A Week in the Horn November 14, 2008

Meanwhile, the AU�s Peace and Security Council, at its 156th meeting on 11 November was briefed by Ethiopia, in its capacity as the current chair of IGAD, and by the IGAD Secretariat, on the outcome of the IGAD summit in Nairobi. The Council was also briefed on the situation in Somalia by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Representative of the League of Arab states. Following discussion, the Council issued a press statement welcoming the Nairobi Declaration adopted by the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government on 29 October. The Council expressed its full support for the Declaration and urged all Somali parties concerned to implement fully and in good faith the decisions of the Summit within the timelines in the Declaration. The Peace and Security Council also welcomed the signing in Djibouti on 26 October of an agreement on the Modalities for the Implementation of the Cessation of Armed Confrontation between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS). The Council commended the TFG and the ARS for this further step in the implementation of the Djibouti Agreement of 19 August, urging them to scrupulously comply with their commitments. The Council noted the continuing efforts being exerted by the AU Commission to strengthen AMISOM and once again called on AU member states to contribute additional troops to enable AMISOM to reach its authorized strength of 8000 troops. It reiterated its appreciation of AMISOM personnel and expressed appreciation of Uganda and Burundi for their deployment of troops to AMISOM. The Council strongly condemned recent attacks on AMISOM troops as well as attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers by elements opposed to the peace process. The Peace and Security Council reiterated its appeal to the UN Security Council to take the necessary steps to authorize the deployment of a UN peace keeping operation in Somalia as a matter of urgency. And in the mean time, it called on the international community to provide the necessary financial and logistical support to AMISOM itself and to assist in capacity building in the areas of security sector reform and institution building.

� A high level Chinese delegation led by Mr. Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of the People's Republic of China, visited Ethiopia this week, November 8 � 10. The delegation of senior government officials had been invited by Ambassador Teshome Toga, Speaker of the House of Peoples Representatives and Ato Degifie Bula, Speaker of the House of Federation. The purpose was to further strengthen existing bilateral relations between Ethiopia and China in general and the relationship between the two parliaments in particular. During his three-day stay in Ethiopia, Mr. Wu met and held discussions with President Girma Wolde Giorghis, Prime Minister Meles and the Speakers of the two Houses. He also paid a visit to the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) and had talks with the Minister of Transport and Communications. Talks revolved round the strengthening of bilateral relations, regional cooperation and international issues of common concern. Most emphasis was given to bilateral cooperation, including the financing of various development projects in the hydroelectric, telecom and construction sectors. Discussions were also held on projects currently being undertaken by the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC) under the Beijing Action Plan (2007 - 2009). Ethiopian officials made clear their appreciation that Ethiopia is to be one of the 14 African countries selected for the establishment of an agricultural demonstration center, as well as one of the 30 African countries where a referral hospital will be built and one of the seven states in which Chinese enterprises are constructing an economic and trade zone. During the visit a 70 million Birr grant was signed between Ethiopia and China further strengthening existing economic and technical cooperation.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress noted that cooperation between Ethiopia and China had been growing steadily in political, economic and social spheres. The launching of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC) in 2000 has contributed to enhance cooperation further. In spite of the current global financial crisis, the Standing Committee Chairman confirmed that the Chinese government would continue financing the development projects being undertaken in Ethiopia. The annual volume of trade has now reached over 860 million USD, and in the last couple of years, Chinese investors have put over 960 million USD into various investment sectors. Ethiopia would like to see still more Chinese take advantage of the favorable investment opportunities currently available. The head of the Chinese delegation also exchanged views on regional and international issues. On international issues, the two sides emphasized the need to enhance their cooperation further, in the spirit of South-South cooperation; and they exchanged ideas on recent developments in the sub-region, with particular reference to Somalia. Mr. Wu made it clear he appreciated Ethiopia's efforts to ensure peace and stability in Somalia and in the Sudan.

The ministers considered a draft Convention on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Africa, and recommended it for adoption by the Special Summit. When adopted, this international instrument, the first of its kind, will address existing gaps in the legal regime for protection and assistance of internally displaced persons. It will be a significant contribution to the prevention and alleviation of the plight and suffering of IDPs in Africa. The draft maintains a delicate balance between the rights and obligations of states and the need to ensure international protection to victims of forced displacement. The compromise that was agreed during the meeting will go a long way to ensure the ratification and effective implementation of the Convention. In this respect, the meeting agreed to maintain the definition of IDPs laid out in the UN Guiding Principles. This refers to persons forced to flee in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights, and natural or human-made disasters. There was considerable discussion on an initial proposal over displacement caused by lack of development or induced by development projects. The obligation to prevent displacement induced by development projects unjustified by compelling or overriding interests was removed from the definition but, as a compromise, was maintained under the obligations of state parties, with amendments.

The meeting also considered, and recommended for adoption by the summit, a Declaration to highlight the need for effective protection of the victims of forced displacement and in particular displaced women and children. It also underlines the need for re-building communities emerging from conflicts and for forging partnerships to address the whole issue of forced displacement. UNHCR and ICRC contributed to the deliberations by sharing their extensive experience and knowledge of the field. In conclusion, the meeting issued a communiqu�, expressing inter alia concern over the current humanitarian situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It called for the involved parties to work towards a rapid and durable solution in order to end the suffering of the people of the DRC.

Ambassador Teshome briefed the delegation on a range of issues including the role of Parliament in foreign policy; parliamentary rules of procedure; and the processes of drafting legislation. During discussions with the parliamentary whips, representatives of various political parties provided the delegation with their views on the progress of democracy in Ethiopia and on the mechanism by which the various parliamentary Standing Committees operate. The delegation made it clear it was impressed with the progress Ethiopia was making in building democratic institutions. The visit provided an excellent opportunity for improved understanding and for strengthening bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Denmark. In a recently published policy document, Denmark noted that it considers Ethiopia, together with South Africa and Nigeria, as important countries for consultation on regional peace and security issues in Africa. Following its stay in Ethiopia, the delegation traveled to South Africa.