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File Photo: Birtukan Mideksa

Ethiopia - "I won't give up on the CUD" - Birtukan Mideksa

Source: Capital

Few Ethiopians and for that matter the rest of the world could forget the exhilarating atmosphere of collective accomplishment that surrounded the campaigning, run-up and conduct of the now historic May 2005 elections. Alas, without repeating what is known to all, Ethiopia, for better or worse, has never been the same ever since.
The political scene, particularly but not exclusively, has been dominated by the emergence so it seemed of a strong opposition in the form of the CUD. The EPDRF, it recalled had publicly been wishing for and had long lamented the absence of such strong democratic opposition.
The CUD is or was a coalition among Rainbow, Ethiopian Democratic League (EDL), EUDP -Medhin and All Ethiopian Unity Party and although hastily assembled by individuals of disparate views and even generational gaps, not to mention the now obvious power struggle, the CUD managed to garner millions of votes.

Among the most earnest and charismatic of the CUD top echelon is Justice Bertukan Mideksa. She was kind enough to give Capital's Kirubel Tadesse an exclusive interview on the past, present and future of the CUD. Excerpts.

Capital: Tell us about your life before you entered politics and what inspired you to do so?

Birtukan: I grew up in Addis Ababa around ‘the Ferensaie’ area. After completing high school I joined Addis Ababa University Law School. All the basic rights you fight for in politics like a free judiciary system, the rule of law and others, you will come across when you study law. When I was student, especially in the last year, I was considering the ways in which I can contribute my part so that we could all enjoy and see a free justice system. I believed that I could achieve that by becoming a judge and serving the public.
Even if I knew that some of my decisions would result in threats to my career and even to my life, I did my best in accordance with the country’s laws. I saw some very troubling conditions in which I learnt that the rule of law and freedom of judges is very much limited by the executive body. I started to see the whole thing as one system; we have a parliamentary system which is responsible to the judges’ appointment, budget allocation and also to their freedom. I decided to contribute to this system hoping that it will at the end, offer the judiciary all the freedom it needs. I joined politics as a private (independent) parliamentary candidate back in 2000. It was totally my own decision and I can say that almost every one around me didn’t support the idea. Friends and family, especially my Mom tried to convince me not to enter politics but that didn’t stop me from doing what I believed in. I didn’t win in the election but it was a chance to observe what is really happening there.

Capital: How did you become a member of an opposition party?

Birtukan: When I lost the 2000 election I returned to work as a judge. That was the place where I learned how far the government takes matters in its own hands, greatly influencing the decisions of judges. The entire system was very limited and worked against the rule of law. For instance, the case of Siye Aberha; I learned great lessons from such cases. When I say it was great, it doesn’t mean good but rather, explanatory of how with out evidence of any kind, the government can influence the judiciary system and take control of it. I didn’t have to collect evidence or travel to other parts of the country; I could easily see the injustice from where I was. I firmly believe how unjust or undemocratic any system or government is, the good will and peaceful struggle of its citizens will prevail. Some of the founders of the Rainbow party talked to me, inviting me to join the party, but I couldn’t do so in the first months because I had other commitments in life and career which I should resolve first. After a few months I joined Rainbow.

Capital: Most of the founders of Rainbow had no prior record of participation in Ethiopian politics. Why did you choose to join Rainbow from these?
Birtukan: When I joined Rainbow, the Coalition was already underway. Among the four parties which formed the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, I chose Rainbow because I had a better knowledge of its programs and believed that that it is a common program put in place with agreement of the member parties. It was simply a matter of convenience to choose Rainbow, and through that, the Coalition. I found my beliefs and wishes in the new political tradition of the CUD, which resides in peaceful means to bring about any desired changes. For me to join Rainbow was to join the Coalition.

Capital: How well did the member parties of the Coalition discuss their unity because, in few months time after the election some parties didn’t agree to give up their status and fall under one party. What went wrong? Most critics today are suggesting that CUD was just a front to oppose the ruling party and not out for sustainable struggle. It seems correct when we see your current reality...

