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Wednesday September 30, 2020 – 1300EAT News Highlights – Wednesday September 30, 2020 – 1300EAT COVID-19 Pandemic Region Infections Deaths Recoveries Globe 33.876 million 1013 million 25.172 million Africa 1.48 million 35,729 1,226 million Ethiopia 74,584 1,191 30,952 Follow live updates on worldometers.info/coronavirus/ • Africa needs $100billion for COVID-19 aftermath: Ramaphosa - CGTN Africa needs financing of $100 billion for “fiscal space and liquidity’’ amid the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday at a UN meeting on financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the era of COVID-19 and beyond via video message. The impact of the pandemic has been described as the worst shock to the global economy since World War II. “The economic and social consequences are as bad as we feared and in some cases, worse. We are suffering the largest economic contraction since the Second World War, Ramaphosa said. “Unless we take action now, we face a global recession that could wipe out decades of development and put the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development completely out of reach,” he added. According to Ramaphosa, challenges facing developing economies have been compounded by weak public health systems, limited social safety nets, high levels of inequality, high debt burdens, reduced tax revenues, capital outflows and lack of adequate and sufficient access to financial markets. “For Africa, financing remains crucial. As agreed by African finance ministers on 19 March 2020, Africa needs immediate emergency financing to the tune of 100 billion, which would provide fiscal space and liquidity to governments,” Ramaphosa said. He added that the southern nation supported extending the debt service suspension and considering the cancellation of debt in certain cases. He called on developed countries not to go back on their commitments to support developing countries. ___________________________________________________________________________ GERD • GERD Mitigates Evaporation – Premier – All Africa Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accentuated the benefit of the self-financed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) to water resources conservation which otherwise would be lost to evaporation in downstream countries. The Premier also pledged unwavering support to lasting peace in the Horn region in partnership with the international community. These came when the Prime Minister addressed the general debate of the 75th Session of the General Assembly of UN CDRC Research Department, September 2020 on 25 Sep. 2020 on a pre-recorded message. Explaining the intention behind building the GERD, the premier went on saying that Ethiopia has no intention to harm Sudan and Egypt while he put forth the fact that what the people of Ethiopia have been doing is meant to meet the electricity demands from one of the cleanest sources of energy. "We cannot afford to continue keeping more than 65 million of our people in the dark." A showcase to Ethiopia's genuine stance is that the entire process of the construction has been guided by the internationally accepted principles of "equitable utilization" and "not causing significant harm" in building the dam, he indicated. "Our unwavering commitment to this is clearly captured in the Declaration of Principles signed by Ethiopia, Egypt and the Sudan in March 2015." He has also assured that the government and people of Ethiopia are firm in their commitment to addressing the concerns of downstream countries and reaching a mutual beneficiary outcome in the context of the ongoing African Union-led process. Regarding Horn peace, the premier said: "Our peace and development are closely interlinked with the peace and security of countries in our sub-region. We are encouraged by the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan. We hope the South Sudanese political stakeholders will continue to work together in the spirit of cooperation to address outstanding issues and improve the plight of the South Sudanese people who have suffered for far too long." He also indicated that the Sudanese Transitional Government needs all the support it can get from the international community in easing the serious socio-economic difficulties facing the country and fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the Sudanese people. When it comes to Somalia, Abiy expressed grave concern over the continued attacks perpetrated by Al-shabab. "We all need to continue supporting Somalia in the security endeavor." Abiy also appreciated the international COVID-19 response in support of Africa which provided some relief. "We believe that much more is still needed to be done to soften the medium and long-term impacts of the pandemic on our continent." • Ethiopian Ambassadors Vow to Continue Diplomatic Course on GERD-ENA Explaining the reasonable stand of Ethiopia on the GERD to the world and consolidating the participation of the diaspora until the completion of the dam will continue in an organized manner, Ethiopian ambassadors said. Minnesota and Midwest Consul General, Abdulaziz Mohammed told ENA that comprehensive work has been underway to inform the international community that the dam is being built in compliance with international law. He added that the consul had been explaining that the dam is being built based on the principle of equitable utilization and mutual benefit without causing significant harm to downstream countries. According to him, understanding has been reached that Ethiopia, the country that contributes 86 percent of Nile waters, is building the dam with the view to uplifting its citizens from poverty. Ambassador Abdulaziz noted that the diaspora has shown big interest in supporting the dam both in finance and knowledge, following the first phase filling of GERD. He stressed that all-round efforts would be exerted to encourage the diaspora to consolidate its support and explain the multifaceted uses of CDRC Research Department, September 2020 the dam. Ethiopian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Ahmed stated on his part that his embassy has been making Ethiopia’s position clear to Arab countries. Foreign Affairs State Minister, Redwan Hussein said reflecting Ethiopia’s position on GERD is one of the priorities of the embassies and counsels. Nowadays many countries have come to understand Ethiopia’s stand, the state minister said, adding that “this does not mean, however, that they are standing by our side.” Redwan underlined that the ambassadors are working to make the world understand that more than 60 million Ethiopians have no access to electricity. _____________________________________________________________________________ Ethiopia • Ethiopia, South Africa Working to Ink Labor Pact – All Africa The government of Ethiopia has been closely working with its South African counterpart to reach a final agreement to curb illegal migration and resort to skilled labor exchanges that will ensure the rights, benefits and dignity of citizens, according to Ethiopia's ambassador to that country. Approached by The Ethiopian Herald, Ethiopia's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to South Africa, Shiferaw Teklemariam stated that the Ethiopian government is giving due emphasis on well- researched legal frameworks, structural organization and working systems to send skilled employees to South Africa. Ambassador Shiferaw noted that mutual understanding between Ethiopia and South Africa is growing time to time since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's official visit to the latter last January. Continuous dialogues are underway, even in the current coronavirus-affected situation, in virtual platforms to reach the final deal in the shortest possible time. Citing false information disseminated by some parties about dramatic change of livelihoods in South Africa, the ambassador advised citizens to take legal routes and ways to travel as most of the vulnerable groups are illegal migrants. During his visit, Premier Abiy also conferred with South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa on South Africa's involvement in the Tripartite Talks of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan on the filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). "Emanating from his strong belief to give African solutions to African problems, the PM invited President Ramaphosa, the current Chairperson of the African Union, to contribute share in the ongoing dialogue." According to the ambassador, President Ramaphosa's consensus to take part in the GERD Talks under the auspicious of the AU is one of Ethiopia's landmark diplomatic achievements. The revised Ethiopia's Foreign Policy has given due emphasis to forge relations with African countries and enhance partnership to the fulfillment of Pan-African peace, democracy and development goals. "Taking in to account South Africa's status of being Africa's economic powerhouse, the Premier visit was also aimed at promoting Ethiopia's economic interests," he said, adding that South African companies were briefed about Ethiopia's untapped potentials for investment, trade and tourism. Ambassador Shiferaw expressed his belief that Abiy's visit was instrumental to aware South African companies that Ethiopia is the right place to do business. CDRC Research Department, September 2020 Accordingly, there is a growing desire among South African investors to discover Ethiopia's business climate and to maximize their involvement in the country's market. For its part, Ethiopia's Embassy in Pretoria puts in place meticulous efforts to lobbying for facilitating the expansion of market horizons
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