Ephrem Endale Contributer
Good old Rashid Abdi was in euphoric mode recently. I’ll tell you why. He said Tigrayans call him “Uncle.” What do you mean by “Where is the rest of the story?” There is no story! The whole story is that the Rashid fellow being called “Uncle” and the euphoria that seems to have taken him all the way to Cloud and some snoozing very ‘close’ to Heaven! It’s not fair. He should have demanded for a bigger chunk of the loaf! Come on, the guy has been working his ‘whatever’ off for so long and all he gets is ‘word crumbs’ like “Uncle!” Well one is born every minute; isn’t that what they say!
Look for quite some time now there have been these questions that has been nagging a lot of us. Why are so many foreign countries and foreigners trying to claim the front seat in Ethiopian affairs? Why, oh why? I mean when you realize even countries which have a thousand plus problems of their own, which haven’t convinced their own people as to their diplomatic or administrative prowess trying to give us the roadmap we should follow you know this world, or rather this age, seems to have more than its share of the weird and the weirder. First, clean your backyards before trying to arm-twist or barge your way into the front rooms of others, into places your advice is not sought or your presence welcomed.
The country of Ireland was told by the Ethiopian government in black and white to refrain from undermining Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. I mean for quite a while the behavior of this particular country in trying to undermine Ethiopia’s attempt at reinstating the rule of law has been a subject of questions and speculations. Why is a country in a far corner of the world, a country about which we are not aware having any bad bloods all of sudden so determined to sabotage the interests of this country? Last time some six diplomats from that country were kicked out the understanding among the public was that they’ll get the message.
“Don’t push your fingers where they are not wanted. Respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of a proud nation and the people.” I mean how more strongly can you send such messages other than kicking out some of their so-called diplomats? But they don’t get it! Do they think this is some kind of a game? Do they think patience will never run out and they will continue rampaging all over their place with their destructive agendas? It would have been the nicest of thoughts to think this action will send them signs Ethiopians mean business and they will learn their lessons. Well they didn’t.
That particular country’s “intent on emboldening the TPLF and calling for coercive actions against Ethiopia using its membership in the UNSC,” as the official Ethiopia letter puts it leaves no one in doubt that they are out and about with blazing guns to do us harm. Well if they fail to put their actions in order next time it wouldn’t be about seeing off a handful of diplomats all the way to Addis Ababa airport and beyond. It’d be the final nail in the coffin. In fact that’s what some very angry citizens are calling for.
Here is one angry tweet; “Ireland, which has suffered sectarian violence for years, should have been more sympathetic to Ethiopia. But its leaders seem to want Ethiopia suffer a similar violence from divisive politics that took many lives in Ireland.” could anyone have put it in better words!
And there is the US Congressman named Brad Sherman tweeting: “Spoke directly to POTUS Biden today regarding potential genocide in Tigray. He is very well aware of the situation and is open to hear my ideas on how to respond, particularly to pressure Eritrea to withdraw troops.” Ideas! What ideas? He doesn’t have any ideas! And the president took the time to hear him out! I mean the top man of the most powerful country in the world lending his ears to the chattering of some politician who for all practical purposes is trying to benefit himself and his political career! The charts we saw on the social media about contributions to his election campaign don’t paint a very good picture of the gentleman. What the hell does he know about a country which is still more of a mystery in all the sense of the term?
What the hell does the good gentleman know about the conflict and the how’s, the who’s and the whys. Hey the world is on the verge of something catastrophic and the president has the time to hear complete nonsense from a man who has no right or legitimacy to talk about a region he knows nothing about; Except of course some under the table, behind-the-curtain shenanigans which personally benefit him.
And we ask why are figures waging armed terror in Ethiopia members of groups who publicly have professed their goal was to dismember the country having field days in some African countries? Why? Why are some African countries that have gone through the nightmare of ethnic conflict practically encouraging that same mayhem in Ethiopia: who’s selling to who?
In his book “The Unknown Empire” Dean W. Arnold writes… ‘Ethiopia’s reputation existed as far back as 50 B.C. when it was described by Diodrous Siculus, one of the most reliable Historians: “they have never experienced the rule of an invader from abroad, and although many powerful rulers have made war upon them not one of these has succeeded in his undertaking.”
In another part of the book W. Arnold writes; “Ethiopia’s past success against invaders provided inspiration for African countries in the twentieth century as they fought to gain back their lands from Western occupation and domination.” You want cordial relationships where the interests of both sides are respected and honored don’t you spoil the game! Play it fair and square or get lost!
The Ethiopian Herald October 16/2022