Let us unite with love; surpass in forgiveness!

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Vol. LXXVI No 218 22 May 2020 - Ginbot 14, 2012 Price Birr 5.75

See City... Page 3

Former PM says Ethiopia continues respecting Int’l principles, Dam

construction

The Irony of Life‘Getting ahead

bridging potential gaps’

COVID-19 and China-Africa Partnership: The need for more cooperation

BY ADDISALEM MULAT

ADDIS ABABA - Though Ethiopia is sticking to the Declaration of Principles (DoP) and putting them into effect, and moving in

Authority readies 1.2 bln. coffee saplings for upcoming rainy season

COVID-19

Mixing the better cure, lessening the bitter

economic

impact

BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED

ADDIS ABABA - The Addis Ababa City Administration handed 30, 000 square meters land title certificate to Mufti Haji

See Former... Page 3

City Administration hands over building

site for mosque, Islamic research center

BY MISGANAW ASNAKE

ADDIS ABABA- The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority announced that 1.2 billion improved coffee saplings have been readied for transplantation by the upcoming rainy season.

Authority’s Coffee, Tea and Spices Extension Director, Berhanu Tsegaye, told The Ethiopian Herald that the improved saplings will be planted on 280,000 Ha of land this rainy season.

The efforts exerted thus far resulted in the

Cairo diverts talks to uncharted territory

Cairo has been diverting talks to “Nile water allocation” while the main issue must focus on matters relating to the filling and operation of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

See Cairo... Page 3

See Authority... Page 2

page 2

BY ADDISALEM MULAT

NewsPAGE 2 THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 MAY 2020

Last week, researchers from The Ethiopian Economic Association warned that Ethiopia could lose around 139.2 billion Birr provided the pandemic and restriction measures last for six months. And, other economists consider multiple prescriptions to ease the grim forecast of COVID-19 induced economic ramifications.

The reports also came as Ethiopia braces for a daily increase of confirmed cases which turns digits to 398 per yesterday’s report.

In similar scenarios, the Planning and Development Commission forecasts that out of the 7 .5 million urban population, 700, 000 people would be impacted by COVID-19 in three months.

The 2019/20 fiscal year growth projection, according to the Commission, will also drop by 2.8 percent due to COVID-19- estimated to induce a 70 billion Birr loss. Previously, Ethiopia estimated a 9-percent growth in the same fiscal year.

The grim projection of the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 was also revealed at the 5th virtual discussion of scholars held recently.

Ethiopia is forced to revise its 10 years economic development strategic plan due to COVID-19, said Science and Higher Education Minister Professor Hirut Woldemariam according to ENA.

The pandemic has already inflicted huge damage on the hospitality, tourism, and transportation sectors and the situation will accelerate unemployment and decrease in per capita income of the country.

Appreciating the commendable measures the government has been taking, the minister

said that more government intervention is needed in major areas.

“As you know our government has taken good measures by imposing partial lockdown since the outbreak. We have especially witnessed how the government is determined to respond to the economic crisis through ejecting financial liquidity for banks and canceling excessive tax,” she elaborated.

Alemayehu Geda is a Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics, Addis Ababa University, and he lately conducted a study on the macroeconomic and social impact of COVID-19 in Ethiopia and the way out.

He reveals in the document sent to The Ethiopian Herald that the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is staggering. The pandemic is estimated to reduce GDP by 11.1 percent in the fiscal year 2020/21. This shock will be felt most in the industrial sector which is expected to decline by 17 percent. This will be followed by the services sector, expected to decline by 15.6 percent. The agricultural sector is expected to be the least affected as it is projected to decline by only 1.6 percent.

Prof. Alemayehu, who is also Research Associate, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and African Economic Research Consortium, AERC, Nairobi projects that the external sector would be highly vulnerable.

He indicates this trend will have a significant impact on the national economy. The sector’s vulnerability comes from the effect of COVID-19 on global commodity prices and the volume of exports and imports as well as from the disruption of the supply chain with our major trading partners especially China and Europe.

The first measure that could be considered to minimize the socio-economic effect of the pandemic is to keep at least half the workforce running the economy so that these people are earning a living and supporting the other half for three months until the economic effect of the virus subsides, he stresses.

To overcome the challenges, Prof. Alemayehu recommends expenditure switching. “This is important and the government needs to revisit and revise its book and postpone and switch some of the less urgent items in the current budget, and shift the resources to fund the COVID related programs,” he indicates.

He also suggests that external financing is important as long as a good part of the money obtained (if we manage to get it) is used to import food and related essentials and/or boost domestic production of food and such essential consumer goods.

An increase in the food supply is key for financing the COVID instigated public spending within a non-inflationary macroeconomic environment.

“The external financing, if obtained, needs to be accompanied by a monetary policy of sterilization (reducing total credit by the equal amount of external assets obtained) for more effectiveness,” he recommends while suggesting the latter seems difficult at this trying time if there are no non-essential or non-urgent credit provisions in our current plan that we could easily halt. However, it has to be tried.

In conclusion, he points out that it is imperative to note that the Ethiopian economy is going to face an enormous shock. There is no room for complacency, incompetence, or uninformed decisions.

The consequences of such actions could be devastating especially at this extraordinary time.

He insists that “decisions must be guided by evidence, knowledge and good judgment. The challenge we are facing is so great and the potential consequences so catastrophic that we need an exceptional and bold politico-economic approach to rise to the challenge and avoid the precipice.”

Dr. Tadele Ferede, a researcher, also recommends that scaling up safety net programs, increase in domestic production, and maintaining an uninterrupted supply chain are also some of the mitigation measures where researches recommend to ease the pandemic’s economic burden.

The government has already taken measures such as extending loan payment period, relaxing reserve, and increasing the liquidity of small manufacturers, stated Dr. Getachew Diriba, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Economics Association in his previous interview with The Ethiopian Herald.

“The national Bank indeed has taken a combination of emergency fiscal and monetary policy actions cutting interest rates and providing extraordinary liquidity assistance there is no one-size-fits-all solution, it requires continuous recovery and mitigation interventions of economic impacts.”

The government is highly engaged in soliciting funds for COVID 19 counter mechanism. The government may have to scale up the existing urban and rural safety-net programs to help communities even the people who would lose jobs due to the virus impact. Public-Private Cooperation is a must in this desperate time, according to the CEO.

Authority readies 1.2 bln. coffee saplings...preparation of 42 improved coffee species, and among the saplings prepared for this year, 35 of them represents the improved ones, according to him.

He also indicated that old coffee trees will be pruned to improve their production while saplings that were planted last year and did not survive will be replaced as well.

As new coffee saplings were transplanted on a 79,000 Ha of land last year, whilst follow-ups are being carried out in every quarter of a year, he added.

Further, Berhanu said the transplantation of the saplings takes place in Oromia, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara, Gambela, Benishangul Gumuz and Tigray States.

Elaborating that coffee plantation covers

900,000 Ha of land at national level; he said the trees on a 600,000 Ha of land are productive.

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research in Jimma Agricultural Research Center, National Coffee and Tea Research Program Coordinator Associate Researcher, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Lemi Beksisa, for his part added that improved saplings increase production to 11 quintals per Ha from current seven per hectare.

As a means to increase production and productivity, 200 to 250 quintals of coffee saplings is distributed to coffee producing farmers. The Center has provided trainings to farmers and experts, he noted. He also said in order to increase production and productivity, the Institute is also working cooperatively with Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority.

Mixing the better cure, lessening the bitter economic impact

BY DESTA GEBREHIWOT

NewsPAGE 3 THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 MAY 2020

ADDIS ABABA- The Ethiopian National Association for Persons with Disabilities said it has been engaging in various activities to protect Peoples with Disabilities (PWDs) from COVID-19 in addition to advocating for the protection of the community’s rights.

The Association’s President, Tessema Sebsibe told The Ethiopian Herald on Thursday that the Association has provided supports worth 450,000 Birr for about 700 PWDs living in Oromia, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples States

as well as the two city administrations, Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.

