Ethiopian and Sudanese armies yesterday signed an agreement to withdraw troops from both sides of the border and to deploy joint forces to combat “terrorism”, human trafficking and to eliminate any potential security tensions.

In spite of strong bilateral relations between Addis Ababa and Khartoum, the border area between the two countries remains a source of tension and violence between the two sides due to the human trafficking and smuggling to reach Egypt and Libya.

Sudan Tribune reported that the chief of staff of the two countries held an extraordinary meeting of the Joint Sudanese-Ethiopian Military Commission in Khartoum on Thursday, August 16/2018 after an expert meeting on Wednesday.

According to a statement released after the meeting, the two sides agreed to withdraw troops from the border in conjunction with the formation and deployment of joint forces before next December.

Further, it was agreed that a protocol of the joint forces will be signed in the next meetings of the Commission next October.

In October 2017, the security committee between Ethiopia’s Amhara region and Sudan’s Gedaref state decided to recommend to the leadership of the two countries to deploy joint forces along the border.

Speaking after the meeting, Sudan Armed Forces (SAF)’s Chiefs of Staff General Kamal Abdel-Maarouf said the relations between the two countries are eternal, and the relations between the armies are historical.

He added that the two sides held technical mechanisms at the highest levels to settle the tensions on the common borders.

For his part, the Chief of Staff of Ethiopia National Defence Forces (ENDF), General Seare Mekonnen, said Sudan and Ethiopia had cooperated in the past to protect the common border.

He added that the joint forces would be deployed along the two countries’ borders according to the agreement and would work together to combat security threats and prevent all negative activities on the border.

Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed today met with key industry actors and regulators of the coffee sector to address the binding constraints in order to improve productivity, value addition export earnings.

The Premier “addressing the poor export performance and the weak trade balance is an urgent priority for Ethiopia,” according to Fitsum Arega, Chief of Staff at the Premier’s Office.

Ethiopia earned 2.8 billion US dollars from export, slightly higher than half of the planned 5.23 billion US dollars concluded Ethiopian budget year, ENA reported.

Agriculture, manufacture and mining sectors were the top sectors in achieving better performances of 64.9 percent, 45.9 and 15.2 percent of the plan respectively, the press release added.

Compared to the same period of last year, the revenue earned in the budget year witnessed a lower performance by 71.4 million US dollars.

 

Ministry of Culture and Tourism is preparing to receive Ethiopians in the Diaspora, visitors from neighbouring Eritrea and other tourists who would pay visits to the country.

At a press conference, she held yesterday, Culture and Tourism Minister Foziya Amin said neighbouring Eritreans and Ethiopians in the Diaspora will celebrate cultural and religious festivities starting from mid-August up to the end of September.

The Minister stated that her office will discuss with Eritrean academicians on jointly working to enhance people-to-people ties and unity by hosting various cultural and religious festivities.

“From next Friday onwards we will discuss with Eritrean academicians on hosting cultural and religious events and symposiums in which someone thousand participants will take part to enhance our cultural and religious values for cooperation and unity between the countries.”

Regarding the activities underway to host Ethiopians in the Diaspora and tourists from neighbouring Eritrea, Foziya urged all Ethiopians and tourism stakeholders to humbly welcome visitors and deliver proper services.

Please be informed that Ethiopian Airlines has launched a special discount for members of the Diaspora travelling for the upcoming New Year.

The discount is applicable on the economy, and business class fares (except P promo in business) for travel from all online points to Addis and can be booked either via the airline’s website (ethiopianairlines.com), the office in Diegem or via the mobile application.

Sales and travel allowed till 30 September18.

The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has declared a unilateral ceasefire effective from Sunday, August 12th, 2018.

In a press statement, the group said it made this choice after considering the call for peace by the current Ethiopian government Leader Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

And taking into account the positive steps taken by the Ethiopian government to lay the groundwork for talks and peaceful negotiations to find a lasting solution to the Ogaden conflict.

“Affirming its commitment to engage in a peaceful negotiated settlement of the conflict and Stressing the key role ONLF and the Somalis in Ogaden in bringing peace, stability and progress in the Wider Horn of Africa Region.”

“Emphasising the urgent need to foster a climate of peace that can assist all ONLF, the Ethiopian government and other stakeholders in resolving the long-standing conflict in the Somali territory (Ogaden)”

The Ogaden National Liberation Front declares a unilateral ceasefire from today – 12:00 pm, August 12, 2018, that and will cease all military and security operations directed against the Ethiopian Security Apparatus in the Somali territory (Ogaden), until the negotiated comprehensive cessation of hostilities is reached with the Ethiopian government.

ONLF calls upon the Ethiopian government to reciprocate in kind to halt any further acts that could hamper the initiated peace process and hasten the proposed peace talks.

ONLF has been fighting against Ethiopia since 1994.

Ethiopian Airlines has hit a record net profit of 6.8 billion birrs in the concluded this Ethiopian fiscal year, CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said today.

It generated 89.1 billion birrs in operating revenue, which grew by 43 per cent during the fiscal year.

He also stated that the airline transported 10.6 million passengers and 400,339 tons of cargo, which increased in 21 and 18 percents respectively, it was indicated.

Ethiopian was given for the first time in its history a four-star rating by SKYTRAX, the leading customer service rating organisation in the airline industry, this fiscal year, it was learned.

Despite these successes, Ethiopian faces challenges including economic crisis and instability in the continent as well as fuel price hike, among others, CEO Tewolde pointed out.

The remarkable achievement was registered in the backdrop of aggressive foreign carriers penetration into the African market with the African airline industry collectively forecasted to lose money, he elaborated.

Furthermore, Ethiopian Airlines has introduced 14 new additional aircraft and opened eight new international destinations during the fiscal year.

Ethiopian Airlines has 49 per cent share of Guinea Airlines, 45 per cent of Zambia Airlines, 49 per cent of Chad Airlines and the full share of Ethiopian-Mozambique Airlines, according to the CEO.

The office of the prime minister of Ethiopia announced today the formation of Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund Advisory Council.

Diverse in all its forms, the volunteer-based council draws its fifteen members from academicians, business leaders, and human rights activists, among others. California State University Professor Alemayehu Gebremariam, Tamagne Beyene, a former comedian- currently an activist, and Obang Metho, Executive Director of Solidarity Movement for New Ethiopia are among the names included in the advisory council. (Check out the full list from the attached picture below)

The statement issued by the office of the prime minister stated that Abiy Ahmed’s challenge to Ethiopian Diaspora “has been accepted enthusiastically throughout the Ethiopian Diaspora.”

Apart from funding development efforts, the prime minister goal in initiating the program is to engage Ethiopians in the Diaspora in the socio-economic and political development of Ethiopia, according to the statement.

 

This afternoon, H.E. Ambassador Grum presented a copy of his credentials to Chief of Protocol Mrs Françoise Gustin.

Ethiopia has earned 2.83 billion USD from export, slightly higher than half of the planned 5.23 billion USD, during the concluded Ethiopian budget year, according to Ministry of Trade.

Agriculture, manufacture and mining sectors were the top sectors in achieving better performances of 64.9 per cent, 45.9 and 15.2 per cent of the plan respectively, the press release added.

Compared to the same period of last year, the revenue earned in the budget year witnessed a lower performance by 71.4 million USD.

The unabated proliferation of contraband, low quality of products and supply, unrests in some parts of the country, lack of improved revenue collection schemes and market linkage, as well as a low performance of investment projects, were among the reasons for registering low national export performance, it was learned.