Photo : AP
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : AP
IN BRIEF
By Anu Maria Joseph
Ethiopia: Eritrea against Prime Minister Abiy’s Red Sea remark
On 16 October, the Eritrean government commented that they would not be “drawn into” discussions on Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea. The tensions come after Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that access to the Red Sea is “a matter of existence” for his country. He stated: "The Red Sea and the Nile River define Ethiopia. They are the foundations for Ethiopia's development or its demise.” Ethiopia is a landlocked country that depends on Djibouti for 85 per cent of its exports and imports. (“Eritrea responds to Abiy's controversial Red Sea remark,” BBC, 16 October 2023)
Democratic Republic of Congo: DRC-Uganda new scheme of visa-free travel
On 16 October, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda governments announced their agreement for visa-free travel between the countries. The agreement aims at free movement of people and strengthening trade. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been promoting the idea of visa-free entry for months. Previously he stated: “Crossing in East Africa should be cost-free. You pay for a visa when going to America, or Europe, but a visa to DR Congo?! That is rubbish. If that is the case, I have removed it.” (“Uganda and DR Congo agree on visa-free travel,” BBC, 16 October 2023)