A Week in the Horn of Africa- (25/10/2012)
The AU Peace and Security Council Ministerial meeting
The Eighth African Development Forum held in Addis Ababa this week
Nation to mark the Fifth National Flag Day
Prime Minister Hailemariam holds discussions with industry sector investors
Pan-African Conference of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Prime Minister Hailemariam holds discussions with industry sector investors
Al-Shabaab in retreat, but international support still critical
Ethiopia, Qatar to reopen diplomatic links
Students from the Republic of South Sudan get scholarships Ethiopia
UN to open a new camp in Ethiopia to host refugees
Conference for Urban Mobility in the Developing World
Ethiopian investments prove lucrative
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The AU Peace and Security Council Ministerial meeting
The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) held a ministerial meeting on Wednesday (October 24th) in Addis Ababa, to discuss some of the most pressing issues of peace and security in the continent, with particular emphasis to the current situation between the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, and the problems of Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, who paid a special tribute to the efforts of late Prime Minister Meles and of the current Prime Minister Hailemariam, over the efforts to resolve the problems between the two states, noted that the respective Presidents had signed a series of agreements on September 27th, covering security arrangements, oil and transitional financial arrangements, the status of nationals of one country resident in the other, post-service benefits, trade, banking, border issues and other certain economic matters, as well as an overall Cooperation Agreement. The Chairperson said these difficult and courageous decisions had now been ratified by the respective Parliaments and the implementation process started.
In his statement to the meeting, Ambassador Berhane Gebrechristos, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, representing IGAD, currently chaired by Ethiopia, commended the remarkable gains made in the implementation of the African Union Roadmap and United Nations Security Council resolution 2046 (2012), which significantly contributed to the de-escalation of tensions between the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. He welcomed the agreements signed on September 27th in Addis Ababa under the auspices of AU High Level Implementation Panel HIP and the wisdom and statesmanship shown by the two leaders. He expressed his confidence that this would provide a new sense of hope and optimism for peace and good neighbourly relations between the two countries. It was a breakthrough, he said, which showed that Africa was capable of finding local solutions for its problems, and he praised the AUHIP for its dedication and hard work. He reaffirmed that IGAD would spare no effort to provide all necessary support to both parties in implementing the agreements. He also hoped the African Union, the United Nations and the rest of the international community would remain steadfast in assisting the two parties, and helping to resolve the outstanding issues, including “the final status of Abyei, the resolution of the status of disputed and claimed areas and the resolution of the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States of the Republic of the Sudan”.
The meeting considered the interim report of the AU High Level Implementation Panel, mediating the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan talks which detailed the negotiation process and various steps taken by the Panel. The AUHIP proposed that the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) should tell the Governments of the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan to resolve all outstanding matters relating to the determination of the Final Status of Abyei, and report the outcomes of this engagement to the AUPSC, through the AUHIP, within six weeks. In the event of their failure, the AUPSC should take previously agreed decisions which both Governments would be obliged to implement. The report suggested that the two Governments should start negotiations on the status of the disputed and claimed border areas within two weeks. Again, if they failed to do so, the PSC’s previously agreed decisions should be implemented. The AUHIP also proposed that at the forthcoming meeting to consider outstanding matters, the PSC should call upon the Government of the Republic of the Sudan and the SPLM-N to engage in direct negotiations, based upon the Draft Agreement submitted to the Parties on September 16th. The AUHIP said it would be ready to continue to facilitate such negotiations and will cooperate with the Chair of IGAD in doing so. It suggested the AUPSC reiterate its call for all parties to facilitate immediate humanitarian access to the war-affected population of Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan.
