In Ethiopia, a post-Meles future could bring end to water tension with Egypt - 08/05/2012

The Nile River has become a point of
contention between Egypt and Ethiopia. 

An Egyptian ministry of water and irrigation told Bikyamasr.com on Sunday morning that with the combination of Egypt’s new President Mohamed Morsi and the potential of seeing a new leader in Ethiopia, they hoped the tension over Nile River water could be resolved.

“While this can in no way be official policy at this point, I believe that there would be more maneuvering with a new leadership in Ethiopia because there would be the ability to communicate and not be seen as antagonistic,” the official said, adding that they were not authorized to speak to the media.

“Let us be frank about the situation between Egypt and other Nile countries,” the official continued. “We in Egypt have not been the best at compromise so I think overall, there is so much that can be done to help bring countries together, and Ethiopia has been a leader in its criticism of Egypt so starting there would be good.”

The comments come on the heels of continued uncertainty in Ethiopia over the health of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

In an interview with the state-run Ethiopian Television (ETV), information minister, Bereket Simon, said Zenawi’s health has improved during the past few days following treatment in Europe.

“The Prime Minister’s health is now in much better condition after his treatment” he said adding, “he is taking some rest.”

Simon’s address on state television follows an a broadcast on exiled Ethiopian TV broadcaster ESAT on Monday, claiming Zenawi had died, citing reliable sources in the International Crises Group (ICG).

However, ICG dismissed the claims, saying it has no direct knowledge of Zenawi’s health condition.

Simon said the latest reports are part of opposition “campaigns of fabrications.”

He said “those forces are fabricating speculations about the health of PM Meles to the extent of quoting international organizations like ICG, something the organization denied.”

The last time Zenawi appeared in public during the G20 summit in Mexico in June.

Ethiopian activists continued their online calls for change in the country, with the hope the government will ease its decades long power hold over the country and its political future.

“We definitely are hopeful that this recent episode concerning Meles [Zenawi] and his health will wake up the country that we are the future of Ethiopia,” a student activist in Addis Ababa told Bikyamasr.com on Thursday morning.

With the Nile comes a new set of issues, and with Egypt holding onto a lion’s share of water from the world’s largest river, upstream countries such as Ethiopia have taken it on their own to begin building dams and other water related endeavors, much to the anger of Cairo.

However, officials hope that solutions can be had in the new post-revolution Egypt that could see the growing tension between countries along the Nile reduce.

“While Egypt never wants to mingle in another country’s affairs, a new leadership in Ethiopia would go a long way to changing how things are run, just like it has in Egypt,” the official added.

BM

Read more »

Ambassador Bangali presides over African Union complaints

By: Abdul Karim Koroma

Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Andrew Gbebay Bangali on Thursday 28th June 2012 as Chair of the Permanent Representatives’ Sub Committee on Headquarters and Host Agreements presided over complaints filed by the Embassies of Ghana and Eritrea on the alleged abuse of the privileges and immunities of its officials to the Commission by the host country.

The meeting also discussed the consideration of unresolved issues from the Commission on the implementation of the Headquarters Agreement.

The Ghanaian delegation was quick to inform the gathering that the matter between them and the host country had been resolved and this was confirmed by Ethiopia’s Permanent Representative to the African Union, Her Excellency Ambassador Konjit Sinegiorgis who stated that such an unfortunate situation will never occur again.

Some delegations had wanted Ambassador Sinegiorgis to proffer some comments as to why the matter was settled between the two countries without the Sub Committee not providing an oversight in the resolution of the matter.

Ambassador Bangali overruled on the grounds that the Sub Committee is not a court of law adding that if the two countries had settled the matter amicably, the case should be considered as closed.

On the protest made by the Eritrean Embassy, some delegations suggested that the Envoy of the State of Eritrea to the African Union, Ambassador Girma Asmerom should be invited to the Committee’s next meeting despite the latter not being a member of the Committee since their complaints will be on the agenda for discussion.

Ambassador Sinegiorgis objected that it was inappropriate for the Committee to invite Eritrea because the Mission had filed their complaint and they had been responded to, however, Ambassador Bangali opined that Ethiopia’s objection can be taken under advice before the next meeting.

