Deputy PM & FM Demeke Arrives in Havana

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, and his entourage arrived in Havana, Cuba today.

Upon arrival at Jose Marti International Airport, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister was warmly welcomed by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba and Ethiopian Ambassador to Cuba, Genet Teshome.

Demeke is anticipated to lead the Ethiopian delegation at the Heads of State and Government Summit of the Group of 77 + China taking place in Cuba from 15 to 16 September 2023.

The summit will deliberate on Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovations.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

EU Delegation, Member States Representatives Briefed on Progress of Transitional Justice Policy

Head of the European Union (EU) delegation and representatives of the various missions of EU member states based in Addis Ababa have been briefed on the progress of the transitional justice policy process.

The briefing was organized by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice.

The briefing was provided by the Minister of Justice, Dr. Gedion Timothewos.

The session was conducted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and concluded by the exchange of views on the overall implementation process.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

France, WFP & SC Sign 3-Million Euro Agreement to Alleviate Nutritional Problems in Ethiopia

The Government of France, the World Food Program (WFP), and Save the Children (SC) have signed funding agreements aimed at combating the nutritional problems in Ethiopia, according to the French Embassy in Ethiopia.

The official signing ceremony, which took place at the French Embassy in Addis Ababa, announced a collective commitment of 3 million Euro.

Out of this, the 2 million grant will bolster WFP’s programs devised to mitigate adverse repercussions arising from conflict, drought, post-COVID-19 challenges, and locust invasions in the country, it was learned.

According to the press release, the funds will cater daily meals to students, and provide support to pregnant and lactating women, specialized nutrition and community screenings as well as training for school cooks and support local farmers, among others, in 8 regional states.

Moreover, the project will facilitate access to curative nutrition services, create livelihood opportunities, and ensure basic needs.

During the signing ceremony, Ambassador Rémi Maréchaux said that “France stands with the people of Ethiopia in this difficult period and hopes these timely contributions will save lives and livelihoods.”

The release further stated that this latest support complements a 7-million Euro grant allocated to various international NGOs and UN agencies in May with the view to reducing acute malnutrition, enhancing food security and resilience, and strengthening local capacities.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Herunga urges party members to avoid spreading misinformation


Swapo Party deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga has encouraged party members to desist from spreading inaccurate information, specifically referring to members who are advocating for an extra-ordinary congress.



Herunga, during a ground-breaking ceremony for the Tallismanus party office in the Otjombinde Constituency on Saturday, cautioned party members to be cognisant of “some party members” who want the party to have an extra-ordinary congress to vote for a party presidential candidate for the 2024 presidential election.



“These members include senior party members. As the deputy secretary general of the party, I want to make it clear that we are fresh from the renewal of our mandate, we have elected our Swapo Party leaders at all levels, and we are guided by the constitution of the party and other documents,” he said.



“People are asking how we arrived at the sole presidential candidate, dear comrades before the party congress everybody, every Swapo Party member, knew that the Swapo member who becomes vice president of our party will automatically become the presidential candidate,” he added.



At the same occasion, Swapo vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah applauded party leadership and members in the Otjombinde Constituency and encouraged them to work hard and recruit more members for the party.



“The new Swapo leaders are ready to serve with commitment, dedication and honesty,” she assured the members, adding that for members to fulfil the last congress solution they should long for unity of purpose.



“As national leaders we are obliged to protect the Swapo constitution, rules and regulations and to implement the decision taken by our elective congress, being the highest decision-making body of our party,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.



The party welcomed 122 new members from Otjombinde while members and sympathisers pledged N.dollars 174 300 for the construction of the party office in Tallismanus.



Source: Namibia Press Agency

Geingob speaks out against corporal punishment, encourages learners


President Hage Geingob on Monday said corporal punishment has no place in the modern world while urging learners to take their studies seriously.



Geingob made the remarks while engaging learners and teachers from the Tsumeb English Medium School, Ontana Combined School, and Nehale Secondary School who toured State House.



Geingob said he has always opposed corporal punishment, even when he was a teacher prior to independence, and urged teachers to instead get involved.



He implored learners to study hard, saying that education opens doors.



“Education can also make us. I was born on a farm and as a farm worker, I became a teacher and president of the country because of education,” he said.



During the interaction, the learners asked the president questions on different topics, including what he considered to be his greatest success as president thus far.



Maintaining peace and stability since Namibia’s independence was the greatest achievement, he responded, noting that it was, however, “the collective work of many people,” some of whom the learners never heard about, but they are the ones who have been delivering.



On his part, Johannes Fillemon, a science teacher from Ontana Combined School in Onyuulaye circuit in the Oshikoto Region, said the visit to the State House was an opportunity for learners to meet the Head of State in person.



They were also expected to visit various institutions in Windhoek, including the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) and the University of Namibia (Unam).



“This is very helpful, especially when visiting the Nust and Unam campuses. Like our school, we don’t have a physical science laboratory. I am a science teacher, but when I teach, I have to improvise, like showing them some videos, so by visiting these campuses, they will actually get to see how things work, and we are going to do some practicals,” he said.



Source: Namibia Press Agency

GERD Is Project that Ensures Mutual Benefits of Regional, Riparian Countries: Foreign Affairs Spokesperson


The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is a project that ensures the mutual benefitS of the regional and riparian countries, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Meles Alem told ENA.



Meles said that the dam has great significance for regional integration.



According to him, the dam is a power plant built with the wealth, knowledge and labor of Ethiopians who have been steadfastly struggling for the accomplishment of the project.



The dam has addressed the quest of a generation and the successful completion of the fourth and final round filling of GERD is a gift for Ethiopians on their new year, the spokesperson elaborated.



Meles noted that Ethiopia has been under immense pressures because of the dam; but succeeded in overcoming challenges by firmly sticking to principle and commitment.



Even if the dam is being built by Ethiopians internal capacity and in their sovereign territory, the benefit of the dam is beyond the nation, the spokesperson underlined.



As a demonstration of one of the benefits of the dam, he cited the power integration works Ethiopia has been pursing with the neighboring countries that will in turn strengthen economic integration.



In addition, the dam has huge benefits in protecting for the lower riparian countries from sediment, floods and ensuring sufficient water flow, Meles said.



Hence, he underlined that the dam is a project that should be a source of cooperation instead of conflict as it ensures mutual benefits for regional and lower riparian countries.



The fourth and final round filling has been conducted based on the policy of sovereignty of Ethiopia and to enable 65 million citizens access electricity, Meles noted.



Recalling that Ethiopia had not signed any agreement regarding Abay River, the spokesperson added that the country will not be stopped from its development efforts by those one-sided colonial era agreements.



Meles, who said that Ethiopia enjoys good relationship with the riparian countries beyond the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, stated that Ethiopia will further strengthen collaboration with the countries on development and shared benefits of the respective peoples as well as regional issues.



Source: Ethiopian News Agency