Suspected Ethiopian diplomatic breach leads to AfDB partial staff exit

December 20, 2023 in Finance, Policy by Editor

Dr Adesina said the October incident 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.

A recent suspected breach of diplomatic immunity committed by Ethiopian security personnel against African Development Bank (AfDB) officials has resulted in the continental lender ordering all international staff to vacate its regional Addis Ababa office in protest.

AfDB says that on October 31st, two Addis Ababa based staff were unlawfully arrested, physically assaulted, and detained for hours without charge or any official explanation. This was deemed a gross violation of their personal diplomatic immunities, rights, and privileges under the African Development Bank Group’s Host Country Agreement with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina said in a statement on Wednesday, “The assessment from the Bank’s delegation indicates that the situation is still not yet resolved in a satisfactory manner. 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. The African Development Bank remains particularly concerned that the Ethiopian government has, to date, not shared with the Bank any report, or details of investigations into the incident.”

He said, “The October incident continues to cause much anxiety across the African Development Bank Group and especially among staff at the Ethiopia country office. The incident has also raised concerns among the Bank’s shareholders, other multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, the broader diplomatic community, and other stakeholders.”

The office will now remain open under an Officer-in-Charge. However, these measures will not affect nationally recruited staff from Ethiopia who will continue their work and remain in the full employment of the Bank.

Dr. Adesina said AfDB’s international staff in Ethiopia will work remotely outside the country until the findings of the government investigations into the incident are transparently shared with the Bank, and full details of the measures taken to bring the guilty parties to book are made public. He said that the AfDB Group remains committed to supporting the country’s socio-economic development. As of September 30, 2023, the Bank’s ongoing portfolio in Ethiopia comprising 22 projects, totaling $1.24 billion.

Adesina, however said, “While the Bank appreciates the excellent relations it has with Ethiopia until this egregious incident, its continued operations and future presence in the country could be negatively affected if the incident is not fully resolved.”