Mustafa Omer Brings Hope and Light to the Somali Region

President Mustafa Omer

The New Reform Leadership of President Mustafa Omer Brings Hope and Light to the Somali Region

What an opportunity we on the SMNE team had during a recent visit to the Somali region where we were able to see so much evidence of reforms brought by the new president, Mustafa Omer, and his administration. Everywhere we went, people told us about the new leadership that is bringing genuine reforms.

We had a very meaningful and productive discussion with President Mustafa. We had a meeting of minds. He told us he was well aware of our work and that he had a great appreciation and respect for what we have done over the years, especially struggling for the rights of all Ethiopians, including the Somali region.

He strongly supports and has implemented the core values of the SMNE. He urged us to work together with him to advance these values, believing the only way forward was to value the freedom and rights of all citizens, closely quoting the SMNE principle that no one ethnic group will be free until all ethnic groups are free. He said the country belongs to all of us and that working together is the only way for the survival of our country.

He spoke with concern regarding problems in the region; in particular, the division within his party. He explained that changes being made are not welcomed by some who do not like what he is doing and want to take the region back to where it was a year ago— a time of killing, violence and destruction.

Some of those now opposed to the reforms were power holders in the past and see these reforms as a threat to their control. He stressed that his team was working hard to resolve this problem peacefully. He also urged us and others to stand with him in support of these reforms.

We really appreciated his straightforward message and his commitment to these goals in the midst of the resistance of a few hardliners.

Our Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is the best thing that has happened to the country for as long as I can remember. He came into office already holding to an inclusive vision for all of Ethiopia. Soon after that came our brother Mustafa someone who holds to similar values as Abiy. He has become the best thing I can remember happening in the Somali region.

These two men give light back to our beloved country of Ethiopia. Anti-reform people are working hard to switch off the light, worried that the greater light will expose them and their wrongdoing.

All of us have to be vigilant to protect and preserve this light. If the lights are switched off in Jijiga, we should consider the lights switched off in all other regions. If the lights are switched off in Addis Ababa in resistance to Abiy’s efforts; it is like the lights were switched off in the whole nation.

The same light that is now shining more brightly in Somali region, is also only shining in Oromia and Amhara; however, it must be turned on in other regions as well. A place like Tigray, Gambella, Afar, Benishangul-Gumuz, Harare, Dire Dawa and the Southern Nations need genuine reformers, not people who are part of the system where they are secretly working to undermine the change.

Most of these places only superficially changed since the insiders still remain as power holders and this is the reason these regions are still experiencing violence, conflict and displacement.

Real reform can only thrive where there are genuine reformers like Mustafa and other leaders endorsed and respected by their people.

We cannot go back to the former darkness of the TPLF. The country needs more light, not less light; more unity, not division; more love, not hatred; more truth, not deception; more harmony, not violence; more reconciliation, not revenge; and more justice, not vigilante justice or mob rule.

A more peaceful, just, democratic and honorable Ethiopia begins right here and all of us should stand together to support our Prime Minister Abiy, our Brother Mustafa and leaders like them who have integrity, share these core values and genuinely care about other people.

Ethiopia needs national leaders, not tribal or village leaders who undermine the lives and rights of others because of self-interest, ambition and greed. Read more here

ETHIOPIA BECOMING MORE SIGNIFICANT FOR ISRAEL

Ethiopia is assuming greater importance than ever before for Israel. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked visited there this week within the context of a tour of African states and President Reuven Rivlin is due to visit next week.
Rivlin’s entourage will include a business delegation headed by Shraga Brosh, the president of the Israel Manufacturers Association, as well as representatives of academia and organizations for the development of international relations.

Also traveling with Rivlin will be Israeli-born singer and actress Esther Rada whose parents migrated from Ethiopia well over three decades ago. Rada has never been to Ethiopia.

While in Ethiopia she will perform at an economic conference, and will accompany Rivlin to several official events. She will also take the opportunity, if time permits, to explore her roots.

Like Shaked, Rivlin, in addition to meeting with senior Ethiopian officials, will meet with leaders of the Jewish community.

Some of Ethiopia’s Jews have been waiting for upward of 10 years to be reunited with relatives in Israel with whom they communicate regularly via Skype.

