#Ethiopia: #IGAD chief appeals to gov’t, #OLA to uphold commitment to peace process; optimistic both parties will initiate new round of talks

The Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, appealed “to all involved parties to uphold their commitment to the peace process in the best interest of the people of Ethiopia.”

Dr Workneh made the appeal in a statement issued after the news that the second round peace talks between the Ethiopian government and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) ended Tuesday night without agreement.

IGAD played a key role in facilitating the peace talks that were taking place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Read more at: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1727201520989479206?s=46&t=ofAzVW8-64dDK-xsjodCGA

#Gaza truce agreed; #Palestinian prisoners to be freed

#Israel and #Hamas agree on #Qatar-mediated deal for a four-day truce in Gaza and release of 50 captives held in the enclave. About 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails to be freed as part of the deal.

PM Netanyahu says agreement does not mean war will stop, vows Israeli military will press on after the pause in fighting.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has commended the efforts of Qatar and #Egypt in helping secure the pause in fighting, while renewing calls for a “comprehensive cessation of the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people”.

More than 14,100 people killed in Gaza since 7 October. In Israel, the official death toll from Hamas’s attacks stands at about 1,200.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/11/22/israel-hamas-war-live-israeli-government-to-vote-on-gaza-truce-deal

#Ethiopia-#France: Delegation of French companies to arrive in Ethiopia

Twenty French companies will begin pre-investment screening visits to Ethiopia today. 

The world’s most populous landlocked country has long enjoyed an economic partnership with France. Between 1996-2020 French companies invested USD 84 million there, creating over 4000 jobs. Today’s visits follow those from French Chamber of Commerce officials in June. 

Ethiopia consistently posts strong economic growth rates and boasts a young population eager to work. The country, however, is sliding towards authoritarianism and shifting away from the West. This visit from French CEO’s directly follows Ethiopia’s formal acceptance into the BRICS. 

The BRICS now contain 46% of world population. The group increasingly alters trading patterns and threatens Western-led geopolitical order. 

https://www.foreignbrief.com/delegation-of-french-companies-to-arrive-in-ethiopia/

#Kenya partners with #UNDP and #World_Bank to attract $10bn in #FDI

“To unlock FDI and position Kenya as a competitive investment destination, the National Investment Council, through its Secretariat, the Kenya Investment Authority, has developed an Investment Facilitation Framework to create a transparent, predictable, efficient and trusted mechanism,” Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary of Investment, Trade and Industry, said.

Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, the government in Nairobi has struggled to attract business people from abroad, with FDI inflows going down from $1.1bn in 2019 to just $463m in 2021 before making a shy comeback in 2022 ($759m).

In June 2023, the country’s President William Ruto signed the 2023 Finance Act, which includes a series of tax and regulatory changes aimed at improving the FDI climate. According to the US Department of State, however, US businesses in Kenya continue to face bureaucratic processes and delays in accessing business licenses that allow them to operate in the country. https://www.investmentmonitor.ai/news/kenya-partners-with-undp-world-bank-to-attract-ten-billion-dollars-in-fdi/?cf-view&Top-Article-Share-Button-clicked:%20Share%20on%20X

#Ethiopia: Municipality to outsource services of 46 government institutions

Following a recent decision made by the #Addis_Abeba City Cabinet, the city administration has announced its intention to delegate the services of 46 government institutions to a third party. This includes the issuing, registering, and renewing of business licenses.

Hikma Keyredin, head of the Civil Service and Human Resource Development Bureau, confirmed this decision to the BBC and disclosed that five offices and hospitals under the city administration will be outsourcing some of their services to private institutions. These include trade, transportation, housing development, and management bureaus, as well as the Construction Licensing and Inspection Authority and the Motor Vehicle Licensing and Inspection Authority. Yekatit 12 and Ras Desta Damtew Memorial hospitals are also set to outsource certain services.

Read more at: https://twitter.com/addisstandard/status/1727245494429053290

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#Ethiopia: Three institutions sign agreement to publish first ever officially authorized legal dictionary in #Afaan_Oromoo

The Federal Justice and Law Institute, Addis Abeba University and Justice for All Ethiopia signed an agreement today that will enable them prepare the first ever officially authorized legal dictionary in Afaan Oromoo, state media reported.

The Afaan Oromoo legal dictionary will be prepared at a cost of 10 million birr and is expected to be completed within the next three years, organizers said.

Ambassador Degife Bula, Director General of the Federal Justice and Law Institute, said the Afaan Oromoo legal dictionary was necessitated to avoid misrepresentation of legal words and phrases that occur during the interpretation and understanding of the terms among experts in the field of justice.

Read more at: https://x.com/addisstandard/status/1727295112852418914?s=20

#Ethiopia: Tourism industry, local economy faces major setback with the destruction of #Aksum Airport during the #Tigray war

The Aksum Airport, once a vital hub for tourists, has been reduced to ruins due to the devastating Tigray war, causing distress among locals and impacting the tourism sector. The closure and destruction of the airport have left the city's residents without a crucial link to the outside world, leading to economic crises for individuals and businesses.