Birtukan: The pillars which founded CUD, the basic human rights and equality of citizens which is in no way influenced by sex, ethnic background and other natural divide, was expressed in the member parties program. The stage in which it is expressed in the member parties could vary but we were all committed to it and planned to work with it as one party. If there are any dissimilarities of the Coalition and the member party’s program, as any democratic party, we put in place a mechanism by which changes to the party’s program could be made. We all agreed that the existing difference in statements and expressions won’t create any significant problem.

Capital: EUDP-Medhin didn’t take time to withdraw from the Coalition. That and what we are witnessing today give a different picture from what you explains about the CUD formation...

Birtukan: The Coalition from the early days of the election planned to unify the members into one large strong party. We knew the minor problems we had and we believed that they were too minor not to allow us from working together and achieving the much bigger goal. We had opened the door for any possible changes but unity was shown in every document the parties signed. Claiming that the parties from the start were with different agendas is very wrong, we had all the possible common ground to work together and more importantly, the wished to unite and stand as one strong party. The case of EUDP-Medhin can by no means be used to justify the claim. One individual and few others who support him caused the chaos. It wasn’t the decision of EUDP-Medhin. Most of the leaders of the party including the chairman supported unity; they signed on the documents and had the unity accepted by the party’s general assembly. Indifferent to the party majority members and leaders decision and wish , a few followed other paths probably to gain personal benefits.

Capital: When the CUD entered the 2005 election, there were various expectations and predictions by its members. What was the real target CUD wished to accomplish at the end of the election?

Birtukan: One of the things I appreciate in the CUD is that ideas are freely and openly discussed in the party. That is why we are all aware of the different ideas and predictions about the outcome of the election. Few were convinced that we could change the government with the votes we get and few others had different expectations. It is common even for small agendas from the leader of one democratic party to stand in opposition, leaving alone election results. What we decided as a party with majority support was that we could change the government. Looking to the qualified candidates and the alternatives we presented at the election, we knew that the amount of support we get would allow us to form a new government. What we shouldn’t forget here is that the ruling party did relax a little bit at the start of the election period. Even if it wasn’t , the steps the government took gave hope that there could be a peaceful transition of power. And the efforts we made believing that, really helped us and if it weren’t for the influence of the government, we could have achieved that.

Capital: After the election period the government banned public meetings and demonstration and serious disterbances occurred in the country. By then wasn’t that a time to change expectations of the election and to target another goal, for the future ?

Birtukan: Our target at the end of the election was subject to change not only because of the result disclosed but also to the beliefs we first started out with. If the election process were free and fair, and some major institutions of the government were democratic enough to allow citizens to move and work freely, we would have settled for it. If we could have had assurance that such changes will occur, it would have meant fulfilling some of the major visions of CUD. But what we witnessed was, starting from the election day onward the government starts issuing statements and decisions without basing them on the constitution. It was an act which taught us how the government wished to proceed. Even if we had known what was done during the recount and that we had the truth, we chose to avoid confrontations. We only wanted to get some kind of assurance that at least if not now, in the future there will be democratic institutions where citizen votes will be counted in the proper manner. We wanted the government to work in securing free courts where when disputes arise we can take our cases to them and receive justice through them. We wanted the government to let go of the media and all the institutions so as to work according to the constitutional mandate. We wanted to continue the political process through dialog and reconciliation. All of our proposals showed that but it wasn’t acceptable for the government. Let alone restructuring of the institutions, the government couldn’t even include the ideas as a discussion agenda. Rather, it continued to take measures such as imprisoning political leaders, which made the country’s democratic process stuck in one position and forces citizen to abandon hopes of democratization.

Capital: If you had taken the parliamentary seats you won, wouldn’t that give more weight to your demands? Especially by establishing an exemplary administration in Addis Ababa, wouldn’t that prepare you for future elections?

Birtukan: We didn’t decide not to join parliament in essence of boycotting. The measures taken, such as agenda setting by majority vote, the same with the final decision, the transgression by the government, especially in the recount, as stated by the Carter Center, was narrowing down the little hope we saw. We presented an eight point proposal hoping to reverse that, stating simple and constitutional steps the government should take in order for us to join parliament. If the federal government won’t play fairly, there was no room for us to establish any kind of exemplary administration in Addis Ababa.

Capital: Now, even after being freed the CUD can’t stand together and obtain legal status. Isn’t this time to give up on the CUD? There are reports that Dr. Berhanu Nega already has quit politics and has decided to stay in the USA. Will you follow suit?