According to the Peace and Security Commissioner, Ramtane Lamamra, the Council decided to lift the suspension on Mali’s participation in the activities of the AU. It was suspended seven months ago after army officers overthrew the elected government unconstitutionally; subsequent problems allowed a rebellion by Islamic extremists in the north of the country to expand. The decision to lift Mali’s suspension comes after officials from the United Nations, the AU, Mali and the regional bloc, ECOWAS, met in Bamako last week to devise a strategy to defeat the rebels in the north. The Council has now called for Mali authorities to set up a national body to open talks with any armed groups in the north “willing to engage in dialogue to find the political solution to the crisis”. The Council also endorsed a plan urging the “restoration of state authority of the northern part of the country”. The plan calls for free elections in Mali early next year, and it is expected to be presented to the United Nations Security Council for endorsement. The AU says it is working with Mali, the UN, EU and other partners on plans “for the early deployment of an African-led international force to help Mali recover the occupied territories in the North”. There are reports that ECOWAS has prepared 3,000 troops to help retake the northern desert area from Islamic extremists. Algeria and Mauritania, which share borders with the rebel-held north, have called for dialogue to reach a political solution to the crisis. France says preparations to deploy the African force remain at an early stage, but has promised to support an African force with training, logistics and equipment. US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is expected to visit Algeria next week. One of the topics of discussion will be the crisis in Mali.
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The Eighth African Development Forum held in Addis Ababa this week
The Eighth African Development Forum (ADF VIII) was held in Addis Ababa from October 23rd -25th, 2012 under the theme “Governing and Harnessing Natural Resources for Africa’s Development”. It aimed to build on the outcome of the fifth Joint African Union Conference of African Ministers of Economy and Finance and ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development held in March this year under the theme “ Unleashing Africa’s Potential as a Pole of Global Growth”. It underlined the importance of controlling natural resources in the social and economic transformation process fostering growth and poverty reduction. It emphasized the social, economic and environmental pillars associated with natural resource management, as well as institutional and policy frameworks for key aspects of mineral, land, forestry and fishery resource development. Participants included Heads of State and Government, policymakers from African member States, development partners, United Nations agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, academics and civil society organizers as well as practitioners, the private sector and other concerned stakeholders.
In his opening keynote speech, Prime Minister Hailemariam emphasized the timeliness of the theme. Africa, he noted, had abundant natural resources and these resources had had a significant impact on reducing wide-spread and extreme poverty, and on assisting in the social and economic transformation of the continent. The Prime Minister said there had been a significant number of positive developments in African countries and many leaders who had committed themselves to use the revenues obtained from natural resources in the provision of basic social services, employment, housing, infrastructure and other pro-poor socio-economic activities. They had succeeded to change the lives of their peoples. At the same time, for a variety of reasons, Africa’s natural resources including minerals, lands, forests and fisheries, had not been fully utilized.
The Prime Minister noted that Africa’s overall performance in the economic sector meant the continent’s economic development was now accepted widely. Indeed, many would characterize the 21st century as being an African century. “The infrastructural projects, the increases in the production of agriculture and the encouraging results achieved in social sectors such as health, education and even poverty in several African countries,” he said, “are concrete examples that today’s Africa has become a region united by a single mission – to bring about change.” For this, African countries had good reasons to be proud, but he cautioned that much more was yet to be done. The Prime Minister emphasized that environmental needs should to be placed among the priorities of the continental development agenda. At the same time, he advised, there was a need for rational and judicious use of environmental resources. It was necessary to maintain the integrity of ecosystems to avoid the sort of ecological destruction which could aggravate the impact of climate change and so threaten peace and security in Africa.
Commending the efforts of many African countries to bring the environment into the mainstream of their development policies, strategies and programs, Prime Minister Hailemariam underlined that Ethiopia had embarked on a path of development based on its own Green Economy Strategy. “Our Climate-Resilient Green Economy Strategy is fully integrated into the Five-Year Growth and Transformation Plan currently being implemented in the country”, the Prime Minister said. He emphasized that Ethiopia’s goal of improving the living conditions of its people by reaching middle income status by 2025 was based on determination to achieve carbon-neutral growth.
The Prime Minister underlined that the formulation of sustainable development goals, as agreed in the recent Rio + 20 Summit on Sustainable Development and currently under discussion, remained critically important for Africa. He stated that the post-2015 development goals will have major impact on Africa’s development endeavors and, in this regard, he said, Africa must “play an active role in shaping the goals based on its own development priorities and common interests”.