The absence of tourists has affected the livelihoods of many, including those selling souvenirs, providing taxi services, and working at hotels and restaurants. The war has also caused damage to infrastructure and services, including telecom and internet connectivity. Stakeholders have voiced concerns about the airport's future and the need for government intervention to revive the tourism industry.

The absence of reliable transportation services has hindered the flow of both local and international tourists to the historic town of Tigray. The impact of the airport's non-operational state has led to social, economic, and psychological problems among residents. The restoration of the airport and tourism industry is crucial for the city to thrive once again.

https://addisstandard.com/in-depth-analysis-tourism-industry-local-economy-faces-major-setback-with-the-destruction-of-aksum-airport-during-the-tigray-war/

#Ethiopia: Four civilians killed in clashes between government forces and #OLA in Sulula Fincha district of #Oromia region

Four civilians tragically lost their lives during clashes between government forces and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in the #Sulula_Fincha district.

A senior manager and employee of Fincha Sugar Factory, located in the conflict area, confirmed the civilian casualties. However, they say normalcy is gradually returning in the area.

The conflict erupted during negotiations aimed at ending the five-year militarized conflict in the Oromia region. Despite hopes for peace, talks have failed for the second time. The federal government and OLA blame each other for the collapse of the negotiations.

https://addisstandard.com/?p=39543&preview=true&_thumbnail_id=39544

#Ethiopia: Clashes disrupt vital medical supplies in #Amhara region, leaving hospitals in distress

Ongoing clashes in the Amhara region have caused severe disruptions in the healthcare sector, leading to acute shortages of medical supplies in hospitals. Health officials have expressed concerns about the scarcity of crucial medicines for chronic illnesses such as diabetes and laboratory diagnostic reagents.

Road closures caused by fighting have prevented the delivery of sufficient resupplies from the federal and regional governments, leaving hospitals in distress. The lack of adequate supplies has also impacted women and children reliant on medically prescribed supplementary feeding programs.

The Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service Agency confirmed the crisis, stating that insecurity has blocked road transport from central warehouses. Conflict-related delays continue to hinder humanitarian access to Amhara cities and towns.

https://addisstandard.com/news-clashes-disrupt-vital-medical-supplies-in-amhara-region-leaving-hospitals-in-distress/

The Indomitable women: a tale of false promise, suffering, and resilience

Many #Ethiopians have traveled to the #Middle_East in search of a better life. Once they reach their destination, they face unimaginable pain and suffering.

This video features the bravery of Ethiopian former domestic workers who endured great ordeals in the Middle East and have never given up to take on another challenge.

Watch as the former domestic workers who graduated after six months of vocational training organized by Egna Le Egna, a multi-national NGO founded by former domestic workers in #Lebanon, dive into their experience of false promises, suffering, and now rejuvenation of hope.

Follow the YouTube link to watch the full video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWe-O6gaDbU

#Ethiopia should not be isolated from activities in the Red Sea region, says top Ethiopian diplomat

While addressing the House of People's Representatives (HPR) Foreign Relations and Peace Standing Committee yesterday, Ambassador Misganu Arga, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, emphasized that Ethiopia should not be isolated from the activities in the #Red_Sea region, as these activities directly or indirectly affect its national interest.

Ambassador Misganu highlighted the importance of safeguarding Ethiopia's national interests in the Red Sea area, which will be one of the key areas of focus in Ethiopia's diplomacy. He also emphasized that the issue of the Red Sea and access to ports should be viewed differently. Explaining his point further, Ambassador Misganu stated that since the Red Sea serves as a vital route for international trade, any adverse impact on its environment would also affect Ethiopia's interests.

Read more at: https://twitter.com/addisstandard/status/1727606900886315396

Commission requires $850 million for ex-combatant rehabilitation in #Ethiopia

The National Rehabilitation Commission (#NRC) has announced that $850 million is required to facilitate the rehabilitation of ex-combatants in Ethiopia. Lulseged Belayneh, the NRC's Communication and International Relations Director, revealed to the Ethiopian News Agency that the commission has registered a total of 371,971 ex-combatants from eight regional states.

The majority, around 274,000 individuals (constituting 75% of the total), are from the #Tigray region, with the remainder distributed across #Amhara, #Oromia, #Benishangul_Gumuz, #Afar, and #Gambella regions.

Lulseged further disclosed that the NRC originally planned to rehabilitate 50,000 ex-combatants in the Tigray region last year. However, due to an inability to secure the necessary funding of $162 million, the commission was unable to execute this plan.

This lack of funding has hindered the progress of ex-combatants' reintegration efforts, as highlighted in a recent article published by Addis Standard. The article shed light on the challenges faced by ex-fighters in the Tigray region, where thousands are still awaiting their certificates, including disabled combatants.

For more information on the challenges faced by ex-fighters in Tigray and the current state of the rehabilitation program, you can follow the link to read the full article.

https://addisstandard.com/feature-a-year-after-pretoria-peace-agreement-challenges-persist-in-rehabilitation-of-tigrays-ex-fighters/

Op-ed: Revisiting Ethiopian quest for reclamation of maritime sovereignty on the Red Sea coast: A blueprint for #Ethiopian-#Eritrean international legal encounter

The writer of this Op-ed argues that Ethiopian actual loss of control and use of the (Red) Sea outlet does not necessarily result in a permanent loss in the legal right to assert, litigate, and reclaim the maritime sovereignty that is in question.

