Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held discussions with Members of the Pretoria Peace Accord

Prime Minister of the FDRE H.E. Abiy Ahmed (PhD) convened the first face to face meeting with members of the Pretoria peace accord and Nairobi’s implementation arrangements on the 3rd. of February 2023 in Halala Kela, Southern Ethiopia.

Prime Minister Abiy and the Peace Agreement Implementation Coordination Committee which includes Chief negotiators and Military Commanders from both sides altogether have evaluated the implementation progress of the Peace Agreement. During the meeting, thorough discussions were held on the activities carried out so far as per the agreement reached in Pretoria and the subsequent Nairobi implementation arrangements.

After detailed evaluation of the progresses being made to date, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave directions to speeding-up issues that need further attention.

Following the conclusion of the meeting, National Security Advisor of the Prime Minister and Head of the Government’s negotiating team H.E. Redwan Hussein (Ambassador) said,

“PM Abiy, DPM Demeke & other officials have met today and held discussion with tplf delegation regarding the progress of the peace process. As a result, PM Abiy passed decisions about increasing Flights, Banking & other issues that would boost trust & ease lives of civilians”.

Following the decision passed by Prime Minister Abiy, National Bank has begun sending 5 billion Birr to Mekelle to be dispensed starting Monday. The amount is a multifold increment from hitherto 20million. Also, EAL increased its flights from 3 to 5 as of today.

Such a face-to-face meeting is another confidence building measure and a clear testament on the side of the government of its readiness to build upon the current momentum of the agreement’s full implementation and gradually moving towards a path of healing, reconstruction and peace building.

It is to be recalled that humanitarian partners have been touting the implementation progress of the agreement by stating that “important progress is being made by the parties in implementing key aspects of the agreement including the steady and growing delivery of humanitarian aid, initial steps in discussions about a transitional justice process, the ongoing restoration of electricity, telecommunications and banking services….”

Prime Minister Abiy participated on the Somalia Front Line-States Meeting

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took part in the Somalia Frontline States Summit which was held in Somalia’s Capital Mogadishu on the 1st  of February 2023. The meeting brought the Leaders of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya and the host Somalia together and was aimed at strengthening collective efforts to the threats of terrorism in the region with particular focus on the coordinating the fight against the notorious Al- Shabab, who remains to pose active security threats to Somalia and the region.

The leaders have reviewed the conclusions of the meeting their Ministers of Defense and Chiefs of Defense Forces held on the previous week on the importance of coordinated and timely technical, logistical intelligence and operational cooperation on the fight against Al-Shabab.

The leaders have noted the progress being made by Somalia and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in recovering more areas from the terrorists and emphasized on the importance of establishing a joint border security mechanism that intends to  eliminate cross-border terrorism activities.

Prime Minister Abiy has also met and discussed with members of the Ethiopian Defense Forces Fighting Al-Shabab as part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Ambassadors of Russia, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the US charged ‘Affairs paid a courtesy visit to the newly Appointed State Minister of Affairs

The Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Yevgeny Terekhin, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Ethiopia, Daren Welch and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia, Ambassador Dr. Fahad Obaidullah Al-Hamidani made a courtesy call on the newly appointed State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Mesganu Arga on the 2nd of February 2023.

In his discussion with the Russian Ambassador, State Minister Mesganu stated that Ethiopia values its historical and friendly relationships with Russia and emphasized the importance of diversifying bilateral cooperation in multiple sectors. Issues concerning the forthcoming 2nd Russia-Africa Summit were also discussed.

On his discussion with Ambassador Darren Welch, Ambassador Mesganu spoke about the Ethiopian government’s commitment in implementing the Pretoria Peace Agreement and the restoration of services to the war-affected areas in Northern Ethiopia. He also urged the United Kingdom to stand by Ethiopia in its bid to terminate the mandate of the politically biased United Nations Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia, stating that the government is committed to bringing the perpetrators of rights violations through the transitional justice mechanism reached on the Pretoria Peace Agreement.

On the other hand, in his discussion with Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia, Ambassador Dr. Fahad Obaidullah Al- Hamidani, State Minister Mesganu praised the relationship between the two countries and called on the need to work together to combat human trafficking and illegal immigration, and rehabilitating the returnees.

Similarly, State Minister Mesganu received the US Charge d’Affairs Anne Jackobsen where discussions were held on strengthening the Ethiopia-US bilateral relations and the current situations in Ethiopia. The state minister furthermore requested the US government’s support in terminating the mandate the politically motivated UNCHREE’s mission in Ethiopia.

Derartu Tulu, Haile G/Selassie and Professor Zekaria Mohammed, among IGAD Regional Council of Imminent Personalities

The former two times Olympic gold medal winner and current President of Ethiopian Athletics Federation Derartu Tulu, the Legendary sportsman and National hero Haile Gebreselassie and Professor Ahmed Zekaria, a veteran professor from Addis Ababa University are among the newly established Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)’s Council of Imminent Personalities in the IGAD Region.

According to Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) the Council will Act as an advisory council for peace and inclusive sustainable development for posterity by exercising their collective wisdom and knowledge, recommend and provide advice and information on traditional knowledge and cultural and spiritual values to enhance for peace and inclusive sustainable development for posterity in the region, engage in public advocacy and public awareness activities, exercise good judgment and discretion in all matters relating to the performance of their functions among others.

The Executive Secretary of IGAD H.E. Workneh Gebeyehu (PhD) inaugurated the Council at the official unveiling ceremony held on the 1st of February 2023 in Mombasa, Kenya, in the presence of the IGAD Committee of Ambassadors. The Executive Secretary in his tweet stated “Honored to officially inaugurate the IGAD Council of Eminent Personalities who’ll act as our goodwill envoys on issues of concern that include climate, Humanitarian response, reconciliation as well as Regional Integration”. We remain resolute in our effort to be people-centered! added the Executive Secretary.