“Ethiopia and Eritrea are two sister countries. It is unfortunate that this is happening. Eritrea is not accredited to the Ethiopian Government but the African Union Commission,” she said.

Read more »

Ethiopian police clash with Muslim protesters, several arrested - 07/21/2012

By Aaron Maasho

(Reuters) - Ethiopian police clashed on Saturday with scores of Muslims protesters complaining that the state is interfering in their religion, witnesses and officials said.

The protesters, some wearing masks, blocked the entrance of the Anwar Mosque in the west of the capital Addis Ababa and hurled stones at riot police who had surrounded the compound after noon prayers.

"Police broke inside the mosque and arrested many people, including several members of the (protest organising) committee. They also fired teargas at protesters outside," said an activist who declined to be named for fear of reprisals.

Another witness said he had seen empty tear gas canisters strewn on the ground. It was not immediately possible to verify these reports.

Thousands of Muslims have staged sporadic street protests in the capital since late last year, arguing that the government is promoting an alien branch of Islam, the Al Ahbash sect, which is avowedly apolitical and has numerous adherents in the United States.

The government denies promoting Al Ahbash, but is determined to prevent Islamic militancy spilling over from neighbouring Sudan or lawless Somalia.

Around 60 percent of Ethiopians are Christian and 30 percent Muslim, mostly of the moderate, pragmatic Sufi tradition.

Diplomats and analysts say there could be potential for any militant groups to exploit sectarian divisions and trigger violence.

The government accuses "extremist elements" of sparking violence at the protests.

Government spokesman Shimeles Kemal said police had arrested 'several' people on Saturday but denied that police had used teargas.

"These were masked assailants from extremist groups that prevented mosque attendants from leaving the compound after the completion of noon prayers," he said.

"They tried to incite violence, they threw stones and damaged property."

Activists have reported several deaths during previous clashes, but no casualties were reported on Saturday.

Al Ahbash, also known as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects, was founded in the early 1980s by Sheikh Abdullah al Harrari, an Ethiopian cleric who was forced to leave his country for Lebanon in 1950.

The protesters say the government is promoting the ideas of the group through Ethiopia's highest Muslim body, the Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs, and preventing overdue elections that could bring alternative views onto the Council.

Shimeles denied that the government was trying to influence Muslim affairs. "Our constitution bans any government interference in religion," he said.

Source:

http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFBRE86K0IB20120721?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

Read more »

Ethiopian Diplomat tries to claim immunity after smuggling £160,000 of cannabis into UK

Ethiopian Embassy official Amelework Wondemagegne 

was jailed for 33 months today

Diplomat tries to claim immunity after smuggling £160,000 of cannabis sprinkled with chilli powder into UK

• Ethiopian embassy official at first said she did not know what was in three cases but thought it was meat and spices
• Photos showed her with the bags and her necklace was found in one case
• The 36-year-old has been sole carer of her two children since their father died of cancer in 2005
• Judge said this made her actions even more ‘extraordinary’
• She was jailed for 33 months at a west London court

A diplomat tried to claim immunity after smuggling £160,000-worth of cannabis sprinkled with chilli powder into the UK.

Amelework Wondemagegne, an Ethiopian embassy official, was stopped at Heathrow Airport with three suitcases containing 56 kilograms (123lb) of cannabis.

The 36-year-old mother of two initially said a man had given her the bags before she left Addis Ababa airport in the Ethiopian capital, and that she had believed they contained meat and spices.

But Isleworth Crown Court in west London found Wondemagegne, who is based in Washington DC, was not entitled to immunity and she was jailed for 33 months after admitting one count of drug smuggling today.

Judge Richard McGregor-Johnson, Recorder of Kensington and Chelsea, told her: ‘The fact that you smuggled these drugs in the expectation that you would not be prosecuted if you were caught because of your diplomatic status is a significant factor in this case.’

Wondemagegne, who had worked in the visa section of the embassy since 2006, travelled into the UK on April 7 using an Ethiopian diplomatic passport and had a ticket to return to the US on April 17.

When her suitcases were opened by UK Border Agency officers at Heathrow’s Terminal Three, they were found to be packed with slabs of cannabis, sprinkled with chilli powder.

