Samuel M. Gebru

African Union Headquarters: Diplomatic Prostitution?

2012-01-27T05:22:00.000-05:00

H.E. Seyoum Mesfin, Ambassador of Ethiopia to China presents a banner to Hon. Huang Xiang Li, Deputy Mayor of Pingdingshan. (Jan. 16, 2012; Embassy of Ethiopia, Beijing)

By: Samuel M. Gebru (@SMGebru)

January 27, 2012

I recently read an opinion “African Union: The Tragedy of New Headquarters” that really resonated with me. I was not going to respond to the article and share my thoughts on author Chika Sasakwa’s viewpoint until I read a BBC article titled “Davos 2012: Africa leaders urge co-operation.”

Chika Sasakwa’s opinions resonate with my larger belief that African governments are comfortable with prostituting the continent to satisfy their dependency on aid and tendency of corruption.

What struck out to me in the BBC article was the irony of what President Jacob Zuma of South Africa was quoted as saying, that Africans must promote trade amongst each other as a means of cooperation.

The latest example of diplomatic [and economic] prostitution comes in the form of the new headquarters of the African Union. The ultra-modern building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Africa’s political capital, was built as “China’s timeless gift to Africa.” So the propaganda says…

I was never comfortable with the idea of the People’s Republic building the new AU headquarters, let alone it financing the project. This very action undermines the continent in more ways than ever imaginable. It’s an affront of African integrity. Chika nailed it in her argument that Africa’s leaders should be ashamed of themselves for jumping at the opportunity for China’s grand involvement in what should be a landmark and uniquely African building.

Simply put, Africans should have financed, designed and built the AU headquarters themselves. Anything else should have been unacceptable. Chika’s reference in her article to Emperor Haile Selassie and President Kwame Nkrumah left me wondering whether the two men are rolling in their graves.

Africa’s governments have a tendency to look outside for what should be internal nation-building activities. Whether it is the economic or political development, no one seems to be looking inward for a decision. Ethiopian students revolting and establishing a Communist state is what led to the country’s economic demise. Communism was a misguided outside solution to an Ethiopian problem of an age-old monarchy that needed reforms, which could have been easily provided by looking inwards at models of centuries long traditions of local village democracy.

In the BBC article, Africa’s leaders seem to be declaring their wish to see African solutions for African problems. Seems like they missed a grand opportunity in the AU Headquarters. On January 28, President Hu Jintao will inaugurate the building in Addis Ababa that his government designed and built, with its own labor. China’s involvement in Africa is at best lukewarm and concerning.

A hallmark project that will define African politics should have also been a building that exemplified African architecture.

Ethiopian Airlines Joins Star Alliance

2011-12-14T13:10:00.000-05:00

It's official. Yesterday, December 13, 2011, Ethiopian Airlines became a full member of the Star Alliance. The network of some of the world's leading airlines will be a significant step in the right direction for Ethiopian Airlines' strategic goals for 2025.

The picture below tells it all. In the middle with the Ethiopian flag is CEO Tewolde Gebremariam, who in less than a year as CEO has done some great things. Of course, due credit must be given to his predecessor retired CEO Girma Wake for making many strategic inroads.

Prosit, Ethiopian!

Photo: Ethiopian Airlines

Afan Oromo as Ethiopia's Second Official Language

2011-12-11T01:52:00.001-05:00

By: Samuel M. Gebru (@SMGebru)

December 11, 2011

In February 2010, I wrote two articles commenting on a then-proposed election plan by Ethiopia's opposition coalition Forum for Democracy and Dialogue (Medrek) to add Afan Oromo as Ethiopia's second official language (article #1 here and article #2 here). Recent comments on those articles and emails to me have prompted me to write this post on the topic.

From the onset, I find it deeply disturbing that I have been attacked as anti-Oromo. Being against any ethnic group is against everything I believe in, personally, ethically, religiously and politically. Perhaps my thoughts were not well articulated, and for that I apologize for any offenses I may have made.

I apologize for the misplaced and ill-researched claim that "virtually everyone in Ethiopia speaks Amharic." I remain resolute in that there are very big challenges Ethiopia faces politically and economically that need to be addressed before the addition of a new official language. This is only for one reason, and no it is not my deep-rooted hate for Oromos as claimed by some comments. It stems from the logistical challenges that this plan would undoubtedly create at the current time.

There have been regrettable and unspeakable crimes committed against Oromos in modern history. Some of these crimes still prevail today. Despite some commendable advancements in the protection of Oromo culture and life in the larger context of federalizing Ethiopia (e.g. allowing usage of other languages, etc.), there are serious issues that need addressing. These include the misplaced suspicion of some hardcore people in the Ethiopia's Government that all Oromos are inherently enemies of state, and enemies of the ruling EPRDF in particular. This misguided thinking is unfortunate and dangerous and propels continued imprisonments and harassment.

We have all been oppressed and oppressors. The Oromo plight continues today and that is a tragedy for Ethiopia's already stained human rights record. Perhaps there is much value in adding Afan Oromo as an official language of Ethiopia sometime in the future but already realize, the fact its primary (and secondary) speakers constitute a very large portion of East Africa's population, and the main ethnic group in Ethiopia, it can already be considered a de facto official language. It is also a national language already as defined by Ethiopian law. And for what it may be worth, it is also the Oromia State Government's official language.

My sincere hope is that this post addresses the many emails and comments I have received on this matter. Linguistic and cultural preservation in Ethiopia are very important social policy issues that the Parliament has unfortunately not openly and thoughtfully discussed.

George Bush's Africa Success Story

2011-12-08T06:41:00.000-05:00

Photo: Paul Morse, December 4, 2011; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

By: Samuel M. Gebru (@SMGebru)

December 8, 2011

As the 16th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) winds down, I would like to reflect on the recent Africa tour of the former President of the United States of America, Mr. George W. Bush.

Photo: Paul Morse, December 4, 2011; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Having made two Africa tours during his Presidency in 2003 and 2008, with three additional tours taken by First Lady Laura Bush individually in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Mr. and Mrs. Bush are no strangers to the continent. In fact, he's celebrated for creating the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest health initiative that has delivered over $40 billion into HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis programs.

The week-long Africa tour was the first time since leaving the American Presidency. The tour's highlight was President Bush's remarks at ICASA in Addis Ababa's Millennium Hall in Ethiopia on December 4. According to Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry, the conference assembled about 10,000 delegates worldwide, ranging from heads of government to physicians, experts and activists.

In 2009, I attended an event at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government where former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Dr. Jendayi E. Frazer, delivered remarks as part of the school's Africa Week. The former chief Africa policy architect for the Bush Administration shared insightful points that I provided during a live blog.

From the beginning, President Bush made cooperation and understanding top priorities in his Africa policy. Former Secretaries of State Gen. Colin Powell and Dr. Condoleezza Rice were both adamant about forming high-level multilateral partnerships with African regional and subregional blocs that provided for the development of the continent's healthcare system and for peace and security.

While some in the United States criticized President Bush's Africa healthcare policy as being too religious in its promotion of abstinence, the failure of those critics was their inability to recognize the cultural and religious expectations in Africa that President Bush and his diplomatic architects were able to understand.

Photo: Paul Morse, December 4, 2011; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mr. Bush continues to be a friend of Africa. During his time in Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi provided him with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia's Outstanding Leadership Award. The award, given at odd times, is a very high honor of deep appreciation. One could even see it in the remarks of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health Dr. Tewodros Adhanom, both of whom were in a very festive mood.

It was refreshing to see President Bush in Tanzania, Zambia and Ethiopia; and with his wife and daughters. The family tour was a successful highlight of PEPFAR's work in Africa, and an even larger underscore of the generosity of the American people. While I didn't agree with all of his domestic and foreign policy decisions, the former President surely hit a home run on the African front.

Samuel M. Gebru is President and Chairman of the Ethiopian Global Initiative.

Ethiopian Teacher Burns Himself: Not So Arab Anymore?

2011-11-16T00:37:00.000-05:00

Yenesew Gebre set himself on fire and died November 14.

By: Samuel M. Gebru (@SMGebru)

November 15, 2011

I recently learned that a 29-year-old Ethiopian teacher, Yenesew Gebre, set himself on fire last week and died yesterday in Southern Ethiopia in protest of the Government of Ethiopia’s recent charges of terrorism against foreign and local members of the press.

Passing away due to the severe burns, Yenesew Gebre is already being hailed as an Ethiopian version of Mohamed Bouazizi, the Tunisian street vendor who became the catalyst for Tunisia’s Revolution by setting himself on fire on December 17, 2010. Mohamed Bouazizi’s name is probably one of the most hated amongst Arab authoritarian leaders who share the same fate as former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The recent arrests of foreign and local members of the press and dissidents are very disturbing, particularly as the charges they face, including terrorism, carry heavy sentences if found guilty. The Government of Ethiopia is not sending a positive message to the world, and to its own people. In particular, it is casting itself as an administration that cannot and will not accept criticism; and this is deeply troubling.

I believe in a free press and is inhibited only by accepted moral, ethical and legal standards, and not by the whims of authorities. If Ethiopia is to ever democratize and uphold its Constitutional principals, its politicians, in all parties, need to understand that informed, thoughtful and intellectual public discourse is the name of the game. Should the continued arrests and charges of terrorism occur and proliferate, it might not be a far-fetched idea that the Arab Spring will remain Arab.

Temesgen Zewdie says to Fear Ethiopia's Government

2011-11-09T23:21:00.000-05:00

Temesgen Zewdie, former opposition Member of Ethiopia's House of People's Representatives, wrote an interesting opinion in the latest issue of the English weekly Addis Fortune entitled Love Ethiopia, Fear Its Government. In this opinion, what strikes me as particularly interesting are his observations of Ethiopia's prime minister from the viewpoint of a former MP. It is always interesting, and good, to hear from the actual participants, not merely the observers of parliamentary sessions.

I would be interested to get your viewpoint on his article, particularly as the extra-judicial accusations from the prime minister--and this is not the first time--are indeed a source of concern for me. One of the very serious risks of a parliamentary system is the implication for excessive and overbearing rule that a one-party control of the legislature and executive can have.

Share your thoughts in the comment section of this blog!

Student Leadership Allows Cambridge to Celebrate Muslim Holiday

2011-11-07T17:51:00.002-05:00

Photo Credit: Larry Aaronson

By: Samuel M. Gebru '09 (@SMGebru)

November 7, 2011

Today marks the first time that a Massachusetts school district is formally recognizing an Islamic holiday: Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. As one of the most important days in the Islamic calendar, the Cambridge School Committee maneuvered through some very serious controversy to approve adding Eid al-Adha to the district calendar in 2010.

As a 2009 alumnus of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, I was fortunate enough to be one of the student leaders advocating for the recognition of a Muslim holiday. As an Orthodox Christian, I believe that other major religions in Cambridge, mainly Judaism and Islam, should also have their special days on the district calendar. Muslim and non-Muslim students alike—and even atheists—grouped together largely in my senior year with supporting faculty, administrators and elected officials to make strong appeals to the Cambridge School Committee.

Recognizing Eid al-Adha, especially at a time of high tensions and misguided images on Islam, is a very important way for the Cambridge Public Schools District to tell Muslims that they exist and are very much regarded for. Because the Islamic calendar changes annually, the district calendar will close either for Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha, depending on which is during the academic year.

I am happy that my Muslim peers in Cambridge are now able to celebrate a very special holiday without having to miss school. The decision to recognize a Muslim holiday shows that Cambridge consistently embraces its multicultural identity. My graduating class participated in the decision-making process of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School’s motto, “Opportunity, Diversity, Respect,” and recognizing Eid al-Adha meets all three key aspects. It is an opportunity for one’s diversity to be respected.

Had it not been for the resounding and resilient voice of students, the Cambridge School Committee would have probably not given much attention to the idea of celebrating a Muslim holiday. But it was students, with the support of faculty, administrators and elected officials, who engineered this victory—a victory for “Opportunity, Diversity, Respect.”

Many thanks to all those who participated in the advocacy and approval processes, most importantly to the student leaders: Humbi Song ’09, Farah Kashem ’09, Dunia Kassay ’11, Nadhira Muhammad ’11, Hichem Hadjeres ’11, and many others.

A Rightful Conviction and Wrongful Pardon

2011-10-06T10:34:00.000-04:00

Senior Officials of the Derg Government (1974-1991)
stand trial before the Supreme Court of Ethiopia (Reuters).

By: Samuel M. Gebru (@smgebru)

October 6, 2011

Yesterday, the Government of Ethiopia released 16 of 23 senior officials of the Derg Military Government that brutally controlled Ethiopia from 1974 to 1991. The officials were convicted for crimes against humanity by the Supreme Court of Ethiopia in 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

After a 20-year imprisonment, the 16 officials were freed on parole and sources share that the remaining will be free soon. I am thankful that Ethiopia’s Evangelical, Orthodox and Catholic Churches and the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council have advocated for national reconciliation. I strongly disagree, however, that the senior Derg Government officials should have been released.

The rest of their lives should be spent in a confined space leaving them to reflect on the horrors they inflicted on millions of Ethiopians. The rest of their lives should not be spent freely walking the streets they selfishly tortured for so long.

Crimes as strong and brutal as the Derg must not be forgotten, particularly by the younger generation of Ethiopians like myself, who seek to learn about and critique their past and present leaders. Ethiopia’s religious institutions must not forget the suffering inflicted on believers, as the Derg promoted atheism and defacing religious property.

Among the Derg’s most famous victims were Emperor Haile Selassie and Patriarch Tewophilos of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Millions of Ethiopians suffered at the hands of the Derg in Ethiopia and abroad. A staggering 70% of skilled Ethiopians left Ethiopia between 1980 and 1991, according to the United Nations Development Programme.

I am skeptical that the senior Derg officials sincerely requested a “pardon from God” and from the people of Ethiopia after so long, and after continuously pleading “not guilty” before the judiciary. Forgiveness and reconciliation must be promoted, but government must uphold the good—God’s word—while also being a terror to evil.

The Magic of a Bitten Apple

2011-10-05T23:01:00.000-04:00

A picture taken of my MacBook and me in 2010.

By: Samuel M. Gebru (@smgebru)

October 5, 2011

In the world of technology, Steven P. Jobs is a common name. Along with his colleague and competitor William H. Gates, III, the two are some of the few at the helm of technology as godlike figures. And with due credit, too.

That was, until today. This evening over dinner, a classmate told me that Jobs passed away. I told him that he was bluffing and that Jobs just had cancer and retired from his role as Apple Inc.’s CEO. As I said that, I received breaking news email alerts confirming true what I hoped was false. Inspiringly, my twitter and facebook feeds are filled with status updates on his passing as I write this.

I will forever know Steve Jobs, amongst other reasons, as the man who wore the same type of blue jeans and black turtle neck every day. His swag became a brand of its own. Steve Jobs was a businessman who envisioned and innovated. He engineered the digital empire we know today as a bitten apple.

An activist and inspirational leader of many sorts, Jobs’ message of living life for today and making meaning of it on all accounts continues to inspire me. One can only hope to be in the ranks of amazing humans that have made an impact in how we think, operate and envision. Although he will be missed, his profound impact is in the “i” forever.

The Artist as a Claimsmaker

2011-09-18T22:32:00.001-04:00

With Colum McCann

By: Samuel M. Gebru (@smgebru)

The 2011 Faith, Reason and World Affairs Symposium of Concordia College was held under the theme: “The Role of the Artist in Society: Inspiration, Issues, Impact.” It was Concordia’s 25th year of hosting this event on September 13-14.

I attended various sessions of the symposium, including the keynote address by Colum McCann, an award-winning novelist, author if the Concordia Summer 2011 book Zoli. One of the most important things Mr. McCann spoke about was the role and challenge of an artist to be socially relevant.

While he did mention the challenges artists face in being socially relevant, I wanted to learn more about what he meant and how it related to my Sociology 214 course, Social Problems, with Dr. Matthew Lindholm. In class we are discussing the importance and process of claimsmaking.

Click here to read more.

Note to Readers

2011-09-17T22:38:00.000-04:00

Dear readers,

I hope this message reaches you well. I would like to reiterate that because of my class schedule and other commitments, I am very busy and not able to blog on a very frequent basis. My advisors and I are following Ethiopian affairs very closely and I am developing opinions both in public and private. Just give me time!

You can reach me at smgebru@gmail.com and follow me on twitter: @SMGebru.

Best wishes,

Samuel M. Gebru

R2P's Relevance in Africa is Growing

2011-09-08T18:40:00.000-04:00

By: Samuel M. Gebru

September 8, 2011

Dr. Mahmood Mamdani, Professor at Makerere University, Kampala, and Columbia University, New York, recently authored an opinion article entitled What does Gaddafi's fall mean for Africa? on Al Jazeera.

Dr. Mamdani's article essentially criticized the "Responsibility to Protect" (R2P), a crucial United Nations principle that sovereignty is a responsibility and not a privilege.

Following the 2001 R2P report released to the international community, the set of principles became a pivotal norm in the fight to protect civilians. The reality that Dr. Mamdani has failed to articulate is that monstrous thugs rule some African states.

Dr. Mamdani has also failed to articulate the main objectives of R2P, effectively demonizing it as a form of foreign control:

States have a responsibility to protect their citizens from mass atrocities, including genocide and crimes against humanity.
States that are unable to protect their own population will receive support from the international community in capacity building efforts.
States "manifestly failing" to protect their own population from mass atrocities will become subject to the international community's efforts to broker peace, first diplomatically, and then more coercively.

R2P points that military force is only a last resort option for the international community when a state fails to protect its own population. In the case of Libya, Colonel Muammar Gadhafi was using his own air force to indiscriminately kill his citizens.

Gadhafi and his likes have failed to protect their citizens and have resorted to intentional and indiscriminate mass atrocities; nothing here warrants their continuity in power.

If R2P was around a few decades ago, African thugs like Siad Barre of Somalia, Mengistu Hailemariam of Ethiopia, Idi Amin Dada of Uganda and Charles Taylor of Liberia would have been removed much quicker.

Nowadays, leaders like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea and Omar al-Bashir of Sudan will share the same fate of Muammar Gadhafi and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia. Be it through R2P or internal revolutions, such as with Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, Africa's leaders have a tendency to overstay their welcome.

Dr. Mamdani does a great job in highlighting the serious concern of growing external influence on Africa, especially on the part of powerful states. The West, quite frankly, is looking to stop Asian influence in Africa and promote the same neoliberalism that has failed in their homelands.

Africa's leaders need to become very cautious and must always put the future of Africa's people in the foreground of their discussions with external leaders—from the East and West. The fear of growing foreign influence in Africa, whether real or perceived, does not excuse Africa's leaders from the responsibility to protect their civilians, however.

