As I mentioned on the last post, I was covering the AU summit last week, where I was able to take rare shots like the one below. You definitely won’t find it anywhere else. Don’t look though.
Here are a few highlights from this year’s summit:
The theme: “Year of AfCFTA: Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation” – this is planned to boost trade between African countries to 60% by 2034. Currently, this stands at 15%.
New chairperson for the AU: a handover ceremony from Senegalese President Macky Sall to Comoros President, Azali Assoumani.
The opening remarks were made by a few people including the Palestinian Prime Minister who made a plea for the stand of the African continent with the Palestinian people.
A strong push for a better representation of Africa at global institutions including the UN Security Council.
A call by the UN Secretary General, who also made opening remarks, for a restructure in global financing institutions that have predatory and unjust rates for African and developing countries.
An Israeli ‘observer’ was kicked out of the AU Summit. Later on at the final press conference on Sunday evening, it was explained that the observer status of Israel is still under consideration. Yet somebody came in with a badge; investigations are underway.
The AU reiterates its zero tolerance stand on unconstitutional governments and that it is looking to find ways to sanction specific people and not countries. This is in relation to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, which have been suspended from the AU.
Related but also not, a very good read on The Guardian on the upcoming change of president of the World Bank. From the article:
Wanted: a new president for the World Bank, a venerable global institution with a mission to eradicate poverty. The successful candidate will have a plan for tackling the crisis in human development caused by the global pandemic. Climate-change deniers and non-Americans need not apply.
Human Rights reports the past week
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission released a report on Wednesday, on the conditions in the town of Ano, in East Wollega. The report talks about an incident that happened on February 2 in which soldiers from the Oromo Liberation Army attacked shelters where internally displaced people were living as well as those living within the community. The attacks targeted Amharas in the area.
There are around 10,000 internally displaced people living in the town who have come from neighboring areas. 50 people have died. Government forces arrived late and then arrested eight people they thought were collaborators. The report confirms that these eight people were then killed by government security forces. It’s one thing when a rebel faction commits extra judicial killings, and another when it’s the government. Full report in Amharic here.
Another report by the Commission last week, was on the arrest of people working for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church including observers of the religion. The arrests took place late last Saturday and while some have been let go, many others remain in custody without bail.
While we’re on the topic of the Church
Since last Sunday, it looked like an agreement was reached between the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the breakaway synod, and then seemed like it fell through before finally wrapping up with an agreement again.
Wednesday, February 15 - The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the breakaway synod reached an agreement saying that they have managed to resolve differences through dialogue. The three ex-communicated archbishops were announced to have been reunited and their positions reinstated with the Church. The remaining episcopates which were ordained by the three archbishops (the very action that led to the series of events over the past few weeks) would be annulled. These episcopates would go back to their former positions and depending on the canonical laws might be appointed again through a new process. Why did I single this from the rest of the agreement points which you can find here in Amharic including a promise by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church to double efforts in teaching in the local languages including Afan Oromo in Oromia Region?
Because it ended up being a point of contention two days later.
Friday, February 17 – A briefing by the breakaway synod saying that of the many points raised in the agreement, the appointment of the previous episcopates was not in contravention of any canonical laws and in fact annulling it and then reinstating them is. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church said on its part this is a breach of the agreement.
Two days later, a different story.
Sunday, February 19 – A joint video statement by with representatives from both sides appear and make statements. The archbishops for the breakaway synod say they have accepted all the terms, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church says that they are ready to engage again, and continue as one synod. Literally, a 3 minute announcement.
The full rundown from the start in my earlier posts here.
Deadly Water Protests in Welkite last week
Residents of Welkite have not had water for three to six months in some areas. Not water occasionally, or every other day or even some times during the week. Months. Consecutively.
Last Thursday a few elderly women starting protesting this state of affair and were soon joined by hundreds of people. The crowd was tear gassed and in the ensuing chaos, security forces opened fire killing and injuring protestors.
This story in Amharic by Ethiopia Insider makes a great point: “The head of the police force in the area justified this as protestors throwing rocks first. He [head of police] also said no one from the security forces was hurt by the rock throwing.”
The death toll on the protestors side due to bullet wounds: 6 and counting.
The story in English, and my report for VOA.
From the Somali Region
Fighting in Las Anod, a contested land between the Republic of Somalia and Somaliland, but within Somaliland borders, have sent more than 60,000 Somalis into Ethiopia seeking shelter, most of whom are women and children. An average of 1000 people a day continue to come to Ethiopia, displaced from Las Anod as the UNHCR, and partners, work on initial response which includes distributing relief items and cash assistance. Story here and full UN situational report here.
Las Anod is the capital of Sool Region, located in Somaliland. The fighting started in January this year when clan elders in Las Anod declared their intentions of cutting ties with Somaliland and joining Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in Somalia.
On the peace deal
Last Wednesday Addis Maleda reported the announcement made by the Commander-in-Chief of TPLF’s armed forces Lieutenant General Tadesse Wereda, on the creation of a committee that will establish an interim government for Tigray. The latter is part of the Pretoria peace deal, i.e., until elections for Tigray’s representation in parliament and its own regional council takes place, there should be an inclusive interim regional administration in the meantime.
By Thursday, three opposition parties in Tigray had their say; this committee was formed without the proper inclusive procedure. The story in English and Amharic.
In other news
University lecturers – and higher education administrative heads – get an increase in housing allowance, but not by much. The story in Amharic.
Remember that story about how a number of media outlets operating in Somali region had been shut down by the government due to issues with licensing? Remember how the association of journalists in the region had opposed this saying that talks would have been fruitful before shutting them down? Well, the association has now had their license taken away as well. The story in Amharic.
Unrelated but extremely interesting, go check the The Continent if you’re interested in a run down of upcoming elections in Nigeria.
That’s all for this week. I’ll be back next week with more updates!
Note: I go through all the major news outlets, newspapers, online publications, and will at times, include reports, notes on parliamentary sessions, and go through fact checking websites as well. I try to provide links to both English and Amharic sources, and I usually time stamp the video I link to unless I think the whole video is relevant.