TheMonthlyPublicationfromtheEthiopianEmbassyinLondon

Ethiopian News Spring2019

Inside this issue

BuildingaBridgeforPeaceandUnitywiththeEthiopiancommunityintheUK………...2AmbassadorFessehaassumesdutiesintheUnitedKingdom………..………..………..…………8Scottishphotographer’sEthiopiaphotosshortlistedfortopPhotographyAward……...10TheworldunitesinmourningvictimsofEthiopianAirlinesFlightET302………..………..12UNrefugeeagencypraisesEthiopia’sinnovativeapproachtorefugees………..………..…..15EthiopiaReceivesUniversalHealthCoverageMinisterialChampionshipAward……….17NorthernPowerhousemissionexploresbusinessopportunitiesinEthiopia………..……18EthiopiarecordsbiggestgrowthinWorldTravelandTourism………..………..………..……..21EthiopiansshineatBirminghamIndoorAthletics………..………..………..………..………..……..23

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Ethiopians celebrate historic return of Emperor Tewodros’ Hair

CultureMinisterurgesMuseumstoreturnallMaqdalaartefactstoEthiopia Page5

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Ethiopian News

In his first significant public engagement sincearrivingintheUnitedKingdomtotakeuphisnewpost,AmbassadorFessehaShaweladdressedoverathousandmembersoftheEthiopiancommunityinLondonon16thMarchatanopendiasporaforumatthe Embassy. Held under the theme, “Building aBridge forPeaceandUnity”, theForumhonouredthePrimeMinister’scall forEthiopiansacross theworld to come together and reject division, infavourofunity.Toassistthisprocess,thePMurgedEthiopia’s most senior diplomats to reorient thefocus of their activities towards a more people-centreddiplomacy.TheAmbassador, in the spirit of peace, unity andforgiveness, began his remarks by offering hisapologiesonbehalfoftheGovernmentofEthiopia,and diplomats and staff, for any unjust treatment

members of the diaspora had experienced in thepast, caused knowingly or unknowingly, byindividual or institutional practices within theEmbassy.Heapplaudedthecommunity inLondonforbeingsome of the most enthusiastic supporters of thereformprocesstodate,hopedtheywouldcontinueto play as significant a role going forward andassuredthemthatheandhisteamwouldbeattheirdisposalgoingforward.WithaviewtorealisingthePrimeMinister’svisionofademocratic,justandprosperoussociety,wherehumanrightsarefullyrespectedandtheruleoflawis upheld, the Ambassador noted a number ofreform successes including: a commitment toholding free and fair elections in 2020; the

Building a Bridge for Peace and Unity with the Ethiopian community in the UK

3 Spring 2019

unconditional release of political prisoners andjournalists;theopeninvitationtopreviouslyexiledpoliticalparties,organisationsandtheirsupporterstoreturnhometoplayanactiveroleinthecountry’sdevelopment; the end of the Ethio-Eritreastalemate, reestablishment of friendly diplomaticrelations and the resultant peace dividendthroughout the region; the selection of a gender-equalcabinetandtheappointmentofwomentothePresidency,asChiefoftheJudiciaryandasChairofthe Electoral Board; and the advancement of thepolitical philosophy of “Medemer”, in English“comingtogether”,whichhasseenthepublicunitebehindthereforms.TheAmbassadoracknowledgedcurrentchallengesin ensuring the rule of law, unresolvedadministrativeboundaryissues,displacement,anti-change agents working against the reforms andcorruption and lack of good governance. But heexpressed his belief that with the activeengagement and collaboration of Ethiopians athome and abroad, these challenges would beovercome.Ambassador Fesseha announced a number of keyreformsthatwouldimproveservicedeliverywithinthe Embassy before highlighting the Embassy’sstrategicplansandprioritiesfortheupcomingyear.H.E. concludedby opening the floor for questionsand comments, and a wide-ranging discussionensued on what role the Diaspora could play insupportofthechangesunderwayinEthiopia.Since the Forum, Ethiopians in the UK haveresponded to theAmbassador’scall, enriching theEmbassy with their ideas and experience byengagingtheEmbassyinanumberofinitiatives.Tomentiona few: theholdingofaspecialexhibition,“Remembering Adwa”; a series of meetings toestablishaDiasporaPeaceandUnityCoordinatingCommunity; the recognition of Ethiopianrestaurateurs as Cultural Ambassadors by H.E DrHirut Kassaw, Minister of Culture, Tourism andSport; fundraising initiatives for the EthiopianDiaspora Trust Fund, the Tossa and Reppicommunities; and Ethiopians4Ethiopians, aplatformtodiscussthementalhealthchallengesintheEthiopiancommunity.

Diaspora Agency Launched The Ethiopian Diaspora Agency was officiallylaunchedon1stMarch,withtheaimofcreatinganenablingenvironmentfortheDiasporatomaximizeknowledgeandskillstransferandpromotingtradeandinvestment.

Her ExcellencyMrs. Hirut Zemene, StateMinisterfor Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other highofficials, artists, members of the diaspora, andpartnerorganisationsattendedthelauncheventinAddisAbaba.

Special attention will be given to efficient datamanagementinordertoidentifytheexactnumberof Ethiopian Diaspora in the world and thecountrieswheretheylive.

DIASPORA CORNER

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Ethiopian News

TheAgencywillensuretheprotectionoftherightsand dignity of Ethiopians in the Diaspora andprovide the right tools, so the Diaspora activelyengagesinthecountry’sdevelopmentendeavours.The agencywill be accountable to theMinistry ofForeign Affairs and manage its own budget andfinancialactivities.Forfurtherinformation,pleasevisitthewebsiteat:www.ethiopiandiasporaagency.org and followthemonFacebookandTwitter(@DiasporaAgency).

Enat Bank and Bank of Abyssinia partner with WorldRemit for digital

money transfers to Ethiopia EnatBankandBankofAbyssiniahavejoinedforceswith leading digital money transfer service,WorldRemitfordigitalmoneytransferstoEthiopia.UsingtheWorldRemitapporwebsite,theEthiopiandiaspora living inover50countries, including theUK,CanadaandtheUSA,cannowsendmoneyhometoanyEnatBankorBankofAbyssiniaaccounts,andtohundredsofnewcashpickuplocationsinAddisAbabaandthroughoutthecountry.