The new Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Dr. Carlos Lopes, also speaking at the Forum, proposed four principles that Africa could adopt to ensure that the vast natural resources of Africa effectively served the people of the continent and transform their economies. He noted that the time had come for Africa to profit from the 156% increase in mining companies’ profits, and proposed that rather than focusing mainly on merely collecting taxes from the sector, Africa ought to be using the sector and its resource rents to drive socio-economic development. “This”, he explained, “means investment in infrastructure, research and human capital development, through conditionality for local content. This is what other regions have done; this is what Africa needs to do.”
Dr. Lopes insisted that Africa’s natural resources sectors must become socially and environmentally accountable. This had the implication of increased public participation, “so that a broader share of citizens contribute to policy and benefit from economic and social returns in the natural resources sector, including gainful employment.” He also proposed that Africa use its natural resources as a springboard for diversification and eventual industrialization. He urged Africa to build human and institutional capacities continuously and to create knowledge-based and competitive natural resource sectors. On the issue of wealth sharing, he said: “Although seven of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa, the continent continues to host six out of the ten most unequal societies in the world.” The challenge, he said, is “much more than scaling up current good growth performance; it requires taking into account the interests of the most vulnerable”.
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Nation to mark the Fifth National Flag Day
The Fifth Ethiopian National Flag Day will be marked colourfully nationwide with various events on Monday (October 29th) under the theme: “Lifting our flag up, we will realize the renaissance devised by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.” Various government officials and citizens will stand before the National Flag and pledge their commitment to continue to strive to alleviate poverty and backwardness as well as ensure the renaissance of the nation through active implementation of the remaining period of the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP).
Abadula Gemeda, Speaker the House of Peoples Representatives and the Chairperson of the National Flag Day Celebration Committee in a press briefing noted that the current generation should use the flag “to fight poverty as our fathers did to defeat aggressors.” He said the National Flag Day, marked so colourfully over the previous four years, had contributed significantly towards integrating the flag with the constitution, instilling people with the value of the flag, preparing a law governing the flag and rectifying its use. The National Flag Day Celebration Committee has announced that the Day “is an occasion that we promise to realize the renaissance of the country by ensuring the ongoing peace, democracy and development activities developed by the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.” At a press conference of the Addis Ababa Youth Federation in connection with the National Flag Day on Friday last week, the Addis Ababa Youth Federation Deputy President, Tsegaye Gebretsadik, pointed out that this year’s celebration would provide an excellent chance for youth to reaffirm their promises to realize the development activities pioneered by the late Prime Minister Meles.
The Day is a remarkable day for all Ethiopians, a day when the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia come together and renew their promises to fight against their main enemy, poverty and backwardness. Ethiopians at home and abroad participate and show their respect to their flag, renewing their commitment to actively engage in the development of their homeland and build their country’s image. The Flag of Ethiopia has become a very real representation of equality, unity in diversity, solidarity and justice. It represents the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia and those forefathers of the nation who gave their lives for the dignity of their country and respect of their Flag.
The National Flag Day Celebration here in Addis Ababa will be attended by thousands of people as well as government officials, diplomats and various invited guests. It will provide a very important role in strengthening the mutual respect of the peoples of the country. Ethiopians have celebrated their National Flag Day four times since 2008 and each time they have reiterated their vows to strengthen their unity and solidarity and to work hand in hand to alleviate poverty and enhance good governance and democracy as well as work to secure sustainable economic development. Indeed, the National Flag Day has strengthened the ability of the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia to preserve their unity on the base of mutual respect, commonality, and equality. It has underlined the fact that all Ethiopians are proud of their languages, cultures, nation and flag.
This year’s National Flag Day celebration is even more significant than usual. On this occasion it will strengthen the relations of the nations, nationalities and peoples Ethiopia more than ever with the expressions of commitment to implement the vision of the late Prime Minister Meles, who along with his colleagues, was the architect of the policies and strategies for the development of the country today and for its renaissance. It will be a reiteration of the commitment of the people at the huge public mourning rallies after Prime Minister Meles’ death where the population demonstrated their determination to realize the visions of their late great leader and showed their love and respect for him. At the same time, National Flag Day this year is taking place in the light of the successful achievements registered by the performance of first two fiscal years of the Five-Year Growth and Transformation Plan. This, the Fifth National Flag Day, will provide the opportunity for the Ethiopian people to see the extent to which their previous pledges for the renaissance of their country have been implemented and allow them to see how they will be carried out in the future.
