A Step in the Right Direction

By Aregu Balleh Wondimuneh

One day, I was having a conversation with a good friend of mine (originally from Gambia). The topic of our conversation shifted toward Africa and pan-Africanism as he shared to me a youtube link called Bijoux Noir, a link which features dialogues about Africa. The social media forum is designed to serve as a platform where African problems are discussed to which also Pan-African solutions are suggested by participants.

At one point in our discussion my friend suggested that I participated in the discussion. Personally, I found the whole idea of dialogue fascinating, and saw no reason why I wouldn’t. Then, I paused for a moment and started contemplating what relevance my participation to the discussion could have to the people in my home country who are being targeted and killed every day because of their ethnic identity. I also thought about what personal experience I could contribute to the discussion while in effect representing a country where ethnic nationalism is favored over national unity.

True, Ethiopia once had leaders that fought for African independence and championed Pan-Africanism and knowing that gives an immense sense of pride. However, the country which once prided itself on initiating and making possible the foundation of African Unity, has today a constitution that promotes ethnic division and intolerance. The country which sent and is still sending troops to defend the sovereignty of others has its own people killing each other over provincial boundaries drawn by language.

Coming back to my initial point, talks about regional unity are always important and even very crucial for Africa which has been battered by internal conflict and plundered by the insatiable greed of its own leaders. In fact, I also believe that such discussions should go wider in their coverage and deeper in their analysis.  Accordingly, the so-called constitutions of countries such as Ethiopia which are meant to serve the political interests of those in power, not the will of the people should come under the scrutiny of these regional discussion forums.

Awareness Key to Contain Pandemic

By Aregu B. Wondimuneh
I found the news that a person suspected of contracting the corona virus was caught trying to escape a quarantine facility troubling. It goes without saying that this person fears the stigma attached to being quarantined or other related consequences more than the disease itself. This might be a single incident but is indicator of the grim reality of existing information gap and one that should make health authorities and the public at large worried. Stigma and lack of awareness have always played a negative role in the fight against any form of pandemic. People who are afraid of stigma or who try to avoid quarantine will without doubt complicate the efforts being deployed to control the pandemic and pose a heavy burden to the already struggling healthcare system. So, health officials should give as much attention to the creation of a thorough public understanding about the nature of Covid-19 and the controlling mechanisms.

Egypt is entangled in its old win-lose strategy

Aregu B. Wondimuneh
It has done it before, and it is doing it again. When the technical and legal experts and ministers of water and foreign affairs of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia concluded rounds of talks without a comprehensive document to settle the issues regarding the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Discussions of similar nature were held for several times in the past and the results were predictable. Egypt has always positioned itself as one who must get the better end of the deal.
In the pass, Egypt exhausted every means within its power to make sure its monopoly over River Nile was unchallenged and negotiations regarding utilization of the river water with the Ethiopia or other riparian countries, for that matter were off the table. Its leaders have in effect refused to recognize Ethiopia’s right to have a fair share of the Blue Nile River to which it is not only the source but also contributor of 87 of the water. Instead of working on a mutually beneficial and win-win approach, Egypt made it a strategy for decades to either threaten Ethiopia not to utilize the River water or ally themselves with the internal and external enemies of the country to make sure that it won’t be in any position to carry out any major projects on the River. In fact, that has been strategy all along until the launch of the Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD). Although the two countries have had long standing ties and share much more than just a river, their relationships have always been overshadowed by the water politics.
Ethiopia has for long remained hands tied and helplessly watched its largest river gushing out caring fertile soil washed away from the country’s highlands. If there existed any attempts on the Ethiopian part to build any form of development projects on the Blue Nile River, they were met with military threats from Egypt. Egyptian leaders also had no trouble convincing financial institutions to block any form of financial aid to Ethiopia.
As a result, Egypt had neither the interest nor the urge to work on any cooperation framework with Ethiopia. because Ethiopia was in no political or economic status that would allow it to carry out any major undertakings on the river water.
The launch of the Grand Renaissance Dam was not only an important milestone in the country’s effort to fil the huge power demand-supply gap. It also was a demonstration of the fact that the country is capable of undertaking projects of such nature with local resources. Egypt has been forced to come to the negotiation table because its old strategy will have no place any longer.
Egypt opposed the construction of the Dam from the very beginning. In fact, there were a couple of times the country’s newspapers reported that Egypt might use military force to stop the building of the dam. Now the Dam has reached its completion stage.
For many years now, Egypt has been enjoying its unchallenged monopoly over the utilization of River Nile. There was no agreement or treaty which Ethiopia is part of and that entitled Egypt to dictate who gets what when it comes to sharing the river water. The country relied on the its military might and geopolitical influence. However, Ethiopia, which is the source of the Blue Nile and contributor of 87 per cent of the water was literally ripped of all its rights to get the fair share of the river water, as a result of the direct and indirect influence of Egypt.
Egypt portrays itself as the creation of River Nile. Its leaders have always wanted the world to believe that any development projects on the river by the upper riparian countries will seriously jeopardize the country’s socioeconomic activities since the Nile is the only source of water for the country. True, the Nile is the major water source for Egypt’s economy. However, it is not the only waterbody available for the country. Egypt is surrounded by two other large water bodies, namely the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Like many of its neighbors in the Middle East and many other countries around the world Egypt has water resources that can be desalinated and utilized.
At times Egypt justifies its monopolistic right over the river with agreements that were concluded without even participating the source country. The so called agreements were concluded in 1929 and 1959 between Egypt and Sudan when both countries were British its colonies. Because Egyptian leaders relied much on the country’s military might and political influence for much of the country’s long history they seem to be struggling to face the reality that Ethiopia, as a source of the water and contributor of the larger share of the water has the right to utilize the water. That has been reflected on the recent negotiations.
According to experts, the GERD is less of a threat for the downstream countries including Egypt, In fact studies which were conducted on possible impact of the Dam even suggested that it has a positive contribution toward regulating the water flow and protecting flood occurrences particularly in the Sudan.
If there is one problem that is worrisome to not only to the downstream countries but also to upper stream countries including Ethiopia, it is climate change and deforestation which may seriously impact the water volume of the river. Egypt, Ethiopia as well the rest Nile riparian counties should shift their focus and energy toward tackling this problem.