WorldRemit has rapidly expanded in Ethiopia,adding twelve financial institutions to its partnernetworklastyear.Thecompanyisnowconnectedto31.5millionbankaccountsandover4,100cashpickup locations throughout the country.TransactionstoEthiopiaviaWorldRemit fromtheUSAalonegrewbyover230%in2018.Remittances play an important role in Ethiopia’seconomy. The National Bank of Ethiopia said thecountryreceivedover$5billioninremittancesfor

the fiscal year 2017/2018. But evidence suggeststhat a significant portion of remittances to thecountry still go through informal channels,whichareoftencostlyandputcustomersatriskoffraudandtransactiondelays.AndrewStewart,ManagingDirectorforMiddleEastandAfricaatWorldRemit,said“AsEthiopia,Africa’sfastest-growing economy, becomes increasinglydigital, WorldRemit is delighted to partner withleading financial institutions to make it faster,simplerandcheapertoreceivemoneyfromaroundtheworld.…WearedelightedtopartnerwithEnatBank, which shares our commitment to makingfinancialservicesaccessibletounderservedgroups,including women and rural communities inEthiopia.”“ThesepartnershipsenabletheEthiopiandiasporatosendmoneyhomedirectlyfromtheirphones.”

Diplomats and staff take on EDTF Challenge

Diplomats and staff, led by the Deputy Head ofMission,AbabiDemissie,inFebruarytookonPrimeMinister Abiy’s challenge and contributed theirshare towards theEthiopianDiasporaTrust Fund(EDTF).

The Fund was launched last year and works incoordination with the government to directlyinvolvetheDiasporainfundraisingforvitalsocio-economicprojectsinEthiopia.For further information, head over tohttps://www.ethiopiatrustfund.org.

5 Spring 2019

HerExcellencyDrHirutKassaw,Ethiopia’sMinisterofCulture,TourismandSport,madeherdebutvisitto the United Kingdom inMarch, visiting culturalinstitutionsandmuseums.

Heading a delegation which included H.E.Ambassador Fesseha Shawel, the Director ofEthiopia’s National Museum, Efrem Amare andadvisersfromtheMinistryofCulture,thepacked4-dayscheduleincludedvisitstotheBritishLibrary,the British Museum, the Victoria and AlbertMuseum and the National Army Museum. TheMinister also held meetings with the Canon ofWindsorandrepresentativesfromVisitBritain.

…NationalArmyMuseumhandsoverlocksofhairbelongingtoEmperorTewodrosII

An historic ceremonial hand-over of locks of hairbelonging to one of Ethiopia’s most popularEmperors–TewodrosII–tookplaceon20thMarchattheNationalArmyMuseuminLondon.

Ethiopians, friends of Ethiopia and the mediagatheredtowitnessthelong-awaitedreturnofhair,taken from the Emperor after he heroicallycommittedsuicideratherthanbetakenprisonerbytheinvadingBritisharmyinApril1868duringthebattleofMaqdala.

OnbehalfofthePeopleandGovernmentofEthiopia,H.E.DrHirutKassaw,receivedthehumanremainsin a box drapedwith the Ethiopian flag from theMuseum’s Director, Brigadier Justin MaciejewskiDSOMBE,withthecrowdululatinginjubilation.

TheMinisterapplaudedtheMuseumforthe“braveand principled decision to return the Emperor’shair,” and called on allmuseums and otherswhoretain Maqdala heritage in their collections toreturnartefactstotheirrightfulhome,saying:

ETHIOPIA IN UK

Culture Minister visits British Museums on debut visit to the UK

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Ethiopian News

“For Ethiopians, these are not simply artefacts or treasures but constitute a fundamental part of the existential fabric of Ethiopia

and its people…[I urge] all concerned to consider the

intrinsic value of the items in their collections which are of far

greater significance to Ethiopians than to those who removed

them.”

H.E. Dr Hirut Kassaw receives Emperor Tewodros' hair from the Director of the National Army Museum

“Whatever the future holds, I havenodoubt thatthe relationship between our two countries willcontinue to go from strength to strength. A factunderlined by the substance and spirit of today’sceremony,”sheconcluded.

BrigadierJustinMaciejewskiDSOMBE,Directorofthe Museum said: “The Abyssinian Expedition of1868 was a sad chapter in our shared history. Achapter characterised by miscalculation andmisjudgmentonbothsides.Butseventy-twoyearsafter Emperor Tewodros II committed suicide,BritishandEthiopianforcesfoughtalongsideeachother as allies in the liberation of Ethiopia fromItalianoccupation.”

“We hope that in some small way this act will serve to reinforce the

deep and strong friendship that exists between our two

countries.” - Brigadier Justin Maciejewski DSO MBE, Director of the

National Army Museum.

Awelcomeceremonyforthelocksofhairwasheldat the Ethiopian National Museum on 23rd MarchfollowingtheMinister’sreturntothecountry.

…PrinceAlemayehuRemembered

A day after the historicreturn of the hair, theMinister visited StGeorge’s Chapel atWindsor Castle – theresting place of PrinceAlemayehu, son ofEmperorTewodrosII.

TheMinisterlaidawreathof remembrance on theyoung Prince’s gravebefore observing a

minute’ssilenceandprayers.

7 Spring 2019

Welcoming the Minister and her delegation, theReverendDrMark Powell, Canon ofWindsor, ledthedelegationthroughatourof thechapelwherethey were shown a brass remembrance plaquededicatedtoPrinceAlemayehu,aswellastheCoatofArmsofEmperorHaileSelassieI,observinghismembershipoftheBritishOrderoftheGarter.

In discussions that followed with the Canon, theMinister requested that the remains of PrinceAlemayehuberepatriatedtohishomelandsothathecouldbereunitedwithhisfather’sremainsandwiththepeopleofEthiopia.

…MinisterrequestsreturnoftabotsattheBritishMuseum

OnavisittotheBritishMuseumthedelegationwasmetbytheMuseum’sDirector,DrHartwigFischerandspecialistAfricastaff.

The Minister welcomed the Museum’s offer torenewthepreviousrelationshipitsharedwiththeNational Museum of Ethiopia and extended anofficialinvitationtoEthiopiatotheDirectorandhisteam, to explore further opportunities forcooperation.

Duringdiscussions,theMinisterformallyrequestedthe return of 11 Tabots, Ark of the Covenantreplicas, taken at Maqdala, that are currently inprivatestorageat theBritishMuseumas theycannever be displayed. “The Arks act as spiritualanchorsfortheEthiopianOrthodoxChurchandaremore than just artefacts,” the Minister stressed,urgingtheMuseum’sTrusteestoactontherequestso the Arks could return to serve OrthodoxbelieversinEthiopiaassoonaspossible.

…Victoria & AlbertMuseum commits to furtherconsultationsonreturnofMaqdalaartefacts

TheMinistermetwiththeDirectorof theVictoriaandMuseum(V&A),DrTristramHuntandhisteam,to continue discussions on the return ofMaqdalaartefactscurrentlyondisplayattheMuseum.

H.E. Dr Hirut Kassaw with Dr Tristram Hunt © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2019

DrHuntexpressedthesinceredesireoftheMuseumto see theseartefactsondisplay inEthiopia soon,butnoted,withregret,thatthebiggestobstacletothis was the present status of the law in the UKwhich prohibits restitution. Dr Hunt, however,committed to continuing consultations with theMinister,herteamandtheEmbassygoingforwardonthereturnoftheseartefactstoEthiopia.

