This article was originally published in the 5th issue (October 2016) of The Ethiopian Messenger, the quarterly magazine of the Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels

«There was a time where Ethiopians showed their greatness by constructing the historical obelisks and great castles in the ancient and medieval periods. Now in this age, the new generation has decided to leave its mark on Ethiopian history. Unlike the previous historical monuments, obelisks and castles, GERD is a multi-purpose project. It is a project that mobilized almost all sections of the society. It is a dam that created a new image to the new Ethiopia. It is a project that reversed the pessimistic view of “they can’t do it” philosophy into “they can!”»

These words (among other parts of this text from “GERD: Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ landmark”, The Ethiopian Herald, 15 November 2016) express what the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) represents in the mind of Ethiopians and the importance the project has for the development of the country. The recent progresses of the constructions work can be considered as important achievements for the country on its path to development.

The GERD Project General Manager, Engineer Semegnew Bekele said on 17th of November 2016 that the construction of the dam is well in progress as it is backed by unreserved endeavor of the greater public. Currently, well over 11,000 workers are toiling in three shifts under the scorching hills of Guba in Benishangul Gumuz State, where the GERD is located.

Engineer Semegnew Bekele further assured that close to 60 percent of the construction has been finalized so far, from just over 40 percent in April 2016. Moreover, preparations are well underway to generate 750 MW of electricity from two turbines which are part of the construction targeted to be launched soon.

Earlier in October, Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC), the main contractor of the Rrenaissance dam on divisions of the electromechanical and hydraulic steel structure, had announced that two of the 375 MW turbines of the dam are on the final phase of installation to begin early power generation.

The project has also seen finalization of construction of 400 and 500 KV power transmission lines traversing from the GERD all the way to World Bank-supported Beles project and Addis Ababa main power reservoir. These lines are readied to convey GERD-generated power to targeted destinations and repositories.

Taking into account the importance of exploiting its natural resources to alleviate poverty, Ethiopia started construction of the GERD in 2011. However, lower riparian countries, particularly Egypt, have expressed their concerns on the project and its impact on the water share of Egypt.

In the contrary, Ethiopia is assuring its stance adamantly that the GERD is being constructed for the sake of electric power generation only to benefit not only the national development, but also accelerate the economic integration of the region.

Upon finalization, the project will accelerate regional integration through cross-border electrification activities and Sudan and Egypt may benefit from the supply of cheap electricity as Ethiopia may not consume all the energy that would be generated. Moreover, the dam can help stop the silting that is causing considerable problems in Egypt and Sudan’s dams by rehabilitating the natural environment of the upper Nile Basin. The silt from Blue Nile is building up in Egypt’s Aswan dam and in a couple of smaller dams in Sudan. If the run-off is not controlled by the GERD, the silting will cripple all these dams. The amount of the debris deposited by the Nile in Sudan and Egypt is estimated at 110 million tons annually.

With 6,000 megawatts, the dam will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa at its completion forecasted for 2017.

Gibe III Hydroelectric Dam Inaugurated

On Saturday 17 December 2016, the Gibe III hydroelectric dam, which is located 470 km south west of Addis Ababa, was inaugurated after its full completion. It was built for a total of EUR 1.5 billion, 40 percent of which was covered by the government of Ethiopia, the rest by a loan obtained from the China Exim Bank. The construction of the dam was carried out by the Italian Salini Construction Private Ltd., a company which is also currently working on the GERD’s construction.

With a height of 243 meters, 610 meters of length and with total storage capacity of 15 billion cubic meters, the dam has total installed capacity of 1,870 megawatts. It is believed that the inauguration of this dam will potentially resolve problems linked with power cuts in different parts of the country.

Agreements were signed on Friday 20 January 20 for the construction of three industrial parks, to be built at Kilinto on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, the second at Bole Lemi Phase-II and the third at Jimma in the Oromia Regional State.

They will be built at a cost of 10.5 billion birr over the coming year.

The Kilinto and Bole Lemi parks will be built with a loan secured from the World Bank; the federal government will cover the cost for the Jimma industrial park.

Kilinto Industrial Park will cover 279 hectares and manufacture drug and medical equipment; Bole Lemi Phase –II (covering 170 hectares) and Jimma (75 hectares) will be for garment and textile production.

Source: MFA Ethiopia

The British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company, Unilever Global, has expressed interest to expand its investment in Ethiopia.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn had discussion with Unilever CEO Paul Polman on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

Ethiopia and Finland have reaffirmed their commitment to boost bilateral relations and expand l cooperation between the two countries.

This has been emphasized today (January 23, 2017) during a meeting between State Minister Mrs. Hirut Zemene and Mr. Pekka Olavi Haavisto, a Special Representative on Mediation at Finland’s Ministry of Foreign affairs.

