Coronavirus does not seem to be impacting Ethiopian Airlines in a way to suspend flights. The airlines is sticking to WHO safety measures.
Photo source : Fana Broadcasting Corporation
borkena January 30, 2020
Ethiopian Airlines has five destinations in China, and it is not suspending anyone of them because of Coronavirus. The virus has reportedly killed at least 170 people.
“Ethiopian Airlines is carrying out its regular flights to China following international standards and in a way that protects flight crews and passengers,” the Airlines is cited as saying.
Tewolde Gebremariam, the CEO, told state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) the airline is working with the government of Ethiopia and the government of China to ensure that passengers and flight crews are protected from the virus.
Ethiopian Airlines is the leading airline in Africa that connects the continent to China. It has been flying China for over half a century.
Currently, it has destinations in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Hong Kong.
Four travelers from China were quarantined in Ethiopia on the grounds of suspicion, but all of them have been released after the test result showed negative for Coronavirus.
Ethiopia started scanning travelers arriving in the country at Bole International Airport in the capital Addis Ababa for Coronavirus staring last week in the wake of threat from the deadly virus.
It has been rumored for several weeks now that Ethiopia is living a shortage of cash. The story seems true in Tigray region. Commercial Bank of Ethiopia clients claim cash withdrawal restrictions.
Photo credit : BBC Amharic
borkena January 31, 2020
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) clients said on Friday that they are unable to withdraw enough cash from branches in the Tigray region.
According to BBC Amharic service, clients can not withdraw more than 2000 Ethiopian birr in most branches in the region.
A young lady who went to Seloda Adiabun branch in Adwa town was not allowed to withdraw more than 2000 birr, as reported by BBC Amharic.
Other branches in the same town allowed only up to 5000 birr cash.
Public servants in the region who gets their pay via Commercial Bank of Ethiopia say they did not get their payment. They will have to wait, they say. And it is unclear how long they have to wait.
Branches in Mekelle, the biggest city in the region, are living cash shortages too. BBC reporter said he saw long lines in banks and people who look angry as they could not get the amount of cash they needed to withdraw.
CBE employee who works in one of the branches in Mekelle spoke to the BBC on the condition of anonymity. He said the Bank has got cash shortages. Especially, branches in Tiray do not have cash. That happened, he said, because clients are increasingly withdrawing their money.
Alson Assefa, CBE’s public relations head, reportedly said the Bank is not facing a shortage of cash.
Given the political differences between the Tigray regional state and the Federal Government of Ethiopia, there is a likelihood that the reported cash shortages in the region could be linked to politics.
Tigray regional state disclosed last week that the difference with the Federal government is widening. The removal of Fetlework Gebreegziabher as the Federal Minister for Trade and Industry sometime last week is interpreted as a political measure. The federal government denied that saying that it has nothing to do with politics but competence.
It has been a rumor for several weeks now, however, that there is a cash shortage in the country, and that the government might need to print billions of birr.
Ethiopian Parliament approved controversial investment law amendment which was tabled in the House in Decemeber 2019.
Ethiopian Parliament building
borkena January 31, 2020
Ethiopian Parliament approved an amendment to the investment proclamation. The House passed it on Thursday during its 12th regular session, as reported by state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC).
Ten parliamentarians voted against it while there was one abstain vote.
Those who are in favor of it, seemingly prime minister Abiy Ahmed is the leading proponent of it, argues that the amendment will solve problems related to the investment climate in the country.
It also aims to increase revenue from foreign currency and create job opportunities for unemployed youth in the country.
The old investment law was in effect for seven years. The amended investment law approved as legislation 1180/2012, which means that the previous one (769/2005) will no longer work.
There was a heated debate when the amendment to the investment law was introduced in parliament in December 2019. A considerable number of Ethiopians opposed it too.
One of the controversial issues was that investors as set out in article 18 subsection 2 of the draft foreign investors in Ethiopia can get land to build a residential house.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed claims Dam projected has shown remarkable progress after the “reform measure”
Photo File
borkena February 1, 2020
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam project on Saturday in the morning, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting reported.
President Donald Trump spoke to Abiy Ahmed on the phone on Friday. He reportedly expressed “optimism” that the three countries would reach an agreement. The negotiation that was intended for two days was extended for four days after the parties failed to reach agreement. They are to meet again at the end of February this year for the final agreement after legal and technical details of operation and filing of the dam are drafted.
Earlier, there was a report that the US and the World Bank, attending the negotiation between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan as Observers, exerted pressure on Ethiopia to ensure that Egypt has an upper hand in the agreement.
Why Abiy Ahmed visited the dam at this time is unclear. After the visit, he said that Ethiopia will start generating electric power next year by using two generators. Initially, his government said that it would happen this year.
Video : embedded from Fana Broadcasting Corporation Youtube channel Cover photo : screenshot from the video
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appeared in the House of People’s Representative to address question from parliamentarians.