Birtukan: No, I won’t give up on the CUD or the peaceful political struggle. Though I am very pessimistic on any future with Engineer Hailu Shawl and a few people he is working with, we will continue to work as the CUD and we will continue in the peaceful struggle. We wished Dr. Berhanu could come here and help in this crucial period and we did ask him to come but he told us that he will remain six months in USA on a scholarship. We are working with the group of CUD parliamentarians led by Temesgen Zewdie so that CUD can obtain legal status. We have elected six people from both sides and people are working on obtaining a legal certificate for the party.

Capital: Finally, if Engineer Hailu leaves quits, who will lead the CUD? Are you ready to take up the role?

Birtukan: It is not up to me to decide I may not be elected as executive member, but for me, what matters is to keep up the peaceful struggle and work to achieve a democratic system for the country. We will remain as the CUD and stay in the peaceful political struggle.

Ethiopia - The Seattle meeting in brief

Luckily I swung by Seattle yesterday, It was a coincidence for me being there for
personal business while the chairman of CUD was conducting a meeting in the same city.
I was happy to see Chairman Hailu Shawel reassuring his audience with full confidence.

The meeting took more than three hours so I will write not all but a few points of my
observation of the meeting. The meeting was called for 2:00 PM, around 3:00 PM the
meeting hall was full and few people were standing leaning to the surrounding wall.
When the panelists came it was stand ovation applause for a longer time. After the initial
introduction of the panelists by the Seattle chapter legal Kinijit support committee chairwoman,the first speaker Weizero Nigist G/hiwot took the podium and explained in
length about the necessity of more women participating in the struggle she also
mentioned past history of Ethiopian women from Queen Taitu to Tewabech who were the
most fierce protectors of the country side by side with Ethiopian men. Without the
participation of women nothing could be accomplished she added. This reminds me of
the Late James Brown’s song it goes like this “This is a man’s world but it would be
nothing without a woman or a girl” I say bravo Weizero Nigist, keep it up. Next the
warrior Bedru Adem was telling it like it is. I appreciate the way Bedru Adam handles the
crisis and his determination to push forward the struggle regardless of the detractors and
traitors within the party. On top of all things, one thing worth mentioning that hits the
cord was when he pointed to his colleagues sitting in the panel to his left chairman Hailu
to his right Weizero Nigist, he said we are Ethiopians pointing to the chairman “Oromo &
Amara”, pointing to himself “Oromo” and pointing to Weizero Nigist “Amara”
concluded by saying there is no democracy than this we all of us together are called
Ethiopians wishing good things for Ethiopia. There was a very loud applause he
continued about why he joined to strengthen CUD and get his own strength from CUD
because as an individual parliamentarian for many years, he couldn't accomplished
anything. Then the chairman himself took the podium and talked about the sad state of
the Ethiopian economy, the farmers exodus to cities like Addis Ababa and the few riches
created by the current rulers to the expense of the Ethiopian Public. He advised the
audience when they visit Ethiopia to see the glaring problem of the people, the families
who are on the streets instead of the buildings. The student who only have to eat once a
day, “how can you produce an educated citizen without first feeding the brain to grow?”
he asked. Then came the question and answer session where the first person to jump for
the microphone was an individual from the detractors group sent to whatever. His
question was “how come you claim to free us while you are not free yourselves” and
mentions something about the Drdolittle’s group suspension by the chairman. Well
chairman Hailu gave him all; he mentioned he has responsibility to the party because the
party is owned by the people of Ethiopia not by individuals like Drdolittle and his
groupies. He said individuals have the right to do whatever they want and can go which
ever way they want but they have no right to go outside of the party’s law without
consequences he added. Then Mr. Bedru continued explaining and mentioning
paragraphs of CUD bylaws telling the audience the chairman’s authority to suspend any
wrong doer who intends to hurt the party. Bedru added this is not a family squabble, if
one go out of the party rule then it has to be judged using the party rule. After more
question and answers the meeting was concluded by a few items auctioned to support
CUD, one item a gold necklace sold for over a thousand dollar.

