Brief: This Week in the Horn

ADDIS ABABA (HAN) July 8.2016. Public Diplomacy & Regional Security News. A Week in the Horn. News in Brief.

Africa and the African Union

The 27th Summit of the African Union is due to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from the 19th to the 18th of July 2016. The theme of the summit is “Year of Human Rights, with a particular focus on the Rights of Women”.

The Executive Secretary of IGAD Ambassador (Eng) Mahboub Maalim and the European Union (EU) Head of Delegation to Djibouti, Ambassador Joseph Silva a Joint Programming Arrangement for the support of the implementation of the third Phase of IGAD Strengthening Action Plan (2016-2020) and IGAD Peace and Security Strategy on Sunday (July3).

Ethiopia

The Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives has approved over 274 billion birr for the coming Ethiopian fiscal year on Tuesday (July 5). On the occasion, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn gave answers to queries from MPs. (See article)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Addis Ababa this week promised to make full use of the potential as well as the creativity of Ethio-Israeli ties. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and the visiting Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu met at the National palace on Thursday (July 07), wherein discussions covered bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. Later on Thursday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives. (See article)

President Mulatu Teshome received Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the National Palace later on Thursday (July 7). Noting that Ethiopia offers profitable business and investment opportunities, the President told Netanyahu that Israeli investors could be successful in such score.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tedros Adhanom met with former Irish president and the Special Envoy of United Nations Secretary General on El-nino and climate change, on Tuesday (July 05). Mrs. Mary Robinson commended the Government of Ethiopia for its unreserved efforts in dealing with the challenge of the El-nino induced drought, adding that Ethiopia’s response to the phenomena can be taken as a significant example to a number of countries across the world.

Ethiopia is particularly pleased to have been elected to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member as this will position the country to be in a far better position to contribute effectively to the lofty goals for which the United Nations was established. (See article)

As part of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s landmark visit to Ethiopia a key Ethio-Israeli Business Forum was held on Thursday (July 7) in Sheraton Addis. (See article)

Ethiopian Chamber of commerce and Israeli Export Institute have signed a key document on July 7, which is believed to enhance the government to business transaction to a higher level. (See article)

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, responding to the award of an honorary degree from Bahir Dar University on July 2 said, “We will continue to work together ever more closely with the people of this great nation.” (See article)

A new World Bank Group report, “2015 Ethiopia Public Expenditure Review” released on Wednesday (July6) said Ethiopia’s investments in health, education, social protection, and infrastructure have had a positive impact on economic development and promoting shared prosperity in the country

Eritrea

The UN Human Rights Council passed a strong resolution referring the report of the Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuse to the United Nations and also asked the AU to investigate Eritrean leaders with a view to bringing to justice those responsible for violations and abuses “including any that may amount to a crime against humanity.” (See article)

This week the Dutch Parliament passed a number of resolutions calling for the Dutch government to control the activities of the Youth wing of the single ruling Eritrean Party, the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (YPFDJ), and of the Eritrean Embassy in the Netherlands. This followed a critical debate on Eritrean activities on in the Dutch Parliament last week. (See article)

Kenya

The United Nations High Commission for refugees on Monday this week (July 4) launched a “verification exercise” to determine how many residents of the Dadaab complex might be Kenya citizens posing as Somali refugees. It hopes to finish the process within two months as part of the efforts to facilitate the return of 150,000 Somalis to Somalia by the end of the year.

Somalia

Somalia celebrated 56 years of independence on Friday last week, (July 1). On July 1st 1960, the then territories of British Somaliland, which had become independent five days earlier, and Italian Somaliland, merged to form the Republic of Somalia. A special ceremony was held at the recently renovated Mogadishu’s Municipal Council building, on Wednesday last week, attended by government officials including President Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdirashid Sharmarke. The President urged the nation to dedicate itself to defending the country’s freedom and sovereignty.

President Mahamoud has again called for Al-Shabaab fighters to stop the killing of “innocent citizens.” In a speech marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, the President called on both leaders and members of Al-Shabaab to lay down their weapons and get back to normal life. He said the government was ready to rehabilitate those who want to denounce the radical ideology and integrate back into the society. “We are calling on them to cross the bridge, so that we can help them reclaim their normal social life,” he said.

Prime Minister Hailemariam told Somalia Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke this week that Ethiopia will consolidate its support for Somalia to build up its military capacity and provide necessary assistance to ensure its own peace and stability.

The African Peace and Security Council meeting last week approved the revised AMISOM Concept of Operations which provides for enhances AMISOM operations and for AMISOM forces to start withdrawing from Somalia in October 2018, and allow AMISOM to hand over to Somali forces by 2020. (See article)

The European Union Special Envoy for Somalia, Ambassador D’Urso of Italy, in an interview this week emphasized the importance of a transparent electoral process, and called for the government to put in place the necessary transparency and accountability mechanisms. (See article)

South Sudan

South Sudan’s Defense Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk on Friday July 8) said five government allied soldiers are killed and one SPLM In Opposition gunman wounded in Thursday evening shootout in South Sudanese capital, Juba.

Following Thursday’s incident, South Sudanese Second Vice President, James Wani, on Wednesday (July 6) has warned of the danger that the country could become ungovernable if the issue of the unknown gunmen is not promptly addressed by the security forces.

Sudan

Leader of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) al-Sadiq al-Mahdi on Wednesday (July 6) said the opposition groups of the Sudan Call forces will likely sign the Roadmap Agreement after a meeting the parties would hold in Addis Ababa during the coming days.

 


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