The unspeakable crimes against humanity committed by many African leaders clearly violate R2P and on a moral, commonsense level they are actions that no leader should take on his own civilians regardless of what the international community or law says.

Force is no longer a sustainable way to maintain power while people are rising in masses fighting for their inalienable rights.

Samuel M. Gebru is President of the Ethiopian Global Initiative and a B.A. Political Science candidate at Concordia College. Views expressed here are his.

Thoughts on the BBC Allegations and Ethiopia's Response

2011-08-09T19:02:00.000-04:00

USAID food aid in Ethiopia. (Photo Source)

By: Samuel M. Gebru

August 9, 2011

Before articulating my thoughts on Ethiopia’s response to BBC’s allegations, I would like to share my thoughts on BBC’s allegations:

1. I have some serious concerns about the legitimacy of the August 5 BBC article, Ethiopia 'using aid as weapon of oppression'. Its not a new claim, the BBC made a similar allegation in 2010, in which it was forced to apologize to the Government of Ethiopia for wrong allegations regarding the EPRDF's misuse of food aid during the Ethiopian Civil War.

2. I highly doubt that there is a systematic oppression of food aid and believe that in many cases throughout the developing world, local level officials and ruling party loyalists, who often operate without much oversight, abuse power.

3. I think it would be absurd to say that no abuse of food aid happens in Ethiopia but the claim that it is systemic is quite unsubstantiated. One cannot indict an entire federal government for the serious abuse of power by neighborhood and municipal officials that, in most cases, are in very rural and remote areas with very limited oversight by state and federal officials.

4. The Development Assistance Group of Ethiopia (DAG Ethiopia), which includes all of the head representatives of Ethiopia's donor partners in Addis Ababa, conducted its own investigation into previous allegations made by BBC and Human Rights Watch and concluded that there were no systematic abuses of food aid. Keep in mind, DAG Ethiopia released this report not only during the time of allegations made by BBC and HRW but also at a time when their respective governments were increasing aid to Ethiopia. I find it extremely hard to believe that DAG Ethiopia's member governments would increase aid to Ethiopia while their own countries were suffering budget changes and worsening economic problems unless they knew where their money was going and could substantiate it for the most part.

5. The journalistic integrity of the BBC team that went to Ethiopia undercover and illegally conducted their reporting in the Ogaden region failed to mention that the area itself is a war zone and that the Ethiopian military is actively engaging in a long-winded fight against a rebel movement that has openly admitted to terrorism.

I have, however, read a press release by the Embassy of Ethiopia to the United Kingdom published August 5 regarding the recent BBC article on the alleged usage of international food aid as a weapon of oppression. Here are some brief thoughts:

1. I agree that the timing of this report is quote opportunistic on the part of the BBC. It exploits the serious drought and famine in the Horn of Africa and serves a political purpose.

2. The article was indeed unbalanced, particularly with regards to reporting on the ONLF and OLF. The press release does a good job discrediting both rebel organizations.

3. Appropriately, the press release mentioned that BBC correspondents have received visas to Ethiopia on many occasions. This is important as it gives context to discredit the necessity for clandestine investigations. There are many foreign reporters that go to Ethiopia legally and write negative stories already.

4. The press release makes a heavy statement that Ethiopia "refutes absolutely the allegation that there is a policy or practice of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrest and routine torture by the police, prison officers and other members of the security services and the military." This is quite the statement to make and frankly, it is not convincing. Even in states where democratic traditions are thriving and have long been held, there are documented evidences of the aforementioned occurring. It is truly concerning to state that there are "absolutely" no extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests or torture going on in Ethiopia, a democracy in its infancy. It may be that at an institutional level the Government of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian National Defense Force do not condone killings, arbitrary arrests and torture, but at a local level an absolute claim cannot be made or substantiated.

5. The press release states that only some international NGOs and the ONLF are making statements regarding inhumane treatment. However, need I remind the Embassy of Ethiopia in London that due to Ethiopia's revised Charities and Societies Proclamation many local human rights organizations were forced to shut down due to lack of funding? Even the Development Assistance Group Ethiopia (DAG Ethiopia), an international consortium of 26 multilateral and bilateral governmental donors, expressed serious concern about the potential negative impact of this January 2009 law on Ethiopia's civil society. What would in fact help the press release is if independent and local Ethiopian human rights groups were able to corroborate.

EGI Statement on Horn of Africa Drought and Famine

2011-07-30T23:51:00.001-04:00

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Somalis from southern Somalia carry their belongings
as they make their way to a new camp for internally
displaced people in Mogadishu Somalia, Saturday July
30, 2011. (AP / Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Cambridge, Mass., United States

Roughly 100 million people inhabit the Horn of Africa, consisting of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. It is a region that is unfortunately known for the seemingly endless problems of wars, droughts, famines and diseases.

The Ethiopian Global Initiative is deeply concerned by the current drought and famine situation plaguing millions of people in the Horn of Africa. We applaud the international community’s efforts to quickly respond to the regional malnutrition and starvation of the people. The effects of famine also include the spread of epidemics and the increase of mortality rates.

It is nothing short of a scandal for humans to suffer from famine in the 21st century. With the technological and economic advancements over the past decades, famines, regardless of location, should be a thing of the past. Food security and healthcare must be placed as a top priority for governments in the Horn of Africa and other developing states.

Read full statement here.

Boeing Delays Ethiopian Airlines, Again

2011-07-14T18:27:00.000-04:00

The first Dreamliner for Ethiopian Airways (No. 39, foreground), is shown last month on the Everett assembly line. This jet has since rolled out of the factory but is now in storage on Paine Field awaiting rework. Its delivery reportedly has been pushed out three months, to next March. MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES

The Boeing Company, one of the world's premier maker of commercial airplanes, is delaying the launch of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the fifth time, Seattle Times reports. This isn't particularly exciting news for Ethiopian Airlines, the flag carrier of Ethiopia, which runs an almost exclusive Boeing fleet. This will certainly puncture some plans of the Addis Ababa-based airline that has felt the burn of continued delays from Boeing. Hopefully, this is the last time that Boeing delays the launch of the B787 Dreamliner. Ethiopian Airlines is the African launch customer of the B787 Dreamliner.

Ethiopia's Meles Zenawi Congratulates South Sudan

2011-07-14T18:19:00.000-04:00

H.E. Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (center)
in Juba, South Sudan on July 9, 2011 to attend independence day celebrations.

Join Larry Ward's 2011 Cambridge City Council Campaign

2011-07-11T01:50:00.000-04:00

Dear readers,

I hope all is well with you. I am back in Cambridge politics with my fourth election campaign, working as the Communication Director for the Larry Ward for Cambridge City Council Campaign.

Dr. Larry Ward is no stranger to Cambridge residents, especially through his work with youth, families, nonprofits, sports and education. He's constantly been there for the city's youth and families through various programs and organizations. Briefly serving on the City Council in 2009 after Councillor Brian Murphy resigned, Dr. Ward is someone many in Cambridge have come to find as personable and accessible.

I am building a team of volunteers that are willing to help us knock on doors, make phone calls, host fundraising events and distribute campaign literature. This is a great opportunity, particularly for students interested in the politics of Cambridge, and for anyone slightly concerned about their community.

Let me know if you would be interested in learning more about the campaign, what we stand for and how to volunteer, even if its for a little bit. Find us online at www.larryward.org and connect with us on twitter and facebook.

Thanks,

Samuel

Originally sent as an email to friends in Cambridge. My blog are my own views and do not reflect any organization I am affiliated with, including this campaign.

The Emperor's Speech: The Speech that Made TIME

2011-06-30T12:10:00.000-04:00

His Imperial Majesty, The Emperor of Ethiopia, delivering his speech before the
League of Nations. Geneva, Switzerland. June 30, 1936.

By: Samuel M. Gebru

Thursday, June 30, 2011

On this day, 75 years ago, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, delivered a speech in Geneva, Switzerland before the League of Nations that shall forever go down in history as one of the greatest speeches of the 20th Century.

The June 30, 1936 speech was an appeal to the League of Nations after the Empire of Ethiopia was invaded by the Kingdom of Italy. Emperor Haile Selassie I fled Addis Ababa, his capital city, on May 5, 1936. The Emperor, highly regarded for his international statesmanship, heavily emphasized one of the core tenants of the League of Nations’ establishment, Article 10, the principle of collective security, saying that:

It is collective security: it is the very existence of the League of Nations. It is the confidence that each State is to place in international treaties. It is the value of promises made to small States that their integrity and their independence shall be respected and ensured.

The Empire of Ethiopia, known as Abyssinia, was modernizing under the Emperor’s leadership. Unfortunately, its military was poorly managed, and aside from the Imperial Guard, poorly trained. The lack of resources, for instance, meant that Ethiopia’s Imperial Air Force in 1936 only had three active warplanes.

In 1934 and 1935, Italy had made various aggressions into Abyssinian territory. Notably, however, was the construction of an Italian fort in Walwal, Ethiopia. This incident in 1930 was a violation of the Treaty of Friendship both Ethiopia and Italy signed in 1928 and began the gradual encroachment into Ethiopian territory that eventually led to the second Italo-Abyssinian War in 1935.

Emperor Haile Selassie’s appeal to the League of Nations was not only a direct message to the United Kingdom and France but also it served as a reminder of the League’s inability to address world conflict as a unified body. Italy, a 1919 founding member of the League, and Ethiopia, joining in 1923, were bound by Article 10 from aggression.

Stressing collective security, the Emperor eluded to Articles 10 and 15 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, sharing that an attack on one League member state meant an attack on all members. The Emperor rightfully asked, “Has each of the States Members, as it was its duty to do in virtue of its signature appended to Article 15 of the Covenant, considered the aggressor as having committed an act of war personally directed against itself?”

Despite the membership of Ethiopia and Italy in the League of Nations and the two 1928 treaties signed, the Treaty of Friendship and the Kellogg-Briand Pact, the ultimate invasion of Ethiopia was Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini’s goal. Branded as Africa Orientale Italiana, the Kingdom of Italy’s possessions included Italian Eritrea and Italian Somaliland with the mission of including Ethiopia.

The Emperor’s speech sent a strong message to the League’s 52 members. Not only did the Emperor focus on the plight of Ethiopia, he also shared the common issue facing small states that were “exposed to the greed of a powerful neighbour [sic].” The Emperor challenged the League of Nations to carry out its Covenant without reservation:

I have heard it asserted that the inadequate sanctions already applied have not achieved their object. At no time, and under no circumstances could sanctions that were intentionally inadequate, intentionally badly applied, stop an aggressor. This is not a case of the impossibility of stopping an aggressor but of the refusal to stop an aggressor.

Emperor Haile Selassie I’s work to secure the necessary support to curb Italian ambitions in Ethiopia ultimately paid off, albeit late. After weighing its own national interests in defeating the unholy alliance between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, the United Kingdom worked with Emperor Haile Selassie to form the special military unit, the Gideon Force. The Gideon Force, led by British Major General Orde Charles Wingate, ultimately paved the road for Ethiopia’s victory in 1941.

On May 5, 1941, exactly five years to his exile, Emperor Haile Selassie returned to Addis Ababa. Much can be said about the Emperor’s speech on June 30, 1936, appealing for help at Ethiopia’s most vulnerable time. That same year TIME Magazine named Emperor Haile Selassie as “Man of the Year.”

The admonishing words of the King of Kings of Ethiopia will forever dawn over the history of the League of Nations: “God and history will remember your judgment.”

Samuel sits down with "The Benchmark"

2011-06-04T15:30:00.004-04:00

In this interview with The Benchmark with Kallie Ejigu, Ethiopian Global Initiative President Samuel Gebru opens up about his background, motivations for continuing his nonprofit work and his life goals. The exclusive interview with Kalkidan “Kallie” Ejigu, held at the Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington, D.C., gives an in-depth look into EGI’s beginnings and some of its projects. Samuel and Kalkidan discuss what it actually means to combine and capture the social and intellectual capital of students and professionals in order to reverse the brain drain. Samuel also explains two flagship EGI projects, the Midwives Scholarship Fund and U.S. College Students for Ethiopia. More information can be obtained by contacting EGI.

WATCH INTERVIEW HERE

A Prime Minister's Hug

2011-06-04T12:07:00.000-04:00

Thought I would share this picture!

This is an interesting picture of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia and Prime Minister Essam Sharaf of Egypt exchanging hugs at the National Palace in Addis Ababa. Looking above is Ambassador Mahmoud Dirir of Ethiopia to Egypt.

This picture was taken during the Egyptian Prime Minister's official visit to Ethiopia earlier in May to defray some tension over Ethiopia's plan to build the Millennium Renaissance Dam, a contentious dam on the Nile River.

Thoughts on Paul B. Henze's Death

2011-06-03T11:26:00.001-04:00

Paul B. Henze and Samuel M. Gebru
August 2006, Washington, D.C.

This photo was taken at Washington, D.C.'s Axum Restaurant in August 2006 and features a much younger me and a much healthier Paul B. Henze. This was our first formal meeting prior to my departure to Ethiopia to meet his longtime friend, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Seyoum Mesfin. Paul, a great friend and mentor of mine, was a renowned Ethiopianist and friend of the people of Ethiopia. His wife of 59 years, Martha, also a scholar and friend of the people of Ethiopia, passed away in 2009 and he joined her on May 19, 2011. Paul's legacy spans beyond Ethiopia and I am sure he will be remembered by all as an amazing scholar, CIA and National Security specialist and a caring friend. Here is his formal obituary published June 2, 2011: http://wapo.st/iwJXet

Ethiopia Commutes Derg Sentences

2011-06-02T15:06:00.000-04:00

Some of the Derg officials in their trials.

According to a Voice of America article and a Reuters article, former top-level members of Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam's government, known as the Derg, were given a rare form of pardoning by the President of Ethiopia. President Girma Woldegiorgis decided to commute the sentences of the 23 officials after pressure from Ethiopia's Christian and Muslim religious leaders. This is nothing short of a slap on the wrist. These 23 officials were completely and wholeheartedly in agreement with the mass killings of Ethiopians under the leadership of Colonel Mengistu, who comfortably lives in Harare under the direct protection of President Robert Mugabe.

Ethiopia’s Democratic Experience Twenty Years and Counting

2011-05-28T15:02:00.000-04:00

Tanks in the streets of Addis Ababa
after rebels seized the capital in 1991.

By: Samuel M. Gebru

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Cambridge, Mass., USA – On this day, twenty years ago, a group of Ethiopian rebels known as the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), fighting the military government of Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam, were able to finally topple what was left of his communist powerhouse.

May 28, 1991 began a transformation in Ethiopia; it opened a new era for a state that was governed by absolute monarchs for 3,000 years and then a military government for 17 years. Surely, this did not mean a newfound freedom had occurred, not even today. Then transitional President Meles Zenawi, who began leading a government that had enough coffers for a few days, promised a new constitution and transitional government.

The Transitional Government of Ethiopia (TGE) was formed in July 1991 after a national conference that also saw the participation of scores of previously exiled and self-exiled Ethiopians—even members of the Ethiopian Imperial Family who either fled in 1974 or who were imprisoned participated. The new Council of Representatives was tasked with the responsibility of charting the new Ethiopia. After Ethiopia’s first popularly-chosen national parliament was elected in 1995, the government assumed a new constitution and a new name. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) was formed.

Between 1991 and 1995, however, there was a lot of noteworthy political turbulence. In 1992, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), currently an armed resistance movement against, withdrew from the TGE’s Council of Representatives. In 1993, the Southern Ethiopia People’s Democratic Coalition withdrew from the TGE. On May 24, 1993, Eritrea, previously an Ethiopian province, received sovereignty in a United Nations-backed referendum. These are three of some major turning points that continued to haunt the legitimacy of the TGE and subsequently the FDRE’s political system for lack of inclusion and political pluralism.

Meles Zenawi, who has Chaired EPRDF since 1989, has led Ethiopia since 1991. While once a staunch Marxist who idolized Albania’s political system, his government has since established warm relations with the West, particularly as it has successfully received economic and humanitarian aid from the West and its liberal democratic institutions. It is unclear how long and far this will continue as Ethiopia currently is consolidating relations with the East and emphasizing its economic trade policies with China and India. As Meles Zenawi’s government continues to pursue an aggressive developmental state economic model, state-led capitalism and staunch skepticism of neo-liberal economic policies, its cordial relations with the U.S. and Europe may come into question.

Ethiopia’s democratic experience has been interesting to explore. For me, a person born in 1991—a revolution baby—I have had the ability to grow with both the positive and negative aspects of Ethiopia’s short democratic experience as an observer. The FDRE Constitution is an amazing document that enshrines freedoms that are fundamental to all humans. However, it continues to be circumscribed as those same fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and of the press are continuously violated. Culturally, Ethiopian officials that even are of the lowest rank are inclined to exploit their power for harm instead of upholding the law. Consequently, all of government is blamed.

Ethnic federalism has been, for the most part, a beneficial transition from a strong centrist government—perhaps one of the government’s best policy achievements. Ethnic groups in Ethiopia have been able to preserve their languages, cultures and histories as part of the Ethiopian mosaic that is truly multicultural. The nine semi-autonomous states of Ethiopia have more power to spend and raise their own funds than ever before. While there is certainly room to improve on the ethnic federalism policy, it is for the most part a sound policy that enshrines each individual’s right to ethnic identity within the Ethiopian context.

Charting the future in Ethiopia’s democratic experience is a matter of ensuring that the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of Ethiopia are completely adhered to at all levels of government. Ethiopia, like many states to implement a developmental state model, has prioritized economic growth at the expense of political reform. From having only one opposition member within the 547-member House of People’s Representatives to restricting the movement of opposition parties and the expression of private press, Ethiopia has much to deliver before maturing politically.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front toppled Colonel Mengistu
Hailemariam's government on May 28, 1991. He, and his party, has led Ethiopia since then.

Fundamental freedoms must be unconditionally respected, and it’s the task of the public and private sector to educate all Ethiopians of their constitutional rights and, most importantly, their responsibilities. The rule of law only works best when everyone knows the rules of the game—then we are able to ensure accountability as informed citizens. As Ethiopia embarks on capacity building programs at all levels of government, it is encouraging to note that political reform is enshrined in the government’s 2010-2015 Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), a national development strategy. One can only hope that it is more than words but actions that will be the outcome of the GTP.

The GTP is ambitious. Perhaps the most important aspect of the GTP is the building of a new dam on the Nile River in the State of Benishangul. The Millennium Renaissance Dam is a cause worth rallying around and for. Its foreign policy implications have been so serious that it prompted a state visit of the Prime Minister of Egypt to Ethiopia along with a so-called goodwill public diplomacy delegation from Cairo. Egypt’s historical dominance on the Nile River is going to end soon because of changing policies in Ethiopia and other upstream states that benefit very little from the world’s largest river.

