“Ethiopia is Africa’s oldest independent country and the second largest in terms of population. Apart from a five-year occupation by Mussolini’s Italy, it has never been colonized. Ethiopia has a unique cultural heritage, being the home of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church – one of the oldest Christian denominations – and a monarchy that ended only in the coup of 1974.
Whenever the name Ethiopia is mentioned, the whole world remembers the great heroic struggle of Ethiopians to preserve its independence. Ethiopia is a symbol of African independence throughout the continent’s colonial period, and was a founder member of the United Nations and the African base for many international organizations,” this was stated by one of BBC English news producer last year.
True, Ethiopia is still strong and united. The nation might be surrounded by evil powers. Both internal and external challenges may threaten it; however, Ethiopia is still strong and unified. Though the Coronavirus disturbs its development path, and the remnants of the terrorist TPLF attempt to disrupt its peace and security, Ethiopia is still shining.
What the outside world labeled the current Ethiopia and the realities in the ground are totally different. It is true whenever a given country does not kneel down to the interests of some westerners, that particular nation is considered as poor, chaotic, and failed state. Whenever a given nation stood firmly for its sovereignty, these countries have always a tendency of labeling that nation as if it is a terrorist hub or a land where human rights are violated. However, this is not the fact. Ethiopia is a strong nation with patriotic citizens that will not give up easily for defeat.
Every nation has its own policy and, as a sovereign nation it has its own way of handling internal affairs. Ethiopia is not a nation that is created some 200 years ago. It is a nation with thousands of years of experience, and a country that has its own longstanding culture of handling its own affairs.
Political turmoil or economic challenges might affect the nation. However, the true identity of Ethiopia and Ethiopianism is still intact. This can be witnessed within the last four years.
Despite the fact that the nation had been through difficult times, it did not fail or disintegrated as some of its historic enemies and other pessimists desire it. This is a true indication that Ethiopia is laid on a concrete foundation.
As it was indicated recently by Addis Ababa City Administration Deputy Mayor, Adanech Abeibie, Ethiopia and Ethiopian sentiment is still unbroken. No matter how the situations look hard, Ethiopia remains invincible, united and strong.
What is more, as the Deputy Mayor stressed, Ethiopia is a strong nation with heroic people. Whenever the sovereignty of the nation is threatened by either internal or external forces, there is an age old culture of fighting for common good. No matter what the religious, language or ethnic differences that exist among them, Ethiopians have always one value- they do not compromise their unity.
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
The Ethiopian Herald 29 July 2021
