International staff of AfDB evacuated from Ethiopia after police assault

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has directed all foreign employees to swiftly depart Ethiopia in response to a reported police attack on two of the Bank’s foreign members.

This directive and the suggestion that staff members work remotely until the outcomes of the government investigations into the incident are made public were made public by the bank in a statement released on Wednesday.

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In particular, on October 31, 2023, two employees of Addis Ababa were forcibly taken into custody, subjected to physical abuse, and held for several hours without being given a reason or charge, according to the statement.

According to the terms of the Host Country Agreement between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the African Development Bank Group, “this was a flagrant violation of their personal diplomatic immunities, rights, and privileges.”

The statement claims that the two bank employees were freed as soon as AFDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina learned of the incident and swiftly contacted the highest authorities in the Ethiopian government.

The African Development Bank formally corresponded with the Ethiopian government through an official note verbale on November 6th, seeking a thorough and transparent investigation into the occurrence, the statement said.

“The assessment from the Bank’s delegation indicates that the situation is still not yet resolved in a satisfactory manner,” the Bank President was further cited as saying. Additionally, it does not give complete assurance that every employee of the African Development Bank feels free to perform their jobs and travel the nation without fear of harassment.

“The October incident still causes a lot of anxiety among staff members at the Ethiopia country office and throughout the African Development Bank Group.” Concerns have also been expressed by the incident’s stakeholders, including the Bank’s shareholders, other multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, and the larger diplomatic community.

Adesina emphasised that the bank will take all reasonable steps to preserve its workers’ rights and privileges while they are at work, as well as their safety and security.

He declared that the bank remains committed to supporting the socioeconomic growth of the nation.

Conversely, Adesina stated that “the bank appreciates the excellent relations it has with Ethiopia up until this egregious incident, but if the incident is not fully resolved, it could negatively affect its continued operations and future presence in Ethiopia.”

The statement claims that Ethiopians hired locally are exempt from the rule.

“Ethiopian employees hired domestically will continue to work and be fully employed by the Bank unaffected by these measures. The Bank will guarantee its obligation of care to them and their families. An Officer-in-Charge will continue to oversee the office.