By Andualem Sisay Gessesse (Marrakech, Morocco)- The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva today said the Fund is currently looking into the debt restructure ng request of Ethiopia under the

South Africa, one of Israel’s fiercest critics on the continent, is also its biggest trading partner in Africa – by far. Of that, nearly two-thirds were traded with South Africa, followed by Nigeria, with which Israel traded goods worth $129m in 2021. South Africa also trades with Palestine, with Palestinian exports of olive oils and other edibles jumping 34 percent between 2009 and 2021. Although the request was granted, Israel’s status was suspended this February, after Algeria and South Africa protested the move. “As we speak, South Africa does not have an ambassador in Israel,” he pointed out.

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services, the largest air cargo network operator in Africa, has been crowned once again with two Prestigious Awards at the Air Cargo News Awards 2023. The Air Cargo News Awards ceremony was held at the Hilton Syon Park, London. “We are pleased to be crowned with two titles at the Air Cargo News Awards 2023,” Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said today. The carrier has been crowned with multiple prestigious awards including Cargo Airline of the Year-Africa’ at the 2023 Freight Week Sustainability Awards, ‘African Cargo Airline of the Year & Air Cargo Brand of the Year in Africa 2023’ from STAT Trade Times Cargo Excellence Awards. Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services is one of the major strategic business units within the Ethiopian Airlines Group.

He disclosed that a decision was made to give the Supreme Court a 17-storey under-construction building in the Arat Kilo neighborhood. The building has been center of several controversial incidents since then, which began with the revocation of the contractor’s agreement by the Federal Building Construction Project Office due to delays. The Project Office oversees the construction of the federal government’s building properties under the Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure. The advance payment guaranteeing body, Enat Bank, and the Project Office are still going back and forth regarding the repayment of the money, sources at the Project Office disclosed. The fate of the current headquarter is unknown, once the Supreme Court HQ moves to Arat Kilo.

The results of the national school leaving examination results announced this week by the Ministry of Education have once again shaken Ethiopians to the core. Experts in the field have contended that Ethiopia’s education policy, which has been in force since 1994, is one of the major factors behind the nation’s poor education quality, pointing that the focus on expanding access to education at the price of quality. As controversial as the national school leaving exam results understandably are, the solution is not and cannot be to ascribe blame solely to previous governments. Should all the actors that have a stake in the education sector are truly desirous to overcoming the fundamental reasons explaining the plethora of challenges that account for this year’s horrendous showing and put their heads together, they can make a headway into fixing Ethiopia’s poor education quality. It’s only then that an enduring solution which helps usher in a new era of quality education can become a reality.

Ethiopia: Victims ‘Left In Limbo’ As Rights Probe Mandate EndsThe UN-mandated Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia on Friday released a harrowing report on the “staggering” level of human rights violations and mass killings that have plagued the east African nation since the Tigray conflict erupted in 2020. The independent rights investigators’ final report comes as their mandate ended on Friday, coinciding with the end of the UN Human Rights Council’s 54th session, leaving victims in limbo. Steven Rather, an expert on the Commission, described the termination of the mandate as a “great blow” to victims seeking justice. This includes mass killings, widespread and systematic rape, sexual violence - including sexual slavery, deliberate starvation, forced displacement, and large-scale arbitrary detentions, all of which constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Some Tigray forces are also culpable for war crimes, including killings, widespread rape and sexual violence, destruction of property, and looting.

In such a peace, Ethiopians accept as their own the needs and interests of the rulers. This is the “peace of the grave.” Peace is reduced to the mere absence of physical violence. The Amhara, indeed all Ethiopians, will never accept the “peace of the grave.” Peace is possible only and only when the Abiy/PP regime recognizes the “peace of the living” as the only kind of peace that the Amhara will accept. It is imperative that those who want to mediate in order to bring peace and unity to Ethiopia keep in mind the difference between the “peace of the living” and the “peace of the grave.” The peace and unity of the grave is neither peace nor unity of the living. All Ethiopians desire fervently the “peace of the living” but categorically reject the “peace of the grave.” The answer to the introductory question then is: peace is possible in Ethiopia as long as it is the “peace of the living.”

The independent rights investigators' final report comes as their mandate ended on Friday, coinciding with the end of the UN Human Rights Council's 54th session, leaving victims in limbo. Established by the Council in December 2021, their brief from the Council was to conduct through and impartial investigations into alleged human rights violations in Ethiopia, perpetrated by all parties to the conflict since 3 November 2020. Steven Rather, an expert on the Commission, described the termination of the mandate as a "great blow" to victims seeking justice. This includes mass killings, widespread and systematic rape, sexual violence - including sexual slavery, deliberate starvation, forced displacement, and large-scale arbitrary detentions, all of which constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Some Tigray forces are also culpable for war crimes, including killings, widespread rape and sexual violence, destruction of property, and looting.

