African Development Bank Withdraws International Staff from Ethiopia Amid Security Concerns











Date: December 19, 2023

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced the immediate withdrawal of all its international staff from Ethiopia, citing severe security incidents and breach of diplomatic protocol.

In an internal memorandum dated December 19, 2023, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the AfDB, expressed deep concern over the recent unlawful arrest and physical assault of two Addis Ababa-based staff members. The incident, which occurred on October 31, 2023, involved the detention of the bank’s personnel for several hours without charge, representing a “gross violation of their personal diplomatic immunities, rights, and privileges,” according to the memorandum.

The Bank has ensured that the office in Ethiopia will remain operational, managed by an Officer-in-Charge, and national staff will continue their duties under full employment. However, the Bank has made it clear that it expects the Ethiopian government to uphold the rights of its staff as per the Host Country Agreement.

Dr. Adesina’s statement included details of a high-level delegation sent to engage with Ethiopian authorities and a formal communication with the Ethiopian government requesting a comprehensive investigation. However, dissatisfaction with the progress was evident as the situation “does not provide full confidence that all our employees feel safe and secure to carry out their duties.”

The AfDB’s Board of Directors has been fully briefed on the incident, and the Bank is committed to ensuring the safety and security of its staff. Management will keep the staff informed of any further developments.

The Ethiopian government has yet to respond publicly to these developments or the AfDB’s requests for a transparent investigation into the incident.





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