For years, the Ethiopian people have been struggling to bring about democratic changes to their country. Ethiopians, especially the Ethiopian youth, have been paying a high price in their battle for democracy. However, the movement for democratic change was hijacked by the military elite in 1974 and the current regime in 1991.
Although the struggle for freedom and democracy has been a norm in Ethiopia, the inspirational revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt have captivated the minds of millions of Ethiopians since its inception and have reignited the desire to fight for freedom. Ethiopian people in and outside of the country have begun to discuss ideas on how to bring the same revolution in Ethiopia for the betterment millions of Ethiopians. However, the recent news regarding the US Embassy’s current involvement in Addis Ababa is scandalous. This is the people’s revolution for Freedom and democracy. The US involvement in this struggle empowers the regime in Addis Ababa and is simply uncalled for.
In fact, the US Embassy’s negative role in the democratization process of the country has unfortunately been present for quite a while. For instance, while the US Embassy diplomats knew that the ruling party lost the election in 2005, they discreetly helped Meles Zenawi to stay in power because the 2006 invasion of Somalia by the Ethiopian military was on the table. The State department failed to condemn the excessive use of force by the regime’s security forces that took the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians during the peaceful demonstrations after the election. And again, during the 2010 election, the US Embassy and its diplomats diverted the attention of the opposition and systematically helped the regime to stay in power. The embassy has definitely played the supporting role in sabotaging the aspirations and the many sacrifices of the Ethiopian people for freedom and democracy.
Currently, the tsunami of freedom and democracy, that is sweeping the Middle East and North Africa, is inevitably on its way to visit Ethiopia, and the US Embassy is working hard to save its puppet government in Addis Ababa. After all, the current Ethiopian regime is one of the very few allies that the US has left in the region following the defeat of Mubarak in Egypt. Inviting the oppositions for discussion on current developments in the region reveals the Embassy’s intention to ease the tension between the regime and the Ethiopian people who are on the brink of a revolution. US diplomats in the region are indeed worried about their own interests due to the revolution in the Middle East and the ousting of Hosni Mubarak. The idea of a revolution in Ethiopia will create irreparable damage for US interests in the region. Therefore, the US Embassy will do what is necessary to keep the Meles’ regime in power.
The Ethiopian oppositions must listen to the Ethiopian people and endorse the revolution. This is the people’s revolution for Freedom and democracy, and US Embassy’s involvement in the process is only meant to serve the interests of the US government and the Meles’ regime. The oppositions have to know that the US government does not have the interest of the Ethiopian people at heart. If the Ethiopian oppositions choose to listen to the US Embassy’s advice instead of to their own people, they as well will inevitably become a victim of the Ethiopian revolution together with the Meles’ regime and US interest in the region.
