May 13) that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Prime Minister’s Office for the management and operation of the ‘Dine for Ethiopia’ lodges under Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in a warm ceremony held in Addis Ababa. Under the terms of this strategic partnership, Ethiopian Skylight Hotel will assume responsibility for operating and managing the astonishing Chebera Churchura Elephant Paw Lodge, Halala Kella Lodge, Gorgora Ecolodge, and Wonchi EcoLodge. The partnership aims to elevate the tourism experience in Ethiopia by utilizing Ethiopian Airlines Group’s extensive expertise in the hospitality industry, ensuring the provision of unparalleled services to visitors.
The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa officially opened last week a photo exhibition dubbed “A Visual Journey of Bilateral Relations” at the National Museum in Addis Ababa, marking the 120-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ethiopia. (See article)
London-listed Kefi Gold and Copper says on Monday (May 13) that the remaining finance syndicate approval process in respect of the Tulu Kapi project in Ethiopia, is on track for final approvals this month. The company has started with launch preparations on site ahead of construction, which is earmarked to start by midyear. Ethiopia’s top five gold development projects are poised to raise the country’s gold production from 400 000 oz/y to more than 1.5-million ounces a year within the next five years.
Djibouti
Ismail Omar Guelleh, the President of Djibouti, arrived in the Kingdom of Bahrain on Wednesday (May 15) to participate in the 33rd Arab Summit. Upon arrival, the Djibouti President was received by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Pan-African provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral colocation facilities, PAIX Data Centres, announced on Thursday (May 16) a strategic joint venture with the Djibouti Sovereign Fund to construct a cloud and carrier-neutral data center in Djibouti. PAIX already has facilities in Accra, Ghana, and Nairobi, Kenya, plus a number of other data centers in the pipeline. The Internet traffic of Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia typically passes through Djibouti to reach the subsea cables traversing the Red Sea.
Kenya
President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, arrived in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, on Thursday (May 16) for a state visit at the invitation of President William Ruto. The President’s visit aims at strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between Uganda and Kenya and exploring new avenues for collaboration and mutual benefits.
Kenya and Uganda have agreed to jointly extend the oil pipeline from Eldoret to Uganda in a deal that will see Kampala import refined petroleum products directly through Nairob. Nairobi says the extension will facilitate trade relations between the two nations. This was revealed in Nairobi on Thursday (May 16) when President William Ruto met with his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, who is on a two-day state visit to Kenya.
Speaking during a joint press briefing on Thursday (May 16) with President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, Museveni said the ultimate goal of the East African Community (EAC) is to create a single government for East Africa. The Ugandan president stressed that the EAC agenda is more than just economic integration. “We revived the East African Community because it has an agenda that goes beyond mere economic integration. If you read Article 5 of our Treaty, it says that ultimately we will create a political federation. So our ultimate goal for the EAC is one government for East Africa,” Museveni said.
Ethiopia has received its first cargo through Lamu Port, signaling its intent to support the development of the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project. The arrival of Mv Abbey II vessel owned by Ethiopian Shipping Line with 60,000 metric tons of fertilizer indicated that Kenya and Ethiopia are on track to fully implement the Lapsset corridor dream mooted 54 years ago. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director William Ruto on Sunday (May 12) described the arrival of the vessel at Lamu port as a significant stride for Kenya and Ethiopia to cement business partnerships.
Kenya is likely to witness shipping costs increase as Red Sea attacks on cargo ships by the Houthi rebel group escalate, a Kenyan media outlet reported on Thursday (May 16). Latest data by PortWatch shows the ongoing attacks are increasingly disrupting cargo and tanker ships, reducing the weekly shipping average through the Suez Canal, Africa’s shortest link to the East and West, by about 58 percent. “The seven day moving average has reduced from 71 ships on December 6, last year to 30 ships as of May 7, this year,” says the report.
Kenya’s President William Ruto is scheduled to visit the United States on Thursday (May 23) for a diplomatic meeting with President Joe Biden and to address lawmakers in Congress.
Somalia
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed James Christopher Swan as his acting special representative for Somalia and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). “Swan is an experienced diplomat with a long career in African countries facing complex political transitions,” the UN said in a statement released on Tuesday (May 14). “Most recently, he served as Special Representative for Somalia and Head of UNSOM from 2019 to 2022.”
Hamza Abdi Barre, the Prime Minister of Somalia, arrived on Wednesday (May 15) in the Kingdom of Bahrain to participate in the 33rd Arab Summit.
