Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry will visit Addis Ababa next week.
According to Ahram Online, the objective of his visit is to discuss the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s (GERD) technical negotiations.
Ahmed Abu Zeid, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, announced the trip today during an interview on a morning talk show on CBC Extra channel.
He also pointed out about the ongoing preparations for Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn’s visit to Egypt.
The Spokesperson said Ethio-Egypt relations had witnessed important developments during the past two years, represented by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi’s visit to Addis Ababa and the establishment of a high-level joint committee between the two nations, in addition to the continues ongoing communication between the foreign ministers to build mutual trust.
“We don’t want to lose [this trust] after all that we have achieved in building a unique relation between the two countries,” Abu Zeid said, describing the GERD issue as “highly significant” for both countries.
Ethiopia has been constructing the GERD since 2011.
(Ahram Online)
Ethiopia repatriates over 14, 000 migrants from Saudi
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Ethiopia said that about 14,131 undocumented Ethiopians have been repatriated from Saudi Arabia since November 15, 2017.
In a press conference that was held on Thrusday December 22, Meles Alem, Spokesperson of the Ministry, also said the government has identified the areas where Ethiopian migrants are staying in Libya.
The Ethiopian Embassy in Cairo has been gathering information to protect Ethiopian migrants in Tripoli and Bengazi from being victims of slave trade, he said.
He said the next step will be to issue travel documents and return them back to their home.
African migrants held in Libyan detention centers are estimated at close to 20,000.
Speaking on the IGAD-led High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) underway in Addis Ababa, the Spokesperson said that South Sudanese parties are expected to reach on agreements to resolve the crisis in that country.
The international community will take the necessary measures if the meeting ends without agreement, he said. (FBC)
Ethiopia, Brazil and UNIDO in drive to boost Ethiopia’s coffee industry
Ethiopian delegation led by Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Eyasu Abreha (PhD), met Brazil’s Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Eumar Roberto Novack.
During the meeting, they discussed cooperation in the areas of productivity, the management of acid soils and research and development in coffee production.
The visiting delegation included representatives of an Italian coffee roasting company-illycaffè S.p.A., the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
The mission includes field visits to coffee plantations and related institutions in the state of Minas Gerais and in São Paulo.
The field visits are being organized and lead by Alessandro Bucci, Director of Coffee Procurement Department and Aldir Alves Teixeira, Director General and CEO of Experimental Agrícola do Brasil Ltda., illycaffè.
This mission is being implemented by UNIDO, in cooperation with illycaffè and the Ernesto Illy Foundation, in the framework of the programmer for “Improving the Sustainability and Inclusiveness of the Ethiopian Coffee Value Chain through Private and Public Partnership”. (UNIDO)
Somali lawmakers seek to impeach president amid political crisis
Some Somali lawmakers said on Wednesday they plan to impeach the president in a mounting political crisis that could put the fledgling government on a violent collision course with one of the country’s most powerful clans.
The political turmoil endangers fragile gains against Al-Shabaab and could derail the government of President Mohamed Abdullahi. Universally known by his nickname “Farmajo”, the dual US-Somali citizen took power earlier this year in a UN-backed process.
The Horn of Africa state’s parliament adjourned last week until the end of February, but some legislators want it to reconvene on an emergency basis, lawmaker Mahad Salad told Reuters.
“Ninety-six lawmakers have asked the speaker to reopen the session so that the impeachment against the president kicks off. The president is accused of violation of the constitution, treason, destruction of the federal states and so on,” he said.
The letter had not yet been delivered to the speaker. There are 275 lawmakers and two-thirds would have to vote against the president. (Reuters)