Akobo Minerals CEO Jørgen Evjen dismisses Norway MFA’s warning against working in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, December 17, 2021 (FBC) – Chief Executive Officer of Akobo Minerals, the Norway-based gold exploration and mining company has dismissed the warning of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Norway against working in Ethiopia.

The Norwegian company digs gold in Ethiopia, and has a license for the extraction of gold and associated materials in the Segele mine.

One topic all investors were interested in is the company’s exposure to the conflict in Ethiopia, he said, adding that the Ethiopian government army is now on the offensive against TPLF. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed himself is leading a military offensive against the terrorist TPLF and has promised to “bury the enemy”, Evjen says.

“Ethiopia is normally a stable and safe country to conduct mining business in, at least compared to many other countries where mineral activities take place.  And that of the reports of the capital’s imminent fall are greatly exaggerated” he underlined.

“I think the disinformation was a coordinated media campaign without much substance,” said Evjen.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been crystal clear in its official communication. “Since 5 November, we have encouraged Norwegian citizens to leave Ethiopia. If you are planning to travel, you should do so immediately. It is still possible to leave Ethiopia on commercial flights. Use these opportunities! “, The ministry wrote on Twitter in November.

“I think a lot of this is media-created, yes. It is a free imagination that the capital Addis Ababa was threatened with attack, and the authorities are making every effort to keep the country’s main airport open. I was in Ethiopia myself when the warning came” Evjen said.

I did not notice anything about the conflict. Our employees in Addis have not noticed anything either, and work as normal. I hope we can go down again in January. The company has 43 employees, and the operational activities take place in Ethiopia, he said.