By the way, while the meeting was in progress we were disrupted by pal talk connection
to Ethiopia, two of the CUD executive committee members Ato Abayneh Berhanu and
another member were on the phone. First they congratulated the audience for standing up
to the challenge and reported what they are doing. Ato Abayneh mentioned about 30 -40
elected officials are out to the field in different Woredas organizing and the result is to his
satisfaction. The other member was contacted while he was in southern Ethiopia doing
the same field work like his mates. My take is it was very exciting to hear their positive
attitude.

Then I left went to where I stayed, I opened my laptop to write something and on my way
visited a few websites. To my surprise here was the EMF owner Dawit Kebede like a
rabid dog put together about the Seattle meeting. I think he wrote it even before the
meeting was started. What a liar he is I am sorry for his followers. I never saw a low life
like this. I don’t want to repeat his lies but he mentioned things that didn’t happen, he
said Hailu Shawel surprised the audience with such and such things? I am the audience;
Chairman Hailu only talks about the economy not even close to what the rabid dog Dawit
mentioned. I tell you he needs a rabies shot, he really need it.

Note: the name Drdolittle is mine which I awarded to Birhanu Nega a few months ago
Friends see you in another article
Gasha Kelemu
gashakelemu@yahoo.com

File Photo: Lidetu Ayalew

Ethiopia - Lidetu Ayalew interview with Capital newspaper

Source: Capital

Lidetu Ayalew, chairman of EUDP-Medhin, is one of the influential figures of opposition party politics in the last 17 years. He has traveled a long journey from youth council leader of AAPO becoming a vocal member of parliament.

As of the Ethiopia's May 2005 historical election and the crisis which followed and after his early departure from the CUD, he became a controversial image of Ethiopian politics of the last two years. With many people thinking of him as the primary reason for the fragmentation of the CUD, last week, Capital’s Abiy Demilew took a moment with him for an exclusive interview.Excerpts;
I am a strong man of politics

Capital: Two years after the historical May 2005 elections, how do you characterize current Ethiopian politics?

Lidetu Ayalew: We have to see this issue from different angles. In my perspective, the pre-election process had been of significant value where many things were slightly opened up. The public, for the first time in its history, believed in bringing change by the ballot-box and marked a huge participation; most of us were able to see the fruit of the struggle of the last 14 years and were satisfied.
But after the election we have seen that stray in the wrong direction by the mishandling of political forces.

Capital: What are the negative implications?

Lidetu Ayalew: That situation has diminished hopes and geared aback the wheel of Ethiopian politics to where it used to be 14 years ago. Afterwards, we have seen the public trust and interest in elections and peaceful struggle and politics being seriously damaged to the extent where people hate to hear and talk about politics anymore.
However, as long as we could learn from it as the opposition, the ruling party and the society as a whole, there will be a time when we will talk about it as a positive experience.
But, looking back at the two year in which we could have taken our historical chances, I still feel like we have wasted the opportunity we could have had played in the country’s democratic process.

Capital: Can we say the democratic process has been reversed?

Lidetu Ayalew: Yes somewhat yes. But it does not mean that it is hopeless. As a politician I don’t believe in giving up hope. Rising and falling should be learnt to be natural in this kind of process. We shouldn’t give up even though some things have been reversed. However the whole positive vibration could resurface as long as we all have taken a good lesson out of it. If we fail to do that, we might not be able to see that public sentiment again.
Our party [EUDP-Medhin] has learnt a lot from that momentum. We have evaluated ourselves and restructured the party’s strategic steps ahead.
We have now moved into a new phase by introducing a third alternative in Ethiopian politics where we have replaced absolute hatred and support by reasonable political thought process.
We have admitted to be a part of the problem and have decided to be part of the solution as well. I think the other parties, including the ruling party, should also do the same to bring a better future to the country.

Capital: Looking at the current fragmentation of the CUD, what do you think would have happened if you had taken power two years ago?

Lidetu Ayalew: The CUD had problems in evaluating and sighting the line-up of different political forces at that time. We also had differences in marking the strategic goals of the party. These were the reasons why we had to part ways at that time.
We had differences on various issues even before the election such as in forecasting election results. My party’s expectation was that CUD will win Addis Ababa and garner significant numbers of seats in the parliament. But others in the party were in expectation of total victory and the assumption of the power.
Even after the election, we had a solid difference in joining the parliament or not. We in EUDP-Medhin believed in taking that chance even though the whole world knew the election results were rigged. Yet again, nobody wanted to listen to us. Unfortunately what happened afterwards had been just like our predictions.
I think it would have been a big challenge if we had taken power in Addis Ababa even with all those differences. Now, that big party, which had fought to be a government, has fallen in to a fight to reclaim its name, office, symbol and etc.

