The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Tuesday appointed Woynshet Tadesse, Mahlet Hailu, Bogale Tolossa (PhD), Nega Tsegaye and Dewano Kedire (all are ambassadors) as Permanent Secretaries.
Accordingly, Ambassador Woynshet, currently serving as Permanent Representative to the AU and ECA, is assigned as Permanent Secretary to African and Middle East Asian Countries’ Affairs.
Ambassador Mahlet, who has been Deputy Head of Ethiopian Mission to the UN, will be serving as Permanent Secretary to Europe, America, Asia and Multilateral Affairs.
Ambassador Bogale, who was the Director General for Consular Affair at the Ministry, will be Permanent Secretary of Diaspora and Consular Affairs.
Ambassador Nega, who was Director General for Public Diplomacy and Communications, has been assigned as Permanent Secretary for Human Resource Management and Services and Ambassador Dewano, who was serving as Ethiopian Ambassador to Cuba is now Permanent Representative of Economic Diplomacy.
Newly appointed Permanent Secretaries will be responsible to follow up and decide the day to day tasks of the Ministry. (MoFA)
WHO sends 1.45 mln vaccines to Ethiopia
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday it is releasing more than a million doses of yellow fever vaccine from its emergency stockpile to prevent mosquito-borne disease in Ethiopia.
According to WHO, the disease killed 10 people in southwestern Ethiopia, Wolaita zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ regional state and has been traced back to a patient who fell ill on August 21.
It has caused 35 suspected cases of the disease, the report indicated.
All the confirmed cases came from Offa Wereda, and there have been no more confirmed cases since an immediate reactive vaccination campaign was conducted there in mid-October, reaching around 31,000 people.
However, the WHO said there was a risk of further spread of the disease, and it was releasing 1.45 million doses of vaccine for a mass campaign that needed to take place “without further delay”.
The introduction of yellow fever vaccination into routine immunization in Ethiopia is planned for 2020. (Reuters)
Preparations finalized for 11th extraordinary session of AU: MoFA
Preparations have been finalized to successfully host the 11th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa from November 17-18, 2018.
Meles Alem, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told local journalists on Thursday that a national committee has been set up to provide all the necessary and efficient services for participants coming to attend the summit.
According to him, leaders from 45 countries are expected to attend the summit to be held at the AU headquarters.
The summit is expected to discuss on the AU institutional reform process including reform of the AU Commission, mandate of the AU Development Agency (AUDA) and financing the African Union.
The 20th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council will be held 14th-15th November, while the 11th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the Union will be conducted 17th-18th November 2018. (FBC)
Abiy, AUC Chairperson discuss AU reforms
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) on Tuesday met with Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), to discuss the ongoing African Union (AU) reforms.
The discussions further centered on the 11th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Union.
The Summit kicked of yesterday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a meeting of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee.
According to the program, the 20th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council will take place 14th – 15th November 2018.
The 11th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government will be held 17th – 18th November 2018.
Among other issues, the summit is expected to discuss on the AU institutional reform process including reform of the AU Commission, mandate of the AU Development Agency (AUDA) and financing the AU.
On the same day, the commissioner has as met with the newly elected president Sahlework Zewde at the national Palace. (FBC)