[ad_1]
As Ethiopians usher in the Ethiopian New Year, the first order of business should be to resolve the dangerous showdown between the federal and regional state governments of Tigray over the regional elections held by the latter this week. The internal and external elements that fan the flames of a conflict between the two parties must also desist from adding fuel to the fire. Unless forces active in the Ethiopian political season, finding it difficult to settle their differences peacefully, make a conscious effort to ease the palpable tension between them, the future will not bode well for all. Long afflicted by intolerance, stubbornness, revenge, mutual animosity and backwardness, Ethiopian politicians and their acolytes pose a serious threat to the peace and security of the country and its people. In particular, power mongers who have no qualms about putting their selfish agenda above the public interest need to stop beating the drums of war and immediately embark on constructive conversations. The nation must never be subjected to turmoil at the hands of those who lust for power.
There are no winners or losers in a zero-sum policy. Ethiopians have had enough of the internal conflicts in which they have lived for centuries. The elements that incite youth to violence in Ethiopia while they and their loved ones are safely abroad must realize that they will one day be responsible for war crimes. Even compatriots with knowledge and experience who should help expand the political space are selling poisonous narratives. The proliferation of civil servants who, instead of paving the way for a democratic space that lends itself to win-win dialogues, pursue the usual politics of division is quite heartbreaking. What is even sadder is the fact that it is innocent civilians who will suffer the brunt of the fighting that its architects fan from afar. Ethiopians have to unite to thwart the forces that beat the drums of war.
In this modern age it is imperative to seek a common denominator on issues of national importance. Differences of opinion should not be a cause for the derailment of the national construction project. It is neither necessary nor rational to resort to tactics that destabilize the country for the sake of winning elections or promoting other political goals. Lacking the perseverance and commitment necessary to exhaust all legal and peaceful options, bellicosity and extremism are increasingly coming to define Ethiopian politics. This can be confirmed by the reluctance of the political elite to obey and enforce the constitution regardless of its real or perceived flaws. That these elites work day and night to sow the seeds of deep division and mistrust among various communities rather than doing their part to improve the lot of their fellow citizens is, to say the least, deplorable.
Why does the ruling Prosperity Party, as well as other parties competing in federal and regional elections, loathe engaging in dialogue that helps identify and address the intractable challenges Ethiopia faces? Why do they lack the desire and the will to sit down and deliberate on critical issues that have detrimental impacts on national unity and the well-being of citizens? How can a culture of nonviolent political engagement flourish while hateful and divisive narratives have been dominating political discourse for decades? Why were the disagreements that led to the request for arms from the people of Tigray impossible to resolve peacefully? Why have the self-proclaimed federalist forces been reluctant to learn from past mistakes and reach out in peace? How is it that they are warmongers under the pretext of defending a constitution that they used to routinely circumvent? These and several other important questions ask for an answer. Politicians and political parties who really care about the interests of the public are always open to the notion of give and take. Sadly, in today’s Ethiopia, forces on all sides of the political spectrum have nothing better to do than beat the drums of war.
As we have said time and again, Ethiopia must not miss opportunities that are rarely presented to it. The culprits who have wasted these opportunities are sections of the public that should know better. Unfortunately, they seem unwilling to learn from history. Some of them are forces that abused state power to make life hell for the masses and are now seeking a fight to “regain” their glory days. The others are disparate groups whose members were released from prison or returned home from exile after the introduction of radical political reforms two and a half years ago. The point is that, instead of seizing the opportunity that change has brought with it, they seem bent on inflaming communal tensions and pushing the country over the precipice. Every time they appear in the mainstream or on social media, they spew vitriol and incite their supporters to violence. They have never, ever embraced justice, liberty, equality, and the rule of law; all they do is sell hate, rumors and violence.
Ethiopia can become a land of peace, justice and freedom through the peaceful pursuit of political goals, not to the drums of war that are being witnessed today. Whose interests are the forces that claim to defend the people and yet have deviated from the path of the peaceful political struggle that they really defend? What is needed to lift the majority of Ethiopia’s poor from the clutches of extreme poverty is a system where social justice reigns. Needless to say, this can be achieved through a civilized policy that empowers people and avoids violence in all its forms. It is a sham to portray yourself as a defender of democracy while behaving antidemocratic. Those imbued with the vital importance of public service do not allow themselves to be tempted by the traps of power because they know well that the national interest always trumps personal interests. As such, they do not instigate internal conflict or perpetrate destabilizing acts. Transparency and responsibility is its synonym. No matter what cause someone may adopt, there should be no illusions that beating the drums of war only accelerates mutually assured destruction.
