Geza Ulole
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 31, 2009
- 65,136
- 91,917
Merkel inaugurates Nyerere Peace and Security Building in Ethiopia
www.ippmedia.com/en/news/merkel-inaugurates-nyerere-peace-and-security-building-ethiopia-0
The building in honour of Tanzania’s founding president was constructed by the German government at a cost of 27 million Euros.The inauguration ceremony was graced by Merkeland African Union Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
The new Nyerere building hosts the AU Peace and Security Department, and provides a base for the operation of the continental early warning system and the coordination of peacekeeping missions.
“This landmark project depicts the close cooperation that exists between the AU and Germany and goes a long way in enhancing the AU’s capacity to meet the challenges of peace and security on the continent,” the AU said in a statement.
Spread across 13,500 square metres of floor space, the building includes offices for up to 360 employees. It also includes a plenary hall for the meetings of the Peace and Security Council, a Situation Room and an Operations Room, as well as a library, meeting facilities and space for auxiliary functions.
Furthermore, the building also houses the Continental Early Warning System. The building meets international design standards for environmental sustainability, incorporating climate-friendly and energy-efficient technologies.
Merkel told Ethiopia yesterday to open up its politics and ensure police do not use heavy-handed tactics against protesters, after more than a year of unrest that rights groups say has led to about 500 deaths.
Merkel, who spoke at a news conference with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, arrived in Ethiopia after a fresh flare-up near the capital of the clashes that have cast a shadow over a nation with one of Africa's fastest-growing economies.
The violence prompted the government to declare a nationwide state of emergency on Sunday. It says the death toll cited by rights groups is exaggerated and blames the wave of violence on "armed gangs" backed by foreigners.
Western states, which are among the biggest donors to what is still a poor nation, want their companies to win deals in Ethiopia but have become increasingly concerned by the government's authoritarian approach to development.
"I made the case that you should have open talks with people who have problems," Merkel told Hailemariam, adding that police should respond proportionately to protests.
Last week, protesters ransacked or torched about a dozen mostly foreign-owned factories, flower farms and other sites, accusing the government of building on seized land and stifling opposition.
Opponents blamed police for provoking a stampede at a festival in Oromiya that killed at least 55 people on Oct. 2.
"In a democracy there always needs to be an opposition that has a voice - in the best case in parliament," Merkel added.
Opposition parties failed to win a single seat in parliament in the 2015 election, accusing the government of rigging the vote - charges which it denies. There was just one opposition lawmaker in the previous assembly.
"The government is not using extreme violence. If it happened, we will investigate the units involved," the prime minister responded.
Addressing parliament the day before Merkel arrived, Ethiopia's president called for an amendment to the election law to allow "alternative voices" to be heard - an offer that senior opposition figure Merera Gudina said was "too little, too late".
Merera, chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress, from a region where protests have raged, said Merkel should push for the release of political prisoners and a national dialogue.
The government denies it detains people for their politics.
In another show of German discontent, a diplomat said Addis Ababa had proposed that Merkel address parliament, but Berlin refused because it lacked any opposition members.
The diplomat, who asked not to be named, said the message being sent was that there was "no business as usual".
The international community has praised Ethiopia for its economic achievements and development strategy. Under this, healthcare and other types of social support have spread across a country where most people rely on subsistence farming that has been hit by severe drought in the past two years or more.
www.ippmedia.com/en/news/merkel-inaugurates-nyerere-peace-and-security-building-ethiopia-0The building in honour of Tanzania’s founding president was constructed by the German government at a cost of 27 million Euros.The inauguration ceremony was graced by Merkeland African Union Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
The new Nyerere building hosts the AU Peace and Security Department, and provides a base for the operation of the continental early warning system and the coordination of peacekeeping missions.
“This landmark project depicts the close cooperation that exists between the AU and Germany and goes a long way in enhancing the AU’s capacity to meet the challenges of peace and security on the continent,” the AU said in a statement.
Spread across 13,500 square metres of floor space, the building includes offices for up to 360 employees. It also includes a plenary hall for the meetings of the Peace and Security Council, a Situation Room and an Operations Room, as well as a library, meeting facilities and space for auxiliary functions.
Furthermore, the building also houses the Continental Early Warning System. The building meets international design standards for environmental sustainability, incorporating climate-friendly and energy-efficient technologies.
Merkel told Ethiopia yesterday to open up its politics and ensure police do not use heavy-handed tactics against protesters, after more than a year of unrest that rights groups say has led to about 500 deaths.
Merkel, who spoke at a news conference with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, arrived in Ethiopia after a fresh flare-up near the capital of the clashes that have cast a shadow over a nation with one of Africa's fastest-growing economies.
The violence prompted the government to declare a nationwide state of emergency on Sunday. It says the death toll cited by rights groups is exaggerated and blames the wave of violence on "armed gangs" backed by foreigners.
Western states, which are among the biggest donors to what is still a poor nation, want their companies to win deals in Ethiopia but have become increasingly concerned by the government's authoritarian approach to development.
"I made the case that you should have open talks with people who have problems," Merkel told Hailemariam, adding that police should respond proportionately to protests.
Last week, protesters ransacked or torched about a dozen mostly foreign-owned factories, flower farms and other sites, accusing the government of building on seized land and stifling opposition.
Opponents blamed police for provoking a stampede at a festival in Oromiya that killed at least 55 people on Oct. 2.
"In a democracy there always needs to be an opposition that has a voice - in the best case in parliament," Merkel added.
Opposition parties failed to win a single seat in parliament in the 2015 election, accusing the government of rigging the vote - charges which it denies. There was just one opposition lawmaker in the previous assembly.
"The government is not using extreme violence. If it happened, we will investigate the units involved," the prime minister responded.
Addressing parliament the day before Merkel arrived, Ethiopia's president called for an amendment to the election law to allow "alternative voices" to be heard - an offer that senior opposition figure Merera Gudina said was "too little, too late".
Merera, chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress, from a region where protests have raged, said Merkel should push for the release of political prisoners and a national dialogue.
The government denies it detains people for their politics.
In another show of German discontent, a diplomat said Addis Ababa had proposed that Merkel address parliament, but Berlin refused because it lacked any opposition members.
The diplomat, who asked not to be named, said the message being sent was that there was "no business as usual".
The international community has praised Ethiopia for its economic achievements and development strategy. Under this, healthcare and other types of social support have spread across a country where most people rely on subsistence farming that has been hit by severe drought in the past two years or more.