Since the confirmation of the first case of COVID-19 in Ethiopia, the Association has been engaging in various activities from raising awareness of PWDs on the pandemic, raising funds to urge the government’s supports to help PWDs overcome the dire situation that the pandemic has created. But, he said, the Association is predominantly there to ensure the protection of the rights of peoples with disabilities. Accordingly, he urged the government to pay special attention to persons with disabilities (PWDs) particularly when

policies are drafted and issued.Noting that the government has a great responsibility to solve problems facing PWDs, he said the government has to seek a permanent solution, not temporary ones, to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. The government’s decisions should take into account persons with disabilities, he said, adding that PWDs should be represented in committees established to counter emerging problems like the current COVID-19.

According to him, the decision of Ministry of Transport that regulates

Association provides support to PWDs Urges gov’t to increase

PWDs involvement

the right direction, Egypt is coming up time and again with a wide spectrum of lame reasons that eclipse cooperation.

The remark was given yesterday by former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in an exclusive interview with Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.

Egypt every so often comes up with various illogical rhetoric targeting at making Ethiopia not to embark on initial filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

(GERD). This is not right! It is fair to say there is nothing that prevents Ethiopia

City Administration...Umer Endris, President of Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council and Sheikh Sultan Aman, President of Addis Ababa Islamic Affairs Council.

Earlier this week, the grant of land was made by the Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa, Eng. Takele Uma targeting at enabling the Muslim community to build an international standard mosque and Islamic Research Center.

By the same token, Mufti Haji Umer Endris and Sheikh Sultan Aman managed to lay the foundation stone for the construction of the mosque and the research center. More to the point, the City Admistration was able to hand over 70 land ownership certificates to the existing mosques.

At the ceremony Eng. Takele Uma said this international standard Mosque construction site is an Eid gift for the Muslim community. He also promised to stand by their side until the construction of the mosque sees the light of day.

from filling and operating its Dam, he said.

Bringing to attention that Ethiopia never recognizes colonial agreements that he said Ethiopians and Ethiopian governments have been endeavoring time and again to encourage Egypt get back to the right track.

He further stressed that aside from relying completely on international principles, Ethiopia and the government of Ethiopia would like to work hand in glove with downstream countries in a way that does not cause any significant harm.

“In the same vein, the construction of the GERD brings about radical changes amid the downstream countries without a shred of a doubt. Regarding the construction of the Dam, Egypt comes up with a wide spectrum of obstacles that can put half nelson on the realization of the dam. If truth be told, the Dam helps Egypt get back to the right track,” he added.

As witnessed in different forums, the character of Egypt is making an effort to pour cold water on the construction of the Dam over and over again. However, the Ethiopian government is handling

Cairo diverts...(GERD), scholar said.

If need arises to discuss “Nile water allocation” issues, it has to be dealt with all the Nile riparian countries, according to the scholars.

Dr. Admasu Gebeyehu, international water resource engineering expert at Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, indicated that the Nile water utilization and other associated points need to be treated at a different platform.

At this point, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt’s talks should not lose sight of sticking on the filling and operation of the GERD which Ethiopia has been taking the lead in good faith, hints the expert.

“As much as they can, they should stick to their trilateral talks on the construction and the filling of the Dam, but as far as this reality on the ground is concerned water allocation should not come to the

negotiation table.”

He further stressed that concerning the discussions; the three countries should be able to pull out all the stops to get to the bottom of the problem emphasizing fair utilization of water without the interference of a third party.

He went on to say, “The ten Nile Basin countries have the right to get themselves engaged in talks relating to water allocation but meetings concerning the filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and other associated aspects should be carried out by the three countries.

Ethiopia does not have the intention of harming other countries. But the country needs its rights to be respected. Nowadays, to the surprise of everyone, Egypt is moving heaven and earth with the purpose of disseminating cooked up stories to the international community hiding the unvarnished truth. However, Ethiopia has

been carrying out things in good faith based on fair water utilization principles.

“Egypt has been making an effort to resuscitate the colonial-era Nile river treaties at different times. That is why the trilateral talks failed to achieve the intended target over and over again,” he continued.

He kept on saying, “The construction of the GERD does not harm downstream countries. Aside from enabling them to get regulated flow of water all the year round, it helps forestall potential erosion and what have you.

“By the same token, when the Dam sees the light of day, the country’s economy will show improvement in addition to showering Ethiopians living in the left, right, and center of the country with electricity without a shred of a doubt. More to the point, it reduces and prevents deforestation,” he wrapped up.

private vehicular traffic per the last number of their Plate, alternating daily traffic based on even or odd number, except on Sunday, is challenging to PWDs.

Arguing that vehicle is not a luxury to PWDs, Tessema said the government should give a lasting solution to this while putting mechanisms to involve representatives of the community in such decision-making processes.

According to the report of the World Health Organization and World Bank, about 17.6 percent of the total population of Ethiopia is persons with disabilities, he said.

Former PM says...the case wisely and patiently.

“One thing that I would like to make clearer is that at the outset Egypt thought that Ethiopia would give up constructing the Dam as time went by. They did not expect Ethiopia would make its dream become a reality,” he continued.

“Above and beyond, the GERD being constructed is financed by all Ethiopians regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, religion, and other related aspects. They attach importance to the Dam more than any time before. The Dam is the emblem of all Ethiopians.”

BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 MAY 2020 PAGE 4

Parliament

Working together toward a common goal

Ethiopians Overseas

BY ADDISALEM MULAT

BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED

Electronic transaction means the conducting of businesses over computer mediated networks including mobile phones and other devices, and shall include, but is not limited to, electronic commerce and electronic government services, as explained in the draft Electronic Transaction Proclamation.

The House of Peoples’ Representatives in its 15th regular session made a heated discussion on draft Electronic Transaction Proclamation and referred to the House’s Human Resources and Technology Affairs Standing Committee for a detail review.

As stated on the draft proclamation, it is necessary to provide equal treatment to users of paper and computer-based information, thereby creating a more secure legal environment, which enables and facilitates the use of electronic transactions by citizens and private entities, and public bodies. And also, the use of electronic commerce positively affects market opportunities, thereby empowering citizens to be included in the economy, and also enable Ethiopia to be part of the digital era.

As Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed twitted about the draft proclamation, “When approved by Parliament, the Proclamation will create a thorough regulatory platform

Electronic transaction draft bill: Setting the way for the digital era

for the use of electronic means in all transaction procedures.”

He noted that tuned in the context of the growing need for the utilization of information and communication technology across all spheres of communication, the law will for the first time establish a clear legal foundation for governmental and private institutions to offer digital services – i.e., the provision of e-commerce and e-government services and the interchange

and storage of data through the use of electronic transactions, electronic records, signatures and electronic data-messages.

According to him, the proclamation will basically serve as digital medium for all existing legal frameworks on trade, taxation, recognition of documents, signature seal, witnesses, digital payments, consumer protection and data integrity – without amending their substance.

The House reported that House’s Human Resources and Technology Affairs Standing Committee in collaboration with Ministry of Innovation and Technology held a public discussion on the draft electronic transaction proclamation.

On the meeting, Dr. Abraham Belay, Minister of Innovation and Technology, said that Ethiopia is now technologically well equipped to launch electronic transactions.

According to him, the contemporary achievements and level of the nation allows the country and its institutions to engage electronic transaction.

Contents of the draft bill have been thoroughly dealt with the concerned bodies and have further been enriched with the involvement of legal professionals, he said.

He noted that electronic transaction is a trend that makes use of cell phones,

computers and other electronic gadgets for information networks as well as government services. Though Ethiopia is not at the peak of technology, the current status green lights that we should move onto it, maintain it and improve it, he added.

The proclamation is intended to serve both computer literates and paper-based users equally, he said, adding that it also aims to incorporate citizens into the new trend of cyber-based economy and to drag government structures into versatility so that good governance will be ensured.

He also explained that the proclamation does not stand in contradiction with the existing commercial or any service related laws. It shall be turned pragmatic as soon as possible due to its pervasive nature which will enable citizens be part and parcel of the digital economy and is hoped to enhance the economy.

The Standing Committee, for its part, said all the clarifications made by the ministry regarding the draft proclamation are satisfactory; the accessibility and language usage aspects shall be seen cautiously in order to include all citizens. And also, the Ministry shall submit the final document to the Standing Committee so that the House will consider the promulgation aspect, the Standing Committee urged.

