Diplomatic Briefing
Your exclusive news aggregator handpicked daily!Archive for Ethiopia
Newsline: Senior Israeli diplomat removed from African Union’s summit
A senior Israeli diplomat was on Saturday ejected from the African Union’s annual summit in Ethiopia, as a dispute over Israel’s accreditation to the bloc escalated. Images posted online showed AU security personnel confronting the diplomat during the opening ceremony of the summit, before she left the auditorium. “Israel looks harshly upon the incident in which the deputy director for Africa, Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li, was removed from the African Union hall despite her status as an accredited observer with entrance badges,” the foreign ministry said. Ebba Kalondo, the spokesperson for the African Union’s commission chairman, said the diplomat had been removed because she was not the duly accredited Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, the official who was expected. But Israel blamed the incident on South Africa and Algeria, two key nations in the 55-nation bloc, saying they were holding the AU hostage, and were driven by “hate”. “We call on the countries of Africa to stand up against these actions that harm the organization of the African Union itself and the entire continent,” the Israeli foreign ministry said. South Africa rejected the claim, saying Israel’s application for observer status at the AU has not been decided upon by the bloc. “Until the AU takes a decision on whether to grant Israel observer status, you cannot have the country sitting and observing,” Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy in South Africa’s department of international relations, told Reuters. (https://neuters.de/world/africa/top-israeli-diplomat-ejected-au-summit-row-escalates-2023-02-18/) South Africa’s ruling party has historically been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause.
Newsline: Diplomats say peace talks in Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict delayed
African Union-sponsored peace talks to resolve Ethiopia’s two year-long Tigray conflict will not take place as planned this weekend, diplomatic sources told The Associated Press on Friday. (https://www.news10.com/news/international/ap-peace-talks-in-ethiopian-conflict-are-delayed-diplomats-say/) Ethiopia’s federal government on Wednesday said it had accepted an invitation from the chair of the African Union Commission to attend the peace talks in South Africa. The Tigray authorities said they were ready to send negotiators but sought clarity on the structure of the talks, having previously insisted on the participation of international officials as observers. The Tigray authorities also sought security assurances for their travel. The diplomatic sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said logistical issues were partly to blame for the delay. They said the format of the talks had not been agreed upon. No new date has been set. The AU has said the talks are due to be led by AU special envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, supported by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, a former deputy president of South Africa.
Newsline: Ethiopia summons U.S. ambassador over Trump comments in dam dispute
Ethiopia on Saturday summoned the U.S. ambassador over what it called an “incitement of war” between Ethiopia and Egypt from President Donald Trump over their dispute about the filling and operation of a massive hydropower dam. Trump called on Friday for an agreement between the countries, but added it was a dangerous situation and that Cairo could end up “blowing up that dam”. Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Minister Gedu Andargachew summoned U.S. Ambassador to Addis Ababa Mike Raynor to seek clarifications on the comments. “The incitement of war between Ethiopia and Egypt from a sitting U.S. president neither reflects the longstanding partnership and strategic alliance between Ethiopia and the United States nor is acceptable in international law governing interstate relations,” Gedu’s ministry said in a statement. (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-ethiopia/ethiopia-summons-us-ambassador-over-trump-comments-in-dam-dispute-idUSKBN2790C0) Trump made the comments during a call with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok following Sudan and Israel’s announcement to normalise ties. Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have been locked in a bitter dispute over the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which remains unresolved although the reservoir behind the dam began filling in July. Trump said on Friday he had brokered an agreement to resolve the issue but that Ethiopia had broken the pact, forcing him to cut funds, adding: “They will never see that money unless they adhere to the agreement … You can’t blame Egypt for being a little upset.” He said he had also urged Egypt to resolve the dispute.
