Malawi Wire

Addis Ababa: The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) has predicted that there will be a higher probability of wetter-than-normal conditions in the upcoming March to May 2024, across most parts of the Greater Horn of Africa.

In its press release sent to ENA, ICPAC said that notably, the areas expected to experience these wetter conditions include Kenya, Somalia, southern Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and north-western Tanzania.

The highest probabilities for wetter than usual conditions are indicated in central to western Kenya and in the cross-border areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.

The expected enhanced rainfall is likely to positively impact agriculture, water resources, and overall livelihoods, according to the center.

The press release also added that an early to normal rainfall onset is expected in several parts of the region.

These include parts of northern Tanzania, eastern Rwanda, Southern and Western Uganda, Western Kenya, South-western Somalia, and pa
rts of South-central Ethiopia.

” Due to the increased rainfall recorded in the October to December 2023 period, along with the forecast of wetter-than-normal conditions from March to May, there is an elevated risk of flooding in areas prone to floods,’ the ICPAC director Dr. Guleid Artan noted.

The director added the forecast underscores the urgency for coordinated action and preparedness, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to mitigate potential impacts and capitalize on the opportunities presented by the forecast rainfall.

He also stressed the need for uniting in our commitment to leveraging climate information for resilient and sustainable development across our region.

Artan further added that, ‘while the food security situation may improve with wetter than usual conditions, it is important to remember the multiple challenges faced by the region, including the historic 2020-2022 drought, conflict in various parts of the region such as Sudan, and the El Nino-induced floods at the end of 2023.

T
his has weakened communities’ coping capacity, making them highly susceptible to food insecurity. The likelihood of flooding during the 2024 MAM season in parts of the region could lead to a deterioration in food security in localized areas.’

The objective temperature forecast indicates an increased likelihood of warmer than normal surface temperatures over the entire region.

Probabilities for warmer than normal temperatures are most enhanced over Sudan, northern South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia and southern parts of Tanzania.

In line with the World Meteorological Organization’s guidelines and recommendations, ICPAC has adopted an objective seasonal forecast method to generate climate forecasts for the Greater Horn of Africa.

February 2024 initialized seasonal forecasts from nine Global Producing Centres (GPCs) were utilized and processed using three calibration techniques to develop the MAM 2024 seasonal climate outlook

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) praised Ethiopia’s commitment to addressing climate challenges.

State Minister of Planning and Development Seyum Mekonnen and GGGI Deputy Director General Helena McLeod, held a bilateral meeting today.

The two sides discuss ways to enhance their strategic partnership in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable economic growth.

On the occasion, the State Minister highlighted the government’s current climate actions and identified key priority areas for investment by development partners.

The Deputy Director General of GGGI, Helena McLeod for her part praised Ethiopia’s commitment to addressing climate challenges and outlined ways in which GGGI could offer support, including sharing its global expertise in climate finance mechanisms such as green bonds and carbon markets.

GGGI, an international organization focused on promoting sustainable economic growth in developing countries, has been working closely with Ethiopia since it became a foun
ding member in 2012.

With an increasing number of member countries, GGGI continues to support Ethiopia in its efforts towards green growth, according to Ministry of Planning and Development

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Eswatini Prime Minister, Russell Mmiso Dlamini sees the opportunity for an aviation industry partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.

The Prime Minister who came to attend the AU summit last week has visited Ethiopian Airlines.

The Prime Minister told the Ethiopian News Agency that Ethiopian Airlines is a big carrier that would propel the two nations’ bilateral ties.

‘Since I came here, we had an opportunity to visit Ethiopian Airlines. I think that is an area of cooperation that we would love to strengthen with Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Airlines is a huge airline. We think a partnership with Ethiopian Airlines can help strengthen our aviation industry in the country,’ the Prime Minister told ENA.

Africa’s leading aviation group, Ethiopian Airlines, with more than 62 destinations in Africa and over 135 globally, has also been expanding secondary hubs with partnerships in several countries in the continent.