May 28 is Ethiopia’s National Day. Partially for political reasons this is so—but on the larger level, it is the day when Ethiopia, and Africa, said its final “good riddance” to one of the continent’s most brutal governments in modern history. But it is not enough to celebrate one day and it is certainly not enough to become complacent with the achievements of the past, no matter how big or small. Causes worth fighting for, such as improved access to basic healthcare, electricity, clean water and fundamental freedoms are what should govern the next twenty years of Ethiopia’s democratic experience.

Anything short of this is, well, undemocratic.

Infant Deaths Drop After Midwives Undergo Inexpensive Training

2011-05-11T18:14:00.000-04:00

Lynn Johnson/National Geographic, via Getty Images

Note: this article originally appeared on the Ethiopian Global Initiative blog.

By: Samuel M. Gebru

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Training midwives is very important to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

A recent New York Times article by Donald G. McNeil, Jr., entitled Infant Deaths Drop After Midwives Undergo Inexpensive Training, underscores the importance and progressive results of training traditional midwives in modern medicine.

McNeil highlights studies that have been conducted with Zambian midwives, concluding that relatively inexpensive training programs can produce results that save hundreds and thousands of lives.

In Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Global Initiative is continuing its six-year partnership with Hamlin Fistula International by providing full scholarships for eight students at the Hamlin College of Midwives in Ethiopia. The 2011-2015 project is relatively inexpensive when compared with undergraduate education in the United States.

EGI will fully fund eight students at $4,000 per student per year. That means for $16,000, EGI will be able to fully fund one student that will, in turn, impact the lives of hundreds and thousands of rural Ethiopian mothers-to-be. That's about $140,000 for four years.

Instead of curing obstetric fistula, or funding it, EGI and the Hamlin College of Midwives are focusing on solving the root causes of obstetric fistula: lack of maternal healthcare and lack of awareness.

By supporting the Ethiopian Global Initiative's Midwives Scholarship Fund, you will help EGI fund the training of Ethiopian midwives to earn a Bachelor of Science degree. Saving lives is as easy as clicking here and making a donation.

Samuel M. Gebru, an undergraduate student at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, serves as President of the Ethiopian Global Initiative.

Celebrating Press Freedom, or Lack Thereof

2011-05-03T20:00:00.001-04:00

The 2011 World Press Freedom Day celebration is in Washington, D.C. The U.S. is hosting it for the first time.

By: Samuel M. Gebru

May 3, 2011

Today, May 3, is World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), an international political holiday of the United Nations. WPFD’s purpose is to raise awareness of freedom of the press, its significance and to serve as a reminder to all governments that disrespecting freedom of expression is not tolerable.

WPFD serves as a reminder of the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees every human the inalienable right to expression. Whether that is posting a blog article or writing for a nationally acclaimed newspaper, journalists have rights that are indeed alienable. Journalists also have an important stake in building democracy through promoting public discourse on local, national and international issues.

Africa and Asia are usually hotspots when it comes to violating freedom of the press. The United Nations chose May 3 as World Press Freedom Day in honor of the Windhoek Declaration, a declaration of press freedom principles composed by African journalists in 1991 in Windhoek, Namibia. At the end of the Cold War, African print journalists were inspired by democratic movements in Europe and Asia to state their principles of a free press as a machine to democracy.

Because the Windhoek Declaration strongly asserted that a free press is fundamental to democracy and human rights, it inspired the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to endorse the declaration, subsequently leading to a holiday.

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, it is important to note that Ethiopia is known as one of the world’s worst violators of press freedom and Internet censorship. Other countries that suffer similar repression include Iran, China, Zimbabwe and Cuba. Censoring journalists is a fundamental violation of one’s human rights and therefore, a transgression of democracy.

In Ethiopia, the telecommunications systems are state-owned. This is a powerful way to control media. The state-owned telecommunications company controls the Internet, fixed and mobile phones. According to the global academic OpenNet Initiative, Ethiopia conducts a great deal of political censorship. Offline and online journalists must be fully protected and should not be subject to imprisonment on the basis of differing viewpoints.

The 2011 World Press Freedom Day’s theme is 21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers. This is an appropriate theme for the new wave of governments censoring the Internet and new media. The fundamental principles laid by African journalists exactly 20 years ago in Windhoek, Namibia must be continues.

Osama is dead: what now?

2011-05-02T13:12:00.000-04:00

President Obama announced the killing of bin Laden
at the White House on Sunday. (New York Times)

I was in New York City last night when I received many text messages, emails and phone calls from friends saying that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been killed. After doing some quick searching on my BlackBerry, I was surprised to confirm the news.

The death of Osama bin Laden, in a highly secret U.S. special mission in Pakistan, is definitely a major sigh of relief. For the United States government and people, Osama's death marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new era.

A portion of my childhood, since 2001, revolved around al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. The War on Terrorism era is what many in my generation lived through, with the constant fear of the unknown.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, Osama bin Laden had become the American personification of evil, a spot reserved for the likes of Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein and Joseph Stalin. He became public enemy number one. Since President Bill Clinton, the U.S. has tried to kill or capture Osama, but the search intensified after President George W. Bush pledged that it was a national priority.

I was happy to hear of Osama bin Laden's death. Celebrating someone's death surely isn't a nice thing to do, but I am sure there is room for exceptions!

A view of the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on
Monday, where Osama bin Laden was killed
by United States forces. (New York Times)

While texting with a friend of mine who is originally from New York City, I came to realize that as exciting as a moment Osama's death was and is for the U.S. and the world, this only heightens the threat of terrorism. Retaliation by al Qaeda operatives is a very serious and likely outcome from Osama's death.

Osama bin Laden was more than just a person: Osama was an idea that arguably still lives on. While it is an exciting occasion, worthy of celebration, its important to remember that terrorism, particularly al Qaeda, is a very decentralized organization with cells and groups worldwide that conduct their own work. Thus, it might be worthy to say although the snake's head has been cut off, the snake could very well survive death.

In the midnight darkness, people gathered outside the
White House, chanting and cheering and
waving American flags. (New York Times)

This occasion is definitely one for the political textbooks too. U.S. President Barack Obama announced Osama bin Laden's killing late last night in a address to the nation at the White House. I thought the President's address was going to be from the Oval Office, considering the magnitude and implications of Osama's death. Regardless, it is beyond safe to say that the President and the Democratic Party will capitalize on Osama bin Laden's killing--capitalizing it enough that it is safe to say President Obama just sealed his reelection. So as long as President Obama is associated with having ordered Osama bin Laden's death, he will get reelected easily.

Moving forward, its important that everyone in the world realizes its a great thing that Osama bin Laden was located and killed in Pakistan but that terrorism is beyond one man. Terrorism will continue until the root causes that continue to motivate terrorism are resolved--Islamic fundamentalism and serious, unresolved Arab grievances that portray the West negatively. Until then, one can only hope for greater peace.

Its a great day, not just for the United States, but for the world.

Note on Sultan Ali Mirah Hanfere's Death

2011-04-26T14:15:00.000-04:00

The late Sultan Ali Mirah Hanfere of Afar (WIC Photo).

Sultan Ali Mirah Hanfere, spiritual leader and traditional king of the Afar people, passed away on April 24. Enthroned in 1945, he was ruler of the Afar Kingdom of the Ethiopian Empire until 1974 when the military junta of Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam forcefully abolished the monarchy. The Sultan of Afar left to exile in Saudi Arabia while leading the Afar Liberation Front, a coalition member that helped topple Colonel Mengistu's brutal government in 1991.

Interestingly, most people do not know much about Sultan Ali Mirah Hanfere. Admittedly, neither do I. Upon hearing of his death, I did a quick google query to learn as much about him. The Sultan was a staunch Ethiopian patriot, a defender of the people. On a recent email listserv, I said the following on his death.

It is high time we chronicle our history and learn from religious, political, social, economic and cultural leaders about our past. People such as the late Sultan of Afar are crucial in our quest to continue our discovery of Ethiopia. It strikes me as being odd why we Ethiopians don't engage in oral and written history projects that can be archived for future generations.

This is yet another Ethiopian gem lost.

The African Union: What you need to know

2011-04-14T00:04:00.000-04:00

Moammar Gadhafi, third from right, stands Monday with the African Union delegation trying to mediate the Libyan civil war.

My thoughts: This CNN article, The African Union: What you need to know, heavily quotes Richard Downie of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. I think it is with cause that the African Union is definitely being seen as an increasing player in continental peace, security and economic development. Indeed, the U.S. has Dr. Michael Battle as its experienced academician turned Ambassador in Addis Ababa for the AU. However, Downie overstates the AU's image. While the AU may be better than its predecessor, the AU is continually known as the Dictator's Club amongst spectators both within and outside of the continent. Because the AU's lack of resources and political willpower, its relevance remains largely in question for the millions of Africa's poor. Internal and regional conflicts need to be resolved swiftly before the AU's capacity can be built and strengthened.

Shameful Ethiopian Burns National Flag

2011-04-12T01:25:00.002-04:00

This Ethiopian, if he even deserves the name, just burned the flag of Ethiopia. Regardless of the emblems we have used over the past 100 years, the national tri-color was burned. Shame on him.

Step One: Know Your Opponent's Name

2011-04-08T19:31:00.000-04:00

A new posting on Nazret.com by a group calling itself the "Coordinating Task force for Ethiopians in and around Atlanta, Georgia" apparently doesn't know the name of Ethiopia's ruling party, who they, by the way, very much oppose. Step one in politics: know your opponent's name! The EPRDF is not the Ethiopian People’s Republic Democratic Federation, rather the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front.

The Woyane Are Coming!

2011-04-08T15:29:00.000-04:00

Read the Growth and Transformation Plan here.

The Woyane are coming! The Woyane are coming! Imagine Paul Revere yelling that...

In all sorts of seriousness, the Government of Ethiopia on Tuesday, April 5 sent to North America a high-level delegation led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hailemariam Dessalegn. The delegation's purpose: meet with the Ethiopian diaspora, present the merits of the 2010-2015 Growth and Transformation Plan and encourage their involvement in the nation's development.

Ethiopia's Government, as articulated by its Prime Minister, is embracing an East Asian-type of developmental state, shifting away from the neoliberalism he argues prevented African economic growth in the past three decades. The eloquent defender of a hard state is ironically seen by the media as a darling of the West.

Some important things can be said about a development state. Even the UN is increasingly lending its support to a governmental arrangement that prioritizes state-led development of basic infrastructure and aggressive management of the private sector. Often termed as state capitalism, the developmental state model--unfortunately--prioritizes economic growth over political reform. Thus, states such as Thailand and China that have grown much through the developmental state model have horrendous human rights records. Could this also be the case in Ethiopia? Evidence says yes. More importantly, the situation begs the question: can prioritizing economic growth over political reform be sustainable in the long-term?

Ethiopia is displaying fascinating results of economic growth. According to the International Monetary Fund, Ethiopia is the fasted non-oil producing African state and the third fastest growing economy in the world, only behind China and India. Ethiopia's Ministry of Finance and Economic Development produced the Growth and Transformation Plan last year. The GTP is an ambitious plan that aims to build the basic infrastructure Ethiopia needs to continue its development program. Although I am skeptical of a government-led economy, I do applaud what Ethiopian officials are doing to lift the country from poverty.

The Ethiopian delegation led by Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn will be tag-teaming to meet with Ethiopians in 14 North American cities this weekend. This is a terrific time for members of the diaspora to openly engage some of the most important policymakers in Ethiopia. For those who are skeptical of the GTP and government-led economies, this is a prime opportunity to question and criticize the government. For those who are supportive of the GTP and its ambitious plans, this is a prime opportunity to demonstrate that support. As for protesting, that doesn't solve anything and is actually counterproductive. Other than a public relations gimmick, protesting doesn't achieve much.

Best is to criticize the opponent who dares to meet with you.

Religion to Pause "Water War"

2011-04-08T00:12:00.000-04:00

H.H. Abune Paulos I, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church
greets counterpart H.H. Shenouda III, Pope and Patriarch
of the Coptic Church upon landing in Addis Ababa. Source.

The Patriarchs of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Coptic Orthodox Church have been communicating recently over the Ethiopian Government's announcement to build a dam on the Nile River, according to an online Egyptian source.

The article notes that the Coptic Patriarch wants to convince the Ethiopian Patriarch to convince the government to not "escalate the water problem with Egypt and Sudan." I am interested to see what Patriarch Shenouda means by trying to "convince" Ethiopians not to continue with their massive hydroelectric project.

The anticipated outcome will be the Grand Millennium Dam and will be located in Western Ethiopia's Benishangul Gumuz State. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and state officials inaugurated the project by laying the dam's cornerstone recently.

Laying the cornerstone angered officials in Egypt's embattled government, which is dealing with its own internal problems. For Ethiopia to not "escalate" its water problems with Egypt means that Ethiopia should not continue the project at all because anything beyond doing nothing will anger Egypt. The colonial treaties signed in the 1920s are irrelevant to Ethiopia, which is source of about 85% of the Nile River's waters.

Hopefully, the Ethiopian Patriarch can convey to the Coptic Patriarch that the Grand Millennium Dam is a project that is in the highest national interests for Ethiopia to pursue. The article mentions that the "Ethiopian church said the situation was difficult in light of the secular nature of the Ethiopian government." A secular government may be good in this nature.

Riot Preparedness and Ethiopia’s Internal Security

2011-03-23T15:13:00.000-04:00

Youth in Addis Ababa's 2005 anti-government riots.

By: Samuel M. Gebru

March 23, 2011

The events unfolding in the Middle East and Northern Africa are showing just how governments are responding to civil unrest.

Whereas the professional military in Egypt was reluctant to use force in quelling the protests and riots that saw the eventual demise of President Hosni Mubarak, Colonel Muammar Gadhafi’s military is using its air force power to quell rebels in Eastern Libya.

Too often in Africa and the Middle East, we see examples like Libya’s—perhaps not to the same degree of brutality, however.

For Ethiopia, the 2005 anti-government riots left 193 people dead, and thousands injured and arrested. The riots, trigged from allegations of widespread voter fraud and irregularities, were a remarkable demonstration of the Ethiopian Federal Police’s ineptness with riot control.

The Federal Police of Ethiopia is, according to Minister Tefera Walwa of Capacity Building, responsible for “maintain[ing] order at all times without having to resort to undue force in general and to the use of firearms in particular.”

Following the independent investigation that looked into the riots, the government was compelled to take responsibility, albeit partially. Then U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Dr. Jendayi E. Frazier, noted in her conversations with Ethiopian officials that governments are to be held accountable as “upholders of the law.”

With civil unrest throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa, should another anti-government riot occur in Ethiopia, would the government respond adequately and appropriately or with force?

Due to what the Federal Police has done in improvements with riot preparation and preparedness since 2005’s debacle, it can be expected that Ethiopia would be prepared to adequately respond. Genuine improvements have been made. The Ethiopian Federal Police has been working with the South African Federal Police to develop its capacity to respond appropriately to riots.

In 2008, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Capacity Building commissioned a report through the Embassy of Ethiopia in London to formulate recommendations built around improving the capacity of its internal security infrastructure. The result was a report entitled “Modernising Internal Security in Ethiopia” authored by retired Colonel Michael Dewar.

I read the report when it was initially published and decided to refer back to it in the wake of the civil and political unrest the world is witnessing throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East.

One of the most interesting aspects of the report was Colonel Dewar’s encounter at an Addis Ababa prison. “When I asked what the minimum age for holding prisoners in this facility was, one policeman said 18, another 15.”

Inadequate facilities, improper placements and unhealthy conditions characterize, at best, Ethiopia’s prisons.

Colonel Dewar’s report goes in great length and detail to examine the Federal Police in its entire nature. His comprehensive recommendations, if fully implemented, will make sweeping and necessary reforms to truly modernize Ethiopia’s internal security.

The Government of Ethiopia’s 2005-2010 Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty and its 2010-2015 Growth and Transformation Plan spells out governance and capacity building as two very important aspects of Ethiopia’s development. The hope, of course, is that these words are beyond mere paper.

Should Ethiopians take to the streets, I would be surprised, at this point, if the Federal Police responds with force. Taking into account the Federal Police College’s values and the trainings with South Africa and the United Kingdom, Ethiopia does not have an excuse, as it did in 2005, for reacting to riots with force.

For Ethiopia to fully implement primacy of human rights and the rule of law, its internal security infrastructure needs to be properly equipped—physically, mentally and professionally—so as to become efficient and, perhaps most importantly, nonpolitical.

Meles Zenawi's New Lavish Home?

2011-03-20T20:29:00.000-04:00

Menelik Palace, Addis Ababa (Source)

Recently I read an article on Ethiopian English weekly The Reporter entitled PM to Get Lavish Residence. The article states that Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia is building a new "lavish" residence. I read the article and was amazed at the lack of professionalism the article's author, Zekarias Sintayehu, portrayed in his writing.

Foremost, the author indicates that, "A lavish residence is being built for Prime Minister Meles Zenawi." This would have been true had it not been false. The residence is not a personal estate for the Prime Minister who has, amidst doubts, pledged to not seek reelection in 2015.

Being built by a leading local firm, Varnero Construction PLC, the new residence will be the official residence of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. I am not sure whether the construction of a new residence will see the demolition of the old residence, built by Emperor Menelik II in 1886, or whether it will be build on completely new grounds somewhere else in Addis Ababa.

The Menelik Palace, as it has become to be known is a very old building that has lacked the necessary maintenance needed for the chief executive of Ethiopia. Emperor Haile Selassie I built the Grand Palace that served as his residence for sometime too. Today, the Grand Palace serves as the official residence of the President of Ethiopia while the Menelik Palace continues as the official residence of the Prime Minister.

Grand Palace, Addis Ababa (Source)

Building the necessary infrastructure to help the Prime Minister of Ethiopia execute his duties is a very significant step. When the United States of America was in the early stages of development as an official republic, the government and people saw the necessity to build an official residence that served as both the home and workplace of the President of the United States. Later in the 1900s with the advent of airplanes and advancements in technology, it was duly noted that the President of the United States needed secure travel and communications. Hence, Marine One, Air Force One and the Presidential Limousine.

Likewise, other heads of states and governments also need the necessary tools to execute their duties. In the case of Ethiopia, it is indeed a hegemonic power in Africa and its capital city serves as one of the five diplomatic capitals of the world. Therefore, it is necessary that our Prime Minister, regardless of who it may be at any given time, has the necessary infrastructure built around the position. Rightfully so, this includes the building of a new state-of-the-art official residence that can serve as the home and workplace of the Prime Minister while in office. I would even go as far as to say that the Government of Ethiopia should commission an entire fleet of state vehicles by the Ethiopian-based Holland Car PLC, famously known for its brand Abbay Car. Traditionally, heads of states and governments that come from countries that produce vehicles are driven in vehicles that are built in their country (e.g. U.S. President is driven in a Cadillac).

