Next Ethiopian Ambassador to US, not Who but What?

By Mekonnen Kassa 11/16/09

It is now public knowledge that the current Ethiopian Ambassador to the US, Samuel Assefa, has been transitioned.  It is only proper to thank him for his service and wish him well in his next assignment be it in government or academia.

Ambassador Samuel was assigned to this position not too long after the Ethiopian general election concluded in 2005.  He had a difficult task of educating American lawmakers who were brainwashed through propaganda spewed by few hard-core, extremist, and vociferous Ethiopian-Americans.  Ambassador Samuel fought to stop the US Senate bill H.R. 2003, “Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2008” though the U.S. House of Representatives passed it in 2007.

The question now in many Ethiopians mind is not necessarily who but what should be the focus of the next Ethiopian Ambassador to US.  This writer decidedly believes engaging the Ethiopian Diaspora regularly should be the highest priority commitment for our next Ambassador. 

The Ethiopian government has taken many important steps to start engaging the Ethiopian Diaspora including a meeting with Prime Minister Zenawi and the opening of a dedicated office for Ethiopian Diaspora.  The steps taken are showing results but more needs to be done to repair the damage done as the result of the government’s past overall lukewarm attitude towards the Ethiopian Diaspora. 

It seems the Ethiopian government has finally realized that it is not practical to disregard the Ethiopian Diaspora while at the same time to expect it to participate and contribute in economic development.  Though we are Ethiopians by birth and have love and affection for our motherland, we too need to be engaged on a regular basis and be given up-to-date and accurate information in order to invest our own and others hard earned money. 

Imagine the difference the Ethiopian Diaspora can make if it were to invest in other sectors of our economy as much as it does in residential real estate market.  This writer has gone around neighborhoods trying to encourage Ethiopians to buy Electric bonds.  I was disappointed to learn even the well informed and widely read members of our community knew nothing about it.  This writer also gets calls from Ethiopians about import and investment rules and regulation just to name a few.    

I always feel embarrassed by the absence of direct communication channel between Ethiopians and their Ambassadors.  Our Ethiopian Ambassadors appear to live in guarder mansions.

To make matters worse, members of our community are daily bombarded with lies by a very few who are working relentlessly to misinform our community.  Sometimes they succeed to turn Ethiopians against their own government and the very interest of their beloved country.  Ethiopian Ambassadors are conspicuously missing in this battle field.  They should be counteracting the destructive activities, explaining our government policies and promoting the interest of Ethiopia.    They should be at the forefront of this battle holding regular meetings with Ethiopians, giving interviews to radio and TV programs, and responding to reporter calls and making sure they get quoted in newspaper articles.

I hope, this time around, the Ethiopian government will make engagement of the Ethiopian Diaspora a high priority commitment.  In particular, the next Ethiopian Ambassador to the US should be accountable to hold standing quarterly meetings with Ethiopians in strategically located cities.  The Embassy staff should also be required to identify, document and regularly contact all Ethiopian community offices in all cities.    

Peace and prosperity for Ethiopia and Ethiopians.