Shaked in an interview on Reshet Bet radio said that she would raise the matter of the immigration of the remaining Ethiopian Jews with the relevant authorities. The problem lies not with Ethiopia but with Israel, she acknowledged.

During his state visit on May 1-3, Rivlin will be the guest of President Mulatu Teshome, and inter alia will meet with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and with Abune Mathias, the patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Rivlin will also learn about the enhanced agricultural development in Ethiopia achieved through cooperation with MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development, which is a branch of the Foreign Ministry. Israel has put much of its advanced agricultural technology at Ethiopia’s disposal. Read more more 

Ethiopia demands Britain return all country’s artefacts held by Victoria and Albert Museum

Ethiopia has demanded Britain permanently return all artefacts that originated in the African country but are now held by the Victoria and Albert Museum.

An Ethiopian official said the government would not accept them on loan.

The declaration comes after the museum - one of London’s most popular tourist attractions – put treasures plundered by British forces from the east African nation in 1868 on display.

“Well, it would be exciting if the items held at the V&A could be part of a long-term loan with a cultural institution in Ethiopia,” museum director Tristram Hunt said.

“These items have never been on a long-term loan in Ethiopia, but as we look to the future I think what we’re interested in are partnerships around conservation, interpretation, heritage management, and these need to be supported by government assistance so that institutions like the V&A can support sister institutions in Ethiopia.”

Among the items on display are sacred manuscripts and gold taken from the Battle of Maqdala 150 years ago, when British troops ransacked the fortress of Emperor Tewodros II.

The offer of a loan did not go far enough for Ethiopia.

“What we have asked (for) was the restitution of our heritage, our Maqdala heritage, looted from Maqdala 150 years ago. We presented our request in 2007 and we are waiting for it,” government minister Hirut Woldemariam said.

Ephrem Amare, Ethiopian National Museum director, added: “It is clearly known where these treasures came from and whom they belong to. Our main demand has never been to borrow them. Ethiopia’s demand has always been the restoration of those illegally looted treasures. Not to borrow them.”

The V&A said on Tuesday the idea of a long-term loan had come up as it discussed its Maqdala exhibition with Ethiopian authorities. “The V&A is committed to continuing this important and wide-ranging dialogue with colleagues at the Ethiopian Embassy in London,” it added in a statement.

In launching the Maqdala 1868 exhibition of what Mr Hunt called “stunning pieces with a complex history” this month, he said the display had been organised in consultation with the Ethiopian community in London.

“As custodians of these Ethiopian treasures, we have a responsibility to celebrate the beauty of their craftsmanship, shine a light on their cultural and religious significance and reflect on their living meaning, while being open about how they came to Britain,” he said in a blog on the museum website. Read more here

Fearing Ethiopian dam, Egypt bans water-intensive crops

Egypt's parliament has passed a law banning the cultivation of crops that require a large amount of water, amid fears that a massive Ethiopian dam being built upstream could cut into the country's share of the Nile.

The law passed late Sunday would ban the cultivation of rice, bananas and other crops, with violators facing prison time and a fine of up to $3,000. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi would need to approve the law.

The Nile provides virtually all the freshwater for Egypt's 100 million people.

El-Sissi says the country is building desalinization plants on the Red Sea to reduce its dependence on the river as Ethiopia nears completion of the dam.

Read more here

DENIAL OF ESKINDER NEGA’S FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT BY ETHIOPIAN AUTHORITIES CALLOUS AND BASELESS

NEW YORK—In response to reports relayed to PEN America by his family that Eskinder Nega, 2012 PEN/ Freedom to Write Award Winner, was prevented from leaving Ethiopia and had his passport seized while on his way to be honored at an awards ceremony in Europe, PEN America’s Karin Karlekar, Director of Free Expression at Risk Programs, issued the following statement:

 

“We are appalled by this callous and baseless infringement on Eskinder’s freedom of movement. There is no active court case against Eskinder, and there are no grounds for him to be prevented from leaving the country. The Ethiopian government must cease acting with such flagrant disregard for the rights of its citizens. We call upon the government to immediately return Eskinder’s passport and permit him to travel.”

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PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. pen.org

Ethiopia PM continues national tour with visit to Gondar, Amhara region

Ethiopia Premier Abiy Ahmed on Friday morning arrived in the city of Gondar in the northern Amhara region. The trip forms part of his nationwide tour that started two weeks ago.

