Prior to directly go to the message of this paper, it is better to cite what Harold Nicholson put about diplomacy as it would quite reflect the essence of the write-up, “Diplomacy is the management of international relations by means of negotiations; the method by which these relations are adjusted and managed by ambassadors and envoys the business or art of the diplomats.”
Ethiopia does have a number of diplomacy actors in various parts of the country mostly deployed by the government as officers of councilor agencies, missions, ambassadors and the like. However, there are a number of unsung ambassadors working day in and day out for the progress, development and prosperity of their country—Ethiopia.
These Ethiopian citizenries are playing an incomparable role in safeguarding Ethiopia from external conspiracies, anti-development moves and all sorts of futile attempts that are thrown towards Ethiopia to lag the country behind times.
The case of Mohammed Al-Arusi, an independent Saudi-born Ethiopian journalist and human rights activist, who was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and well known for arguing about the truth of the Nile in the mass media and that of Professor Adem Kamil, who was born in the Gefare farmers’ community of North Wollo and attended his primary education and secondary in Mecca, is a clear manifestation of Ethiopia’s richness with very patriotic golden citizens—true ambassadors.
These two individuals, not limited solely to two them of course, have been relentlessly working to safeguard Ethiopia in all aspects, obviously in collaboration with the government and many fellow Ethiopians.
It is well recognized that countless conspiracies especially with regard to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have been orchestrated and Ethiopian front liners along this line, the aforesaid individuals or Ethiopia’s true patriots are seriously struggling to make the Arab world including Egypt in particular and the entire international community well aware of the reality on the ground. Yes, Ethiopia has contributed over 86% of the Nile water. However, recognizing the fact that the Nile does almost belong to Ethiopia following its water share, Egypt and Sudan especially the former has all the time devised sophisticated mechanism to slowdown the construction of the dam and its reservoirs filling.
It would be quite unfair and being mean not to provide all ambassadors of the nation especially the untitled ambassadors, Mohammed Al-Arusi and Professor Adem Kamil for their courageous move to seriously defend on behalf of Ethiopia.
They both share a golden expression, “The Nile waters should not be a source of confrontation, but a viable boulevards of cooperation.”
The Arab world diplomacy and bilateral as well as trilateral relations has been improving due to these Ethiopia loving individuals thought they are not the sole persons in doing so.
Mohamed Al-Arasi once said the Ethiopian media should work on raising the consciousness of the community on the Nile issue. He also said that the opposition political parties, Ethiopians at home and from overseas, professionals as well as all citizenry of the country should stand side by side in the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Undeniably, the people to people relationship between Ethiopia and the Arab world has long history before during and after the emergence of Islam.
Yes, diplomacy is an area of specialty in International Relations that focuses on the study of tactical inter-governmental relationships aimed at advancing national interests without being confrontational between or among nations.
As diplomacy is a veritable means for conflict resolution, peace-building in crisis situations among nations, the two persons, not limited to of course, are working from dawn to dusk to defend Ethiopia’s rights in all aspects peculiarly targeting at its water resource.
The immense contribution these and other unmentioned individuals or groups have made has to be well credited. The common way in which this recognition is granted is the announcement of the decision to establish diplomatic relations.
Cognizant of the fact that diplomacy is the means through which nations begin to develop their relations, Mohammed Al-Arusi and Professor Adem Kamil are capitalizing on the decisive issues revolving around mega projects and Ethiopia’s relations especially with the Arab world.
This doesn’t mean that these personalities are not working for Ethiopia in relations to its ties with the rest of the world as most of the time they are busy reflecting the truth and Ethiopia’s clear stance to Egyptians and Sudanese in Arabic language. In so doing, remarkable changes have been recorded, are being recorded, too.
Fundamentally, diplomacy is a basic means by which a nation seeks to secure the goals of its national interest as external policy always travels on the shoulders of diplomacy and gets operationalized in other states.
A certain degree of cooperation among nations is essential for the working of diplomacy because in its absence, diplomatic relations cannot be maintained.
These unsung diplomats today are playing a pivotal role in international negotiations and contributing a lot to the national effort geared towards, as per the intent of Ethiopia, enjoying fair water share without posing significant harm on downstream riparian states.
The very important aspect in this regard is Ethiopia should use the media to reflect its amicable stand on GERD and equitable and fair water share consolidating the idea stated by the unsung ambassadors as it is recurrently stated that the Nile waters should not be a source of confrontation; instead it has to be a means for further cooperation.
True, this is a golden idea that has to be entertained by all riparian countries especially Egypt and Sudan.
In a nut shell, Ethiopians have well known that the livelihood of Egyptians is highly dependent on the Nile river, but they should respect Ethiopia’s right over the Nile River which is privileged by international laws, and Ethiopia always says it doesn’t have any intention of harming others apart from reflecting its stance to get the 60% of population leading life in darkness benefited.
Thanks to Mohammed Al-Arusi and Professor Adem Kamil, the unsung patriots for their effort to vividly make Ethiopia’s interest public. This is really a work of real ambassadors of a given nation.
Ethiopia has finalized preparations to carry out second dam filling. However, Egyptians as well as Sudanese have left no stone unturned to create an obstacle on the way of constructing and filling the dam.
Dear Mohammed Al-Arusi and Professor Adem Kamil and others since many African countries support Ethiopia’s right to use the River Nile; your efforts will bear fruits within the shortest time possible.
Since you are really golden Ethiopian Arab world bridges, continue defending the rights and benefits of this great nation forever. Ethiopia in turn has to well eyed at and nurture these unacknowledged ambassadors. Long live you two!
BY MENGESHA AMARE
The Ethiopia Herald May 14/2021