The Airline is undertaking various activities to double the number of its planes and dest
inations by the year 2035 with a goal to become one of the best 20 airlines across the globe.

The airline already operates the largest fleet and destination network in Africa.

Ethiopian had earned 6.1 billion USD in during the last Ethiopian fiscal year

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia’s membership in the BRICS will not only solidify its relationship with the other member states but also offers an alternative for Pan-African aspirations, Xinhua News Agency Addis Ababa Bureau Chief Liu Fangqiang said.

According to him, this development is a catalyst for addressing global challenges faced by developing countries and offers insights on achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The bureau chief stated that Ethiopia’s membership will definitely strengthen the relationship between Ethiopia and other members, including China, as witnessed by what the Brazilian President Lula da Silva said at the opening session of this year’s AU Summit.

The president said that Brazil will engage more with Africa, urging the two sides to contribute more for a fairer world.

The bureau chief sees the BRICS alliance as a great example of global south cooperation and key to networking emerging economies and tackling pressing issues together.

‘The BRICS alliance, a great example of global s
outh cooperation, can play an important role in networking emerging countries and addressing global challenges, particularly those that disproportionately affect the developing countries in the world such as climate change, technology divide, peace and security, among others.’

Liu Fangqiang also highlighted China’s commitment to Africa’s development and shared future, citing Chinese President Xi Jinping’s initiatives at the China-Africa Leaders Dialogue to support Africa’s industrialization, agricultural modernization, and talent development.

This expression of commitment aligns with Xi’s message to the recently concluded AU summit, expressing his desire to collaborate for a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

According to Liu, such an expanding alternative bloc like the BRICS is crucial to cooperatively solve challenges of African countries and to contribute to the success of the AU’s aspiration.

Commenting on the progress made by Africa towards Agenda 2063, he said ‘the first decade
has passed in the implementation of the continent’s development blueprint Agenda 2063. (And) notable achievements have been made in various fields, including the establishment of a continental free trade zone, increasing infrastructure connectivity that brings member states closer physically, and a growing voice on the international stage through AU’s membership in the G20.’

However, the bureau chief emphasizes the need for stronger African peace and security architectures, efficient governance structures, and increased access to quality education.

‘To realize a continent that is integrated, prosperous and peaceful, there is still a lot of work to be done. The AU has seen a number of unconstitutional changes of governments in Africa recently. There are still conflicts, big or small, in some African countries, which definitely hinder economic development and people’s livelihood. Socio-economic development is impossible when a country is tortured by wars, and its people are trampled by conflicts. Therefore, A
frican peace and security architecture and the African governance architecture need to play a bigger role in countering these challenges.’

Liu Fangqiang further urged international financial institutions to offer long-term financing solutions to empower African countries towards achieving their ambitious goals.

With Africa’s youth population exceeding 60 percent, he also underscored the importance of education and vocational training as cornerstones for sustainable development, security, and talent development.

‘I am glad to see that education has been selected as the theme of this year for Africa. More schools need to be built and more teachers need to be trained to get these children back to school.’

However, he pointed out that more work needs to be done to support these children and youth through vocational and technical training, and help them get necessary skills to make a living.

Education serves as the cornerstone for sustainable development anywhere in the world, especially in developing countr
ies.

The Chinese journalist echoed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s message that “Africa’s growth should be of global importance,” and concluded by urging external players to support Africa’s journey towards a brighter future

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The renowned American economist, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, said that Ethiopia will be a very fast growing economy for decades to come.

Speaking to ENA, the economist also hailed Ethiopia for its ambition to have a regional integration in trade and commerce as well as infrastructure across the Horn of Africa and beyond.

According to him, big development changes are taking place in Ethiopia in various spheres.

“I’m a big believer that Ethiopia will be a very fast growing economy for decades to come. And already I can see with my own eyes, the big changes that are taking place in this country. When you move around Addis Ababa, you see a city that’s being modernized.”

Professor Sachs elaborated that he has witnessed new industrial parks, railway, and other infrastructure development in many places of Ethiopia.

