ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — The 44th president of the United States is Barack Obama – and he has a lot of promises to live up to. At least, that’s the take here in Addis. While Ethiopia’s neighbors to the south are justifiably celebrating, cajoling and basking in the sweet victory of an American president with a Kenyan father, the mood in Ethiopia is much more business like.
My circle of Ethiopian friends, who cannot be expected to accurately reflect the sentiment of an entire city, much less a country, certainly approve of America’s young leader, but also realize politics is as much talk as it is action. That’s not to say you don’t hear murmurs, excited undertones, on the mini-buses and in the streets of the news of America’s election of Obama for president – you do. Additionally, more Obama t-shirt clad fans can be seen throughout the city. The most enjoyable part, as an American abroad, is that random people shout ‘Obama!’ in your direction, while smiling and giving you what I call an Ethiopian salute – a raise of the eyebrows and simultaneous grin. Assuming, as they do, they know for whom I cast my vote.
For all of this excitement, there’s been nothing outstanding. People mention the election, but the conversation quickly moves to the next topic – how’s your day going? What’s up with this rain during the dry season? When pressed, folks I have talked with mention the fact that Obama has a lot of work ahead of him.
Concern number one, they say, is the bad economy. A bad economy in the developed world in-directly cuts funding for a lot of programs and investment in the developing world, sooner or later. A close second concern: the two wars the US now finds itself in. People here have seen what war does to a nation – both within and without. Prosperity without peace, Habtamu says, is hard to come by. But, he quickly adds, there’s no easy solution; a big test for Obama.
What has most impressed me is the calm, realistic demeanor by which Ethiopians accept the election. They hope the benefits will be many fold for the US, Ethiopia and the world, but simultaneously realize the enormous task that lies ahead of our 44th president. We all may do well to gain a bit of this realistic, but quietly optimistic perspective.
This has been a historic week for the United States of America. The American people, much to the joy of the broader world, have voted for a change of direction in Washington and in politics. Let us now work together – calmly, realistically but always optimistically – to help President Obama put a little of that talk into action.
3 thoughts on “Obama Victory – Reaction from Addis Ababa”
I bet you Zenawi regime is not too crazy about the victory of Barack Obama.
I don’t think the current regime will have any reason to worry about the next Obama administration. American policy towards the Horn of Africa will not and should not radically change as long as there is a terrorist threat hovering over the area. The recent stoning to death of a woman for an ‘alleged’ adultery will and should only enforce the current policy. Going completely lawless and back to the 7th century in conducting its day-to-day existence will lead only to ruthless despotism and slavery of women and minorities.
The Ethiopian regime has no problem with the election of Obama unless it is coupled with the united force of Ethiopian opposition group. Meles is in power b/c of the division of the opposition he is always thankful for that. Obama all of a sudden is not going to solve the problem in Ethiopia, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Palesine, Somalia, Eritrea, Burma, Zimbabwe, Congo etc… First he has to get the U.S. out of the ditch it is in. Only ETHIOPIANS can help solve this problem may be by using the same tactic Obama himself used to get elected. Grassroots movement is the key. So who is powerful enough to erase a system that has worked for decades(lobbying). We shouldn’t give our dirty job to Obama. We have to love each other for the sake of our country and face the government. There is no power more scary than that to the regime in Addis. Other than that it will be a long and hard journey to no where.