January/February 2002

Cargo spilled in port: Due to the leak of dangerous pesticides in the port of Djibouti, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated on February 19 that over US$ 800,000 is needed to decontaminate the port. The cargo, belonging to Ethiopia Electric Power Corporation (EECP), contained hazardous chemicals and was spilled onto the ground inside the Port of Djibouti, on February 4, causing serious human health and environmental problems. According to FAO the party responsible for the damage should be " identified and held responsible". On the other hand, the EECP reported that it has sent a team of experts to the area to investigate the matter. (ADI news agency web site, February 20 & 5)

UNIDO signed agreement: The Djibouti Minister of Trade and Industry, Saleban Omar Oudine, and a high-ranking official from the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Youssef Sabri, signed a declaration in relation to the UNIDO Integrated Programme for Djibouti. The UNIDO team, following requests by the Djibouti authorities, presented to the Djibouti government and the private sector, the final document of the integrated programme that outlines areas that need support in the development of the industrial sector. (ADI news agency web site, February 2: Quoted by BBC Monitoring Services)

Djibouti gets US$ 11 million loan: The World Bank approved a US$ 11 million loan to Djibouti. In response, a Djibouti government official said the loan "… will give public funds a shot in the arm since it will bail out the different pension funds". The loan is approved within the framework of the World Bank's financial support policy. (ADI news agency web site, Feb 17)

 ERITREA

Assembly ruled out political parties: The Eritrean National assembly agreed not to allow political parties to be created at this time. The assembly however, agreed to having a one-party election as opposed to the planned multi-party election that was due to take place in December 2001. The National assembly during its session held at the end of January and start of February, upon agreeing against the establishment of political parties, decided to postpone ratification of a law intended to define the rules for their establishment. Regarding the freedom of the press, the assembly said a new committee would look at the future of the press in Eritrea, as all private newspapers have been closed since September. (BBC on line, February 1)

UNFPA sign a US$ 10.5 million agreement: The Eritrean government and the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, on February 27, signed a US$ 10.5 million aid agreement, which will be implemented in five years time. (Shaebia web site, March 2: BBC Monitoring Services)

Denmark to stop aid: On January 30, Denmark announced its decision to stop aid to Eritrea, under the allegation that the Eritrea government assaults "democratic principles and human rights". The move, which is part of a new Danish policy to "reorient" its assistance to promote sustainable development through "poverty-oriented economic growth", will end bilateral cooperation with Eritrea in 2005 and start radically reducing assistance in 2002. (New Vision, February 1)

Eritrea and Israel sign agreement on air transportation: Eritrea and Israel signed a cooperation agreement on air transport on February 18. The agreement, Eritrean Transport and Communications Minister, Andemikael Kahsay said will open doors for starting passenger and cargo flights between Asmara and Tel Aviv. The air rout is also expected to play a role in exporting Eritrean products and easing the ever-increasing demand for air transport in the country. (Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea, February 19)

ADB approves over US$ 200 million debt relief to Ethiopia: The African Development Bank Group (ADB) approved a US$ 216.47 million debt relief to Ethiopia under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. An ADB press release said the main objective of the ADB Group’s medium-term assistance strategy in Ethiopia is poverty reduction through boosting food security, agriculture and road development as well as rural energy supply. ADB also contributes to programs that aim at empowering the poor and women, improving good governance and rural infrastructure as well as promoting the private sector by supporting macroeconomic reforms. (Ethiopian Herald, February 23)

EU granted over US$ 400 million: The European Union (EU) signed an agreement to provide US$ 483.3 million grant to Ethiopia over the next five years. The grant will be used for transport infrastructure, Macro-Economic Support, Food Security, and other programs that include capacity building for governance particularly in the areas of legal and judicial reform, civil service reform and decentralization. The grant agreement is included in the EU's Country Strategic Paper (CSP), which was jointly prepared by the Ethiopian government and the commission over the period of the last year and a half. (WIC, February 27)

Yemen lift ban: Following a three-day official visit, Yemeni Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Abdulmalik Alareshi announced, on February 1, that his country has lifted the ban it imposed on the importation of livestock and meat from Ethiopia due to Rift Valley Fever. On the occasion, the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Yemen agreed to establish a joint Agricultural Technical Committee that will speed up the implementation of existing agricultural cooperation between the two countries within a month. (ENA, February 3)

25 Ambassadors appointed: On February 18, the Government of Ethiopia appointed 25 ambassadors to its mission across the worldEthiopian President Girma Wolde-Girogis conferred the ambassadorial title on the appointees at a ceremony held at the National Palace. (Addis Tribune, February 22)

Water Recourses plans to invest US$ 8.6 billion on water: The Ministry of Water Resources plans to undertake a 15-year water sector development programme (WSDP) with an outlay of over US$ 8.6 billion. The Ethiopian Sector S trategy and Development Programme Coordination office stated that the sum, which is planned to be secured from the government and donors, will be used for hydropower generation, safe drinking water provision as well as irrigation schemes construction and capacity building. (ENA, January 24)

The Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Committee has revamped their web site. Their web can be accessed at the following address: http://www.telecom.net.et/~dppc/

