Emir of the State of Qatar, Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani will officially visit Ethiopia for two days starting from 10th April 2017, the Embassy of Qatar said.
It will be the first for the Emir to visit Ethiopia since he took power in 2013.The visit is part of the Emir’s tour to several African countries.
During his a two-day stay in Addis, Emir of Qatar is expected to attend a bilateral discussion with Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn and Ethiopia’s President Mulatu Teshome (PhD) on ways of furthering the ever-growing ties between the two countries and the means of enhancing cooperation in various sectors in addition to regional and international issues of mutual interest, the Qatar Embassy in Addis Ababa said in a statement sent to The Reporter
Talks are also expected to focus on economic and political issues as well as trade and investment. Furthermore, several agreements and MoUs are likely to be singed at the conclusion of the Emir’s state-visit. (Press Release)
Ethiopia sees influx of South Sudanese refugees
The number of South Sudanese refugees sheltered in Ethiopia’s southwest region of Gambella has reached over 366,000, almost matching the size of the local population.
“In March alone, 16,274 South Sudanese refugees arrived,” Kisut Gebregziabher, UNHCR spokesman in Ethiopia said.
“It is threefold the number registered in the previous month of February,” Kisut said.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in South Sudan’s conflict which erupted after a political fallout between President Salva Kiir and his then deputy Riek Machar (PhD).
Nearly half South Sudan’s population faces acute food shortages in a country which boasts the third-biggest oil reserves in Africa.
Ethiopia currently hosts almost 830,000 refugees of which those from South Sudan account for 44 percent.
“Some 65 percent of the total registered new arrivals since September 2016 are children, including 17,709 unaccompanied and separated children,” Gebregziabher said.
Only six percent of the 157.7 million US dollars funding total requested by the UNHCR had been met, he said. (Anadolu)
Somalia president offers amnesty to Al-Shabaab militants
Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo” has declared war against Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab, in what is being seen as a key moment in his four month-old presidency.
He announced an amnesty of 60 days for militants to surrender, in exchange for training, employment and education.
It comes a day after a suicide attack near a government building in Mogadishu that killed seven people and a spate of kidnappings of aid workers by armed militants in the drought-hit country.
“Terror attacks have become frequent and all Somali forces were on the state of alertness to combat insecurity and terror” he said.
He also said that he had replaced senior security officers in the intelligence service and police force to prepare for the escalating war against the militants.
Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre also said that the new measures would be implemented in Mogadishu and other main regions.
Analysts think the new measure is about reinforcing gains made by UN mission in Somalia, AMISOM and Somalia forces. (BBC)
EHRC prepares human rights violation monitoring, investigation manual
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has prepared a draft manual which helps to monitor and investigate human rights violation.
The Commission had yesterday a consultation with stakeholders on the draft manual.
Commissioner of EHRC, Addisu Gebregzabier (PhD), said the manual helps to conduct strong monitoring and investigation on violations of human rights.
He said the consultation will allow the commission to gather inputs to enrich the manuals.
On same day, the Commission launched a web portal aimed at enhancing and promoting the provision of its services.
Addisu said the web portal would help increase the service coverage of the Commission.
According to him, it would also enable the Commission to receive complaints from customers and forward feedbacks by using the system through www.ehrc.org.et.
The web portal can also be used to adapt new system and inform the community about its services in relation to abuse of human rights, the commissioner said.
The portal brings information together from diverse sources in a uniform way. (ENA)