Ethiopia Roundup: $180m million agric project, leadership massacre, coffee shipment delays
$180 million agriculture project
Ethiopia has introduced a $180 million agricultural development project aimed at fostering growth in various regional states. The initiative, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will be implemented in the Sidama, Oromia, Tigray, Somali, and Afar regions, Fana BC reports. The Agriculture Minister, Girma Amente (PhD), highlighted that the project aims to tackle challenges posed by drought conditions, enhance irrigation farming, and improve the livelihoods of farmers in the designated regions. Additionally, the project is expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to achieve sustainable and green development in the country.
Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia Border
Ethiopia and the United Kingdom have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing peace and stability in the border areas shared by Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. The agreement focuses on building resilience in communities along the Ethiopia-Kenya-Somalia borders to counteract the drivers of violent extremism, Fana BC reports. The MoU was signed by Ambassador Jemaludin, Deputy Director-General of the Africa Department, and British Ambassador to Ethiopia Darren Welch. Both parties expressed their commitment to collaborative efforts to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab in the region.
Karrayyu Gadaa leadership massacre
Disturbing actions carried out by a concealed security apparatus in Ethiopia's Oromia region, aimed at suppressing dissent have been exposed by Reuters. The focal point of the report is the "Koree Nageenyaa," or "Security Committee," established in 2018 under the leadership of Shimelis Abdisa, the president of Oromia Regional State. The committee's purported objective was to quell anti-government protests and unrest in the Oromia region, which has been grappling with the presence of armed groups, Addis Standard reports. According to Reuters, the committee, comprised of senior security and civilian officials, has been implicated in a "brutal crackdown campaign" against government protesters and suspected sympathizers of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), also known as "Shene." The investigative report is based on interviews with over 30 current and former Ethiopian officials and a review of relevant documents. A former member of the central committee of the ruling Prosperity Party, Milkessa Gemechu, is among the sources interviewed. The allegations outlined in the report include dozens of extrajudicial killings purportedly ordered by the committee, along with hundreds of warrantless detentions targeting individuals deemed "security threats."
Somalia’s accusations against Ethiopia at UN
The Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the United Nations expressed disappointment over what it termed "unjustified accusations" made by Somalia during a UN Security Council briefing on February 19, 2024. In a statement, Ethiopia objected strongly to what it called "outright false information" presented by Somalia's UN representative during the briefing. Ethiopia described the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a "win-win partnership" that secures a sea outlet without intending harm to any other country's interests, Addis Standard reports. The statement highlighted Ethiopia's significant sacrifices and contributions to peace and security in Somalia, including substantial efforts in the fight against Al-Shabaab. Ethiopia emphasized its readiness for dialogue with Somalia to maintain cooperative ties essential for regional security. Ethiopia urged both countries to focus on partnership rather than engaging in damaging accusations, emphasizing the importance of constructive engagement moving forward.
Coffee shipment delays
Ethiopian coffee exporters are facing prolonged waiting times for shipping their products abroad due to ongoing Houthi strikes impacting the Red Sea. The disruption stems from the decision of global shipping giants, including Danish Maersk, French CMA CGM, and German Hapag-Lloyd, to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope instead of the shorter but riskier Suez Canal since December 2023. This shift has significantly reduced the frequency of vessel arrivals in Djibouti, affecting the timely export of Ethiopian coffee. “Before, at least one vessel used to arrive in Djibouti daily. Since the start of the insecurity on the Red Sea, it has been one vessel a month. We try not to miss this single vessel, and our coffee is stranded in Djibouti,” Tameru Tadesse, General Manager of a coffee export firm, told The Reporter. The protracted waiting periods have led exporters to consider a shift to Kenya's Mombasa port as a potential solution. However, the logistical challenges have already taken a toll on the industry.