For the past several weeks, one of the main issues in the country was the abduction of 21 Dembi Dollo University students who were on their way to their parents in Amhara region after the university closed for security reasons.
Two parliamentarians, Mulunesh mekonnen and Momina MOhammed, asked the Prime Minister about the situation.
The prime minister highlighted the challenges his government has been facing. Regarding abducted students, he claims the issue is complicated as the group that abducted them has not claimed responsibility. Take a listen to what he had to say from the video below (Check after 38:00 minutes).
Video : embedded from Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation Youtube channel Cover photo : screenshot from the video
Ethiopian Airlines management said it is applying WHO and International Air Transport Association Standard.Death Toll in China reached 425.Confirmed cases are over 20,000.Four new Coronavirus suspected cases quarantined in Ethiopia
Ethiopia Airlines has not suspended a flight to China despite the deadly Coronavirus outbreak.
The airline management said that it is adhering to the World Health Organization and the International Association of Air Transportation to continue the flight to China.
The management is still standing by its decision not to suspend flights to China, one of the vast markets for Ethiopian Airlines with five destinations and many trips every week. But a growing number of Ethiopians are taking to social media to vent their anger over the airlines’ decision.
Yet, there are still some Ethiopians who tend to see the management’s decision as one that is right.
Zemedeneh Nigatu is a prominent Ethiopian-American, as he describes himself, businessmen with tens of thousands of followers on Twitter. He is the Global Chairman, Fairfax Africa Fund (U.S.). He says he agrees with the decision of Ethiopian Airlines and Emirates to continue flying China.
The two biggest airlines in #Africa and Middle East, @flyethiopian & @emirates, will continue to fly to China in-line with @WHO’s recommendation that travel to China should continue. I agree with the decisions of the two airlines. But, must stay very vigilant. #Ethiopia#Dubaipic.twitter.com/wnzPT9R0tk
Some tend to see Ethiopian Airline’s decision as”manslaughter.”
Yared Haile-Meskel who runs his consultancy firm in Addis Ababa Tweeted:
“Not only a mistake ,it could be regarded as a corporate manslaughter, a law when CEO’s duty of care for employees & public fail below what is expected. Ethiopia has no test lab, no gasmasks, no quarantine hospital, no medicine. At least the Et should have established a test lab.”
Not only a mistake ,it could be regarded as a corporate manslaughter, a law when CEO’s duty of care for employees & public fail below what is expected. Ethiopia has no test lab, no gasmasks, no quarantine hospital, no medicine. At least the Et should have established a test lab.
China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported on Monday February 3, 2020 that the death toll from the Virus in China reached 425. Confirmed cases is the country is 20,471.
On Monday, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) reported that four new CoronaVirus suspects are identified in Ethiopia and quarantined in Ethiopia. Three of them are Ethiopians, while the other person is Chinese.
Three of the suspects are in the capital Addis Ababa, and one is in Aksum, northern Ethiopia.
Blood samples from the suspects are sent to South Africa for an examination.
Before January 30, there were four other cases of suspects but test results showed negative.
Chinese Bank Funded Genale Dawa Dam III, in South Western Ethiopia, to add over 200 MW of power to the existing one.
Genale Dama Dam. Credit : Seleshi Bekele, Minister for Water, Irrigation and Energy.
borkena February 4, 2020
Ethiopia inaugurated the Genale-Dawa Dam project on Tuesday. The 110 meters high dam has got three turbines that will generate, together, 254 MWs of power. It is about 456meters wide and can hold 2.57 billion cubic meters of water.
Apart from generating electric power, the project is intended for irrigation in for the areas adjacent to it.
It is constructed along the Genale Dawa river basin in Bale, South Eastern parts of Ethiopia.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and his Water, Irrigation, and Energy Minister, Seleshi Bekele, and Oromo regional state acting President Shimeles Abdissa attended the ceremony.
Near Dawa Genale Dam project site. Photo credit : Office of the Prime Minister
Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) cited Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as saying: “The newly inaugurated Genale-Dawa III hydropower project will help to enhance the economic benefits of Genale and Dawa communities through expanding irrigation development.”
The project took nine years – longer than the projected completion date. Ethiopian government spent over $451 million, and the large chunk of it was acquired through a loan arrangement with the Chinese Bank.
Over 55 percent of Ethiopia’s 110 million people do not have electricity coverage. Currently, the overall electric power being generated in the country is about 4400 MW – according to Seleshi Bekele. The goal is to create an additional 7300 MW of power – including from the Grand Renaissance Dam, which is expected to generate some power by next year.
In the Genale Dawa River basin region, Ethiopia has a plan to construct a 1 billion dollars worth dam project; it is called Genale Dawa project VI.
According to the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) report on Tuesday, several expatriates and local investors have shown interest in the project.
