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Ethiopia receives 29,211 new refugees

Ethiopia received 29,211 refugees in the first five months of 2018 ending May 31, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Thursday.

The UNHCR said the refugee arrival figures for 2018 had pushed the total number of refugees sheltering in Ethiopia to 920,262, making it the second biggest refugee-hosting country in Africa next to Uganda.

The UNHCR further said in May alone, 4,436 refugees arrived in Ethiopia, out of which 2,157 refugees came from South Sudan and 2,094 refugees came from Eritrea.

Meanwhile, the UNHCR said it has only received 17 per cent of the 327.8 million dollars needed to support the refugees in Ethiopia.

Most refugees in Ethiopia come from strife-torn nations of Somalia and South Sudan and Ethiopia’s northern neighbour Eritrea.

Smaller groups of refugees fleeing war in Sudan and from across the Red Sea from Yemen are also among those the UNHCR has registered as refugees in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia Appoints New Army Chief After Peace Overture to Eritrea

Ethiopia’s army reform continues: PM Abiy Ahmed appointed  Seare Mekonnen as new army chief of staff.  Seare Mekonnen has a specialist’s background on Eritrea, which proves once again that Ethiopia is ready to make peace with the country days after authorities said they’d implement a peace deal with their northern neighbour.

Named one of three deputy chiefs of staff earlier this year, Seare also previously headed the military’s northern command, whose jurisdiction covers areas bordering Eritrea.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed pledged in April that the country will “resolve problems” with Eritrea.

Abiy also named Adem Mohammed as the new director-general of the National Intelligence and Security Services. Adem, who previously commanded Ethiopia’s air force, was also appointed as a deputy chief of staff earlier this year.

Ethiopian Airlines makes African aviation history with 100th aircraft in active service

Ethiopian Airlines has taken delivery of its 100th aircraft, Boeing 787 Dreamliner on June 6, 2018, once again leading the way in fleet expansion and modernisation in Africa.

As part of Ethiopian Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, the new aircraft has ferried medical equipment from the Seattle-based NGO, Direct Relief, to St Paulos Hospital in Addis Ababa. The shipment includes surgical stools and other medical supplies to be used for both teaching and patient care.

Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked, “It is an immense honour for all of us at Ethiopian to reach the milestone of 100 aircraft. This milestone is a continuation of our historical aviation leadership role in Africa and a testimony of the successful implementation of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth plan, Vision 2025.

Ethiopian was the first to avail jet service in the continent back in 1962 and operated the first African B767 in 1984, the first African B777-200LR in 2010, the first African B787800 Dreamliner and B777-200 freighter in 2012 and the first African A350 in 2016 and the first African B787-9 aircraft in 2017.

Ethiopian now operates one of the youngest and most modern 100 aircraft, with an average age of less than five years. Fleet modernisation and expansion is one of the four critical pillars of our Vision 2025 strategic roadmap, in support of our fast expanding network, which has now reached over 110 international destinations covering five continents.

Over the years, Ethiopian has been investing heavily in fleet modernisation and expansion, which is one of the pillars of Vision 2025. Ethiopian was the first African Airline and second only to Japan to operate the B787 Dreamliner in 2012 and the first carrier in Africa to usher with the Airbus A350 XWB in 2016.

Ethiopia’s PM says ending war, expanding economic links with Eritrea key for regional stability

Ethiopia’s prime minister said on Wednesday 6 June that ending the war and expanding economic ties with neighbouring Eritrea is critical for stability and development in the impoverished Horn of Africa region.

Abiy Ahmed’s remarks followed the announcement on Tuesday by his ruling coalition that Ethiopia would fully implement a peace deal signed in 2000 and meant to end a two-year war that devolved into a stalemate resulting in a substantial military buildup by both countries.

It is one of many policy shifts announced since the 41-year-old took office in early April, moves that could reshape Ethiopia’s relations with its neighbours and have equally dramatic impacts inside the country of 100 million people.

Whether the new measures, including liberalisation of the state-controlled economy, end up addressing critical challenges from high youth unemployment to rising government debt remain to be seen. But they are shaking the country up.

“All that we have achieved from the situation of the last 20 years is tension,” Abiy said.

“Neither Ethiopia nor Eritrea benefit from a stalemate. We need to expend all our efforts toward peace and reconciliation and extricate ourselves from petty conflicts and divisions and focus on eliminating poverty.”

