The Ethiopian Diaspora senses reality at Home

By Molla Mitiku (molla20005@yahoo.com)

The dire situation in Ethiopia has been dropping off following the overthrow of the military regime in Ethiopia in the 1991, when the fundamentals of the socio-economic and political situations of the country have cemented. Onwards, there is tangible improvement in the life of the people. All the necessary efforts to look up to both human and democratic rights have also been undertaking, strengthening the unity and solidarity of nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia on the bases of willingness, mutual understanding and respect to one another.

The past seven years witnessed a remarkable double digit economic growth and widening of democratic space in the country. The people are the sole witnesses for the respect of their political power, so are they for the prevailing of democracy in the country. And they openly witnessed that fact. That amiable atmosphere paved ways for nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia to move towards forming one socio-economic society.

The efforts made by the people and government of Ethiopia resulted in tangible developments in all sectors, which need to be scaled up in the entire country meaningfully. That is why the people and government of Ethiopia designed a new Five-Year economic development and transformation plan to be carried out in the coming five years.

Despite all the progresses so far, there were various challenges. The blind and hatred attack against every activity in the country is one among many. The number of Ethiopian Diaspora paying attention and appreciating the positive developments in the country is inconsiderable. As a result, most of them refrained from backing efforts exerted in ensuring sustainable economic development, lasting peace and democracy in the country, mixed up with unfounded allegations and distorted images of the reality at home by a few groups, residing at home and abroad, with offal intentions.

Forming networks against the interest of the people of Ethiopia, they have been attempting to create abhorrence and jeopardizing the efforts exerted in realizing democracy and development by releasing webs of unfounded stories. They have also been campaigning against Ethiopia’s national interest that persuaded the majority of the Ethiopian Diaspora to give a deaf ear to the calls of backing development efforts in Ethiopia.

Although there were some members of the Ethiopian Diaspora who from the very start comprehended the intention of the people and government of Ethiopia, their support was severely criticized by the other members of the Ethiopian Diaspora.

The negative intention towards the developments in Ethiopia coupled with the lack of access to appropriate information about the reality on the ground incited a considerable number of Ethiopian Diaspora to campaign against their national interests. The distorted and unfounded information disseminated by a few anti-Ethiopia International Organizations and Ethiopians who blindly blame the current government coerced the Diaspora either to join the silent majority or associate with the anti-Ethiopia elements.

The people of Ethiopia, however, heard good news recently that the blind approach towards jeopardizing the development efforts in Ethiopia has been fading away. The Ethiopian Diaspora has begun sensing the reality at home and began rallying for their national interest.

It is incredible to believe but the entire situation in Ethiopia has now changed. The country has gone through a radical change. It has registered tremendous political, economic and social aspects. As a result, the Ethiopian people and many socio-economic and political analysts are looking forward to seeing the renaissance of Ethiopia at a stone’s throw.

In the past five years, some of the Ethiopians residing abroad have visited their homeland and even began participating in various investments having learnt that the whole scenario in the country has altered.

The recent demonstration by the Ethiopian Diaspora in the United States of America confirms this fact. They have demonstrated in a bid to support the efforts made in ensuring lasting peace, democracy and sustainable economic growth in their country.

It is the first in its kind for Ethiopians in the Diaspora to demonstrate not only in support of their people and government but also to condemn those who have been attempting to obstruct development efforts of the Ethiopian people.

The demonstration witnessed the radical changes in the Diaspora’s policy towards supporting their people and nation and their readiness to support Ethiopia’s progress. The demonstrators also condemned organizations like the Human Rights Watch that have been blackmailing and distorting the image of Ethiopia. They called all Ethiopians, at home and abroad, to come together and support the development efforts in the country. They not only denounced those who have been attempting to influence Ethiopia’s development partners either to reduce or desist their humanitarian and development aides but also to those countries welcoming the poisoned intentions. In the recent demonstration, the Diaspora also expressed its support to the stance of the Ethiopian government to use the Nile Waters fairly and equally among the riparian countries. Ethiopia’s strategy on the Nile Waters respects all concerned countries along the Basin.

The Diaspora made a historical paradigm shift that has to be further strengthened. There should be various channels so that the Ethiopian Diaspora could access accurate information about the real situation in the country; thereby, making hay the efforts of anti-Ethiopia elements who have been misleading Ethiopians abroad and the international community by exaggerating problems and narrating unfounded stories.

Previously, a considerable number of Diaspora were opposing the government in Ethiopia and even attempting to influence donor nations to desist their assistances. Some influential donor countries have also attempted to impose their interests on Ethiopia unfairly following such fabricated allegations. The point, however, is neither the actors nor their implementers understood that Ethiopia is in a position to stand by its foe at any instance.

The negative attitudes towards Ethiopia’s development by Ethiopians living abroad seems now fading away. The Ethiopian Diaspora changed their minds having sensed the real developments at home. Many of them have visited their country and learnt what is happening in Ethiopia. They see the development efforts and all the results gained so far in their own eyes. That closed the ground for them to blindly oppose the developmental government, which is one of the contributing factors for the paradigm shift in their policy towards Ethiopia, which is so historical.

However, there is still something to be done by the people and government of Ethiopia. They should work hard to bring all the Ethiopian Diaspora together in respecting the interest of their people and nation. The development efforts in Ethiopia, when realized altogether, will at large make the Ethiopian people beneficiary. Therefore, the Diaspora should be in a position to cooperate in the realization of the renaissance of Ethiopia. They have to invest their money, knowledge and energy in their country. They should bring all the necessary technologies from the developed countries as they have already sensed the reality.