Nobody denies the fact that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the issues of the Nile River have been turning out to be the talk of the world.

Nowadays, Ethiopians irrespective of age, sexual category, religion, ethnicity, and whatnot have been getting themselves engaged in the construction of the dam with the intention of pulling out Ethiopians struggling with the quagmire of poverty and taking Ethiopia to the next level of success.

Back in the day, Ethiopians have passed through many ups and downs to reach where they are in the present day. As everyone who ponders on the matter is well aware, some years back Ethiopia was at a risk of disintegration. Following unrests taking place in every nook and cranny of the country nobody had anticipated Ethiopia would get back to the right track and get itself involved in the development activities of the country.

However, when the Ethiopian premier, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, came to power he embarked on making the impossible possible and the unthinkable thinkable making use of a wide spectrum of effective techniques. Aside from living under the yoke of oppression, Ethiopians were denied of their basic rights of freedom of speech, expressions, fundamental human and democratic rights and other related aspects.

Nowadays, Ethiopians living in the length

and breadth of the country have been attaching weight to speed up the construction of the dam more than ever. Furthermore, they are not in the position to lend up their ears to anything that pours cold water on the construction of the dam.

By the same token, Ethiopians do not want the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam to be interrupted for a very short period.

Currently, Ethiopians from different walks of life have been actively participating in biological and physical conservation works intending to materialize the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

It was to be recalled that when third parties poked their noses into Ethiopia’s affairs, Ethiopians living at home and abroad set in motion reacting angrily. They were the headlines of most print and electronic media outlets of the world. In this day and age, as Ethiopian government is attaching importance to the dam, all and sundry have been working around-the-clock to make the dreams of Ethiopians a reality.

As always, Ethiopian Diasporas living in every part of the world should keep on contributing their share for the realization of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and changing the lives of millions of Ethiopians.

If all Ethiopian Diasporas residing in the left, right and center of the world work in close collision with Ethiopians living at home, Ethiopia can achieve the desired goal in next to no time.

He also explained that the proclamation

does not stand in contradiction with the existing commercial or any service related laws

The Ethiopian Herald

Established in 1943Published daily except MondaysBy The Ethiopian Press Agency

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Editorial

Editorial

PAGE 5 THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 MAY 2020

Deputy- Editor-in- chiefWorku Belachew Email- workuasfaw.asfaw@gmail.comEditors/ReportersLeulseged worku Desta GebrehiwotAddisalem MulatAbdurezak Mohammed Yesuf EndrisMisganaw AsnakeContributersEphrem Endale

Joseph Seboka

The future is stiffer than the past!

Ethiopia won`t need Egypt`s “Go ahead !”

“Following last year’s GreenLegacy planting season, the national average

for seedlings planted that have grown over the past year stands at 84%.

Extensive care-taking work has been undertaken throughout the country

to cultivate planted seedlings,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on May

18,2020

Ethiopia is always remembered by the global community as the land of famine and poverty. Despite all the economic progress achieved for the past years, such threats are still looming in the country due to various problems—energy deficit being the major one. Seeing its multidimensional role, the government of Ethiopia together with its people has risen up to build the GRED. Beside its socio-political impact, GERD is expected to benefit the nation in economic spheres. Using the hydroelectric power generated from the GERD, Ethiopia aspires to boost its economy in addition to benefiting the neighboring countries. However, despite its aspiration, Cairo is still desperately looking for ways and means of crippling Ethiopia`s effort of completing the dam. This sneaky move has reached at its peak when Ethiopia decides to fill the dam. Now Egypt’s crafty role turned to open dispute on the initial filling and annual operation of the GERD. Ethiopia’s plan to fill the GERD in four to seven years will not be crippled by any means of course. As it was mentioned by Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew, Ethiopia is committed and remain to be so to equitably and reasonably utilize its water resources in line with the accepted

principles of ‘causing no significant harm’. Ethiopia does not have legal obligation to seek Egypt’s approval to fill the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the 2015 Declaration of Principles (DoP) is

meant to enhance trust and confidence among Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. Otherwise, Ethiopia has the full rights to reasonably utilize the water that originates and flows within its boundary, period!

The floodgates of economic challenges are opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economies are struggling to cross the Rubicon, and stand resilient. More corona cases mean more restriction is needed. This trend in return causes massive disruption of trades and transaction portraying a grim picture in the future.

In some cases, the economic impacts which Coronavirus has already inflicted have been worst if not more than the health crisis. Disruptions caused by containment measures and the public response are resulting in economic slowdown and fallout. This is expected to worsen as the duration extends. The virus is not only destroying lives but also shaking livelihoods. And, the overall impacts are not going to vanish any time soon.

In Ethiopia, the economic impact is going to get worse as the virus has shown no sign of slowing down with a number of daily confirmed cases rising alarmingly. The factors triggered externally and internally are leading to dramatic fall. Jobs have been lost, industries remain shut while trade and transaction hitting all-time low in some cases.

Lately, The Ethiopian Economics Association forecast that the country could lose over 139 billion Birr unless the virus is contained or restricted and measures are eased in the coming six months. Growth is also expected to slow down as well. The number of people who are being and could be affected by the socioeconomic impact induced by the virus is also projected to be high.

So far, the country has been taking various measures to counter the economic impacts of the pandemic. The economic repercussion of the pandemic is poised to intensify ahead, the country needs, as it has already vowed, to consider more options ahead. Because, the future could be more challenging than the present and the past, there should not be any option left unconsidered.

In fact, if proactive interventions are not taken to shorten the pandemic duration and safeguard the economy, the disease could multiply the socioeconomic costs, leading to vicious circle of crises. Everyone should heed to what has to be done and to ease the socio-economic burdens the country has to endure.

BY ADDISALEM MULAT

Abat Kisho served as President of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia back in the day.

Born and raised in the former Sidama Province, Dale district, Tula Kebele in 1964, he pursued his primary education at Princess Aida School which was named after Emperor Haile Selassie’s granddaughter, and secondary education at Yirgalem General Comprehensive Secondary School. Subsequently, he joined Adama Teacher’s Training Center and then he set in motion making a living as a teacher.

PAGE 6 THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 MAY 2020

Friday Exclusive

‘Getting ahead bridging potential gaps’

After we had formed the South Ethiopia Peoples Democratic Front, we ended up joining EPRDF in1992. We were in the habit of acting per the dictation of TPLF’s instructions

Abate-Kisho

In the same way, he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration from Netherlands and England respectively.

Having served as a teacher for seven solid years, Abate was appointed as President of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples of Ethiopia. However, as time went by, on the pretext of corruption and other unforeseen reasons, he was sentenced to six years in prison. Hence, he had passed through many twists and turns in life.

At the moment, aside from partaking in peace and reconciliation affairs, Abate runs his own business.

Some months back, The Ethiopian Press Agency journalist had a short stay with Abate Kisho. He has touched upon several interesting issues concerning his personal and professional life. Below are excerpts:

What was the relationship you had with the federal government like?

I dare say, the Federal System was in its infancy in 1991. The country was led from 1990-1994 in the Transitional Period Charter of Ethiopia which was endorsed in 1991.

At that specific point, the number of regions across the country was fourteen. There

were regions like seven, eight, nine, ten and eleven which at the end of the day turned out to be the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples of Ethiopia.

Unfortunately, the main actor of each and everything was dominated by a single party. Half members of the House of Peoples Representatives were members of the ruling parties while the rest eighty-seven people were the so-called representatives of the people of Ethiopia. The founding members of EPRDF were Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) Amhara Nations Democratic movement (ANDM) and Oromo People

PAGE 7 THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 MAY 2020

Friday Exclusive Democratic Organization (OPDO).

After we had formed the South Ethiopia Peoples Democratic Front, we ended up joining EPRDF in1992. We were in the habit of acting per the dictation of TPLF’s instructions. More to the point, on the pretext of experience sharing, representatives of the ruling party were assigned in the region for the love of putting their hidden agenda into effect.

As a president did you use to have the freedom to exercise your power?

I was not free to exercise my power. The region was led with full of interferences. The federal government was meddling in what does not concern it now and then. As to me, the federal government does not have to interfere in regional affairs. If things keep on going in this way, people may understand the government agenda in the wrong way. The cold shoulder should be given to this kind of immoral act. It has to be improved in the not far distance.

