The African Development Bank (AfDB) has ordered all its international staff to vacate Ethiopia with immediate effect following a recent alleged police assault on two of the Bank’s international members.
This directive was given in a statement released by the Bank on Wednesday, adding that the staff should embrace working remotely pending the findings of the government investigations into the incident are transparently shared with the bank.
The statement said, “Specifically, on the 31st of October 2023, two Addis Ababa-based staff were unlawfully arrested, physically assaulted, and detained for hours without charge or any official explanation.
“This was 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.”
According to the statement, when the AFDB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, learnt of the occurrence, he promptly contacted the highest levels of authority in the Ethiopian government, and the bank’s two employees were released.
The statement continued: “The African Development Bank formally communicated with the government of Ethiopia through an official note verbale on 6 November requesting a full and transparent investigation into the incident.
The Bank President was also quoted saying: “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 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.”
Adesina stressed that the bank will do everything possible to safeguard the safety and security of its employees, as well as the protection of their rights and privileges while at work.
He stated that the bank is still dedicated to assisting the country’s socioeconomic development.
Adesina, on the other hand, 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.”
The directive, according to the statement, does not apply to Ethiopians who are recruited locally.
“These measures will not affect nationally recruited staff from Ethiopia who will continue their work and remain in the full employment of the Bank. The Bank will assure them and their families of its duty of care. The office will remain open under an Officer-in-Charge.”