 SUDAN

US suspends talks after bombing on civilians: Following an attack by a Sudanese government helicopter on civilians waiting for food aid on February 20 at Bieh village (southwest of Khartoum), the United States suspended talks with Khartoum on ending the civil war. The Sudan ruling party, who claims to be investigating the attack, criticized the US move as "hasty" and lacking good intentions for the realization of peace. However, Sudan Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail said his government is optimistic that the US will reverse its decision of pulling out of the peace process very soon. The attack that killed 17 people and injured many others, was followed by an announcement from the Sudanese government two days later that it had captured a rebel-held airport in the oil-rich Unity province, south of Khartoum, which was used by rebels to attack oil fields and was in the same area where the Sudanese army helicopter killed civilians. Similarly on February 11, the Sudanese government bombed civilian populations in the southern state of Bahr al-Ghazal as people were gathering to receive food aid. The Sudanese government expressed its "profound regrets" over the bombing, blaming it on a "technical error", and pledged that there would be no repeat of the incident. (Reuters, February 26; AFP February 26 , 22 & 14; AP , February 25)

UNICEF signed a US$ 132.8 million agreement: On January 17, the Sudanese government and UNICEF signed an agreement for the implementation of a new cooperation programme at a cost of US$ 132.8 million dollars during the period from 2002 to 2006. The five-year programme includes the establishment of health, water and education projects in various localities, provinces and states in Sudan.(SUNA News agency, January 17)

Journalist fined: Nhial Bol, Managing Editor at the English-language Khartoum Monitor, was released from prison after his newspaper paid a US$ 7,600 fine imposed by the Khartoum Criminal Court. The court, on January 16, found Bol guilty of alleging that the government allows ethnic Arabs to use its trains to transport slaves abducted from the Bahr al-Ghazal area of southern Sudan. Condemning the arrest and the fine, the international press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders, sent a letter to Sudan's Internal Affairs Minister Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein. (AFP, January 17: Reuters, January 18)

Cease-fire being observed: European Union ambassadors said that the ceasefire in the Nuba Mountains, reached on January 22 during US-brokered talks in Switzerland, is being observed by both the Sudanese People Liberation movement and the Sudanese government. The ambassadors who visited the area agreed that support should now be focused on moving the ceasefire into a comprehensive and sustainable peace. The ceasefire is one of several confidence-building steps proposed by a US mediation effort launched in September. Similarly, an advisor to the Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir also said the agreement is being implemented satisfactorily. (AFP, February 19; Suna news agency, February 17)

Britain appoints special envoy: Sudan welcomed a decision by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to appoint Jack Straw as a special envoy for peace in Sudan. Sudan said that it will fully cooperate with all sincere efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the land. Britain on the other hand, stated that it is determined to help Africa and Sudan in particular achieve peace. (PANA, February 9; Foreign & Commonwealth Office, February 12)

 SOMALIA

 Over 40 killed in renewed fighting in Bardhere: At least 40 people were killed and another 50 wounded in renewed fighting in Bardhere, west of Mogadishu, on February 18, when heavily armed Somali Reconciliation and Reconstruction Council (SRRC) militiamen entered Bardhere, forcing the pro-government Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) out of town. According to reports from the area, both sides are still in Bardhere, with no sign of either party fully controlling it. The fighting which is said to be the heaviest in the region since the start of the civil war has led to temporary relocation of international staff of all UN and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to Nairobi. Moreover, due to the fight, telecommunications in the town of Baidoa, northwest of Mogadishu, had been cut off from the rest of Somalia. Similarly, in late January several days of factional fighting had left more than 50 people dead, 60 injured and four villages burnt to the ground, in the central Mudug region, north of Mogadishu. Even though there is not clear evidence on what triggered the fight, reports suggest that the fighting was between the Jiddoh and Jareer sub clans over land in the drought-hit valley of the Lower Shabelle River. A separate bout of violence earlier in January had broke out in Coriolei district, south of Mogadishu, leaving 15 people dead and 20 wounded. (IRIN, February 19; Mudugonline web site, February 18: BBC Monitoring Services; BBC on line, January 26)

PM escapes attack: On February 2, shortly after visiting Italian officials left the Prime Minister Hassan Abshir Farah’s residence of Somalia's Transitional National Government (TNG), a hand grenade attack left four people hurt. Farah, escaped injury from the blast and security is now stepped up at the Prime Minister’s residence and also at other members of the (TNG). No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. (BBC on line, February 2)

Prime Minister names cabinet: The Prime Minister of the Transitional Government of Somalia, Hasan Abshir Farah, announced on February 16, at the presidential palace of the Transitional National Government (TNG), his new 31-member cabinet. The appointment of the cabinet had been postponed for several months as the TNG sent messages calling on opponents to join the government so as to give the reconciliation process a boost. The newly elected cabinet includes Husayn Muhammad Usman Jimbir, a former senior member of the opposition Somali Reconciliation and Reconstruction Council (SRRC). (Radio Banaadir, February 16, IRIN February 18)

New bank and internet for Somalia: A new telecommunications company and bank opened after two months of void created due to the closure of the Somalia internet company and the al-Barakaat banking group by the United States, which accused them of financing Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network. (BBC on line, January 22)