エチオピアはBrics参加を寿ぐ

　南アフリカ共和国で行われているBrics会議でメンバーシップ拡大を目指し、数か国に招待を出した。エチオピアはその当選国の一つ。

BBC 'History is made' - Ethiopia celebrates Brics invite 24 Aug 2023 By Kalkidan Yibeltal

　外交上の大勝利major diplomatic vicrotyとし、エチオピアにとって偉大な瞬間であるという。メンバーシップは1月から得られるとのこと。

「Ethiopia is hailing the country’s invitation to join the Brics club of nations as a major diplomatic victory.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who was attending the Brics summit in South Africa, called the decision “a great moment for Ethiopia”.

It is one of two African countries (Egypt is the other) that will become a member come January. In total six nations were invited, the other four were Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Argentina and Iran.」

　ほかにエジプト、サウジアラビア、アラブ首長国連邦、アルゼンチンにイラン。西欧諸国とちょっと立ち位置を違えたいかな、といった面々が並ぶ。

「Its image has been tarnished by the brutal two-year civil war in its northern Tigray region. It ended last November, but there are also recurrent conflicts in other areas.

Previously a strong US ally in the war on terror across the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia’s relations with the West have deteriorated as accusations of grave rights abuses emerged during the Tigray conflict.」

　そもそもエチオピアは対テロ戦争で西欧諸国・米国に大変近しい仲だったわけだが、ここ最近の内戦のせいでだいぶ距離が開いたようで。援助も資金も微妙に遠くなり、そこで新たな立ち位置を求めたくもなったと。

「Addis Ababa has been one of the largest recipients of economic support from China in the past decade as it was one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. The civil war however has slowed the growth and left the country’s economy in difficulties.」

　そもそもエチオピアに投資をしてくれてたのは中国だったよね！という経緯もあるにせよ、しかしなんだそれはBricsの財布は中国かそれは。大丈夫なんですかねそれは。