PM Abiy Ahmed has called on public-private partnerships and invited Ethiopian businessmen to involve themselves in the project.
For well over a year following normalization of relations, Ethiopia and Eritrea have been working on documents for a range of agreements.
Photo credit : Eritrean Press
borkena February 4, 2020
Trade relations between the two countries were among the significant issues that relevant authorities have been working on after the end of hostility as Ethiopia initiated rapprochement in 2018.
According to news published by the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), which cited the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade and Industry as a source, the work is now completed. It is pending a decision from senior authorities of both countries.
Wondimu Filate is a Communication Affairs Director in the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Ethiopia. He told the Ethiopian Herald that “the ministry has sent a complete Ethio-Eritrea border trade legal framework to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a bid to strike a trade deal soon having secured approval from both countries.”
While preparing a legal framework for the border trade between Eritrea and Ethiopia, the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Ethiopia has researched the areas of bilateral trade schemes to determine market interest and gap.
Mr. Wondimu said: “The cross border trade between Ethiopia and Eritrea will occur within a radius of 10 km from their shared borders.”
He added that the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Ethiopia has “identified preferable commodities and transaction currency of traders in the area.”
When the two nations sign the trade agreement, the currency issue could be determined.
Wondimu also said that the transaction currency could be Ethiopian Birr, Eritrean Nakfa, or US Dollar.
The report by Ethiopian Press Agency also indicated that open trades have been going on between Eritreans and Ethiopians along the border area. “…formalizing of such trade will build a booming business between the two sisterly countries,” according to Communication Affairs Director of MoTI
Soliyana Aregawi , currently in Wuhan- China, admires the fight Chinese doctors are undertaking to arrest CoronaVirus but she does not seem to be happy that the government of Ethiopia is not responding to the plights of Ethiopian Students who are seeking to be evacuated.
Source : Webmed.com
borkena February 5, 2020
Most foreigners stranded in the epicenter of the deadly CoronaVirus in Wuhan are said to be students and there over 300 Ethiopian students in that province only according to information from the students themselves.
They say it has been over 12 days now since they were locked in their dormitories.
Soliana Aregawi is one of the Ethiopian students who are stranded in Wuhan. She studied economics for that last four year, and she is a graduating student, according to a report from rfi
Despite the horror of being stranded in a city that seems to be now essentially equated with where death is hunting everyone as death toll and the number of infected people rises, she appears to be optimistic.
She admires the sacrifices that Chinese physicians are paying. She tweeted: “These are z people fighting z virus. They’re wifes, husbands, mothers… Doctors are z unsung heroes of a nation. Let’s take this moment to acknowledge z doctors in Wuhan. They’re risking their lives everyday to save others. #WuhanCoronovirus #武汉加油”
These are z people fighting z virus. They’re wifes, husbands, mothers… Doctors are z unsung heroes of a nation. Let’s take this moment to acknowledge z doctors in Wuhan. They’re risking their lives everyday to save others. #WuhanCoronovirus#武汉加油pic.twitter.com/vQlTCvbzLd
But she also seems to be disappointed that the Ethiopian Embassy in China has not yet contacted Ethiopian students in Wuhan. On February 5, she tweeted, “When is z right time 2 reply 2 our questions? Is it 2 much 2 ask for a response from z embassy that represents us? Z Beijing office hasn’t contacted us yet. A Representative from z Chongqing office has sent us a couple ofmessages by that was it @TToga9 @lia_tadesse @fanatelevision”
When is z right time 2 reply 2 our questions? Is it 2 much 2 ask for a response from z embassy that represents us? Z Beijing office hasn’t contacted us yet. Arepresentative from z Chongqing office has sent us a couple ofmessages by that was it @TToga9@lia_tadesse@fanatelevisionhttps://t.co/BPfVKoRo5E
Other Ethiopian Students in Wuhan contacted the leader of the Solidarity Movement for New Ethiopia, Obang Metho, on Thursday via inbox messages.
One student said in his message to Obang: “Believe me or not in our university only us Ethiopian are left I do not know how should I explain the feeling we have, we are struggling and fighting with death…”
They want the Ethiopian government to evacuate them.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia has not issued any statement or update regarding the situation of Ethiopian students in Wuhan or if there is a plan to evacuate them.
Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, H.E. Chen Xiaodong, is on a visit to Ethiopia and met with Ethiopia’s State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Hirut Zemene. News updates from the ministry did not mention anything if the situation of Ethiopian Students in Wuhan was discussed. All that is mentioned in connection with Coronavirus is that “Hirut…expressed Ethiopia’s confidence that China would fully control the current Coronavirus outbreak and reiterated her country’s commitment to stand by China in the fight against the virus.”
Ethiopians in social media are putting pressure on the government to evacuate the students.