Half a dozen pirates have been apprehended by Operation Atalanta naval forces after an attempted attack on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden, as Somali pirates continue to attack vessels in the region. The European Union Naval Force’s (EU NavFor’s) Operation Atalanta said that on Friday (10 May), the Marshall Islands-flagged product tanker Chrystal Arctic was attacked by a skiff with suspected pirates on board while traveling 100 nautical miles north of Bosaso, Somalia. There was an exchange of fire between the ship’s security team and the suspected pirates. After the attack was repelled, an Atalanta warship in the vicinity responded to the incident and apprehended six suspected pirates, who were treated for various injuries (presumably gunshot wounds).
The European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) announced on Wednesday (May 15) the arrival of its new Head of Mission,Mr. Kęstutis Lančinskas. On March 26, 2024, the Political and Security Committee appointed Kęstutis Lančinskas, a Lithuanian national, as the new Head of Mission (HoM) from May 1 to December 31, 2024. The European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) is a civilian crisis management mission that supports the development of Somali maritime security and wider police capacity.
South Sudan
President Salva Kiir has urged South Sudanese to embrace peace, harmony and progress as the nation marks 41 years of SPLA Day on Thursday (May 16). In his speech on SPLA Day, Kiir emphasized the significance of South Sudanese uniting to recognize and commemorate the critical role the Sudan People’s Liberation Army played in the country’s independence.
The South Sudan-Ethiopia business and investment forum kicked off in Juba on Monday (May 13) with the aim of strengthening economic ties between the two countries. Addressing the media at the Pyramid Intercontinental Hotel, Nebil Mahdi, Ethiopian Ambassador to South Sudan, stated that Ethiopia and South Sudan mutually agreed to focus on economic relations. “Currently, Ethiopia and South Sudan are progressing. Ethiopia and South Sudan are trying to focus on economic diplomacy, especially economic relationships, mainly on infrastructure developments,” he said.
The Ethiopian ambassador to South Sudan, Nebil Mahdi, said the construction of the highway connecting Ethiopia and South Sudan will soon resume. Mahdi, who spoke during the Ethiopia-South Sudan business and investment forum in Juba on Monday (May 13), stated that Addis Ababa is committed to constructing the highway that will link up the two countries via the Gambella region and Paloch in the Upper Nile state. “In addition to this engagement in road construction, Ethiopia and South Sudan are also working on electrification and other projects so that a smooth flow of people, labor and goods is flowing to each other,” he stated.
The Vice President for Infrastructure Cluster, Taban Deng Gai, stressed the need for South Sudan and Ethiopia to invest in oil and gas to strengthen their economies. Gai, who spoke during the second day of the Ethiopia-South Sudan business and investment forum in Juba on Tuesday (May 14), stated that the two countries need to exhaust the energy sector to leverage the benefits.
Sudan
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry said no date has been set for resuming talks between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces on the Jeddah platform. Following a meeting between Sudanese and Saudi officials on the sidelines of the Arab Summit on Tuesday (May 14), a Sudanese official confirmed to the media that no date has been set. Military sources speculate talks might resume by the end of May or after Eid al-Adha. Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy Tom Perriello stated the army and RSF haven’t shown willingness for immediate talks despite invitations.
As part of his current tour in neighboring countries to Sudan, the United States envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, met with El Hadi Idris, head of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) – Transitional Council faction and the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebel alliance, in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, on Tuesday (May 14). Periello, currently visiting Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia “to advance efforts to end the conflict in Sudan,” met with SLM-Transitional Council and SRF alliance leader El Hadi Idris in Kampala on Tuesday to discuss the overall humanitarian, political, and security situation in Sudan.
Sudanese authorities are rushing to repair ruptured pipelines transporting South Sudan’s crude oil to international markets via Sudan, the country’s sovereign council said. Malik Agar, deputy chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council, was briefed on efforts to fix the pipelines by Acting Petroleum and Energy Minister Dr. Mohaldeen Niem Saed in Port Sudan on Wednesday (May 15).
The Khartoum based Regional Operational Centre, in support of the Khartoum Process and the AU-Horn of Africa Initiative (ROCK), convened its annual meeting in Addis Ababa to discuss ways to prevent human trafficking and transboundary crimes. ROCK held its meeting in Addis Ababa on Thursday (May 16) to evaluate the progress of the law enforcement project over the past year. Ethiopia’s Federal Police Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael, Deputy Commissioner General Zelalem Mengste, representatives of ROCK member countries, and officials from INTERPOL attended the meeting.
