BY LAKACHEW ATINAFU
Among Ethiopians societal indigenous traditions, neighborhood is of the most high ranking and impactful values which plays pivotal role in cooperation, communication among the diversified cultures in every corner of Ethiopia. Neighborhood in Ethiopia is far better respected than kin relationship.
The bond between and among neighbors is much tighter and firm. Taking care of one’s family, sympathizing and empathizing in both good and bad times is the duty and concern of neighbors regardless of any differences- religious, ethnic, social status or any other factors.
Had it not been for the inherent tradition of neighborhood and communal lives by which people share together what they afford with the neediest, life in Ethiopia particularly among small holders would have been uphill struggle.
Ethiopians live together, compassion each other, dine together, lament, pray, work, enjoy in harmony with unwritten law and moral values emanated from their very inner being. Such magnificent tradition has contributed its part on the country’s foreign relations particularly with the Horn Countries.
Apart from being inherent traditional values among societies in the entire parts of the country, the spirit of neighborhood and the intrinsic moral value lays foundation for the current foreign relations among East African countries with the fundamental objective of economic integration, mutual benefit plus people to people interaction.
This long-standing culture of Ethiopians living harmoniously and peacefully is not simply restricted locally; but it is also reflected in every of their communication with neighboring countries.
These days some countries with rapacious and hegemony interest upon the utilization of River Nile are busy of instigating conflict among The East African countries; however Ethiopia is handling the situation with a great patience.
Ever since the emergence of the Nubian Civilization latter Meroe then the Axumite successors, the East Africa shared similar civilization and contributed a lot to produce better world passing it to the Egyptians and the ancient Greece, said a prominent scholar, Ayele Bekerie, Ass. Professor and Coordinator of PhD Program in Heritage Studies and Coordinator of International Affairs Department at Mekelle University‘s Institute of Paleo –Environment and Heritage Conservation.
According to the scholars, Ethiopians and Sudanese have traveled distant against all odds. Nonetheless the public diplomacy between the two countries and the horn is still ill managed so that people are becoming very suspicious and vulnerable to third parties that have personal gain and go lunatic to see regional integration in the volatile region of the Horn.
Cognizant of such fact and fundamental circumstances, Ethiopia has formulated sound foreign policies giving due concern for economic cooperation, regional integration, combating terrorism and peace keeping in East Africa.
The country’s effort in peace keeping mission to various instable areas of Africa witnessed its dedication towards regional peace and stability.
Currently though there are rumors and some guess the occurrences of conflict between the two sisterly countries, Ethiopia and Sudan, the situation would be handled with diplomacy as the peoples of the two countries have age long co-existence and share history ever since time immemorial.
Ethiopian Foreign policy is inward looking mainly formulated with intrinsic moral values and co-existence among nations of East Africa.
This piece tried to convey across message towards strategic partners and neighboring Africans to promote regional and continental inclusive integrations and urge them to refrain from destructive measures.
Thus, countries are urged to look into the foreign policy of Ethiopia and its effort in transcending Africa.
Ethiopia’s public diplomacy initiatives with the neighboring countries has played and will certainly continue to play a positive role in fostering people to people relations among the peoples in the neighborhood.
Ethiopia is also undertaking a number of projects targeting pastoral communities in the border areas in cooperation with a number of neighboring countries to improve the livelihood of pastoral societies in and across the border areas. A case in point is a cross border development program for pastoral communities.
Furthermore, Ethiopia has continued to play active role in the implementation of planned development activities with Eretria and Somalia.
As the recent statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, over the last couple of years, ascertaining the human dignity of Ethiopian citizens in the Diaspora has become a key diplomatic objective of the government. In this context, a special consideration was given to Ethiopians who were detained in the neighboring countries either due to some legal offenses or for entering these countries illegally.
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed has played a special role in repatriating Ethiopian citizens back to their country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia condemns in the strongest possible terms the escalation and provocative behavior of the Government of the Sudan regarding the boundary issue between Ethiopia and the Sudan.
Ethiopia believes that any conflict between the two countries would only result in a colossal collateral damage and jeopardizes the good relation of the two nations. Therefore, the Ethiopian government strongly believes that the conflict being trumpeted by the Sudanese government’s military wing could only serve the interests of a third party at the expense of the Sudanese.
It is to be noted that the two governments have sufficient mechanisms to deal with any claims and counterclaims of the border or any territorial claims. However, the Sudanese National Army violated the basic principles of international law and peaceful settlements of disputes by unceremoniously invading Ethiopia in early November 2020.
In doing so, Sudan has violated the bilateral boundary agreements, which stipulate non-displacement of nationals of either nation from their farms jointly registered by the two Governments, the status quo of which shall be maintained until the disposition of the case by an agreement.
The Sudanese side has also overturned and undermined the efforts of the joint boundary committees that have been making tireless efforts to finalize the re-demarcation process of the common boundary. Contrary to the spirit of friendship and cooperation existing between our two brotherly countries, the Sudanese Army looted properties, burned camps, attacked and displaced thousands of Ethiopians and controlled vacated Ethiopian Military Camps.
What is more deplorable is, in an apparent misrepresentation of the facts on the ground, Sudan is deliberately engaged in misinformation campaigns against Ethiopia by accusing the victim as an aggressor, evading accountability by shifting blame and camouflaging its belligerence and continue its provocation in an attempt to control more lands.
Amidst of all these escalatory and provocative behavior of the Sudan, Ethiopia has shown a great deal of patience, remained restrained from exercising its legitimate right of self-defense and time and again expressed its commitment to a peaceful settlement of differences regarding the boundary through existing bilateral agreements and joint border mechanisms. What is needed is a political will of the two governments, which would enable them reach at an amicable solution.
Ethiopia firmly believes in the long standing fraternal relations between the people of Ethiopia and Sudan regardless of the nature of their respective governments. The attempt being made by the Sudanese Army to push the friendly peoples of Ethiopia and Sudan to unwarranted war is a serious blunder that will undermine their peace, stability and development of the two nations in particular and the region in general.
Therefore, the Ethiopian government would like to call up on the people of the Sudan to check on its government from serving a third party interest which only would result in the determent of the two nations. Furthermore, Ethiopia calls upon brotherly African countries to advice the Sudanese government to finalize the border issues through available mechanisms in peaceful manner.
The Ethiopian Herald February 28/2021
