Author: eradmin

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen said Ethiopia is working together with Eritrea based on the common interests of the two countries.

The Deputy Prime Minister made the remark to the House of Peoples’ Representative today presenting Foreign Affairs Ministry’s nine month performance report.

The Deputy PM indicated in his report that Ethiopia has good relations with neighboring countries.

In this regard, Demeke said Ethiopia and Eritrea are working together based on the common interests of the two countries.

“We are cooperating with Eritrea on the basis of mutual benefits,” Demeke stated noting that various activities are underway to transform the existing relationship between the two countries to a strong economic partnership.

“We are working with the highest priority to put in place a cooperation frameworks to enhancing infrastructure development that would expedite border trade and the movement of people between the two countries as well as the utilization of ports, trade transactions, customs services among others with a view to ensuring the benefits of the people in the two countries,” Demeke elaborated.

He also said that the joint voice of the Diaspora of the two countries has been playing a positive role in this regard.

He further underlined the need exert efforts to enhance and protect internal unity in order to defend the ongoing diplomatic pressure against Ethiopia, he underlined.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister said Ethiopia is experiencing various forms of diplomatic pressures.

However, Ethiopia has been able to defend the pressures with the help of the endurance of the people, the participation of the diaspora community and friends of the country.

“The diplomatic activities of the country will continue to face various challenges due to different factors including the unpredictable nature of the global system, the dynamism and interests,” he added by underlining the need to enhance internal unity.

Source: Ethiopia News agency

Cameroonian authorities say record flooding on its western border with Nigeria has killed at least six people, washed away homes, and destroyed thousands of tons of food meant for export.

In a video circulated on social media platforms by Widium council officials, civilians asked the Cameroon government to help clear the road of earth, mud and stones to enable them to leave Widikum.

Among the merchants is Paul Okafor, a Nigerian who buys palm oil and vegetables from Widikum to sell in his country. He said floods and landslides have blocked him in Widikum for five days, and no vehicle has been able to leave or enter because flood waters have covered roads and landslides are pulling down hills on roadsides.

Okafor said the vegetables and tomatoes he bought are beginning to rot, and Widikum vegetable farmers are complaining that their harvest is decaying.

Andoh Stanilos, the mayor of Widikum district, acknowledged that his council staff shared the videos. He said floods that triggered landslides killed six people, left hundreds homeless, and destroyed homes and warehouses.

“The floodplains overflooded and completely swept off houses,” he said. “At the moment I speak, there are over 55 people who are without something to eat. The council is trying to mobilize some resources, so I send this SOS to the government and people of goodwill to come to the assistance of persons who are destitute now.”

The floods destroyed a 36-meter-long bridge on the River Momo, keeping hundreds of merchants and commuters stranded on both sides of the river. Momo, an administrative unit where Widikum is found, is a production basin for palm oil, maize, potato, tomatoes and vegetables.

Cameroon’s National Observatory on Climate Change last month predicted that floods and landslides would hit many Cameroonian towns and villages including Widikum.

Forghab Patrick, deputy director general of the observatory, said homes built in flood-risk areas made the situation even worse.

“People build in marshy areas,” Patrick said. “What happens? Water cannot circulate correctly because the houses block even the waterways and at the end of the day, those living in those homes are all exposed.”

The government said it is educating people to stop settling on risk zones, but has not said if it will provide the food and water-hungry victims are asking for.

Source: Voice of America