Capital: What do you think are the reasons for the fragmentation of the CUD?

Lidetu Ayalew: Everybody thinks that the CUD was very united. That’s where the problem is. We wouldn’t have walked out if there were that much unity.
The current fragmentation might appear new to the public, but not for us. What’s happening now is the same as what we’ve seen two years ago.
They seemed to be united, leaving their differences behind, only to address the public expectations of change, to be a government and to attack those of us considered as future threats.
I’m not surprised to see the CUD fragmented in to four groups, but the question is will it stop fragmenting?

The problem arises from not having a common binding program or agenda to not even knowing each other personally.

Capital: Differences are not to be expected in parties?

Lidetu Ayalew: This depends on the overall political culture we have. Ethiopia has never had a democratic culture in its history. It is only in the last few years that we have started talking about multi party politics and democracy so we are in the infancy age.
The country’s politics right now is just black or white. There is no gray area in between. If you’re not on one side, then you’re considered to be not only an enemy but also destructive. This shows how much we have failed to accept the existence of many alternatives. So the way we handle ideological differences happens to be undemocratic. This is the reflection of the whole social system which needs a total structural transformation.
This was also one of the reasons we had to abstain from the CUD. The leadership was not ready to tolerate new ideas and procedures. After our departure, what they’ve been doing was what I call character assassination in different ways of defamation.
I think our political culture still remains the same to Emperor Mineilik’s era.

Capital: Do you think opposition parties are contributing to the country’s democratic process?

Lidetu Ayalew: We have been in the struggle for 16 years and singing the same song “EPRDF is hated; there will be a power takeover shortly” and etc. Now, after all these years, what we are seeing now is not only that the EPRDF is still the ruling power, but also frustrated opposition supporters turning their faces towards this party. So if there was a strong opposition party of bigger values, the political situation in the country would have been different now.
The main problem in opposition parties is the absence of the culture of self-criticism and democratic culture within the parties themselves. The opposition has fallen in a complicated and muddy situation from which it has failed to come out of.
In this case, the EPRDF is doing better after the election. The election has taught them they could no more continue in how they used to be. They are now looking closer to the community and trying to address the problems we had raised during the election.
Capital: Your personal and political character became controversial and bound with different labels in the last two years. Books have been written about you. But how do you define your own character?

Lidetu Ayalew: I admit that I’m the most controversial figure in the last two years. But the reason why I’ve been given different labels is because I’m a strong man of politics who has his own ideas and ways. This is a healthy reaction when you are in politics.
People who are writing books about me now are those people who used to wish my death two years ago. They are doing this because I’m a strong political actor who is not following the same old ways of opposition. We have challenged the existing traditional way of opposing just to oppose.

Capital: Do you think Ethiopia and Eritrea will go to war again?
Lidetu Ayalew: I don’t think war will be start since both nations understand the outcome of any war.

File Photo: Birtukan Mideksa

Ethiopia - Birtukan says reconciliation with Hailu Shawul unlikely

By Kirubel Tadesse

Source: Capital

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Birtukan Mideksa says that she is not optimist that ‘the group led by Engineer Hailu Shawul’ will settle the dispute it has with the rest of CUD’s (Coalition for Unity and Democracy, an opposition party in Ethiopia) executive members.

She told Capital that all the accusations and name calling thrown at her and the rest of the executive members lead her to believe that Engineer Hailu Shawl is no longer interested in working together in one party.

“Forgetting the fact that the struggle is with EPRDF, they are fighting us with all they have. It is really sad to see that people who claim to fight for democracy could not even abide by the bylaws of their own party,” commented Birtukan.

Related Link
Birtukan Mideksa's Interview with Capital newspaper

“Our party directive clearly explains that any member should only be suspended from the party by two thirds vote of the executive committee, but what happened now is Engineer Hailu alone suspended five other executive members with out any ground of authority,” explained Birtukan, “the decision of appointing another person to work as the party president is unacceptable. It is the first vice president who can assume the responsibility in whatever case if the president is not up to the job.” She added that if it is possible, she wishes to remain together and continue the struggle as one party.

