Arab foreign ministers met on Wednesday to discuss a recent deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland to grant Addis Ababa access to the Red Sea coastline, a move that Mogadishu has strongly condemned. Somalia, which requested the meeting, maintains that Somaliland’s deal with Ethiopia is a breach of international law and its own sovereignty. It sits on a strategic location close to the Bay of Aden close to the southern mouth of the Red Sea. “This unilateral move by Ethiopia poses a threat to Arab national security and Red Sea shipping,” Somalia’s ambassador to the Arab League Elias Abu Bakr said. Its secession deprived Ethiopia of access to the Red Sea coastline.

The Israel Defense Forces published on Wednesday the names of four Israeli soldiers who were killed over the past day. Yair Katz, 34, both combat soldiers of the 14th "Mahatz" Armored Brigade's 87th Battalion, were killed on Tuesday fighting in northern Gaza. Anwar Serhan, 26, was killed on Wednesday in a car accident in the West Bank while on army duty. Since the beginning of the ground operation,192 soldiers have been killed in Gaza. Oriya Ayimalk Goshen, 21-years-old from Jerusalem, was killed Wednesday in combat operations in the southern Gaza Strip.

Global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in 2023, at an estimated $1.37 trillion, showed a marginal increase (+3%) over 2022, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade (UNCTAD) FDI report released today. International investment project announcements, including greenfield (mainly industry), project finance (mainly infrastructure) and cross-border merger and acquisitions (M&As), were mostly in negative territory. Key trends among top FDI recipient economies– In developed regions, international investment project announcements were down across the board. However, project finance deals fell by one third, more than the global average decline, weakening prospects for infrastructure finance flows. While greenfield project numbers held steady, international project finance plummeted, with 40% fewer deals than in 2022.

In a strategic move to drive investment opportunities across Africa’s travel and tourism sector, Africa Travel Week (ATW) has secured a partnership with Tourism Investment Forum Africa (TIFA). Scheduled to run alongside WTM Africa from 10 – 12 April at the CTICC in the Host City of Cape Town, TIFA actively positions African destinations as attractive investment locations, further promoting growth and development in related sectors of their economies. “TIFA provides an important platform for policymakers and investment professionals from Africa and around the globe to engage, collaborate, and secure business,” explains Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director at Africa Travel Week. “By working closely with ATW this year, we’re expecting an even larger turnout of eager investors, influential business leaders, multilateral organisations, and development agencies seeking sustainable projects in which to invest capital. If this is on your radar for 2024, don’t leave TIFA and WTM Africa off your business calendar.

The Ethiopian Air Force (EAF) has acquired Akinci unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Turkey and Russian Sukhoi Su-30K combat aircraft as it continues with modernisation efforts. The Baykar Bayraktar Akinci UAVs, meanwhile, were first observed in November last year. It can be armed with a variety of weapons – the Ethiopian aircraft have been seen with underwing MAM-L missiles manufactured by Roketsan. These have been used against the Tigray People’s Liberation Forces, along with Wing Loong and Qods Mohajer-6 UAVs acquired from China and Iran respectively. It is likely the new Akinci UAVs will also be used in combat.

Addis Abeba – Following the opening statement of the Chairperson of the PSC for the month, Amma A. Twum-Amoah, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the AU, Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) is expected to brief the AU Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) today. Somalia deemed Ethiopia’s latest MoU with Somaliland as a threat to its territorial integrity. Somalia has also sent requests to the AU and the United Nations (UN) Security Council (UNSC) to convene meetings on the issue. Apart from bringing the relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia to near breaking point, the situation is also fueling regional tensions. Somalia’s President announced that his country is willing to enlist the support of anyone willing to help the country secure its territorial integrity.

Ethiopia pulls out of IGAD summit in Uganda over sea deal in SomaliaADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - The Federal Republic of Ethiopia has pulled out of the meeting set to be held on Thursday in Uganda, following a controversial deal it signed with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, which has been fighting for statehood. Djibouti President Omar Guelleh, the chairman of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), summoned a meeting to discuss the turmoil, with Uganda agreeing to host the meeting scheduled for 18th January 2024. "Nevertheless, Ethiopia stands ready to discuss an alternative date in line with rules of procedure governing meetings of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)," the statement noted. The agreement with Somaliland dictates that Ethiopia will get 20 kilometers of the Red Sea for its military base. In return, Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state, despite it remaining part of Somalia.