As Ethiopians express concern that the negotiation to be singed with Egypt and Sudan could damage its right to use the Nile water in the future, Minister reiterate that Ethiopia will not sign an agreement that will affect its national interest
Seleshi Bekele on press conference in his office. Credit : Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Energy
borkena February 6, 2020
As Ethiopians are increasingly alarmed about the negotiation between Ethiopia and lower riparian countries of the Nile River (namely Sudan and Egypt), the top negotiator says, “Ethiopia will never sign an agreement that harms the country’s national interest.”
It was Ethiopia’s Minister of Water, Irrigation, and Energy (Dr. Eng. Seleshi Bekele) who said so during an event organized by the Institute for Strategic Affairs at the Hyatt Regency on Thursday in the capital Addis Ababa.
Policymakers, government officials, and researchers participated in the event – a monthly seminar that the Institute for Strategic Affairs organizes.
Institute for Strategic Affairs Seminar at Hyatt Regency where Seleshi Bekele briefed participants about the dam negotiation. Credit : Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Energy
In his presentation to the participants, Seleshi Bekele said the focus needs to be on “a win-win” approach to the negotiation.
According to a social media update from the Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Energy, there was a question and answer session with a panel including Eng. Gedion Asfaw, Eng. Tefera Beyene and Eng. Kifle Horo – who is currently the manager of the Grand Renaissance Dam Project. Engineer Tefera Beyene and Engineer Gedion Asfaw are members of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Negotiating team.
Based on information for Ethiopian officials, there was an intention to make the Nile River an agenda item for the negotiation, but the Ethiopian side proposed that the discussion has to be about Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam.
On Wednesday, Seleshi Bekele had a press conference in his office to highlight the outcomes of the negotiation so far. He reiterated that the negotiation is underway in a way that defends Ethiopia’s national interest and in a way that does not harm the benefits of lower riparian countries.
The three countries are currently working on detailed legal and technical documents regarding the filling and operation of the Ethiopian dam.
“If there is a single word in the document to be signed that could compromise Ethiopia’s right to use the water, Ethiopia will not sign the document,” Dr. Seleshi Beleke told journalists.
Among the issues that Ethiopia is looking forward to in the document to be signed are conflict resolution mechanisms that do not violate the rights of Ethiopia.
On the other hand, some Ethiopian media (Wazema Radio, for example) are claiming that Ethiopia is poised to sign an agreement that could permanently harm its right to use the Nile water.
The United States of America and The World Bank are attending the negotiation as “observers” but there are reports that these entities put immense pressure on Ethiopia to sign an agreement that will harm its national interest.
Negotiators from the three countries will meet again this month in Washington DC and are expected to sign a final agreement if all goes well.
Ethiopia has already reduced the number of turbines from 16 to 13, and the dam will only produce 5150 MW of power, as explained by Seleshi Bekele. There is also a plan to use the dam for tourism and fishery development.
Electro-mechanical part of the project was contracted out to METEC, a government-owned industrial enterprise under the ministry of defense. It is part of the reason for the delay of project completion, which cost the country over a billion-dollar, according to government officials.
A day after two followers of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church followers were shot to death by riot police while protesting demolition of church, Tens of thousands of faithfuls marched in the streets of Addis Ababa
borkena February 6, 2020
On the night of February 4, the Federal riot police shot and killed two young men, Mikiyas Fanos and Million Denberu, in 22 vicinity of Addis Ababa as they were chanting religious songs with estimated thousands of followers of the Church.
They were killed around 1 a.m. in the morning when they resisted the demolition of the Church. Another young man who is identified as Abraham died in Yekatit 12 hospital on Thursday.
Funerals of those who were killed on Wednesday took place on Thursday in the presence of Ethiopian Orthodox Church Patriarch, Abune Mathias, and several other bishops.
Tens of thousands of Ethiopian Orthodox Church followers turned out to the church service at Bole Medhanialem Church. They then marched to Gerji St. George Church, where the funeral took place.
They were carrying the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church flag and the flag the Ethiopian government banned.
Coffins of Mikiyas and Million at Bole Medhaniam Church. Photo : Social Media
Victims of the police shooting were given service for martyrdom. The patriarch himself led the prayer service in the tradition of the Ethiopian Church.
On Wednesday, Patriarch Abune Mathias issued a statement calling for the government to investigate the killings and bring perpetrators to justice.
A fenced place, for decades, for church use with a small Church on it triggered apparent controversy between followers of the Ethiopian Church (and the Church) on the one hand and Addis Ababa City Administration on the other.
Riot police arrived in the church compound overnight to give support for those who were tasked to demolish the Church. Hundreds of thousands of faithful Ethiopian Orthodox Church followers started to chant songs as an expression of resistance to the demolition.
That is when the riot police opened fire and shot three people.
Two, whose names are mentioned above, died on the scene but their bodies were taken to Yekatit 12 hospital. There were reports that riot police also fired tear gas towards elders.
