“Unity is a good factor for victory” says Dr Tsegaye Degneh, an economist who lives in Germany in an interview with FBC in connection with the recent sanctions by US on Ethiopia and the proposed economic sanctions. “Europeans were able to partition Africa in the 1880s because they were united. They were also able to defeat Nazi Germany because they were united” he added.
So he urged Ethiopians to stand in unison in order to pass the challenges posed on the sovereignty of the country.
It is to be recalled that the government of the United States has made visa restrictions against Ethiopian government officials in connection with the law enforcement measures that it is undertaking in Tigray State.
While the government of Ethiopia has taken the measures to enforce law and order in the state which is its constitutional mandate, the reaction of the US comes as irrelevant and that goes in violation of the sovereignty of the country. In addition to going against the sovereign rights of the country it comes as a camouflage to impose unfair interest related to geopolitical issues.
“US started to impose its pressure not with the visa restrictions. For instance during the reign of President Trump, he said America will cut some 130 million USD support to Ethiopia for refusing to reach the deal with Egypt and Sudan on GERD which he brokered.” Tsegaye said.
Concerning the impact of imposing sanctions Professor Zenebe Kinfu, expert in international relations who lives in Moscow told FBC that though sanction is new to Ethiopia, the US has been using it as a weapon since the end of World War II.
This first step of sanction by US has initiated some countries to change the course of their struggle to cope with it. He said Ethiopia should also work strongly through diplomacy to avert the situation.
Ethiopia has been engaged in a concerted effort to bring to the attention of the world its stance both in the case of the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) as well as the law enforcement measures taken in Tigray state and the consequences.
However, some international community and the US government are taking difficult position on Ethiopia based on fake information that are released by sympathizers of the defunct TPLF junta and their supporters, according to Selamawit Dawit, Director General of Ethiopian Diaspora Agency who spoke to EBC recently.
“Through our diplomatic Missions we are spreading information to correct the wrong picture against the country and through the efforts of the Ethiopian diaspora some media and international organizations are correcting their wrong understandings.” She noted.
It was indicated that about three to four million Ethiopians are currently engage in various activities of safeguarding their nation from the looming pressure that started with visa ban on government officials.
Ethio American Civil Society Network representative Seyoum Habtewold told EBC that the society is also working towards lobbying US senators so that they could see the matter carefully and take decision based on reliable evidence rather than spoiling the longstanding and strong Ethio-American ties.
He added the network is also working to convince international media to do their jobs based on reliable information.
In a related development, Ethiopians living in Australia and Ethiopians of Ethiopian descent discuss the current situation in Ethiopia and agree on the next steps to be taken.
According to Ethiopian Diaspora Agency, Ethiopians living in Australia and Ethiopians of Ethiopian descent discussed the current situation in Ethiopia under the coordination of the FDRE Embassy in Australia and agreed on the next steps to be taken.
Dr. Muktar Kedir, Special Envoy and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Australia, opened the discussion by discussing the current state of affairs in the country, in particular the law enforcement action taken following the TPLF atrocities, the ongoing negotiations with Egypt and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. He briefed the participants on the preparations for the 6th national election and the Ethio-Sudan border issue.
The members of the Diaspora added that the TPLF supporters have come up with solutions to prevent the false propaganda they are spreading around our country and to intensify their work for our national interests.
BY STAFF REPORTER
The Ethiopian Herald 30 May 2021
