Mehari Taddele Maru

Originally published on Addis Standard, March 11, 2020: https://addisstandard.com/commentary-the-trump-trap/ Addis Abeba, March 11/2020 – After four months of intense mediation efforts between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on the question of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the US government and the World Bank have failed to get Ethiopia’s signature on a proposed agreement they put forward.  ...

Originally published on All Africa, March 24, 2020: https://allafrica.com/stories/202003240907.html Addis Ababa — Africa remains by far the most vulnerable continent in terms of viral and bacterial infections. Covid-19 is likely to prove the worst of these. Numbers shift constantly, but by 24 March 2020, more than 1,788 Covid-19 cases and 58 deaths had been reported in 43 African ...

Originally published on Mail & Guardian, 24th March 2020: https://mg.co.za/article/2020-03-24-covid-19-why-it-is-so-difficult-for-africa-to-flatten-the-curve/ Covid-19 has now hit more than 40 African countries, with almost 2000 confirmed cases as of March 23. So far, the coronavirus has been slow to spread across Africa, but there are several factors unique to the continent that could make it difficult to reduce the rate of ...

Original analysis at http://addisstandard.com/in-depth-analysis-the-tigray-dilemma/ @DrMehari  The tension between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and National Regional State of Tigray is getting more overt, complicated and acute. Rarely have the stakes been so high for Ethiopia. It is high time to take stock of this dangerous situation and proceed with circumspection, sensitivity, and wisdom. In the ...

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-make-it/eu-africa-nexus-promise-and-purpose/ Authored by Fabrizio Tassinari and Mehari Taddele Maru @DrMehari and @f_tassinari Only by recognizing and sharing the values derived from its unique transnational experience can Europe meet the promise of its holistic partnership with Africa. On her first week in office, newly elected president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen made Ethiopia the destination ...

@DrMehari The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia seems full of irony, and in many ways – perhaps too many.  But first, and following convention, one must congratulate the new Laureate. It would be improper not to recognize the honor merely because of seriously-held disagreements with the ...

While the African Union (AU) has developed ambitious plans for continental free trade it is becoming clear that free movement of people lags behind. This blog identifies six obstacles that impede progress on free movement for people in Africa and considers the prospects for future development. The AU Summit held in Niger on July 7 ...

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/cold-war-africa-190630102044847.html @DrMehari Increasing tensions between China and the US will be detrimental to African prosperity and peace. Last week, the 12th US-Africa Business Summit, a high-level event attended by 11 African heads of state and government and some 1,000 business leaders, was held in Maputo, Mozambique. During the three-day event, US officials unveiled a $60bn ...

Originally published in the African Union Commission’s “The Bulletin of Fridays of the Commission” Current discussions on Africa–China relations unsatisfactorily focus mainly on China’s interests in Africa and its unconditional assistance extended to undemocratic governments in Africa. Therefore, it is important to discuss bilateral trade and China’s interests in Africa particularly in terms of the ...

Originally published as discussion paper by the European Centre for Development PolicyManagement (ECPDM) The African Governance Architecture (AGA) and African Governance Platform were established in 2011 bythe 16th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).Launched as an effort Òtowards greater unity and integration through shared valuesÓ, ...