The Special Representative highlighted Finland’s dedication to strengthen and deepen strategic partnership and cooperation with Ethiopia for the benefit and welfare of the peoples of both countries.

State Minister Mrs. Hirut Zemene welcomed Finland’s positive engagements with Ethiopia and expressed her country’s keenness to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

She underscored that the two countries should work more closely on economic relations, particularly in areas of trade, agriculture and the energy sector.

The two sides further discussed on issues of regional peace and security, during which State Minister Hirut noted that Ethiopia never hesitates to take up peace and security initiatives in the region.

On the 18th of January 2017, the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) held a first round of discussions with 22 national political parties operating legally in Ethiopia. This meeting comes a few days after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn disclosed that the dialogue with political parties was set to begin soon.

This discussion was a first step which will pave the way for an upcoming dialogue. The EPRDF and the 22 other political parties have agreed to come up with their own proposal for the upcoming dialogue within the next two weeks and submit their proposals to the House of People’s Representatives (HPR).

According to Shiferaw Shigute, Head of the Office of the EPRDF, the coalition has been expressing willingness to work closely with political parties on national issues, acknowledging its weakness in the past in this regard.

Noting there are other entities in addition to political parties willing to work together with EPRDF, Shiferaw said the Party is keen to cooperate with different sections of the society, academicians and civic societies.

This political dialogue comes at a crucial time for Ethiopia. After unprecedented and violent protests during the year 2016 in some regions of the country, a state of emergency was declared on 8 October 2016 and effectively restored peace and calm on Ethiopia’s territory.

To address the legitimate grievances of the population on the long-term, authorities engaged in a series of far-reaching political and economical reforms aiming at correcting shortcomings and solving the root causes of the protests, like fighting corruption, reforming the electoral system so that the voices of those who are not represented can also be heard in the Parliament.

The proposals seek to offer a more representative electoral system and will be spearheaded by the Prime minister. Touching upon reforming the electoral system, the Premier said that « we felt that the coming parliament should also accommodate those who are not represented ». Electoral law will also be reformed to introduce an element of proportional representation into the majority rule.

Regarding the opening the democratic space, PM Hailemariam also noted the government thoroughly understood the importance of strengthening democratic institutions, particularly on pertinent organs like Human Rights Commission, the Ombudsman, Office of the Federal Auditor General, Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and also to enhance civic participation and political dialogue.

This article was originally published in the 5th issue (October 2016) of The Ethiopian Messenger, the quarterly magazine of the Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels

Since the Spring 2015, the migrant crisis has emerged as one of the major issues that will come to define our times. A year ago, the Valletta Migration Summit gave the first impetus to find concrete solutions to this challenge and in June 2016, the Commission proposed a new Partnership Framework with third countries. Although very recent, this initiative could start a new dynamic in the EU migration policy and make African governments more accountable to their citizens. However, the EU should not forget that the current migration challenge is first and foremost a global political issue that needs to be dealt with on the long term.

A new chapter in migration policy

Following the March 2016 agreement with Turkey which drastically reduced migration flows on the Aegean route, the EU planned to conclude similar deals with African nations to address the increasing surge across the Central Mediterranean. Africans attempting to reach Europe are widely perceived to be economic migrants, and in the absence of a formal agreement, EU member states have long struggled to return them. In June 2016, an ambitious Partnership Framework with five African countries (Ethiopia, Niger, Mali, Senegal and Nigeria) was launched. This agreement contains two key elements: directing European funds to infrastructure projects in Africa and reaching a return and readmission goals of 50 percent over the next three to six months and 75 percent by 2018-2019.

Compared to the Rabat process (2006) and the Khartoum process (2014), its scale is much more ambitious. In addition to offering answers to immediate migration pressure, it will make a deeper investment in tackling root causes of irregular migration and open opportunities for regular migration. In addition, the approach of the Commission hinges around the idea that the EU needs a joint effort involving all stakeholders in a unified framework – a welcome improvement to the current shattered policy. The new approach also promises to be a lasting one: in its list of priorities for the future of ACP-EU relations after 2020, the Commission put forward security and migration in their interdependence with the development agenda.

Making the new approach successful

Following its announcement, the Partnership framework received criticism. The approach has been criticized by some as paying third countries to do the “dirty work” of dealing with migrants and refugees in its place. Many European NGOs fear that the pressing objective of reducing arrivals in Europe might push EU countries to send back people fleeing persecution. It is true that not all Africans crossing the Mediterranean Sea are economic migrants. For instance, the approval rate of Nigerians is only 8 percent, even though the Boko Haram conflict in northern Nigeria has displaced millions; Somalians, South Sudan’s and Eritreans could also be included under this category.