Thedelegationviewedthe“Maqdala1868”specialexhibition, which opened in April last year, andcontinuesuntil30thJune2019.

…MoUwithBritishLibrarysigned

The Ministerial delegation was welcomed to theBritish Library by the Chief Executive, Mr RolyKeatingandstaffwheretheysignedaMemorandumof Understanding (MoU) between the EthiopianNationalArchives&LibraryAgencyandtheBritishLibrary, to foster greater collaboration, research,capacitybuildingandknowledgeexchange.

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Ethiopian News

The Minister welcomed the British Library’sdecision to officially visit Ethiopia in May. Whilethankingthemanagementforitsdecisiontodonatedigitised imagesofEthiopianmanuscripts in theircollection and microfilm readers to the NationalLibrary, she requested the return of thesemanuscripts,whichweremostlytakenatMaqdala.Shestressedthatthemanuscriptscouldnotsimplybeviewedashistoricartefactsastheyaresacred.

Dr Kristian Jensen, Head of Collections andCurations, said: “We are delighted to haveformalisedourongoingandfutureengagement.WeareveryawareoftheimportanceoftheEthiopianmanuscriptsinourcaretopeopleinEthiopia,andto researchers across the globe, and we arethereforecommittedtomakingthemmorewidelyaccessible, both through exhibitions such as ourrecentdisplay,AfricanScribes:ManuscriptCultureofEthiopia,andbydigitising themanuscriptsandmakingthemavailabletoallonline.”

…UKCulturalAmbassadors

On the eve of her departure, Minister Hirutpresented over 30 Ethiopian restaurateurs, fromtheDiasporacommunity inandnearLondonwithcertificatesof appreciation for their indispensableroleinthepromotionofEthiopianculture.

“I hereby declare you Cultural Ambassadors ofEthiopiaintheUnitedKingdom,”theMinistersaid,addingthat“PeopleintheUKgettheirfirsttastesofEthiopiainyourrestaurants.MychallengetoyouistoturnthatintoajourneytotheLandofOrigins.”

TheMinisteralsorecognisedAlebachewDesalegn,a private collector of Ethiopian artefacts, as aCultural Ambassador, applauding him for hiscommitment,perseveranceandloveforEthiopia.

For further informationandpress releaseson theMinister’s visit, please visit our website atwww.ethioembassy.org.uk/news.

Ambassador Fesseha assumes duties

in the United Kingdom

Ambassador Fesseha Shawel Gebre officiallyassumed his duties as the newly-appointedEthiopian Ambassador to the United Kingdom onMonday4thMarch2018.

Acareerdiplomat,AmbassadorFessehabringswithhimalmost30yearsofexperiencehavingservedatDiplomatic Missions in Juba, Nairobi, Mogadishuand Cairo, as well as at various posts within theMinistryofForeignAffairs.

9 Spring 2019

AmbassadorFessehaarrivesatatimewhenEthio-UKrelationsareatanall-timehighandhasmadeithis mission to strengthen these relations furtherduringhistenure.

In his first month, the Ambassador has madecourtesy visits to British Museums to exploreavenues for cooperation. He has also heldconsultations with members of the EthiopianDiaspora, the Diplomatic Corps, investors and,sadly,had todealwith theaftermathof the tragicEthiopianAirlinescrash.

The Ambassador’s full biography is available onrequest.Pleaseemailpress@ethioembassy.org.uk

Chief Justice Meaza Ashenafi delivers keynote address at LSE Africa Summit Meaza Ashenafi, Ethiopia's first female SupremeCourtPresident,deliveredakeynoteaddressattheannual 2019 London School of Economics (LSE)Africa Summit, which was held under the theme‘Africa’sFutureFrontiers’on30thand31stMarch.

Ms Ashenafi noted the recent increase in theparticipation of women in politics in Africa,highlightingEthiopia’scase,whereforthefirsttimeinhistory,thecountryhasseenafemalePresidentandhalfofallministerialpostsassignedtowomen.“Iamstanding in frontofyou todayasoneof themanysymbolsof thatchange–as the first femalePresidentoftheFederalSupremeCourtofEthiopiaandasthefirstevertocomefromabackgroundinhumanandwomen’srightsadvocacy,”shesaid.ShenotedtheongoingreformsinEthiopia-suchasthe release of political prisoners and journalists,revisionoflaws,andchangeinleadership.“Thereisacommitmenttotherecognitionoftheruleoflaw

andtobuildademocraticsociety.Humanrightsareatthecoreandanindependentjudiciaryiscrucialintheirrealization."Sheconcludedbysayingthatstrengtheningaccessto justice, civil societies, themedia, and inclusiveaccess to finance should be the central focus ofAfrican leadership. “This is the route to theprotectionandpromotionofhumanrightsaswellas towards inclusive and sustainable economicgrowthacrossthecontinent.”

Former PM Hailemariam at ShARE conference

On 1st March, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia,Hailemariam Desalegn, participated at the 2019ShAREconferenceinLondon,whichwasheldunderthetheme‘DoWellDoGood’.

The Former Prime Minister was announced as aShARE global mentor and called on the youngpeopleinattendancetoestablish“DoWellDoGoodcompanies - businesses that create jobs, trainouryouth,preservetheenvironment,addvaluetoournatural resources, pay their taxes, transferexpertiseandtechnologyandintegrateAfricatotheglobaleconomicsystem."TheShAREinitiativeinspiresstudentsbyworkingwithanetworkofthebestuniversitiesworldwideto develop a new generation of global corporateleaderswhoDoWellandDoGood.TheFormerPMspoketoparticipatingstudentsontheside-lines.

UK Labour Party hosts meeting for African Heads of Mission

Deputy Head of Mission, Mr Ababi Demissie,attended a round-table meeting for AmbassadorsandHeadsofMissionfromAfricahostedbyleaderoftheLabourParty,JeremyCorbynMP.

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Ethiopian News

Thepurposeofthemeetingwastodiscussissuesofmutual concern such as trade and investment,migration,educationandhealthcare.

In discussions that followed, Mr Demissiehighlighted the recent political and economicreformsunderPrimeMinisterAbiy,andEthiopia’seffortstosupportrefugeesandtherole itplaysinregionalpeaceandintegration.

Tutu’s Ethiopian Table opens On 3rd March, Deputy Head of Mission, AbabiDemissieandtheMayorofReading,CouncillorDebsEdwards, were among hundreds of guests whoturned out to celebrate the opening of TutuMelaku’snewcafé inPalmerPark,Reading,whichservesauthenticEthiopiancuisineandsnacks.

