Our goals should be the same: to ensure that the human rights of all in Ethiopia are fully respected,’ stated UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein while speaking about working with the government during his official visit to Ethiopia this week.
The commissioner was invited to do a follow up mission by the Ethiopian government, since his last visit in May 2017.
“During my last visit in May 2017, I had listened attentively to many voices – Government, opposition, civil society and detainees at the Kilinto remand centre. I found much to praise but also gave a frank assessment of the human rights issues and challenges in Ethiopia and called for my Office to be given access to Oromia and Amhara Regions, the two most affected regions by the protests, many of which were suppressed violently.”
“I am encouraged that the Government viewed my initial visit in the constructive, friendly spirit it was intended to convey. This is certainly not always the case with all States. So when I received an invitation to conduct a follow-up mission, which included visiting the Oromia region, I accepted,” the commissioner said in a statement.
During his mission in the Oromia region, the Commissioner stated that he heard clear expressions of optimism and hope that the new Government, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed would deliver on the heartening and inspiring speeches he has made during his first three weeks in office.
“We heard of the Prime Minister’s recognition of “the need to address existing inequities that led to recent unrest”, that “democracy cannot be realised in the absence of rights – be it civil or economic rights” and that the “right of people to express opinions, rights of people to organise themselves and engage in effective dialogue and participate in the governance system is inherent in our humanity…not for any government to bestow…as it sees fit.”,” he said.
The commissioner also met with Oromo traditional leaders ‘the Aba Gadas’ and stated that although he and his team were being accompanied by government representatives, he was struck by the frank and robust expression of grievances by the Aba Gadas.
“The Aba Gadas too spoke of their hopes of working with the new Government to resolve longstanding human rights issues in the region. They spoke about how they will continue to push for the truth to be told about what has happened over the past few years, including during protests where people were killed. They demanded investigations and accountability for excessive use of force by the authorities. They expressed their desire for justice and human rights for all Ethiopians and for their voices to be heard without fear of reprisal,” he said.
During his visit, the commissioner had held talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu, Speaker of the House Muferihat Kamil and officials from Oromia regional state, Addis Ababa University community and different parts of the society in and outside Addis Ababa.
UN human rights chief hopeful after his visit
Russia to have its first military base in Somaliland
Russia will be the second country that would establish military base on the unrecognized self-declared independent Somaliland.
Media outlets from Somaliland reported that Russia is looking to establish a naval and air facility base at the historical harbor town of Zeila, which is close to the border of south east of Djibouti.
Recently UAE agreed with the government of Somaliland, who come to power on periodic and democratic elections after its separation from Somalia, to establish base and improve the port of Berbera with an investment of over USD 442 million.
With investment via DP World at the port, Ethiopia has also took a 19 percent share and the Dubai based company and Somaliland took 51 and 30 percent stake respectively.
The move of UAE disappointed Somalia, who argued entering in unrecognized country that it claimed part of it, is against the sovereignty right of the country.
Even though the country has a right to get its independence, lack of international recognition has affected its activity mainly its economic and developmental programs.
It has been stated by experts that the coming of UAE is a good opportunity for the country to start steps to gain some economic benefits and protect from external attacks. Additional port development will be also an option to attract clients like Ethiopia, according to experts.
It is stated that the coming of Russia would be add more confidence for the self-proclaimed independent state and clients, according to logistics experts. “The country, which is peaceful than the rest Somalia, has ample economic potential in relation with its natural resources that would benefit its citizens,” logistics experts based in Addis Ababa said. According to the experts, the government of Ethiopia has interest to use its ports for goods that will be transported in areas to the eastern, south eastern and southern Ethiopia.
Reports from Somaliland stated that Russia, which had developed military base at Port of Berbera in the 1970s, seeks a permission to construct a small naval and air facility, housing no more than 1,500 personnel outside the city of Zeila.
In the beginning of the month a local media, Somaliland Informer, reported that the naval facility will serve two destroyer sized ships, four frigate class ships, and two large submarine pens. The air facility will include two airstrips and will be able to host up to “six heavy aircraft and fifteen fighter jets as well as space for fuel, ammunition, and base defenses.”