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Prime Minister Hailemariam holds discussions with industry sector investors
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn held discussions with hundreds of industry sector investors and businessmen and women in Addis Ababa on Wednesday (October 24th). Also present were representatives of international development partners and trade attachés from investment source countries. In all about eight hundred participants were present to hear the Prime Minister underline that the government was committed to support developmental investors and bring the nation up to middle income status in the next decade. During the discussion, investors raised problems related to transparency in public services, collateral for bank loans, problems with customs regulations and the newly introduced multimodal transport system. They also raised industry specific problems, relating especially to leather and leather products, textile, flower and horticulture investments.
Responding to queries, the Prime Minister emphasized that the government had accorded special attention to the development of the industrial sector. He said the private sector was the back bone of the economy and the driving force for the nation’s development endeavors to achieve middle income status. He acknowledged that there were problems in the provision of land, in transport, logistics, port services, tax and customs services and power supplies. Equally, he said, the government knew that there were some investors who wished to amass wealth through short cuts or illegal means rather than legally and in support of development. He said that the present administration would, as in the past, continue supporting developmental investors. He stressed there would be no policy change in that respect.
With regard to the questions on tax and on customs, he told the meeting that a separate forum would be held with stakeholders to sort out problems and identify possible solutions. In relation to problems identified within the bureaucracy, he said that apart from what the government is doing, the involvement of the investors would be valuable to bring about necessary attitudinal changes. Responding to a question about the multi-modal transport system, Prime Minister Hailemariam said that as such systems had proven effective in many places, it was clear the problem was not with the system itself. It was rather the result of poor preparation for the adoption of the system. A study was now underway to solve the problem. Again, a separate discussion would be held with stakeholders, he said, to identify possible solutions.
The Prime Minister told the forum that the problems in the tax system would be resolved with the coming into effect of newly adopted regulations by the Council of Ministers. He said the new regulations would allow the merging of taxes of a similar tax base and nature. This would ease problems of procedural overlap. On the availability of bank loans, he said the policy issues involved had been resolved. With the government’s commitment to the manufacturing sector, 70% loans were available to investors at the start up of business, providing the investors came up with 30% of the project finance.
On the provision of land he said a structural reform was underway and the provision of land would be handled by the Ethiopian Investment Agency. The establishment of industrial zones would also be pursued with much vigor to provide a long-term solution. He reassured the meeting that the establishment of industrial zones would be made free of any problems relating to quality of service for power, water, or telecommunications. He added there was no power shortage at the moment, and power cuts were due to poor infrastructure, some of which dated back nearly a century. The government, he said, is conducting a study for the replacement of infrastructure to meet current and future demands of the sector.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister announced that the government would hold bi-annual meetings with investors in order to sort out problems and identify solutions through consultations. He assured investors and businessmen and women that all ministries would have their doors open to any and all queries from them.
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Pan-African Conference of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The 8th Pan-African Conference of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was held at the UN Conference Center in Addis Ababa, October 19th – 22nd. The Conference theme was “Investing in Africa” and Red Cross and Red Crescent leaders from more than 50 African countries attended to discuss the Conference’s main agenda of ways to enable African Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to expand local and community-based work to lessen international dependence. As such, the Conference’s central focus concentrated on exploring ways that enables the societies to alleviate suffering on the continent through meaningful investment in human, material and financial resources in local communities.
Opening the conference, Prime Minister Hailemariam noted that gradual institutional development in Africa and increased Diaspora participation were playing a positive role in addressing the continent’s humanitarian problems. He commended the grass roots based approach as an effective mechanism for addressing humanitarian concerns, adding “it is essential to place emphasis on local community strategies to deal with vulnerable groups by building community resilience.” The Prime Minister also noted that partnership between governments, civic society and the private sector was needed to deal with problems of the more vulnerable groups in society by building up community resilience. He reiterated that voluntary services were indispensible to effectively tackle the myriad humanitarian problems in Africa. He promised that Ethiopia would continue to work in the areas classified as priorities by the Red Cross and Red Crescent. Indeed, most of these issues are tied to the Millennium Development Goals to which Ethiopia is committed. In his remarks, the Prime Minister also acknowledged that the late Meles Zenawi had carried out invaluable work in formulating practical policies and strategies for Ethiopia’s national humanitarian response mechanism and in advocating the interests of Africa in the international arena.
