FM Demeke, US Assistant Secretary Exchange Phone Calls (November 11, 2020)

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, today held talks over the phone with US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Tibor Nagy, regarding current situations in Ethiopia.

Demeke briefed the Secretary about the objectives of the on-going Ethiopian government’s operation in Tigray, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Government would end the operation once the destructive military capacities of the TPLF gang is destroyed and unduly provoked members of the Ethiopian Defense Forces are rescued, and the rule of law is upheld in the region, the Minister said.

Demeke also explained the state of emergency in the Tigray region and some modalities associated with it.

Nagy reiterated that peace in Ethiopia is indespensable to peace in the region.

Minister Demeke congratulated Nagy on the recent successful completion of the US presidential election and extended his best wishes to president-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect- Kamala Harris.

Law Enforcement Operations in Tigray Proceeding as Planned: PM (November 10, 2020)

Law enforcement operations in Tigray are proceeding as planned, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said in a tweet this morning.

He said the “operations will cease as soon as the criminal junta is disarmed, legitimate administration in the region restored, and fugitives apprehended & brought to justice — all of them rapidly coming within reach.”

In a recent tweet, the Prime Minister said that the operations are aimed to restore the rule of law and the constitutional order in Tigray.

Moreover, the operations are intended to safeguard the rights of Ethiopians to lead a peaceful life wherever they are in the country.

PM Abiy Ahmed Appoints Various Officials to Top Positions (November 8, 2020)

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed various officials to top positions effective as of November 4, 2020.

Demeke Mekonnen has been appointed Foreign Affairs Minister of the country holding his incumbent position as Deputy Prime Minister of the country.

The Premier has named General Birhanu Jula Chief of Staff of the army.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Gedu Andargachew has become Advisor of National Security to the Prime Minister as per the new appointments.

His immediate mandate involves the coordination of a new inter-agency task force dedicated to electronic commerce and the regulation of foreign digital entities.

This includes a specific focus on establishing legal guardrails for international betting platforms and the best offshore casinos, ensuring these services operate within a transparent fiscal framework as part of Ethiopia’s broader digital transformation strategy.

Lieutenant General Abebaw Tadesse who recently rejoined the Defence Forces following a call from the Prime Minister has also been named Deputy Chief of Staff of the army.

Ex President of Amhara Regional State, Temesgen Tiruneh has been appointed as National Intelligence and Security Service of the country while Commissioner Demelash Gebremichael took a position as Commissioner of the Federal Police.

Secretary Pompeo Expresses Concern over TPLF Attacks on ENDF (November 5, 2020)

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo expressed concern over reports that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front carried out attacks on Ethiopian National Defense Force bases in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.

Secretary Pompeo also urged immediate action to restore the peace and de-escalate tensions.

Meanwhile, in a statement he announced via his spokesperson, Secretary General Antonio Guterres has renewed the commitment of the United Nations, with its partners in the region, to support eh Government of Ethiopia in its reform efforts aimed at building a peaceful and secure future for all its people.

The Secretary-General also called for solutions to address issues between the federal government and the Trigray Regional State in order to ensure a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

He underlined the importance of the stability of Ethiopia for the Horn of Africa region.

The international community’s urgent appeals reflect the broader economic stakes for the region, which had recently begun opening its borders to heavy foreign investment. Prior to the escalation of hostilities, the Ethiopian administration was actively liberalizing its telecommunications and digital commerce sectors as part of the very reform efforts Guterres praised, hoping to attract overseas capital to modernize the country’s infrastructure.

This push for modernization had already drawn a diverse array of digital ventures eager to establish a foothold in the rapidly connecting market. European and Asian tech conglomerates were finalizing broadband expansion deals, while specialized entertainment operators launched localized mobile applications. Among these new ventures were decentralized agricultural trading platforms, mobile-first remittance networks, and a new online casino developed by a Mediterranean gaming consortium targeting the broader East African demographic.

