MFA State Minister says FOCAC framework instrumental to promote Africa’s dev’t agenda

Addis Ababa, November 30, 2021 (FBC) – State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Redwan Hussien said the FOCAC framework is a vital instrument to promote Africa’s development agenda and a key platform for collective dialogue and cooperation between Africa and China.

He said this on Tuesday while addressing the 8th Ministerial Conference of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Dakar, Senegal.

According to Ambassador Redwan, the needs based projects implemented under FOCAC in infrastructure, energy, and communication sectors helped Africa achieve economic growth and change the livelihoods of its people.

Expressing gratitude to partners, including China for donating vaccines through COVAX, he said, a lot remains reiterating the aphorism that unless Africa is safe, the world cannot claim to be safe.

In his speech, Ambassador Redwan also covered the causes of the current conflict in Ethiopia and affirmed the government’s commitment to give a peaceful conclusion to the matter.

Despite the government’s tremendous efforts to avoid the unfortunate conflict through dialogue in the first place, the response from the TPLF was a slap on our face, he said.

He said the government had to respond forcefully to the unjustified attack on the barracks of Ethiopian soldiers that had posed an imminent danger to the sovereignty and survival of the country.

The ambassador also talked about the joint UN-EHRC investigation over alleged atrocities in Tigray that disproved the claims of the TPLF and its allies that incriminated the government for committing genocide and using hunger as an instrument of war.

He also appreciated the peace efforts of Olusegun Obasanjo, expressing his expectation that the international community would be fair, balanced, and constructive in approaching the issue.

The new administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has initiated an inclusive national dialogue that needs the support of friends, and partners, he said, adding that this government-led peace initiative could be augmented by the efforts of the African Union.

Ethiopia expects constructive engagement and partnership in this regard, he said, underlining that Intimidations, sanctions, and any other arm-twisting attempts would not give a peaceful resolution to the problem.

He concluded his speech reiterating Ethiopia’s commitment to redouble its efforts to make cooperation and consultation between Africa and China rigorous and accelerate the return to full post-Covid recovery.