Filed under: lucvankemenade.nl | Tags: Ethiopia, elections, Thijs Berman, EU EOM
Anyone who tries to disqualify a report like ours disqualifies himself. It is solid as a rock and can not be pushed aside.
This was the strong reaction of Chief observer Thijs Berman of the European Union Election Mission to Ethiopia (EU EOM) at the end of May, just after the national elections in Ethiopia. Berman responded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawis rejection of his preliminary report.
In that report Berman hailed the high turnout in peacefully held elections on May 23, but also criticized the lack of a level playing field for political parties and the use of state resources for campaign purposes in favour of the ruling EPRDF party.
No proof
Meles who had just won 99,6 percent of the votes denounced these conclusions as politically biased and accusations without any proof. That was very disrespectful, according to Berman. His assessment was based on facts presented by his team of professional and highly experienced observers.
So far for the he says, she says. Ethiopia is still waiting for a final report on its elections. Before Berman and his crew of professionals left Ethiopia, they explicitly promised to publish a critical final report within two months. It has been more than three now. (more…)
Filed under: lucvankemenade.nl | Tags: Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Dire Dawa, Dechatu River, Floods
The Dechatu River in Ethiopia is a threat to people living on its banks. But it also offers opportunities. If we use it properly, its important source in our lives, says a riverside resident. If we dont, it will destroy us.
His flip-flops sink away in the mud as farmer Abdullah Moussa from Gende Ada, a village on the outskirts of the Ethiopian city Dire Dawa, walks around on his orange plantation. The fields are swampy.
It has been raining in the highlands recently, causing a small flash flood to find its way into the desert town. Abdullah heavily relies on these incidental spatters: it offers a unique opportunity to irrigate his fields.
To make the most of the rain, he has dug a simple channel, which leads the water from the river to his fields. After a flood like this, my crops can survive for fifteen days without water, he says.
But the Dechatu river is not always helpful. In August 2006, it revealed its destructive face… Read the full report in English and French on the website of Radio Netherlands Worldwide.
After some heavy protesting the Djiboutian business of stripping Ethiopia-bound cargo is freed from its monopoly. Or is it?
At Yard 15 in the old port of Djibouti City workers are stripping cargo in the steaming heat. Its a matter of hours before they return the un-stuffed containers to the container terminal at Doraleh Port. Meanwhile, fully packed trucks head for Ethiopia.
Its almost business as usual at Yard 15, a logistics centre that is rented out to the Djiboutian Freight forwarders Association (ATD) by the Djiboutian government. In the future we would like to have our own place, says Charmarke Askar Farah, managing director of transit company Logistics Services and a member of the ATD. But at least we are back in business.
Read full feature at Capital Ethiopia
Filed under: lucvankemenade.nl | Tags: Capital Ethiopia, Djibouti, Tadjoura
Djibouti will start the construction of a new port in Tadjoura by the end of 2010. The Tadjoura Port will serve Ethiopias northern part and is expected to be operational within two years, according to DP World, a Dubai-based company that runs all port affairs in Djibouti.
A study on the future Tadjoura Port is currently being executed. It will be finished next month. After that, the project will be open for bids as to determine who is going to construct the new harbour.
Vast growth
It will be another opportunity for Ethiopia, says Aden Ahmed Douale, chairman of the Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority. Its our biggest client and one of the largest countries on the African continent. More importantly, its economy is vastly growing. That type of country needs more than just one port.
Read full story at Capital Ethiopia
Filed under: lucvankemenade.nl | Tags: Capital Ethiopia, Djibouti, Free Zone
The Djibouti Free Zone is preparing a demand study to examine the possibilities to expand its facilities near the Djibouti Ports. The study will be carried out by the end of the year. The main reason for the expansion is growing business in and increasing export from Ethiopia.
We have some indications from our clients that enlargement is needed, says Sherif Muhtaseb, manager of the Free Zone. We currently house military and NGO logistics; the rest serves Ethiopia. Why not flip it? I think exporting companies from Ethiopia will be very interested to have their tax-free export station right here.
Read full story at Capital Ethiopia