There is no harm in building a residence and infrastructure that will outlive Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Indeed, Emperor Menelik II's palace has outlived him.

Thoughts on Ethiopia’s Land Grabs

2011-03-10T20:15:00.000-05:00

By: Samuel M. Gebru

March 10, 2011

In the past two months, much has been talked about over the alleged land grabbing taking place in Southern and Southwestern Ethiopia. Namely in the State of Gambella, virgin land in Ethiopia is being sold at surprisingly low prices in the name of development and attracting foreign investment. I’m not talking about a village either—this is land the size of Belgium.

Ethiopian President Girma Woldegiorgis raised concerns at the current process of selling land to foreign firms mostly of Indian, Chinese and Saudi Arabian origin. My concerns do not differ much from that of the President and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency of Ethiopia. Although the Ministry of Agriculture seems genuinely interested in developing Ethiopia’s untapped reserves of land, its current policy is not sustainable and shortsighted.

Serious concerns must be raised when the Ministry of Agriculture is allowing foreign companies the opportunity to essentially rape Ethiopian land. Foreign firms entering the Ethiopian market are using Ethiopian land to grow food and crops that they import to their home countries. The process seems quite counterintuitive. Questions such as: “Has the environmental impact been assessed when growing tea leaves?” and “How can we ensure that the local economy is supported through mandating that employees must be Ethiopians?” do not seem to have been addressed.

In Ethiopia, and throughout the African continent, foreign firms are coming in with no serious intentions of technology transfer or investment in the local human capital. When does allowing a foreign company to enter and utilize Ethiopian land against the benefit of Ethiopian people make sense?

Generally speaking, I have been a silent observer to the inequities in allotting Ethiopian land to foreign companies. It is becoming more apparent that local communities are going to loose the most, however. Any policy that does not support local communities should not be pursued, whatever the cause may be.

Governments come and go, and so to companies. But the people, and the land, stay. For example, during Ethiopia’s communist era, the government allowed for the deforestation of thousands of acres of land in the Western Gojam region due to misguided policies on resettlement and fuel.

The question needs to be posed whether or not the foreign companies that are grabbing land in Ethiopia have the environment in mind—or whether the government intends on serious regulation of the inevitable and negative environmental impacts. While individual local communities in Ethiopia are learning how to rehabilitate forests, the current policy at the Ministry of Agriculture counteracts their efforts.

The commercial agriculture industry in Ethiopia needs serious thought and evaluation. Should Ethiopia’s government continue its current policy of allowing foreign firms to grow crops for their own domestic markets, it needs to thoughtfully regulate the industry in the best interest of local people that value the land more than the companies.

An Eritrean, an Ethiopian, the Marriott Hotel

2011-03-04T18:43:00.000-05:00

Arkan Haile, pictured with his wife
and children.

By: Samuel M. Gebru

March 4, 2011

Earlier this week I was in Washington, D.C. to deliver a speech entitled “The Promise of Ethiopia: Unity Beyond Borders.” On the sideline, I met with an Eritrean American named Arkan Haile at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center. He was recently interviewed by the Ethiopian American business and lifestyle website Tadias Magazine.

Arkan Haile, born and raised in Eritrea, is running for a spot in the Washington, D.C. City Council after Kwame Brown left his Councillor-At-Large seat to become Chairman of the Council. And you guessed it: he’s seeking Ethiopian support for the vote.

As a candidate for an at-large seat, anyone who is registered to vote in the District of Columbia, regardless of ward, can vote for him. Ethiopians are the leading African immigrant community in the city, so it will be beneficial to receive their support.

But Arkan is running against some tough opponents and being an independent might hurt him. When it comes to party politics, I’m sick of it—regardless of country. But even as the U.S. Founding Fathers themselves loathed party politics, they engaged in it knowing that it was an organized way to express collective grievances. Will not being a registered Democrat or Republican hurt him? Time will tell.

Arkan Haile, an attorney who is a founding partner of Gray Haile LLP, counsels clients ranging from investors, to start-ups and public companies. He earned a Law Degree from the University of Colorado in 2000 and even went back to his homeland Eritrea recently to volunteer, teaching Law. Admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and the State of Colorado, he aims to use his legal background and entrepreneurial spirit to encourage minority-owned businesses to succeed.

What I enjoyed about Arkan Haile is that he is an embodiment of the American Dream: a successful and educated lawyer, family man and minority businessman. Being energized by the growing participation of Americans in electoral politics, Arkan, as an immigrant, has decided to throw his hat into local politics.

Local politics is where it begins. In high school, I had the honor of serving as an Executive Voting Member of the City of Cambridge Coordinating Council for Children, Youth and Families, an official city board chaired by the Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Kids’ Council, as we call it, is a clearinghouse of the city’s services for children and families, encompassing the Public Health and Police Commissioners, Superintendent of Schools, Director for Human Service Programs, etc. Most importantly, the Kids’ Council had youth, parent, community, academic and business members.

I was fortunate to serve as a youth voting member and the first youth on the council’s Executive Committee. Out of the many things I learned, one thing stuck out most from my trips to help represent the City of Cambridge at the National League of Cities conferences. While federal politics is exciting and makes national and international news headlines, the decisions your local City Council makes on the city’s budget impacts residents more directly than the decisions made from the White House. Because of this, municipal governments are where we should focus our politicking.

As I read the Tadias Magazine interview with Arkan, and worked to meet him, I couldn’t help but wonder why and how an Ethiopian American magazine featured an Eritrean American running for an American political office. Meeting with Arkan encouraged me. He, like myself, sees no need for tensions between Ethiopians and Eritreans from a decades-old conflict that led to Eritrean sovereignty in 1993 and an ongoing border dispute. It was great to know that Arkan also shared my views on working to get Ethiopian and Eritrean youth together to unlearn the poisons of the past (our parents) and learn to forgive and progress. Ultimately, professing confidence in your neighbors, in the case of Eritrea and Ethiopia, will help you succeed economically and politically.

I believe that Arkan Haile, as an immigrant, a lawyer, a businessman and a father, will be able to adequately represent the needs of Washington, D.C.’s residents on various levels. See for yourself: www.arkanfordccouncil.com.

Montgomery County and Ethiopia: Developing a Sister City

2011-02-28T08:13:00.000-05:00

Meeting with some members of the Montgomery County
Ethiopian Sister City Committee at Abyssinian Ethiopian
Restaurant. Photo Source: click here.

By: Samuel M. Gebru

Silver Spring, Maryland

February 28, 2011

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with representatives of the Montgomery County Ethiopian Sister City Committee. On November 30, 2010, I wrote an article entitled Ethiopian Students at Montgomery College Advocate for Sister City where I highlighted the work that members of the Montgomery College Ethiopian Students Association were doing to initiate a sister city relationship between Montgomery County and a city in Ethiopia.

In November they invited me to join them advising their lofty, yet achievable, task. Since then, the Ethiopian students at Montgomery College led by Sosina Moges, a nursing major, have been actively working to form a legitimate process to choose a city, present it to the Ethiopian community of Montgomery County and ultimately advocate for its selection as the county's first African sister city.

They have an advantage. Ethiopians are the top African immigrant group in Montgomery County of Maryland. That means that by numbers alone they have an upper hand. Of course, the numbers will only matter if the committee is able to rally support of the community behind a particular city.

At yesterday's meeting, I was able to meet some of the people I was merely corresponding with via email for several months. It was great to put faces with names and I was also excited to hear what their next steps were. The Montgomery County Ethiopian Sister City Committee has prepared a very strong list of criteria that any Ethiopian city that is proposed must achieve. Their commitment to transparency is admirable.

For example, if Harrar was selected as a potential sister city, it would have to achieve the list of criteria in order to be short-listed. The qualifications of a sister city are very comprehensive. The committee is examining everything, from road and air accessibility to the amount of schools and potential economic opportunities.

Sister city relationships do not run off of government agreements. They are very much citizen-driven and their continuity depends on the involvement of individuals and groups from the private sector. Students, entrepreneurs, educators and community organizers are just some of the people that make sister cities happen. This sort of public diplomacy requires the advantage of having a large population but also a willing population in both countries.

Posing with Solomon Abdella, owner of the Abysinnia
Ethiopian Restaurant. Photo Source: click here.

I was happy to know that leading businessmen in the community, such as Solomon Abdella of the Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant, supports the endeavor and is actively attending and participating in committee meetings. The committee aims to hold an event on March 27 to reach out to Montgomery County's Ethiopian community to rally behind a single Ethiopian city that would then be proposed with backing data that proves its viability.

The excellent partnership between youth and adults that I have witnessed with the Montgomery County Ethiopian Sister City Committee over the past few months is not only commendable but should be replicated in other Ethiopian communities across the diaspora.

Did Ethnic Federalism Save Ethiopia?

2011-02-16T23:09:00.000-05:00

Ethiopia recently held the 5th
International Conference of the
Form of Federations. Pictures here.

By: Samuel M. Gebru

February 16, 2011

1991 is an important year in modern Ethiopian history. The year served as a monumental change for Ethiopia, from military rule to a transitional government that pledged to bring about social democracy. What saved Ethiopia in 1991 was ethnic federalism. But is it helping Ethiopia today? What lessons can our African neighbors learn from our experience? Can Ethiopia improve its federal framework?

Ethiopia is largely regarded to as an influential state actor in regional and continental politics. With Addis Ababa serving as host of the African Union and one of the top diplomatic capitals of the world, Ethiopia yields influence beyond its borders and the African continent. After almost two decades of a brutal military rule, Ethiopia reopened its borders when Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam’s government crumbled down in 1991.

By mid-1991, transitional President and leader of the northern rebels that toppled the military government, Meles Zenawi, promised sweeping reforms geared at keeping Ethiopia intact. Despite its shortcomings, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) did achieve some degree of representation from various ethnic, political and intellectual movements.

During this tense year, warring ethnic groups began voicing strong calls for secession from the Ethiopian union. Interestingly, Ethiopia remains one of the oldest polities in the world. The new political arrangement that the TFG adopted in its 1995 Constitution under the “Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia” was a parliamentary republic based on ethnic federalism. New borders were drawn up, dividing Ethiopia into nine states and two federally chartered cities. The TFG’s reasoning in choosing nine states was based off their method of figuring out what ethno-linguistic group could be grouped with others. The grouping took the term of “nations, nationalities and peoples.”

In a January 7, 2011 Reuters article, “Federalism in Ethiopia helps maintain unity,” by Aaron Maasho, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who has been leading the government since 1995 as Prime Minister and since 1991 as transitional President, stated that Ethiopia’s “balkanization” was avoided by ethnic federalism. The Prime Minister is correct in stating that Ethiopia was saved through ethnic federalism, granting autonomy to the “nations, nationalities and peoples.”

However, to what extent Ethiopia was “saved” remains the question. Critics would argue that the right to secession as provided in Article 39 Section 1 does more harm than good. The line reads: “Every Nation, Nationality and People in Ethiopia has an unconditional right to self-determination, including the right to secession.” Critics also argue that while the ethnic federalism framework in theory would greatly benefit Ethiopia, it is misused often by the authoritarian nature of the Ethiopian government. The most interesting claim is that the ruling party, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), purposefully included Section 1 of Article 39 to ensure Eritrea’s legal secession in 1993. This claim is practically, and perhaps even correctly, viewed as an open secret.

Ethnic federalism has indeed saved Ethiopia from destruction particularly as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) both continue to wage an armed secessionist movement in southern and southeastern Ethiopia. It allows previously marginalized societies the right to self-determination and self-governance; to speak their own language, to learn their own ethnic and cultural history.

For ethnic federalism to continue in Ethiopia today, political, social, economic and intellectual leaders need to come together and engage in conversations with both each other and the Ethiopian citizenry as to how to go about devising a new strategy forward. Conversations about ethnicity, identity, nationality and patriotism also need to be held in the villages of Ethiopia’s rural regions, where 85% of the population resides; in the public and private institutions of higher learning, students must be challenged to confront the issues facing their society daily, from poverty to democracy. If the current system continues, it won’t be surprising to see stronger opposition against Article 39 and perhaps the reinforcement of existing secessionist groups.

Allowing the “nations, nationalities and peoples” their rights to self-determination will continue to help Ethiopia move forward so as long as the practice of ethnic federalism is kept in line with its original intentions of promoting democracy and not nepotism or confusion over secession. Ethiopia’s neighbors, perhaps most prominently the Republic of Sudan, could and can still learn from its experiment with ethnic federalism. Had the Arab-dominated government of Sudan respected the ethnic identity and political, economic and social rights of the people of Southern Sudan, the world could have seen very different results from the recently held referendum.

Improving Ethiopia’s federal framework will undoubtedly take time before all sides of the political and social discourse can be “convinced” of mature and thoughtful dialogue for the country’s long-term development. It is evident that having comprehensive dialogues should be in the best interest of both the ruling party and the opposition parties. Ultimately, the growth of democracy, the promotion of education and equitable and sustainable economic development is what will continue to “save” Ethiopia.

History has shown that when Ethiopians view each other as partners, they are able to achieve wonders. As the Ethiopian proverb goes, “A partner in the business will not put an obstacle to it.”

Is Black History Month Relevant?

2011-02-08T00:44:00.001-05:00

By: Samuel M. Gebru

Moorhead, MN, United States

February is Black History Month.

Sometimes referred to as African American History Month, it started initially as Negro History Week. Its founder, Harvard University Professor Carter G. Woodson, grounded a framework to make more significant the history of African Americans in the context of American history. Black History Month’s aim continues to be the promotion of African American history and the contributions African Americans have made in the United States.

At the time of it’s founding, Negro History Week was very important to the promotion and preservation of the history of both Negroes and all colored people. Negroes were treated as second-class citizens in their own homeland for centuries. Some people saw it as a necessary check on the dominant White culture that many would argue still exists.

Black History Month is now an 85-year-old African American cultural institution. Throughout the U.S., school districts, governments and community organizations gather to celebrate Black participation in constructing the American identity. However, Black History Month today is an anachronistic holiday that continues to isolate the history of African Americans to one month—the shortest of the year.

America’s youth benefit somewhat from Black History Month. It is a time where their educators can take time to highlight the achievements and history of African Americans. Most school districts, however, don’t do much other than host an assembly and invite a speaker. Increasingly, Black History Month is a one-night stand.

“You're going to relegate my history to a month?” Asked actor Morgan Freeman on the 80th anniversary of Black History Month in an interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes.

In the interview Freeman correctly stated that Black history is American history. Instead of excluding African American history to just one month, society fails to truly recognize the substance of the contributions Blacks have made to American history and life. Something as simple as peanut butter wouldn’t have been a daily commodity had it not been for Negro scientist George Washington Carver.

Fortunately, Black History Month is not America’s only tribute to African Americans. It includes Kwanzaa, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Black Music Month.

The dedication of a single month to Black history already segregates Black history from the larger American history. This, in and of itself, promotes racism. Although the United States has a very long way to go before reaching a society that is truly beyond race, allowing this society’s members only one month out of the year to celebrate a history so integral to the national story simply fails to recognize a people whose history should be revered, cherished and developed year-round. And no, the election of Barack Obama does not mean that American society is truly and effectively post-racism.

The over-commercialization of Black History Month has taken out the actual substance from the holiday. Society continues to miss out on the essence of Professor Woodson’s dream that is to connect the histories of the African and African American people in a transcontinental celebration of the “Negro world.”

While the arguments to continue celebrating Black History Month remain somewhat valid, it is better to choose the long-term vision, which is to rightfully incorporate Black history into American history so it can be taught daily and not just 28 days of a year.

Follow my thoughts on twitter @smgebru

African Leaders meet in Ethiopia

2011-01-31T15:40:00.001-05:00

Nicolas Sarkozy delivers a speech in Addis Ababa on
January 30, 2011 during the 16th African Union Summit
Photo: AFP

By: Samuel M. Gebru

January 31, 2011

Dozens of African heads of state and government converged this past weekend in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the annual summit of the African Union (AU). The AU is the continental intergovernmental organization of African states headquartered in Addis Ababa. Dubbed the “Dictator’s Club” by the continent’s human rights activists, the AU is a successor of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) that was founded in Addis Ababa with the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I as one of its founders.

The AU Summit featured the President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, who addressed the African leaders in a keynote speech as the President of the G20. President Sarkozy cautioned the leaders, saying that unless they carefully listened to and addressed the grievances of their people, they could face serious public discontent. He was careful not to mention any particular state, except in the case of lambasting the Cote d’Ivoire’s Laurent Gbagbo for refusing the step down, and Egypt and Tunisia.

Interestingly, Egypt and Tunisia were not discussed at the summit. Chairman Jean Ping of the African Union Commission, the AU secretariat in Addis Ababa, stated that the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt occurred too late to include in his report. It’s easy to tell that those civilian uprisings were the talk of the day though. Furthermore, leaders of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Algeria were conspicuously absent at the summit. This could very well be because the latter two are worried about possible uprisings.

A general view of a past session of the African Union
Summit of Heads of States in Addis Ababa. Source

Although exciting that President Sarkozy highlighted good governance and human rights, its unclear how far his words will go. Authoritarian governments, most who do not fear using live ammunition against their citizens, lead a great deal of AU member states. Particularly interesting about Egypt’s case is that the government is not firing live ammunition into the crowds of rioters, controlling them using water canons, tear gas and plastic bullets. President Sarkozy warned against using force to put down public protests:

“Allow me on this sensitive subject to speak very bluntly. I am going to speak as a friend, because one owes the truth to one's friends. When faced with innocent victims, our consciences cannot but be pricked because violence from whatever sources is never a solution. Because violence only breeds more violence, because violence on all continents engenders misery and suffering.”

Some major issues that the AU has to contend with now include:

The electoral dispute and subsequent violence in Cote d’Ivoire since November 28, 2010
The Government of Kenya’s continental campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague, seeking a common African stance against the ICC in hopes of deferring its court proceedings for the electoral violence in 2007-2008 and the court’s double standard on Africa
The likely split of Sudan, Africa’s largest state and the implications of South Sudan’s sovereignty
Maintaining, increasing or decreasing the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), where peacekeeping efforts are looking grim

Some of Africa’s leaders continue to be drunk on power and their actions are increasingly depicting that drunkenness at the African Union. It is profoundly unfortunate that what could and should be a very powerful organization is quiet on the issue of human rights. More unfortunate is perhaps the fact that not many, if any, African leaders have the moral high ground to criticize each other.