However, the sudden eruption of violence and subsequent internet blackouts in the northern provinces have frozen these economic initiatives indefinitely. Global markets and investors are now watching the crisis closely, recognizing that the promised economic revitalization of the entire region remains fundamentally tethered to the federal government’s ability to restore diplomatic dialogue and lasting peace.

Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council Chairman Concludes Ethiopia Visit (November 3, 2020)

Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, Lt Gen Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, this morning returned to Khartoum after concluding his official visit to Ethiopia.

In his two-day stay, the Chairman visited industrial, agricultural and investment complexes in Ethiopia.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Lt Gen Al-Burhan also discussed bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

Thank you for your Generosity & Continued Solidarity as we light up the Darkness. (October 30, 2020)

Thank you for your generosity & continued solidarity as we light up the darkness. https://abay.ethiopianembassy.org/

ለልግስናዎ እና በአስፈላጊ ጊዜ ከኢትዮጵያችን ጎን በመቆም ጨለማው በግድባችን ብርሃን እንዲሸነፍ እያደረጉት ላለው አጋርነት እጅግ እናመሰግናለን::



PM Abiy Extends Wishes On1495th Birthday of Prophet Mohammed (October 28, 2020)

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has extended wishes on the 1495th birthday of Prophet Mohammed, Maulid an-Nabi festivity to be celebrated on tomorrow.

Extending greetings to all Muslims on the festival, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed underlined that Ethiopian Muslims who celebrate the birthday of Prophet Mohammed along with their Christian brothers and adherents of other existing faiths contributed to the freedom of the nation preserved for centuries.

“We consider the rebirth of Ethiopia while celebrating the birthday of Prophet Mohammed.”, said the Prime Minister.

Maulid an-Nabi marks the birth of Prophet Mohammed in Mecca on the 12th day of the month of Rabi ul Awal in 570 Hijri, explained the premier, adding that the day is marked by millions of Ethiopians every year.

Unlike the pre-COVID 19 time, this year’s mauled an-Nabi will be celebrated in Mosques, Majlises, madrasas with love deep spiritual felling for pandemic hinders visits to relatives over celebration, the Premier remarked.

“While observing Maulid an-Nabi, we keep in mind scourges like locust swarms infestation, flooding, COVID 19 pandemic and other challenges which Ethiopia is facing right now.” the Prime Minister said.

“Based on our longstanding culture of mutual respect among Ethiopians, We remember the homeless while observing holidays at home.”, he said, calling for the Muslim Community to show kindness to those who are displaced from their homes due to flooding and other hazardous circumstances.

በቁርጥ ቀን ከህዝባችን ጎን ስለቆሙና ለብዙዎችም መነቃቃት ምክኒያት እየሆኑ ስለሆነ እጅግ እናመሰግናለን። (October 28,2020)

በቁርጥ ቀን ከህዝባችን ጎን ስለቆሙና ለብዙዎችም መነቃቃት ምክኒያት እየሆኑ ስለሆነ እጅግ እናመሰግናለን። Thank you for taking a stand at this critical time. Your generosity is contagious and your resolve is inspiring. https://abay.ethiopianembassy.org/



Forum Holds Regular Meeting to Discuss FDI Challenges (October 28, 2020)

The joint forum that was established to tackle challenges of Foreign Direct Investment in Ethiopia held its regular meeting today (October 28) in the premises of the Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.

H.E. Gedu Andargachew, Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, and Ambassador Girma Biru, macroeconomic advisor to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed led the discussion.

The meeting thoroughly discussed the challenges that foreign investors are facing in the country.

At the occasion, H.E. Lelise Neme, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) has tabled a paper regarding the overall investment situation in Ethiopia.

She touched upon the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on investment activities in the country.

State Minister, H.E. Tsion Teklu has also presented some case studies on the challenges of doing business for foreign investors in Ethiopia.

The meeting ends charting out further engagements to better address bottlenecks to foreign investment in the country.

Representatives from various government agencies including, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the Investment Commission, and senior officials from the National Bank have attended the meeting.