The Mayor of Reading, Councillor Debs Edwards cuts the ribbon to officially open the café and is joined by Ambassador Ababi Demissie (left) and café owner, Tutu Melaku Speaking on the occasion, Mr DemissiecongratulatedTutuforbringingatasteofEthiopia’scuisine and culture to the people of Reading andhopedhersuccesswillencourageotherEthiopians

tofollowsuit.HealsorecognisedhercontributiontowardspreservingEthiopia’sculturalheritagebyendorsingherasaCulturalAmbassador.Tutu’s first venture,RISC’sGlobalCafé,whichhasserved a selection of meat and vegetarian stewssince2006,ispopularacrossReadingandhaswonastringofawards.TutuwasaguestonBBCRadio4wheresheextolledthevirtuesofEthiopiancuisine.Fouryearsago,shelaunchedarangeofsaucesforhomecookstoenjoy.Therangeincludesveganandglutenfreeandcanbeusedforcooking,spreadingorasadip.

Scottish photographer’s Ethiopia photos shortlisted for top

Photography Award Award-winning photographer, Kieran Dodds‘extensiveworkonthechurchforestsofEthiopiahasbeen shortlisted for the prestigious Sony WorldPhotography Award in the Professional –Landscapecategory.

His series, ‘Hierotopia’, explores the forestssurrounding churches in Ethiopia, where farminghas led to huge deforestation, and how priests,scientists and the local community are trying tosavethem.

11 Spring 2019

Entos Eyesus church forest on an island in Lake Tana near Bahir Dar InaninterviewwithTheScotsman,Kieransaid:“Mypersonal work considers the role of theenvironment in human culture and at howindigenous ideashavepreserved theenvironmentandseeinghowthiscanbescaledup.”

The Debre Mihret Arbiatu Ensesa church, which looks from above like a bright pinwheel, is surrounded by trees.

“In Ethiopia I stumbled across something remarkable where

Orthodox Christians preserve the environment, seeing it as the

‘clothes of the church’ – a physical part of the church

building and a miniature Garden of Eden.”

Kieran’sworkwillbedisplayedattheSonyWorldPhotographyAwardsExhibitionatSomersetHousein London from 18th April until 6th May, beforeembarkingonaninternationaltour.Awardwinnerswill be revealed on 17th April.

Images of the Gospels Through Ethiopian and European Eyes

ExplorethelinksbetweenEthiopianandEuropeanillustrations of the Gospels. In this illustratedlecture,historianDorotheaMcEwan,comparestwo17th-century illuminated Gospel manuscripts, oneheld in the British Library, the other in Ethiopia,with their European source, the Evangeliumarabicum,printedinRomein1591.Venue: TheBritishLibrary

96EustonRoadLondonNW12DB

Date: Monday13thMay2019,7.15pmPrice: £10Forfurtherinformation,contacttheBritishLibrarydirectlyat01937546546;boxoffice@bl.ukorvisit:http://bit.ly/BL-Events.

EVENTS

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Ethiopian News

On10thMarch,at08:44amlocaltime,(05:44GMT)anEthiopianAirlinesaircraftBoeing737-800MAX,flight ET 302 toNairobi, tragically crashed in theoutskirtsofAddisAbaba.Inthehoursthatfollowed,EthiopianAirlinesGroupCEO,TewoldeGebremariam,confirmedthatnoneofthe flight’s 149 passengers and 8 crew membershad survived the accident. Of the passengersrepresenting35nationalitieson-board,32Kenyan,18Canadian,9Ethiopianand7Britishcitizenswereamongthedeceased.Monday11thMarch2019wasdeclared anationalday of mourning and saw flags at Ethiopiangovernment institutions, includingtheEmbassy inLondon, flying at half-mast as an expression ofpublicsorrow.A book of condolence was also opened at theEmbassyformembersofthepublicanddiplomaticcommunity to submit their messages. UK AreaManager of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr MichaelYohannes, and representatives from the ForeignandCommonwealthOfficewereamongthefirsttosignthebook.UK’sPrimeMinister,TheresaMayMP,said:“Iwasdeeplysaddenedtohearofthedevastatinglossoflife following the plane crash in Ethiopia. At thisverydifficulttimemythoughtsarewiththefamiliesandfriendsoftheBritishcitizensonboardandallthoseaffectedbythistragicincident.”

Ambassador Fesseha signs a book of condolence at the Kenya High Commission in London, in memory of the victims, among them 32 KenyansIn Ethiopia, local residents of Gimbichu Woreda(district), where the crash happened, held atraditional memorial service on 21st March tohonourthosewholosttheirlivesintheaccident.…PilotsfollowedallproceduresThe preliminary report released by theinvestigative team has shown that the EthiopianAirlinespilotswhowerecommandingFlightET302followed Boeing's recommended, and the FederalAviation Administration’s (FAA) approvedemergencyprocedurestohandlethemostdifficultemergencysituationcreatedontheairplane.Despite the pilots’ hardwork and full compliancewith the emergency procedures, they could notrecovertheplanefromapersistentnosedive.

LOCAL NEWS

The world unites in mourning victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302

13 Spring 2019

Commenting on the report, Group CEO TewoldeGebremariamsaid, "AllofusatEthiopianAirlinesarestillgoingthroughdeepmourningforthelossofour loved ones andwewould like to express ourdeep sympathy and condolences for the families,relativesandfriendsofthevictims.Meanwhile,weare very proud of our pilots’ compliances withemergency procedures and their high level ofprofessional performance in such an extremelydifficult situation. We are also very proud of ourGlobal standard Pilot Training Centre and theEthiopian Aviation Academy, which is one of thelargest and most modern in the world equippedwith state of the art and latest trainingtechnologies.”“I would like to thank our valued customers, the travelling public,

the media and global aviation professionals for the vote of

confidence and strong support that you have given us starting

from the day of this tragic accident. We will redouble our

efforts to win your confidence…Your safety will

remain our topmost priority and we will continue to work together

with our partners around the world to make air travel safer

and more comfortable.” “My highest appreciation also goes to my 16,000colleaguesatEthiopianAirlinesfortheirresilience,high standards of professionalism and theircommitment to operational excellence and theiraward-winningcustomerservice,whichenabledusto continue our businesswithout any operationaldisruption,flightdelaysnorflightcancellations.”The Embassy will continue to share furtherinformationontheincidentasandwhenitismadeavailable via ourwebsite and socialmedia pages.For the latest updates, please contact EthiopianAirlines directly or follow them on social media(@flyethiopian).

Political parties sign pact ahead of 2020 polls

Intherun-uptoEthiopianElectionsslatedfor2020,more than 100 competing political parties havesigned a code of conduct agreement as part ofefforts to open up the political space and thegovernment’s commitment to ensuring free, fairandinclusiveelections.