Followers of the Church and some preachers are expressing disenchantment that the government is discriminating against one of the oldest Orthodox churches in the entire world. They say that all levels of government are favoring followers of other religions while putting so much pressure on Ethiopian churches. The Church has been under immense pressure, especially in the Oromo region of Ethiopia. Followers have been killed at different times. Churches burned.
Hours after the incident that claimed three lives on Wednesday this week, Addis Ababa Mayor had a press conference. He claimed that his administration “closely works with the church.” For him, the incident was a sort of conspiracy to create a rift between the church and Addis Ababa City Administration.
He gave the impression that he did not ask for the deployment of riot police in the middle of the night. Those who ordered it would be held responsible for it, he said.
Seven people are detained, including unspecified government officials, and an investigation is underway.
Ethiopian FM Gedu (left) and Mike Pompeo (R). Photo from Pompeo Twitter Page
borkena February 6, 2020
The U.S. Department of State disclosed on Wednesday that the U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will be traveling to seven countries, including Ethiopia, in three continents.
He will be visiting Ethiopia between February 17 and 19.
During his visit, he will hold talks with President Sahle-Work Zewde and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. As well, during his stay, he is scheduled to meet with the Chairperson of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Apart from Ethiopia, he will be traveling to Germany, Senegal, Angola, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
Regional security and support to “Ethiopia’s historic political and economic reform agenda,” are among the key agenda items of discussion when he meets with Ethiopia’s top officials.
Although not disclosed by the Department of State, Ethiopian political observers speculate that negotiation of the Ethiopian Dam might also be an agenda item during the discussion with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Alleged pressure from the United States of America and the World Bank in the negotiation of Ethiopian Dam has alarmed a considerable number of Ethiopians that the U.S. is primarily interested in making Egypt happy at the expense of Ethiopia.
Still no confirmed case/s of coronavirus infection Ethiopia. But Public Health Institute introduced changes to the way it is preventing the virus from entering the country
Ethiopian Public Health Institute Director, Dr. Eba Abate. Credit : FBC
borkena February 7, 2020
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Ethiopian Public Health Institute announced on Friday that it had passed a decision to quarantine all passengers coming from Wuhan city of China.
The institute had a press conference to update the public about measures that it is taking to prevent Coronavirus in Ethiopia and to share the latest information about the current global status of the deadly virus, according to Fana Broadcasting Corporation.
Dr. Eba Abate, director of the institute, said the emergency response coordination center in the institute had received information about 29 people that are believed to have the virus.
Fourteen of them were quarantined as they had symptoms of the virus. Eleven samples were sent to South Africa for a laboratory test, and eight of them are reported negative.
Test results of three cases are not yet received, according to Dr, Eba Abate.
Five of the cases are Ethiopians, while the remaining three are Chinese- according to a report by Fana Broadcasting Corporate. It is unclear why samples from eleven people were sent while those who were quarantined were 14 in total.
Passengers from China are subject to screening at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa before they mix with other passengers. A separate immigration counter is arranged for all passengers from China, Abate Eba said.
But those who are arriving from Wuhan city, in the Hubei province of China, are subject to a different arrangement. They will be quarantined for fourteen days – days needed to determine if someone is showing symptoms of coronavirus.
There are possibilities that there might not be a need to send samples to South Africa in a few weeks as Ethiopia is in the process of acquiring equipment essential to diagnose coronavirus.
So far, there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus patients in Ethiopia, although Ethiopian Airlines is defying pressure from Ethiopians to stop flying to China. Yesterday, Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta pleaded to Ethiopian Airlines to stop flying to China.
Over 300 Ethiopian students are studying in Wuhan City, and they are in lockdown in their university dormitories. They have been demanding arrangements for them to fly back to Ethiopia, but the Ethiopian government is yet to respond despite mounting criticisms for not doing so earlier.
Ethiopiawinnet expresses its appreciation for the peaceful initiative and efforts taken by the tripartite countries (Ethiopia, Egypt and the Sudan) and the observer role played by the US, IMF and the World Bank to help expedite negotiations to resolve issues regarding the GERD and the ultimate utilization of the Nile River resources in a mutually beneficial and equitable manner. It is, however, incumbent upon us as concerned citizens, as we express our optimism of the positive outcome of these negotiations to underline the need for ensuring that Ethiopia’s basic rights for the use of Nile waters are also duly respected and protected.
Among the concerns that have been noted by Ethiopiawinnet as serious challenges in these negotiations under the current circumstances, mention should be made of the following :
Rushed Negotiations: Given Ethiopia’s good faith agreement with its’ tripartite partners (Egypt and the Sudan) for equitable and mutually beneficial use of the Nile waters, and it’s acceptance of observing partners (US, IMF and the World Bank), these negotiations are taking place in a very rushed pace, not taking into considerations the findings of the joint GERD technical team, and considerations of affording adequate time for the parties to inform & discuss with their public and respective parliaments.