The Ethiopian country office of the World Health Organization (WHO Ethiopia) has taken a significant step towards addressing workplace harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) in the health sector. In line with this, WHO Ethiopia successfully conducted three sessions of Training of Trainers (ToT) on National Health Sector Prevention and Response to Workplace Harassment and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (NHS-PRWPH&SEA) guidelines. These groundbreaking training sessions, the first of their kind in the respective regions, were held in three regions of Ethiopia, namely Tigray, Benishangul Gumuz, and Gambella. Following the training, 64 trainers were deemed eligible and certified to cascade the knowledge acquired to the health workforce in their respective regions. “WHO Ethiopia's initiative marks a significant milestone for fostering a healthier and safer work environment within the Ethiopian health sector.

Somalia has turned away a plane transporting officials from Ethiopia to the self-declared republic of Somaliland in a major escalation of the diplomatic row between the countries. The Ethiopian officials were visiting Somaliland to discuss a deal, which has sparked a huge row. Despite this incident, regular flights between the two countries are operating as usual, the SCAA said. By ordering the Ethiopian plane out of its airspace, Somalia is sending a strong message that Somaliland is not an independent country. Amid the row between Somalia and Ethiopia, both the US and the African Union have backed the territorial integrity of Somalia and urged all parties to cool tensions.

Zemen Bank has become the first private entity to secure an agreement with the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) by investing Birr 47.5 million to acquire a 5% ownership share. Zemen Bank joins Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) as one of the initial financial backers of ESX, with other investors expected to follow suit. ESX CEO Tilahun Kassahun welcomed Zemen Bank's investment, emphasizing its importance for acquiring trading solutions and preparing for operational launch. Foreign and domestic investors can purchase 75% of the shares of ESX while the rest of the ownership goes to the Ethiopian Government through Ethiopian Investment Holdings. Financial Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) has already signed an agreement to become a shareholder in the securities exchange.

Somalia turns away "unauthorised" Ethiopian airlines planeMOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somalia Civil Aviation Authority turned away an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft from the country's airspace on Wednesday, state media confirmed, an incident which comes amid rising tensions between the two friendly nations. Ethiopia and Somalia were due to meet on Thursday in Uganda following a controversial deal signed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland regional leader Muse Bihi Abdi. According to the Somalia government, the aviation team ordered “unscheduled” Ethiopian Airlines flight ETH8372 to “avoid” Somalia airspace. "Today, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority took action to turn back an Ethiopian Airlines plane, Dash 8-Q400, flight number ET8372, from Somali airspace as it was found to be unauthorized," read the message. The Authority emphasizes that unlicensed aircraft will not be allowed to enter the country's airspace, prioritizing order and cooperation with global counterparts."

(Photo: De Havilland)Addis Abeba – An Ethiopian Airlines aircraft bound for Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, finds itself rerouted before entering Somali airspace. Departing from Addis Abeba, the flight’s journey takes an unexpected detour, compelling a return to its origin as Somali aviation authorities withhold crucial permissions. As per Flightradar data, Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET372, a routinely scheduled flight, safely arrived in Hargeisa at 11:00 AM. Conversely, the de Havilland-400 aircraft, identified by flight number ET8372, originating from Addis Abeba at 8:30 AM, underwent a diversion upon reaching Jigjiga, the capital of Somali region. In a subsequent communication, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority declared that Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET8372 was not granted permission for landing in Hargeisa.

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Many college students are taught that American society is the product of “settler colonialism” — a history of conquest and exploitation. In this simplistic framing, the plight of the Palestinians is just one more example of the familiar evils of settler colonialism. The Gaza war is better understood as a conflict between two competing nationalist projects than as a case of settler colonialism. There are a number of inconvenient historical truths that complicate the “settler colonialism” narrative. Another problem with the settler colonialism narrative is that it treats each side as a monolithic actor, playing the role of colonizer and victim, respectively.