embassy news
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.
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’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.
During an Iftar (Ramadan breakfast) feast in Sudan for news agencies and the local press, organised by the Ethiopian embassy, Zoudi added that “work in the dam is in full swing.”
“As you know, it is a huge project, and we still have a lot to wait for, but the construction process is going well and has not stopped for a minute. So far we have completed more than 65% of the construction and very soon, maybe in less than a year, we will celebrate the completion of the GERD,” he explained.
He pointed out that the three countries managed to overcome their dispute, saying all fears would disappear when the three parties reached a technical compromise on the dam.
The Ethiopian Ambassador underscored the three countries would advantage from the GERD.
Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt agreed last month on disputed issues about the technical impact studies and options for filling and operating the GERD.
The agreement was reached in a sitting of the ministerial board on the GERD together with foreign affairs and water ministers and heads of security and intelligence services of the three countries in Addis Ababa.
The contract provides to send a letter to the consultant including observations and questions of the three countries on the initial technical report and to discuss the reaction at the meeting of the national technical committee in Cairo.
During a discussion with senior members of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) last weekend, PM Abiy asked the security chiefs to focus on improving the professionalism of the army. The army plays a critical role in the securing national interests and sovereignty, in addition to ‘protecting the Constitution and working for the befit of the people’.
“Our national capacity will be evidenced when we are able to achieve our goals of peace, development and democracy as well as guarantee the dignity of our people and sovereignty of the country,” he said.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also disclosed that Ethiopia is planning to build a navy. “Following the efforts made to build the capacity of our national defence, we built one of the stronger ground and air forces in Africa”. “We should build our naval force capacity in the future.”
Ethiopia currently has a civilian Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute on Lake Tana. It trains more than 500 electromechanical engineers and technicians each year and plans to increase this number to more than 1,000 officers a year.
The fares of our legalization services are decreasing. The new fares are:
Documents such as Certificate of Education, Birth, Marriage, Driving Licence, etc
A. Authenticating Documents Originating in the Benelux States
Holders of valid Ethiopian Passport or valid Ethiopian Origin ID Card are required to pay a Service fee of 50.15 euro per document in a money order. If not, a service fee of 76.50 euro per document in money order is required.
B. Authenticating Documents Originating in Ethiopia
Holders of valid Ethiopian Passport or valid Ethiopian Origin ID Card are required to pay a Service fee of 50.15 euro per document in a money order. If not, a service fee of 76.50 euro per document in Deposit order is required.
Power of Attorney (Wikilina), Court Decisions and Pecuniary Documents
Service fee 52.70 euro per document for each authentication payable to the Embassy of Ethiopia in Deposit order
The leaders of Ethiopia and South Sudan have agreed that the peace process mediated by the regional body, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), offers a viable chance to end the conflict in Africa’s youngest nation.
During a meeting held in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, Abiy Ahmed and President Salva Kiir discussed regional peace and stability.
Ethiopia’s prime minister is the chair of the regional body which is pursuing an agreement between South Sudan’s government and rebel groups.
Last week, the second phase of the High-Level Revitalisation Forum, a stage of the peace process, ended without an agreement in Addis Ababa.
In a statement, IGAD said the talks ended after “several attempts to narrow the gaps between the positions of the parties” proved fruitless.
Calls for IGAD to hold saboteurs of the peace process accountable have intensified, following repeated failure to agree during peace talks in addition to violations of ceasefires by both sides of the conflict.
The United States this week proposed that the United Nations Security Council impose sanctions against several South Sudanese ministers and officials, accusing them of obstructing peace efforts and blocking humanitarian assistance to civilians.
The measures would freeze the assets and ban travel for officials, including defence minister Kuol Manyang Juuk, former army chief Paul Malong, information minister Michael Lueth, and deputy chief of defence for logistics in the South Sudan Army Malek Reuben Riak Rengu.
It also targets Koang Rambang, governor of Bieh State, who the United States accused of leading military attacks and obstructing aid to civilians; and cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomuro.
The 62nd Extra-Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Council of Ministers commenced in Addis Ababa today.
In his opening remark, Ethiopian Minister for Foreign Affairs and current chair of IGAD Council of Ministers, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, called on all South Sudanese parties to write a new chapter by lifting their country out of crisis and accepting the draft document proposed by IGAD.
The Federal Attorney General has requested the federal high court to drop charges against two foreign countries-based media organisations (ESAT and OMN) as well as Berhanu Nega and Jawar Mohammed.
The federal high court 19th criminal bench accepted the request of the Attorney General.
It is to be recalled that the media organizations and the individuals had been charged under the file name of Dr Merera Gudina.
More than 500 inmates, including Andargachew Tsige, have been released from prison yesterday afternoon. Andargachew Tsige was found guilty of terrorism and sentenced in 2009 over his role in the opposition group Ginbot 7. He was the organisation’s secretary-general.
This decision was made with the “intention of widening political space,” the attorney general told reporters in the capital, Addis Ababa.
The Federal Attorney General recently announced that 576 inmates would free released under special circumstances.
Of these, 18 are women. A total of 745 inmates were released after they were granted a pardon.