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The Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital of the Bahir Dar University has been compelled to halt its operations due to the ongoing conflict in the region, BBC Amharic reported. The BBC, citing both hospital staff and the university president, reported that the hospital has ceased its regular operations. One hospital worker told the media outlet that the fire was opened on security forces who were operating in the area, leading them to enter the hospital in response. Security forces were entering the hospital and detaining patients, accusing them of being affiliated with Fano, according to multiple sources. One health worker was shot and is currently receiving treatment at a clinic.”Tibebe Ghion stands as one of the key specialized hospitals in Bahir Dar, operating alongside Felege Hiwot comprehensive specialized hospital.

It also appealed for support to close the remaining gaps and to ensure that children and their caregivers receive lifesaving support in 2023 and beyond. On Thursday, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that a funding shortfall is hampering its humanitarian response amid mounting humanitarian needs across Ethiopia. The UNICEF said in its latest Ethiopia humanitarian situation report that its 674.3 million U.S. dollars Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) 2023 Appeal for Ethiopia remains 72 percent unfunded, as humanitarian needs persist among vulnerable populations across the East African country, particularly those in hard-to-reach locations. It also appealed for support to close the remaining gaps and to ensure that children and their caregivers receive lifesaving support in 2023 and beyond. pic.twitter.com/dMz3aPMrjH — UNICEF Ethiopia (@UNICEFEthiopia) October 12, 2023Amid mounting humanitarian needs in Ethiopia, as of Sept. 30, a total of 24,929 confirmed cholera cases had been reported in Ethiopia's longest cholera outbreak on record, said the UNICEF, adding that 327 people had died across 10 regions.

Islamabad:The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and Pakistan have agreed on the formation of a Joint Working Group (JWG) in order to pursue and coordinate collaboration between the two countries in the education sector. During the meeting, both dignitaries discussed matters of mutual interest including bilateral cooperation in the education sector especially in areas of higher education and vocational training. On the occasion, the Minister said that a Joint Working Group would be formulated which could pave the way for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries. Ambassador Jemal Beker Abdula welcomed the idea of the formation of a Joint Working Group and stressed the need for exchanging experts’ delegations for advancing the cooperation in the education sector. He said his country was keen to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the education sector and would make all-out efforts in this regard.

Ethiopian authorities said in August that China was allowing Ethiopia to suspend debt payments for the fiscal year running until July 7, 2024. "The Chinese authorities have already provided debt relief to Ethiopia and we understand that they're in the process of requesting a similar treatment from other creditors. "There is a debt service suspension with China, which is providing substantial relief," she said, adding that this was the agreement announced in August. A visit by IMF staff to Ethiopia from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3 ended without a loan agreement. Ethiopia regularly suffers from foreign exchange shortages and a wide gap between the official and black market currency exchange rates.

Invest in global cooperation, economic foundations – IMFBy Andualem Sisay Gessesse (Marrakech, Morocco) – The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Ms. Kristalina Georgieva today calls for the need to invest in global cooperation and economic foundations in order to address the pressing issues of the world. She made the remark speaking at the plenary session of the annual meetings of the IMF/World Bank in Marrakech, Morocco this morning. The recent Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable established by Indian G-20 Presidency, the IMF and the World Bank is brining all relevant creditors and debtors together. It is showing results and promise for the future,” she said mentioning as an example of what can be done through global cooperation. In relation to investment in economic foundations, she mentioned the example of Morocco’s government investment in economic foundations that has managed to cope up with the recent earthquake in Marrakech where the annual meetings IMF/WB taking place.

The independent rights investigators’ final report comes as their mandate ended on Friday, coinciding with the end of the UN Human Rights Council’s 54th session, leaving victims in limbo. Steven Rather, an expert on the Commission, described the termination of the mandate as a “great blow” to victims seeking justice. This includes mass killings, widespread and systematic rape, sexual violence - including sexual slavery, deliberate starvation, forced displacement, and large-scale arbitrary detentions, all of which constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Some Tigray forces are also culpable for war crimes, including killings, widespread rape and sexual violence, destruction of property, and looting. He called on the international community, including regional actors, to not forget the victims of the brutal conflict.