Ethopia

WNAM REPORT: A high-level delegation of government officials and climate experts from Ethiopia arrived in Karachi on Friday to launch the “Plant Fraternity” initiative in various cities of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
​Upon their arrival at Jinnah International Airport, the delegation was warmly welcomed by H.E. Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) to Pakistan, and H.E. Ibrahim Khalid Tawab, the Honorary Consul in Karachi, alongside officials from the Ethiopian Airlines and Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
​The delegation is scheduled to visit Islamabad and Lahore for a series of “Ethio-Pakistan Green Dialogues” and mass plantation drive.
Coordinated by the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad, the visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties through environmental cooperation under Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s Green Legacy Initiative.
​Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker underscored the significance of the visit, calling it a clear manifestation of the growing bilateral relations between the two countries.
The arrival of this delegation sends a powerful message to the world that Pakistan is not alone in its fight against climate change, the Ambassador remarked.
He reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPORT ): ​In a remarkable show of international cooperation, Pakistan has joined Ethiopia in planting 700 million seedlings in one day under the “Renewal Through Planting” campaign which has been launched this year under the Green Legacy Initiative of Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
A joint plantation drive and media briefing to this end were held at the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad to mark Pakistan’s participation which saw diverse attendance, including diplomatic corps, government officials, parliamentarians, business leaders, religious figures, youth, media, and civil society representatives.
H.E. ​Dr. Musadik Malik, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, graced the event as the chief guest, while H.E. Hamid Asghar Khan, Additional Secretary (Africa) from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attending as the guest of honor.
​Addressing the gathering, H.E. Dr. Jemal Beker, Ambassador of Ethiopia to Pakistan, highlighted the Green Legacy Initiative, launched in 2019, as a vital effort by Ethiopia to restore ecological balance, reduce carbon emissions and soil erosion, and promote food security and sustainable development in the country.
He emphasized that Pakistan’s participation in the “Renewal Through Planting” campaign underscores its commitment to strengthening ties with Ethiopia and sends a powerful message that Pakistan is not alone in its fight against climate change.
​The Ambassador also announced that a high-level delegation of Ethiopian officials and climate experts would visit Pakistan soon to show solidarity and participate in “Green Dialogues” and plantation campaigns across the country.
​The Federal Minister commended the Ambassador for his exceptional efforts in promoting green behaviors and values throughout Pakistan.
He lauded Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s visionary leadership and his exemplary role in advancing the international climate agenda.
The Minister acknowledged Ethiopia’s initiatives, such as the Green Legacy and Yelemat Tirufat (Bounty of Basket), as inspiring examples of resilience and stressed the importance of learning from such successful endeavors.

ISLAMABAD (WNAM REPORT): The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have initiated cooperation on food security by holding the first-ever joint Green Legacy Forum to exchange knowledge and best practices in the crucial sector.
H.E. Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula, Special Envoy and Ambassador of Ethiopia to Pakistan, presided over the Green Legacy Forum which was jointly organized by the Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research at the National Agriculture Research Center.
H.E. Amir Mohyuddin, Federal Secretary for National Food Security and Research, was the chief guest of the Forum in which a large number of agriculture experts, researchers, and students took part to learn about Ethiopia’s successful policies, tools, and outcomes in building a robust food system through green economic development.
Highlighting the similarities between Ethiopia and Pakistan, Ambassador Dr. Jemal said both the countries are agro-economies and highly prone to climate change and its various manifestations.
He explained the participants as to how Ethiopia transformed into a food-self-sufficient nation under the leadership of Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, citing the Green Legacy and Yelemat Tirufat (Bounty of Basket) initiatives.
In the past six years, he said Ethiopia has planted over 40.5 billion seedlings of fruits, vegetables, animal fodder, and coffee, increasing forest cover from 17% to 23%. On the other hand, agricultural and livestock productivity in Ethiopia saw a substantial increase under the Bounty of Basket initiative.
The Ambassador expressed Ethiopia’s keenness to further cooperate with Pakistan to bolster both nations’ food security.
The Federal Secretary proposed twining of the Green Legacy and Green Pakistan initiatives to facilitate knowledge sharing and best practices in food security, promoting joint research programs.
He lauded Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Green Legacy Initiative as a symbol of prosperity and green economic development in Africa.
The Federal Secretary expressed strong interest in replicating Ethiopia’s Green Legacy in Pakistan, particularly due to its core features that include mass mobilization for afforestation and reforestation, participatory forest management, area enclosures, and sustainable land and water management programs to prevent soil erosion and ensure water conservation.
H.E. Dr. Muhammad Azam Khan, Director General of NARC, underscored the importance of joint international efforts to address climate change and its severe consequences, including floods, food insecurity, famine, hunger, and poverty.
Following the forum, the Ambassador along with the Federal Secretary inaugurated the Green Legacy Park at NARC, where they planted fruit tree seedlings to symbolize the growing fraternity between Ethiopia and Pakistan.

WNAM REPORT: H.E. Dr. Jemal Beker, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, held a productive meeting with H.E. Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for Commerce, here on Friday at the Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan.
Both sides reviewed the arrangements for the Single Country Exhibition of Pakistan, scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from May 15th to May 17th, 2025.
H.E. Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Industry, was also present during the meeting which was attended by the Senior Officials from the Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad and the Ministry of Commerce.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over the joint mobilization campaign undertaken by the Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) for encouraging the business community to take part in the Single Country Exhibition in Addis Ababa which coincides with a High-Level Business Forum “Invest In Ethiopia”, scheduled for May 12th to 13th, 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Ambassador briefed the Minister about his engagement with major business chambers in Pakistan for sensitizing the business community about great potential of participating in the Single Country Exhibition in collaboration with the Commerce Ministry and TDAP.
The Ambassador said the Government of Ethiopia and business community are all set to host the Pakistani delegation, highlighting the opportunities the Single Country Exhibition presents for forging lasting trade and commerce relations between the two brotherly nations.
He said the Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad has brought the Ethiopian Airlines to Pakistan, which has become a perfect instrument for successful implementation of the “Look Africa and Engage Africa” policy of Pakistan, giving a major boost to delegations’ exchange in areas of trade, science and technology, health and education.
Minister Jam Kamal Khan appreciated the Ambassador for his key role in mobilizing the business community of Pakistan for the Single Country Exhibition in Addis Ababa.
He highlighted the importance of the exhibition as a key component of Pakistan’s “Look Africa and Engage Africa” policy initiative, providing a vital platform for Pakistani businesses to explore the vast potential of the Ethiopian and broader African markets.
The Minister said the Single Country Exhibition would significantly strengthen the trade relations of Pakistan with Africa as well as Ethiopia, opening new avenues for cooperation across various sectors.
He also agreed on the importance of collaborative efforts to maximize the exhibition’s impact.

ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPORT ): The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have agreed to enhance cooperation on the multilateral stage to advance mutual interests, peace, and development.
To this end, a productive meeting was held between H.E. Dr. Jemal Beker, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary of the FDR Ethiopia, and H.E. Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) of Pakistan on Foreign Affairs, here at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad.
The two sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, including multilateral cooperation between the two countries to achieve the common goals of peace, prosperity, and sustainable development for the two brotherly nations.
They also expressed their resolve to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of trade, investment, aviation, technology, and climate change.
Ambassador Dr. Jemal, on the occasion, congratulated the SAPM on Pakistan’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2025.
He briefed the SAPM on political, economic, social and legal reforms driven by the “Medemer” philosophy of H.E. PM Dr. Abiy Ahmed, which emphasizes inter-generational collaboration, national unity, and leveraging collective potential.
The Ambassador said the establishment of the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad itself is a manifestation of the Medemer philosophy, which designed to foster synergistic partnerships and collaborative diplomacy.
He reiterated the FDR Ethiopia’s commitment to multilateralism, international peace and security, regional integration, and pan-Africanism.
On the other hand, the SAPM acknowledged the role being played by the FDR Ethiopia in ensuring peace and security at regional and international levels, and also lauded its remarkable economic growth under the leadership of H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the FDR Ethiopia.
He assured the Ambassador of his full support for further enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries.
On the occasion, the Ambassador also presented the SAPM a copy of the Book ‘Generation Medemer’ authored by H.E. PM Dr. Abiy Ahmed.

ADDIS ABABA: Nearly 13 million people are in dire need of agricultural assistance in Ethiopia, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN.

In a report released on Friday, the FAO warned of complex humanitarian challenges driven by climate shocks, economic instability, armed conflict and threats to the food chain.

These challenges are exacerbated by limited access to essential food commodities, even in areas where production is adequate.

The report identified several severely affected areas in Ethiopia, including Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Oromia and Southern Ethiopia, highlighting the impact of conflict in the north and the vulnerability of southern and southeastern pastoral areas to drought.

FAO stresses the need for timely support to improve access to agricultural inputs for households in these regions, which are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events, conflict, and other shocks deteriorating the food security situation.

The organization’s humanitarian response plan for 2024 seeks $175 million in funding to support 5.46 million people across the country. Planned assistance includes enhancing crop production and productivity, safeguarding livestock assets, and rehabilitating animal health facilities.

Over 80% of Ethiopians live in rural areas, relying on agriculture for their sustenance and income, according to the report.

ADDIS ABABA: Leaders at an African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Saturday condemned Israel’s offensive in Gaza and called for its immediate end.
Moussa Faki, the chair of the African Union Commission, said Israel’s offensive was the “most flagrant” violation of international humanitarian law and accused Israel of having “exterminated” Gaza’s inhabitants.
Faki spoke alongside Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, who also addressed the summit.
“Rest assured we strongly condemn these attacks that are unprecedented in the history of mankind,” Faki said to applause from delegates. “We want to reassure you of our solidarity with the people of Palestine.”
Azali Assoumani, president of the Comoros and the outgoing chairperson of the African Union, praised the case brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice while condemning “the genocide Israel is committing in Palestine under our nose.”
“The international community cannot close its eyes to the atrocities that are committed, that have not only created chaos in Palestine but also have disastrous consequences in the rest of the world,” Assoumani said.
A quarter of Gaza’s residents are starving because of the war, which began with Hamas’ assault into Israel on Oct. 7, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250.
Israel strongly denies committing genocide in Gaza and says it does all it can to spare civilians and is only targeting Hamas militants. It says Hamas’ tactic of embedding in civilian areas makes it difficult to avoid civilian casualties.
During last year’s AU summit, an Israeli delegate was unceremoniously removed from the plenary hall amid a row over the country’s observer status at the continental body.
Concern over conflicts and the resurgence of coups across the African continent also underscored the opening of this year’s summit. Faki cited tensions over Senegal’s postponed election and violence in eastern Congo, Sudan, the Sahel, and Libya. He called for a revival of “the spirit of African solidarity and Pan-Africanism” to overcome the many challenges facing the continent of 1.3 billion people.

KAMPALA: Nearly 400 people have died of starvation in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Amhara regions in recent months, the national ombudsman said Tuesday, a rare admission of hunger-related deaths by a federal body.
Local officials have previously reported starvation deaths in their districts, but Ethiopia’s federal government has insisted these reports are “completely wrong”.
Ethiopia’s ombudsman office sent experts to the regions, which are gripped by drought and still reeling from a devastating civil war that officially ended 14 months ago. They concluded that 351 people have died of hunger in Tigray in the past six months, with 44 more deaths in Amhara.
Only a small fraction of needy people in Tigray are receiving food aid, according to an aid memo seen by The Associated Press, more than one month after aid agencies resumed deliveries of grain following a lengthy pause over theft.
Just 14 percent of 3.2 million people targeted for food aid by humanitarian agencies in Tigray this month had received it by Jan. 21, according to the memo by the Tigray Food Cluster, a group of aid agencies co-chaired by the UN’s World Food Program and Ethiopian officials.
The memo urges humanitarian groups to “immediately scale up” their operations, warning that “failure to take swift action now will result in severe food insecurity and malnutrition during the lean season, with possible loss of the most vulnerable children and women in the region.”
The UN and the US paused food aid to Tigray in mid-March last year after discovering a “large-scale” scheme to steal humanitarian grain. The suspension was rolled out to the rest of Ethiopia in June. US officials believe the theft may be the biggest diversion of grain ever. Donors have blamed Ethiopian government officials and the military for the fraud.