In an exclusive interview Birtukan held with Capital, she commented that it was Lidetu Ayalew (MP) and the few other people who support him for personal interest who laid the grounds for the National Electoral Board to deny the certificate for the formation of CUD. “All of the leaders of EUDP-Medhin, including its chairman, signed supporting the party’s unity with CUD but what stopped the process was the letter sent by one individual who could not stand one strong party,” added Birtukan.

When asked about the uncertain fate of the CUD, Birtukan said, “as we have seen in many parts of the world, those with the goal of equality and justice will prevail in the end. I have always believed that; and this common belief will keep us in a peaceful political struggle which will create a democratic system through the same peaceful means we have been participating in.”

Birtukan added that unity with parliamentarians of the CUD, led by Temesgen Zewde (MP) is under way with continuous meetings of six representatives chosen from each group. Full interview from Capital newspaper

File Photo: Gilgel Gibe I industcards.com

Ethiopia to launch Gibe III hydroelectric power project

By Tesfu Telahoun

Source: Capital

Capable of generating 1870 megawatts when completed in seven years, the Gibe III hydroelectric power project is to be officially launched with a ceremony on January 24, 2008, at which a foundation stone will be lain. Gibe III is situated on the Omo River, 500 kms south of Addis Ababa, Welayta -Dawro Zone, SNNPS region.

The project ranks as the largest ever undertaking in the nation with an outlay of ETB 16 bln ( $ 1.75 bln). Funding has been secured from international lending agencies. Construction work is to be carried out by Italian firm Salini Constructtori S.A. which has considerable experience of large projects in Ethiopia. It is to be recalled that Salini conducted works on Gilgel Gibe I and II and is currently engaged on Beles, another hydroelectric generation scheme.

Currently, the nation generates less than 900 MW of electric power, making the addition of 1870 M.W. by the ten generators of Gilgel Gibe III alone, a quantum leap in national power generation capacity. It is envisioned that Gibe III will enable Ethiopia to export power to neighboring states.

It is also anticipated that the massive earthworks required for the building of the dam will contribute to the development of the immediate surroundings.

Ethiopia Court rules against National Bank directive

By Groum Abate

Source: Capital

The Federal First Instance Court ruled in favor of The United Insurnace S.C, Eyesuswork Zafu and Workishet Bekele over the National Bank of Ethiopia, with regards to the latter’s directive that includes the sub article forbidding an individual from serving two financial institutions and at the same time be a member of the Board of Directors; at least 75 per cent of the Board of Directors must have first degrees or above and one member of the Board of Directors has to take a break for six years after serving for two terms of three years. Only 1/3 of the outgoing board members can be re-elected for the sake of continuity.

United Insurance S.C and the two individuals appealed to the court suing that NBE does not have the mandate and the authority to issue the directive concerning the three sub articles.

NBE on the other hand, defends the accusation saying that it does have the mandate and responsibility entrusted by the government.
Israel Tekle, lawyer for the plaintiff, told Capital that the court ruled in favour of his client, accepting their appeal that NBE does not have the authority to include the sub-articles in the directive.
He further said that other banks could also benefit from the court ruling.

In its appeal letter to the NBE written on May 31st, 2007, the United Insurance Company stated that the former has no authority to pass directives which contradict with the Commercial Code of the country.
“...not only had the National Bank of Ethiopia clearly exceeded its legal authority but had also violated a fundamental principle of law; hierarchy of laws, by attempting to change by a directive laws legislated by a higher body, the Parliament,” states the letter written to NBE and signed by Eyessuswork Zafu, Managing Director of the United Insurance Company S.C.

It further states: “even if the NBE directive were to stand, the United Insurance Company S.C., having been elected to the Board of United Bank S.C only a year ago, still has two more years to serve. If NBE’s decision to bar United Insurance from continuing to serve the term it is elected for were to stand, the company stands to lose substantial income it would have earned from being a director (Director’s incentive payment from the net profits of the bank). Such payment could well be in the region of 150,000 birr per year...”

