New Year Message of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen

It is with immense pleasure when I extend to you this Ethiopian New Year message on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Aff

airs of Ethiopia and that of myself. As a manifestation of change in the spirit of Ethiopians, the New Year also comes around with sunshine and the colourful landscape of our beloved Ethiopia. I wish you all a New Year where you will be uplifted by new spirits and adorned with the ideals of fraternity and unity.

This past year, we have handled issues related to the construction, operation, and filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in a way that reflected our unity and determination to protect the sovereignty of the country. We have never lagged in contributing our level best, both in terms of financial donations and in technical support, in order to build the dam. In this regard, I am also delighted by the critical roles played by Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian descent that are living abroad. I urge you all to continue supporting this flagship project and to help us register even more spectacular results in the years ahead.

In this connection, we should also applaud our diplomats and experts from various walks of life for contributing their fair share in all matters related to the GERD. Following a series of discussions and negotiations with the African Union (AU), we managed to maintain the spirit of “African Solutions to African Problems.” We appreciate those who make the AU-led process and the DoP decide the course of the trilateral negotiation over the GERD. The second filling of the dam was also a milestone in fulfilling our quest to stimulate economic growth and lift many Ethiopians out of poverty. However, we should not spend too much time focusing on our success and lose sight of the final objective. A lot remains to be done and with a united front, we will achieve our dreams of a prosperous Ethiopia.

Dear Ethiopians,

This past year was a year that Ethiopians showed their resilience and unshakable spirit in the midst of internal and external challenges. Ethiopians will remember the night of November 4, 2020, as one of the darkest moments in Ethiopian history that shocked the nation to its core. We have lost many of our brave soldiers of the Northern Command of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces by the hands of the short-sighted and murderous TPLF clique. None of our soldiers deserved that horrible death. Nevertheless, we should show our ultimate respect to their sacrifice by standing resolute and combating the challenges posed by the country’s worst enemy. Creating a united front against our adversaries is the ultimate honour we can give to our soldiers.  

The challenges posed by the TPLF are not over. We have yet to make sure that our people in the Amhara, Afar, and Tigray regions are free from the grip of the terrorist group. We need to make sure that the IDPs are back home and affected people return to their normal lives. 

I am deeply affected and saddened by the recent aggression and inhumane killings of innocent civilians, including the elderly, women and children in the Amhara and Afar Regions. I call on all peace-loving human beings to join me in condemning in the strongest terms to stop these senseless killings once and for all. It is inevitable that our wounds will heal with time and we will compel the forces of darkness to choose either peace or face their inevitable fate.  

Aside from making us vulnerable to external pressure from opportunists, our enemies have also launched attacks on the economic front. However, we will not allow them to impoverish us by hording items and transacting hard-earned foreign exchange through illegal financial institutions. It is time to say no! I urge Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian descent living abroad to support Ethiopia using legitimate financial institutions when sending money to their loved ones in Ethiopia. In this connection, I would like to express my profound gratitude to the Ethiopian Diaspora and all friends of Ethiopia who stood by our side for the truth, integrity and sovereignty of Ethiopia. 

Dear Ethiopians,

Although we witnessed the plight of many Ethiopian migrants in the Middle East, we never stopped providing the necessary assistance to some of them and repatriating many others. The pandemic coupled with the sheer number of the migrants stretched our capacity to reach out to all of our citizens who need help. However, I would like to affirm that our Ministry will continue to collaborate with national and international stakeholders to alleviate the problems of our citizens and reach lasting solutions.

Dear Ethiopians, 

Many had doubted our capacity to hold a credible and peaceful election. Nevertheless, given the commitment of Ethiopians for peace, the 6th General Elections proved to be the most transparent election that helped Ethiopians exercise their free will. The results of the elections are expressions of confidence in and expectations of Ethiopians from the new government to be established in late September of the Ethiopian New Year. Ethiopians have chosen peace, prosperity, and unity, so we have to deliver that. To this end, we will provide the ground for an all-inclusive political dialogue and accelerate the multifaceted reforms we have been carrying out for the last three years. 

At this juncture, I call upon every one of us to stand firm and join hands with the view to ensuring our solidarity through combined efforts in a bid to realize a self-reliant and prosperous nation.  

As one of the principal institutions of our country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia is expected to benefit from the ongoing reform process, currently underway. It is my hope that our institutional reform will arm Ethiopians with a strong and effective diplomatic institution that befits the country’s rich diplomatic history. In this connection, I also call upon all Ethiopians and those of Ethiopian origin, to rally around and defend the country as envoys of the motherland. It is also my hope that the reform will help us protect and promote the interests of our beloved country, at both the bilateral and multilateral spheres.  

May the New Ethiopian Year bring you blessings of good health, happiness, and prosperity!