NO COMMENT FROM ERITREA

Eritrea used to be a part of Ethiopia and waged a 30-year struggle for independence. The war on their shared border between 1998 and 2000 killed tens of thousands of people, caused significant displacement and the splintering of families.

Eritrea’s government has not responded publicly to Addis Ababa’s offer of an olive branch.

PM Abiy said Ethiopia needed to resolve what he seemed to view as a costly and pointless dispute.

“Putting an end to this situation and finding peace is necessary beyond anything else not just for Ethiopia but also the wider Horn of Africa,” he said in a speech in Addis Ababa.

“Every Ethiopian should realise that it is expected of us to be a responsible government that ensures stability in our region, one that takes the initiative to connect the brotherly peoples of both countries and expands trains, buses and economic ties between Asmara and Addis Ababa.”

Diplomats say punitive measures taken against Eritrea may prevent an immediate conclusion to the dispute.

The U.N. Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Eritrea in 2009 on charges that Asmara provided political, financial and logistical support to militant groups in Somalia.

Ethiopia will liberalise its economy partially

The Executive Committee of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) decided yesterday to liberalise the economy partially.

The move is aimed at increasing the constructive role of Ethiopian Diaspora as well as potential local and foreign investors in Ethiopia’s fast-growing economy.

Ethiopia will sell minority stakes to foreign and domestic investors in state monopolies such as Ethio Telecom and Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise, the continent’s biggest airline, as well as Ethiopian Shipping & Logistics Services Enterprise.

Other sectors such as railways, the sugar industry and hotels will be open to full private sector ownership.

Ethiopia Will Fully Accept 2000 Peace Agreement with Eritrea

Ethiopia announced on 5 May that it would accept and implement the Algiers Agreement, a 2000 peace agreement with Eritrea over their disputed border.

“The Eritrean government should take the same stand without any prerequisite and accept our call to bring back the long-lost peace of the two brother nations as it was before,” the governing party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, said in the statement.

The countries fought a war from 1998 to 2000 over their border dispute, which left about 80,000 people dead. The border has been a deadly point of contention ever since, and the dispute had been widely regarded as a diplomatic stalemate.

But Ethiopia signalled a few months ago that it wished to resolve the problem when its new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, vowed in his inaugural address to seek peace with Eritrea. Ethiopia’s major objection was the boundary commission’s decision to award Eritrea the border town of Badme.

With this decision, Ethiopia is signalling its seriousness and commitment to finally resolve the dispute.

“Ethiopia and Eritrea have the most unique cultural, historical and blood ties. The suffering on both sides is unspeakable because the peace process is deadlocked. This must change for the sake of our common good,” Fitsum Arega, the prime minister’s chief of staff, tweeted shortly before the announcement.

Ethiopia lifts State of Emergency

 

In its 29th regular session today, the House of People’s Representatives (HPR), passed the draft law proposed by the Council of Ministers to lift the State of Emergency.

The House passed the draft bill with majority in favour and eight abstentions.

Ethiopia declared the State of Emergency on February 16, 2018.

Launch of the second phase of the urban safety net program

Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen underscored the need to ensure food security of people living below the poverty line so as to achieve Ethiopia’s target of development at the launching of the second phase urban safety net program in the capital Addis Ababa yesterday.

The government would give due attention to ensure food security of people living below poverty line, he added.

Diriba Kuma, the Mayor of Addis Ababa, specified that that 200,000 dwellers living in 55 woredas (districts) would benefit from the 2nd phase of the program. About 600,000 people are estimated to live below the poverty line in Addis Ababa and more than 320,000 people have so far benefited from the first and second safety net programs.

The urban safety net program was launched in 2016 in partnership with the World Bank a cost of 450 million US dollars. The Ethiopian government allocated 150 million US dollars for the program, while the remaining 300 million US dollars was a loan from the World Bank.

Ethiopia moves to lift state of emergency two months early

Ethiopia’s parliament is set to lift the six-month state of emergency two months early after the cabinet approved a draft law that said calm had been restored. The government imposed emergency rule in February.

Since then, the authorities have pledged to push through a raft of reforms that have included the release of thousands of prisoners. The draft will now be sent to parliament for its consideration. Ethiopia’s 547-seat House of People’s Representatives often holds its sessions today.

Abiy Ahmed, who replaced Hailemariam Desalegn as premier, has travelled to several areas of the country to discuss with the population and address their grievances. Since being selected by the ruling party and taking office in April, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has helped bring greater stability. He has freed thousands of prisoners and toured the country listening to people’s grievances. He has also reached out to opposition figures both inside and outside Ethiopia.