Lopsided ‘Equitable’ Use of Nile Water in These Negotiations: – The UN water and watercourse convention has put in place the principles of Equitable and Reasonable Utilization of the Nile waters https://www.unwatercoursesconvention.org/documents/UNWC-Fact-Sheet-4-Equitable-and-Reasonable-Utilisation.pdf to conclude a durable agreement in such negotiations. It appears in these rushed and politicized negotiations, the question of Ethiopia’s sovereign right for equitable use of the Nile Waters is taken for granted to placate Egypt and sideline weak Ethiopia to accept these terms. Additionally, an agreement of such magnitude should take into consideration the interests of the current and coming generations. Disputes on Nile River should therefore be carefully mediated in a way not to compromise the rights of future generations living in the basin.
It is obvious that an attempt is being made by Egypt and its supporters to demand an undiminished water supply by Ethiopia without taking into account the fact that Ethiopia has the sovereign right and need to utilize its natural water resources for its current population of over 110 million which is expected to increase to 172 million by 2050.
Politicization of GERD discussions: The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) to establish legal frameworks and institutions by the upper and lower riparian states, based on internationally accepted norms, has been challenged by Egypt repeatedly, due to its unfortunate politicization and securitization of the river shared by 11 riparian countries. The Nile question would have been answered on its entirety had all basin countries committed to the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA). Egypt chose not to cooperate. This is unprecedented in any water treaty negotiations anywhere in the world. The following are additional reasons that hamper Nile negotiations:
3.1 Egypt is oddly insisting that the 1929 and 1959 colonial era agreements as a basis for negotiations. Utilization of these Nile treaties have no bearing on Ethiopia as it did not participate in the determination of the legal instruments.
3.2 Egypt is now attempting to directly and indirectly tie the fate of High Aswan Dam with the Ethiopian GERD project. This shouldn’t stand, because Egypt constructed the Aswan High Dam, Toshka Project and other significant water reservoir and irrigation systems without any prior consultation with Ethiopia,
3.3 Information asymmetry: Data on utility of Nile water has not been readily available by the Egyptians. However, it is known that the current urbanization and agricultural intensification are not in line with maintaining equilibrium between supply and demand of water and fail to consider the impact of climate changes on water usages. Egypt’s current water withdrawals exceed the amount naturally available, the country’s continuous use of water devouring crops such as rice (not suitable for arid lands) and poor regulations of groundwater, poor or no recycling of wastewater being good examples. This World Bank study https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/27659, for example warns that climate-related water scarcity is expected to cause more economic losses in the Middle East, Egypt included
3.4 Related with the above, the current agreement skips the potential for Egypt to develop its own natural resources including the possibility of utilizing desalinated waters from the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea as well as the exploration for proved ground water resources.
3.5 The current unsustainable use and waste of water by Egypt, the effects of climate change on the flow of water, and the amount of water that Egypt is demanding from Ethiopia and other upstream countries, will be inadequate in the long term. Although the negotiation is benefiting Egypt, it could just be for the short term. Listed major issues aren’t addressed by the current GERD negotiations.
3.6 A royalty payment of 50,000 gold coins used to be made by Egypt to Ethiopia when the former was under the Turkish empire for the use of the Nile River water. Today, such practices are part of international norms. For example, South Africa is paying over US$50 million annually to Lesotho for the use of the latter’s water. Good faith negotiations should have included the need for compensation or at least its appreciation. No such provision has been included in the draft agreement yet.
3.7 Participation of friendly governments like the USA and institutions like the IMF and the World Bank as observers is greatly appreciated. However, their engagements at this stage should be neutral. Ethiopia should reject any rushed deal or pressure by corner.
Taking all the above preliminary points into account, Ethiopiawinnet hereby recommends:
4.1 That the Ethiopian Government ensures its negotiations with Egypt and the Sudan on its water and related projects are undertaken with the fullest protection of Ethiopia’s sovereign rights to its natural water resources;
4.2 That the current negotiation be limited to the filling of the water needed for the GERD project, per scientific analysis of the joint technical team, and that any requirement for any further negotiation be accorded further time, a deeper study and analysis as well as a prior consultation with the Ethiopian people;
4.3 That the Egyptian Government be required to make royalty payments for water that it is supplied with from Ethiopia beyond its normal share to be negotiated as one of the riparian states;
4.4 That arrangements be made by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan for undertaking a sustainable and a fully supported research on the aerospace, maritime and all other related environmental aspects to ensure that water, climate change, drought, flood, etc., are managed effectively and systematically so GERD or other initiatives agreed by all could be undertaken in mutual interest;
4.5 That Egypt and Sudan take effective steps to ensure a more efficient utilization of the water supplied from Ethiopia for irrigation purposes as well as for Egypt to generate its internal water resources including the use of desalination and recycling methods so that its dependence on the Nile River of which Ethiopia is the main source is reduced significantly;
4.6 That Ethiopia’s rights for the utilization of the water from tributary rivers flowing to the Nile River is off limits to these considerations and be fully protected without any interference by any external party;
4.7 That provisions are added that final agreements include an exit clause and/or treaty renewal period, including approvals by parliaments of respective countries;
4.8 That if any mediation might be required with regard to the water cascading from Ethiopia to other down-stream, riparian states, the most appropriate institution for such a role should be the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and the African Union (AU)
4.9 That all the three riparian countries (Egypt, Ethiopia and the Sudan) agree on a code of conduct to denounce military threats, commitments to good faith negotiations based on scientific studies, diplomatic initiatives and international instruments for a sustainable and mutual utilization of the Nile River.