The situation in Sudan is dire, with widespread violence and suffering. According to Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, the country is facing brutal violence, famine, disease, and displacement, affecting almost 9 million people. Nkweta-Salami emphasized on Wednesday (May 15) the urgent need for humanitarian aid, warning of the risk of widespread starvation and death. With just six weeks before the lean season begins, the situation is critical. More funding is urgently needed to address the escalating crisis. On April 15, donors pledged $2.1 billion in humanitarian aid for Sudan, but Nkweta-Salami said the U.N.’s $2.7 billion humanitarian appeal—to help nearly 15 million of the country’s 58 million people—is just 12% funded.
Africa and the African Union
“Africa Month” concludes the first week with strong advocacy for STEM education and job creation for African youth. The Africa Dialogue Series 2024 wrapped up its first week with a resounding call to invest in infrastructure and policies facilitating young Africans, including women and girls, to acquire and maintain STEM skills. This initiative aims to enhance their competitiveness in the job market, paving the way for decent employment opportunities and bolstering Africa’s development momentum. The dialogue was launched by United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Association for Africa met virtually from May 13–15, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to address Africa’s challenges in weather, water, and climate-related issues. In view of Africa’s exposure to extreme weather events, the Regional Association meeting discussed the importance of efficient and reliable climate-related services. It also adopted resolutions and decisions to strengthen observational networks, improve forecasting systems, and build capacity for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Several governments and the private sector across the globe have pledged to contribute $2.2 billion (Sh287 billion) towards funding Africa’s clean cooking drive. Announced on Thursday (May 16), during the inaugural Clean Cooking in Africa summit hosted in France, the funding seeks to accelerate progress towards promoting safe alternatives to cooking with charcoal, wood and biomass. The African Development Bank (AfDB) says the funding will spread over the next 10 years and will do much to bridge the 1.2 billion gap of people without access to clean cooking facilities.
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Transitional Justice Policy: Ethiopia’s Roadmap Toward Sustainable Peace, Justice and Rule of Law
The Council of Ministers of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia adopts a Transitional Justice Policy on April 17, 2024, with a view to deploying human rights-based and context-specific transitional justice mechanism that fully takes into account and respect the views, needs, and aspirations of Ethiopians for achieving justice, reconciliation, democracy and sustainable peace. The guiding principles include a human rights-based implementation process, national ownership, accountability, inclusivity and transparency, gender-focused management, organization and collaboration.
Ethiopia has passed through turbulent periods due to conflict related crimes, human rights violations and abuses by government entities and individual and institutional actors. Despite the country’s significant progress in the political, economic and social sectors in the past few years, unsettled historical mischiefs and recent conflict-related incidents dragged back the government’s efforts toward sustainable peace and development.
On numerous occasions, intending to bring about an enduring peace, the government of Ethiopia has expressed its commitment to holding those responsible for systematic violations of human rights and abuses accountable for their acts. Subsequently, the government took a daring step to address the unresolved issues of past and present human rights violations through a comprehensive transitional justice framework with the commitment of implementing the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities agreement, as well as the recommendations in the joint investigation reports from the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and UNOHCHR. The need for transitional justice policy emanates from the government’s decision to lead a national mechanism to address injustice and human rights violations in a holistic, organized and successful manner.
In light of this, the new policy aims to ensure a long term establishment of the Transitional justice program in the country in accordance with international standards and the AU Policy Framework on Transitional Justice. A Working Group of Experts in the Field carried out the process of drafting and creating the policy in an impartial and competent manner.
The preparatory process included a wide-ranging and all-inclusive national consultation process. In the follow-up consultative and validation workshops, human rights experts, political party leaders, diplomatic community representatives, UN offices, civil society, media professionals, and academics participated effectively. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ East African Regional Office were very active participants in the consultation process, often contributing deeper insights and suggestions.
The nationwide consultations immensely contributed to identify the modalities and approaches of the Transitional Justice mechanism that best suit the existing reality of the Ethiopian society. The process, on the one hand, enables the Working Group to receive insights from the participants, while it widens the sense of ownership among the general public. More than sixty consultation forums were conducted with a broad range of key stakeholders and representatives from all sections of the society, mainly victims, women, civil society representatives, IDPs, refugees, government and international stakeholders, and partners.
The Government of Ethiopia is pursuing transitional justice as a means of comprehensively addressing violations and abuses of human rights. Although utilizing criminal accountability mechanisms alone is not the primary goal of transitional justice, the nation has experienced severe human rights violations in the past, requiring real-time investigations and prosecutions in order to maintain the rule of law and ensure justice. In this connection, the policy asserts that the FDRE Constitution clearly states that severe human rights violations must be subjected to criminal prosecution and cannot be pardoned or overlooked. Similarly, the international human rights documents that Ethiopia has accepted require countries to ensure accountability for severe human rights violations. Hence, there exists a strong legal base to address impunity in Ethiopia.