When we talk of the ruling party, the creation of the different parties under its umbrella was different as day and night. Soon after, parties were formed earlier and joined the EPRDF. It is undeniable fact that TPLF had caused the downfall of the Derg regime. The secret behind their success was collaboration. For no apparent reason, they embarked on putting pressure on us than showering with their experience. The parties which were formed later failed to stand together. They were assigned on the pretext of supporting Oromia and the southern region. At that point, everybody was under the cloud of uncertainty.

Concerning Bitew Belay a wide spectrum of people was posing questions. OPDO and ANDM were the major supporters of the experience sharing campaign. Leaders of the region were branding their act as interference. The assignment of people on OPDO and SPDF was posing a question mark on the freedom of the region and federalism.

Have you ever raised the question of the people of Sidama at the time you were in power? If so, why did not you get a solution yet?

For quite a lot of years, the people of Sidama were raising the question of self-determination. This is not a recent issue. For their freedom, the people of Sidama had fought for quite a lot of years. Earlier than that there was the Sidama People Movement.

At that time, as the parliamentary structure of the different Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples of Ethiopia was not designated by specific names but figures, the case was not taken to the parliament. The whole thing was organized in a way that fits the ruling party. Through time, the ruling party merged the different regions of the country and dubbed them the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples of Ethiopia. TPLF had tailored the different regions of Ethiopia to fit its party.

After the formation of the region in 1994, the people of Sidama had raised the same question the article to be revised in a way that favors the various Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples of Ethiopia.

Following the request, some points were made to be incorporated in the constitution of article 47 saying if the different Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples of Ethiopia raise questions related to self-determination in their council, their questions will get a solution within a year. But when the people rose the question accordingly the article they ended up saying the system cannot divide the regions more than the existing ones.

Once [Late Prime Minister] Meles Zenawi said related to the question, “The question is right. The constitution bestows you the right. Give us time. We will let you know our decision in a short period.” Though it was a frequent question, concerned bodies delayed the case. At the moment, the case of the People of Sidama has already reached for a referendum.

Why were you thrown into prison?

At the outset, there were problems among the EPRDF members at that specific juncture. The major problem of the argument was whether to fight in a war with Eritrea or not. This reality on the ground had caused major friction amongst the TPLF members. Whatever happened, they were not able to

reach into a c o n s e n s u s . They were split into two c a t e g o r i e s . The situation kept on getting into uncharted waters. In due course, they asked the different parties to stand by their sides.

All of a sudden, ANDM grew to be the first supporter of Meles Zenawi’. The party even e m b a r k e d on running a campaign that Oromia and

South to stand by the side of Meles Zenawi.

As time went by, some of us were considered as the opponent of Meles Zenawi. Sadly, at the time when a general meeting was held, the premier banned thirteen members. At that juncture, my colleagues and I had suggested pertinent bodies to get to the bottom the problem through dialogue but nobody was in the position to lend us their ears. If other parties had the power, they would have solved the problem in a little while.

Almost immediately, ANDAM, OPDO, and SNNPS stood by the side of Meles Zenawi. As I was the president of the Southern, Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia, I was thrown into prison on a pretext of a twenty-seven million Birr corruption. To the surprise of everyone, at the time when Tamirat Layne was the premier of Ethiopia, he had bought vehicles for four states at a cost of 27 million Birr.

At the time when a language called WGAGODA was formed from Wolaita, Gamo and Dawiro languages. What was

the rationale?

It is the community that raised the question of language, identity, structure, and other related aspects. Besides, leaders exchanged views on the peoples’ interest and decisions. The whole lot was done fairly and freely. Whenever a certain question arose from the regional or federal government, leaders, elderly people, and religious fathers hold discussions on the matter.

The thing was, one fine day, leaders of the three language speakers reported that the community would like to form the same language out of the just mentioned languages. Then, authorized bodies brought the case to the region as if the community had discussed the matter and made a decision. Last but not least, as the community was not able to reach into a common consensus on the issue, the unexpected happened.

Sometimes, issues which seem to win the hearts and minds of the people may travel a long distance. But if people are not happy with a certain issue, we have to stand by their side and make their dream become a reality.

When all is said and done, we understood the fact that the issue did not reflect the interest of the community. Hence, we removed the main actors from their positions.

What is your take on the reform?

I have the guts to say the reform is too late. Had the reform taken earlier, I would have been very happy. The reform should have taken place during the split which took place in 2001. At that juncture, EPRDF was not in good shape and form. In fact, it is not possible to say there is no development at all in the country. The government had attached some significance to road infrastructures and higher learning institutions. But the ruling party had weakened competitive parties.

Once I said about EPRDF, “It is like an Eucalyptus Tree. It was seen flourishing every so often. But it did not want any plants in its surroundings. EPRDF and this tree are two sides of the same coin. It said had renewed itself at different times, but it has not changed itself for the better. There had been no change.”

Hence, the reform is very significant. The ruling party had renewed itself several times but in vain. We should accept and support the reform and keep on going by bridging gaps. Parties should play a major role in ways that take the ongoing reform to real federalism and democratic system.

For quite a lot of years, the people of

Sidama were raising the question of self-determination. This is not a recent issue. For their freedom, the people of Sidama had fought for quite a lot of years

The reform is very significant. The ruling

party had renewed itself several times but in vain. We should accept and support the reform and keep on going by bridging gaps.

PAGE 8THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 MAY 2020

Between you & me Ephrem Endale Contributer

Much Talk, Much Wind

A laptop for a hundred fifty what!Can someone please tell us what in the world is going on? A hundred fifty two thousand birr for a laptop! Ninety something grand for a cellphone! And, all that money coming out of gov’t coffers! That’s what we’ve been hearing this past week. It seems some bigwigs were settling for nothing short of such laptops and cellphones. A laptop for a sum which got you a reasonable car a few years back! Just curious, is the cellphone gold-plated! All this happening in a country for which every dollar is precious! Don’t blame people for being highly skeptical of our bureaucracy! That’s what happens when there seems to be no accountability and there is no need to think twice before acting. The executive secretary dials the finance head.

Our boss needs to talk to you.

I’ll be there in half…”

Now! (Whatever you do, don’t force the wrath of the executive secretaries. It doesn’t matter whether we gave them the credit or not, many of those ladies act as they practically run the bureaucracy! Maybe they do.)

“Look, it is time I got a new laptop.”

“Sir, there’s no problem. Would like one like the one you had…”

What! A thirty thousand birr laptop! You must be out of your mind.

You wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of that poor guy! A few minutes more his joints would be making sound; He’s shaking like some Lady Dracula just informed him “To night you’ll take me out for a date.” (I mean there must have been a ‘Lady Dracula!)

“Sorry sir; any brand you want, it’ll be on your desk first thing in the morning.”

“I want the best one.”

And the guy from finance knows what ‘the best’ means.

Sit there is a state-of-the-art laptop that would fit your wishes.”

“How much does it cost?”

“About a hundred fifty thousand birr.”

“Hmm; not too expensive, is it? I think we can manage that.”

Yes sir, you can manage that. But the coffers of this poor country don’t manage even a quarter of that sum! Anyways, what do you plan to do with the state-of-the-art laptop? Be some Netflix subcontractor or something!

You know what the gem of this story of a hundred fifty grand laptop and a ninety grand cellphone is, the guys get to keep the toys even if they are kicked out of those water mattress sort of chairs! Now, what could be more tempting than that?

Look many times you’re at a complete loss of words because you can’t think of any explanation for such things. How do the minds of those people work? And, we never tire of complaining how cash-strapped this nation is.

A couple of weeks into the bigwigs’ big purchases the finance guy goes knocking on his boss’s door. The boss is, of course, playing around with his newest toy. Maybe he has posted the image of the laptop as his newest profile picture! He actually growls at the poor guy from finance.

“What is it now?” A week earlier he was his darling guy, and look at how he treats him now!

“Sir, we have problems printing the financial statements.”

“What problems?”

“We are out of tonners cartridges. We need your approval for new ones.”

“How much do they cost?”

