APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The African Development Bank (AfDB) has decided to withdraw its entire international staff from Addis Ababa over “a serious diplomatic incident” that put the Bank’s $1.24 Billion projects in Ethiopia at stake.
The office will remain open under an Officer-in-Charge with nationally recruited employees. However, the bank on Wednesday said that the incident could negatively affect its current and future operations in the country “if not fully resolved.”
On October 31, two members of AfDB’s international staff were allegedly arrested, physically assaulted and detained for hours without charge by Ethiopian security forces. This, the bank says, “was a gross violation of their personal diplomatic immunities, rights, and privileges” under the Host Country Agreement.
AfDB officials already filed a formal complaint with the Ethiopian authorities. In response, they assured the AfDB that “all those involved in breaking the law will be thoroughly” investigated and brought to justice.
The African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina, subsequently sent a high-level delegation to Addis Ababa on Nov 22 to engage with senior Ethiopian authorities on the matter and to meet with Bank staff in the Ethiopia Office.
“The assessment from the Bank’s delegation indicates that the situation is still not yet resolved in a satisfactory manner,” AfDB president Adesina revealed today.
“It also does not provide full confidence that all the African Development Bank’s employees feel safe and secure to carry out their duties and move around the country without fear of harassment,”
AfDB leader Akinwumi Adesina, subsequently sent a high-level delegation to Addis Ababa on November 22 to discus with senior Ethiopian authorities on the matter to meet with the bank staff in Ethiopia office.
The assessment from the bank’s delegation indicates that the situation is still not yet resolved in satisfactory manner,” AfDB president revealed.
It also does not provide full confidence that all the African Development Bank’s employees feel safe and secure to carry out their duties and move around the country without fear and harassment,” he said.
Adsesina is “particularly concerned” that the government has not shared any report or details of the investigations with the bank to date.
The bank’s international staff in Ethiopia will work remotely outside the country until the findings of the investigations into the incident and measures taken on the perpetrators are made public.
MG/as/APA