Africa’s problems certainly require African solutions but the mechanism to accomplish that vision has proven itself a sinking ship.

Marking Solomon's Passing

2011-01-30T19:17:00.000-05:00

Today, January 30, 2011 I mark the first anniversary of my uncle Solomon Hailu's passing in Mekelle, Ethiopia. The cause of death was cerebral malaria. He left behind his fiance, young son, mother, brother and sister (my mother). Keep him in your prayers.

Tunisia and Egypt: A Ripple Effect?

2011-01-28T19:33:00.001-05:00

Many Egyptians defied a government curfew Friday night and faced stinging police tear gas as they marched for change. (CNN)

Samuel M. Gebru

January 28, 2011

Tunisia’s ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was a strong counterterrorism ally to the United States just as Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak is. The recent developments from Cairo, especially that President Mubarak has asked his cabinet to resign are strikingly similar to that of Ben Ali of Tunisia. Both “accepted” responsibility but affirmed their power, almost in a déjà vu moment. Ultimately, Ben Ali was ousted. Whether Mubarak will face the similar fate is hard to tell.

Several governments in Africa and in the Middle East, such as Egypt, are key allies to the United States, perhaps even more than Tunisia. In the case of Egypt, President Mubarak has maintained a 30-year “cold peace” with Israel, has provided the U.S. opportunities to talk to other (more hostile) Arab governments and has formed a very strong military largely with U.S. assistance. There is much more at stake if President Mubarak is ousted. Judging by the tone of his speech announcing the government’s resignation, President Mubarak thinks that he can weather these riots.

The outcomes of the riots in Egypt will, more than Tunisia, tell whether there will be a ripple effect in Africa and the Middle East or not. The dramatic situations in Egypt, Yemen and Jordan have the potential to incite similar riots in other states. The most interesting thing about the Egyptian riots is that the protestors are from a cross-section of class and religion. They are not Islamic extremists and are not attacking foreigners, simply the government.

U.S. President Barack Obama’s remarks at the White House on the situation in Egypt are likely to not please the people of Egypt. The rioters are advocating for social change, having jobs, political change and responsive government. President Obama told both the rioters and the government to exercise restraint and correctly referred to his 2009 remarks in Cairo where he mentioned that governments must only and can only govern by the consent of the people. U.S. interests in Egypt are clearly high, thus Obama is approaching this situation carefully.

Most of the people rioting are from the middle and working classes of Egypt, and most are youth—particularly the ones who orchestrated much of the riots through social networks like twitter and facebook. For them, Mubarak is all they have known. There’s a lot of passion from the Egyptian rioters and my belief that the riots will merely escalate in the coming days, particularly as tomorrow, Saturday, begins Egypt’s working week.

President Mubarak has some key decisions to make in the coming hours and days. From the Arab world, Egypt is the most populous nation and has the biggest military. If Egypt’s government falls, it will most likely have a ripple effect. If Mubarak is able to maintain power and quell the riots—in ways other than gunning down rioters—those actions will have vast implications too. Clearly the President has lost touch with his own people a long time ago, particularly since he really believes that he alone, out of 80 million people, can lead Egypt.

The message for African and Middle Eastern governments is essentially to clean up and become responsive to people’s grievances before they turn to the streets. The American government’s top concern is the instillation of a government that is anti-west, as in the Iranian revolution that toppled the friendly Shah. On the side of the people, they have signaled they won’t stop until Mubarak—not just his ministers—is out. The world awaits.

Follow my thoughts on twitter: @smgebru

Ethiopia's Consumer Class

2011-01-18T21:30:00.001-05:00

The Wall Street Journal recently posted a series of 12 photographs taken in Ethiopia under the title Ethiopia's Consumer Class. It is an interesting look into the growing economy of Ethiopia. Sometimes we get caught in the aspects of underdevelopment in Ethiopia that we don't pause to appreciate the development. While one could very well argue that these photographs do not represent the entirety of Ethiopia, I would argue and say that representing the entirety was not the point. Ethiopia's consumer class is growing as more people become employed and as certain economic policies are relaxed. Ethiopia's government must continue to open the space for privatization and competition but also needs to protect the resources of Ethiopia--a concern that is great particularly when it comes to all the "land grabs" in Southern Ethiopia.

Thoughts on Martin Luther King and Africa

2011-01-18T00:11:00.000-05:00

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Source: Nobel Committee

By: Samuel Gebru

Throughout the United States and the world, people are coming together to celebrate the life, achievements and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Black civil rights activist and preacher.

Rightfully so, and on many levels, Dr. King is the American embodiment of the nonviolence philosophy. Influenced by the teachings of Mohandas K. Gandhi, Dr. King’s achievements are still very real today in the United States and even in Africa.

The fight for civil rights—human rights—sent itself to Africa particularly through the decolonization of Africa in the 1950s to early 1990s. The rise of the African consciousness and the awareness of the human condition in Africa brought about a continent-wide fight for racial and economic equality. Prominently, we saw this fight in South Africa. The Black rights movement in the United States inspired the South African anti-apartheid movement.

Today, I celebrated the wise activist preacher who made it to the mountaintop and wanted all of humanity to experience the Promised Land. By famously arguing, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” Dr. King stated the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of our world. By fighting for a shared human experience, the fight of Blacks in America became relevant to the fight of Blacks in Africa. The fight for Africa’s decolonization led to the fight for racial and economic equality—fights that are very real in today’s world.

While advancements are being made in Africa, Dr. King’s message of using our resources—our social and intellectual capital—for the betterment of all God’s children is as relevant as it was during his lifetime. As we celebrate the life, achievements and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., let us pause to celebrate what we have and realize our full potential to support our local, national and global communities.

King’s message made him a hero, not by guns or annihilation, but by love and forgiveness. Let’s all become our own heroes.

Santa in Addis Ababa

2011-01-14T15:06:00.000-05:00

Ethiopians, particularly in Addis Ababa have begun to introduce more of Western culture into their lives. During the Christmas holiday in Ethiopia, some Addis Ababa residents are displaying Christmas trees and ornaments. In this Addis Fortune photograph, an Ethiopian man is dressed up as Santa Claus. This introduction of Western culture into Ethiopia, which is one of the world's oldest continuously surviving states, has drawbacks to a unique culture that makes up the Ethiopian identity.

Cablegate: Revisiting WikiLeaks

2011-01-12T16:34:00.000-05:00

When WikiLeaks released thousands of classified U.S. Government cables, an archaic term for secret correspondence between U.S. foreign missions and the Department of State, I was on the supportive end of their move for “transparency.”

In my Ethics and Moral Leadership course yesterday we discussed the value of telling the truth, particularly through the lens of the book, If Aristotle Ran General Motors, by Tom Morris. After thinking more about the confidentiality clause many organizations and corporations have in their ethics codes and value statements I have come around to view WikiLeaks as a damaging force.

There are certain things that should be withheld from public or common knowledge. Whether it is members of the Coca Cola Company’s Board of Directors withholding information on a secret strategic plan for 2015 or whether it is U.S. diplomatic missions withholding information on its private meetings with foreign officials. Arguably, withholding these things could be perceived as corruption or a lack of transparency but it is in fact helpful that they’re kept secret.

Classifying certain documents and information can be in the best interests of the public. For instance, a classmate of mine mentioned that if the Central Intelligence Agency was to reveal every single terror threat they received or thwarted on national news networks it would instill an unnecessary sense of fear amongst the American people.

WikiLeaks poses a threat that could harm U.S. foreign relations, particularly because of the candid nature of the cables. While its interesting for me to read the personality reports on Germany’s Chancellor, Saudi Arabia’s King, Iran’s President and Russia’s President, it is also very damaging for those leaders to read reports on themselves. Additionally, it’s not my business to read those reports. They’re confidential to allow diplomats the ability to do their job and earn the trust of their foreign contacts.

The periodical release of these cables is deeply troubling and it is understandable that U.S. officials would not be pleased about this, just how I wouldn’t be pleased if strategic plans at my nonprofit were to be made public.

There is a difference between responsible and investigative journalism and Internet terrorism, which is what WikiLeaks is engaging when revealing classified diplomatic documents. It disrupts foreign relations and the ability of diplomats to their job.

My only hope is that the U.S. Government now understands that the moves certain governments take to limit Internet freedom could also be for the sake of security, as is their current mission to squeeze the assets and web accounts of WikiLeaks.

Is China Superseding the United States in Ethiopia?

2011-01-07T13:42:00.001-05:00

Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin presents credentials.
Source: PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Longtime Minister of Foreign Affairs turned Ambassador of Ethiopia, Seyoum Mesfin, officially presented his credentials this week to the People’s Republic of China.

Seyoum Mesfin has been Ethiopia’s chief diplomat since 1991 and architect of his political party’s foreign policies since the 1980s. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he presided over the restoration of diplomatic relations with many strategic allies, including the United States, particularly after the military leadership of Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam whose Marxist policies collapsed Ethiopia.

In 2009, the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) announced a new leadership plan that would see an overhaul in its entire veteran leadership, largely composed of former guerilla fighters from the 1970s and 1980s. One of the first to retire was Seyoum Mesfin.

Contrary to what was assumed, he did not wholly retire from government service, rather from his 19-year-old seat as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Likewise, the other senior officials that “retired” actually received various political and diplomatic posts, including former Minister of Trade and Industry turned Ambassador to the United States, Girma Birru.

Assigning Seyoum Mesfin as Addis Ababa’s representative to Beijing is not an accident neither is it a coincidence that China happens to be Ethiopia’s top trading and economic partner. The move represents a larger shift throughout Africa, where governments have increasingly opened up to Chinese involvement particularly in infrastructure and economic development. The no-strings-attached relationship with China is seen as a relief to some African governments struggling with tainted human rights records—a precondition that the United States sets for its relations with most countries.

Ethiopia has been increasing its ties to China in the past five years and the government’s new Growth and Transformation Plan has many points of potential Chinese continued involvement. There are obviously setbacks and benefits to involving China so heavily in infrastructure and economic development, however what remains to be seen is if China’s importance in Ethiopia and Africa supersedes that of the United States and the appointment of Seyoum Mesfin to Beijing can only help the argument that China is taking great, if not greater, importance.

EGI Launches New Website

2010-12-25T13:55:00.002-05:00

Dear Friends:

On behalf of our Communication Team's web group, I am happy to announce that the Ethiopian Global Initiative's new official website is online! Visit us at www.ethgi.org today!

Please feel free to browse through our website and don't hesitate to contact us here.

From all of us at the EGI family, happy holidays!

Thank you,

Samuel

EGI Press Release: EGI Receives Grow Grant

2010-12-15T18:09:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EGI Receives Grow Grant

Cambridge, MA, December 15, 2010 – Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI) President Samuel M. Gebru today announced that EGI received a $1,000 Grow Grant from San Francisco, CA-based Grow Marketing, a strategic marketing and public relations agency that works with global brands on brand marketing and consumer exposure campaigns.

Grow Marketing annually awards ten individuals and nonprofits, known as “Community Rock Stars,” $1,000 each as part of their holiday give back program. The award is designed to honor those who give back to their local and global communities. EGI was nominated and received the award after being selected through a highly competitive program.

“We were inundated with nominations when we announced the Grow Grants program in November,” says Cassie Hughes, co-founder of Grow Marketing in the company’s release.

Read the full press release here.

Advancements in HIV Cure?

2010-12-15T11:45:00.000-05:00

There is a lot of excitement on the Internet about a possible cure for HIV after an American man in Germany was reported to have been cured of the deadly disease that is impacting the world. Here is an article that talks more about the story.

An interesting viewpoint is taken by CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who argues that although this is really exciting news, a universal--and safe--cure for HIV might not be the immediate effect of this particular case. Hopefully one day we can find a universal cure for this deadly disease that has ravaged so many lives and countries.

EGI Blog: A Different Edge on Giving

2010-12-14T14:10:00.003-05:00

By: Evan J. Anderson
December 14, 2010

Until recently, the only image of Ethiopia I had was similar to the one above. As a past participant in several of World Vision's "30 Hour Famines," an initiative by the non-profit to encourage students to forego eating for a weekend while raising funds for starving children across the globe, I was frequently exposed to their style of advertising. Everyone has seen an ad on TV for child sponsorship, and everyone knows the feeling they get when viewing one of these. One comment on the Youtube video above says it all, "This makes me feel very bad and sad." And while this sadness and guilt is a very effective marketing strategy in encouraging viewers to donate to organizations like World Vision, it has a lasting effect on the mental set of people in the Global North. Giving becomes a chore, and it is no longer done for the right reasons...read more here.

EGI Boston Holiday Networking Mixer

2010-12-13T06:20:00.001-05:00

Facebook invitation: http://on.fb.me/dHLDK3

Join President Samuel Gebru of the Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI) and Director Edmund Barry Gaither of the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA) on Tuesday, December 21 at 6:00pm for the EGI Boston Holiday Networking Mixer.

The reception will be held at the NCAAA Museum on 300 Walnut Avenue, Boston, MA. Come and learn more about the work of EGI and how to get involved. You will network with other Ethiopian Americans, African Americans, students, professionals and activists from the Boston area. You can also donate to help continue EGI's mission.

Email Abraham Asfaw at abraham@ethgi.org or call 617-528-9434 to RSVP. If attending, please include the total amount of people attending (including yourself).

___________________________________

About the Ethiopian Global Initiative

The Ethiopian Global Initiative is an international nonprofit organization that combines and captures the social and intellectual capital of students and professionals for the transformation of Ethiopia through a new generation of socially responsible leaders. Working throughout the world, the Initiative serves as a catalyst for community-based projects to promote civic engagement and economic prosperity.

EGI Blog: Exploring Ethiopia at Olivet

2010-12-06T07:35:00.000-05:00

President Samuel M. Gebru poses for a picture following
his presentation and is joined by Olivet Pastor Kris Gorden
and other members of the Ethiopia delegation.
Photo: Lori Bakken

By: Samuel M. Gebru

December 6, 2010

I went to Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo, North Dakota, yesterday afternoon to speak about the Ethiopian Global Initiative and Ethiopian history and culture.

Having been invited to speak by members of the Olivet delegation to Ethiopia, I enthusiastically accepted the invitation as an opportunity to share the richness of Ethiopia. The group, composed of young and old, is a cross-section of various professions and interests.

My presentation, entitled "Exploring Ethiopia," gave the group an overview of the Ethiopian Global Initiative's history, mission and projects. I highlighted the importance of building a global coalition of like-minded thinkers who share one thing in common: an affection towards Ethiopia.

Read the full article on the Ethiopian Global Initiative blog here.

Ethiopian Students at Montgomery College Advocate for Sister City

2010-11-30T12:01:00.002-05:00

Montgomery College Ethiopian Students Association
members in September 2009

A few weeks ago the Ethiopian Students Association (ESA) at Montgomery College in Silver Spring, Maryland reached out to me asking if I could help consult with their goal of having the county choose an Ethiopian city as their first African sister city.

The organization, led by President Sosina Moges, has been actively working to form a sister city relationship as part of Montgomery County’s sister city program. The county recently approached the Montgomery ESA expressing their interest in selecting a city in Africa.

As an integral part of the project, the Montgomery ESA is actively seeking out individuals who live in Montgomery County and throughout the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area who would be interested in supporting such an endeavor.

Sister city relationships do not run off of government agreements. They are very much citizen-driven and their continuity depends on the involvement of individuals and groups from the private and civil society sectors. Students, entrepreneurs, educators and community organizers are just some of the people that make sister cities happen.

Creating sister city agreements between cities throughout the world and ones in Ethiopia has been discussed at the Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI), an international nonprofit organization that I currently lead, as one of the ways we can continue promoting the understanding of Ethiopia’s culture and history.

I am calling upon all Ethiopians and non-Ethiopians in Montgomery County and the greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area to support the Ethiopian Students Association of Montgomery College in their work advocating for a sister city agreement for Ethiopia. They will be having a public meeting very soon to inform people of how they can get involved in this endeavor.

To get involved please email their President, Sosina Moges, at sosi122@yahoo.com or me at smgebru@gmail.com.

__
Correction: An earlier edition of this article incorrectly spelled the name of Silver Spring, Maryland.

Ethiopian Youth Leadership Opinion featured on Addis Fortune

2010-11-30T11:36:00.002-05:00

I wrote an opinion piece that was originally for the Ethiopian Global Initiative blog that Addis Fortune, a prominent English newspaper in Ethiopia, picked up and republished on their online and print editions. Click here to view the opinion article or download it here.

Misplaced Priorities of the Ethiopian Diaspora

2010-11-27T19:48:00.000-05:00

By: Samuel M. Gebru

November 28, 2010

Author’s Note: This article was inspired by the conversations I had with members of my family over the past two days. During the Thanksgiving weekend, we discussed much about keeping the culture of our native homeland Ethiopia and ethnic group while living in the United States. I have added much to this article, particularly in my conclusion on using the Ethiopian Global Initiative’s mission statement as a possible action plan, but the basis was from our conversations.

BACKGROUND

According to the United Nations Development Program, Ethiopia lost over 75% of its skilled workforce between 1980 and 1991. These were the years of the civil war, when Ethiopia was governed by Marxist ideologies. Before the fall of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, most Ethiopians in the United States were either students or businessmen. There was hardly an immigrant community of any strong number.

Since our Marxist days, Ethiopians have left to many other countries in search of improving their lives and leaving the political, economic and social issues that continue to constrain Ethiopia. Many Ethiopians have been victim to countless traumatic events. What used to be a community of temporary students and businessmen became a community of immigrants and refugees.

As the Ethiopian diaspora increased from war-to-war, revolution-to-revolution, so did social and economic concerns. Ethiopian adults, both educated and uneducated, found it very difficult to find meaningful employment in their adopted homelands. Many Ethiopian Medical Doctors, for instance, had to retake courses to satisfy American requirements. Ethiopians who were teachers in their homelands became parking lot attendants for American sporting events. It was back to zero for many in the Ethiopian diaspora.

The unanswered problem was the social aspect. Without a doubt, Ethiopians face a cultural shock when coming to the United States. Because the community lacks the resources to address those cultural shocks, the economic problems become widespread. While Ethiopian adults were too busy focusing on making ends meet for their immediate families, new expectations of supporting their extended families in Ethiopia grew. The end result is a lack of cultural connection between Ethiopian parents and children.

PROMOTING AND PRESERVING OUR IDENTITY

Faced with two jobs, trying to go to school and learn English and perhaps a vocation while also trying to navigate an entirely new country and culture, Ethiopian parents did not pass on the Ethiopian identity to their children. In a similar article I wrote on July 22, 2010 on my personal blog, We Do Not Know, I asked:

Who do we blame for our lack of knowledge? Can it be the parents? Fine, some blame can go to our parents who seldom teach us anything on Ethiopia—but how much can one expect from people that are struggling to raise us? When you live in a country whose culture and language you have not mastered, it is hard to focus on anything else but getting by. Perhaps it is our community that we should blame. I would reply: what community? Ethiopians seem more divided than united in the diaspora. So there is no community from the onset to blame!