In his speech, Tadateru Konoe, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies emphasized the imperatives of building a resilient society to address humanitarian concerns. He underlined the importance of fund-raising and resource mobilization in building resilient local organizations. Stressing the importance of building a seamless working relation with governments he added that because of the Societies’ auxiliary role “solid relations with governments are vital if the Societies are to continue to perform well and expand the work they do”. He stressed the hope that African National Societies would work closely with parliamentarians, together bringing the Red Cross and Red Crescent and governments across party lines in accordance the Federation’s non- political nature “to help them to understand why we are different, and encourage them to make full use of our unique status and experience.” .
Daniel Tegenu, President of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), underlined the importance of streamlining community-based activities to address humanitarian emergencies. He said there was a great untapped potential within Africa to address humanitarian challenges and underlined the need to adopt a holistic approach towards nurturing grass-root youth-level networks of volunteers as one response to contemporary challenges. The Secretary-General of the International Federation, Bekele Geleta, agreed with the importance of lessening dependence and improving community-based activities. He also commended local efforts. He said that although aid money has dropped by 40 % since 2000, African countries themselves had done much to fill the gap. He said there were currently over two million volunteer youths in Sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring the need to focus on youth and strengthen best practices while addressing areas where more needed to be done.
Following the opening speeches, many papers were presented and debated. Working groups held discussions on various issues and exchanged views. Among topics of discussion were security issues, the problems of hunger, health including HIV/AIDS, water and sanitation problems, the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities, building resilience through community activity and the delivery of sustainable humanitarian services in Africa.
The 8th Pan-African Conference of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies concluded on Monday by approving and adopting the Addis Ababa Action Plan which is guided by a belief in Africa, its people and its future, and by the International Federation’s vision and values and its Strategy 2020. It recalls the Ouagadougou Declaration adopted at the 5th Pan-African Conference in 2000, the Algiers Plan of Action adopted at the 6th Pan-African Conference in 2004 and the Johannesburg Commitments adopted at the 7th Pan-African Conference in 2008, and recognizes that the growing economies of Africa provide new opportunities to raise new resources to support humanitarian and development work. It therefore determines to expand and sustain Red Cross and Red Crescent work and community action across Africa with a renewed emphasis on local, national and regional partnerships. It recommends to IFRC Movement partners to continue to engage with African National Societies to achieve sustainable structures and services. It acknowledges that it is the capacity and integrity of leadership that will determine the ability to attract investment and that the reputations of the International Federation are mutually dependent on the parties’ commitments, collectively and individually, to “Investing in Africa” and to taking the Action Plan forward.
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Prime Minister Hailemariam holds discussions with industry sector investors
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn held discussions with hundreds of industry sector investors and businessmen and women in Addis Ababa on Wednesday (October 24th). Also present were representatives of international development partners and trade attachés from investment source countries. In all about eight hundred participants were present to hear the Prime Minister underline that the government was committed to support developmental investors and bring the nation up to middle income status in the next decade. During the discussion, investors raised problems related to transparency in public services, collateral for bank loans, problems with customs regulations and the newly introduced multimodal transport system. They also raised industry specific problems, relating especially to leather and leather products, textile, flower and horticulture investments.
Responding to queries, the Prime Minister emphasized that the government had accorded special attention to the development of the industrial sector. He said the private sector was the back bone of the economy and the driving force for the nation’s development endeavors to achieve middle income status. He acknowledged that there were problems in the provision of land, in transport, logistics, port services, tax and customs services and power supplies. Equally, he said, the government knew that there were some investors who wished to amass wealth through short cuts or illegal means rather than legally and in support of development. He said that the present administration would, as in the past, continue supporting developmental investors. He stressed there would be no policy change in that respect.