PM Abiy signs the pact as the chair of the National Election Board, Birtukan Mideksa, looks on PMAbiyAhmedsignedthedocumentonbehalfofthe ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’sRevolutionary Democratic Front. This is “ademocratic milestone” he said, and called on allpartiestorespectthedocument.ThenewchairpersonofEthiopia'sNationalElectionBoard, Birtukan Mideksa, and officials werepresent.Appointedin2018,Birtukanandherteamwillorganisethe2020polls.Dr Workneh Gebeyehu appointed DG

of United Nations Office, Nairobi UnitedNationsSecretary-GeneralAntónioGuterresappointed Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, Ethiopia’sForeign Minister, as Director-General of the UNOffice in Nairobi (UNON). He succeeds Hanna S.TettehofGhanawhobecomesAfricanUnion(AU)Special Representative and Head of the UnitedNationsOfficetotheAU(UNOAU).MsMaimunahMohd Sharif, Executive Director oftheUnitedNationsHumanSettlementsProgramme(UN-Habitat) will continue to serve as ActingDirector-General until Dr Workneh assumes hispost.

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Ethiopian News

Secretary-General António Guterres with Workneh Gebeyehu (File Photo) Dr Workneh has served as Ethiopia’s ForeignMinistersince2016.

Ethiopians commemorate the Battle of Adwa

On 2nd March, Ethiopians from all walks of lifecelebrated the 123rd anniversary of the Battle ofAdwa – a day that commemorates the bravery ofEthiopian troops in thebattle for freedomagainstinvadingItalianforcesin1896.Ethiopians, under the command of EmperorMenelikII,defeatedover20,000well-armedItaliancolonial forces.Thepivotalvictoryof theBattleofAdwa made Ethiopia the only country in Africanevertobecolonised.

Statue of Emperor Menelik II in Addis Ababa Ontheeveofthecelebrations,PrimeMinisterAbiyAhmedcalledontheexistinggenerationtorepeatthe victory of Adwa by overcoming currentchallengesandbarriers.

The victory of Adwa laid the foundation for thecurrentandthenextgenerationstowalkwiththeirheadsheldhighandtostandinfrontoftheworld,thePremiersaid,stressingthat“TheAdwavictoryteachesusthatunityisstrength.”Thevictorywasa“momentous triumph” forAfrica inparticular andblackpeopleoftheworldingeneral.“Theheroicdeedsof our foremothers and fathersagainstthecolonisingItalianforcenotonlyrealisedEthiopia’spoliticalindependence,butalsofreedthecurrentgenerationfromthebruntofcolonialism,”a“hopefulandemblematicmoment”inAfrica’squestforindependenceandtheabolitionofslaveryacrosstheglobe.Thousands remembered the fallen patriots inMenelikIISquarebutthedaywasalsomarkedwitha range of programmes, including a walk fromMenelikIISquaretoAdwa.Here in London, a unique exhibition of historicalartefactstitle“RememberingAdwa”,washeldattheEmbassyfortwoweeks.TheexhibitionwasheldincollaborationwithMrAlebachewDesalegn,awell-respectedprivatecollectorofEthiopianartefacts.

Emperor Haileselassie’s statue unveiled at AU Headquarters

ThestatueofEthiopia’slastEmperor,Haileselassie,was unveiled at the headquarters of the AfricanUnionon10thFebruary in thepresenceofseveralAfricanleadersandrelativesoftheEmperor.ThestatueisthesecondtobeerectedinsidetheAUcompound, after Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, whochampionedpan-Africanism.

15 Spring 2019

The Founding Fathers of the Organisation of African Unity Emperor Haileselassie was among key Africanleaders who founded the Organization of AfricanUnity, which later became the African Union. Heoversaw the maiden meeting of the continentalbodyin1963.…EgyptianPresident takesoverasnewheadofAfricanUnionEgypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has takenoveraschairoftheAfricanUnion(AU)–apostthatrotates annually between the five regions of thecontinent.

TheEgyptianleaderisexpectedtofocusonthefightagainst armed groups on the continent andrebuildingofcountriesrecoveringfromconflict.Sisi takes the helm fromRwandanPresident PaulKagame, who focused on creating an Africa widefree-tradezoneduringhistenure.

UN refugee agency praises Ethiopia’s innovative approach to refugees

While on a four-day visit to Ethiopia, UN HighCommissionerforRefugees,FilippoGrandipraisedthecountry’sgenerosityinhostingrefugees,andthegovernment’s openness to new and innovativeapproaches to improve the livesof themore than900,000 refugees and the communities hostingthem.The High Commissioner spent two days inMelkadida,aregionborderingSomalia,whichhostsover 200,000 refugees. He saw first-hand how a$100million investment by the IKEA Foundationoverthelastsevenyearshastransformedthesemi-arid,isolatedareaintoathrivingcommunity.Grandi visitedprojects fundedby theFoundation,including an irrigation scheme where 1,000hectares of barren land are now lush farms thatenablerefugeestogrowcropssuchaswatermelon,tomatoesandcornuptothreetimesayear.Healsovisitedmarketssupportedbymicrofinanceand other economic empowerment programmes,where refugees and the local community buy andsell their crops. The programme has been sosuccessfulthatsomeofthecropsarebeingexportedto other regions in the country.Refugees told theHigh Commissioner that they are saving some oftheirincometoimprovethemarketsthemselves.

“What has developed here is a unique approach to the self-

reliance of refugees where the Ethiopian government has been

extremely open to new approaches. The host

communities and refugees have also been remarkably open to working together in harmony.

This is something we don’t normally see.”

- Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. AtameetingwithcommunityleadersinDolloAdo,theHighCommissionerandIKEAFoundationCEOPerHeggenesheardhowtheinvestmenthashadapositive impact on the entire community. They

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announced that the Foundation has decided toextend their investment in theproject for at leastthree more years to ensure the community cansustainitindependently.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi with IKEA Foundation CEO Per Heggenes and a student. © UNHCR/Georgina Goodwin Heggenes calls the progress he has witnessed “adream come true.” He said its legacy is as muchabouthelpingfosterharmonybetweentherefugeesandthelocalEthiopians,asitisaboutgrowingtheeconomy.“What always happens when large numbers ofrefugeesdescendonasmallcommunityisitcreatesconflicts, because everyone wants to have thefirewood,everyonewantstohavethegrazinglandfortheirgoats,”saidHeggenes.“Weapproachedthisinawaytosaywe’regoingtohelptherefugeesandthehost community come together, farm the landtogether, share the crops and live as sisters andbrothers.”At the Melkadida Camp, the High CommissionervisitedanotherIKEAFoundationsupportedproject,a secondary school where refugee and hostcommunity students have access to qualityteachers, well-equipped classrooms and asupportivelearningenvironment.While in Ethiopia, the High Commissioner alsoattended the 32nd African Union (AU) Summit inAddis Ababa from 9th-10th February, where theannual theme for 2019 is the “Year of Refugees,Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs):TowardsDurable Solutions toForcedDisplacementinAfrica.”

