Category: News

embassy news

More than 65% of GERD’s construction completed

Ethiopia’s ambassador to Sudan, Mawtada Zoudi, announced last week that the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) had passed 65% completion.

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.

 

PM Abiy Ahmed wants a more professional army; build a navy

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.

Announcement: New fares for our legalization and power of attorney services

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

A. For Ethiopians and Holders of Ethiopian Origin ID

Service fee 52.70 euro per document for each authentication payable to the Embassy of Ethiopia in Deposit order

B. For those who don’t have valid Ethiopian Passport or Ethiopian origin ID Card and for Other Nationals

A service fee of 80.75 euro- per document payable to the Embassy of Ethiopia in Deposit Order

IGAD Countries' Ambassadors Group Forum relaunched in Brussels

Ethiopia, South Sudan leaders agree on viability of IGAD-led peace deal

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.

‘Punish saboteurs of peace’

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.

 

Ethiopia drops charges against foreign-based media ESAT and OMN as well as Berhanu Nega and Jawar Mohammed

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.

Decisions have been made to drop the charges as per proclamation No 943/08 article 6, sub-article 3/a, Berhanu Wondimagegn, organised cross-boundary crimes follow up directorate director at the Attorney General told FBC today.

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.

Ethiopia govt confirms release of Andargachew Tsige and 500 other prisoners

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.

Ethiopia plans to expand its road network to 200, 000 km by 2020

Ethiopia plans to expand its road network to 200, 000 km from the current 121, 171 km within the next two years.

This new target is part of the country’s road expansion program. Authorities said that Ethiopia’s road coverage increased six-fold in the last 27 years from 19, 000 km in 1991.

Ethiopia has recorded a more than 8% economic growth in 2017 and has multiplied infrastructure investments to boost the economy through trade and transportation segments in recent years. It inaugurated last January one of its most important road infrastructures, the $4 billion electrified railway linking the country to Djibouti over 756 km.

In a report published last January, the IMF announced that Ethiopia would record an 8.5% growth in 2018, the strongest on the continent.

Source: Ecofin Agency

Oromia pardons an additional 7,611 prisoners

The Oromia regional state has pardoned 7,611 prisoners today.

About 428 of the pardoned prisoners are women.

Lemma Megerssa, the chief administrator of the regional state, said more efforts would be made to broaden the political space in the region.

The regional state granted amnesty to 6, 655 prisoners last September.

Moreover, it pardoned 10,000 inmates in December and 6,430 prisoners in June 2017, it was noted.