Although she claimed to be unsure what was in the cases, photographs taken on her camera showed her with the bags.

56 kg of Drugs of the Ethiopian Official from Washington Embassy

In one photo, she was wearing a necklace that was later found to be in a suitcase with the drugs.

Judge McGregor-Johnson said Wondemagegne had told ‘a pack of lies’ and that she was caught with a ‘substantial quantity’ of cannabis, in the second category of seriousness.

The judge described her as being ‘worldly wise’, adding: ‘You knew perfectly well what you were doing and you knew perfectly well that drugs smuggling is illegally and seriously regarded.’

Wondemagegne’s two children, aged 10 and 17, live in Washington DC and are being cared for by Ethiopian embassy staff there.

She has been their sole carer since her husband died of cancer in 2005, a fact which Judge McGregor-Johnson said made it ‘more extraordinary you should have committed this offence.’

The drugs were covered in chilli powder and Wondemagegne at first
claimed she thought the suitcases contained meat and spices

He told the court he was satisfied she had not been coerced into being a drugs courier and that she had played a ‘significant role’ in the smuggling of the cannabis.

Wondemagegne, of Silver Spring in Maryland, will be deported from the UK after serving her sentence.

Peter Avery from the Border Force said: ‘This was a significant amount of cannabis which could have ended up on the streets of the UK.

‘It was the vigilance of Border Force officers which prevented this smuggling attempt from going ahead.

‘Working with our law enforcement colleagues in the UK and around the world, we are determined to do all we can to stop the international drugs trade.’

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2182642/Diplomat-tried-claim-immunity-smuggling-160-000-cannabis-UK-disguised-smell-sprinkling-chili-powder.html#ixzz22P5HHrpE

Read more »

Remaining Olympic Events With Eritrean Athletes Competing - 08/02/2012

London Time: 

Fri 8/3 1:00pm 

Men's 3,000 Steeplechase 

Fri 8/3 8:05pm

Men's 1,500m 

Sat 8/4 9:15pm  

Men's 10,000m 

Sun 8/5 11:00am

Women's Marathon 

Wed 8/8 10:45am  

Men's 5,000m

Sun 8/12  11:00am  

Men's Marathon

<<<Good Luck to our Athletes!!>>>

Read more »

Sudanese Vice President: Sudan Rejects AUHIP Map - 08/01/2012

Sudanese Vice President 

Alhaj Adam Yousif

By: SudanVision

Vice President Alhaj Adam Yousif confirmed the government's total rejection of the map presented by the African mediation which indicated that area (14) south Bahr Alarab belongs to South Sudan; adding that this is a principal and final stance; and under no conditions will this area –an area occupied by South Sudan after the demarcation of maps- be attached to South Sudan.

He clarified that the negotiations are still sticking t this point but the government is committed to this stance no matter what obstacles or threats are thrown its way.

After he meeting of the political sector of the leadership office of the National Congress yesterday, the Vice President explained that that the oil negotiations are making headway but not very far ahead since they are linked to the security dossier's negotiations; he added: "Even if we agreed on all the issues regarding oil, the agreement will not be put in action until after settling the security issues."

In the same context the Vice President confirmed that the government will not negotiate with SPLM-N and does not acknowledge it in the first place; the government is only committed to the protocol of the two areas agreed upon in the CPA.

He announced the government's consent to carrying out surveys to explore the humanitarian needs of the areas that were under the control of the rebels provided that the government takes part in forming the survey teams along with the other parties all within the framework of the tripartite initiative; the rebels have refused this approach but the government will not allow any action to be taken without the its approval.

On a different account; Alhaj Adam called on the security and justice agencies to perform their duties regarding the protection of properties and human lives and to decisively deter the destructive groups and the armed movements' individuals who operated under the cover of the demonstrators in the Niyala riots; pointing out that demonstrating is a right stated by the constitution and law but destruction is categorically banned. He said: "The rebels have destroyed Darfur and want to extend their destructive activities into the cities; but basic services must not be stopped die to these activities and legal procedures will be taken against the rebels."

Source:

http://news.sudanvisiondaily.com/details.html?rsnpid=213063

Read more »