Mehari Taddele Maru

The Common African Position represents the resolve of Africa’s leaders to address the root causes and progressively reduce the phenomenon of forced displacement on the continent. It is our aspiration to address the long-term social economic transformation of the continent in line with Agenda 2063. However, it is our conviction that we cannot achieve such ...

In early 2011, popular uprisings swept across North Africa, spearheaded by the region’s outraged youth crying ominously “our country or death!” The choice for the authoritarian leaders in power was clear: change fast,resign or perish. The events in North Africa brought about sweeping changes in leaderships in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Ben Ali fled Tunisia, ...

Since the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), Africa had to deal with border issues, particularly in relation to conflicts over disputed borders drawn mainly by colonial powers. Following the OAU, the African Union (AU) is committed to a progressive border agenda recognizing the positive contribution of border governance in peace and security, ...

@DrMehari Recent diplomatic initiatives in the Horn are a positive step, but the region needs much more to achieve lasting peace. Following his recent efforts to achieve normalisation with Eritrea, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed embarked on a shuttle diplomacy mission across the Horn of Africa. Since the signing of the landmark June 2018 peace agreement between ...

@DrMehari   This in-depth analysis is an extension of my piece for Ethiopia Insight titled ‘The old EPRDF is dead, can its system be saved?’ which you can read here. This has been an eventful year for Ethiopia’s politics. Under Abiy Ahmed Ali, who became Prime Minister in April 2018, the government has eased its previous ...

Africa is endowed with considerable strategic renewable and non-renewable natural resources, of which only a fraction has been exploited for the benefit of the African people. The role of natural resources as major contributors to economic growth and poverty reduction cannot be overstated. However, natural resources can be a curse or a blessing, depending on ...

Africa Portal managed by SAIIA published my latest analysis on #Ethiopia’s revised Refugee Law. Ethiopia’s parliament adopted a revised refugee law on 17 January 2019, which the United Nations (UN) has hailed as one of the most progressive refugee laws on the continent. It replaces the country’s 2004 Refugee Proclamation, and grants the country’s massive ...

This paper examines Ethiopia’s policy on the African Union (AU), and its predecessor—the OAU. By defining what constitutes a grand strategy, as opposed to an ad hoc approach in pursuing national interest in a multilateral setting, the paper attempts to answer seven fundamental questions: (i) Has Ethiopia ever had a grand strategy regarding the OAU/AU, ...

Ethiopia and Eritrea will soon unveil a roadmap to address past disputes and try and lay strong foundations for cooperation. What key issues does it need to confront to tackle the root causes of the conflict? Early last month, Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki opened the Humera-Oumhajer border. It was more progress ...

The Horn of Africa appears to be gearing towards a new order set off by a global competition of strategic interest by great powers in Africa. In addition to internal political upheavals, the competition is precipitated by a struggle for influence in the region by the US and China.  There is also a realignment taking ...