How low can we go as political leaders, supporters?

A country that prided itself for very long on being not just as a cradle of ancient civilization but also a trailblazer in the struggle against colonization and racial discrimination across the globe now finds itself descending into the mediocrity of internal division and identity politics. A country that once epitomized unity in diversity now, thanks to the TPLF’s 27-years long cancerous politics, has become home for political parties and supporters who think and act along ethnic lines.
Obviously, the tenet of TPLF’s political program has been perpetuating division and ethnic conflict. When Dr. Abiy took power many hoped that identity politicians will tone down their divisive rhetoric if not abandon it all at once. Sadly though, we are witnessing political groups that follow the same tribal and by so doing, ripping the country apart. It is even more sad to see political actors who once were labelled as terrorists and who were given a red carpet treatment when they went back home to pursue peaceful political struggle stabbing the government in the back. Worse of all, political dialogue is getting uglier by the day ever since. With ethic divisions spreading far and wide and identity politics surging ahead it looks like the country finds itself in a tough time.
Identity politics has never done any good to any country in the world. In fact history tells us that wherever it was practiced identity politics resulted in the worst forms of conflict and ethnic cleansing. It destroys a country and perpetuates hate and division for generations. It is high time that our politicians who play with identity cards made a paradigm shift in their political programs and listen to the people they think they represent and do what is good for the entire country.

What next for PM Abiy?

Well, it has been a tumultuous six months: the hope and the fear; the ups and downs; the support and the opposition. All seem to be coming to a calming point. With the fever of change gripping the country, a lot happened within a short period of time. The removal of the 27 years old TPLF/EPRDF dynasty undoubtedly brought great joy to the people and a healing for the nation that has sustained serious wounds due to the divide and rule policy. Dr. Abiy’s ascent to the realm of power brought a new hope for the people who otherwise were uncertain about the future, and for the country whose stability seemed to be hanging in the balance Yet before the people started to enjoy the fruits of the change numerous challenges started to surface. The euphoria of change was soon followed by sad news of the killing and displacement of people. For the past couple of months his power seemed weak and fragile, and with ethnic violence here and there, the country’s future remained uncertain. To the relief of the people supporting the ongoing change the EPRDF conference concluded last week electing the two prominent change leaders, namely Dr.Abiy and Ato Demeke as Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the party which also entitles them to hold their positions as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively. Now Dr.Abiy’s leadership starts its next chapter.
Now that he has consolidated his grip of power and rallies massive popular support it is time for the PM to step up and take practical measures to stop violence and ethnic conflict that are seen in different parts of the country. Most of all it is time to take proper action against those who are behind those conflicts and all other actors who are trying to derail the change.
Dr. Abiy’s leadership has to make sure that the ongoing change goes beyond being a dream of a great dreamer. Much as I am impressed by his forgiving and inclusive approach I would also like to see his tough stance on the change detractors and sympathizers of the TPLF-led regime, as well as political parties and activists that advocate ethnic politics and who feel threatened of losing their support base as a result of his inclusive and nationalistic approach.

Nothing but a cowardice act

At this point it may not be right to speculate who was behind Saturday’s assassination attempt on PM Dr. Abiy. Neither is it helpful to point finger at any particular group before the police completes its investigation. One thing is clear though. This was planned and executed by a group who was against PM Abiy’s signature promise: “inclusion and unity”. It was perpetuated by wicked people who couldn’t stand the idea of love and forgiveness. This was a clear terrorist act by a group who doesn’t want to see Ethiopians united. Clearly this group benefits more when we are divided than when we are united.
It is so sad that lives were lost and people were injured because of this terror. However, these people, no matter how hard they try, they can’t derail the train of change that is already set in motion. In fact it is a wakeup call for the Prime Minister that he has to do more on scrutiny and reorganization of his police and security team.
The perpetrators of the terroristic act terribly miscalculated. They did not realize the fact that their plots could do nothing but make the people more united.
When the investigation is finalized it will be clearer as to who is behind the change and who is against it

From my travel diary

From flowers to rings, from romantic words to wedding vows, there are numerous ways people use to express their love, emotional connection, and commitment for everlasting relationships. This one is different, and I found it interesting simply because it has a powerful symbolic representation. .
Couples in some European countries go to dedicated bridges not just to exchange romantic kisses or make wedding proposal surprises. They go to the bridge which is popularly known as the” bridge of love”, to attach padlock (love lock) to the bridge and throw the key away to the water to symbolize their everlasting commitment in their relationships. That is to say “we are inseparable! “ The love locks usually carry names of the couple and important dates. The practice has become popular particularly in some cities of Europe including Paris, Rome and Helsinki. This is the one found in Helsinki, Finland.