H.E. Ahmed Shide, Minister of Finance briefed Mr. Erik Habers, Charge De Affair and Head of Cooperation of EU Delegation in Addis Ababa on the ongoing humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts in Tigray. The minister addressed concerns raised by the EU delegation regarding access to humanitarian assistance in Tigray region. He elaborated that the ground security situation has improved significantly paving way for more access to the provision of humanitarian assistance such as food, non-food items, and medical supplies to most parts of the region.

The Minister underlined the distribution is being facilitated by the National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC). He also said the distribution involves various government institutions and is being undertaken in coordination with development partners such UNOCHA and others. He also explained that priority is given to women, children, elderly and disabled persons in the distribution. The minister affirmed that the Government of Ethiopia is working hard to address the humanitarian needs of the region with a sense of urgency.

The meeting was concluded by agreeing to have a continuous engagement with the view of strengthening the multifaceted cooperation between Ethiopia and the EU.

Ministry of Finance – Ethiopia

Minister of Peace, H.E. Muferihat Kamil, has received the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ethiopia, Dr. Catherine Sozi, to discuss the ongoing humanitarian assistance in Tigray Region.

The Minister has reiterated that road infrastructure; banking and telecom services are being restored in the state. She said the government is giving priority to ensuring the rehabilitation of those affected following the law enforcement process in the northern part of the country. Minister Muferihat also stated her concerns regarding the misinformation being disseminated on the issue.

Dr. Sozi, for her part, said the progress being made in providing vital humanitarian assistance is commendable. She added that she would work through her organization to investigate the misleading information that has been disseminated in connection with the situation.

The two sides have also underlined that they would continue to work together in connection with the humanitarian assistance being provided in the northern part of the country.

 

 

The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Ambassador Dina Mufti, has presented the Ministry’s biweekly press briefing today focusing on major diplomatic activities, the latest developments in Tigray, the Ethio-Sudan border issue, including major activities related to Economic Diplomacy, citizen-centered diplomacy and activities in capacity building. Here is summary of the press briefing:

I. Diplomatic Activities

H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia met UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, H.E. Dominic Raab on January 22 at his office and had discussions on a wide range of issues. Mr.Demeke’s briefing focused on the ongoing humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts in Tigray and Ethiopia’s commitment to continue to address the effects of climate change. The Secretary of State expressed the commitment of the UK government to continue to support Ethiopia’s development efforts, including girls’ education. [During his stay in Ethiopia, Mr. Dominic Raab, signed agreements, visited a school in Addis Ababa, and Gondar (to observe UK’s support related to humanitarian assistance), met with H.E. President Sahle-Work and H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed].

H.E. Demeke Mekonnen had a telephone conversation on Wednesday with US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mr.Tibor Nagy. Their conversation covered, A briefing by Mr.Demeke on the successful rule of law operation in Tigray, the ongoing humanitarian efforts, including the rehabilitation of the infrastructure destroyed by the TPLF junta in the region, the government’s efforts to stabilize Tigray, the situation and treatment of Eritrean refugees, the atrocities committed in Maikadra and other areas, and the efforts to apprehend criminals. Mr.Tibor Nagy, on his part, lauded Ethiopia’s efforts to overcome the situation in the Northern part of the country. He underscored that the United States government applauds Ethiopia’s success as its own achievement.

H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia received at his office today (January 25), the departing ambassador of the state of Israel to Ethiopia, H.E. Raphael Morav. The two sides noted the strong cooperation between the two countries in health, agriculture, capacity building, and technology transfer. Their discussion also included the efforts made by the Ethiopian government to address the needs for humanitarian assistance in Tigray. They also noted that the recent border dispute with Sudan and the ongoing negotiations over the GERD should get peaceful resolutions.

H.E. TayeAtske Selassie, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations met on January 23 with UN SRSG on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms.Pramila Patten and briefed her on the situation in Tigray. He underscored Ethiopia’s ZERO tolerance policy on sexual violence and emphasized the need for further engagement on the alleged violations made by her office.