The state-affiliated FANA Broadcasting corporate (FBC) reported that Abiy was received by head of the region, Gedu Andargachew and other top officials of the state.

As part of his itinerary, he is expected to address residents at the Gondar stadium. “Today’s meeting is parts of his plan to send messages of unity to the public across the country,” the FBC report added.

He will also deliver an address during the TANA Forum gathering to be held in Amhara capital, Bahir Dar on Saturday.

Abiy since taking over from PM Hailemariam Desalegn on April 2 has embarked on a national tour that has seen him visit Jijiga (Ethio-Somali region), Ambo (Oromia region) and Mekelle (Tigray region). He has shared the message of peace during all his rounds across the country.

Abiy is tasked with undertaking political reforms that were announced in early January by the ruling Ethiopia Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). Read more here 

Ethiopian foreign exchange shortage will last years- new premier

ADDIS ABABA, April 16 (Reuters) - Ethiopia's new prime minister said on Monday that a foreign exchange shortage will last for years and more cooperation with the private sector is essential to solve it, state television reported.

Abiy Ahmed, who was sworn in on April 2, addressed the local business community at a session of more than two hours in a hotel in the Ethiopian capital. His paraphrased remarks were later broadcast by state-owned Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.

"The crisis with hard currency will not be solved today, nor will it in the next 15 or 20 years. There is an urgent need for more cooperation with the private sector to find a solution," Abiy was reported as saying, adding that remittances from Ethiopia's diaspora communities had also fallen for political reasons.

Ethiopia has recorded average annual economic growth of about 10 percent for the past decade, the fastest in Africa. But foreign investors and local businesses complain that the severe hard currency shortages are stifling the private sector.

The International Monetary Fund said in January that Ethiopia's foreign reserves at the end of the 2016/17 fiscal year stood at $3.2 billion, less than what it spends on imports in two months. The government does not regularly release foreign reserves figures.

The IMF flagged inadequate reserves as a downside risk to economic growth for 2017/18, which it forecast at 8.5 percent.

Despite high economic growth, the landlocked country of 100 million people is heavily dependent on imports. The IMF said export revenues last year were largely unchanged despite volume growth as global agricultural commodity prices remained low and exports from manufacturing, following the start of an industrialization push, are just beginning.

Abiy's remarks on Monday were his first substantive public comments on the economy since he was sworn in.

On visits to several areas of the country, he has been at pains to stress unity among the many ethnic groups and has promised to expand political and civil rights, though he said in public addresses that Ethiopians must give him time to take these steps.

The government appears to have ended a months-long shutdown of internet outside the capital, but a state of emergency introduced the day after Abiy's predecessor resigned in February remains in place.

The 42-year-old former army officer also called for Ethiopian businessmen to repatriate their hard currency.

"Are your hard currency reserves only kept inside the country? Have you not stashed them in accounts in Dubai? " he asked at the gathering.

"If you would transfer them back to Ethiopia from your accounts in Dubai and China, it would be of immense benefit to a country that is struggling with shortages at the moment."

He said that anyone found to have illegally taken hard currency out of the country would be held accountable, but he did not give details. (Writing by Maggie Fick Editing by David Stamp and Richard Balmforth Read more here

Top Ethiopian supermarket to shut down over bottlenecks, forex squeeze

An Ethiopian supermarket reputed for serving expatriate and diplomatic community in the capital Addis Ababa is closing down its operations after close to seven decades.

Ethiopia’s The Reporter newspaper quotes owner of Bambi’s supermarket as saying foreign exchange squeeze coupled with administrative bottlenecks were to blame for his decision.

According to Charalambos Tsimas, a Greek national who owns the supermarket, he has been waiting since March last year to get access to foreign currency for the importation of food stuffs which he provides mostly to his customers.

“We serve diplomatic communities and I can’t say I don’t have rice or table salt. It’s humiliating,” he is quoted to have said. He further bemoaned what he said was unnecessarily high testing fees for some of his imports.

“Ethiopia was not like this before. Ethiopia has been a queen of Africa but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore,” he stressed. The newspaper, however, notes that the business is not a stranger to controversy.

It has in the past been mired in tax disagreements with federal authorities, which incident led the owner to be hospitalized in 2012.