The first responsibility of raising and educating a child goes to a parent. If parents do not actively promote Ethiopian culture to their children, then there will be a knowledge gap. The identity is lost when young Ethiopians are not taught about the big multicultural mosaic known as Ethiopia. Not knowing about their culture is a very troubling reality for many young Ethiopians in the diaspora. Ethiopians should be most proud of their identity; Ethiopia is the only African country to never be colonized, the first country to accept Christianity, a country proclaimed the land of justice by the Islamic Prophet Mohammed, one of the oldest continuously surviving countries and the touted cradle of mankind.

The unique identity of the Ethiopians is not being taught or told in adopted homelands such as the United States. Young Ethiopians should be the first in line to be taught about their identity; before promoting it to non-Ethiopians, Ethiopians should be made aware. So, if the parents are too busy and are struggling night and day to make ends meet for their children, who can teach the young Ethiopians of their history, culture and language?

CREATING A MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY

Ethiopians in the diaspora need to draw lessons from other immigrant communities in the United States. The Chinese, Israeli, Mexican and Greek communities have been able to establish themselves in meaningful communities that are free from politics, religion and ethnicity. These communities are united and all share the mutual concern of preserving their native identities in the United States.

Read the full article here on the EGI blog

Ethiopian Global Initiative: Your Ideas for New Projects

2010-11-26T20:11:00.000-05:00

Ethiopian Global Initiative: Your Ideas for New Projects: "From an Ethiopian Big Brother Big Sister program to building Ethiopian community centers throughout the world to funding educational project..."

Ethiopian Global Initiative: A Message of Thanks

2010-11-24T14:30:00.000-05:00

Ethiopian Global Initiative: A Message of Thanks: "Dear Friend, Tomorrow, people throughout the United States will be celebrating a holiday that dates back to the founding years of this count..."

My 19th Birthday!

2010-11-19T23:57:00.002-05:00

Dear friend,

Today, November 20, is my 19th birthday!

I was born in Khartoum, Sudan in 1991 to two Ethiopian parents and moved to the United States in 1995. Since then, I have been living in Massachusetts. Currently in Minnesota for my schooling, I plan to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and have plans to attend graduate school afterwards.

Six years ago, I began my course to be involved in the affairs of Ethiopia, particularly when it comes to youth issues, civic engagement and development. As a youth and community organizer, being involved in Ethiopian affairs has naturally led me to take on a very strong interest in the affairs of my city and state, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

My work would not have been successful without the sincere support I have received from friends, young and old, from all over the world who congratulate and criticize me. Your feedback is helpful in the work I strive to accomplish.

Cheers to being 19 years young and cheers to you for being my esteemed reader since September 2006!

Sincerely,

Samuel M. Gebru

New Leadership for Ethiopia

2010-11-19T22:58:00.000-05:00

Originally published on the EGI Blog.

By: Samuel M. Gebru

After returning from my third trip to Ethiopia in 2004, I was encouraged by the growth and development in Ethiopia but equally saddened by the severity of poverty throughout the country. It felt like for every one step made forward, two were made backwards. It was not until December 2004 when watching the Oprah Winfrey Show’s special program on the work of Dr. Catherine Hamlin of the Fistula Hospitals of Ethiopia that I decided to get involved in making a difference in my native land.

Its now nearly six years since learning about Dr. Catherine Hamlin and the wonderful work at the Hamlin Fistula Hospitals of Ethiopia. This network of six hospitals, with its flagship in Addis Ababa, serves as the world’s exclusive center of fistula repair surgeries.

With six years of experience in community organizing, I have come to quickly learn that Ethiopia has an abundance of untapped leadership within the country and its diaspora, waiting to be unleashed. For a country like Ethiopia, a country that is foolishly labeled as being part of the “third world” as if there are multiple worlds we live in, developing a strong generation of leaders is tantamount to nation building. After the Ethiopian civil war, Ethiopia had to rebuild itself. Largely, the country remains in its rebuilding phase and has a long way to go.

While strides in access to education and health have been made, there is a lack of a strong emphasis of leadership skills and critical thinking in Ethiopia. African countries, rightfully so, tend to focus much on developing the technical side of academics and unfortunately that means that core entrepreneurial qualities are being left out. A nation twice the size of the U.S. State of Texas and Africa’s second most populous country, Ethiopia has just as many problems as opportunities.

Through working at the Ethiopian Global Initiative and other Ethiopia-related endeavors, I have learned much from my peers: young Ethiopians who are poised to become the next generation of leaders. Much negativity has been said about Ethiopian youth; from not knowing enough to meddling in affairs that don’t regard them, Ethiopian youth are discouraged from getting involved in the political, social and economic discourse of their native country.

Young Ethiopians around the world are expressing their interest in getting involved in charting a new course for Ethiopia. This is a revolution; I’m convinced of it. On my recent trip in 2008 to Ethiopia I jokingly mentioned to some government officials that although the previous Ethiopian revolutions were fought with firearms, my generation’s revolution would be that of ideas and solutions, a revolution fought with pens and papers.

There needs to be much more of an emphasis on Ethiopian youth leadership, and the proper development and retention of that leadership from generation to generation. In a matter of one or two decades, Ethiopia’s current political, social and economic leaders will all be left for the history books and if the young Ethiopians of today are not prepared enough to chart the new course for Ethiopia, we will spend years, if not decades, trying to sort out a mess that could have been easily prevented.

From the public to the private sector, older Ethiopians should be promoting genuine leadership from the youth. Government in Ethiopia on all levels should be working with youth, particularly on policy pertaining education, employment, health and youth affairs. On the university and college campuses, Ethiopian students should be encouraged to be thoughtful and critical of the status quo and challenge one another to map a course for new solutions. In the economy, youth should be encouraged by all to create jobs and markets instead of waiting for the government to assign them positions. With a very high unemployment rate, both the public and private sectors should implement creative ideas for job creation.

Coursing a new leadership for Ethiopia will take time. Ethiopia is a work in progress, and with the right amount of initiative and support, youth should continue to ensure that the progress of the past becomes the successes of the future. The young Ethiopians that are being outsourced daily to foreign countries should be kept in Ethiopia and given positions of leadership to creatively chart a new future for Ethiopia.

Combining the social and intellectual capital of the country’s young generation will prove very useful particularly with economic prosperity. All it takes is the commitment to action and not words.

The author is the President of the Ethiopian Global Initiative, an innovative international organization that aims to be the hub of solutions to transform Ethiopia by combining the social and intellectual capital of students and young professionals. To get involved with the work of EGI please email action@ethgi.org and follow @ethgi on twitter.

Haile is Back!

2010-11-16T02:21:00.001-05:00

Ethiopia's running legend, Haile Gebrselassie is back! After a very shocking--and untimely--announcement that he would retire after dropping out of the New York City Marathon last weekend, Haile reportedly had enough "time" to rethink his decision.

I am very happy he did. Not only was dropping out of a race not the way an Olympian Gold Medalist and Marathon King should retire but also he still has too much running left before he retires! Like many others, I look forward to Haile participating in the 2012 London Olympics!

Welcome back, Haile!

See NYTimes article here.

Ethiopia's New Ambassadors Are Chosen

2010-11-12T23:20:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Gebre Gebremariam for Winning in NYC!

2010-11-07T16:45:00.000-05:00

Gebre Gebremariam, an elite runner from Ethiopia, won the men's title at the New York City Marathon! This is his debut marathon run and he performed very well. Gebre is the first man to win the NYC Marathon on his debut since 1991. Great work to Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia! Keep running and do what you do best.

Ethiopia is fortunate to have great lions like Gebre representing the country in sporting events worldwide.

Ethiopian Global Initiative: EGI Announces New Logo

2010-11-04T08:46:00.000-04:00

Ethiopian Global Initiative: EGI Announces New Logo: "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EGI Announces New Logo Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 4, 2010 – The Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI), an interna..."

Ethiopian Food Truck!

2010-11-03T21:45:00.000-04:00

This is such a creative endeavor! Enjoy...

The guys behind the popular Fojol Bros. of Merlindia Indian food truck have been hinting at a new mobile operation for a while, but kept the details under wraps. The new truck debuted alongside the original on Saturday, so it's a secret no longer: Welcome Fojol Bros. of Benethiopia to the streets of D.C...read more

Ethiopian Global Initiative: Celebrating Pan-Africanism through Emperor Haile S...

2010-11-02T22:40:00.000-04:00

Ethiopian Global Initiative: Celebrating Pan-Africanism through Emperor Haile S...: "Ethiopian Global InitiativeNovember 2, 2010 On this day, November 2, 80 years ago in 1930, Haile Selassie was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia at..."

Ethiopian Airlines Continues its Ambitions

2010-11-02T11:15:00.000-04:00

Ethiopian Airlines has ambitious plans to grow sixfold in the next 15 years and create new subsidiaries in other parts of Africa, together with Star Alliance members South African Airways and Egyptair.

The airline was invited to become Star Alliance’s third member in Africa at an event here last month. Following the integration process, Ethiopian is expected to join the group in mid-2011. If Ethiopian comes close to implementing its growth plans across the continent, then Star will have such a big advantage over the other two alliances that it will be almost impossible for them to catch up. The Addis Ababa-based carrier would also become a more serious competitor to Emirates, which has been focusing on connecting West Africa to its Dubai hub...more here.

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Like always, Ethiopian Airlines continues to amaze me. The airline is ranked as the 16th most profitable airline in the world, it was not impacted by the 2008 global economic crisis and its Ethiopian-led management is very important to its success. As the national flag carrier, it has survived three successive governments with limited political interference. The airline is expected to grow and now their plans are to increase their annual revenue to $10 Billion USD from $1 Billion USD now. Congratulations to Ethiopian Airlines for setting precedence in Ethiopia, Africa and the world!

TODAY: Samuel Getachew for Toronto

2010-10-25T06:47:00.001-04:00

Today is Election Day in Toronto and I am writing to express my best wishes for Samuel Getachew as candidate for Toronto City Council representing the people of Ward 43. Samuel's platform for a new Toronto can be found on his website. I have known him for some time now and am always amazed by the tenacity and practicality he demonstrates. Samuel is a wise choice for the people of Toronto.

Although I, myself, cannot vote for him being that I am not a Canadian citizen, I extend my support, best wishes and congratulations to my friend Samuel Getachew on this very important day. As a pioneering Ethiopian in North America, Samuel is one of the very few Ethiopians who has run for political office in their adopted homelands of Canada and the United States.

The Need for an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Bible Camp

2010-10-24T12:15:00.004-04:00

The youth group of Saint Gregorios Malankra Orthodox Church
in Chicago, IL (Church of India) on a Bible Retreat. (Source)

Going to a College that is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, I have come to renew my appreciation of Bible Camps and the positive impact it has on the passing on of Christianity to a next generation of youth.

As a member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, I believe that the opening of Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Bible Camps for children, youth and adults will bring a renewed sense of faith that can provide the strength for continued missionary work of the Church. The camps should be located throughout the world where adherents of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church are and also where the Church feels the necessity, so to speak, to conduct missionary work.

Many non-Ethiopians are part of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Some places of the Church’s international reach include the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the North America, Africa and Asia. Adherents in these areas are either converts or those born into the faith. Perhaps the most famous Caribbean convert to Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity is Reggae legend Bob Marley (and his entire family). Bible Camps would be able to take in new and existing Ethiopian Orthodox Christians for programs throughout the year designed to further the layman’s understanding of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.

The need for these camps is quite evident. The lack of knowledge from many Ethiopian Orthodox youth about their faith is a strong—and I would argue a dangerous—indicator that the Church can and should be doing more to teach its own members while evangelizing the Gospel to potential converts. The most critical component to all of this is language; while it is important that the Church’s Liturgy continues in the ancient Ge’ez, sermons and other teachings should be in the local language of the audience. Ethiopian Orthodox youth in the U.S., for instance, might not know Amharic or Ge’ez well enough to understand what is happening and being said. If the Church, through its Sunday School Department and through Bible Camps, teaches the youth in English then I am more than convinced they will be inclined to listen.

Even the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s Sister Churches (e.g. Egyptian, Armenian, etc.) conduct successful Bible Camps and Retreats for their young faithful. Even to the adults and old—one is arguably never “too old” for Christ! It should be noted that Ethiopia shares an important and special history in Christiandom as having been the first nation to accept the Gospel. So, if others can do it, so can the Church of Ethiopia!

The author, Samuel M. Gebru, studies Political Science at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Ethiopian Global Initiative: Travel Abroad Opportunity for American Students in...

2010-10-24T00:15:00.000-04:00

Ethiopian Global Initiative: Travel Abroad Opportunity for American Students in...: "Planning is underway at the Ethiopian Global Initiative, an international organization of students and young professionals, for a new projec..."

Ethiopian Global Initiative: Celebrating the Ethiopian Global Initiative's Four...

2010-10-23T00:55:00.000-04:00

Ethiopian Global Initiative: Celebrating the Ethiopian Global Initiative's Four...: "Dear Friend, October 22, 2010, is the Ethiopian Global Initiative’s fourth anniversary. This year marks a special transition to our organiza..."

First Female Pilot for Ethiopian Airlines

2010-10-17T14:54:00.001-04:00

I think it is amazing that a woman has now joined the ranks of being a pilot for Ethiopian Airlines, the national flag carrier of Ethiopia. My thing is: why did it take this long? Although Captain Amsale has flown her maiden flight, she has much to prove to herself, the country and the African aviation industry.

Her flight was a domestic flight, and I look forward to seeing Captain Amsale and many like her flying long-haul flights from Beijing to Addis Ababa, to Washington, D.C. and London. Congratulations to Captain Amsale for her hard work and achievements, now, let's continue the fight for gender equality.

Some photographic highlights:

Virus on Nazret.com?

2010-10-17T14:43:00.000-04:00

Looks like there's a virus on Nazret.com, known to be one of the most popular Ethiopian websites for news and opinions.

Ethios and Eris: Mutual Bashing

2010-10-13T15:31:00.001-04:00

There seems to always be this "mutual bashing" that goes on between Ethiopians and Eritreans. You see it everywhere: social media, various "news" and opinion websites, in Churches and communities. Why is that? I know, its almost cliche and naive, but dare I ask: why can't we all get along? Whenever bad news happens in Eritrea, Ethiopia happily parades it as if its the Gospel and whenever bad news happens in Ethiopia, Eritrea recites it like the Lord's Prayer. After a while, it gets tiring to see and hear the long-winded bashing that some Ethiopians and Eritreans have of each other.

Ethiopia signs peace agreement with rebel faction

2010-10-13T14:56:00.000-04:00

Whether the entire Ogaden National Liberation Front or a faction of it signed a peace agreement with the Government of Ethiopia should not be the issue at hand. The important thing to remember is that this is one more step to achieving peace in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia's Government should be commended for reaching its hand out and meeting members of the ONLF half-way to achieving greater peace in the country. It is important that the Government and armed rebels continue to reach peace agreements that accommodate for further discussions that can bring about more change for the people of Ethiopia. A Government that leads by example is the best form of leadership and that will prove true and important to all of Africa's leaders.

Ethiopia signs peace agreement with rebel faction

ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia signed a peace deal Tuesday with a breakaway faction of the Ogaden National Liberation Front rebels who have waged a 25-year insurgency to gain autonomy of their oil-rich region...view the story here

Ethiopian Global Initiative: Youth and Entrepreneurship in the Ethiopian Societ...

2010-10-11T17:51:00.000-04:00

Ethiopian Global Initiative: Youth and Entrepreneurship in the Ethiopian Societ...: "By: Gedion Yitbarek Challenges are common when executing a business venture with any level of sophistication. What makes it even worse is be..."

Redefining Diaspora Affairs at Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry

2010-10-11T16:23:00.001-04:00

Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn,
left, meets with outgoing Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Seyoum Mesfin, right, as he prepares
to take the new reigns of top diplomat

Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyoum Mesfin passed on the torch to his new successor, Hailemariam Dessalegn, recently. Minister Seyoum Mesfin has been the country’s top diplomat since 1991 and has finally retired in a leadership succession plan the ruling party plans to implement in the course of the next five years.

So, the Ministry’s leadership will chance, but will the Government’s attitude towards the Ethiopian diaspora change? I suspect that no new developments will happen within the Diaspora Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although the Ministry proclaims it wishes to engage the Ethiopian diaspora in developmental activities in Ethiopia, its attitude towards the diaspora is, at best, bitter.

Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn, who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs, will have to proactively and genuinely engage the Ethiopian diaspora irrespective of their affiliations with political groups. Genuine engagement also means listening carefully and following-up with the concerns and ideas of the diaspora. There are many Ethiopians abroad who have expressed interest in getting involved in Ethiopia, however their interactions with Ethiopia’s Embassies or the Ministry itself has been rather disappointing.

While taking the torch of diplomacy, Hailemariam Dessalegn must look at the quality of Ethiopia’s diplomats overseas and to appoint skilled people who have worked in government and politics, not as cadres, but as trained diplomats. The best should particularly go to Ethiopia’s missions in London, Washington, Brussels and New York—locations where mediocrity has served as the norm. Hailemariam Dessalegn will have to incorporate the diaspora with his government’s development strategy, particularly if Ethiopia wants to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

There are many areas where the diaspora can offer its skills, money and expertise in lifting Ethiopia into a “middle income” nation by 2020, that is, of course, if the government is serious about it.

Add More Women in the Council of Ministers!

2010-10-09T17:01:00.002-04:00

In Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's new administration there are only two women as Ministers! Minister Sinknesh Ejigu (OPDO/EPRDF) heads the Ministry of Mines and Minister Zenebu Tadesse (ANDM/EPRDF) heads the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children's Affairs. The other member of the Prime Minister's Cabinet, the Council of Ministers, that is a woman is former Minister of Youth and Sports*, Aster Mamo (OPDO/EPRDF), who is now the Government Chief Whip at Parliament with the rank of a Minister.

Even if there are three people with the rank of Minister in Ethiopia's Council of Ministers it speaks a lot about the ruling party's operations. For a political party that advocates a lot about woman leadership, and a party that did better in having women leaders during the Ethiopian revolution than to having them in the Council of Ministers, they could use a lot of improvement. Three out of twenty-four in the Council of Ministers are females and that should be unacceptable!

More women should be added in the Council of Ministers.

*The Ministry of Youth and Sports is now the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children's Affairs. The former Ministry of Women's Affairs was combined with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Is Ethiopia's Presidency Necessary?