II. Situation in Tigray

• Humanitarian organizations, such as the UNHCR, have been given access to Adi Harush and Mai Aini camps of Eritrean refugees
• The government, through its agencies and in collaboration with humanitarian agencies, has continued providing food and non-food items to people in Tigray
• Reports that claim that 4.5. Million people in Tigray in need of humanitarian assistance are unsubstantiated
• The authority on this matter, the National Disaster Risk Management Commission said 2.5 million people require humanitarian assistance and 1.8. million of them are registered aid recipients way (under various schemes) before the commencement of the law enforcement operation
• the National Disaster Risk Management Commission has continued to distributing all the necessary supplies, food, non-food items and pharmaceuticals to the needy, although infrastructure destroyed by the TPLF clique made the distribution difficult
• As Ethio Telecom has announced, preparations are underway to fully restore telecom services in all parts of Tigray
• The government has allocated all its time, energy and resources to rebuild infrastructures that are irreparably damaged by the TPLF group
• Allegations regarding sexual violence in Tigray will be investigated. But the allegation do not commensurate to Ethiopia’s zero tolerance to sexual violence and the ethical track record of the Ethiopian defence forces serving in various UN peacekeeping missions. We do not have to rule out the possibility that the alleged violence might be committed by opportunistic criminal groups, including thousands of prisoners that the TPLF clique had deliberately released from prisons in Tigray.

III. Ethiopia-Sudan Border Issue

• the leaders of the Sudan are beating war drums and have continued to looting and displacing Ethiopian farmers
• Ethiopia still believes that the issue can be solved amicably through negotiation
• But before the commencement of any negotiation, we demand the Sudanese army to evacuate the area that it has occupied currently by displacing Ethiopian farmers as of November 6 2020, and respect its agreement to keep the status quo

IV. Economic Diplomacy

• State Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs in collaboration with Ethiopian Leather Industries Association, held an online discussion to promote ‘Ethiopian High Land Leather’ to the African market with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency project to promote high-quality Ethiopian products in potential market areas. Our missions in Kampala, Pretoria, Abuja, Accra, & Rabat participated in the meeting. Based on market demand assessments, State Minister H.E. TsionTeklu said, two Ethiopian missions in African countries will be selected in the current fiscal year to create market linkages through trade fairs and other activities through the JICA project.
• H.E. Fitsum Arega Ambassador of Ethiopia to the USA, had an engaging roundtable discussion with about 40 U.S. Business representatives, hosted by the U.S. Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU). He briefed the participants on the investment opportunities available in Ethiopia for U.S. businesses & the enabling environment for the private sector by the ongoing economic reform programs. He highlighted the priority areas of Ethiopia’s 10 Year National Perspective Plan recently adopted by the Council of Ministers.
• H.E. Ambassador Hirut Zemene, Ambassador of Ethiopia to Belgium, Luxembourg, and EU institutions, discussed the pharmaceutical sector investment opportunities in Ethiopia with a group led by Mr. Mohsen Ramez, Managing Director of Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. The embassy briefed the company on the wide-ranging opportunities that exist in the pharmaceutical sector in Ethiopia.
• Ethiopian Embassy in Algeria hosted Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Investment Promotion Event, attended by 44 participants. The event showcased Ethiopia’s potential to Algerian companies. Potential Cooperation framework was discussed between regulatory agencies of the two countries.
• Ethiopia is participating in the 38th Khartoum International Trade Exhibition that kicked off on Thursday (January 21). Ethiopian companies engaged in Small and Medium-scale Industries such as textile and garment, leather products, traditional food and agro-processing, construction materials production are promoting their products to visitors. The Exhibition enables, the Embassy in Khartoum to promote Ethiopian trade, investment, and tourism opportunities as well as to conduct its campaign themed under Rising Ethiopia.

V. Citizen-Centred Diplomacy

• State Minister H.E. Ambassador BirtukanAyano announced that Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian descent who are living abroad have contributed 27 million birr so far in supporting the ‘Gebeta le Hager’ Project. The State Minister also appreciated and hoped for the continuance of the remarkable financial and other contributions to the construction of the GERD, the fight against the COVID19 pandemic, and humanitarian assistance to affected people for various reasons.
• The positive Campaign on Ethiopia under the theme Rising Ethiopia has started its second phase successfully ending the first phase that aimed at promoting Ethiopia’s potential in tourism. The second phase will be held under the theme, “Diaspora Business week” from 25th-31st January. It aims to promote Ethiopian Diaspora Business using social media platforms.
• We have repatriated 281 citizens from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

VI. Capacity Building

The Ethiopian Foreign Service Training Institute, via State Minister H.E. Ambassador Birtukan Ayano and H.E. Ambassador Arega Hailu Teffera presented its 6 months performance to the House of People’s Representatives (HPR) Standing Committee for Peace and Foreign Relations. The institute provided 12 diplomatic training to over 800 staff of the Ministry covering a range of topics.

The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, and the Head of the European Delegation to Djibouti, Ambassador Aidan O’Hara, on Monday (January 24) signed a 4.4 Million Euros Grant Agreement to support IGAD for a Trans-boundary #SouthSudan-#Ethiopia conservation project of biodiversity in the Boma-Gambella landscape.

The Political and Public Diplomacy Plenipotentiary Minister, Ato Melaku Bedada speaking for the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Djibouti, commended the IGAD-EU for materializing the grant agreement.