The reason indicated by the National Bank for introducing the new directive is to avoid the conflict of interest that occurs when one individual serves as a Board of Director of a bank and an insurance company as well at the same time. In addition, it is intended to make sure that these banks are run by well educated people with management experience to protect the banks from bankruptcy.

Ethiopia - India co-operation sweetens Photo: Capital

Ethiopia - India co-operation sweetens

By Abiy Demilew

Source: Capital

Ethiopia and India, last Thursday, signed the largest ever loan agreement by India, US $640 million, for the development of the sugar industry in Ethiopia.

The agreement, which mainly targeted Tendaho and Fincha at the moment, enables Ethiopia to boost its sugar industry in the next two years. This was announced at the signing ceremony held at the Hilton Addis Ababa.

Gurjit Singh, India’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, said the commitment to provide a line of credit of up to US $ 640 million over a period of five years to support the sugar industry in Ethiopia is the largest ever line of credit that India has provided to any country so far. “This year the commitment is to provide $122 million and further amounts will be progressively disbursed over the next four years,” the Ambassador said.

Girma Birru, Minister of Trade and Industry, told Capital that the $640 million loan obtained from India will cover 39 per cent of the total sugar development investment project expense. “The remaining 61 per cent will be covered by local banks and the Sugar Development Fund allocated by the government,” Girma affirmed to Capital.
The loan covers significantly the gap in foreign currency demand, according to Girma, in an exclusive interview with Capital.
“The Tendaho factory project, upon completion in two years, will have the capacity of producing 6 million quintals of sugar a year. The dam and sugarcane plantation is funded by the Ethiopian government” Girma revealed.

According to Girma Birru, negotiations are underway to attach two other sugar factories, Wonji Shoa and Metehara, with productivity levels as high as Tendaho and Fincha. “Wonji Shoa, in its current capacity produces 750,000 quintals a year and upon completion of the expansion project, it will be able to produce 2.7 million quintals a year.” Girma disclosed. Fincha will also produce 2.7 million quintals a year, rocketing from its current annual production capacity of 950,000 quintals.
Currently the country produces 3 million quintals of sugar a year. And according to Girma, in two years, this will be boosted to 15 million quintalsa, enabling the sector to join the export items list.
Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, told Capital that the agreement is a giant move towards the development of the sugar industry in Ethiopia and various sector areas connected to it.
“This would enable the country to benefit in meeting the ever increasing local demand of sugar, an employment opportunity for about 80,000 people, transfer of technologies, foreign currency earning from export and substituting 20 per cent of the country’s fuel demand with ethanol gasoline” Sufian told Capital.
The fuel substitution, in its realization, will produce about 100 mw of electric power from the bi-products of sugar processing, according to Sufian.

In an exclusive interview with Capital, Sufian Ahmed disclosed that the country has already started benefiting from Indian investment such as the Hageremariam Mega Power Station and Distribution, a $65 million project. “60,000 people in 16 towns and villages are benefiting from this project” Sufian told Capital.

“The other important thing is that the loan was given as a soft loan which gives us space to pay back” says Girma, “this is not only the biggest ever loan to be forwarded to a country by the Indian government but also the biggest ever loan to be given for a specific project” he added.

Gurjit Singh, India’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, also disclosed to Capital that India’s investment in Ethiopia, besides the line of credit, has now crossed $1 billion. “This agreement is a turning point in Ethio-India bilateral relations which have gained strong momentum” the Ambassador told Capital.

“The sugar Industry is important because India has the right technology and successful experience ready to share”, said Ambassador Gurjit, “this is one of our contributions to Ethiopia as the nation is celebrating the new millennium” he added.

The agreement was signed in the attendance of senior government officials, Indian business people, diplomats, and other dignitaries, at the Hilton Addis’s Ballroom.

File Photo: Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Ethiopia - Dire Dawa allocates 40 hectares of land for dry port

By Muluken Yewondwossen

Source: Capital

The Dire Dawa City Administration has prepared forty hectares of land for a dry port. The construction work of the dry port will start in the middle of this year.

According to Bahir Ame, Diredawa City Administration Investment Office general manager, the dry port will be built by the Ethiopian and Djiboutian governments. According to him, a delegation of the city administration’s high officials visited Djibouti and the government of Djibouti raised the question of the dry port to the city administration’s representative.

