Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia persist due to the MoU signed with Somaliland. Speaking before the parliamentary assembly, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that "Ethiopia does not intend to cause any harm to its friend, Somalia." These statements come after a unified response from the international community in support of Somalia, with the US, China, and the European Union expressing their support for Mogadishu. Despite Addis Ababa's attempt to ease tensions, relations between the parties remain strained, as demonstrated during the African Union General Assembly on February 17th and 18th. The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused Ethiopian security forces of attempting to prevent President Hassan Sheikh from participating in the Assembly's proceedings. This accusation was rejected by the Addis Ababa government, which claimed that the Mogadishu delegation had tried to enter the AU headquarters armed. Hassan Sheikh, who participated in the proceedings as usual, stated that his delegation had been subjected to intimidating behavior due to his government's denunciation of the MoU with Somaliland for access to the port of Berbera. The latest twist in the matter was the Somali parliament's rejection of the agreement's ratification. The Hargeisa parliament rejected the deal, labeling it "illegal" and calling it a "threat to the unity of the people of Somaliland," urging the executive to withdraw the MoU and halt the ratification process. Meanwhile, internal tensions in the country show no signs of abating. The Ethiopian parliament extended the state of emergency in the Amhara region, and the crisis in Tigray has worsened. The Tigrayan population denounces livestock theft and kidnappings conducted by the Eritrean army. The federal government has met with the Tigray regional executive in the context of the humanitarian crisis affecting the northern region. The Tigrayan delegation, led by interim president Getachew Reda, accused Addis Ababa of deliberately ignoring the famine affecting the region, accusations rejected by Addis Ababa, which states that the deaths in Tigray cannot be attributed to a humanitarian crisis.Inizio modulo
The war in Sudan shows no signs of abating. According to reports from the RSF and SAF commands, high-ranking officials from both factions allegedly met in Bahrain three times during January in the presence of representatives from the United States and Saudi Arabia. Details regarding the progress and the subject matter of these meetings have not been disclosed. Meanwhile, the US has imposed new sanctions against the belligerent entities. The US Department of the Treasury has announced sanctions on Alkhaleej Bank and Al-Fakher Advanced Works, both owned by RSF's Hemedti, and Zadna International, associated with the Sudanese regular army. The conflict also continues on the propaganda front. The head of the RSF, General Hemedti, declared that his forces are ready to militarily resolve the conflict in a matter of weeks in an audio message addressed to army generals: "We do not seek war, but as long as it is your choice, you must be prepared." In this context, the de facto leader of the Sudanese government, General Al-Burhan, has blocked humanitarian aid access to areas controlled by the RSF, warning that deliveries will not resume until the RSF is defeated. The month concluded with reports from the SAF on the advancement of their forces in the strategic center of Omdurman, which were denied by the RSF.
Kenya continues to grapple with its financial crisis. President Ruto has announced plans to repurchase a portion of treasury bonds during the February-March period, and then seek coverage for the remaining portion of public debt from private partners in the markets. The government's privatization process is also progressing, with the announcement of the sale of seven state-owned enterprises, including the Development Bank of Kenya. The rest of the companies being put on the market are all in the hospitality sector. Positive data has also emerged regarding the revenues of the Port of Mombasa, which have increased by 6.23% annually, demonstrating how the infrastructure can withstand competition from the Port of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. Meanwhile, Kenyan Secretary of Defense Aden Dualey, during a visit to Washington, declared that Nairobi will continue to stand by the United States in the mission to secure maritime traffic in the Red Sea. Nairobi's decision is influenced not only by its privileged relationship with the USA but also by the risks stemming from the economic implications on maritime transportation costs following Houthi attacks. President William Ruto has been invited by President Biden to the White House to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations in May, coinciding with the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Download the February 2024 reportThe Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a strategic infrastructure for the future of Ethiopia, which however represents an element of tension between the countries located along the river Nile.
The trilateral meeting between Italy, Ethiopia and Somalia held during Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Ethiopia highlights Italy’s intention to view this region as strategic for the stability of the Broader Mediterranean. Her visit coincides with the beginning of hostilities in Sudan, which threatens to unleash a new wave of illegal migration towards Italian shores.