With regard to the questions on tax and on customs, he told the meeting that a separate forum would be held with stakeholders to sort out problems and identify possible solutions. In relation to problems identified within the bureaucracy, he said that apart from what the government is doing, the involvement of the investors would be valuable to bring about necessary attitudinal changes. Responding to a question about the multi-modal transport system, Prime Minister Hailemariam said that as such systems had proven effective in many places, it was clear the problem was not with the system itself. It was rather the result of poor preparation for the adoption of the system. A study was now underway to solve the problem. Again, a separate discussion would be held with stakeholders, he said, to identify possible solutions.
The Prime Minister told the forum that the problems in the tax system would be resolved with the coming into effect of newly adopted regulations by the Council of Ministers. He said the new regulations would allow the merging of taxes of a similar tax base and nature. This would ease problems of procedural overlap. On the availability of bank loans, he said the policy issues involved had been resolved. With the government’s commitment to the manufacturing sector, 70% loans were available to investors at the start up of business, providing the investors came up with 30% of the project finance.
On the provision of land he said a structural reform was underway and the provision of land would be handled by the Ethiopian Investment Agency. The establishment of industrial zones would also be pursued with much vigor to provide a long-term solution. He reassured the meeting that the establishment of industrial zones would be made free of any problems relating to quality of service for power, water, or telecommunications. He added there was no power shortage at the moment, and power cuts were due to poor infrastructure, some of which dated back nearly a century. The government, he said, is conducting a study for the replacement of infrastructure to meet current and future demands of the sector.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister announced that the government would hold bi-annual meetings with investors in order to sort out problems and identify solutions through consultations. He assured investors and businessmen and women that all ministries would have their doors open to any and all queries from them.
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Al-Shabaab in retreat, but international support still critical
It has only been a week since the Somali Parliament in Mogadishu voted overwhelmingly to endorse the appointment of Abdi Farah Shirdon as the country’s new Prime Minister. The endorsement highlighted another success in the nation’s journey towards peace and stability. The state continues to face enormous challenges but progress, aided by the very real efforts of the international community and the Somali people, is visible. As Ambassador Mahiga, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Somalia, and the head of the UN Political Office for Somalia, noted “the approval of Prime Minister Shirdon by the Somali legislature is further incontrovertible evidence of progress in Somalia.”
Along with this positive development, the new government has received welcome news this week with further evidence of the difficulties Al-Shabaab is now facing, and details of the fall-off in piracy off the Somali coast. “Shabaab is in trouble” was a blunt statement by one US analyst and it aptly summed up Al-Shabaab’s continuing retreat from many of the areas it has controlled in southern Somalia. With the lose of ground in almost all of the urban areas it once controlled, including most recently the important seaport of Kismayo, its major source of revenue, the group’s future looks increasingly bleak. Many of its fighters and leaders have withdrawn to more remote areas or even left for Yemen, but while Al-Shabaab has certainly been badly damaged and it has lost many supporters, a hard core remains and terrorists have been left behind to continue to launch hit-and-run attacks and assassinations.
Security still remains the most obvious challenge but government and AMISON now face differing obstacles. The real test now for the African Union Mission in Somalia is the problem of shifting operations from fighting a war against Al-Shabaab to peacekeeping in areas that it has liberated. The new challenges will be more political than military. They will also provide the opportunity for greater coordination and collaboration with the government in Mogadishu. AMISOM now needs to provide an environment that is secure. People need to feel safer than they did before when Al-Shabaab was in control. The government also has to start to gain control of the numerous security forces operating in the state. These are nominally allied to the government but many in fact are autonomous from the government and do not answer to a chain of command. The government also needs to start generating revenues as soon as possible.
Another boost for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s new government this week was the report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) that showed a sharp fall in Somali piracy this year. The report highlighted the fact that between January and September, attacks involving Somali pirates fell to 70 compared with 199 incidents in the first nine months of last year. In the third quarter of the year there was only one attempted attack. These are the lowest figure since 2009 and very few of the attacks were successful. The report identifies the reasons for the lack of pirate successes as a combination of more effective and coordinated naval action by the international community and the privately armed security teams on board vulnerable ships. The IMB says the action of the international navies off the coast cannot be understated in this regard. By employing a more aggressive policy, including a number of pre-emptive operations against pirates, it says, including strikes on their bases, the international forces have made significant inroads in curbing piracy in the region.