He reiterated Ethiopia’s unrelenting commitment to further enhancing the collaborative conservation of biodiversity, landscape, and greenery.

Ato Melaku noted this project will engender a remarkable impact on the biodiversity management and livelihoods of communities residing in Boma-Gambella areas and expressed the government’s readiness and full support for its implementation.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Workneh praised the long-standing friendship between IGAD and the European Union that had ‘grown from strength to strength’.

This project is the latest in a long line of partnerships and shared initiatives between IGAD and the EU to preserve all that is good in our region and also address the challenges that we face, Dr. Workneh said.

Ambassador O’Hara commended IGAD Secretariat for the cross-border approach it is taking to tackling regional challenges.

He also emphasized how important it is to involve local communities in the implementation of the program and wished the implementing partner, The Wildlife Conservation Society, a success.

IGAD will be in charge of the global coordination of this transboundary project while the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) will be the implementing partner.

MoFA

STATE OF EMERGENCY FACT Sheet
23 January 2021
Letter to the Economist Newspaper

Misrepresentation of the Government of Ethiopia

On the 21st of January 2021, H.E. Ambassador Hirut Zemene discussed about the Private Equity sector investment opportunities in Ethiopia with Mrs. Laetitia Counye, Manager of Private Equity at Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO).

During the discussion, the Ambassador explained the wide opportunities that exist for private equity investment in Ethiopia, the incentive packages available, as well as market access to EBA, AGOA, AFCFTA and the quota-free accesses to China and India markets. The availability of affordable semi-trained labour force and a huge local market with more than 110 million consumers also make Ethiopia more attractive to investment, she said.

H.E. Ambassador Hirut also underscored the importance of BIO’s interest in Small and Micro-Enterprises (SMEs), which would be key to mutually beneficial cooperation. Its engagement with local SME would help to transfer technology and employment, in addition to the capital flow. Her Excellency further stated that the Government of Ethiopia is encouraging private equity investors to come and combine their capital with the potential of local companies. She also pointed out that private equity investment in Small and Medium-sized enterprises in Ethiopia is now very timely.

Mrs Laetitia Counye, on her part, said that Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO) is interested in investing in private equity investment in Ethiopia and wants to engage with local partners, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. She also mentioned that BIO has worked in Ethiopia through a fund manage known as Zoscales, on five investments in the country.

Mrs. Laetitia Counye also stated that efforts to privatize, liberalize the economy and train and educate the workforce are promising. The sense of entrepreneurship in Ethiopia is also very interesting, she said.

“Since employment is a major issue in Ethiopia and SMEs are very large employers, we can help in this regard,” She further noted. She has also expressed further interest to venture on a second phase investment in Ethiopia.

The Belgian Investment Company for Developing countries (BIO) supports the expansion strong private sector in developing and emerging countries, to enable them meet Sustainable Development Goals. It invests directly and indirectly in SMEs in developing countries and makes a practical contribution to the socio-economic growth of those host countries.

The spokesperson of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Ambassador Dina Mufti, gave the Ministry’s biweekly press briefing today (January 20) to the media. In his presentation, the Ambassador focused on the diplomatic activities of H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, current developments on the #Ethiopia-#Sudan border issue, the #GERD negotiation and the recent irregularities on Sudan’s stance, the claims of some reports on the involvement of third parties (#Eritrea) in the law enforcement operation in Tigray, economic and citizen-centered diplomatic activities within the past two weeks. Please find here the summary of the briefing.

I. Diplomatic activities by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen
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• H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia met on Thursday met with the #Austrian Foreign Minister, H.E. Alexander Schallenberg, and exchanged views on a wide range of issues including the current situation in Tigray and developments in the Sub-region.

• H.E. Demeke Mekonnnen, Deputy prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia welcomed last week on Thursday, the People’s Republic of China’s ambassador to Ethiopia, H.E. Zhao Zhiyuan. The two have held a fruitful discussion on some principal issues, notably on the COVID19 pandemic, the GERD, and the latest developments in Tigray.

II.#Ethiopia-#Sudan border issue

• Media are reporting that some Sudanese military officials are claiming to have got consent from the Ethiopian side to let the Sudanese army occupy the Ethiopian border areas as part of the scheme to support the law enforcement operation in Tigray. Ethiopia appreciates the Sudanese government for its cooperation with the government of Ethiopia during the former’s efforts in enforcing law and order in the country. However, it was surprising to see the Sudanese military misconstruing the friendly talks for cooperation along the borderlines of Ethiopia as a green light to encroach into Ethiopian lands. It should be clear that our government is responsible and sensitive to the sovereignty of the country and could not agree, by any means, to let a third party occupy Ethiopian lands.