The African Union’s transitional justice policy also stipulates that certain crimes should be subject to criminal prosecution as part of the transitional justice implementation process. Thus, the Transitional Justice strategy is based on criminal accountability and delivering justice through a thorough and appropriate investigation and prosecution of the recognized crime. With regard to identifying crimes that are the subject of an investigation and prosecution, as well as the perpetrators of such crimes and the institutional architecture that supports the judicial process, the policy establishes precise procedures and parameters for its implementation.
The policy goes into additional details regarding the procedures and guidelines that enable a thorough investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses in compliance with the laws of the nation and international accords. In terms of the institutional architecture, the strategy states that the establishment of a new, independent special organ separate from the regular prosecutor is necessary due to the complexity of the crimes, the high cost and level of professionalism required. The policy lays out precise guidelines on how criminal investigations and prosecutions should be handled within the institutional framework. For instance, it specifies how recruitment and appointment procedures must be carried out in a way that is transparent, inclusive, and participatory.
In a similar vein, the policy directs the establishment of a special hearing that will be conducted in a free and impartial way within the ordinary court premises and emphasizes the necessity of an independent judicial system to accomplish the goal of criminal accountability in the process of transitional justice.
Within the framework of the transitional justice system, truth-seeking, disclosure, and reconciliation are to be implemented with careful consideration of the causes, consequences, scope, nature, and sequencing of “all severe human rights violations.” Other ‘less severe human rights violations’ are set to be addressed through conventional and regional conflict resolution and reconciliation mechanisms. In general, the newly adopted transitional justice policy acknowledges that, in order to carry out the mandate in a credible and effective manner, truth-seeking, disclosure, and reconciliation efforts require a free and independent institutional system; thus, it sets forth guidelines for the creation of a new truth-seeking commission.
The policy set directions to execute “amnesty based on preconditions,” with the exception of lists of offenses that are not allowed for ‘pardon’ in the FDRE constitution and human rights instruments Ethiopia ratified. It further amplifies the significance of a comprehensive compensation plan that includes elements like memorial, rehabilitation, restoration, and public apologies to address the harm done to people and communities as a result of unjust practices and violations of human rights, including the institutional framework necessary to carry out implementations.
All things considered, the policy paper provides a clear framework for ensuring criminal accountability for past transgressions dating back to 1995, the year the FDRE constitution was adopted, through institutional reforms in the security and justice sectors, truth-finding, reconciliation, and reparations. The transitional justice process endures as long as information and evidence are available. The policy aims to provide victims and their families with the necessary closure to allow them to move on with their lives in peace, and it will also serve as a foundation for encouraging peace amongst those who have been harmed. Among the least, it will help to prevent conflict and violations of human rights from happening again, assist accountability and the investigation of past abuses of human rights, and allow victims to share their stories and have them documented. It also enables victims to participate in investigations to find the truth.
The policy asserts that the elements of the transitional justice mechanism are complimentary and reinforcing rather than mutually exclusive. Accordingly, different government institutions are tasked with implementing the mechanisms in an integrated and collaborative manner, in which the Ministry of Justice is assigned to play a central coordinating role.
In addition, the Ethiopian government is taking different initiatives to supplement its efforts towards constructing a peaceful and democratic society by extending its efforts towards resolving political disagreements inside the country through inclusive national dialogue. To this end, the Government of Ethiopia established a National Dialogue Commission mandated to address historical injustice and grievances and facilitate honest dialogue to build a just, equitable and harmonious society. In order to promote consensus in an inclusive and participatory national conversation, the Commission carries out key tasks, such as choosing representatives and participants from various constituencies and holding talks with various stakeholders. As a stakeholder in the process, the government reinstates its full support and assistance to the National Dialogue Commission in a way that preserves its impartiality and independence.
The government of Ethiopia opts for transitional justice to address human rights violations and prevent future recurrences. As widely accepted norms and practices attest, the effective implementation of transitional justice necessitates expenditures and resources. Ethiopia therefore anticipates the support and understanding of all partners in order to accelerate the implementation in a collaborative and coordinated manner.
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Press Statement on US Ambassador’s “Policy Speech on Human Rights and Dialogue”
On 15 May 2024, the Ambassador of the United States of America in Addis Ababa read a Statement called “Policy Speech on Human Rights and Dialogue” containing allegations against, and unsolicited advice to the Government of Ethiopia on how best to run the affairs of the country and mention groups bent on overthrowing the elected Government by force, and known for blackmailing, kidnapping, and terrorizing civilians.
