Opinion: Negotiating Peace: Lessons from Ethiopia-Eritrea peacemaking
Habitually, peace negotiations are often bogged down with the mundane tasks of the agenda, procedure and protocol issues instead of substance. Hosting the Eritrean delegation, the prime minister and his team showed genuine desire to welcome the delegation with open arms. When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived at the Asmara Airport on July 8, 2018 the tone was already set. Public diplomacyFor peace negotiations to be successful and enduring, they have to be much more than handshakes and smiles between the leaders. As Prime minister Abiy Ahmed repeatedly articulated it through ‘Medemer’[3] or ‘coming together’ that the intractable national and regional challenges would be addressed.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 30, 2018 12:14 UTC
Viettel eyes Ethiopia telecoms sector as government opens market, Telecom News, ET Telecom
By Joe BavierJOHANNESBURG: Vietnam 's state-owned telecom company Viettel is eyeing opportunities in Ethiopia, a company official said on Monday, after the government there announced its intention to liberalise key economic sectors including telecommunications.The Ethiopian government announced last month it plans to open up Ethiopian Airlines, the state logistics firm and the power monopoly to private investment. But the state telecommunications monopoly is seen as the biggest prize due to its huge protected market.The plan is still in its early stages, but scenarios outlined by the authorities include the sale of a minority stake in state-owned Ethio Telecom, the granting of licences to new operators or a combination of both. "With the experiences of Viettel over the years, the option of granting a new operation licence will create better competition for telcos which is also the option that we prefer," a company representative told Reuters.Viettel currently operates or holds licenses in African markets including Mozambique, Burundi , Cameroon and Tanzania The official said even if the Ethiopia initially opts to only sell a stake in Ethio Telecom, which boasts over 60 million mobile subscribers, Viettel could still be interested. "If Ethiopian government offers the clear and sensitive option for selling of Ethio Telecom's shares, Viettel will still thoroughly consider this option if it is suitable with Viettel's investment strategies," the official said.Other foreign telecoms companies that have expressed their interest in one of Africa's last remaining monopoly markets include Johannesburg-listed MTN and France's Orange .Reuters reported this month that Kenya's Safaricom , whose parents are South Africa's Vodacom and Britain's Vodafone , is in advanced talks to introduce its popular M-Pesa mobile money service there.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 30, 2018 10:52 UTC
Seychelles showcased at Spotlight on Africa Travel Workshops in two East African cities
The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) was represented at two Spotlight on Africa Travel Workshops in July. STB attended the 2018 edition of the Spotlight on Africa Travel Workshops organized by Houston Travel Marketing Services in Nairobi, Kenya and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For STB, the Spotlight on Africa Workshops provided another opportunity to boost awareness of the destination on the African continent. The Seychelles team in Nairobi comprised of STB’s Senior Marketing Executive, Natacha Servina, and the Seychelles’ tourism ambassador in Kenya, Popsy Getonga. The organisers have said that the 2018 Spotlight on Africa workshops was a huge success.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 30, 2018 07:30 UTC
Ethiopian Prime Minister to UAE’s Crown Prince: ‘You have lost Islam’
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, was put in an uncomfortable situation by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali when he asked him to support the establishment of an Islamic institute in Addis Ababa. pic.twitter.com/txljwR9NJB — #إثيوبيا بالعربي🇪🇹 (@AR_Ethiopia) July 27, 2018This is not the first Ethiopian insult to Abu Dhabi. In mid-July, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry denied UAE’s claims about playing the role of a mediator with Eritrea regarding its 20-year-long conflict. The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Meles Alem, stressed that the Asmara agreement has been signed recently with Eritrea is in the interests of both countries and occurred without the mediation of any third party. The clarification of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs came as a response to UAE media news outlets which gave credit to the UAE and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the completion of the reconciliation.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 30, 2018 01:02 UTC
Ethiopian prime minister set to speak in Minneapolis
The prime minister of Ethiopia made international headlines earlier this month as he advanced a peace deal with the neighboring nation of Eritrea, a longtime rival. And on Monday, he's scheduled to speak in Minneapolis. Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki (left) is welcomed upon arrival in Addis Ababa by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on July 14, 2018. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is photographed on June 20, 2018, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Abiy is scheduled to speak at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Target Center, with doors opening at noon.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 30, 2018 00:45 UTC
Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed to visit Minneapolis Monday
The prime minister of Ethiopia, Dr. Abiy Ahmed will speak at Target Center in Minneapolis on Monday as part of a three-city visit to the United StatesHis visit is aimed at boosting the involvement of the Ethiopian diaspora living in the U.S. in the ongoing reforms, development and democratization in Ethiopia, according to Ethiopia’s ministry of foreign affairs. Abiy is Ethiopia’s first leader from the Oromo ethnic group, which represents about one-third of Ethiopia’s population. He took over as prime minister in February when the previous leader, Hailemariam Desalegn, unexpectedly resigned. Abiy spoke in Washington on Saturday, and the Ethiopian Embassy called the event “very successful” in a Facebook post. Mark Dayton, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey will greet the prime minister and his delegation upon their arrival at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Monday morning.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 29, 2018 23:26 UTC
Ethiopia: Thousands pay tribute to Grand Renaissance dam engineer
