At this juncture one would ask, whether the nature of the EPRDF government is in contradiction with the Spirit , struggle for integration & unity of the African people ?. For example, on the issues of the unity, integration and co-existence of the African people , we may just in a nutshell try to compare the policies of TPLF/ EPRDF of Ethiopia, and that of the ANC of South Africa.
Ethiopia’s role in the establishment and institutionalization of the Organization of African Unity( OAU) in the 1960s needs no evidence to present here. Ethiopia’s humble contribution to the complete liberation of the African continent from the colonial yoke to the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa is also well documented. That was all in the 1960s to the 1980s. Fast forward 1991 after EPRDF’s control of Ethiopia , is Ethiopia an example of peaceful coexistence , power and resource sharing or ethnic division and hatred among people?
The Constitutive Act of the African Union reads that among its objectives is to promote “unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa”.
Creating “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and, representing a dynamic force in global arena.” is stated as the vision of the African Union.
In its background, the agenda of the TPLF is that Ethiopia was a colonizer of Eritrea and hence Eritrea should be independent. For the TPLF ,their Couse was “to create an independent Tigrean Republic “ ,a separate state from Ethiopia. While the OAU & AU recognized the unity and territorial integrity of all African nations.
Because these antagonistic positions ,the TPLF( while in the bush ) believed that the OAU was a hindrance to their agenda . because of the contribution of HIM Hailsellaise ( as one of the founding father) and because its Headquarters are in Addis Ababa , TPLF wrongly believed that the OAU was an instrument of their worst “ enemy “ , the Amhara ruling class.
Based on these premises , it was the then advisor of the TPLF on international Affairs, Tecola Hagos ,who advised the top leadership of TPLF that the OAU and the UNECA (United Nations for Africa Head Quarters ) to be ejected from Addis Ababa. On his own website , Tecola Hagos wrote that “ I wanted Meles to close all offices of international organizations including the OAU [African Union] and most of the Embassies thereby effectively clearing the main source of corruption, prostitution, and general moral deterioration” ( A SOBERING LESSON: The Menilik Factor and the New Defeatism . By Tecola W. Hagos, October 2004)
While his confession is appreciated, some people say that , the real reason on the memo ( to close the OAU and UNECA offices in Addis Ababa) when he presented to the top leadership of the TPLF was completely different from what he gave now on his website.
The African Land Issue
Leaders and chiefs in Africa with credible background ,however autocratic , inspire and lead and stand for the rights of the majority when it comes to land , culture and religion etc.. Take the ANC leaders , their personality and their wisdom for the right of the South African people on these kind of issues.
One issue , for example is the position of the ANC on redistribution of land .While trying very carefully not to overblow the situation like their neighbors in Zimbabwe, the ANC recognizes the free ownership right of land as long as the majority has access to land. They are carefully navigating between majority ownership and free ownership of land. What EPRDF is doing is quite the opposite, confiscating land from urban dwellers, and leasing virgin land, parks and wild life reserves for Indian and Chinese companies for cheap land fees for hundred years . Now a days what EPRDF is known is for being the best government for ‘land grabbers.’
Love & Unity of African People Vs. Ethnicity and the policy of exclusion
The EPRDF openly runs Ethiopia strictly on ethnically divided regions. The new generation Ethiopians have-no one binding language ,while countries like South Africa and Kenya have one national language.
In today’s EPRDF run Ethiopia , there in an unbelievable level of suspicion and mistrust among the 80 plus different ethnic groups . While the philosophy of OAU/AU and the spirit of Africa is not division but to create a united states of Africa for the free movement of peoples across borders.
Officially Ethiopia is a federal state, each region is strictly divided based on their Ethnicity and language. Language is force for integration. After 20 years of EPRFD rule, there is no one integrationist language . While the government talks about African integration, the people under its rule ,the Ethiopians, cannot communicate among themselves let alone do business, exchange goods and services, due to the language policy and policies curtailing movement of people across different ethnic regions .
As a result a number of ethnic and religious conflicts are regularly witnessed in Ethiopia, a number of them also spilling over to neighboring countries such as Kenya and the Sudan.
Control of key economic resources, and federal institutions by few ethnically networked people has made it difficult, if not impossible for even educated Ethiopians to work and earn a decent living.
The South African case is the opposite. Resources and institutions are controlled by the majority. The philosophy of the ANC is based on Ubuntu, which means “ I am because of You” while the EPRDF believes is in” I am at the cost of You”.
Indeed as Dr Mathole Motshekga said, the moral vision of the ANC and its underpinning is the Ubuntu values and principles.( Speech By The Chief Whip Of The Majority Party In Parliament, Dr Mathole Motshekga, During The Occasion Of The Celebration Of The Nelson Mandela Day In Giyani, Limpopo.18 July 2011.)
We also find the philosophy of the two ruling parties, on another important African culture and spirit, I.e. forgiveness and justice , on the opposite side . While TPLF believes in Vendetta against the perceived enemy ( the so called “ Amhara ruling class”), we all know that the ANC under President Nelson Mandela worked for justice and reconciliation among the white rulers and the oppressed masses.
Given the philosophy and spirit of the EPRDF, which is contrary to reconciliation, inclusive growth and unification of peoples, one would wonder, how far the EPRDF believes in the vision of the African Union. or are their actions based on tactical ,non-strategic benefits.
If the leaders of this “party”, aren’t for dignity and unity of the people of Ethiopia, how can they be trusted on African agenda, which is justice, equitable benefit , unity and integration of the African people.
