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Tag: Hailemariam Desalegn

  • Institute gets endorsement, others

    Institute gets endorsement, others

    By Abike Sanusi

    An erstwhile Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has endorsed the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI) for its commitment to nurturing ethical, transformative leadership education change across the continent.

    During a visit to the institute,  Desalegn praised OOLI’s curriculum for blending ethical stewardship with practical, scenario-based training that addresses Africa’s most pressing challenges.

    He  landed the institute for its innovative programmes, cross-continental partnerships, and commitment to inclusive governance.

    Read Also: ‘Nigeria risks collapse without inclusive politics’

    “OOLI’s model for leadership development is a game-changer for Africa. By combining rigorous academic frameworks with real-world simulations and a pan-African network of partners, it elevates the standards of public service and corporate governance across the continent and on the global stage,” he said.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, founder and patron of the institute, welcomed the distinguished guest and reiterated OOLI’s commitment to nurturing a new generation of leaders.

     Deputy Chief Executive, Prof. Adedeji Daramola said:”We are proud to share our roadmap for the next decade—one that deepens our reach from West to Southern Africa, forges new alliances with UN agencies and global think tanks, and leverages technology to deliver immersive training in conflict resolution, sustainable development, and digital transformation.”

    OOLI  is Nigeria’s premier centre for executive education and leadership excellence.

  • Nigeria has complied with election Code of conduct, says AU

    Nigeria has complied with Code of conduct in the prosecution of the Presidential and the National Assembly elections, the African Union Election Observation Mission said on Saturday.

    The group said though the shift in date of voting afforded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) better preparation for the exercise, delayed arrival of voting materials in some of the visited polling units however remained a spruce of concern.

    The group said it has no intention of dictating to the country on its electoral process other than to provide information from what it observed.

    Speaking at the Government Secondary School, Area 10, Garki, Abuja polling station, the leader of the team, Hailemariam Desalegn, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia denied that the group was passive in observation activities of the Nigeria election this time.

    He said: “African Union Election Observation Mission follows the African Charter for Democracy and Good Governance. We also follow our Charter for Election Observation and Code of Conduct I think this is the basis of this exercise.

    ‘’Nigeria is part of the African Union and abides to these charters and Code of Conduct.

    “We are not behind. We are following the Election Observer Code of Conduct. Where you have not seen and observed a process properly, you don’t need to comment. We had earlier given our observations to the media

    “So far, I think we are asking the people of Nigeria as the largest democracy in Africa, to perform their civic responsibility by voting. What happens in Nigeria determines what will happen in the whole continental democratic process.

    “We have been given all the necessary information, but we cannot go into judgement before we see what is happening

    “This is our Code of conduct it is very strict and we follow it accordingly  Those who give their own opinions before getting the necessary information, it’s up to them”.

    On what the group’s findings during its visits to some of the polling units, Desalegn said though an atmosphere of peace was observed, late arrival of voting materials and official was an area that should be looked into, going forward.

    “Our observation mission has deployed in all the geographic regions of Nigeria and our observation so far is that this election being conducted generally in a peaceful and orderly manner .

    “There are some areas that need some attention especially on the delay in the time of commencement of voting. We observed that the exercise was delayed for over an hour before the process began.

    “Of course after the delays, it has started in these places.  We hope that at the end of the process, the voters will be happy that they gave been given the chance to elect candidates of theor choice.

    “Apart from that we have seen that it is going on very peacefully. This is one of the positive things we have seen.

    “You know we had been disappointed earlier when the election was postponed but I think that it was worth it with what we have seen so far.

    “I think that extra- preparation has helped the process to go on in a peaceful and orderly manner.

    “There is one polling station called Nyanya, there are some problems there because of the delay of voting materials.

    “The election did not start there until after some time  I think that this is one of the hiccups and we hope that INEC is going to solve this problem as expeditiously  as possible,” he added

  • Ethiopia’s state of emergency to last six months

    Ethiopia’s state of emergency to last six months

    The Ethiopian Minister of Defense, Siraj Fegessa, said on Saturday that a state of emergency imposed on the country after the prime minister resigned would last six months.

    “Ethiopia bans protests and publications that incite violence during emergency rule.

    “There are still pockets of areas where violence is prevalent. The (ruling EPRDF coalition‘s) council were unanimous in their decision,” Reuters quoted Fegessa as saying to journalists at a press briefing.

    Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced his surprise resignation in a televised speech on Thursday, saying he wanted to smooth the way for further reforms.

    Since January, Ethiopia has released over 6,000 prisoners charged with taking part in mass protests and, in some cases, offences against the state.

    It has also closed down a jail where activists alleged torture took place.

    Many of the prisoners took part in anti-government protests in 2015 and 2016 in Amhara and Oromiya, the country’s two most populous provinces.

    The demonstrations began against a government plan to expand the capital Addis Ababa but morphed into greater demands for civil rights.

    The government previously imposed a state of emergency in October 2016, which was lifted in August 2017.

     

  • Ethiopia declares state of emergency

    Ethiopia declares state of emergency

    Ethiopia on Friday announced state of emergency after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced his intention to step down amid unrest and political crisis.

