The name Ethiopia has been associated with Africans and the general black peoples for over a century and a quarter.The nation has been an insignia of freedom for Africans and black people worldwide who were suffering in the hands of subjugation and exploitation.
The nation is also a country that laid the foundation for Africa’sunity, solidarity and the inception oftheidea for the establishment of the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the current African Union (AU).
This East African nation of Abyssinia was associated with these notions due to a history that was uninterrupted by colonialism and conquest. Concepts linked with the country even went on to give birth to different liberationist ideologies; one of which was Pan-Africanism.
As Marcus Garvey wrote, Adwa connected black people with Africa’s ancient glory and future hope. The green, yellow and red Ethiopian flag was adopted by several African countries after colonial liberation and a universal national anthem was created for black people.
For this reason, Ethiopia always had a vital symbolism in the idea and movement.
Keeping the promise Ethiopia has kept on dealing with struggle to Africans’ freedom, it had been at frontline in fighting apartheid in South Africa playing vital role in training nelson Mandela who wasone of the black nationalists.In order to facilitate his travels, Nelson Mandela was also issued with an Ethiopian passport – in the name of David Motsamayi.
This important role that Ethiopia has played in supporting the fight against apartheidhad also created great impression on Nelson Mandela,who later became the first black president of South Africa (1994–99)
He wrote in his autobiography,“Ethiopia always has a special place in my own imagination and the prospect of visiting Ethiopia attracted me more strongly than a trip to France, England and America combined. I felt I would be visiting my own genesis, unearthing the roots of what made me an African.”
This narrative though seems to be a thingof thepast;ithas still special meaning for Africans and all black peoples around the world.
Even at this point in time, the “#NoMore hash tag movement”, that is organized to opposethe ongoing Western media disinformation campaign, Western economic warfare, diplomatic propaganda and military interventions in Africa in general, and the “Horn of Africa” in particular, is gathering millions of people across the world and bringing about great impacts around the world.
Following the campaign, millions of people across the world are joining the movement and are loudly condemning the destructive intervention and acts of the US, EU, other Western countries plus their affiliated media outlets.
Currently, more and more African countries such as Eritrea, Niger, Mali, South Africa, Chad, among others have joined the movement and they are echoing #NoMore and are protesting againstexternal forces.
The ‘No More’ movement is gaining momentum as more and more Africans are joining.AsSuleimanAbdella twitted, this international Movement has also arrived in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a and compelled many Yemenis to echo it.
As recently stated, the world renowned African-American Artist, Akon has also joined the “No More” movement against the unwarranted western intervention in Africa.
“They opened up their Pandora’s Box when they messed with the wrong country Ethiopia. From Yemen, Burkinafaso, Sudan Coup to Honduras and many more countries, the people are saying NoMore. The dawn of a new day free from oppression is upon us,” twitted Pierre Greene,former African American Specialist at the (UN-ECA) Economic Commission of Africa, Founder Pan African Industries, and Ex-US Military.
According to many social media users who identify themselves as Pan Africanist tend to believe that the intervention in Ethiopia is part of the neocolonialist agenda and that Ethiopia is fighting for the cause alone.
“Ethiopia is now fighting the new form of colonialism called Neocolonialism. Some iconic African scholars underlined that Ethiopia is fighting an African war against the western neocolonialists.African brothers and sisters should carefully follow this.You might wonder thatUnited Nation Security Council,(UNSC) had a meeting for 12thtime this week to sanction Ethiopia.Thanks to Russian, china and India, they are not successful so far.Western neocolonialists believe that breaking Ethiopia means breaking Africans and control the entire continent by assigning puppet leaders. We should unite and defend our continent,”twitted Iconic Africa, anAfrican page, that promotes Africa and Africanism, share historical events and preach united Africa.
In fact, all the meetings were conducted targeting to impose sanctions and to kneel down the government of Ethiopia, Ethiopians in particular and Africans in general. They had intended to show their power andwhat they can do against Ethiopia and even on Africa. Unfortunately, all was in vain.
In his twitter Lavani Mila said: “I am born Kenyan. I live in Kenya. But when one attacks Ethiopia, you attack all of us. There is no progress in Kenya until there’s progress in Ethiopia.I would die and fight for the prosperity of Ethiopia. My love for Ethiopia is no more than my love for Kenya.”
“There comes a time in history when a generation must rise up and demand change. When you and I have to say enough is enough.When we stand to defend what we believe in. That time is now! And we believe in Africa! We believe in Ethiopia. Africans arise and roar. Say #NoMore,”he stressed.
Ugandan Pan-Africanist Politician Matua Job Richard said that Ethiopia is fighting the African war. Nobody should downplay this reality. All Africans must join or risk instability in the entire Great Lakes Regions and Africa #NoMore.
Indisputably,the war Ethiopia isfighting at present is Africans’war.The concerted conspiracy though seems targeting Ethiopia, it has its own message for Africans and all black peoples. The Battle of Adwa has taught us what ordinary Africans can do when they unify Thus, all Africans should unite, join hands and say No More to abort the plot the West tries to put in place.
The #NoMore movement is created by Ethiopian and Eritrean activists with the objective to oppose the ongoing Western media disinformation campaign, economic warfare, and diplomatic propaganda in Africa in general, and the “Horn of Africa” in particular.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD DECEMBER 2/2021
