by Jama Abdillahi | Jul 11, 2020 | Okategoriserade
Is US Done with Nile Water Talks? Source: Bloomberg published on 10 July 2020 Bloomberg published on 10 July 2020 an article titled “Another Trump Foreign Policy Foray Goes Awry” by Antony Sguazzin. The author concludes that the Trump administration’s unsuccessful effort to mediate the issues involving Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan concerning Blue Nile water flows during construction and after completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has come an...
by Jama Abdillahi | Jul 11, 2020 | Okategoriserade
Why would Taiwan need a base in Somaliland? United World International Source: Saturday July 11, 2020 Taiwan and Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, will establish diplomatic missions in each other’s “capitals”. This was recently reported by the news agency Reuters, citing a statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan Joseph Wu. According to the agency’s journalists, the cooperation agreement between Taiwan and Somaliland, located in the strategically important region of the Horn of Africa, was signed back in February, but it was not made public. On June 1, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu announced that the governments of Taiwan and Somaliland “have agreed that the establishment of representative offices will best serve the interests of one another”. The President of Somaliland Muse Bihi has appointed Mohamed Hagi to head his Taiwanese office. In turn, Taiwan has appointed Taiwan capital Lou Chen-Hwa as its representative in Hargeisa, the capital of the unrecognized African state. We warmly welcome President @musebiihi‘s appointment of Amb. Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud as the #Somaliland representative to #Taiwan. A political scientist & senior diplomat, @mohamed_hagi will make a fine addition to the country’s diplomatic corps. pic.twitter.com/tEaLN2DX8v — 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) July 4, 2020 Moreover, Joseph Wu stopped a step away from finally recognizing Somaliland as a sovereign and independent state.“They have been recognized by many countries as a very free, democratic country in Africa,” he said. “So, in essence, Somaliland is an independent country.” However, the official account of Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Somaliland an “ independent country”. We’ve signed an agreement with #Somaliland to establish good relations. A #Taiwan Representative Office will be set up in...
by Jama Abdillahi | Jul 10, 2020 | Okategoriserade
Nile Dam row: Egypt and Ethiopia generate heat but no power Source: BBC, Friday July 10, 2020 By Damian Zane The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam under construction in 2017 (courtesy of Salini Impregilo). The polite diplomatic façade was maintained but the words of the Egyptian and Ethiopian representatives revealed a belligerence that was hard to disguise. The recent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss Ethiopia’s huge hydro-electric plant, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), straddling the Blue Nile, was held by teleconference. The social distance that the participants observed underscored the diplomatic gulf. It is a gulf that threatens to sweep up the populations of the two countries into a nationalist fervour and mutual distrust. The Gerd, which sits on the Nile’s main tributary, is upstream of Egypt and has the potential to control the flow of water that the country almost entirely relies on. “A threat of potentially existential proportions has emerged that could encroach on the single source of livelihood of over 100 million Egyptians” Sameh Shoukry – Egyptian Foreign Minister It also will be, when fully operational, the largest hydro-electric plant in Africa, and projected to provide power to 65 million Ethiopians, who currently lack a regular electricity supply.The construction, which began in 2011, is almost complete. For the Egyptian and Ethiopian representatives at the UN meeting, the very existence of their countries was at stake. “A threat of potentially existential proportions has emerged that could encroach on the single source of livelihood of over 100 million Egyptians,” the country’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said. Using similar language, Ethiopia’s UN ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie countered:...
by Jama Abdillahi | Jul 10, 2020 | Okategoriserade
US hails Taiwan-Somaliland deal opening fresh battle with China Source: Hiiraan Online, Friday July 10, 2020 NAIROBI (HOL) – The US has lauded the new diplomatic relations between Somaliland and Taiwan in what could escalate tensions with China which has vehemently condemned the deal. Responding to an article by the Associated Press on the Taiwan-Somaliland deal, the National Security Council sounded up beat about the development which saw President Mohamed Farmaajo host the Chinese ambassador to assure him of his country’s support. “Great to see Taiwan stepping up its engagement in East Africa in a time of such tremendous need. Taiwan is a great partner in health, education, technical assistance, and more!,” the UNSC tweeted. China and US have in recent months had rocky relations the latest being China’s passage and implementation of a security law to tame dissenting voices of Hong Kong.SOMALILAND-TAIWAN PACT Somaliland and Taiwan have since appointed representative to each other’s territories following the announcement July 1 of a pact to establish diplomatic relations. Chinese ambassador to Somalia Qin Jian rubbished the deal noting Taiwan was part of China. “We will never allow anyone, any organization or any political party to separate any piece of territory from China at any time or in any form. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China,” the ambassador tweeted. President Farmaajo followed it up with a meeting with Jian and asserted Mogadishu’s position on Beijing. “President Farmaajo reiterated that Somalia respects “One-China Policy” whilst, on the other hand, denounced Taiwan’s violation of the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Somalia,” a statement from Villa Somalia read in part. The US is the...
by Jama Abdillahi | Jul 8, 2020 | Okategoriserade
Egypt and Ethiopia: The Course of the Nile Source: The Wilson Center published on 7 July 2020 The Wilson Center published on 7 July 2020 an analysis titled “Egypt and Ethiopia: The Curse of the Nile” by Marina Ottaway. The author suggests the best short-term scenario is a stop-gap agreement that will allow Ethiopia to start filling the reservoir behind the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on a compromise timetable acceptable to Egypt, which would walk back its military threats. Egypt could also take steps to improve the efficiency of water management for agriculture and domestic consumption. 0 comments Labels: agriculture, Blue Nile, drought, Egypt, Ethiopia, GERD, history, hydropower, irrigation, mediation, Nile River, South Sudan, Sudan, US, water...
by Jama Abdillahi | Jul 8, 2020 | Okategoriserade
Russia’s Role in the Horn of Africa Source: The Foreign Policy Research Institute published in July 2020 The Foreign Policy Research Institute published in July 2020 a study titled “‘Engaged Opportunism’: Russia’s Role in the Horn of Africa” by Samuel Ramani, DPhil candidate at the University of Oxford. Russia is principally focused on establishing itself as the region’s leading arms provider but is also seeking a Red Sea base. It is increasingly at odds with France and the United States. Russia’s involvement in the region has been inconsistent, but Moscow can be best described as an “engaged opportunist” in regional affairs. 0 comments Labels: Abiy Ahmed, arms sales, China, debt, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Horn of Africa, Red Sea, Russia, Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan, terrorism, US, Vladimir...