This year’s focus on refugees comes as the AUcommemorates key legislation on forceddisplacement:the50thanniversaryoftheadoptionof the 1969 Organization of African UnityConventiononRefugeesandthe10thanniversaryofthe 2009 AU Convention on Internally DisplacedPersonsinAfrica(KampalaConvention).The High Commissioner spoke about theimportance of the Global Compact on Refugees,adopted by the UN General Assembly lastDecember, which calls for more inclusion ofrefugees in communities where they reside andmoreglobalsupportforcountrieslikeEthiopia,whocontinuetowelcomeandhostthem.“This the first year we’ll implement the GlobalCompact on Refugees,“ Grandi said. “But I tellpeople we’re already implementing it here inMelkadida, with development partners fromprogrammesinirrigationandvocationaltraining.”While in Addis, the High Commissioner also metwith President Sahle-Work Zewde, and Ato (Mr)Kebede, theDirector General of the government’srefugee agency ARRA. He praised Ethiopia’s newrefugee lawas forward-lookingandupholdingtheprinciplesoftheGlobalCompactonRefugees.

South Sudanese refugee Ariat’s son, Angakuny, was amongst the first refugee children to receive a birth certificate in Ethiopia. ©UNHCR/Diana Diaz

Addressing themedia following his meeting withthePresident,Grandisaid“theproclamationisoneofthebestrefugeelaws,notonlyinAfrica,butintheworld,”andpledgedtomobilizemoreresourcesfordevelopment, “not just for refugees, but also fortheirhosts.”

17 Spring 2019

Ethiopia Receives Universal Health Coverage Ministerial

Championship Award The Ministry of Health received the UniversalHealth CoverageMinisterial ChampionshipAwardin recognition of its homegrown, grassroots-oriented primary Health Extension Programme,launchedin2004,whichhassignificantlyimprovedthehealthoutcomesofEthiopia’spopulation.MsSenaitFisseha,amodelhealthextensionworker,acceptedtheawardonbehalfofmorethan40,000health extension workers at the Africa HealthAgendaInternationalConferenceinKigali,Rwanda,whichwasco-hostedbyRwanda’sHealthMinistryand theAfricanMedical andResearchFoundation(AmrefHealthAfrica).

Ms Senait (right) with Dr Amir Abiy, Ethiopia’s Minister of Health next to her Overthepastdecade,Ethiopiahasradicallyreducedthe child death andmaternal mortality rates andthere has also been vast improvement in hygieneand sanitation coverage and a reduction inmajorcommunicablediseases.Morethan40,000femaleHealthExtensionWorkersare deployed all over the country, providing keyhealthservicesthroughfixedandoutreachbases.…Five-yearNationalHealthSecurityActionPlanlaunchedEthiopialaunchedafive-yearNationalActionPlanforHealth Security (NAPHS),whichwill run from2019 to 2023. The World Health Organization(WHO) congratulated Ethiopia for launching theactionplan,which is expected tobring significantimprovement to preventing, detecting andrespondingtohealththreats.

Second Electrification Programme launched

The updated version of Ethiopia’s NationalElectrificationProgramme(NEP2.0)waslaunchedon27thMarchduringthe‘AfricaEnergyForum:Offthe Grid’ and ‘Regional Energy Co-operationSummit’.

Ethiopia’s Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, H.E. Dr. Seleshi Bekele The National Electrification Programme was firstlaunched at the end of 2017 with a programmeframeworkforachievinguniversalaccessby2025.NEP 2.0 provides a detailed framework for theintegration of off-grid technologies with gridconnectivity, with both public and private sectorefforts, for the achievement of 35% of off-gridaccessby2025.TheMinistryofWater,IrrigationandElectricitywillbe joined by Ethiopian sector leaders andinternational experts, to discuss the future of thebold sector reformprogrammerecently launched,including implementationof cost reflective tariffs,furtherunbundlingofgenerationandtransmission,and performance improvement in sectorinstitutions.Thesemeasureswill furtherattractprivate sectorparticipationandinvestmentinrenewableenergy.

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Ethiopian News

Northern Powerhouse mission

explores business opportunities in Ethiopia

CompaniesfromtheNorthernPowerhouse(NorthWest,NorthEastandYorkshire&Humberregions)visitedEthiopiafrom24thto29thMarch.Themission offered a unique opportunity for thecompaniestounderstandthevarietyanddepthofbusinessopportunitiesonoffertoUKbusinessesinsectors including manufacturing, engineering,construction, food & liquids processing andpackaging, transport and logistics, airport designconsultancyandplanningandrenewableenergy.ThedelegationvisitedtheBritishEmbassyinAddisAbabaforpolitical,economicandculturalbriefings;industrysitevisits;businesstobusinessmeetings;Ministrymeetingsandmeetingswith localserviceproviders,includinglawfirms.TheNorthernPowerhouseruns20trademissionsannuallytolocationsallovertheworldinadditiontotheDepartmentforInternationalTrade’scentralprogrammeoftrademissionactivity.Asthefourthlargest economy in sub-Saharan Africa andpredictedtobethethirdlargestby2025,EthiopiaisanimportantmarketforBritishcompanies.British exports to Ethiopia rose 135% from £80million in 2010 to £149 million in 2017 and thenumber of British companies investing in thecountry is on the rise. More than 34 companiescurrentlyoperateinEthiopiaincludingthelikesofPittardsUK,UnileverandDiageo,bringingnewjobopportunities,skillstransferandhardcurrency.

Ethiopia commits to easing business

hurdles PMAbiysaidhisgovernmentistakingmeasurestoeasetheprocessofdoingbusinessinEthiopia.Chairinganationalsteeringcommitteeinchargeofintroducing new reforms to improve the publiccredit supply system in Ethiopia, PM Abiyannounced the government’s desire to increaserevenue, saying the existing credit supply system

has been hampering citizens and investors fromstartingabusiness.“Theredtapeandlackofaccesstofinancehavebeenidentifiedasmajorhurdlesinthisregard.”PM Abiy stated that reforms on service deliverysystemsand legal frameworks that inhibit easeofbusiness will be carried out to correct problems.Reforms are also currently underway to improveaccesstosupplyofpublicfinanceandloans.

Africa Free Trade Agreement comes into force after Ethiopia and Gambia

ratify TheEthiopianParliament,on21stMarch,approvedEthiopia’s membership of the Africa ContinentalFree Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, bringing itonestepclosertoimplementation.TheAgreementwas launched lastMarch inKigali,Rwanda,duringtheAfricanUnionSummit,whereitwassignedby44countries.Sincethen,eightmorehave signed and on 2nd April Gambia became the22nd nation to ratify, meaning the historicagreementcannowcomeintoforce.

The African Heads of States and Governments pose during AU Summit for the agreement to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area in Rwanda, in March 2018.