2010-10-09T09:32:00.001-04:00

President Girma Woldegiorgis of Ethiopia
poses with American singer Beyonce Knowles

In the 1995 Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Office of the President was formed with the writing of Chapter 7, Articles 69-71. The responsibilities of this appointed office are listed in Article 71 and are by far and large symbolic. Aside from serving as Head of State, the President appoints Ambassadors of Ethiopia at the Prime Minister’s nomination, presents awards and prizes and grants amnesty.

The separation of the Head of State and the Head of Government is a characteristic of parliamentary republics like Ethiopia, the United Kingdom and India. Much has been said about the role of the Office of the President in Ethiopia and whether it is necessary.

When my friends ask me what does the President of Ethiopia do, I explain to them he is like our version of the Queen of the United Kingdom, the President has ceremonial functions, just without all the pageantry of a monarchy.

So is the Presidency necessary? I would contend that Ethiopia would be better off with no Presidency. It would save government funds by cutting the expenditure on the Presidency and the maintenance of the position. The National Palace could even be transformed into a historical museum that would allow Ethiopians and foreigners to walk through what was once the home of Emperor Haile Selassie.

The counterargument is that the Prime Minister would receive increased power. Yes, but no. The increased power the Prime Minister would receive is more of a ceremonial function as that position would now be both Head of State and Head of Government instead of simply the latter like with other parliamentary republics. And for all matters practical, the President’s power is forwarded to him through the Prime Minister.

The President appoints Ambassadors on the Prime Minister’s recommendations, the President grants amnesty on the Prime Minister’s recommendation, the President promulgates laws after the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers approve it with Parliament, and so on.

Getting rid of Ethiopia’s Presidency would save the country money and resources that could be dedicated to something more important within the country’s administration. However, if the powers of the President were increased, then there would be a reason to keep the Presidency, for instance, in a government where the President and Prime Minister both share significant power.

Until then, I simply don’t see its necessity.

New Heights for Africa's World Class Airline

2010-10-07T23:49:00.001-04:00

Ethiopian Airlines has always been defining new heights for Ethiopia and Africa. It is arguably the only long-lasting and successful state-owned enterprise in Ethiopia. As the country's flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines has survived three very different governments. The Ethiopian tricolor on the tails of the company's fleet of Boeing aircraft sends a very emotional message to Ethiopians, particularly those of the diaspora.

Recently, Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Girma Wake announced that he plans to retire on January 1, 2011. Girma Wake took over Ethiopian after the mediocre performance of his predecessor Bisrat Negatu at the time of the airline's 60th anniversary. Immediately it was evident that, to Girma, Ethiopian Airlines was not simply a profit-making entity, it was a logo, a symbol, of Ethiopia and Ethiopians--the visions of Ethiopians to soar high and succeed, from the high-rises of Addis Ababa to the lowlands of the Great Rift Valley.

Girma Wake was a trailblazer for Ethiopian Airlines. He accomplished Vision 2010 well in advance and laid the groundwork for Visions 2015, 2020 and 2025. Although the fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner orders did not arrive during his tenure, his legacy is known to those who fly on and work for the country's flag carrier. Chief Operating Officer Tewolde Gebremariam was named Chief Executive Officer, reportedly at Girma Wake's request. Tewolde has big shoes to fill in, but as the airline's COO he was, too, at the helm of decisions alongside with Girma. For Tewolde, his job will be to move a wheel that has already been constructed and to make sure the company's expectations of itself only go higher.

The airline has some major tasks ahead of itself. Increasing profits and destinations is one of the biggest tasks the airline will endure. I have no doubt in the leadership of Ethiopian Airlines. So far, its the only state-owned endeavor that has been free from political infestation over the past almost 70 years! In his bittersweet farewell, Girma will be remembered for his father-figure role at Ethiopian Airlines. His most recent accomplishment is the unanimously-voted induction of Ethiopian Airlines to Star Alliance. This global network of highly successful airlines that all have code-sharing agreements with one another will not only make Ethiopian Airlines more of a preferred airline for global travelers but it will also make Ethiopia more of a destination to the Star Alliance savvy.

Ethiopian Airlines truly, in the words of its slogan, has become Africa's Link to the World. Its new leadership will be expected to make Addis Ababa a global transportation hub, particularly in light of the Star Alliance membership Ethiopian is now receiving. Thank you to Girma Wake and welcome to the familiar face, Tewolde Gebremariam, an airline he's worked 25 years for.

Congressman Michael Honda on Birtukan's Release

2010-10-07T02:17:00.000-04:00

For immediate release

October 6, 2010

Contact: Ahmed Bhadelia

202-225-2631

Statement of Support

Release of Birtukan Mideksa

October 6, 2010

As the founder and Chair of the Congressional Ethiopia and Ethiopian American Caucus, I would like to take this opportunity to express my full hearted support of Ethiopian leader Birtukan Mideksa’s release today after close to two years of imprisonment.

Having advocated for Ms. Mideksa’s release for several years, today’s event is a significant step forward for the future of Ethiopian governance and serves as a strong message by the Ethiopian Government for furthering basic human rights in the country. As the leader of the opposition party Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), Birtukan Midesksa was one of several opposition leaders who were imprisoned for life after the 2005 elections. After being pardoned in 2007, she was re-arrested in December 2008.

The fact that Ms. Mideksa continued to advance Ethiopia’s fight for justice and democratic freedoms, even after 2005, is a testament to her dedicated public service and strong leadership for Ethiopian communities at home and abroad. Moreover, her perseverance while battling deteriorating health and separation from her child while in prison should not be underestimated. Ms. Mideksa has struggled to bring improvements to Ethiopia’s civil society and it is my wish, along with many of my colleagues, that her work for greater peace and stability in Ethiopia is realized.

I hope that Ms. Mideksa’s pardon will promote greater momentum for diplomacy and humanitarian efforts in her home country and strengthen relations between the United States and Ethiopia. I look forward to the working with Ms. Mideksa, the Ethiopian Government and related U.S. officials in the near future to ensure safety, security and stability in the Horn of Africa.

Sincerely,

s/ Michael M. Honda

MEMBER OF CONGRESS

Founder, Chair of Congressional Ethiopia and Ethiopian American Caucus

###

The Congressional Caucus on Ethiopia and Ethiopian-Americans works to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Ethiopia and is a legislative voice for Ethiopian-Americans across the United States. The Caucus serves the Ethiopian-American community as it continues to grow in population and influence, and supports the community’s interests both here and in Ethiopia. For more information on please call (202) 225-2631 or visit http://honda.house.gov/ethiopia.shtml.

Was Birtukan Medeksa's Imprisonment an Election Tactic?

2010-10-06T13:27:00.000-04:00

Some opponents of the Ethiopian Government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi argue that the imprisonment and subsequent release of Unity for Democracy and Justice Chairwoman Birtukan Medeksa, a former Judge, was an election tactic. The argument is that the Ethiopian authorities arrested her because she was (and still could be) seen as an electoral threat to the ruling party. The counter-argument is that Birtukan Medeksa denied the initial pardon she received in 2007 and thus the authorities found it appropriate to revoke a pardon she apparently never asked for. What do you think? Contribute your ideas on the facebook forum I started on my fan page here: http://on.fb.me/cjJix6 (please keep comments clean and civil and preferably intellectual, insulting and/or hateful comments will be moderated)

Breaking News: Birtukan Medeksa Released from Prison

2010-10-06T06:26:00.001-04:00

The Chairwoman of Ethiopia's largest opposition party, Birtukan Medeksa, was released from serving a life sentence in prison today. In a process that consisted of an official request for pardon, Birtukan of the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party was taken from Kaliti Prison to her home in Addis Ababa.

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia had hinted during his keynote address at the Columbia University World Leaders Forum (see here) of the possible release of Birtukan Medeksa, saying that given the "past practice" of Birtukan and the Ethiopian Government he would not be surprised if she was released.

This is the second time that the former judge-turned-politician was arrested on life imprisonment. In 2007 with the help of the Ethiopian Elders Council, the country's main opposition leaders were able to secure a pardon from the government after facing charges including treason and attempted genocide after the 2005 Parliamentary Elections.

Birtukan's second life imprisonment is allegedly due to her denial of having requested a pardon while on a tour speaking to Ethiopians in Europe. The Government asserted that if she denied requesting a pardon then the pardon she received was on false pretenses. Her supporters mention ulterior motives of stifling any opposition toward's the ruling party.

In May 2010 before Ethiopia's fourth Parliamentary Elections I wrote an article recognizing that the rearrest of Birtukan Medeksa was not on legal grounds but had the characteristics of political imprisonment (see here). That stifling of opposition towards the Prime Minister's administration spills over to the press and media and the fact that it is slowly diminishing, if not already nonexistent (see here).

I commend the great work of Professor Ephraim Isaac and the entire Ethiopian Elders Council that he chairs. Ethiopia is a very elder-centric society, as much of Africa is, so the wisdom and leadership that (young) people can learn from elders is immense. Also I commend the political maturity that the Government of Ethiopia and Birtukan Medeksa have displayed in coming out with a favorable outcome today.

I have no doubt that Birtukan Medeksa can become a great lawmaker if she follows the will of the Ethiopian people and takes little influence from certain members of the politically dogmatic diaspora. She is young, charismatic, female, from the south, a single mother and a Protestant Christian. These qualities make her stand out of what the socio-political norm has been in old Ethiopia.

Congratulations to Ethiopia. Let Ethiopians begin a new dialogue in the traditions of the wise forefathers who led us here!

(Also see this Reuters article)

Birtukan to be released?

2010-10-05T12:00:00.002-04:00

Addis Neger on its website (see here) is reporting that Birtukan Medeksa might be released as early as today if not tomorrow. I am not sure whether to believe this or not, but am following up closely on it. It would be remarkable if Birtukan Medeksa, Chairwoman of Ethiopia's largest opposition party, Unity for Democracy and Justice, was released given that Prime Minister Meles Zenawi hinted at it during his recent keynote address at the Columbia University World Leaders Forum in New York City.

Birtukan Medeksa is serving another life sentence at Ethiopia's infamous Kaliti Prison after she was already pardoned for her first life sentence once signing a letter questing a pardon from the Government of Ethiopia. The re-imprisonment of Birtukan Medeksa, who is also the first woman to take a major political leadership role in Ethiopia's democratic experiment, has drawn international criticism from both Ethiopians and non-Ethiopians.

Meles Zenawi's New Administration

2010-10-05T11:39:00.001-04:00

Photo: Addis Fortune. From left to right, Addisu Legesse, outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Chairman of EPRDF; Meles Zenawi, incoming Prime Minister for fourth term and incoming Chairman of EPRDF for 8th term; Hailemariam Dessalegn, incoming Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of EPRDF; Bereket Simon, incoming Head of Government Communication Affairs for second term.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, begins his fourth term as Prime Minister today. In what he and his ruling party expect to be his last term, the Premier announced his new cabinet (see here).

The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front has ruled Ethiopia for almost 25 years and its Chairman, Prime Minister Meles, has served at the helm of the Front since its inception. It currently dominates the House of People's Representatives with a sweeping 99.6% win in the the recent parliamentary elections this year--a victory that has put the ruling party's credibility on thin ice.

The cabinet picks are quite interesting. The Foreign Minister job went to the EPRDF's Deputy Chairman who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, Hailemariam Dessalegn. Some familiar faces from the last cabinet have made appearances again, from Bereket Simon's reappointment to head the Office of Government Communication Affairs to Sufian Ahmed's reappointment to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

Interestingly, the government has modified certain Ministries. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is no more, it is simply the Ministry of Agriculture. A Ministry of Civil Service has opened up and the Ministry of Youth and Sports is now the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs. The EPRDF has emphasized a lot of its work on ICT development and thus opened the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, which is ironic and contradictory to its campaign to block media and press in Ethiopia. The Ministry of Science and Technology, headed by Desse Delke, is also a new seat in the Council of Ministers. I suppose the Ministry of Urban Construction is essentially the same as the former Ministry of Urban Development that Dr. Kassu Ilala and Arkebe Oqubay headed.

Among the missing faces include Seyoum Mesfin, who headed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mahmoud Dirir, the lead ethnic Somali in the government and Minister of Culture and Tourism, as well as Addisu Legesse, the Prime Minister's right hand as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

I was surprised to learn that Bereket Simon stayed on in the Council of Ministers as head of the Office of Government Communication Affairs, particularly since Redwan Hussein of the EPRDF gave such good oratory remarks during the electoral debates earlier this year. It was speculated that Redwan would replace Bereket Simon, particularly since the EPRPDF touted its leadership succession plan so much in 2009 and 2010.

Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi at World Leaders Forum

2010-09-26T23:51:00.000-04:00

Finally, A Piece of Logic

2010-09-21T23:31:00.001-04:00

Law Professor Alemayehu Gebremariam's latest blog article, Mr. Zenawi Goes to College, is in tune with an article I wrote the other day entitled, Don't Inhibit the Academic Community.

Both the Professor and I talk about the invitation Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi received from Columbia University to deliver the keynote address tomorrow, Wednesday, at the World Leaders Forum. In my piece I clearly pointed that an academic community (i.e. college or university) has the right to hear from all sides and deliberate various ideas so as to pass its own verdict on the issues of the day. It is part of any academic institution's commitment to academic inquiry to do so.

In previous articles, Professor Alemayehu Gebremariam seemed highly critical of Columbia's invitation as if by virtue of the invitation he was opposed to the Premier speaking. Whether that was or is his original intention or not is passing water over the dam. The Professor's Constitutional tone was an interesting shift from his highly critical behavior at the outset of the invitation's announcement.

It is my sincere hope that the Professor understands that Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, like anyone else in this world, is granted the right to speak not only by the U.S. Constitution but by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Ethiopia is signatory of. His expressed "teachable" moments for Prime Minister Meles are a more academic and, dare I say, civil way of approaching the keynote address tomorrow.

The responsibility is now up to the esteemed audience, that will have the rare opportunity of meeting face-to-face with the leader of a country, to ask critical questions of the Premier's domestic and foreign policies in the spirit of academic inquiry.

Wifi Comes to Bole Airport

2010-09-21T22:30:00.000-04:00

Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport is rolling out free wireless internet for passengers going through the Ethiopian capital city. This is an amazing development that will cater to the needs of the tech-savvy travelers that use Bole International Airport as either their final destination or a transit stop.

Its encouraging to know that the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise will offer this service for free. However, as a way to make money, I would have suggested authorities pursue a route where people would have to pay a nominal fee for hourly or daily usage of the wireless internet as commonly found in many western airports.

"Passengers will now have access to free internet services in both the old and new terminals, according to the announcement the enterprise made this morning (September 21, 2010). The enterprise has allocated around 4 million birr (244,349 US dollars) for introducing the service in the airport, the officials noted." Read more here.

Wiring Ethiopia’s Education System

2010-09-19T02:51:00.001-04:00

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education just announced a new $150 million budget for its new education curriculum that would also include the publishing and distribution of new textbooks.

In 2008 while on a working visit to Ethiopia I advocated to officials the importance of One Laptop per Child and the benefits Ethiopia’s education system could reap from “wiring-up” the country’s education. A country that aspires to be democratic must have an informed and learned citizenry that can make decisions not based on demagoguery but rationality. Of course, education is one of the ways to promote thinking and the uninhibited mind.

Financing education can be costly for a country like Ethiopia and a major part in financing education is the government-paid printing of textbooks. In my meeting with the Head of a regional Department of Education in 2008, he mentioned how books wear and tear very quickly in Ethiopia. Consequently, this was a factor in his support of One Laptop per Child when I presented the laptop and its functions, of which one is the ability to store electronic books, or ebooks.

The new phenomenon known as ebooks has its major advantages. For Ethiopia that means saving hundreds of thousands of dollars—if not millions—over the course of years from the cost of printing and distributing text books. The One Laptop per Child XO laptops are able to store dozens of ebooks all managed by a central management team. In today’s globalized world, printed books are becoming a thing of the past. The benefits of an ebook enable a reader the opportunity to have many books in an electronic form without having to worry about the usual wear and tear or even storage.

Ethiopia’s education system would benefit much from the introduction of ebooks through One Laptop per Child’s XO laptops. The technology would equip Ethiopian schoolchildren with the tools to become socially responsible and engaged members of civic life and leadership because it would teach them of the world beyond their village, ethnic group and country.

The new $150 million budget is reported to heavily focus on improving the quality—or lack thereof—of education. An important way to improve this is to upgrade the standards by which education is taught and learned particularly in the elementary years of a child’s development. Improving the quality of education should be taken heavily as it will provide the future generations an opportunity to become essentially affluent global citizens.

Photo source

Don't Inhibit the Academic Community

2010-09-18T13:28:00.000-04:00

Samuel M. Gebru

September 18, 2010

Recently it was announced that Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, is scheduled to speak at Columbia University in New York City. Invited by the World Leaders Forum, the Premier would speak on "The Current Global Economy and its Impact" and participate in a question and answer session.

Some Ethiopian Americans have voiced strong criticism towards Columbia University's administrators for inviting Prime Minister Meles to speak. Not only should it be recalled that Columbia has a history in inviting speakers who may be considered controversial by varying sectors of a society, the decision to invite the Ethiopian Premier should be taken advantage as a moment of academic inquiry.

Colleges and Universities are centers of logical thought, critical reasoning and deep understanding; they nurture a student's ability to ask questions and confront problems with solutions. Inviting Prime Minister Meles to speak at Columbia or whatever other institution of academic learning there might be should be regarded as an opportunity to listen directly to what the Prime Minister has to say and to make counterpoints to the points and arguments he may raise in his speeches.

The student that thinks critically will use Prime Minister Meles' address at Columbia as an opportunity to listen to and agree and disagree with the points he raises. Inviting him or anyone else to speak is never any sign of endorsement. In fact, if anything, it endorses academic inquiry and the right of an academia to listen to varying sides and make an analysis at the end. Those who criticized Columbia University's invitation to the Prime Minister should actually register and attend the event not as demagogues but as critical thinkers to listen carefully and provide rebuttals where necessary.

Centers of learning such as colleges and universities strive to provide a space that does not inhibit on a student's right to listen, search and think. Inviting Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia will allow members of the academic community an ability to hear directly from the source and challenge the source.

To Pity, or Not to Pity?

2010-09-12T22:48:00.001-04:00

Samuel M. Gebru

September 12, 2010

Many travelers to Ethiopia eventually fall into a mode of pity when they see the amount of people below the poverty line. Whether it is taking a midnight stroll through the streets of urban Addis Ababa or traveling to the most remote areas of Ethiopia’s Omo River Valley, poverty shows itself in many different ways in Ethiopia—and in Africa.