• We have heard that some countries have expressed readiness to mediate between Sudan and Ethiopia on the border issues. Ethiopia appreciates such initiatives but it has never closed the opportunity to resolve the matter through a bilateral dialogue with Sudan. We have never had refused to talk to Sudan and solve the issue in a civilized manner. In this regard, as we have repeatedly said, had it not been for our firm stand to carryout negotiations with Sudan on the border issues, it would have been relevant to invite third parties to mediate the two countries.

• Ethiopia still believes that there is no need for the flaring up of boundary issues with Sudan since the issue can get a peaceful resolution through dialogue. However, it is undeniable that we felt betrayed and back stabbed by the army of a friendly country.

• The Sudanese Army took advantage of the internal situation in Ethiopia to enter inside Ethiopian territory and loot property, burn civilian camps, kill, attack and displace Ethiopians. This does not commensurate with the longstanding fraternal relationship that the two countries have.

• Ethiopia strongly believes that the recent action of Sudan’s military will not serve the interest of the Sudanese people but the interests of third parties that calculated to profit out of the mutual destabilization of the two countries.

• We insist that the Sudanese army should go back to where it was before the invasion of our lands (i.e., November 06) as per the 1972 Exchange of Notes between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries that inked the agreement to keep the status quo in the area.

III. The #GERD negotiation and irregularities of Sudan’s stances

1. Almost all of the major issues that concern Sudan regarding the dam have been addressed by Ethiopia. For instance,

• Ethiopia has initiated and cooperated with Sudan and Egypt to establish the International panel of experts that can present findings that are reliable, unbiased and scientific regarding the effects of the construction of the dam
• The dam has been proved to lessen the effects of the recurring flooding in Sudan
• The dam will also provide cheap and environmentally friendly source of energy
• Due to regulated water flows, Sudan is expected to expand its agriculture
• The dam will reduce sedimentation in Sudanese farmlands
• Upon the request of the Sudanese regarding the dam’s safety, Ethiopia has exchanged data with Sudan

2. Thus, Ethiopia believes that some irregularities in the recent Sudanese actions on the GERD negotiations do not emanate from the inherent needs of the people of Sudan

3. As to Ethiopia, we are committed to continue the building of the dam and the negotiation too

IIII. Claims on the involvement of #Eritrean Soldiers in the military operation

• We have seen reports about Eritrean troops that have crossed into Ethiopia to help the government of Ethiopia during its law enforcement operation in Tigray and the measures taken against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). We are also witnessing similar reports about Somalian soldiers participating in the same campaign. Both of these claims are false and unfounded. The ENDF has a track record of supporting the peacekeeping and peace building efforts of the UN, let alone carrying out law enforcement operations domestically. Thus, there has never been a need from the Ethiopian side to request a third party involvement in the matter. The issue has been entertained by some circles that wanted to portray the operation as a regional-level conflict.

• However, regarding the involvement of Eritrean soldiers, in particular, it is expected (and should not be surprising) to see the deployment of Eritrean soldiers by the Eritrean government around its border areas with Ethiopia, given the belligerent attitude of the TPLF clique that had posed an imminent danger to the sovereignty of Eritrea by launching missiles to civilian sites in Asmara.

V. #Economic and #citizencentered diplomatic activities

• Ethiopian Embassy in #Algiers in collaboration with key stakeholders hosted a Webinar Trade Promotion event on January 18, 2021. About 62 participants drawn from the business communities of both countries and officials took part in the event where H.E. Tsion Teklu, State Minister for Economic Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs explained to the Algerian business community the benefits of investing in Ethiopia.

• Ambassador of Ethiopia to the Kingdom of #Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU institutions, H.E. Hirut Zemene, held a discussion on Monday (January 11) with Mr. DELATTERE Dominique, Head of Africa and the Middle East at #Wallonia Import -Export Agency (AWEX), about business opportunities in Ethiopia. The two sides agreed to explore areas of cooperation in joint promotion events as well as helping Wallonian companies to get pertinent information about opportunities for investment in Ethiopia.

• The FDRE Embassy in #Djibouti, in collaboration with the relevant government bodies, mainly the FDRE Ministry of Transport, the Attorney General and the Federal Police, has facilitated the repatriation of 179 trucks of Trans Ethiopia that were parked illegally in Djibouti. It is recalled that the Federal High Court of Ethiopia has ordered the repatriation of the trucks in Djibouti on suspicion of Trans Ethiopia of financing terrorism, money laundering, treason, and armed robbery.

• Three hundred thirty-six (336) Ethiopian citizens have been repatriated on Monday (January 18) from Saudi Arabia.