Despite criticism, this approach has the advantage of offering a long-term solution to a complex issue, as proved by EU actions in Ethiopia. Ever since Ethiopia’s late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi established an open-door policy toward refugees, the country’s refugee population has grown to more than 800,000, the largest in Africa. And due to ongoing crises in neighboring countries, that number is increasing every day. In the first week of October alone, about 31,000 people crossed the border from South Sudan into Ethiopia’s.

As the key country for migration in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is making good progress in supporting, with the help of the EU, the livelihood opportunities for refugees. All stakeholders got their heads together and came up with a workable formula that would benefit both Ethiopians and the refugees. With the support of a joint initiative by the UK, the EU and the World Bank, the country is currently building two industrial parks aiming at generating a total of 100,000 jobs. In the future, the industrial park initiative will fit into a new and all-encompassing approach towards alleviating the plight of refugees staying in Ethiopia through better and more work opportunities, and through improved local integration and assimilation. This initiative is exemplary, as many countries in the developing world never signed the 1951 convention or simply ignore its provisions, leaving humanitarian organizations to care for them and serve as surrogate states. For the EU, giving millions of Euro to Ethiopia is far from altruism: it’s a matter of urgency, as the past few years have proved that building a wall or the sea alone will not keep it sanitized from others’ problems.

A global effort is needed

In time the UNHCR identified three durable solutions for refugees beyond providing immediate asylum: voluntary repatriation, integration in the country that offered asylum and resettlement to another country, usually in the developed world. As all are now floundering, the approach consisting in giving migrants and refugees reasons to stay where they are, rather than focusing on keeping them from arriving, seems more urgent than ever.

Putting migrant-related issues at the heart of the EU support to African countries may not solve the problem overnight, but it could have a domino effect by showing others that this can work and push African governments to be more accountable to both their citizens and the refugees their countries host. However, since the problem is global, developed nations must also play their parts. 86% of the world’s 60 million displaced population are located in the developing world. The EU has set aside a total of EUR 1.8 billion for the EU Trust Fund for Africa, but the figures that have so far been quoted are far lower than what is going to be required for this approach to have a substantial impact, especially if one considers that Turkey alone was offered EUR 6 Billion.

Merely reacting when a crisis arises is unsustainable over time for the EU. Beyond issues of morality or fairness, it is very clear that the current migrant crisis is only one part of a worldwide problem. The high refugee flows are a sharp reminder that the rich world must get better at managing refugees. New conflicts in places like South Sudan are creating fresh refugee problems; older ones, such as Somalia’s, are continuing with no solution in sight.

The EU needs to take all this into account, especially as the EU is renegotiating the Cotonou Agreement, the main framework of its relations with Africa. EU efforts to help people staying in their countries should not be thwarted by political or economic interests. This would imply making sure that the negotiation of the EPAs is in line with the development strategies of African countries and do not impact the current regionalization approach pursued all over the continent and which could, in time, boost its economic development.

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This article was originally published in the 5th issue (October 2016) of The Ethiopian Messenger, the quarterly magazine of the Embassy of Ethiopia in Brussels

A stable and peaceful democracy since 1991, Ethiopia is a federal state whose progressive economic policies are reflected in its annual growth rate of about 10%. The Ethiopian lifestyle, with its unique musical and linguistic heritage and cuisine, combined with an ancient coffee culture and a thriving artisanal scene combined with its colorful annual festivals make the country an unmissable stopover for culture-hungry visitors. Add to this the rare species in the magnificent Simien and Bale Mountains, the spectacular volcanic landscapes of the Danakil Depression, and a wealth of fauna and flora unique in the world, and it is no wonder that Ethiopia has become the most attractive and popular emergent tourist destination in Africa.

A unique cultural heritage

With its 3,000 years of civilization and unique cultural heritage, Ethiopia is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. Proof of this is its tally of nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites – more than any other in Africa: Ethiopia is home to the ancient city of Harar, the world’s fourth-holiest Islamic city, the mediaeval rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and Gheralta, thousands year old architectural relics, the magnificent 17th century castles of Gondar, and the oldest human remains on the planet and the birth place of coffee.

Spectacular nature

With its spectacular scenery, rich biodiversity and numerous protected areas, Ethiopia is a paradise for nature lovers, renowned for its large number of endemic animal and plant species. Although lions, elephants, giraffes and other typical safari animals are present in Ethiopia, the country derives its fame from its unique species such as the Ethiopian wolf (the rarest dog in the world), the Walia Ibex (the only indigenous goat in Africa) and the peaceful Gelada baboon, also called bleeding-heart monkey.

