By Riches Soberekon
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced that it has officially lodged a complaint with the Ethiopian government following the arrest of two of its staff members in Addis Ababa last month.
In a statement released on Thursday, the bank, headquartered in Abidjan, expressed its concern over the “unlawful arrest, physical assault, and prolonged detention” of its staff without any official explanation.
The bank described the incident as a “serious diplomatic matter” but expressed satisfaction with the swift action taken by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed upon learning of the situation.
Prime Minister Abiy immediately ordered the release of the detained staff members and promised to launch a thorough investigation into the incident, which occurred on October 31.
AfDB stated that the Ethiopian government has acknowledged their complaint, recognized the gravity of the situation, and provided reassurances that all individuals involved in violating the law would face a comprehensive investigation and subsequent legal consequences.
The bank emphasized the importance of transparency and full accountability in this process.
When asked for further details regarding the incident, an AfDB spokesperson declined to comment. However, the bank highlighted that the Ethiopian government has assured them that AfDB staff based in Ethiopia, as well as those traveling to the country for official purposes, will continue to be granted their rights, privileges, and diplomatic immunities.
Despite this unfortunate incident, the bank confirmed that its operations in Ethiopia remain unaffected. AfDB maintains a strong commitment to its mission in the region and will continue to support development efforts in Ethiopia.