    The state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation said “the ruling EPRDF coalition’s council met and decided to impose emergency rule in the Horn of Africa country.”

    The announcement did not say how long the rule would be in place.

    The prime minister’s resignation followed a wave of strikes and demonstrations demanding the release of more opposition leaders.

    Over 6,000 political prisoners have been freed since January as the government struggled to placate discontent.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Ethiopia declares state of emergency after PM quits

    Ethiopia declares state of emergency after PM quits

    Ethiopia announced a state of emergency on Friday after Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on stepped down on Thursday amid unrest and political crisis in the Horn of Africa country.

  • Ethiopia has no plans for martial law – official

    Ethiopia has no plans for martial law – official

    Ethiopia has no plans to impose martial law in the wake of the resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, an official said on Friday.

    Negeri Lencho, Minister of Ethiopia Government Communication Affairs Office, said a speculation about martial law was groundless and unfounded.

    “Martial law won’t be a solution to people’s economic and democratic demands, and those, who speculate that martial law will be imposed don’t understand the legal framework under which it will be issued,” he said.

    Ethiopia had declared martial law in October 2016 in the wake of widespread protests in parts of the two most populous regional states of Amhara and Oromia.

    Read Also: Ethiopia ’s Prime Minister resigns

    The martial law was lifted in August 2017, after the easing of protests.

    The unrest in 2016 led to the deaths of hundreds and was dubbed by analysts as the gravest challenge the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, faced in 25 years.

    However, sporadic deadly protests especially in Amhara and Oromia regional states in recent months have renewed fears about Ethiopia’s stability, East Africa’s largest economy.

    Protesters accuse the central government based in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa of marginalising their political and economic demands.

    NAN

     

  • Ethiopia’s Prime Minister resigns

    Ethiopia’s Prime Minister resigns

    Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said on Thursday he had submitted his resignation as both premier and the chairman of the ruling coalition in an effort to facilitate reforms following a period of mass unrest.

    Hundreds of people have died in violence sparked initially by an urban development plan for the capital Addis Ababa.

    The unrest spread in 2015 and 2016 as demonstrations against political restrictions and human rights abuses broke out.

    “Unrest and a political crisis have led to the loss of lives and displacement of many,” Hailemariam said in a televised address to the nation.

    Read Also: Ethiopia‘s Academy graduates 14 aircraft maintenance technicians

    “… I see my resignation as vital in the bid to carry out reforms that would lead to sustainable peace and democracy,” he said.

    Hailemariam said he would stay on as prime minister in a caretaker capacity until the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and the country’s parliament accepted his resignation and named a new premier.

    NAN

  • Ethiopia to free all political prisoners

    Ethiopia to free all political prisoners

    The Ethiopian Government, on Wednesday, ordered the release of all its political prisoners and the closure of its notorious Maekelawi prison camp.

    The prison camp used to be home for several dozen high-profile figures in the East African country.

    The country’s Prime Minster, Hailemariam Desalegn, issued the order, as part of what he said was an effort “to create a national consensus and widen the democratic space for all”.

    The move comes in the wake of widespread anti-government protests that engulfed much of the restive Oromia and Amhara regions and spread to other towns and cities in the region recently.

    Read also: Ethiopian Airlines wins AFRAA Airline of the Year award

    For this development, local and foreign business, universities and transport networks came to a standstill in many parts of the country.

    “This happened due to the violent protests, which witnessed one of the nation’s most serious ethnic clashes between the Oromo and the Ethiopian Somali ethnic groups.

    “Political prisoners, who are facing prosecutions and are already under arrest will be released.

    “Also, the notorious prison cell that was traditionally called Maekelawi, will be closed down and turned into a museum,” the prime minister added.

    Present on the occasion of the PM address, were members of the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front.

    NAN

  • Kerry to visit, Ethiopia, Congo DR, Angola

    Kerry to visit, Ethiopia, Congo DR, Angola

    The United States Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, will co-convene the Fourth Session of the U.S-African Union High-Level Dialogue during his one week visit to Africa from April 29 to May 5.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the US State Department and made available to journalists in Addis Ababa on Saturday by the American Embassy in Ethiopia.

    The statement said Kerry would visit Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.

    According to the statement, the envoy’s visit to these countries was aimed at encouraging democratic development; promote respect for human rights, advance peace and security.

    It said the dialogue scheduled to hold in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, would discuss a range of issues on the partnership with the AU.

    It added that during the visit to Addis Ababa, Kerry would engage in dialogue with civil society organisations and young African leaders, who would shape the continent’s future.

    “While in Addis Ababa, Kerry will meet with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom to discuss efforts to advance peace and democracy in the East Africa region.

    “He will also discuss on how to strengthen important areas of bilateral cooperation with Ethiopia,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the statement as saying on Saturday.

    The statement said Kerry would meet with President Joseph Kabila to deliberate on how his government was making progress in neutralising some of the dozens of dangerous armed groups victimising the Congolese people.

    “The objective of the meeting is to evolve measures on how to advance the DRC democratisation and long-term stability, including a timely and transparent electoral process, the statement said.