The tradeAgreement,oneof thebiggestsince thecreation of theWorld Trade Organization (WTO),aimstocreateasinglemarketinAfrica.Once it kicks in, AfCFTA aims to increase intra-African trade by 52% by the year 2022, removetariffs on 90% of goods, liberalise services andtackleotherbarrierstointra-Africantrade,suchaslongdelaysatborderposts.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

19 Spring 2019

Ifall55Africancountries joina freetradearea, itwillbetheworld’slargestbynumberofcountries,covering more than 1.2 billion people with acombinedGDPof$2.5trillion.

Unilever inaugurates state-of-the-art toothpaste factory in Ethiopia

Unilever has inaugurated a world-class oral careplant,thefirstof itskindinEthiopia,atUnilever’sfactory in Eastern Industry Zone, Dukem, to spurgrowthandinvestmentinEthiopia.

Production of Signal will join previous Unileverinvestment in the soap, detergent, and Knorrmanufacturing plants inaugurated in 2016 and2017.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, BrunoWitvoet,UnileverAfricaPresidentsaid“FromtodaywewillseelocallyproducedSignaltoothpastefromaworldclassoralcareplantand,evenbetter,weareinauguratingitwitha100%femaleworkforce.Therisingincidenceoftoothdecayisoneofthemajorreasonskidsmissschoolandincreasesmedicalfeesfor families. We can help stop that and nothingrepresentsourUnilevervaluesbetterthanhelpingbuildaneconomy througha locallymanufacturedglobalbrandlikeSignalwithastrongpurposeatitsheart.”

“Today’s launch is also testament to Unilever’sstrong commitment to expanding its business inEthiopia and createmore job opportunitieswhilealso working towards improving the lives andwellbeingofEthiopianconsumersatlarge,”hesaid.Unilever Manufacturing PLC was established in2015 in Ethiopia and is already supporting agrowing network of Ethiopian suppliers,distributorsandtraders.Hyundai opens vehicle assembly plant

in Ethiopia InamajorboosttoEthiopia’sautomotiveindustry,Hyundai Motor Co has opened a 10,000-a-year$17.5 million vehicle capacity assembly plant inAddisAbaba-itsfirstfactoryinEastAfrica.

Foreign Minister, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu,inaugurated the assembly plant affirming thegovernment’scommitmenttocontinuesupportinginvestorsintheautomotiveindustry.Haile Gebrselassie, the former Olympian-turnedbusinessman,haspartneredwiththeSouthKoreanfirm in a venture that will see some of the carsexportedtotheregion.Thefirm'sCEO,WonHeeLee,saidtheyweredrawnbyEthiopia’sgrowth,oneofAfrica’sfastestformorethanadecade.“We have good opportunities in Ethiopia. Webelieve the economic growth in Ethiopia will befaster than any other country in Africa,” he toldreportersattheinaugurationceremony.

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Ethiopian News

…Ethiopia’suntappedautomotivesectorattractsinvestorsEthiopiaproducesaround10,000commercialandother vehicles a year for its home market. Itimportedmorethan40,000carsin2017.Assemblers inthecountry includeChinesebrandsGeely,FAWandBYD,aswellasLifan.Earlierthisyear,aMemorandumofUnderstandingto develop an automotive industry was signedbetween Ethiopia and Volkswagen, for theestablishment of a vehicle assembly facility,localisation of automotive components, mobilityconcepts such as app-based car sharing and ridehailing,andtheopeningofatrainingcentre.Fitch Solutions recently noted that Ethiopia’sautomotive sector remains largely untapped. Itsattractiveness as an investment destination iscontinuouslyimprovingandwillcontinuetoattractinvestment,especiallyintotheautomotivesector.Aseconomicliberalisationeffortskickin,Ethiopia'sautomotive sector is well poised to become aregionalpowerhouseintheEastAfricanregionoverthecomingdecade,withthemanufacturingsectorstanding to benefit the most owing to the vastgrowthpotential inthisuntappedmarket,andthepositivegovernmenteffortsaimedatpromotingthesector.

Ethiopia may triple coffee output in five years

Ethiopia, Africa’s biggest coffee producer, isintroducingproductionandmarketingreformsthatcouldtripleitsoutputinfiveyears.The Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority said thecountryisreplacingoldtreesandpruningexistingones to allownew stems to sprout as aging treesbecome less productive. That could help boostoutputtobetween1.2millionand1.8milliontonsby2024,upfromanestimated600,000tonsintherecentharvest.Old trees account for about 60% of the 1millionhectares(2.5millionacres)oftreesinproduction,while another 1.5 million hectares aren’t yetyielding beans, according to the authority. Newtrees in the country, where smallholders accountforalmostalloutput,takeaboutthreetofouryearstostartproducing.Marketingreformsarehelpingproducersskipsomestages of the supply chain, increasing income forfarmers, who currently receive about 60% of thepriceofcoffee.“Underthenewreforms,farmerscandirectly export,” Adugna Debela Bote, directorgeneral of the authority said. “We are creatingawareness,andthiswillmaterialisethisproductionyear.”EthiopiaexportsthebulkofitsbeanstoEuropeandtheU.S., and is trying to tapnewmarkets inAsia,especiallyChina,SouthKoreaandJapan.

21 Spring 2019

Ethiopia’s Travel and Tourism economy grew by48.6% in2018– the largestofanycountry in theworld–accordingtotheWorldTravelandTourismCouncil’s (WTTC) annual review of the economicimpactandsocialimportanceofthesector.In 2018, Travel and Tourism contributed $7.4billiontothecountry’seconomy,anincreaseof$2.2billionon2017.Thesectornowrepresents9.4%ofEthiopia’stotaleconomy.The Council’s research compares the Travel andTourism sectors across 185 countries, and showsthatin2018inEthiopiathesectors:

• Significantly outpaced the global growthrate of 3.9%, the African growth rate of5.6%

• Supported 2.2 million jobs, or 8.3% totalemployment

• Wasprimarilydrivenby leisure travellers:79% of the spending was generated byleisure visitors and 21% from businesstravellers

• Isstronglyweightedtowardsinternationaltravel: 77% of spending came frominternational travellers and 23% fromdomestic

Commenting on the numbers, Gloria Guevara,WTTCPresidentandCEOsaid:

“Ethiopia’s Travel and Tourism boom was one of the great

success stories of 2018. This has been driven by the very strong performance of aviation in the

country and the development of Addis Ababa as a dynamic and

growing regional hub.” “TravelandTourisminEthiopianowaccounts foroneinevery$11intheentireeconomyandonein12 of all jobs. I would like to acknowledge thecountry’scommitmenttothepowerofTravelandTourismtodriveeconomicgrowth,jobcreationandsocialenhancement.”

TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Ethiopia records biggest growth in World Travel and Tourism

Muslim girls in the colourful historic city of Harar

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Ethiopian News

Ethiopian Airlines named “African Champions of the Year” DuringaspecialCeremonyorganisedbytheAfricaCEO Forum in Kigali, Ethiopian Airlines wasawardedthe“AfricanChampionoftheYear”award.

Receiving the award, CEO Tewolde Gebremariam,said “Thankyouverymuch for the strongvoteofconfidencethatAfricahasgivenusevenatthemostchallenging time in our history. We are stillmourning the loss of the lives of our esteemedpassengersandcolleaguesinthetragicaccidentonET302on10thMarch.Myheartfeltcondolencesgoouttothefamiliesofthevictims,thecountryandthecontinent of Africa… Thank you all for all thesupportyouhavegivenusandcontinuetogiveus.Together,wewillmakeAfricagreatandwewillputourcontinentinitsrightplaceontheglobalstage.”…Ethiopian celebrates International Women’sDaywithall-womenflightEthiopian Airlines once again celebratedInternational Women’s Day on 8th March byoperatinganall-femaleflightcrewfromflightdeckall the way to the ground including airportoperations, flight dispatch, load control, rampoperation, on-board logistics, safety and security,cateringandairtrafficcontrol,ontheAddisAbaba–Stockholm-Osloroute.CEO Tewolde GebreMariam, said, “Women [havebeen]anintegralpartofoursuccessstoryfromthestartandwiththisdedicatedflightwehonourandcelebrate their indispensable contribution to ouraviationGroup.

Ethiopian Airlines has previously operated all-femaleflightstoBangkok,Kigali,Lagos,andBuenosAires.

London, are you ready? The Ethiopians are coming!

The Virgin MoneyLondon Marathon isset to take place onSunday28thApril.

In the men’s elite race, Ethiopia’s 22-year-oldmarathon star Shura Kitata returns to LondonMarathonafterfinishingrunner-uptoKenya’sEliudKipchoge last year. Themen’s race is set to be amouth-watering clashwithBritain’s SirMo FarahandworldrecordholderanddefendingchampionEliudKipchogesettorun.Inthewomen’sfield,theEthiopiantrioofTiruneshDibaba, the three-time Olympic champion on thetrack and third fastest woman of all time, whofinished second in London and won Chicago in2017, Tadelech Bekele, who finished third inLondon last year and 21 year old Roza Dereje,second in Chicago and winner of the DubaiMarathonin2018,arealsoconfirmedtorun.

TEAMETHIOPIAMen WomenMosinetGEREMEW TadelechBEKELETolaShuraKITATA TiruneshDIBABALeuleGEBRSELASSIE RozaDEREJETamiratTOLA BirhaneDIBABAMuleWASIHUN HaftamneshTESFAY

SPORTS

23 Spring 2019

Ethiopians shine at Birmingham Indoor Athletics

Team Ethiopia performed superbly during theIAAFWorldIndoorTourinBirmingham,England.Samuel Tefera broke the long-standing worldindoor 1500m record finishing in 3:31.04, taking0.14 off the previous record set by Morocco'sHichamElGuerroujinStuttgartin1997.

Yomif Kejelcha followed Samuel and finishedsecondinanoutrightpersonalbestof3:31.58.By winning the women’s 3000m, Almaz Samuelbecame the first confirmed World Indoor Tourchampionof2019.

Shefinishedin8:54.60leadinganEthiopian1-2-3with Axumawit Embaye and Meskerem Mamofollowingcloselybehind.

Yomif Kejelcha breaks World Indoor Mile Record

ItwasthirdtimeluckyforEthiopia'sYomifKejelcha,whosmashedtheworldindoorrecordforthemile,

clocking3:47.01attheBruceLehaneInvitationalinBoston,Massachusetts,on3rdMarch.Yomif took 1.44 seconds off the previous worldindoor recordsetbyHichamElGuerrouj in1997.Moments later, his 1500m splitwas confirmed at3:31.25, making him the third-fastest indoorperformerinhistorybehindTeferaandElGuerrouj.

Yomif’s mile time is also an outright Ethiopianrecord,betteringtheoutdoormarkof3:48.60setbyAmanWote.Speaking to the BBC, the young Ethiopian athletesaid his big plan is to break fellow compatriot,KenenisaBekele’s,5000mrecord.

Africa’s women are rising to challenge

gender discrimination

Inanopinionpiece intheFinancial Times, ahead ofInternational Women’sDay,Ethiopia’sfirstfemalePresident, Sahle-Work

Zewde says: “Change is sweeping across Africa.Systemicbarrierstogenderequityarefallingandagrowing number ofwomen leaders are reshapingthecontinent.”Rwanda,SeychellesandmyowncountryofEthiopianowhavegender-balancedcabinets,withsomeofthemostpowerfulpostsoccupiedbywomen.ArecentWorldBankreporthighlightsthatAfricaisseeingmorereformsinpromotinggenderequalitythananywhereelseintheworld.

ETHIOPIA IN THE NEWS

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Ethiopian News

As economic growth continues to expand inEthiopiaandacrossourcontinent,thereisgrowingrecognitionthatinvestingingenderequalityisboththe rightandsmartapproach.Africa’swomenarerisingandit’stimetheworldtooknote.Readmore:http://bit.ly/FT-Ethiopia

Top 10 destinations for foodies, 2019

Planningtheultimatefoodiegetaway for 2019? BBCGood Food made a list oftheir top 10 foodie

destinationsthatshouldbeonanyone’sbucketlistandEthiopiawasamongthem.

"EthiopiaisarguablyhometoAfrica’smostuniquetraditional food culture. The staple injera (a sour,spongyflatbread)isthebaseforarainbowmezzeofsalads, 'wats' (stews), 'tibs' (stir-fries) andpulses...Asthebirthplaceofcoffee,Ethiopiaalsohasavibrantculturecentredaroundthedrink,knownlocallyasbunna.TheCoffeeCeremonyisregardedasasignofrespectandfriendship,andisaculturalritepasseddownthegenerations."Readmore:http://bit.ly/BBCGF-Ethiopia

The Last Wolves

TheEthiopianHighlandsarehometosomeofAfrica’shighestpeaks.They’realsothelast(theonly)strongholdofthecontinent’srarestcarnivore:the

Ethiopianwolf.

Therearecurrentlyonlyabout500leftintheworld,distributed among six isolated populations, all onthehighlands.TheBaleMountainsinthesoutheastishometothelargestofthesixpopulations.Thisiswhereresearchersatthenon-profitEthiopianWolfConservation Programme have focused most oftheir efforts to learn about the wolves and thethreatstheyface.Readmore:http://bit.ly/ETHWolves

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Published by the Public Diplomacy Department, Embassy of Ethiopia, London SW7 1PZ To receive a copy by email, please send an email to press@ethioembassy.org.uk.

A copy is also available online on our website: www.ethioembassy.org.uk.