Medemer shifts the perceptions and engagement of Diasporas. The new citizenship-centered foreign relations policy deduced from the concept of Medemer prioritizes the wellbeing, respect and pride of citizens living at home and abroad instead of taking them as a mere bridge to gain foreign currency and achieve a certain goal. The policy also emphasizes on unanimity and unity for buttressing active citizenship interventions and participations.
It is clear that the overarching role the Diaspora communities can contribute to the development of their country of birth is getting due emphasis and special heeds by governments of the home countries.
Diasporas, in addition to their substantial national development contributions in the form of remittances and skill transfers, undoubtedly can play a wide-ranging role to broaden soft power engagements and promote their homelands effectively by being nations’ ambassadors.
Owing to this, nowadays, as more and more people are travelling and working out of their place of birth, the necessity of building tighter bonds with their birthplaces and encouraging them to act as representatives of their country of origin is considered as a crucial mechanism to build up image and national reputation.
Ethiopia has a large number of peoples residing all over the world. Since the 1960s, seeking better education, job opportunities and for political reasons Ethiopians have been migrating in large numbers to different parts of the world. However, their contributions to national development were not enticing as it could be due to various reasons.
As many people agreed, including absence of an ideal platform for a common ground for mutual engagement, mistrust and stronger sentiments of hostility between the Diasporas and the government, the part the emigrants played in many respects was minimal.
As the on-going reforms would have it, currently, the new citizenship-centered concept of Medemer is changing the direction entirely and invites citizens’ for active participation and involvement.
The concept, first of all honors citizens’ national pride and interweaves nation’s dignity with its people pride. Then it provides a lot of room for purposeful citizenship engagement that is built on consensus, trust, common interests and goals.
This is the right step. Because it motivates the Diasporas community to be active citizens in each and every issue of the country, support democratic cooperation, and play part at home country’s socio-economic aspirations.
Unquestionably, any nation’s greatest asset is its citizens-living at home or abroad. The new concept will enhance Diasporas’ engagement on a day-to-day basis and make them the country’s best ambassadors to enhance Ethiopia’s profile and reputation at global arena.
The Ethiopian Herald, November 20/2019