In December 2017, the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) initiated processes to better regulate foreign exchange transactions and weaken the black market.

According to a new directive, importers are obliged to request for foreign currency from the NBE based on the international prices of their imports.

The central bank’s chief economist and its vice governor Yohanes Ayalew, confirmed that the directive had been circulated to commercial banks and was already being enforced. Read more here 

Over 1,100 people detained

Over 1,100 people have been detained under Ethiopia’s February 16 State of Emergency, authorities in the country have disclosed. A total of 1,107 detainees are currently being held across six different zones classified under the marshal law.

The inquiry board, led by MP Tadesse Hordofa, said over 1000 men and twenty women make up the figure. The board is tasked to investigate the actions of the command post administering the State Of Emergency.

Activists and local media portals have severally reported arrests by the authorities. People who criticized the measure were among those being held. Although a full list has yet to be provided, the reasons for the detentions ranged from deadly violence to the obstruction of social activities.

Ethiopia says more than 1000 men + 20 women have been arrested since a state of emergency was declared last month. Reasons given vary from killing to blocking roads. Lots of hope in Ethiopia that a new Prime Minister will mean political reform + stability.

The most publicized arrest by the Command Post has been that of recently released journalists and politicians in the capital of Amhara Regional State, Bahir Dar.

The February 24 arrests took place during a gathering reportedly to honour the ex-detainees. A lawyer for a number of them said they had been arrested on two main issues.

The display of a banned national flag which is punishable by law and the failure to get appropriate clearance for the gathering. Among the arrested group are award-winning journalist Eskinder Nega, who had been in detention since 2011 for publications critical of government.

Aside Nega, others picked up during the gathering were, Andualem Aragie, leader of Ethiopian opposition UDJ party, journalist Temesgen Desalegn and bloggers Befeqadu Hailu and Zelalem Workagegnehu.

The multiple-award winning Nega who was jailed in 2011 on terrorism charges is on record to have said he was ready to return to jail if the democracy was not respected.

The country is set to swear in a new Prime Minister on Monday. Abiy Ahmed, 41, from the protest-hit Oromia region takes over at a time of political volatility with the bulk of the protests from his region. He is the first ethnic Oromo to lead the ruling coalition, EPRDF.

Abiy, a former military man and minister will be tasked with leading political reforms announced in January 2018 by the coalition. He takes over from Hailemariam Desalegn who resigned to enable reforms to be pursued. Read more here

Ethiopia Seeks Calm With a New Leader

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s governing coalition named a new leader late Tuesday night, paving the way for a peaceful transition of power in a country rocked in recent years by violent protests.

Abiy Ahmed, who is expected to become the country’s next prime minister, would be the first member of the Oromo ethnic group, which makes up a third of Ethiopia’s population, to lead the government. The group, which has suffered political and economic repression, has been at the center of protests demanding more economic opportunities and greater freedom of expression.

The country has been in a state of emergency since the former prime minister’s resignation in February.

The choice of Mr. Abiy was widely seen as a move to maintain stability in Ethiopia, which has East Africa’s largest economy and is a critical player in the regional fight against terrorism.

“The short term significance of this choice is that it will calm things down,” said Mekonnen Mengesha, a political analyst and professor at Wolkite University, which is about 100 miles outside of Addis Ababa, the capital. “But in the long run the main question is, is this move just shuffling leaders, or is it a systematic change from the administration?”

Mr. Mekonnen said Mr. Abiy would face many challenges in unifying and leading the country.

“It will be a struggle to change the status quo,” he said. “He is energetic and reformist, but that could also shake the government.”

A movement for change began in 2015 with street protests in the Oromia region, which includes Addis Ababa, and spread to other regions unhappy with the dominant party’s grip on economic and political power. At least 700 people have died in the protests.

Earlier this year, Ethiopia’s governing coalition had made concessions to popular demands for change, releasing hundreds of political prisoners, a move championed by Oromo activists.

The resignation in February of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, was widely viewed as an acknowledgment that those concessions had not gone far enough — making it virtually inevitable, experts said, that the next prime minister would come from the Oromo group.

Although the country is led by a coalition of four parties, the minority Tigrayan party has long been seen as controlling the political and economic life of Ethiopia.