Despite these recent successes, political analysts have warned the international community against complacency. Piracy may have become a less attractive enterprise for the moment for the pirate gangs, but a positive outlook in the future remains hinged on maintenance of security and improvement of conditions on land, including addressing issues of poverty, insecurity, the distribution of firearms and lack of institutional development. It has also been pointed out that there is also the danger that the lack of success for pirates could produce a situation in which they might try to turn to on-land criminal activity to make a livelihood. There is, therefore, incumbent on the government and its international partners to provide young men, previously tempted by piracy, with livelihoods that will eradicate the need to turn to criminal action.
In other words, the international community has an immensely important role to play in the continuing effort to resurrect the Somali state. Its support towards this must not weaken now. Somalia will need very considerable external assistance for the foreseeable future, and the success of that support will depend on how it is proffered. Assistance and aid that “is offered in packages with lots of conditionality and lots of top-down orders from international donors, is not going to work”. Donors must find the middle ground where they are able to provide the maximum support that Somalis need, while giving the Somalis and the Government maximum ownership of their own recovery process. Now the tide is turning in Somalia, more than ever it needs the international community’s help and cooperation in its ongoing fight against instability and poverty.
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News and Views
Acting Foreign Minister Berhane meets ministers from the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan This week, Acting Foreign Minister, Ambassador Berhane Gebrechristos, held meetings with the foreign ministers of both the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan. Discussions covered bilateral issues as well as the role of Ethiopia in the negotiations between the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan and in building peace and stability in the region. Ambassador Berhane affirmed Ethiopia’s continued support to bring lasting peace between the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan and underlined the importance of working together in multilateral fora to further augment efforts of ensuring peace. In the meeting with the Republic of the Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Ali Ahmed Karti, the two sides also discussed ways to further boost the warm bilateral relations between the two countries., and in particular, ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, knowledge-transfer and experience-sharing as well as people-to-people relations. The Republic of South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Nhial Deng Nhial, also discussed bilateral issues with Ambassador Berhane. Mr. Nhial referred to the Republic of South Sudan’s plans to purchase electricity from Ethiopia, noting that multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries was thriving. He also said that the two countries had the intention to establish an oil refinery in Ethiopia, which he suggested would help boost economic cooperation.
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Ethiopia, Qatar to reopen diplomatic links
Ethiopia and Qatar have agreed to reopen their diplomatic relationship again after a lapse of more than four years. The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dina Mufti, said: “We expect Qatar to send its new Ambassador to Addis Ababa this month”. Ambassador Dina said that preparations to open an Ethiopian Embassy in Doha and the Qatar Embassy in Addis Ababa were already underway. The move would help the two countries to revitalize economic, trade and business ties. A Qatari delegation, led by Qatar’s Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy Mr. Khalaf Ahmed Almenaa, arrived in Ethiopia on Wednesday (October 24th) for talks with Ethiopian officials and businessmen. The delegation includes a number of Qatar officials as well as representatives of several Qatar companies. It met with Ahmed Shide, State Minister of Finance and Economic Development on Thursday morning. The delegation is expected to discuss economic and bilateral relations and it has expressed interest in the investment possibilities in the mineral, agricultural and tourist sectors. ******
Students from the Republic of South Sudan get scholarships Ethiopia
Fifty students from the Republic of South Sudan’s state of Eastern Equatoria are going to benefit from three-year university scholarships at Hawassa University in Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan, Ambassador Fre Tesfamichael Tesfatsion announced that scholarships had been granted by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State government under the strategic partnership agreement signed Ethiopia and the Republic of South Sudan earlier this year. The announcement was welcomed by the Republic of South Sudan’s Deputy Minister for General Education and Instruction, Rebecca Joshua Okwaci, who praised the Ethiopian government for providing the opportunity, describing education as one of the key priorities of the Republic of South Sudan. Ambassador Fre indicated that another twenty students might also be going to Makelle University on similar scholarships. He said that while education was a priority in the bilateral agreement signed by the two countries in March, the agreement also included sectoral agreements on peace, security, service, governance and the economy. He noted that the two countries had “to work together if we are to develop together”, and encouraged prospective students to use the initiative as an opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge that were needed to make positive contributions to their own communities.