“Around one thousand three hundred or so each…”

“What! You are asking me to approve that much money for tonner, or whatever you call them! Look around for cheaper products.” case closed. The guy practically runs out as if a runaway lion was on his tails. Now, if the guy was in that Bolshevik

or something mood, he would have said…

“With all due respect sir, I think the toner cartridges are more important than your hundred fifty grand laptop!”

Any guy who is ‘tough’ enough to say that will find out the hard way that being tough might work for Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon. It doesn’t work with his boss. Later that day the letter hits his desk. He has been put on forced leave.

Telling people facts and scaring them are two different things. Depends on a choice of words and the tone in which they are delivered. Fear is destructive enemy. It is difficult to get the attention of people who are in fear.

Look, the way this world works every one of us can’t be rewarded with the red carpet treatment. Some of should be walking on gravel roads for the Red Carpet guys to enjoy their Cloud Nine luck. One thing this country can’t surely do is offer the VIP box to all who ask for it. Hey; forget the limos, the V eights, the ten thousand birr a shot whisky. (The town really talks!) Ours is a very poor country! And emptying out gov’t coffers for hundred fifty thousand birr laptops is very inconsiderate and irresponsible! I could have added the term ‘cardinal sin’ to that small list; but there are others who could do that better; true to the Holy Book or true to their bank book!

I’ve got a confession to make; when and if, (And there are a lot of ifs!) I watch interviews where ‘politicians’ are the guests it is not with the intention to beef up my knowledge in politics; it is to give my nerves some respite because there is so much of the wrong things is happening on this planet. In fact mine is not only about respite, it is also about comedy. There is so much ‘comedy’ in many of these ‘politically’ charged’ interviews that you feel sorry for pole who haven’t yet discovered their ‘comedic’ genes and think of themselves as no-nonsense hard punchers.

Look, about these TV interviews, some are doing very good jobs. I mean they really do their homework and act like interviewers and not interrogators. Yes, unfortunately there are those who seem to be conducting some sort of high-secret debriefing rather than interviewing. And the interviewees! Aren’t some of them real characters! Had he been alive Shakespeare would have wrote ten more masterpieces! Still, however unscrupulous the interviewees might be they deserve respect. At least they have to be given the space to explain their stand on matters however silly they might sound. I mean interrupting every other sentence is not a sign of being a hardcore interviewer.

“What do you plan to do in the education sector?”

“Well, as you know our education sector is weak and…” We know that; can you

please get to the point?

“…everybody knows education is very important in the development of...” What the hell is this! Is the guy on Valium or something! Can you just tell us what YOU plan to do?

“…as you know the previous regimes haven’t worked hard enough to…” Tell him to get to the point in five seconds or tell him get him out of the studio ASAP! (I didn’t say “Lock him up!”) Interviews could be creepier than you think it is possible.

So these days when I watch political interviews, mine is not about getting much information; it is not about getting the chance to understand the stands of the other groups or fellows on important national issues. It has become more of an entertainment, so little of which we’ve these days. Where have ideas gone? I mean where are the real ideas, the real arguments?

How we got where we are, only God knows.

There were days when kids asked about their dreams talked of being doctors, engineers and the like. Much of the wishes were all about acquiring more knowledge. No one rally said, “I want to be a politician.” No way! Ethiopian political field has never been as level as that. Politics seems to be not something that needed long term planning. I mean you don’t say “I’ll read everything from good old Mao to Ayn Rand and prepare myself for a career in politics.” Never does that happen. Politics is almost

something you stumble on. You are on the long road of life and at some spot and all of a sudden you’re a politician! Three cheers for you. And you thought miracles don’t really happen!

But mostly as the many TV interviews attest, most politicians are ‘accidental politicians.’ Look what scares me is what the horrifically dangerous and divisive rhetoric do to young minds. It’s really frightening. The young are growing up thinking politics is about playacting and not about ideas. Yes, that’s what we mostly see, playacting. On many products you find those expiry dates… ‘Best before April 2021’ or something like that. I don’t know if it is a blessing or a curse that we can’t play the expiry-date card on us humans. How nice it would have been if politicians have expiry dates; isn’t that one hell of an idea! “Best before June 2020; unless significantly upgraded.” There you are!

One problem is most of those guys in politics seem to be living in deep ‘political coma,’ whatever that’s supposed to mean. And when they wake u...

“What year are we in?”

“2020.”

“How long have I been in a coma?”

“About forty-something years.”

“Is the colonel still in power? (Ha!)

Believe me, many politicians are still that far back! Look ‘imperialism’ hasn’t been

given that last blow, workers of much of the world are in fact in ‘more chains,’ and ‘Red’ is no more the favorite color of protest! And this guy who remained in ‘political coma’ wakes up into a world where Ché Guevara is no more a rallying revolutionary figure and only a sticker on the windshields of minibuses.

“What year are we in?”

“2020.”

“How long have I been in a coma?”

“About twenty-something years.” (Ha!)

The problem is that such guys never upgrade their knowledge. The only upgrading they do< if we could call it that, is get more TV and radio exposure.

Look, you don’t need to torment your mind trying to figure out what they are saying; why go into so much pain where it is only words without the tiniest drop of concept. You try your best to at least listen to have they have to say; the problem is they have nothing to say. You do your best to try to understand them, and it just doesn’t work. It is like there is this strikingly decorated package with all sorts of stamps all over it. You think, “Whatever is inside must be as dear as one of Ali Baba’s treasures. You open the package, and alas! It is empty! That’s what it is; empty as empty could ever be!

Sorry to say it, but these days most ‘political interviews’ are much talk, much wind. That says it all!

PAGE 9 THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 MAY 2020

OpinionBY TESHOME TOGA CHANAKA

(AMBASSADOR)

COVID-19 and China-Africa Partnership: The Need for More Cooperation

Part I China-Africa Partnership: The context

Africa forged cooperation and partnership with major economies like EU, USA, China, Japan, France, Germany, Russia, the Arab League, India, Turkey, South America, and Korea, among others. No other partnership has attracted as much attention and as much scrutiny as the China-Africa one. It may take some one by curiosity to eagerness to understand the interest behind such attention. It, however, is not my intention to delve much into it now. No doubt, it would be worthwhile to have evidence based analysis as to why this partnership has received much attention compared to others.

Partnership and cooperation are undertaken on the political will of both sides to promoting mutual benefits of both participants from the synergy it creates. It is on that premises, I intend to briefly look at China-Africa cooperation through the prism of the current challenges posed by the pandemic and well beyond. Let me give the matter the proper context it deserves.

To begin with, this is an intergovernmental process and as such it is assumed that both sides articulated not only the purposes and objectives but also defined goals as to what they both desire to achieve from the cooperation. And successful cooperation is best when there is strong political commitment, organizational framework and well defined areas of cooperation further enable both sides to make an optimal use of their cooperation.

China and Africa enjoy long standing and historical relations which were elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership couple of years ago. The formation of Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) two decades ago enhanced the existing relations between Africa and China to a new height. The institutionalization of the cooperation framed not only areas of cooperation but it also made it predictable and measurable.

The Narrative

Many analysts, policy and news makers have been preoccupied in narrating their perceptions and views on this particular partnership. Some tend to sound ideologically driven, while others fell short of evidence and some are even gravitated to be based on perceptions. As a result, many lacked balance, objectivity and suffer from some elements of prejudice.

To the astonishment of many, much of such dominant narratives about China-Africa are set not by those who own the partnership but by outsiders. I am not in any way implying that others cannot hold or share their opinions on the matter, as all of us are entitled to air out our notions and

we should respect the diversity of opinions as well.

Some two decades ago, The Economist Magazine came out with a headline, “Africa-A hopeless continent”. That is when FOCAC came into existence. The time is very interesting to note. The same magazine in a matter of 10 years later wrote another headline, “Africa rising.” That is how narratives are set about Africa- Africa a huge and diverse continent to make such a hasty generalization. The recent narrative that China is ‘recolonizing Africa’ economically is strongly refuted by African leaders and apparently not corroborated by evidence. To talk about recolonisation in 21st century, in whatever form or shape, is just mind boggling. Africans are mature enough not to allow recolonisation by China or any other power for that matter. Nor, does China have any intention of such a sort. It is also a puzzling paradox for many observers that those who criticize Africa for its engagement with China and those who gratify such a prejudice against the partnership do by far more businesses with

China than Africa.

