Foreign Policy of South Korea Eyes Africa


Foreign Policy of South Korea Eyes Africa

The Republic of Korea prepares to host the first Korea-Africa Summit in 2024. Jang Sungamin, senior secretary for future strategy, has made an upturn in Addis Abeba amidst the 36th African Union summit giving emphasis on the foreign policy eyeing Africa. Using the "teach a man to fish you will feed him for a lifetime" analogy Jang stated that South Korea has mastered the technique and wants to share it with Africa. Korea has been providing the highest a month of Offical Development Assistance (ODA) to Ethiopia than any other African country, including 168 million dollars for 26 projects in water management, health, rural development, transportation, and education since 1991. Ethiopia receives a large number of loans from South Korea. In 2019, Korean Exim Bank provided 264 million dollars as a loan of which 170 million dollars for national electricity projects.


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ETHEREAL SOLACE

The recently unveiled statue of the late singer  Ali Birra glistens in the foggy weather around the Haile Garment area. Art in all its forms has been intimately weaved into the tapestry of Ethiopian history since the advent of Axumite civilisation. Be it paintings etched into the walls of churches across the country or the endemic pentatonic musical scale, art has provided an escape in times of war, drought and strife. As Ethiopia ventures into a new year haunted by inflation, conflicts and uns...


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PRICKLY FIGS

Bundles of sticks and figs are sold for 40 Br around the Gofa area, as urbanites prepare for Mesqel celebrations. Soaring prices of everyday amenities in the capital as conflict resurges in Ethiopia's north has Addis Abeba residents haggling fervently in this holiday season. As the price of a quintal of teff stabilised above 10,000 Br mark this year and a kilogram of onions soared past 100 Br, city dwellers have been counting pennies trying to stretch their holiday budget. The capital's trade bu...


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BEATIFIC SPARKS

Mesqel Square fills with smoke as thousands gather to mark the eve of the eponymous holiday by lighting ritual bonfires. Followers of the Orthodox Tewahdo Church celebrate the day each year that marks the rediscovery of the "True Cross" in the 4th century. The evening is set against a backdrop of hymns by choirs armed with unique Ethiopian church instruments. Mesqel celebrations take place two weeks into the Ethiopian New Year weaving into the early months a festive spirit rarely seen throughout...


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