These days, the talk of the towns across Ethiopia revolves on two separate issues but on one core theme: Adwa and The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in the true sense of patriotism.
While the 124th Adwa victory was celebrated last Monday, March 2, 2020, GERD is in line to mark shortly its ninth anniversary of commencement. The two agendas intertwined on the same theme were so high this year more than ever as galvanized by unexpected statement released by U.S. Treasury Department last week.
It appears that all Ethiopians shelved their internal agendas and committed more than ever to fight for their rights over their Dam on the Blue Nile River. Media reports coming from Egypt aggravated the situation. Ordinary citizens, using the social media, are trying to mobilize their folks in #ItsMyDam. Renowned Ethiopians are voicing their oppositions to the US statement.
Prominent international experts like Ambassador David Shinn, Human Rights activists and U.S. senators have also joined Ethiopians in criticizing their U.S. government or its departments. Ethiopian journalists are now reporting more on the GERD developments and advising their government not to change any position.
The Ethiopian government for its part has strongly and publicly expressed its oppositions. Even before the latest incidents, it is common to hear officials of speaking about Adwa nexus to the GERD. They usually refer to the mystery behind Adwa victory as unity among Ethiopians despite a multitude of domestic problems.
They often tend to relate the victory of Adwa in the current fight against poverty. And at the forefront is the GERD. In his opinion piece entitled “HOW ETHIOPIA’S HISTORY OF RESISTANCE SHAPED THE ONGOING BATTLE FOR THE NILE” which appeared on Addis Standard on March 2, 2020, Yeshiwas Degu Belay tried to prove the nexus.
Trying to prove this, Yeshiwas recalled that the Dam was officially launched at Guba, western Ethiopia, on 2nd April 2011 with the objective of generating 6,500 MW electricity. “Since then, there has been a trend on both stages that the leadership often speak about both events. The national media and public conversation too,” he wrote.
Like Yeshiwas, all Ethiopians believe that no other development project has been incredibly linked to Ethiopia’s past than the GERD. And this is not without strong reasoning. It is a catalyst for all development efforts in a nation where it is struggling to come out of poverty.
The exemplary set by Adwa still resonates high. Unity is the most important thing. Ethiopians though internally divided on various issues they were able to secure victory against the invading army of Italy because they were united as a rock. The lessons are still alive that Ethiopians keep their allegiance when it comes to their national interests.
“Culturally so powerful that after more than a century the unified stand against colonialism remains in the minds of today’s decision makers, the national media, and the general public. Such historical consciousness is not only to reflect on the current affairs retrospectively, but also to realize contemporary development endeavours,” Yeshiwas wrote.
That was and is still being observed among the young generation; everywhere chanting, making slogans, admonishing heroes and warning any foreign intrusions.
The Ethiopian Herald, March 5/2020
BY STAFF REPORTER