The visit of Italy’s President of the Republic to Kenya comes at a historic moment when the eyes of the world are on the region. Between symbolic and pragmatic, the visit puts Africa back at the heart of Italian foreign policy.
Head of state | Sahle-Work Zewde |
Head of Government | Abiy Ahmed Ali |
Institutional Form | Federal Parliamentary Republic |
Capital | Addis Ababa |
Legislative Power | Bicameral Parliament: House of Federation (112 Members); House of People’s representatives (547 Members) |
Judicial Power | Federal Supreme Court |
Ambassador to Italy | Demitu Hambisa Bonsa |
Total Area kmq | 1.104.300 Km2 |
Land | 1.096.000 Km2 |
Weather | Tropical-monsonic; the climate conditions change considerably depending on the geography |
Natural resources | gold, platinum, copper, potassium, natural gas and hydropower |
Economic summary | Ethiopia has the lowest level of income inequality in Africa and one of the lowest in the world. The key sectors of planned economy that belong to the State are telecommunications, banking and insurance, energy distribution. More than 70% of the population works in agriculture, but services have overtaken this sector and it represents the main source of GDP |
GDP | $111 billion (Dec. 2021) |
Pro-capite GDP (Purchasing power parity) | $2366 (Dec. 2021) |
Exports | $3.5 billion (2020) |
Export partner | Hong Kong 7.23%, UAE 7.05%, Saudi Arabia 5.78%, Netherland 5.07%, Germany, 4.81%, Italy 2.33% (2020) |
Imports | $11.1 billion (2020) |
Import partner | China 24.9%, India 8.17%, UAE 7.22%, Kuwait 4.8%, France 4.71%, UK 3.58%, Italy 2.27% (2020) |
Trade With Italy | $277,34 million (2021) |
Population | 113.656.596 |
Population Growth | +2,46% (2022 est.) |
Ethnicities | Orome 34%, Amhara 27%, Tigray 7%, Sidama 4%, Welaita 3%, Gurage 2%, Somalis 2%, Hadiva 2%, Afar 0.6%, other groups 12% |
Languages | Orome 33%, Amharic 29%, Somalian 6%, Tiger 5%, Cider 4%, Wolaytta 2%, Gurage 2%, Aother 16% |
Religions | Ethiopian Orthodox 43.8%, Muslims 31.3%, Protestants 22.8%, Chatolics 0.7%, traditional religions 0.6%, other religions 0.8% |
Urbanization | 22,7% (2022 est.) |
Literacy | 51,8% |
Located in East Africa, Ethiopia is the oldest independent state in Africa, whose origin can be traced back to 1270 A.C. Since then, the country has always maintained independence, despite a short period of Italian occupation (between 1936 and 1941). The Ethiopian Empire lasted until 1974, when it was overthrown by a military coup d'état.
Ethiopia is a landlocked country, bordering to the south with Kenya, to the southeast and east with Somalia, to the northeast with Djibouti, to the north with Eritrea, to the northwest with Sudan and to the west with South Sudan. Ethiopia’s population is 113.6 million, which makes it the second most populous country in Africa, after Nigeria. The official language is Amharic, but Oromo, Tigrinya and Somali as well as tens of other ethnic languages are regularly spoken in the country.
From a geostrategic perspective, Ethiopia is a very important country in the region. Since the beginning of the 2000s, it has achieved an important level of economic development, making it one of the main emerging market in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia has an ongoing dispute with Sudan and Egypt over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the sharing of the Nile waters. It has also an open border dispute with Sudan, which has been the source of recent military confrontations between the two countries. Domestically, the disruption of the delicate balance based on ethnic federalism has turned into a conflict in the north of the country, which is still ongoing.
Trade with Italy is significant, and Ethiopia ranks fifth among Italy’s main export markets in sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, Italy is the fifth trading partner for Ethiopia. Italian companies are contracted for several infrastructural projects in the country, including the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, for which the Italian multinational Webuild (former Salini Impregilo) is the main contractor.