Newsline: U.S. embassy in Ethiopia defends closure over planned protests
The United States embassy in Ethiopia has closed its doors today (September 19) over what it said was an abundance of caution in the light of large scale demonstrations expected in Addis Ababa. The embassy subsequently announced a cancellation of all services and appointments asking the public to reschedule their appointments via the website. “Americans requiring emergency assistance should visit the U.S. Embassy website for contact information. Additionally, the American Center in Addis Ababa and the Satchmo Center at the U.S. Embassy will be closed tomorrow. “We encourage all those involved in the demonstrations to express themselves peacefully,” the statement issued on Tuesday concluded. Ethiopians online questioned the basis of the Embassy’s information about a protest to which they issued a response on Wednesday morning. “Regarding Q’s about decision to close our Embassy today-when we receive info we have to make decisions about security even if info is not specific. US law requires us to share that decision publicly. We decided to be cautious. We hope today is calm & peaceful in Addis,” the embassy said in a tweet.
http://www.africanews.com/2018/09/19/us-embassy-in-ethiopia-defends-closure-over-planned-protests/
Newsline: Ethiopia reopens embassy in Eritrea amid thaw in ties
Ethiopia has reopened its embassy in Eritrea after a 20-year hiatus, in a further sign of improving relations between the neighbours who signed a peace accord earlier this year. A brief reopening ceremony in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, on Thursday was attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki and senior officials of both countries, according to state-affiliated Ethiopian Fana Broadcasting. Redwan Hussein was named the new Ethiopian ambassador. Since signing an agreement in Asmara to restore ties on July 9, leaders from both countries have moved swiftly to sweep away two decades of hostility that followed the conflict in 1998. In July, Eritrea reopened its embassy in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, and named an ambassador to represent it.
Newsline: Ethiopia to reopen embassy in Eritrea
Ethiopia will also reopen its embassy in neighbouring Eritrea at a yet to be announced date, the country’s Minister for Government Communications Affairs, Ahmed Shide, said in a tweet. The Minister cited an official of the foreign affairs ministry as stating that aside the reopening of the embassy in Asmara, Ethiopia was also working to fully implement the terms of a recently signed pece deal between the two nations. Eritrea on Monday opened its embassy in Addis Ababa after the facility was closed down two decades ago when the two countries engaged in a border war that killed thousands. The reopening was witnessed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki.
http://www.africanews.com/2018/07/18/ethiopia-to-reopen-embassy-in-eritrean-capital-asmara/
Newsline: Eritrea to reopen embassy in Ethiopia’s capital on Sunday
Eritrea will reopen its embassy in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on Sunday, Ethiopia’s state-affiliated broadcaster said on Friday, before a visit by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki. Fana Broadcasting quoted government spokesman Ahmed Shide as saying the Eritrean Embassy would be operational on Sunday.
Newsline: Ethiopia recalls embassy staffer in Ankara who ‘threatened to start war with Turkey’
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry on Dec. 1 stated that it recalled an embassy employee in Ankara who was reportedly drunk and threatened police officers that he would “start a war” between Ethiopia and Turkey after getting involved in a traffic accident, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. The ministry said in a statement that Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu instructed the formation of a committee to investigate the incident. It also said the embassy staffer returned to the country on suspicion of misconduct and the ministry was also weighing on imposing sanctions on the official after they shed light on the incident. The official had reportedly refused to take an alcohol test after the accident. He also reportedly vowed to “ignite a diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Ethiopia.” One of the eyewitnesses, whose car was hit and damaged by the official, also said the suspect threatened to “start a war” with Turkey.
Newsline: Drunk Ethiopian embassy official threatens to ‘start war’ with Turkey
An official from the Ethiopian Embassy in Ankara, who was reportedly drunk, threatened police officers that he would “start a war” between Ethiopia and Turkey after getting involved in two traffic accidents on Nov. 26. Police officers were dispatched to the scene after the accidents as the official, whose identity remains undisclosed, reportedly refused to take an alcohol test. After police arrived, the official reportedly vowed to “ignite a diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Ethiopia.” One of the eyewitnesses, local man Burak Ayaydın, whose car was hit and damaged by the official, said the suspect threatened to “start a war” with Turkey. “This person hit another car down the road. Then he drove off and hit us … It looked like he was drunk,” Ayaydın said.
Newsline: Somalians protest at Ethiopia embassy in UK over prisoner transfer
Somalians resident in the United Kingdom on Tuesday held a protest outside the Ethiopian embassy in the country demanding that their country’s sovereignty be respected. The protest was in response to a recent decision of Somali authorities to transfer a citizen to Ethiopia. Scores of protesters with placards assembled in front of the Ethiopia embassy in London in what was a peaceful protest. Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “The Somali people are not a commodity to be sold, I am Qalbi Dagax,” “Ethiopia must respect Somalia’s sovereignty! Stop interfering with our Somali government.”
Diplomatic Briefing 