The statement is ill-advised and contains uninformed assertions. It is contrary to the historic and friendly relations between Ethiopia and the United States. The two countries have maintained close ties and continue consulting on national, regional, and global issues of common concern. Ethiopia has been open to discussing wide-ranging topics with the United States, including efforts toward peace and security, ensuring respect for human rights, and nurturing democracy in the country. The Ministry will work with the Embassy of the United States in Addis Ababa to correct factual errors and inconsistencies in the statement. It will suggest better ways befitting diplomatic decorum; and that will not undermine democratic processes and peace in the country. Ethiopia remains committed to a mutually respectful bilateral dialogue and relations with the United States.
Addis Ababa Hosts the 3rd “Made in Ethiopia” (Ethiopia Tamirt) Expo
The 3rd “Made in Ethiopia” (ETHIOPIA TAMRIT) Expo was held from May 9 to 13, 2024, at Millenium Hall in Addis Ababa. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched the “Made in Ethiopia” Expo, a national program introduced in 2022 to create a competitive manufacturing industry by addressing the challenges facing the sector in a sustainable, integrated and comprehensive manner.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Abiy stressed the significance of maintaining the accomplishments of the “Made in Ethiopia” movement through the support of local producers and the utilization of domestic products.
During the panel discussion that explained the reasons why Ethiopia is a preferred investment destination and focused on the new industrial policies and national reforms, the State Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, explained about the recent economic reforms of Ethiopia, such as the opening of key sectors to foreign investors, primarily liberalizing its financial and telecom sectors, ease of doing business and investor protection measures. Answering the questions raised by the participants, Ambassador Mesganu said that Ethiopia is resuming official negotiations for accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and a follow-up fifth meeting of the Working Party will be held in the near future.
According to the Ministry of Industry, 210 manufacturing industries participated and eight thousand transactions took place at the expo. In terms of money, more than three billion birr was transacted. A hundred thousand individuals and institutions participated in the expo, and organizations from fifty-seven countries and one hundred fifty-seven diplomats were present.
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A Visual Journey of 120 Years of Ethiopia-US Bilateral Relations
The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa officially opened last week a photo exhibition dubbed “A Visual Journey of Bilateral Relations” at the National Museum in Addis Ababa, marking the 120-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ethiopia.
The exhibition presents 28 images as a visual narrative that portrays U.S.-Ethiopian diplomatic relations from early encounters to the contemporary era of partnership, spanning from 1903 to 2023.
At the inception of Ethiopia-US relations, the exhibition captures early encounters of 1903 with an image showcasing Ras Mekonnen, the then Governor of Harar, visiting the camp of the first U.S. delegation to Ethiopia led by U.S. envoy Robert Skinner that entered Ethiopia from the Djibouti port and headed to Addis Ababa through Dire Dawa, transporting visitors to the partnership that would unfold in the years to come.
The exhibition gives special attention to the year 1903 with images depicting the first diplomatic mission led by US envoy Robert Skinner, who arrived in Addis Ababa to meet with Emperor Menelik II and signed a Treaty of Commerce, formally establishing diplomatic relations between the United States and Ethiopia.
Over the years leading up to 1935, Ethiopia and the U.S. solidified their ties, as shown by the picture of the African-American aviator John Charles Robinson, who volunteered to help Ethiopia fight against the Italian invasion, coupled with the John C. Robinson Imperiale Ethiopienne Air Force Business Card, as well as the August 3, 1935, Harlem Protest, with more than 20,000 Americans in New York and 10,000 in Chicago, who demonstrated against Italy’s decision to annex Ethiopia.
Another highlight of the photo exhibition is the 1954 visit of Emperor Haile Selassie, the first African leader to visit the White House during his trip to the US, where he paid visits to various government and non-government institutions, followed by an image of the Emperor attending the funeral of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
As the decades progressed, Ethiopia and the United States continued to collaborate on various fronts, from fostering economic development to promoting cultural exchange and supporting humanitarian initiatives.
Despite the challenges posed by the slowdown of diplomatic relations during the Derg regime, Ethiopia and the United States have maintained a trajectory of collaboration in recent years, as shown in the exhibition, with major highlights such as U.S. President Barack Obama addressing the African Union in 2015 and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and First Lady Zinash Tayachew with U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House during the United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit in 2022.
“A Visual Journey of 120 Years of Bilateral Relations” showcases the bilateral relations between Ethiopia and the United States, serving as a reminder of how the relations progressed from humble beginnings to shared achievements in diplomacy, cooperation, and friendship.
The exhibition is currently open to the public at the National Museum, followed by displays at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies on the Addis Ababa University campus from May 29th to June 8th and at the Hyatt Regency from June 17th to July 7th.
MFAEthiopia Blog 