Core Principles of Ethiopia's Foreign Policy: Ethiopia-France relations
The relationship between Ethiopia and France goes back a long way with an agreement to respect each other’s sovereignty signed between the King of France and the King of Shoa in central Ethiopia in 1836. This was during the period of the Zemene Mesafint when the imperial authority was virtually non-existent, but formal diplomatic relations between France and Ethiopia were established in 1897 during the reign of Emperor Menilek (1889-1913). France and Ethiopia signed a treaty in 1897 recognizing the border between Ethiopia and French Somaliland, later Djibouti; and it was during Menilek’s reign that the 781 km Ethio-Djibouti railroad project was started, providing Ethiopia with access to the port of Djibouti. The line, which finally reached Addis Ababa in 1917, played a vital role in the development of Ethiopia during the last century, and remains a reminder of the close relations between Ethiopia and France that have existed for well over a century. Indeed, Ethiopia-France friendship has transcended the problems induced at various times by divergent political orientation and has been emphasized by numerous agreements to enhance bilateral relations, in the areas of diplomacy, economics and culture. A Cultural Agreement was signed in 1958, though the Lycée Guebré Mariam was founded earlier, in 1947. There are Franco-Ethiopian Alliance schools in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa and a French Centre of Ethiopian Studies in Addis Ababa. In recent years, twinning programmes have been instituted respectively between the cities of Debre-Berhan, Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa in Ethiopia and the cities of Blanc-Mesnil, Lyon and Villerbanne in France, further encouraging people-to-people relations.
Ethiopian foreign policy pays special attention to laying a solid foundation for building enhanced global partnerships that will allow for technology transfer, increased investment and trade relations, as well as ensuring a concerted global effort against security threats at national, regional and global levels. On the basis of these core principles, Ethiopian French bilateral relations have remained excellent and are growing. The long historical relationship has been consolidated by various cooperation agreements and by a whole series of high level visits. Among these have been visits to France by Prime Minister Meles (June 2010), former Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin (November 2007) and former State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Tekeda Alemu (July 2009). Recent visits by French officials to Ethiopia have included visits by the former French Foreign Minister, Mr. Bernard Kouchner (July 2007 and November 2008), by French parliamentarians (December 2008) and by Mrs. Anne-Marie Idric, French State Minister for Foreign Trade. A planned visit to Ethiopia by French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to materialize in January. This will be the first such visit for over 40 years; the last such visit was by Charles de Gaulle in 1966.
Ethiopia values its relations with France greatly, and views France as one of its most important partners for economic cooperation. Since 2000, Ethiopia has been part of the French Priority Solidarity Zone of development assistance. France’s official development assistance to Ethiopia in 2004 amounted to €9.8 million, but under the ongoing development cooperation programme for 2006-2010, €79 million were allocated. The main areas of cooperation have included agriculture, urban development, education, water and justice system reform. The current development cooperation programme is coming to an end this year, and there is a need for both sides to begin preparations for the next round of a framework agreement programme. Ethiopia, currently involved in a major struggle against poverty, looks forward to being able to sign a more active programme which will give particular emphasis to the priorities of the Government’s in the new five year Growth and Transformation Plan.
In July 2004, Ethiopia and France ratified a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement for encouraging and protecting investments; and an agreement on double taxation is currently being negotiated. Moreover, there is a sizeable number of French investment projects of which a number are operational. These are mainly concentrated in four sectors: brewing, distribution of petroleum products, floriculture and the hotel industry.
France has been an excellent market for Ethiopian commodities and vice versa. Total trade grew to just over two billion birr last year, up from 0.73 billion birr five years earlier, but the balance remains firmly in favour of France with Ethiopian exports amounting to 210 million birr last year and imports from France reaching 1.81 billion birr. Ethiopia, however, is France’s 11th biggest customer and its 13th leading supplier.
Ethiopian foreign policy, of course, attaches great importance to the stability of the sub- region in which France also continues to have strong interest. France still maintains a close relationship with Djibouti and operates a military base there. Ethiopia and France indeed share a common desire for peace and security in the region, and have common concerns over regional security issues including piracy and terrorism. We would also recall that France has supported the reform of the military justice system in the Ethiopian army, and helped to train the Ethiopian battalions which have taken part in the United Nations peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Burundi.