Angela Merkel, the
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, is due in Ethiopia tomorrow “to
inaugurate the new Julius Nyerere Peace and Security Building on the campus of
the African Union,” a statement from the German Embassy in Addis Abeba said.
The Chancellor’s trip
is part of her Africa tour that includes Mali and Niger. The statement
clearly wanted to convey the primary purpose of the visit; it primarily
emphasized her scheduled trip was to inaugurate the new Julius Nyerere Peace
and Security Building, financed entirely by the German Federal Foreign Office
and built by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Accordingly Angela Merkel “will address representatives from AU member states
and the diplomatic corps in the new plenary hall of the AU Peace and Security
Council.” She will also meet with Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the interim
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, AU commissioners and members of
the AU Peace and Security Council.
However, in what seem
a mere diplomatic courtesy, Angela Merkel’s “visit will begin with a bilateral
meeting with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn followed by a joint press
conference.” During her meeting with PM Hailemariam Chancellor Merkel is
expected to raise concerns on the use of excessive force on protesters in
Ethiopia, lack of political space and deteriorating human rights situation in
the country. Issues of refugees and security cooperation will also be
highlighted during the discussion.
According to local
media report, although the government in Ethiopia extended an invitation
for the Chancellor to give a speech at the one party controlled Parliament she
is said to have declined the invitation.
Unlike visits by few
other heads of state to Ethiopia in recent years, including US President Barak
Obama, Chancellor Merkel will meet with selected representatives of Ethiopian
opposition parties. She will also meet with representatives of civil society
organizations, according to information obtained by Addis Standard.
Angela Merkel’s trip
to Ethiopia will not be “business as usual,” as it coincides with worrying
security developments in the country. Her visit also comes as Ethiopia
just declared a state of emergency effective as of
Saturday, Oct. the 8th. The state of emergency declaration followed
recent public protests that gripped most parts of the Oromia Regional State,
the largest in the country and continuous, albeit sporadic, protests in Amhara
regional state, the second largest states in Ethiopia.
The yearlong protests
in Oromia took an intense turn following the death by stampede or drowning of
unknown numbers of civilians at the Oromo annual Irreecha (Thanksgiving)
Festival on Sunday, Oct. the 2nd as a result of security forces’
act of firing live ammunition, tear gas bombs, and rubber bullets in crowded
areas.
Source: Addis Standard
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