Ethiopia’s new PM and the refugee challenge

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who was elected as the 12th PM of Ethiopia on April 2, 2018, has elicited hope in citizens and refugees in the country.  Ethiopia is going through series of challenges including refugee crisis, economy, human rights etc. But the election and inauguration of a new government under Abiy Ahmed gave hope […]

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who was elected as the 12th PM of Ethiopia on April 2, 2018, has elicited hope in citizens and refugees in the country.  Ethiopia is going through series of challenges including refugee crisis, economy, human rights etc. But the election and inauguration of a new government under Abiy Ahmed gave hope to the Ethiopians, as well as their neighbours.

The biggest challenge confronting Ethiopia is the refugee crisis. The UNHCR reports that Ethiopia has the largest number of refugees in Africa. As at March 2016, the refugees and asylum seeker population in Ethiopia was 735, 165 with South Sudan and Somalis being the majority.

It was recently reported that about 1, 500 Yemenis have moved to Ethiopia and that the number could get as high as 4,000.

The Ethiopian authority is playing the big brother role by extending helping hands to countries engulfed in war, here in Africa and of recent the Middle East country, Yemen.  I,  therefore, urge the African Union and other regional blocs to intervene and support the new Ethiopian leader to overcome the challenges. The refugees need good health care, water, and other amenities.

Abdullateef Tanko can be reached via email:[email protected]