The Essence of China -Africa Partnership

“If you want to go fast, go alone and if you want to go far, go together,” is the African wisdom of expressing the imperative of unity and solidarity. I believe that China-Africa Cooperation is a choice to go together and to go far.

Many global geopolitical observers tend to agree that the current global situation is volatile, complex and uncertain. No country big or small, developed or developing, south or north or east or west can address the enormous challenges facing human kind in its own. Hence, to navigate through uncertain global situations, the need for partnership and strong multilateralism cannot be overemphasised. Therefore, China-Africa partnership should also be seen in this context, as a levelled platform of purpose and of action to forge a concerted intercontinental approach for mutually beneficial partnership and responses. And judging from complementarities of multifaceted areas of interactions and convergences of interests, partnership between China and Africa is not only important but it is absolutely necessary.

Let me explain. Africa, a continent of 55 nations, with a voting block of 28% at the United Nations (UN), with a population of 1.2 billion, of which majority are young and productive, a continent endowed with huge natural resources; to partner with China, a country of 1.4 billion

people, second largest economy, the largest manufacturer and exporter and second largest importer, inter alia, is unmistakably unavoidable.

Principles Governing The Cooperation

The partnership between Africa and China is based on core principles of equality, mutual trust, respect and interest. Both sides uphold the rights of sovereign nations to choose their development and governance models and policies. Unlike the liberal world order that prescribed one set of development and governance models for all countries or “ one-size-fits-all”, without taking into account the socioeconomic, political, cultural and historical contexts of each country, the China-Africa partnership respects policy independence for each partnering country to make its own policy choice as it finds it fit to its own situation. An Ethiopian saying to this effect goes like this; “only a witchcraft knows better than oneself.” It is also democratic to respect the rights of nations to make their own choices, chart their courses forward and determine their own destinations. In other words, no one knows better what is good or bad than oneself.

Such guiding principles are the solid foundations for a cordial friendship and political trust that created ample economic,

social, and political benefits to the peoples of China and Africa. Let me hasten to stress here that only mutually beneficiary partnerships can be sustainable, and conversely, an unsymmetrically skewed partnership stands little chance of survival and is deemed to yield dismal results. It must also be noted that as much as Africa needs China, China also needs Africa. Therefore, there is convergence of interests for the two sides to cooperate, collaborate and partner on issues of common interest.

Go Global, Go Africa

China achieved what can be described as a phenomenal fast social and economic transformation over the past 40 years that marked a successful path of reform and opening up. During this period, China lifted up over half a billion of its citizens out of absolute poverty, unparalleled in a recent history of development. The government declared to make poverty the thing of the past in 2020. Whether this will be achieved under the current circumstances of COVID 19 is to be seen.

Inspired by this profound social and economic success of China, other emerging economies and developing countries, including Ethiopia, have been attracted by China's economic progress and made efforts to adapt some of its best practices to their own settings. This is a very sensible and rational decision as China stands out as a lodestar for impressive structural transformation to many countries in the world.

The long standing relations between the two created a fertile ground for the “Go Global” Chinese policy that encouraged Chinese enterprises to engage in outbound investment. Africa, considered as one of the new frontiers for Chinese outbound investment, was one of their destinations. In this case, China is partnering with African countries in sharing opportunities and experiences of its success stories and best practices. While the Chinese enterprises found market and investment opportunities in Africa, Africans also benefit from Chinese investment in manufacturing and infrastructure development, trade, tourism. technology transfer and human resource development, making the engagement a win-win one. The capital inflows to Africa have placed China firmly at the wheel of the discourse of development in numerous countries in Africa.

*Author's Profile and Disclaimer: Teshome Toga Chanaka is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the People's Republic of China. The author contributed this article on his personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the government and the organization that he represents.

China and Africa enjoy

long standing and historical relations which were elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership couple of years ago

PAGE 10THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 MAY 2020

Local media review

Tracking Africa’s coronavirus cases

ADDIS ABABA (FBC) – Minister of Waters, Irrigation and Energy Dr. Engineer Sileshi Bekele held a virutual discussion with Morocco’s Minister of Energy, Minerals, and Environment, Aziz Rabbah on ways of strengthening partnership in the field of renewable energy among their respective countries.

The two ministers examined prospects for bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of renewable energies, where several opportunities exist for developing projects of mutual interest between the two nations.

They sought opportunities for both parties to accelerate the implementation of the Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access for the betterment of the power sector.

Morocco, Ethiopia to accelerate energy access for developing countries

ADDIS ABABA (ENA)-Africa could meet about 23 percent of all its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030 amid coronavirus crisis unfolds on the continent, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) disclosed today.

IRENA in its Global Renewable Outlook 2020 report indicated that Sub-Saharan Africa will be one of the regions with highest shares of renewable energy in total primary energy supply in 2030 (43%).

Endowed with immense renewable energy resources, Africa has already embarked on a transformative energy pathway, the report noted.

The report added that accelerating progress in this regard can alleviate immediate energy challenges, while creating jobs, advancing industrial development and promoting human welfare.

Energy transformation in Africa would result in multiple socio-economic benefits and renewable energy deployment could result in up to 2 million more green jobs created in sub-Saharan Africa, it stated.

The global outlook further noted that renewable-based energy system expected to yield a positive impact in the GDP gains in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is attributable to a strong increase in net energy exports.

As the health and humanitarian crisis unfolds, the pandemic is multiplying the

already-existing risks and vulnerabilities of the African energy sector, the report said.

Fragile energy security situation will severely impede many African nations’ ability to cope with the health crisis and economic downturn.

Moreover, access to modern energy services remains a major challenge across Sub-Saharan Africa, with around 548 million people still having no access to power and 894 million lacking access to modern clean cooking solutions.

The immediate priority for the African continent remains to save lives, bring the health emergency under control and alleviate associated economic hardship.

The report, however, underscores the recovery measures adopted in the face of COVID-19 must also address long-term development deficits and create resilient economies and societies, with a central role for locally available renewable energy resources.

Against this backdrop, the African Union (AU) and IRENA are organizing a virtual ministerial dialogue to consider actions needed to advance a transformation of the energy systems in Africa.

The meeting will be organized with a view to improving the continent’s resilience and stimulating economic recovery and sustainable growth in the post-pandemic

period.

It will offer a platform for African governments and development partners to reflect on effective means for reinforcing action towards accelerating the ongoing energy transformation in Africa, in light of Africa’s Agenda 2063 goals and alignment of the pandemic response.

(Source ENA)

South Sudan clashes 'kill 300' in Jonglei state

At least 300 people have been killed in a fresh wave of intercommunal fighting in South Sudan, authorities say.

Dozens of homes in Jonglei state were destroyed, warehouses belonging to aid groups were raided, and women and cattle were abducted.

Three aid workers were among those killed.

A treaty aimed at ending the country's six-year civil war was signed in February, but intercommunal violence has erupted a number of times since.

Some 800 people are believed to have died in such clashes since February.

The latest outbreak of violence between pastoralists, who rely on livestock, and farm workers began on Saturday in the north-eastern town of Pieri, forcing thousands of people to flee to the bush, the BBC's Emmanuel Igunza reports.

Health workers says many of the victims have gunshot wounds. Some of the injured have been airlifted to the capital, Juba, for treatment.

One of the aid workers killed was from Médecins Sans Frontières.

Peacekeepers were interviewing survivors in the town when fighting broke out, the UN mission said in a statement.

David Shearer, the UN's special representative for South Sudan, said that the violence between the two groups must stop.

"While politically motivated conflict has reduced in South Sudan, intercommunal fighting has increased, causing massive suffering for families who are trying to rebuild their lives after the devastation caused by years of civil war," he said.

About 380,000 people were killed in South Sudan's civil war.

A peace agreement was reached in February by President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar, who formed a government of national unity.

But outbreaks of inter-ethnic fighting have continued, threatening the fragile treaty.

Security agencies have said they have recovered hundreds of illegal firearms - including rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades - from the warring communities.

Africa Could Meet 23 Percent of its Energy Needs from Renewable Energy: IRENA

Experts warn fragile healthcare systems in many nations could be overwhelmed in the face of a severe COVID-19 outbreak.