When approached by beggars, travelers—both Ethiopians and others—begin to whip out a few quarters out of feeling sorry for the beggar. Although this act of kindness can be driven out of the true desire to help a beggar, it does nothing to improve the lives of Ethiopia’s poor. About 85% of Ethiopians live in rural areas, which is not to say that all 15% of Ethiopia’s urban dwellers are not living in rural-like conditions.

However, the question comes down to: to pity, or not to pity? Can we truly pity someone who knows nothing but what he lives in? To many of Ethiopia’s poor, poverty is all they know; they do not know the luxuries of Apple, Inc., or the convenience of Starbucks Corporation or even the comfort of Lazy Boy Furniture. They know the rough streets of Addis Ababa or the dry fields of the Omo River Valley. If one does not know anything but poverty, then there is nothing for the traveler to pity.

It is not comforting to be greeted by beggars at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport’s parking lot, a true paradox to the ultra-modern glass airport that shines through Addis Ababa’s Bole district. To use the saying, “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.”

In my recent trips to Ethiopia I have tried to encourage myself not to give money to begging children, in particular, because I believe that the money I would give them could be spent in much wiser ways. A child that is begging in Addis Ababa, for instance, most likely does not go to school because he cannot afford the cost of buying a uniform or school supplies, which usually amounts to no more than $10-20 U.S. Dollars. So, why not buy the things the child needs to attain an education that could arm him with more resources than begging would?

I know, it seems simple, but most people would give into the band-aid effect, giving a few quarters that wouldn’t even last until the next day. So, what do we do? Its important we Ethiopians and non-Ethiopians that travel to Ethiopia encourage ourselves to look beyond the begging and examine what the beggars need. Some of us who own businesses in Ethiopia might want to employ them; perhaps those of us looking for housemaids might want to employ the young girls preventing them from becoming members in Addis Ababa’s growing sea of prostitutes; maybe we might want to employ some of the teenagers in Bahar Dar or other tourist attractions as our tour guides for the day, to experience what tourism companies in Ethiopia might not show you; or we might want to provide begging children with school supplies and money for a uniform so they can go to school.

Let us not pity any of the beggars because of their unfortunate conditions, but as socially responsible citizens, lets help them help themselves by promoting the culture of earning money by doing work—be it serving as a tour guide instead of smoking hookahs all day, serving as a housemaid instead of a prostitute or going to school instead of shining shoes.

How Many Are We?

2010-09-10T04:33:00.003-04:00

I was recently discussing with my Director of Development at the Ethiopian Global Initiative about the truly unknown number of Ethiopians in the Washington, D.C. area and in the United States and throughout our diaspora.

Of course, not knowing how many of us are out there is a huge disadvantage. Not knowing how many Ethiopians there are in the United States can hinder our work at the Initiative but also as a larger community; aggregating data, attracting corporate donations for nonprofits and creatively starting up businesses with successful marketing plans can all be difficult when there are no strong numbers.

Read more here.

EGI to host Boston Orientation

2010-08-03T23:19:00.000-04:00

08/03/2010 – The Ethiopian Global Initiative, an international nonprofit organization, is hosting a public orientation in the Boston area to further inform the public about its current and future endeavors. The orientation will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm at 45 Mount Auburn Street in Cambridge, MA. For more information and to RSVP please call EGI at 617-528-9434 or email info@ethusa.org. Refreshments will be provided. This event is free and open to anyone regardless of age, gender and nationality.

Ethiopia: Media Jamming and the Constitution

2010-07-31T07:59:00.000-04:00

Samuel M. Gebru

July 31, 2010

The following is from the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The Constitution was adopted by the Transitional Government of Ethiopia in 1994 and was enacted in 1995.

DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

Article 29 Right to Hold Opinions, Thoughts and Free Expressions

1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without any interference.

2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression without interference. This right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through other media of his choice.

3. Freedom of the press and mass media as well as freedom of artistic creation is guaranteed. Press freedom shall, in particular, include the rights enumerated hereunder: a) that censorship in any form is prohibited. b) the opportunity to have access to information of interest to the public.

4. The press shall be granted institutional independence and legal protection to enable it to accommodate different opinions and ensure the free flow of information, ideas and opinions that are necessary in a democratic society.

5. Any media financed or controlled by the government shall be organized in a manner suitable for the accommodation of differences of opinion.

6. Nothing in the foregoing shall absolve anyone of liability arising from laws enacted to protect public morals, peace, human dignity and democratic rights of citizens.

The aforementioned excerpt from the Constitution, Article 29, will be the basis for this article. To provide understanding, it is explicitly agreed upon that the Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Internet

The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, is the ruling party that holds the majority in the lower House of People’s Representatives in Parliament. The Meles Zenawi Administration has been involved in the censorship of many websites for, at least, the past five years. These websites are generally websites that are operated by Ethiopians in the diaspora. Contrary to public opinion, not all websites are dogmatically opposed, so to speak, to the Prime Minister’s Government. For instance, my blog, www.smgebru.blogspot.com, was actually blocked for periods of times over the past five years when the entire Blogger platform was blocked. I recollect having to email the text of my articles to my readers in Ethiopia.

The blocking of the websites is in violation of the Constitution as said in Article 29 Sub-Article 3:

By blocking my blog and countless other websites of Ethiopians in the diaspora, the Government of Ethiopia was involved in the censorship of the “freedom of the press and mass media.” Furthermore, the citizens of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia were explicitly denied “the opportunity to have access to information of interest to the public.” Surely, the Constitution does not and cannot provide a definition of what “interest to the public” means because of the very reason that what is interesting to one person might not be interesting to the other—it is very subjective.

Voice of America

The Voice of America “is an international multimedia broadcasting service funded by the U.S. government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors…[with] an estimated worldwide audience of 125 million people.” Initially it was founded as a foreign propaganda tool of the United States and some can rightfully argue that it still is. Either way, it is suspicious as to why the citizens of the United States are “not allowed” to hear Voice of America over the radio.

Earlier this year, the Meles Zenawi Administration publicly decided to jam the Voice of America Amharic Service radio transmission to Ethiopia. When discussing with a U.S. Government official about the jamming, he bluntly said that the jamming “angered” a lot of people in Washington, D.C. That was the vibe I received from several people.

The irony of the jamming is that Meles Zenawi’s Administration receives a significant about of foreign aid, of which a significant amount comes from the United States of America. Dubbed as a “Gift of the People of the United States,” the U.S. Government provides Ethiopia with a cross-section of aid with roughly 85% of that being in the form of humanitarian (non-military) assistance. Surely it is no private assessment that it does not make sense for a country that relies heavily, and has consistently heavily relied on foreign aid, to jam the radio of the source of that aid. Had this been Zimbabwe or the Central African Republic jamming Voice of America, it would be agreeable that there are no fruitful relations to begin with that would instigate “anger” in Washington, D.C.

So what does the Supreme Law of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia have to say with regards to the interference of information? In Article 29 Sub-Article 2 we read that:

The citizens of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia have seen that their right to the freedom of expression, explicitly said without interference, has been violated with particular respect to the violation of the right to “seek, receive and impart information…either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through other media of his choice.” Accordingly, “his choice” may be radio transmission of Voice of America and the citizens of Ethiopia who wish to seek and receive oral information in the form of Voice of America Amharic Service has been violated.

Ethiopian Satellite Television

Recently, the big media censorship buzz has been about the Ethiopian Satellite Television that is an entity established by Ethiopians in the diaspora with its operations serving in the diaspora with the intent of transmitting broadcasts to Ethiopia. I believe it is safe to say that there is a good pool of Ethiopians in Ethiopia that would be able to watch this prominently though Arabsat, which is how the Ethiopian Satellite Television intended to transmit its broadcast.

The Ethiopian Satellite Television’s transmissions have been interrupted three times in the past few months. It is safe to say that as the aforementioned section of Voice of America, the interference of the Ethiopian Satellite Television’s transmission to Ethiopia is also unconstitutional as pursuant to Article 29 Sub-Article 2.

In Defense of the Government

From what I have written, it can be concluded that the Government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is engaging in dangerous unconstitutional acts with respects to the “Right to Hold Opinions, Thoughts and Free Expressions.” However, Article 29 Sub-Article 6 states that:

6. Nothing in the foregoing shall absolve anyone of liability arising from laws enacted to protect public morals, peace, human dignity and democratic rights of citizens.

Ethiopians in the diaspora control the websites that were blocked, control the Voice of America Amharic Service that was blocked and control the Ethiopian Satellite Television that was blocked. One thing I will adamantly agree to is how some Ethiopians in the diaspora are simply lunatics. I loathe dogmatic people who can never compromise. While the pro and anti-government lunatics insult and threaten each other, they are forgetting that they are nothing but different sides of the same chauvinistic coin. I mentioned how ethnicity is used here, as an example: http://smgebru.blogspot.com/2010/07/community-divider.html

One can immediately notice the power and influence of Ethiopian radio stations in Washington, D.C. They indeed have put people out of business and have effectively destroyed the lives of their fellow Ethiopians. Prominently, I will use renowned Ethiopian singer Abonesh Anadew as an example and where she was and now is today. The power of those Ethiopian-run stations extends itself to Voice of America. Frankly, I think it is stupid that the executives at VOA can tell Ethiopia’s Government how good VOA is for Ethiopia when a lot of discussion on the Amharic Service could spark an African war. So we can reasonably conclude that the Ethiopian radio broadcasters—not all—are certainly out of line.

This being out of line extends itself to the Internet. Obviously there is no form of regulation, no “International Internet Law” or anything and as a result Ethiopians hiding behind pseudonyms go at each other. I call these people self-proclaimed theorists and human rights activists. They only thing they are actually advocating is hate.

As for the Ethiopian Satellite Television, some of its leaders come from the aforementioned group and the precedent they have set in other endeavors can very well call for a reasonable assumption that they would continue that precedent via television.

People love to equate every single Tigrayan as being a member of the ruling party and directly benefiting from the rule of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. I would argue that is very well not the case and a simple trip to Tigray can prove it. However, the “human dignity” of Tigrayans who are incessantly attacked in public smear campaigns through diaspora websites and transmission can very well not “absolve anyone of liability arising from laws acted to protect…human dignity…of citizens.”

The Government of Ethiopia can very well legally argue that it has the moral and legal right to block and censor anything that will hurt “public morals, peace, human dignity and democratic rights.” Surely, the burden of proof—beyond a reasonable doubt—is always on the accuser. Using Article 29 Sub-Article 6 and the Civil and Criminal Codes of Ethiopia, the Government of Ethiopia can adequately argue that certain websites, the Voice of America Amharic Service and the Ethiopian Satellite Television cannot be absolved from the laws mentioned.

What Now?

The Government of Ethiopia has a history of civil rights violations. It has a history of violating freedom of speech. It and its diehard supporters cannot handle criticism either. However, the Government of Ethiopia also has the duty to enforce the Constitution that admittedly it itself authored. Imagine George Washington or Thomas Jefferson violating the Constitution that they oversaw the production of.

Nonetheless there is also one thing known as Rights and Responsibilities. While I have the right of freedom of speech, I cannot threaten the President of the United States and get away with it. I remember a 6th grade student in Connecticut talking about killing Oprah Winfrey and President Obama, the U.S. Secret Service showed up at his home—and that is a 6th grader with less resources than an adult. Disturbing the peace while using freedom of speech is also not allowed. I cannot go into a movie theater and yell “fire” and not expect ramifications. While Ethiopians can certainly exercise their right to freedom of speech, they also have the responsibility to act within the law of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The Constitution of Ethiopia is the Supreme Law of those who pledge allegiance to Ethiopia, meaning citizens of Ethiopia, however, as we have seen, these said citizens are also being impacted as a result of censorship.

The straightforward answer here is that both the Government and those it is censoring need to actually read and respect the Constitution of Ethiopia and other Civil and Criminal Laws. Otherwise, lets throw our hats in and become another lawless failed state. Responsibility is a two-way street.

The Community Divider

2010-07-28T11:01:00.002-04:00

Samuel Gebru

July 28, 2010

For the past months I have mentioned on this blog and other venues that the Ethiopian community in the diaspora is seemingly more divided than it is united. I also mentioned how our divisions are over superficial things that have over-occupied the lives of our self-appointed theorists and human rights activists, who, by the way, tend to do more damage than repair.

Lately, I have been following up on various Ethiopian organizations established in the diaspora that are led by a) youth and b) adults. What I have noticed is quite interesting—although not surprising. Ethiopian organizations in the diaspora that are led by youth are usually more free and clear from the disgusting and harmful divisions that apparently divide our diaspora community. The adult-led organizations tend to focus heavily on ethno-regional matters and refuse to look at the bigger picture.

To our diaspora youth community, being Ethiopian is something to be really proud of. Its no secret that a lot of us when asked to fill out our race check the “Other” box and write “Ethiopian” instead of check the “Black/African American” box. When asked in school if we are black, most of us respond: “I’m Ethiopian.” Regardless of whether I think this is a good thing or not, I don’t notice this attitude from adults and the adult-run Ethiopian organizations.

A lot of Ethiopian adults in our diaspora community associate more of a bond with their ethnicity than being Ethiopian. It is very good—and important—to know and celebrate one’s ethnic heritage. As a Tigrayan myself I have always encouraged other Tigrayan youth to learn about the open-air museum we come from. However, what I have not and will not encourage is the separation of a particular history or culture from the multicultural mosaic we call Ethiopia. The way most adults in our community have been using ethnicity is to enclose ourselves into small cabinets without realizing we live in a kitchen.

Ethnic community organizations and community centers have sprouted all over the United States, Canada and Europe doing more harm than good. Many youth wonder why we don’t see each other on regular occasions and why it is that Ethiopians only get together when someone dies or is married. For instance, recently I went to a wonderful wedding that saw a cross-section of Ethiopians—politically, religiously and ethnically. It was an amazing occasion, far better than any exclusive ethnic event.

Surely there is no straightforward answer to solving this problem of building ethnic enclaves in the diaspora. Nonetheless, just like a government has different departments and agencies all working in coordination with a same statement of being (i.e. Constitution), Ethiopians in the diaspora should work to simply create ethnically, politically and religiously inclusive Ethiopian Community Associations that service the direct needs of people. As for charitable activities in the homeland, these Ethiopian Community Associations could be able to create concurrent projects in different regions of Ethiopia based off the demographics and interests of their members.

Ethiopian youth in the diaspora have bypassed waiting for the adults to act. Organizations and student campus groups are popping up regularly all over the world with Ethiopian students eagerly ready to help any region. You even have Ethiopian students fundraising in collaboration with Eritrean students for each other’s homeland—ironic? There’s a joke that Ethiopian and Eritrean youth create “Habesha” student clubs in their schools so their parents wouldn’t object working with “the enemy.”

In 2005, when I organized Ethiopian youth in Boston to fundraise for the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital a woman I know approached and asked me one day why I wasn’t fundraising for an endeavor in my ethnic homeland. As a 13-year-old, I was somewhat taken aback by what she implied. I simply stated that Ethiopia was Ethiopia and I had the right to fundraise for any endeavor in any region. I was always taught wherever I am in Ethiopia the people are mine. Although I might not speak the language or eat the particular foods of the Afar or the Gambella people, they as mine as much as my neighbors in Mekelle. These sentiments are shared by many of my peers.

While on Facebook yesterday, I saw a comment in a dialogue between two Canadian citizens. One wrote, “Perhaps but the fact is that - you and the most westerners you refer to have not articulated what should be done to make you feel Canadian first and Albertan second.” Admittedly, I know nothing about Canadian politics or being from the province of Alberta, but my challenge to Ethiopians in the diaspora—youth and adults—is to articulate what should be done to make us feel Ethiopian first and ____________ second.

We Do Not Know

2010-07-22T11:03:00.002-04:00

Samuel M. Gebru

July 22, 2010

Ethiopia, for about 3,000 years has served as a revered monarchy, with rulers touted as descendants of the Biblical King Solomon and Queen Makeda. Traditional Ethiopia always respected the rights of its citizens, so much that the Islamic Prophet Mohammed declared Ethiopia as the land of righteousness and justice. The Persian Prophet Mani hailed the Axumite Empire as one of the five greatest empires of the ancient world.

Ethiopia has a history that we do not know.

As a child, I remember hearing about the amazing and long history Ethiopia has from my family and friends. I learned about the antiquity of the Church of Ethiopia, the majestic power of the Emperors and the towering Obelisks of Axum. Learning about my history made me proud to be from Ethiopia. The more I learned it became clear to me that Ethiopia is not merely a country; it is a people, it is a concept, it is a belief. During the enslavement period in the United States, African Americans called themselves Ethiopians. Historically, the Greek knew anyone south of Egypt as an Ethiopian.

I have never been fond of people wearing the flag colors to represent their pride of being Ethiopian because it usually means they do not know much about Ethiopia—or even what the flag represents. Many of our generation join groups on Facebook to “rep” Ethiopia, touting “Ethio4Lyf” as our slogan. Do we truly understand the depth of our history? Do we truly understand the rich culture we have? Or are we simply following a “trend” to represent our Ethiopian pride in a flag whose colors mean nothing to us?

It is not good to generalize. There are many from our generation of youth that know much about Ethiopia and wear the flag colors. This is totally acceptable. The Ethiopian flag is the symbol of the Ethiopian people and government; it must be worn and held proudly. It is unfair to those who died for our flag’s honor when our fellow youth wear the flag without respect to its meaning and history. In the United States, knowledge of the flag—let alone U.S. history—is highly emphasized in the school curriculum. At a young age, American children are taught what the 13 stripes and 50 stars mean.

Who do we blame for our lack of knowledge? Can it be the parents? Fine, some blame can go to our parents who seldom teach us anything on Ethiopia—but how much can one expect from people that are struggling to raise us? When you live in a country whose culture and language you have not mastered, it is hard to focus on anything else but getting by. Perhaps it is our community that we should blame. I would reply: what community? Ethiopians seem more divided than united in the diaspora. So there is no community from the onset to blame!

Instead of putting blame on this or that, we should take it upon ourselves to teach each other about the history and culture of Ethiopia. I have attended different meetings and events where some of our youth are constantly amazed when someone mentions the history of Ethiopia. Surely no one is expected to be an expert on Ethiopia, not you, not I. But the knowledge we each have should be exchanged so that we may all be active in peer teaching of Ethiopian history.

This way, no one is to blame; all are to credit.

Ethiopian Global Initiative: U.S. College Students for Ethiopia

2010-07-04T00:34:00.000-04:00

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2010-07-03T18:15:00.000-04:00

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[Part 1] June 2010 Washington, D.C. Trip Report

2010-07-01T23:23:00.000-04:00

Ethiopian Global Initiative: Capturing the Conference Energy

2010-07-01T19:31:00.000-04:00

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