We, therefore, call on all concerned parties to give due consideration for attention and action to the above recommendations as well as appealing for support by the African Union, the United Nations, the World Bank and countries with interest in the region, including USA.
Ethiopiawinnet is a civic organization with headquarters in Illinois, USA with membership of numerous individuals and civic society organizations.
We can be contacted at the following addresses:
Website: ethiopiawin.org Postal Address: P. O. Box 171, E. Lansing, MI 48823 Email: ethiopiawinnet@gmail.com Twitter: @Ethiopiawinnet
Ethiopian Airlines has more than 28 weekly passengers flights and about 15 cargo flights to China.
Following the outbreak of Coronavirus, the Airlines has been under mounting criticism and pressure for not suspending its flight to China.
Apart from moral arguments, Ethiopian Airlines says the suspending a flight to china is not a guarantee to keep coronoavirus at bay. “Even if Ethiopian Airlines suspends flights to China, passengers from China could use other airlines to travel to Ethiopia,” the management argues.
When there was Ibola virus outbreak in Africa, the Airlines did not suspend flight and it is not morally right to stop flights to China.
Take a listen to what the CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, had to say during an event organized to appreciate Ethiopian Airlines lines employees.
Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) reported on Monday that a desert locust is hitting the southern part of the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia again.
The region’s agricultural and rural development director, Ato Mebrahtom Gebrkidan, said the locust reappeared since Friday evening. It came from the neighboring Amhara region of Ethiopia, he said, according to Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC).
He said it could damage crops, grasses for cattle as well as trees. Information is disseminated to all areas in the Tigray region. His office made a call to people from all walks of life to participate in the eradication campaign so that it could be done away with within the shortest possible time.
Meanwhile, The Ethiopian Government, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the African Union Commission jointly issued a statement on Monday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa regarding the danger that desert locust is posing in the Ethiopian region.
They said unless it is controlled, the problem could expand to Eritrea, Sudan, and Uganda in the region.
Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director of FAO, pleaded to wealthier countries to strengthen support countries in their effort to contain eradicate the problem.
The desert locust outbreak happened at a time when Ethiopia is acting to lessen the impacts of drought, state minister in the ministry of Agriculture, Gebreegziabhier Gebreyohannes said.
Currently, over 130 experts are deployed in the country as part of the effort to spray affected areas using planes.
The Defense Force is celebrating this year as TPLF is organizing military parade in north Ethiopia to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the latter
Photo File / credit : EBC
borkena February 11, 2020
Ethiopia is celebrating National Defense Force day this Saturday, state media Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporate (EBC) reported on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Defense has disclosed this year it will be celebrated with the motto “We will defend the sovereignty of our country and our people’s peace.”
Apart from community consultation and charity works, the celebration will feature a military parade, although it is unclear if the Ministry of defense is televising it live.
The Ministry said that this year’s celebration is one during which all members of the defense force pledge to defend Ethiopia’s sovereignty and peace.
Ethiopia’s political problem led to widespread instability in the country to the point that members of the defense forces are regularly deployed to different parts of the country – especially in Western and Southern Ethiopia, among other areas.
In the Wollega region of Ethiopia, there has been fighting between the Ethiopian Defense Force and the militant wing of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) – a radical Oromo ethnic nationalist organization. The main OLF party based in Addis Ababa distanced itself from the entity that claims to be the military wing. But it accused Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government over what it called “human rights violation” in the region where several government officials were shot dead by the militant group.
In northern Ethiopia, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) – a political entity that is running regional administration is increasingly challenging the authority of the Federal government. Weeks after Debretsion Gebremichael (chairman of TPLF) disclosed about the growing difference with the Federal government,his party organized a military parade in Mekelle this past weekend, which is politically interpreted among politicized Ethiopians.
In the parade, the region’s special forces displayed group weapons apart and individual assault rifles. The military show of power came with the pretext of celebrating the organization’s 45th anniversary. The celebration is still underway, and the final day of celebration is on February 19 (a day on which the organization is believed to be established) – and an even bigger military parade is expected.
