Credit:  secpompeotwitter /  Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo meets with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tuesday Feb. 18, 2020.

By Gary Raynaldo           DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Secretary Pompeo reiterated the United States’ support for Ethiopia’s historic political and economic reforms and discussed opportunities for increased partnership, according  to a statement from  Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus.   The Secretary and the Prime Minister also discussed the importance of organizing free and fair elections later this year. Secretary Pompeo thanked Prime Minister Abiy for his leadership in the Horn of Africa and for Ethiopia’s peacekeeping deployments to Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan. 

“The United States stands with Ethiopia as it implements historic political and economic reforms and organizes free and fair elections in 2020.  To date, the United States has mobilized more than $37 million to support the National Elections Board of Ethiopia’s efforts to organize a multi-party, credible elections process, and to engage civil society and youth to address issues of national concern leading up to the elections.”

-statement from the Department of State. 

 Ethiopia is Africa’s second-most populous nation with more than 100 million people and the headquarters of the African Union  

• Ethiopia and the United States partnered in $1.8 billion in total (two way) trade in 2018.  Goods exports totaled $1.3 billion; goods imports totaled $445 million.  The U.S. goods trade surplus with Ethiopia was $863 million in 2018.

• The United States government allocated more than $117 million in the last two years to expand economic opportunity in Ethiopia, improve the business climate, create a level playing field for all investors, and encourage entrepreneurship and U.S. investment. 

U.S. Seeks To Counter Growing Influence Of China, Russia in Africa 

Secretary of State Pompeo’s visit to Africa is the first by a Cabinet official in 18 months. Pompeo first visiting Senegal last Friday, before moving on to Angola and Ethiopia this week.   It is no secret that  the U.S. top diplomat’s African visit is tied to the Trump administration’s effort to  counter the growing interest of China, Russia and other global powers in Africa and its exploding  youth population of more than 1.2 billion.

Credit: secpompeotwitter.com /  Secretary of State  Pompeo meets  with Angolan President João Lourenço Monday Feb. 17, 2020  in Luanda.

“The U.S. strongly supports Angola’s anti-corruption, democratization, and economic reform efforts.”

-Secretary of State  Pompeo