Thousands of people have gathered in Addis Ababa to pay their respects to the project manager of a controversial dam being built by Ethiopia along the Nile river, according to state media. Police said a gunshot took the life of the engineer but have not given any other details. Thousands of people also gathered in central Addis Ababa to pay their respects to the fallen engineer. Under a new 2015-2020 development plan, Addis Ababa wants to raise power generation to 17,346MW from a current capacity of just over 4,300MW from hydropower, wind and geothermal sources. In June, the leaders of Ethiopia and Egypt vowed to iron out their differences peacefully.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 29, 2018 18:33 UTC
Police fire tear gas at protesters during state funeral for Ethiopia's Grand Dam engineer
The scene at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa during a state funeral for Semegnew Bekele. "They (the police) started throwing tear gas in between people. It was the first time I had seen tear gas," Teshome said. A handful of people were rushed to a hospital after being sprayed with tear gas, witnesses told CNN. Rally quickly disperses at Meskel Square after police throw tear gas into the crowd.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 29, 2018 17:15 UTC
Hundreds protest delays in final Ethiopian immigration
Dear Reader, As you can imagine, more people are reading The Jerusalem Post than ever before. Nevertheless, traditional business models are no longer sustainable and high-quality publications, like ours, are being forced to look for new ways to keep going. Several hundred people demonstrated outside the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on Sunday to protest ongoing delays in bringing the remainder of the so-called Falash Mura community still in Ethiopia to Israel. I call on the government to fulfill its decision which was made unanimously. The time has come to implement the decision and bring the remainder of the Ethiopian Jews to Israel, who have been waiting for many years to see their family members.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 29, 2018 16:53 UTC
Ethiopia buries slain engineer of Grand Renaissance dam
Ethiopia staged the funeral on Sunday of the chief engineer of a controversial project to dam the Blue Nile who was shot dead this week, state media reported. "Residents of Addis Ababa, his relatives and families, as well as senior government officials, including President Mulatu Teshome and Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen (attended) the funeral ceremony," state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported. On Sunday, thousands of people gathered in the square to pay their respects to the fallen engineer. The $4bn Grand Renaissance Dam, being built near the country's western border with Sudan, will be Africa's largest when completed, producing 6 000 megawatts - roughly equivalent to six large nuclear reactors. * Sign up to News24's top Africa news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO THE HELLO AFRICA NEWSLETTERFOLLOW News24 Africa on Twitter and Facebook.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 29, 2018 16:52 UTC
Ethiopia Prime Minister Seeks to ‘Bridge’ Gap to Diaspora
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has made his first visit to the United States, speaking to thousands of members of the diaspora in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The trip coincides with the recent easing of tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea. From Washington, VOA’s Jill Craig has more.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 29, 2018 15:45 UTC
Ethiopian dam engineer Simegnew Bekele's funeral draws thousands
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Thousands of people came together in the capital, Addis AbabaEthiopian police have fired tear gas to keep back thousands of people who gathered to pay their final respects to the chief engineer of a controversial dam project. It is not clear if his death was connected to the $4bn (£3bn) Grand Renaissance Dam project. Mr Simegnew's death prompted an outpouring of grief. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Simegnew Bekele's coffin was draped in the Ethiopian flagImage copyright Reuters Image caption For many the engineer had come to represent the country's ambitionsAs news of Mr Simegnew's death spread on Thursday, there was a spontaneous demonstration outside the state broadcaster's offices in Addis Ababa, with people calling for "justice for the engineer". According to pro-opposition Ethiopia Live Updates, the crowd had been calling for the arrest of those who killed Mr Simegnew.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 29, 2018 15:11 UTC
Ethiopia Invites Investment from Diaspora, and Beyond
In the midst of unprecedented political and social reforms, Ethiopia has a message for its diaspora: The country is open for business. At a dinner Friday for the Ethiopian business community at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed highlighted opportunities in Ethiopia and urged the diaspora to come back and invest. ‘Time to get together’Fitsum Arega, Abiy’s chief of staff, told VOA that differences have held Ethiopia back for too long, and the moment has come for communication that builds understanding. “Every time an Ethiopian leader came to America,” Mehabub told VOA, “we’d go against him. Diasporan roleOfficials hope many will invest in Ethiopia, but they see a special role for the diaspora.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 29, 2018 14:55 UTC
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Engineer laid to rest at Selassie
bokenaJuly 29,2018Updated July 29,2018 at 11:37 local timeGrand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Engineer, Simegnew Bekele, is laid to rest at Kidist Selassie Menbere Tsebaot Church (the Holy Trinity Cathedral) in the capital Addis Ababa, this afternoon, local time. “Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam is considered to be his [Simegnew Bekele’] child. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who spoke to a huge crowd at Walter E. Washington Convention center, in the United States’ yesterday said “It was possible to kill Engineer Simegnew. But no one can stop Ethiopia from finishing the Renaissance Dam project.”Other senior government officials seem to believe that the engineer was killed by forces enemies of Ethiopia, which makes the death of the engineer an outright assassination. Engineer Simegnew Bekele is survived by two sons and a daughter.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 29, 2018 14:16 UTC
Protests as Ethiopia holds funeral for Nile dam engineer
Ethiopia is holding a funeral ceremony for one of its greatest engineers, Simegnew Bekele. pic.twitter.com/WcAiKLrQwO — Abebe Abebayehu (@AbebeAbebayehu) July 29, 2018In pictures: Funeral service to Simegnew Bekele (Eng. Our thoughts and prayers are with Engineer Simegnew Bekele’s family, friends and loved ones. Police investigates possible murderMany people have averred that Simegnew Bekele had been murdered, though there was no immediate confirmation from the authorities, or details of any motive. “We have confirmed that engineer Simegnew Bekele was shot dead … He had a bullet wound behind his right ear,” the head of Ethiopia’s Federal Police Commission, Zeinu Jemal, told reporters.
Source:Ethiopian News
July 29, 2018 12:26 UTC