More than two months after Egypt became the first country in Africa to confirm a coronavirus case, the outbreak has reached every nation on the continent of 1.2 billion people.

According to Aljazeera, as of May 21,

Source: FBC

the confirmed coronavirus death toll on the continent stood at 2,997, with fatalities including the former President of the Republic of the Congo Jacques Joachim Yhombi-Opango and Somalia's former Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein.

There are 95,201 confirmed infections and 38,075 recoveries,

according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Experts warn fragile healthcare systems in many African countries could be overwhelmed in the face of a severe outbreak of COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

Source: Aljazeera

It is to be recalled that Morocco and Ethiopia formed the coalition during

the United Nations Climate Action Summit held in September 2019 in New York City.

The initiative seeks to ensure 100% access to energy in the least developed and other developing countries by 2030.

The two ministers focused mainly on the coalition’s methodology to start performing its activities.

They also reviewed aspects of the governance of the alliance, its organizational structure, budget, and deadlines in the short term for a successful start-up of the coalition’s mission and implementation of its projects.

Art & Culture THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 MAY 2020 PAGE 11

The Irony of LifeBY JOSEPH SOBOKA

Living beings are filled with life.Manypeople believe that life is a bridge between the temporal and

the eternity. To be more specific, it is the period between birth and death. Life is generally known as state of existence. For a man, his human relations, the business, pleasure, and social activities, constitute the necessity and the meaning of life. Anything that happens between an individual and the person he interacts with, matters a lot to keep a healthy life to continue as long as possible. Daily life requires a fair buying and selling of food, clothing and medicines for the sustenance of life without which existence will be at risk.

While living, every one aspires to achieve the dreams of his life. The dreams vary from person to person and so do the enthusiasm and the zeal geared to it by the dreamer. Some have the zeal but are short of the natural caliber that fits the activities to be carried out. Every activity has to coincide with the right quality of mind and character of the person in charge of the activities. In life, man struggles to come up possibly with exceptional piece of work that satisfies his soul’s desire and something that he leaves behind for his memorial, the fulfillment of his dreams.

Man is believed to be a traveller on the road that begins at birth and proceeds all the way to death. The road is either long or short but both have their smooth-tarmac and graveled, ups and downs, straight and winding, making the going easy or difficult. The impairment due to one thing or the other makes life rather more regrettable than enjoyable. The magnitude of the impact of stress varies from person to person; to some, it is easily manageable and to others, it is a misery. Such polarity, or possession of two contrasting or opposite qualities, a win-win or lose-lose case, has always been an indomitable challenge to humans. The stumbling blocks that are set on the path of life cannot be easily be removed; even the seemingly stepping stone turns out to be a stumbling one as there is nothing for certain that man can truly rely on. Unpredictability governs the law of life which one way or the other comes to an end no matter how hard the person tries to avoid such a gruesome experience.

It is always a frightful experience that one cannot get used to. It is ever new and ever unpleasantly striking. If possible, it should be shunned and avoided at every turn of life. It’s mere appearance on a distant horizon should have been an incidence of war that human beings ward it off before it comes any closer. The closer it gets, the more irreparably devastating is its impact. Merciless an enemy is death to whoever crosses its way.This devouring enemy is bent on taking away life that a man treasures more than anything in the whole

wide world.It is always around lurking. It remains out of view, lying in wait and ready to attack. It is only a matter of time; everyone falls prey to it. Since creation, man has sought means to stop its attack ones and for all. Man could have paid anything to avoid it or in fact obliterate its existence from the universe; remove all signs of its presence anywhere, especially away from the vicinity of man.

But the tragedy of it is that the end of all living things is death. Humanity, how hard it tries, cannot stop old age and the eventual death; it is inevitable. Worse of all, this enemy can shorten the life of many people by accidents, severe illnesses, war and the like.In the Bible it says, we are like a mist that appears for a brief moment and then vanishes.Some people follow the principle of let us eat and drink today and die tomorrow. And you, too, when you face a very bad and insurmountable trouble, you might say same thing. Some lead their life in this pattern simply because it appears to them that life is short and hopeless.Many

think that science can provide an answer to this question. Obviously, the deve lopment s achieved in science and medicine, have raised the ceiling of people’s age. Some scientists are trying to elongate people’s life longer than it should be.The results of the scientists’efforts, whatever they may be, have to provide answers to the following questions: why do we age? Why

do we die?

Will the time come when our staunch enemy, death, vanishes? Since life is short and death is inevitable, the desire to live long has beenen graved in people’s hearts for as long as they existed on earth. There are a lot of stories that talk about people who have struggled to find out the secret that enables man to live long. For instance there are legends that are related to the Sumerians king Galgamshe’s tales.Galgamesh made a very arduous journey to find out the means to escape death, but it was all in vain. In 400 century BC, the alchemists found in China had attempted to make magical medicines that can enable man to live forever. As a result they made medicine in which mercury and arsenic are mixed in it. This medicine is believed to be the cause for the death of many kings of China.In the middle ages, alchemists in Europe tried to prepare food from gold; such a daring attempt emanates

from the belief that since gold has the characteristic that does not expire, it can elongate people’s age. Even today biology and genetics researchers are trying to find out the cause of aging.This indicates that as ancient people were trying to make medicine that makes it possible, today, too, they have not stopped trying it. What result has such research come up with? In other words,it is a dream of creating a short cut to attain immortality, which is utterly impossible.

Currently, a lot of efforts are being made to find out the reasons and causes of aging. Scientists, who study about human cells, have presented about 300 hypotheses that explain why we age and die. As of late, molecular biology researchers, by making a change on genes and proteins, are able to make the cells taken from lab animals and humans not to grow old. Such results have encouraged some wealthy people to invest their money in the research that is intent on the objective of knowing the cause of death. Prolonging age is another aspect to be considered.Some biology researchers say that the beginning of aging is related to the tip of chromosomes known as telomere. While our calls multiply, telomeres protect the genetic information in our cells not to be dismissed.Nevertheless, the more cells, increase, the more telomeres decrease. In due course the cells stop multiplication and aging takes over.

In 2009, a Nobel Prize winner, Professor Elizabeth Blackburn and the members of her group, by making telomeres not to quickly become short,have found enzymes that make cells not to grow old quickly. Yet, in her report she explains that telomeres themselves do not prolong our age; they do not make us live higher than the set age ceiling. There was an attempt to stop aging by making changes in cells.When our cell age and stop multiplying, they can pass wrong information to disease-preventing cells nearby and this in turn can irritates our body, and makes us feel severe pain and eventually contract diseases. Recently, French scientists have made a change in the cells taken from old people. Some cells are taken from the centenarians. According to the head of the research group Professor Jan Mark, the study shows that it is not possible to revers aging.

Is it possible that science can prolong our age? Many scientists do not feel that medical treatments can prolong longevity higher than it has been so far.Of course, as of 19th century, human age ceiling has been rising. Primarily, this has happened due to sanitation, prevention of contagious diseases and the expansion of the use of antibiotics and vaccinations. Some genetic researchers believe that man’s age cannot be prolonged more than it is now.

The irony of it is that, humans, in view of the expanse of eternity, seem to forget how short-lived they are and indulge in greed, crime and hatred, more than in benefaction. So, what is the solution?

In 2009, a Nobel Prize winner, Professor

Elizabeth Blackburn and the members of her group, by making telomeres not to quickly become short,have found enzymes that make cells not to grow old quickly

Politics/global development THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 22 MAY 2020 PAGE 12

BY SAMUEL TEFERA ALEMU (PHD)

The row over GERD between Ethiopia and Egypt got tense following Egypt’s filing of an appeal to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). However, Sudan’s decision stating its refusal to stand by Ethiopia’s draft agreement proposal to fill the dam took all by surprise.

Amidst all these developing discourses and pressures, Ethiopian government passed its unwavering decision to fill the dam with no precondition. Ethiopia clearly reaffirmed its position to withdraw from the US-brokered negotiations in Washington. Ethiopia, however, still firmly believes in leaving the option of tripartite diplomatic negotiations open as far as the filling progress is not affected by the discussions.