With its lush forests, inland seas and mountain peaks, Ethiopia is a land of breathtaking scenery and rich biodiversity. Sometimes perceived as a dry and arid country in the West, Ethiopia has a wealth of lakes, rivers and aquatic habitats, ranging from Lake Tana, the main source of the Blue Nile, to the magnificent crater lakes around Bishoftu, only 50 km from Addis Ababa. Ethiopia often mentioned as a water tower of Africa for its rivers and lakes. Ethiopia’s scenic centerpiece is a mountainous central plateau, the largest and most fertile in East Africa that covers half of its surface area, and supports the vast majority of its population. The Simien Mountains National Park in Northern Ethiopia is an exotic setting with endemic wildlife and spectacular views on a landscape shaped by nature. The natural beauties of this region have always filled visitors with a life time amusement.

Bird watching

With a total of 860 species recorded, Ethiopia is considered by experts as one of the main ornithological destinations of Africa. The main attraction of Ethiopia for bird lovers is the presence of 18 endemic species. These include the spectacular Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco, peculiar Stresemann’s Bush Crow and melodious Abyssinian catbird. The Nechisar nightjar, considered the world’s rarest bird, is unique to Ethiopia where it was first observed in 2009.

Bale Mountains National Park was recently listed as one of the continent’s top five birding hotspots by the African Birding Club. In addition to endemic species, the Rift Valley lakes south of Addis Ababa are renowned for their prolific aquatic birdlife: flocks of tens of thousands of flamingos, bobbling flotillas of pouch-beaked pelicans, and a profusion of ducks, rallids, weavers and waders. In the highlands of northern Ethiopia, the mighty lammergeyer is regularly observed flying above the Simien Mountains displaying its 2-metre wingspan.

The best time for bird watching is from September to March when local species are joined by migrating birds. However, given that the most sought-after species at national and regional level reside throughout the year, there is no bad time for bird watchers visiting Ethiopia.

Visit the coffee plantations

The forests that surround the highlands of Western Ethiopia are the land of origin of coffee, which is still abundantly cultivated today. In the heart of its lush tropical forests, Arabica coffee also grows in its wild form. Many Coffee Forest Tours offer visitors the opportunity to discover the tropical rainforests that cover the highlands of Western Ethiopia, birthplace of coffee.

With 7,600 km2, the Kafa Biosphere Reserve is the largest and most accessible of three UNESCO protected reserves in the highlands of Ethiopia. It is also an important reservoir of the genetic diversity of coffee, as many varieties of beans still grow in the region. The tropical rain forests of Western Ethiopia also harbor the production of many other sustainable forest products, including forest cardamom, forest pepper and honey.

The new international coffee museum is currently under construction in Bonga, a pleasant forest-lined town in the heart of the Kafa Biosphere Reserve. The Bonga Tourist Office now offers guided day and night tours of several sites associated with the Kafa Reserve. These visits include the discovery of God’s Bridge, a stunning natural rock formation, and the Mother Coffee Tree, which is the world’s oldest living plant of its type. Other important coffee- producing regions include Harar, Jimma, Yirga Chafe and the Lake Tana Basin. The Bebeka and Tepi Coffee Estates, respectively the largest and second-largest in the country, are good places to learn about coffee production, and to ramble through dense montane forests alive with birdlife.

The rapid development of the tourism sector has enabled Ethiopia to win the coveted title of the world’s best tourism destination by the European Trade and Tourism Council in 2015. Referring the nomination, the Daily Mail on its July 2015 edition published an article titled “forget the sunny Spain, enchanting Thailand and romance of France: Ethiopia is named World best tourism destination”. With its incomparable cultural and historical richness, breathtaking nature and unique fauna, the country is assuming a position of must see touristic destination. Ethiopia is now working to become one of Africa’s top five tourist destinations by 2020. Visitors will undoubtedly come in growing numbers to enjoy the security that reigns in Ethiopia and the hospitality of its inhabitants. Indeed, Ethiopia is the Land of Origins and the prospect of visiting it is similar to visiting one’s own ancestors’ country. This is boldly the perception of renowned personalities. In his biography, Nelson Mandela said that “Ethiopia always has a special place in my imagination and the prospect of visiting Ethiopia attracted me more strongly than a trip to France, England, and America combined. I felt I would be visiting my own genesis, unearthing the roots of what made me an African.”

Mesmerized by the unique churches of Lalibela, the Portuguese priest Francisco Álvares in the 15th century said “I weary of writing more about these buildings, because it seems to me that I shall not be believed if I write more…I swear by God, in Whose power I am, that all I have written is the truth”. Dear reader, now is your perfect time to visit Ethiopia and write your own personal impressions.

Source of the article: The Ethiopian Messenger / https://www.ethiopianembassy.be/en/embassy/magazine/