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UN to open a new camp in Ethiopia to host refugees
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced it is to open another new camp in Ethiopia to deal with Somalis still fleeing from conflict and insecurity. A spokesperson for the UNHCR in Geneva, Andrej Mahecic, said that with people still arriving at Dollo Ado, “the Ethiopian Government has authorized the opening of a sixth site and land for this has been designated between the town of Kole and Kobe camp, some 54 kilometers north of Dollo Ado town.” Two weeks ago, an all-weather airstrip was opened at Dollo Ado, significantly upgrading access for relief. Adverse weather conditions had often rendered the old airstrip unusable. Dollo Ado is the second largest refugee complex in the world after Dadaab in Kenya; and last week, according to UNHCR, the numbers there passed the 170,000 mark, with new arrivals citing fear of harassment and forced recruitment by armed groups which still control significant rural areas of Somalia. The problems have been exacerbated by last year’s drought and famine which uprooted an additional half million people. Overall, the number of Somali refugees in neighboring countries has reached more than a million. Ethiopia currently hosts some 214,000 displaced Somalis in all, in the five camps at Dollo Ado as well as other camps further north near Jijiga.
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Conference for Urban Mobility in the Developing World
The 15th Conference for Cooperation for Urban Mobility in the Developing World (CODATU) opened in Addis Ababa on Monday (October 22nd) under the theme “The Role of Urban Mobility in (re)-shaping Cities.” Engineer Fekade Haile, Addis Ababa City Roads Authority Manager, said the conference aimed at showcasing the transport and urban development activities being undertaken in Ethiopia. He noted that the conference being held against the backdrop of the 125th anniversary of the foundation of Addis Ababa would play a significant role in promoting the trade and investment potential and the tourist attractions of Ethiopia. CODATU is a non-profit organization established in 1980 following an international conference on urban transport in Dakar, Senegal. It aims to promote international exchanges between different actors involved in the fields of transport and urban mobility. The conference, which continued until October 25th, attracted 700 participants, enabling Addis Ababa officials to share best experiences with others from as many as 30 countries.
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Ethiopian investments prove lucrative
Investors who bought shares in 18 international companies engaged in investment activity in Ethiopia have earned higher than expected average returns. This is the finding of research by Access Ethiopia which notes that stock market investors in ‘Ethiopia-invested Global Stocks’ with Ethiopia-based projects have earned double-digit annual returns over three years. The research covered a number of international companies whose shares can be purchased on the international market. The companies represent a wide range of experience. They include Total, Adrica, Tullow and Marathon, engaged in oil exploration and distribution; Allana Potash, Ethiopia Potash Corporation and Nyota Minerals in the mining sector; Yara and Karuturi in agriculture; Pittards, Elsewedy and Pretoria Cement in manufacturing; Proctor and Gamble, Tiger Brands and Unilever in consumables and Diageo, SAB Miller and Heineken in the beverage sector. The direct contribution of their Ethiopian operations may still remain small in some cases in comparison with total profits, but the Ethiopian projects are expected to have significant impact in the near future on the growth potential of these companies, particularly those engaged in agricultural and mining ventures. The latest World Bank Report on doing business, 2013, ranks Ethiopia in 13th position overall among sub-Sahara African countries. It stands at 4th place in dealing with construction permits and in 6th place for enforcing contracts, helping to give the country a competitive edge.
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Eid Mubarak
On behalf of the Ethiopian Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Week in the Horn, would like to extend their warmest congratulations to all Muslims in Ethiopia and beyond on the occasion of the festival of Eid-Al-Adha. Promoting peace and harmony are the spirit of Eid, and on this day of celebration, we would acknowledge all those who work for peace and better understanding between peoples. We wish you all a joyful Eid Mubarak.