In return, Moscow is allegedly promising to assist Somaliland in the international recognition and is willing to send more military advisors, both tactical and strategic, to assist the emerging Somaliland military.
Another Somaliland media, Qaran News, reported that Russia is interested in investing USD 250 million in Somaliland natural gas and petroleum extraction and transport in exchange for 35 percent of total profits.
The republic of Somaliland is the former British Somaliland Protectorate from the 1880s to June 26 1960. It was granted independence on June 26, 1960 by royal proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The state of Somaliland was recognized by 35 UN member states including the five permanent members of the Security Council.
The Italy Somaliland that got independence on July 1, 1960 five days after British Somaliland formed a republic and the formation of the union was a result of voluntary union between two states with their own colonial history. But separatist civil war breakout few decades after the union.
The number of external power is increasing in the region. Recently China has opened the first base in Djibouti, while Japan has established its oversea military base for the first time after World War II. USA, France, Italy and some few nations have bases in Djibouti in different scale, Saudi will be the next power to have a base in Djibouti. Turkey is also on the process to join the military crowed by forming a base in Somalia.
Exhibition set to attract 3000 visitors, 60 plus exhibitors
The 2nd edition of agrofood & plastprintpack Ethiopia 2018 is set to be held next week from May 3 to 5. The exhibition is expected to feature 60 plus exhibitors from 18 countries and to meet with 3,000 trade visitors. The exhibition is set to be held at the Millennium Hall and is organized by the German exhibition specialist fair-trade and will host exhibitors from countries such as Austria, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, and South Africa.
“Building on the great results of the first edition in 2017, the quality of exhibitors at the 2018 trade fair is now once again set to improve significantly. The 2018 exhibitor list reads like a Who-is-who of the global agrofood & plastprintpack industry,” outlines Martin März, founder & managing partner of fair-trade.
“After the 2017 event that saw 2,615 trade visitors from 33 countries participating, we now target for more than 3,000 trade visitors to profit from this occasion and discuss their business with world leading suppliers from around the globe,” he said.
It was stated that Ethiopia is East and Central Africa’s largest economy and with GDP-growth rates of between 6 and 10 percent and also one of the fastest growing economies in the world. With imports of 128 million Euros in 2016 Ethiopia is also East and Central Africa’s largest importer of food process and packaging machinery and with 31 million Euros also the 2nd largest of agro-technology.
Furthermore, the country is East and Central Africa’s largest importer of plastics in primary forms, with a phenomenal annual growth rate of 46 percent between 2011 and 2014, reaching 527 million Euros in 2014. And it is the 2nd largest importer of plastics and packaging machinery with annual growth rates of 25 and 59 percent.
According to figures from the World Trade Organization, during the past years Ethiopian food imports have increased by 21 percent annually, from 0.866 billion USD in 2009 to 2.738 billion USD in 2015. Food exports had increased by 13 percent annually over the same period, to now more than USD 2.417 billion.
Woldya Ketema and Zemariam slapped with EFF heavy hands
A three points forfeit, 250,000 Birr fine, all the remaining matches to take place 500KM away from the town and a one year suspension that go along with 20,000 Birr fine on head coach Zemariam W/Giorgis, Woldya Ketema appears a side to face a huge set back to drive through the season campaign.
Though Zemariam later to be admitted to hospital for serious head injury, claimed to be the victim of the riot at the stadium, Ethiopian Football Federation discipline committee slapped him with a tough hand accusing him of provoking the players for the ugly situation created on the field.
According to some eye witnesses Woldya supporters invaded the pitch not only for the days result rather for the team’s consecutive poor performances. “Many are frustrated for Zemaraiam’s failure to deliver for the team that paid him more than one million Birr signing fee” one eyewitness remarked. “He signed big name players each with more than 1.2 million Birr but he could not make them deliver what is expected of them” the witness added.
In the meantime Zemariam in his brief stay with “Hat Trick” sport news remarked that he would never go back to Woldya after all that nasty situation. “I beg a pardon to the players including Fitsum G/Mariam to try to convince them to go back to the club after such incident months before. They did right in refusing to return rather paid hundreds of thousands Birr to have their release” Zemariam told Hat Trick News. Woldya Ketema is currently under a make shift coach and opted to play the match against Sidama Bunna at Sebeta Ketema Stadium.