The author however believes that PM Abiy Ahmed’s current approach is “misguided and fatal”. For example, “offering shares, such as, in #Ethiopian_Airlines, Ethio telecom, or the #GERD to #Red_Sea Coastal states in exchange for a coastal land are unveiling the level of belittling and reductionist approach of Ethiopian maritime sovereignty question,” he writes.

The writer dives deep into history, conceivability of International Legal Dispute and the incumbent’s stewardship for an international legal battling, among other issues.

A must read!

https://addisstandard.com/revisiting-ethiopian-quest-for-reclamation-of-maritime-sovereignty-on-the-red-sea-coast-a-blueprint-for-ethiopian-eritrean-international-legal-encounter/

From #Ethiopia to #South_Africa: The human cost of a neglected migration route

Recently, tragedy struck as 29 Ethiopian men suffocated in the back of a truck and were hastily buried in shallow graves in #Malawi. These men were victims of a transnational smuggling network that funnels tens of thousands of people into southern #Africa each year, with little regard for their safety.

The deceased, still to be identified, had come from southern Ethiopia and had hoped to reach South Africa for work. This southern migration route is often overlooked by experts and aid agencies, leading to a lack of support for comprehensive data and research along this route. The dangers of the journey are considerable, with travelers being packed in airless fuel tankers and containers, and facing threats of violence, extortion, and kidnapping.

The dehumanizing nature of the business is evident as smugglers commonly refer to migrants as "goods". This emerging picture of a booming organized crime business is having a growing political and economic impact in countries along the corridor's path.

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2023/11/22/ethiopia-south-africa-human-cost-neglected-south-south-migration-route

#Ethiopia: A year after peace agreement, suffering continues in #Tigray

Reconstruction also lags. More than 80% of the region’s health buildings, water infrastructure and schools were damaged during the war. Thieves looted shops and stripped factories of machinery and raw materials.

“The destruction in Tigray is so massive and it is easier to count what survived the war than to enumerate the destroyed sections of the social and economic infrastructure,” Dr. Mulugeta Gebrehiwot, a former director of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies at Addis Abeba University, wrote in an article for the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University.

But Mulugeta pointed out that little money has been set aside for reconstruction. He said the federal budget passed in 2023 allocates less money to Tigray than the region received before the war and does not include money specifically for reconstruction. “It looks as though the Federal Government is going to pass the responsibility of reconstruction to the international community,” he wrote.

Security also remains a challenge. In October, the United Nations’ Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide warned that “atrocity crimes,” such as ethnic killings and sexual violence, continue in Tigray. Despite the peace deal calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops, Eritrean forces still occupy areas near the border. https://adf-magazine.com/2023/11/a-year-after-peace-agreement-suffering-continues-in-tigray/

Torrential rain, floods wreak havoc across East #Africa

Heavy rains and floods have caused devastation across eastern Africa, killing at least 179 people in #Ethiopia, #Kenya and #Somalia. The region was already struggling with drought, and now heavy rains have caused even more destruction. The United Nations has attributed the heavy rains to climatic events such as the El Niño phenomenon and the Indian Ocean Dipole.

In Somalia, where the floods have affected 1.7 million people, the government declared a state of emergency in October. The floods have killed at least 96 people in the country, including children. In Kenya, the heavy downpours have killed more than 60 people and displaced thousands.

The floods have damaged homes, bridges, and schools, and aid agencies are warning of an uptick in disease outbreaks. With bridges down and road networks largely impassable, the authorities are worried about their ability to rescue displaced people or deliver food assistance.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/23/world/africa/rain-floods-kenya-somalia-ethiopia.html

#Ethiopia: Ministry extends registration deadline for #Khat exporters to accommodate revised requirements

The Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration has granted a 15-day extension to the registration deadline for Khat exporters, who must undergo a new and rigorous registration process. The new pre-license requirements were introduced on 08 October, 2023, and are applicable to both existing exporters and those interested in entering the khat export industry. The initial deadline of 25 November, 2023, has now been extended to 10 December, 2023.

In light of concerns raised by the local business community and the desire to involve more exporters in the registration process, the Ministry has decided to push the deadline further. By doing so, officials aim to accommodate all exporters who meet the revised requirements and wish to register. The ministry has warned that exporters failing to meet the extended deadline will not receive any services related to registration and licensing.

Two weeks ago, Addis Standard published an article that shed light on the difficulties faced by khat exporters in Ethiopia when trying to fulfill the rigorous registration process. The article emphasized the challenges of meeting the mandatory pre-licensing requirements, such as the need for transport vehicles equipped with GPS trackers and the generation of at least $500,000 in foreign currency as export revenue in the previous fiscal year.

For more information, please follow the link to read the full article.

https://addisstandard.com/news-analysis-ethiopian-khat-exporters-navigate-strict-pre-licensing-requirements-amidst-call-for-oversight-increased-revenue/