The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s new ambassador to Uganda, has revealed that fostering Pan Africanism and strengthening people-to-people relations between the two nations, will form the cornerstone of her tour of duty.
Ambassador Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu, made the remarks on Tuesday while briefing the Public Diplomacy Office of the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs in Kololo, in the capital Kampala.
“I intend to strengthen the people-to-people relationship between Ethiopians and Ugandans and the twining of cities in the coming three years,” Ambassador Etsegenet said.
She was meeting Mr. Sam Omara, the Director of Public Diplomacy at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was accompanied by two other officials.
This publication sought her view on how she intends to foster the strengthening of Pan Africanism since Ethiopia is known as the heart of Africa, Ambassador Etsegenet said;
“I belong to the Association of African Ambassadors and we meet every month to explore ways of collaboration in terms of strengthening Pan Africanism. Our young people need to know the foundation of true Pan Africanism, what is now and future,”
She added, “One of the areas i will focus on is to promote the African Agenda, IGAD to ensure that African events stand out, promote cultural diplomacy and tourism including women in the field.”
Ambassador Yimenu replaced her colleague, Alemtsehey Meseret who ended her tour of duty in Uganda early this year.
Uganda and Ethiopia enjoy warm relations that were established in the early 1960s.
The two countries share a number of treaties which Ambassador Yimenu promised to follow up on.
“The existing bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Uganda are solid dating back to the days when Emperor Haile Selassie visited Uganda. Currently, the relations are profound. My mission will focus on on exchange of leaders to strengthen relations including the Joint Ministerial Committee,” she said.
In 2011, Ethiopia and Uganda established a Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) which seeks to strengthen the two nations’ relations in the areas of Defense and Security, Agriculture and Food Security, Education, Health, Culture, Gender, Infrastructure, Water and Energy, Trade and Investment, Immigration, the Fight against Terrorism and Legal and Judicial Cooperation as well as Regional Integration, Peace and Security.
Uganda and Ethiopia exchange leather, dairy products, Arabica coffee, tea, chicken, sugar and textiles among themselves.
She said the area of trade between the two countries is not fully utilised and that it is something she intends to promote business between them adding that activities will not be limited to Kampala as is the case with some diplomatic missions.
Ambassador Etsegenet also revealed that she has plans for the more than 5000 Ethiopians living in Uganda saying they contribute in various ways to Uganda’s economy.
She also took time off to talk about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which economic experts say will boost the Horn of Africa Nation’s productivity with the production of electricity.
Uganda supports Ethiopia’s development of the dam which the ambassador said her country was grateful for the East African nation’s backing.