Unlike Egypt, Ethiopia’s commitment to regional and continental cooperation has long history and forms the basis of the tripartite Declaration of Principles (DoP) which was signed in March 2015.

Egypt has always underestimated the value of an African solidarity and the effectiveness of the continental bloc’s dispute resolution interventions. It resorts to align with the pan-Arab bloc during Nasser’s time back in the 1950s, few years before signing of the 1959 treaty with Sudan that left Ethiopia and other basin states no water to share from Nile.

Nasser turned into the Arabs to get blessing on his project of monopoly over Nile. In a clear manifestation of Egypt’s Non-Pan African ideals, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as well is playing gang politics through mobilizing a bloc that equates logic with favoritism in making decisions. Ethiopia’s commitment to Pan-African ideals, however, remains firm and intact.

Ethiopia’s foreign policy continued to promote mutual respect, impartiality and a cooperative spirit among basin countries and beyond. It is within this context that Ethiopia took the leadership role to reinforce a cooperative modality through the launch of the Nile Basin Initiative in 1999.

Egypt itself accepted the intention of the principle of equitable and unbiased use of the Nile River. But it disagreed on the content of article 14 (b) of the agreement stubbornly claiming the respect of its post 1959 share of Nile use. Despite Cairo’s and Khartoum’s decision not to be party to the CFA, the Agreement was signed by six countries and Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda have ratified the document while Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan are said to have started the ratification process. These two instances were in total surprise to Egypt’s hegemony over Nile with Ethiopia taking the staff of Moses from the self-crowned Egypt.

Through GERD, Ethiopia led basin countries’ long-awaited exodus to a fair and equitable share of the Nile water. Using the power staff, it heralded the coming of new hydro-political modus operandi in the basin system. Unlike other similar unilateral dam projects by Egypt and Sudan, Ethiopia had auctioned the project offering both Sudan and Egypt an opportunity to share the cost for a common benefit.

Such a grand exemplary offer was a manifestation of the new hydro-political dynamics that Egypt wasted to exploit. This cooperative arrangement could have turned the grand dam project to stand out as a multilateral flagship initiative of the three countries promoting peace and regional economic integration. However, Egypt’s insistence on a “historical right” narrative over the use of Nile are colonial and unfit to the new cooperative hydro political spirit under the new Nile order making.

More importantly, an independent Ethiopia by no means can be a party to such colonial subscription. The GERD is not only a reservoir. It is a water insurance for all of us in the basin. The only choice Sudan and Egypt have is to cooperate through paying a premium in the form of investment in basin rehabilitation projects in the highlands of Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania.

The farmers, pastoralists and fishermen upstream of the Nile are not any less of the fellaheen in Egypt. They need water, they need electricity, and they need food and services for better life. Every Nile basin country shall develop the river in order to reap economic benefits that balance inequalities in wealth and lift its citizenry out of poverty. Due emphasis should of course be given not to compromise the right of others to pursue their development aspirations.

On the contrary, Egypt is promoting a disruptive discourse to cooperation to justify its unilateral ambition of building cities and greening deserts in uncivilized way. Through claiming monopoly and control over operation of dam routines, Egypt intends to interfere with the administration and regulation of the water.

In the Washington talks, non-cognizant of the power changes in the Nile hydro-political regime, Egypt was explicitly expecting Ethiopia to agree on such a deal. Egypt’s plea to the UNSC, its Arab friends and the USA to pressure Ethiopia to delay the dam filing process, therefore, has its root on such a subtle political interest.

Sadly, it has never considered the increasing demand for water from upper riparian countries despite unilaterally making decisions that increase its water consumptions time to time. It has continued to disregard the rights of developing economies in the basin to use Nile water. It failed to understand their need to expand energy coverage and transform lives of millions from subsistence agricultural production to an economy of scale.

More than half of Ethiopia’s population (65%), for instance, have seen no electricity and live in darkness while Egyptians enjoy benefits from tenfold production of energy. A huge number of young Ethiopian students use kerosene light at night to read. Those who cannot afford to buy kerosene use light from burning firewood, contracting eye complications. Still, many rely on firewood to cook food and construct houses resulting in destruction of forest ecosystems. This in turn disrupts water generation cycles failing short to feed Nile tributaries with enough water. Millions of Ethiopians have no access to proper health care and clean water services exposing lives of mothers and children to life threatening risks.

Amid rows over GERD, Egypt, is set to build more than a dozen of new mega cities. The projects announced last year attempt to turn the sandy valleys into green smart oases. The plan aims at settling millions of Egyptians. Wedian green city, often referred to as the Sisi city, is one of such new cities resting on 714 km2 of land and housing 15 million people. This new city is going to be the future Egyptian administrative capital. It will have space for embassies and the national parliament. The USD 45 billion project will have an artificial river, thousands of schools and health care facilities while at the same time creating jobs for more than a million Egyptians. Such massive investments currently underway in Egypt require billions of cubic meters of water during and post construction. One can imagine how much water of the Nile is needed to pursue such massive projects in deserts where wastage is ultra-maximum. Damming and irrigation projects in Egypt operate out of the context of equitable utilization.

The unilateral decision of Egypt to transfer water for use in such massive city building projects harms significantly the reasonable share of others. In the past, Egypt developed the Salam canal and the Toshka projects against Ethiopia’s repeated objections. Likewise, while Ethiopia and Sudan are trying to settle disputes over GERD, Egypt is taking time to prolong the impoundment of GERD. The deliberate back and forth is to divert the attention of Ethiopia and basin countries from requesting Egypt to table the mega cities project for discussion.

Surprisingly, no Nile basin country was consulted for its opinion on the massive city building projects. No one has ever calculated the potential implications of the city projects in terms of their impact in ensuring fair use of the Nile water.

Egypt should be reminded again and again that Ethiopia is a source basin country contributing to 86% of the water. Conflict with Ethiopia over Nile is suicidal, and divorce can never be a choice at all as our destinies are knotted to Nile inseparably.

The new Nile order is an era of cooperation and dialogue, not conflict.

Egypt, however, is adding fuel to the existing rough diplomatic row. Yet, despite the escalating tension GERD is standing high proudly in Guba, a height marking Ethiopia’s renaissance. Its massive presence justifies Ethiopia’s right to a fair share of the water and the subsequent beneficial purpose it serves. Article 4 (1) of the CFA stipulates this notion that basin states have “an equitable and reasonable share of the Nile river systems” to utilize the water resources for their benefits. Hence, the responsibility to manage the reservoir and regulate the amount of water release downstream is within our legitimate sovereign right to execute.

Similar intent is clearly stipulated in Gedu Andargachew’s letter to the UNSC that was dated on the 14th May 2020. Ethiopia’s team must, therefore, be firm on such sovereign matters. It should display an objectively mature leadership on our right to use the Nile river system in the basin.

There should be no hesitation and precondition in proceeding with the filling of GERD. Being said, Ethiopia’s next urgent assignment should be to utilize its power staff to mobilize, at least two more, signatories to ratify the CFA. The ratification of the CFA into a binding law will mark the establishment of the Nile River Basin Commission. This will lay a rational foundation to guide future development initiatives in the Nile basin. It will indiscriminately favor the right of every basin country to benefit from the river responsibly.

Hegemony of any kind is anachronistic within the changing Nile basin hydro-political context.

Now, fighting any plot to further delay the filling of GERD is a way forward to ensure justice to Ethiopians and other basin countries whose share is unfairly affected by Egypt. Ethiopia should not rule out a possibility of military action of any kind from Egypt and its proxy allies. Ethiopia must keep an eye on mad cows in the basin. We need to proactively be engaged in rendering professional services of the highest quality to defend Ethiopia’s interest. In this historic moment, all Ethiopians and friends should persevere and stand strong together. If we fail GERD, we will fail to materialize our aspirations to a prosperous future.

Ed.'s note: Samuel Tefera Alemu (PhD) is an Assistant Professor at the Center for African and Oriental Studies and Associate Dean for Research and Technology Transfer, College of Social Sciences, Addis Ababa University

He is reachable through: samuel.tefera@aau.edu.et

Greed is anachronistic: All parties entitled to fair use of the Nile

“Egypt has always underestimated the value of an African solidarity and the effectiveness of the continental bloc’s dispute resolution interventions.”