In particular, he praised the country’s big boosts of agricultural productivity in the Oromia region and other parts of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia, with a very bold investment strategy and now m
embership in the BRICS, will also have great leverage to lure investment and finance, particularly from the Gulf countries, the economist stated.

“I want closer connections of the Gulf countries with Ethiopia. There is a lot of finance potential in Saudi Arabia, in the Emirates and so forth. They can help to invest a lot in the infrastructure in this country. So I think that the prospects are good.”

Moreover, the economist noted that the BRICS is a very important grouping, which has got almost 40 percent of the world output when you combine China, India, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa, Ethiopia and Egypt as well as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Emirates and Iran.

The BRICS are making plans for better finance, for a better payment system for using non-dollar settlements. And there’s the bank of the BRICS, the New Development Bank in Shanghai, China.

‘Now that Ethiopia is a member of the BRICS, it should tap into financing from that bank. And this will be more projects, more investment, and more opportunit
ies for growth. So I’m a big supporter of the BRICS process.’

Asked about Ethiopia’s ambition for regional integration, Professor Sachs said the Horn of Africa really needs peace, economic cooperation, and investment.

“Regional integration is basically crucial. This is a basic lesson of economics. Neighbors should cooperate with each other. Unfortunately, sometimes neighbors don’t cooperate with each other.”

Ethiopia is a big country in this region, but it wants good cooperation with all of the neighbors. And I would say to the neighbors, go for it, build ports, build connectivity, build railway lines, build power lines and fiber lines. This would benefit everybody, the celebrated American economist elaborated

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The African Union Commission (AUC) Chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat has laid a cornerstone for the construction of state-of-the-art laboratory complex in Bishoftu town of Ethiopia at AU’s Pan Veterinary Vaccine Centre (AU-PANVAC).

It was indicated during ground-breaking ceremony held today that the laboratory will be constructed for 56 million USD on 3.9 hectares of land within three years.

The event is a pivotal moment in AU-PANVAC’s journey as it embarks on the construction of a New Laboratory Complex, with the full support of the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (US-DTRA), according to a statement issued by AU.

This facility will not only align with international standards on biosafety and biosecurity but will also empower the Center to fulfil its mandate more effectively.

African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, Ambassador Josefa L. Sako, Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture, Girma Amenti, Director of U.S. Defense Threat Redu
ction Agency (US-DTRA), Robert S. Pope and other invited guests have attended the ground-breaking ceremony.

Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat said on the occasion described the groundbreaking ceremony as an important milestone that would further strengthens the cooperation between the AU and America.

The new laboratory will enable African to employ its own way of preventing and controling various animal diseases for it serves as a facilitator of technology transfer and center of excellence, Mahamat stated.

Agriculture Minister, Girma Amenti for his part said the government of Ethiopia has given a great deal of priority to livestock sector through its national program being implemented under the ‘Bounty of the Basket’ (Ye Lemat Tirufat) initiated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed focusing on the improvements of dairy, poultry, egg, honey, fish and meat production.

The Minister also revealed that Ethiopia has been engaged in the production of more than 20 types of vaccines to prev
ent and control the various animal diseases.

The country has already commenced exporting some of these vaccines to African nations, he added pledging to provide the necessary support to the construction of the new laboratory complex.

Director of U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (US-DTRA), Robert S. Pope stated that capacity building trainings will be provided with a view to prevent and eradicate animal diseases.

The AU-PANVAC, was established as a Specialized Technical Office (STO) of the AUC based in Ethiopia, following the Headquarters Agreement signed on the 8th July 2003 between the Government of Ethiopia and the African Union, during the AU summit held in Maputo, Mozambique.

The Center is at the forefront of the fight against animal diseases as well as zoonotic diseases with its mission to ‘Promote the use of good quality vaccines and reagents for the control and eradication of animal diseases in Africa’.

The center was officially launched in 2004 as African Union Specialized Technical Office,
and this year marks the 20th anniversary of its operationalization within African Union Commission

Source: Ethiopian News Agency