The Government of South Sudan has revealed that it will take part in the upcoming peace process of the third phase of the Revitalization Forum on South Sudan here in Addis Ababa.
Some media disseminated that the South Sudan government wants the regional bloc IGAD mediating the peace process to change the venue, citing political instability in Ethiopia as a threat.
However, South Sudan has never requested about changing the host country of the revitalization process, the government South Sudan said and called the news that was disseminated by some media last week “Fake News” a press release issued by Spokesperson of the ministry stated.
The government of South Sudan further expressed its strong will and commitment to the realization of the peace process that is undertaken by IGAD, starting three years ago.
South Sudan expressed its gratitude for the role played and the support of the people and government of Ethiopia offered during the struggle for liberation of the country. (ENA)
Lufthansa to fly non-stop five times a week from Addis Ababa to Frankfurt
The German giant airline on announced Wednesday it has introduced new non-stop flights for its passengers who are flying between Addis Ababa and Frankfurt,.
In a statement sent to The Reporter, the company indicated that the enhanced service reduces the trip time to Europe to just 6 hours 45 minutes, as it no longer has a stopover in Jeddah.
“We are delighted to now offer our passengers a fast non-stop connection between Addis Ababa and Frankfurt. Lufthansa wants to be part of Ethiopia’s growing market and continued success story“, the statement quoted Tobias Ernst, General Manager Sales Regional East Africa Lufthansa Group as saying.
According to the company, passengers coming from Addis Ababa will now travel on a more convenient schedule with full connectivity in Europe and the North Atlantic market due to the early arrival in Frankfurt.
Going inbound to Addis Ababa, passengers will have more time catching the flight to Ethiopia’s capital. While service will be offered daily except for on Mondays and Wednesdays. (Press Release)
Russia’s Putin accepts Bashir invitation to Sudan
Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted an invitation from his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir to visit the North African country, Sudan’s state news agency said on Thursday.
Putin, fresh from an election victory granting him his fourth term and extending his leadership of Russia by six years, called Bashir on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations, SUNA said.
Bashir congratulated Putin who affirmed his country’s commitment to investing in Sudan’s energy, oil, gas, and gold mining sectors.
“The president extended an invitation to the Russian president to visit Sudan and discuss developing relations and building a strategic partnership and Putin accepted the invitation,” SUNA said. It provided no date for the visit.
Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court in the Hague for genocide and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s Darfur region, and is mostly shunned by Western leaders.
Sudan will sign a “roadmap” with Russia to build nuclear power stations during a visit to Moscow by Khartoum’s electricity minister, SUNA reported earlier this month. (Reuters)
Deadly car bomb blast rocks Somalia’s capital Mogadishu
At least 14 people have been killed in a car bomb blast outside a popular hotel in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, according to a government official.
The explosion on Thursday happened near Weheliye hotel on the busy Maka Al-Mukarrama Road.
A spokesman for the Somali interior ministry confirmed the death toll to Al Jazeera, adding that 10 others were wounded in the blast.
Witnesses at the scene said the powerful blast struck a street filled with civilians.
“Most of the casualties are … people who were spending time to take tea, there was devastation and buildings were damaged,” Mohamednur Abdirahman told AFP News Agency.
“The blast was so huge, a vehicle containing explosives went off near a teashop in front of Weheliye hotel, leaving more than 10 people dead. I saw people being rushed to hospital and some of them were already dead,” another witness, Abdulahi Moalim, told AFP.
The attack was claimed by al-Shabab, Reuters news agency reported, citing the armed group’s military operation spokesman. (Aljazeera)
