BY ADDISALEM MULAT
At this very moment, Ethiopia’s diplomatic relations with other nations have seen improvements particularly after the signing of the peace accord between the federal government and Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) in Pretoria, South Africa. The country has been expanding diplomatic relations with quite a lot of nations in different parts of the world in a satisfactory manner.
In the last two years, the country passed through a considerable amount of challenges. However, taking the country’s improving circumstances in the northern part of the country into consideration, various nations have been showing their interest to bolster strong economic, social and political ties with the country.
If truth be told, after the peace deal, Ethiopia has sustained buttressing bilateral engagement and collaboration with various nations in various parts of the world focusing on economic, political and social matters in accordance with mutual respect and common interests.
In the course of the war, Ethiopia’s diplomatic relations with different countries had passed through a wide spectrum of twists and turns. In the course of the skirmish, Ethiopian diplomats based in different parts of the world have partaken in making conversant the prevailing circumstances with the global community, and staving off external pressure emanating from various entities.
With a view to rupturing Ethiopia’s relations with other nations, the discredited international media outlets have been deliberately dragging through the mud the positive developments of the country working in partnership with their paymasters.
In a similar way, as they have been persistently turning their full attention to the disgraced media outlets spewing negative information about the country, their attention towards Ethiopia was biased and unbalanced.
In consideration of the foregoing, some entities have been persistently putting unwarranted pressure on Ethiopia intending to be in the driving seat and take the country from a lesser evil to a greater one.
As time went by when they realized the truth about the ongoing concrete realities in all quarters of the country, nations have jumpstarted revising their decision and praising the federal government and witnessing about the positive developments unfolding in every corner of the northern part of the country.
In the face of a considerable amount of unjustified pressure on Ethiopia from the country’s adversaries working persistently to twist Ethiopia’s arm and breach its sovereignty, Ethiopia in the fullness of time turned out to be triumphant over its adversaries. At this very moment, various countries have kicked off assisting the progress of diplomatic relations with quite a lot of nations worldwide on quite a lot of matters.
Revealing signs of Ethiopia’s diplomatic relations journey, high government officials have embarked on paying a visit to Ethiopia. As things stand at present, the country has continued receiving appreciation from the wider international community. In a similar vein, various nations have been standing by the side of the federal government for the most part after the signing of the cessation of hostilities agreement between the two parties.
Besides resolving its internal matter peacefully, Ethiopia also continues to play a central role in pacifying the Horn of Africa. It is public knowledge that Ethiopia has been endeavoring to bring about peace and stability in the region fighting with criminal groups battling day and night to turn the region upside down. The country has been always at the ready to resolve crisis unfolding in the volatile region. Apart from playing a destabilizing role in the Horn, the country has been playing a huge role in bolstering the regional integration and corporation.
In addition to playing a leading role in ensuring peace, tranquility, security, corporation and other related aspects, Ethiopia has been playing a leading role in the Horn of Africa which is a hotbed for terrorist groups, militarization and extremism. It is worth recalling that Ethiopia has played a huge role in stabilizing Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and other nations.
In the face of several hazards, the county has been playing a paramount role in fighting terrorism based in the Horn of Africa aimed at moving the region into uncharted territory. Ethiopia as well has been a frontrunner in setting up peacekeeping mission and arbitrating conflict affected nations.
As the mounting danger of radicalism and militarization triggers bigger partnership among all actors concerned, Ethiopia has continued fighting terrorism, ensuring peace and tranquility in the region.
In the same way, with the purpose of foiling threats posed by criminal groups, Ethiopia has been going to the ends of the earth to annihilate terrorist groups from the face of the Horn of Africa by bolstering cooperation with leaders of the region. It is common knowledge that the Horn of Africa that has been encountering various challenges in terms of peace and security turning out to be a volatile region that need a prompt solution.
Given its significant role in the Horn, Ethiopia remains a key partner for the international community. It is worth noting that in the recent past, Ethiopia has welcomed senior Foreign Ministers of China, Germany, France and EU delegation. The implication of this is that the country remains to be a number one priority for various nations on the grounds that Ethiopia every so often plays a huge role in fighting against terrorist groups based in the Horn of Africa.
This week, there have also been strings of visits to the country. UN and China’s special envoys to the Horn of Africa have paid visits to the country holding discussion with senior Ethiopian officials. The officials extended their appreciation to Ethiopia’s peace deal while pledging support to the country’s post war rehabilitation works.
In a press conference held on Tuesday, Chinese special envoy Xue Bing said that the peace progress in Ethiopia demonstrates that Ethiopian people have the wisdom and ability to independently resolve their internal differences through negotiation.
On Tuesday, the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, arrived in Addis Ababa to visit Ethiopia. The Secretary of State stopped in the country with the intention of tossing ideas around concerning the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed between the federal government and TPLF. Following the uncompromising stance of both parties, the peace implementation has been moving in the right direction and receiving a pat on the back from the wider international community.
Upon arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, the secretary was warmly welcomed by Mesganu Arga, State Minister of Foreign Affairs and other senior government officials, according to information obtained from Ethiopian News Agency.
Blinken is expected to meet various stakeholders in Ethiopia and discus the implementation of cessation of hostilities agreement between the federal government and the TPLF. He will also meet humanitarian partners and civil society actors to discuss humanitarian assistance delivery to affected communities in Ethiopia.
The secretary will also meet the African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat to discuss shared global and regional priorities as a follow up on commitments from the US_African Leaders Summit.
The secretary wrote on his Twitter that during his visit to Ethiopia and Niger, he will discuss shared global and regional priorities. “African nations are critical partners in food security, climate crisis, global health, human rights and peace,” Blinken stated.
He added they deserve greater representation in global institutions. According to the local media, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen is conferring with the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken who is in Addis Ababa, for an official visit, The two sides are discussing on ways of consolidating the historical relationships between the two countries.
During his visit to Ethiopia, he is expected to meet various stakeholders in Ethiopia and discus the implementation of cessation of hostilities agreement. Blinken will also meet humanitarian partners and civil society actors to discuss humanitarian assistance delivery to affected communities in Ethiopia.
The US secretary of State is also expected to exchange views with the African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on shared global and regional priorities as a follow up on commitments from the US-African Leaders Summit.
The Ethiopian March 16/2023
