Day: May 23, 2023

The resolution adopted by the recent summit of the League of Arab States with regard to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is blatant interference in the affairs of other countries, Addis Ababa University lecturer Samuel Tefera said.

Recall that the Government of Ethiopia expressed dismay over the resolution stating that the resolution is an affront to the African Union and its member states that are working to bring an amicable negotiated resolution to the matter.

The statement issued by the government also noted that Egypt’s attempts to exert pressure on Ethiopia through the Arab League forum represents its lack of good faith and violation of the Agreement on the Declaration of Principles it concluded with Ethiopia and Sudan.

Similarly, the scholar told ENA that the resolution adopted by the Arab League is a blatant interference in the affairs of others.

In particular, the erroneous statement which mentions that Ethiopia refrain from filling the dam without any agreement reveals the interference of the League of Arab States, he noted.

Also, the resolution adopted by the Arab League that the water security issue of Egypt and Sudan is that of the entire Arab world reflects the wish of the bloc to extend the one-sided longstanding desire of Egypt, the scholar elaborated.

Hence, this biased resolution is unacceptable and impedes the efforts being exerted to bring mutually benefitting solutions and confidence in relation to the dam, Samuel stated.

The resolution is not only biased and one-sided but has not also taken the historical relations of Arab countries with Ethiopia and future relations.

The resolution adopted by the Arab League is no different from its previous, the scholar noted, urging the bloc to adopt a resolution beneficial to the riparian countries.

He finally stressed the importance of finding solution to the dispute regarding GERD based on the Declaration of Principles signed in 2015 by Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Africans needs to be united in order to effectively fight the internal and external challenges that the continent is facing, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Misganu Arga underscored.

African Day panel discussion organized by the African Leadership Excellence Academy (AFLEX) is underway in Addis Ababa.

The event is organized in connection with the OAU-AU 60th anniversary.

Speaking at the occasion, Foreign Affairs State Minister said our brave forefathers came together to realize African vision by establishing this organization in Addis Ababa.

He recalled that our visionary leaders Julius Nirerie, Nkuwame Nkrumah and Emperor Haile Selassie among others defended the sovereignty of the continent with the spirit of pan Africanism.

Ambassador Misganu said as we celebrate the anniversary of OAU-AU, we need to renew our commitment to ensure prosperous and united Africa by changing the dark history of poverty.

He explained that significant achievement has been registered in the continent despite multifaceted challenges.

For instance, the AFCFTA is one of the flagship project that aimed at realizing prosperous continent, he said adding that we need to invest on infrastructure to allow free movement of the people.

Ethiopia continues to advocate the vision of Africa we want, he said.

AFLEX Chief of Academy, Mehret Debebe on his part said we need to work together to realize what our continent deserves.

African ambassadors, academician, and other invited guests are attending the panel discussion.

The African Union Commission (AUC) is celebrating the historical commemoration of the OAU-AU 60th anniversary under the slogan of “Our Africa Our Future”.

The objective of the celebration is to raise awareness around the Pan African ideals of the OAU Founding Members as well as educate the population on the history of Africa, while shaping the narrative and journey of the continent towards achieving its socio-economic and political development for “ The Africa We Want ”.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

As we celebrate legacy achievements of our forefathers it is important to carry forward their vision and renew our commitment for stronger, more integrated and united Africa, Sate Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Misganu Arga said.

Speaking at the African Day panel discussion organized by the African Leadership Excellence Academy (AFLEX), the ambassador said Africa needs to go a long way to achieve a truly united, prosperous and integrated Africa.

He added that our brave forefathers 60 years ago came together to realize the pan African vision with the establishment of the organization of African Unity-African Union (OAU-AU) with the aim of getting rid of colonialism, apartheid and defending the cardinal principle of sovereignty and self-determination.

He recalled that our visionary leaders including Emperor Hailesilasie, Julius Niyerere and many others recognized that Africa’s strength lies in its unity.

They committed themselves for the urgent need of a united Africa and worked with determination and courage to realize the continent they envisioned. We praise them for installing pan Africanism in our heart and giving us continental platform to defend our common interest.

However, as we celebrate their life and legacy achievements, it is important as well that we carry forward their vision and renew our commitment for stronger and more integrated and united Africa, he said.

“Our action needs to be guided by strong sense of urgency and strong desire to leave behind our dark history of violence, poverty, backwardness and deficit in democracy and human rights. We need to realize that we have to go a long way to achieve a truly united, prosperous and integrated Africa,” he said.

It is, therefore, important that we critically appraise the enormity and complexity of challenges our continent face, strengthen a more united fight against internal and external challenge. We also need to make sure that the values of pan Africanism are passed on to the next generation.

South Sudanese Ambassador to Ethiopia James Morgan said the formation of the OAU-AU organization is mainly to liberate the continent that was occupied and slaved and later on divided.

Today we are looking back to this day with a great pride of what our founding fathers have made. We look back with pride and confidence in ourselves because when we are occupied and in slave, that confidence was taken out of us.

But, our forefathers restored our dignity as people of this continent. The OAU did its task by liberating the continent, he added.

“We here in the Horn of Africa have a responsibility to bring the Horn of Africa together, one of it is to make sure that we have a freedom of movement of our people. We don’t want to be stuck in one place, our people in this continent must move freely,” he said.

The ambassador added that the next step is to integrate Africa which will be prosperous for all its citizens. Ethiopia has set an exemplary effort to the continent, he said adding that the country paid dearly to the struggle in most of this continent.

AFLEX Chief of Academy, Mehret Debebe on his part said in pursuit of Africa that we want, we are bound by a shared responsibility to push boundaries, dismantle barriers and pave the way for our future generation.

It is through unwavering determination; tenacity that we unleash Africa’s true potential.

“In this celebration of African day, I want to remind you, each one of you are as important to the other person next you, and African wants all of us. Let us use this occasion to lift Africa and connect our respective nations towards our role in the upcoming global change,” he said.

The African Union Commission (AUC) is celebrating the historical commemoration of the OAU-AU 60th anniversary under the slogan of “Our Africa Our Future”.

African ambassadors, academician, and other invited guests are attended the panel discussion.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency