Nowadays Ethiopia’s ties with some Gulf countries are growing stronger in all aspects. Particularly, after Dr. Abiy Ahmed took office, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been showing keen interests in elevating the ongoing exemplary cooperation and friendship.
More recently, Abu Dhabi-based property developer has revealed plans for a large mixed-use downtown development here in Addis Ababa, featuring hospitality, retail, commercial and leisure elements, and more than 4,000 residences. Prior to this, UAE granted to Ethiopia 3 billion USD in aid and investments.
Ethiopia and KSA had also agreed to further consolidate their longstanding and historic cultural, people to people and political and economic relations during the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of KSA here. According to the latest available information, Saudi investors are on the way to launch vast housing scheme for Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia also recently announced that its plan to sell electric power to Gulf countries and signed agreement with Gulf Electricity Interconnection Authority and International Energy Linking Organization (GEIDCO) to commence feasibility study. By the same token, Ethiopia and KSA have currently agreed on minimum wage of Ethiopian domestic workers.
All the aforesaid accords and bilateral development cooperation are vividly showcasing the growing ties between Ethiopia and Gulf countries apart from the security ones. It is crystal clear that the recent geopolitics shift in the Red Sea necessities strong security and political cooperation than ever before .
This is because Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa which has strategic importance to the Gulf states in particular and the Europe in general. In one way or another the world superpowers’ economic, political and military interests in the region has made it necessary for Ethiopia to pursue foreign policy that goes along with current political and security situation in the region. Yes, Ethiopia together with other Horn countries has a big role in maintaining peace and security in the Red Sea basin.
That is why recently Prime Minister Dr.Abiy Ahmed told Ethiopian Ambassadors to foreign missions that from now and on, in a view to serving its and neighboring countries national interests in all areas of politics and economy, Ethiopia has to work hard in bringing about strong economic integration with Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti. It is true that Ethiopia’s position in the rifts of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is neutral as it has been enjoying excellent diplomatic and economic relations with KSA,UAE,Qatar and Kuwait. It as well has good diplomatic ties with Oman and Bahrain.
In general, Ethiopia needs to step up efforts in strengthening its cooperation and solidarity with Gulf countries in a bid to protect the regional peace and security as well as to make use properly the bundles of economic opportunities in the region. Moreover, the existing exemplary ties with Gulf countries has enabled many thousands of Ethiopian domestic workers to feel safe and to be released from prison in droves as the era of illegal migration to these countries has almost come to end due to the labour agreement.
Those newly appointed ambassadors to Gulf countries need to be remained that apart from playing peerless in flourishing ties with these sisterly countries, they are expected to exert utmost efforts in safeguarding fellow citizens’ pay and work rights.
Herald January 22/2019