Mr. Abiy, 41, was named the leader of the Oromo People’s Democratic Organization, one of the four parties in the coalition just last month. Young and charismatic, he delivers public statements in multiple languages, including English, to appeal to people beyond his own ethnic group.

“Abiy was probably the most popular candidate, the most favored candidate, by the public, broadly speaking,” said Hallelujah Lulie, a political analyst in Addis Ababa.

That support has come in part because of the welcoming way in which Mr. Abiy has spoken about the street protests and demands for change, Mr. Hallelujah said — but he has always done so as a political insider, equally attuned to the demands of power inside the governing coalition.

Previously, Mr. Abiy has been a soldier, an intelligence officer and a minister of science and technology, as well as the vice president of the Oromia region.

The news was greeted with unexpected calm across Ethiopia, and with hope that life — and business — will go back to normal. Leaders of large companies have complained that foreign exchange has been difficult to come by, making business and investment difficult.

“Our businesses were crumbling,” said Daniel Gebre, who runs an electronics maintenance shop in Addis Ababa. “It was very difficult to do anything because the roads were blocked and there was a shortage of goods.”

Mr. Abiy’s appointment as prime minister will become official with the approval of Parliament, expected in the next two weeks.

Mr. Mekonnen said the first real signs of the new prime minister’s strength and intentions would come when he named his cabinet — and if he decided to lift the state of emergency.

His handling of the security agencies will be equally important. The intelligence and security services have a hand in the economy, Mr. Hallelujah, the analyst, said.

Many Ethiopians perceive the security services — and the money and power they control — as dominated by members of the Tigrayan ethnic group, a wealthy minority that also controlled the governing coalition, until the Oromia protests forced talk of political change.

But some people warn that the success of the street protests from Mr. Abiy’s region may also be his downfall, because sometimes violent protests can result in changes in power. Read more here 

Ethiopia's ruling coalition approves Abiye Ahmed as prime minister

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia’s ruling coalition voted in Abiye Ahmed as new prime minister on Tuesday following the resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn last month, the state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation said.

The state-run channel said the 180-member council of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) chose Abiye to succeed Hailemariam as the chairperson of the coalition, meaning he automatically became premier.

“In today’s session, the council held a vote and elected Abiye Ahmed as chairperson,” said the EBC presenter, without giving further details.

State-affiliated outlets said Abiye won over 60 percent of all votes in the council.

Abiye, who hails from the Oromo ethnic group, will take over the government of Africa’s second most populous country.

The ruling coalition has struggled to contain persistent and violent unrest since 2015, the biggest challenge to its hold on power since 1991.

Hailemariam cast his resignation last month as a bid to smooth the way for reforms. It came after strikes and demonstrations near the capital successfully demanding the release of opposition members.

The anti-government protests began in 2015 over land rights before broadening into demonstrations over political and human rights.

The government has twice imposed emergency rule, most recently after Hailemariam’s resignation, to contain unrest mainly in Oromiya province, the country’s most populous region.

Rights groups have said that amid the violence security forces have killed hundreds of people.

Abiye faces the challenge of implementing democratic reforms that have been pledged by the government. He must also bridge differences that have erupted within the ruling coalition.

When a vote to validate the second state of emergency after Hailemariam’s resignation came before parliament earlier this month, almost 90 legislators voted against the bill despite being members of the same coalition, exposing widening rifts.

“He faces the tasks of widening political space and reaching out to the opposition. He will also have to respond to popular demands,” said Asnake Kefale, an assistant professor of political science at Addis Ababa University.

Legislative elections have been scheduled for 2020.

Analysts have said that the appointment of an Oromo to the most powerful political office in the country could ease tensions.

Oromos comprise 34 percent of Ethiopia’s 100 million people but have not held power in the country’s modern history.

Along with the other largest ethnic group in the country, the Amharas, they have led street protests against the government since 2015.

Abiye is the chairperson of the Oromo Peoples’ Democratic Organisation, one of the four ethnic-based parties in the EPRDF coalition.

He speaks three Ethiopian languages, holds a doctorate in peace and security from Addis Ababa University and served in the military. He also briefly served as science and technology minister in Hailemariam’s cabinet.

Some analysts and opposition politicians have blamed rising ethnic tensions in the diverse country on Ethiopia’s federal system, which redrew the borders of provinces largely along ethnic lines in 1991 Read more here