TPLF has been undertaking intensive propaganda in the region, painting a picture that Tigray is under siege from a different direction, and the people in the area have to be ready to defend themselves.
In an interview with his country’s state-owned TV last week, Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki said that TPLF is creating an image of Eritrea that is ready to attack the Tigray region.
Ethiopian Prim Minister Abiy Ahmed’s supporters in Jimma opposed what they call hate speech from Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) party leader – Merera Gudia.
The Protest in Jimma. Photo credit : VOA Amharic
borkena February 9, 2020
Tens of thousands of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s supporters took to the street in Jimma, a city located 350 kilometers south of the capital Addis Ababa.
Tsehay Dame, Voice of America Amharic service reporter, said that street running was organized in the city.
Pro- Abiy Ahmed Protestors accuse the leader of the Oromo Federalist Congress, Merara Gudina, of the slur and hate speech directed against people in the Jimma area.
They say Merara said, “it is only the land that is good about Jimma. No People in there.”
But the leader of OFC denies the allegation. He momentarily resigned from ethnic politics and took refuge in his socialist political background. “I was a socialist,” He said. I can not insult anyone, let alone Oromo people.
The protestors also alleged that prime minister Abiy Ahmed is personally insulted because of his identity (Abiy Ahmed was born and grew up in the Jimma area of Ethiopia.)
They say Abiy Ahmed was insulted as “bastard” by Merera Gudina, but again he denies it.
Oromo Federalist Congress has planned a political campaign in Jimma, but the protestors seem to see that as undesirable unless the leaders apologize to the people of Jimma.
In late December 2019, radical ethnic Oromo nationalist activist Jawar Mohammed announced that he joined Merera Gudina’s party. National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) was demanding OFC to produce evidence that Jawar has an Ethiopian citizenship. In response, Jawar said that he has initiated a process to renounce his US citizenship.
Jawar Mohammed, a radical ethnic Oromo-nationalist who became prominent among radicals for his “Oromo First” mantra, had to seek Ethiopian Citizenship to take part in the national election. In 2019, he claimed that he renounced his U.S. Citizenship and joined the Oromo Federalist Congress. His new party claimed that Jawar had become an Ethiopian citizen with a sort of “case is closed” tone. The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), on the other hand, wants the party to produce a supporting document attesting that Jawar is an Ethiopian Citizen. It did not happen, and now NEBE is seeking clarification from Ethiopian Immigration and Nationality Affairs.
borkena February 12, 2020
The controversy between the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) over the issue of Jawar Mohammed’s Citizenship does not seem to be over.
The Board disclosed on Wednesday that it is seeking clarification from Ethiopian Immigration and Nationality Affairs whether a decision was made regarding Jawar’s reinstatement of Ethiopian Citizenship.
On February 11, 2020, NEBE wrote a letter to Ethiopia’s Immigration Department asserting that it has the legal authority (citing proclamation 1133/2011) to register, regulate and follow up political parties,it said that it has a duty to enforce political parties ethics and registration proclamation 1162/2011.
As per the proclamation, membership for regional or national political parties is open only to Ethiopian citizens.
Less two months after 86 people were killed in the Oromo region of Ethiopia in connection with an alleged security threat that Jawar claimed, he announced that he had joined Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC).
In late January 2020, NEBE wrote a letter to OFC demanding document-based verification of Jawar Mohammed’s Ethiopian Citizenship.
The party did respond to NEBE. However, the Board did not get an enclosed document to verify Jawar’s Citizenship. Instead, OFC advanced what sounded like a definitive argument. “Jawar has moved back to Ethiopia [from the United States], renounced his U.S. citizenship and has applied to Ethiopian reinstate Ethiopian Citizenship,” said OFC’s letter.
What used to be a moderate ethnic Oromo Nationalist Party-OFC-went further to tell NEBE that “reinstating Ethiopian Citizenship does not require authorization from any government authority or body as the law does not require it.” The party also expressed that NEBE’s request to OFC to substantiate Jawar’s citizenship claim with a supporting document is inappropriate.
NEBE letter to Ethiopian Immigration and Nationality Affairs indicated that the inquiry letter got four enclosures. Two NEBE letters to OFC, one OFC letter to NEBE, and a Jawar’s letter to NEBE.
NEBE’s letter expressed what seems to be a concern for an administrative and legal procedure that OFC has issued Jawar Mohammed with a political membership I.D. At the same time, that latter was in the process of acquiring Ethiopian Citizenship.
What NEBE inquired from Ethiopian Immigration & Nationality Affairs is :
if a person who has renounced Ethiopian Citizenship could reinstate instantly way without authorization from the immigration authority
To send decision (if there is any) in connection with Ethiopian citizenship reinstatement of Jawar Mohammed
The Board inquired Ethiopia’s immigration department to respond to the issues as mentioned earlier until February 17, 2020.
