Ethiopia repatriates 3,000 citizens in 3 months: official
Ethiopia has repatriated 3,000 citizens stranded in foreign lands during the last three months, a government official said.
The citizens were repatriated from the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Djibouti, and Sudan, Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman Meles Alem told local and foreign media.
Meles said since the administration of new Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed came to office in April, efforts to protect the rights of Ethiopians living overseas has achieved notable successes in repatriating undocumented nationals residing in foreign countries.
Ahmed’s reconciliatory gestures and efforts to build consensus during his 100 days in office has seen Ethiopians living in foreign countries return to their home country to be part of the reform process Ethiopia is currently undertaking, the spokesman said.
Despite a growing economy and public awareness campaigns by the Ethiopian government on the dangers of human trafficking, thousands of Ethiopians looking for better economic opportunities are trafficked annually to Middle Eastern, African and European destinations.
Many of the Ethiopian migrants face abuses by smugglers and other criminals, including sexual and physical violence, during transit to their final destinations.
WMO to move its headquarters to Addis Ababa
A cornerstone was laid for the construction of the World Meteorology Organization’s (WMO) headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The cornerstone was laid by Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen and World Meteorology Agency Secretary-General Petteri Talas.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and WMO on Wednesday signed an agreement that would enable the latter to move its headquarters to Addis Ababa.
The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 191 Member States and territories.
It is a specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