Currently, the Djibouti port does not have enough space for incoming containers so the Dire Dawa dry port provides for more room, easing the transportation of goods into central Ethiopia and other eastern parts.
“Dire Dawa is the nearest Ethiopian city to a port. It is 313 km from the port of Djibouti and thus the best place for a dry port than other areas,” Bahir told Capital.

On current conditions ninety per cent of imported trade materials wait fifteen days at the port of Djibouti. Ethiopia pays twenty USD per day for every ton of stored goods to the Djiboutian government. The dry port will minimize Ethiopia’s foreign currency expenses for storage at the port of Djibouti.

The Ethiopian government is currently constructing a dry port at Mojo and Mile on a plot of 140 hectares for 300 million ETB. It also has plans to build other dry ports in northern and southern Ethiopia. These projects are carried out by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Transport and Communication.

Athletes manhandled by ‘crazy’ security at event

Hundreds of Eritrean and Ethiopian visitors flocked to the course from all over Britain to see the rematch between the current and former world champions, Zersenay Tadesse and Kenenisa Bekele. Eritrean Tadesse had been harmlessly chaired shoulder high by supporters last year. However, on Saturday the pair were loaded into a golf buggy and security were free with their hands in pushing flag-waving, chanting spectators away from the cart.

More than 160 Eritreans travelled from Glasgow alone, and bus loads from London, Manchester, and Newcastle, plus almost as many from Britain's Ethiopian community. They were noisy but well-behaved and offended that their tribal chanting, dancing, and support, had been misconstrued. "We have said nothing bad at all," said one indignant Eritrean.


Read full story from Herlad

India gives Ethiopia $640 mln credit for sugar industry

Mon 14 Jan 2008, 10:11 GMT

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - India has agreed to give Ethiopia a $640 million credit out of a total $1.3 billion needed to boost Ethiopia's sugar production, officials from the two countries said on Monday.

Late last year Ethiopia announced plans to increase its annual sugar production to 1.3 million tonnes by 2011 from a current 300,000 tonnes.

India's Exim Bank will finance the $640 million.

"It is the largest ever line of credit that India has provided to any country so far," Gurjit Singh, the country's ambassador to Ethiopia, said while signing an agreement between India and Ethiopia.

The remaining $660 million will be covered by the Ethiopia government.

The money will go mainly towards erecting a new factory at Tendaho in the country's Afar region, and expansion of Finchaa, one of four existing sugar factories in Ethiopia within the next two years.

"With the completion of Tendaho ... and the enhanced production of the existing four sugar factories ... annual sugar production is expected reach up to 1.3 million tonnes within the next two years," Trade and Industry Minister Girma Birru said.

Tendaho will have an annual production capacity of 600,000 tonnes and will be Ethiopia's largest sugar factory. It will be located in the lower Awash Valley, in the Afar region, along the Addis Ababa-Djibouti highway and railway line.

Finchaa is in the west of the country and its annual production is expected to reach to 270,000 tonnes from the current 80,000 tonnes at the end of the expansion period.

Ethiopia's other sugar factories are Wonji, Shoa and Methara.

Wonji and Shoa, 100 km (60 miles) east of Addis Ababa, are also undergoing expansion to increase their aggregate annual production output to 350,000 tonnes from the current 75,000 tonnes, according to a Sugar Development Study Paper.

Methara Sugar Factory, 250 kms east of Addis Ababa, is also expected to increase its annual production to 190,000 tonnes from 120,000 tonnes currently.

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SUGAR FACTORIES IN ETHIOPIA

• Wonji Aggregate Annual production of Wonji and Shoa to increase from 75,000 tonnes to 350,000
• Shoa
• Methara From 120,000 tonnes currently to 190,000 tonnes
• Finchaa to 270,000 tonnes from the current 80,000 tonnes
• Tendaho (Under construction) will become the biggest sugar factory in Ethiopia with annual production capacity of 600,000 tonnes
• Ethiopia to produce 1.3 million tonnes of Sugar by 2011

Ethiopia's Zekiros sets course record

The Arizona Republic

Jan. 14, 2008 12:00 AM

She was gunning for it. Every step built confidence.

Every step led her to her goal.

Adenech Zekiros of Ethiopia wanted to finish the marathon at Sunday's P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon with her personal-best time - under 2 hours, 27 minutes and 28 seconds.


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